Week 8 of the NFL season is in the books. Let’s take a look at the scenario if the NFL playoffs started today. Bye teams stepped up this week and started winning, going 5-1. The one loss was from the Texans, who played against the Panthers and were also coming off the bye week. No byes in week 8. Take this all with a grain of salt. With the recent expansion and additional playoff spots, anything can happen in the 2023 NFL season.
AFC – Week 8
East
🏈🏈 Miami Dolphins (6-2): #2 seed. Still no quality wins. Go to London this week to play the Chiefs in what is a huge game for playoff seeding.
🏈 Buffalo Bills (5-3): #5 seed. Struggling with a recent losing streak. They need to regain their past form to remain in the playoffs.
New York Jets (4-3): This team seems to find a way to win in the strangest ways.
New England Patriots (2-6): Belichick has nine more post-game pressers left.
North
🏈🏈 Baltimore Ravens (6-2): #4 seed. The QB is a joy to watch when they’re winning. A new college OC has brought fresh energy to the team.
🏈 Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3): #6 seed. Defense wins games, but only if the offense can score more than ten points. TNF should be a make-or-break game for the OC.
🏈 Cleveland Browns (4-3): #7 seed. Will Deshaun Watson play this week? Probably not.
Cincinnati Bengals (4-3): Bye week gave injured QB a jolt of energy. If team is healthy, they are always a threat in the AFC.
South
🏈🏈 Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2): #3 seed. What was in that London water?
Houston Texans (3-4): Haven’t shown much in the last three games. Get the Bucs this week that is well on a losing streak.
Indianapolis Colts (3-5): Have been involved in the most entertaining game to watch in the NFL each week, as long as you’re not a Colts fan.
Tennessee Titans (2-4): Enjoyed the throwback Houston Oiler uniform in the win. Rookie QB tears it up for four touchdowns in his debut. A short week at Pittsburgh on TNF should bring him back down to earth.
West
🏈🏈 Kansas City Chiefs (6-2): #1 seed. Trying to figure out if Tyson Fury or the Chiefs cared less about their matchup this past weekend.
Los Angeles Chargers (3-4): QB has been struggling with his broken finger, but still finds a way to be a top passer in the league.
Las Vegas Raiders (3-4): A brand new team going into week nine. Coach and GM fired, QB benched.
Denver Broncos (3-5): Broncos Country will go into week 10 next week without having lost a game in a month.
NFC – Week 8
East
🏈🏈 Philadelphia Eagles (7-1): #1 seed. They are not as dominant as last season. Will have a tough game against the Cowboys as it is back-to-back weeks facing a divisional rival.
🏈 Dallas Cowboys (5-2): #5 seed. Great game off the bye against a lost-cause Rams team. Go to Philly this week to try to get a quality win.
Washington Commanders (3-5): Showed signs of life vs. Eagles until the IV ran out in the second half. Not looking pretty.
New York Giants (2-6): 4th and inches in two of the last three with game on the line and best player on the field does not get the call. Same one-dimensional garbage year-after-year. Fire all the coaches.
North
🏈🏈 Detroit Lions (5-2): # 2 seed. They will be looking to host a playoff game for the first time since 1994.
🏈 Minnesota Vikings (4-4): #7 seed. Fun while it lasted? Or is Josh Dobbs going to save this team?
Green Bay Packers (2-5): Worst team in football. Have not had a lead before half-time since week two, and that was only by one point.
Chicago Bears (2-6): Embarrassed on SNF. Hoping themselves or the Panthers fall back to the worst team in the league.
South
🏈🏈 Atlanta Falcons (4-4): #4 seed. Need to maintain consistency. Easy road.
New Orleans Saints (4-4): Trick play win should feel good with the Bears coming to town.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4): Three losses off the bye. Haven’t beaten anyone of quality, yet still have a chance.
Carolina Panthers (1-6): Best 1-6 team in the NFL.
NFC West:
🏈🏈 Seattle Seahawks (5-2): #3 seed. Playing up to the competition. A huge game at Baltimore should be entertaining.
🏈 San Francisco 49ers (5-3): #6 seed. Hopefully they get back to healthy soon.
Los Angeles Rams (3-5): Team is lost, but a trip to Lambeau may be just what the doctor ordered. Team to watch.
Arizona Cardinals (1-7): 2024 may just be the year of the Cardinals.
Thank you for reading my NFL Week 8 article. Our NFL page is your premier destination for all things this NFL season. Head to my Belly Up Sports Page and follow me on Twitter. For NFL and all other sports articles go to Belly Up Sports. Featured image credit Grant Halverson/Getty Images.
