NFL Week 8 odds, expert picks, previews: Full schedule features steep spreads and rising desperation

It’s a full bag for NFL fans in Week 8, with every team in action after three weeks of byes. Six teams are favored by a touchdown or more, but there are still some choice pairings to be found.

Thursday night should see the return of Cooper Kupp to the Los Angeles Rams, and LA is now 2-4 and desperately needs a win to stay in the playoff mix. The Rams will host a favored Minnesota Vikings team that just suffered its first loss.

On Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals host the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bengals and their ironed-out offense are slight home favorites.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to injury Monday but have to turn right around and host a favored Atlanta Falcons squad in a battle for the division lead in Tampa.

The Seattle Seahawks host the Buffalo Bills in what is expected to be a high-scoring affair. Josh Allen is back to MVP-caliber play, has a new receiver in Amari Cooper and has yet to throw a pick this season. The go-go Seahawks offense could be without DK Metcalf, in which case Kenneth Walker III should be the star of the show.

What could have been the year’s top rookie showdown is now up in the air, as Jayden Daniels’ status is in question for the Washington Commanders’ home game against Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears. The presumptive Rookie of the Year has a rib injury, so the clash of the top two picks could have to wait — a shame given how well both have played of late.

A classic NFC pairing is on tap Sunday night as the Dallas Cowboys head to San Francisco looking to right the ship. The San Francisco 49ers are favorites despite an ugly game against the Kansas City Chiefs and yet another key injury (this time to the newly paid Brandon Aiyuk). But last we saw the Cowboys, they were getting trounced in their own stadium by the Detroit Lions.

Monday Night Football won’t exactly be a thriller with the favored Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the New York Giants, but it will provide a chance to see if Pittsburgh’s offensive outburst under new quarterback Russell Wilson is for real.

—J.J. Bailey

We have odds, previews, how to watch and expert picks for each game. But first, let’s review how our experts did last week.

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Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams (Thursday, Prime Video)

It’s a critical week for the Los Angeles Rams, who — at 2-4 — are still within reach of the NFC West lead and will likely need to take the division to return to the postseason.

The Rams have been without their two top pass catchers for nearly the entire year, but veteran Cooper Kupp is set to return ahead of their toughest test yet. Minnesota comes to LA as road favorites despite finally finding the loss column in a thriller against Detroit.

Though they ceded control of the division to the Lions, the Vikings remain the league’s most complete team. Their offense is without a weak spot, and though Sam Darnold has come back to earth under center, there’s so much talent on that side of the ball that it hasn’t mattered.

Justin Jefferson is playing up to his price tag, producing with such rote consistency he almost feels inevitable. Averaging 88.5 yards and nearly a touchdown per game, the three-time Pro Bowler is unbeatable to the ball and has a pair of feet that never seem to touch the sideline. He gives Darnold room for inaccuracy, and Jordan Addison’s talent, coupled with Aaron Jones’ dual-threat game out of the backfield, means teams can’t afford to throw all their resources at Jefferson.

That, paired with a defense that has surrendered 20 points only twice in six games, means the Rams will have to be near perfect at home to keep from sliding further underwater ahead of their matchup with division-leader Seattle next week.

—J.J. Bailey

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If there were ever a clear-cut illustration of the extremes in the NFL, it’s this Week 8 matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns. The red-hot Ravens are heavy road favorites against a Browns team that’s seemingly hit rock bottom.

Baltimore (5-2) has won five games in a row behind the league’s most dangerous offense. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is already making a case for a third MVP award, while Derrick Henry has been the perfect backfield complement.

Look no further than Monday night’s 41-31 road win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Henry wasn’t a big part of the first-half game plan, yet he still added 169 rushing yards to his league-leading total (873). Jackson tossed five touchdown passes, tying his career high (and the franchise’s single-game record) while averaging 12.8 yards per attempt. The Ravens finished with 501 yards of total offense. They lead the league in that category and are tied for first (with the Washington Commanders) in scoring offense.

The exact opposite is true for Cleveland (1-6), whose season has already cratered due to a five-game losing streak. The Browns are 29th or worse in all four major offensive categories. They have lost quarterback Deshaun Watson for the season and recently traded away No. 1 wide receiver Amari Cooper. Fortunately, running back Nick Chubb just returned from a torn ACL.

Watson’s backup, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, also was injured last Sunday. That leaves Jameis Winston as QB1 moving forward. Even though Baltimore is currently last in the league in passing defense, it’s too much to expect either backup to immediately cure everything that ails Cleveland’s offense.

Even if a quarterback change provides some sort of spark, the Browns’ defense still has to contend with the reigning MVP and King Henry. Right now, the gap between these AFC North rivals seems bigger than the four games that separate them in the standings.

—Mark Ross

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Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans (CBS)

The AFC South’s top two teams battle for a second time this season when the Houston Texans host the Indianapolis Colts. Injuries change the dynamic of the rematch between the division-leading Texans and the Colts. Despite being banged up on defense, Houston is favored by more than a field goal over Indianapolis.

Ball control played a huge part in the Texans’ 29-27 Week 1 victory over the Colts. A dominant effort from Texans running back Joe Mixon (30 carries, 159 yards) helped Houston maintain control of the ball for 40 minutes. Against a 31st-ranked Colts run defense, the Texans will continue to test whether Indianapolis can slow down Mixon. The Colts hope All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner returns from injured reserve this week to provide a lift inside.

Reliable running would help Houston after a poor game from quarterback C.J. Stroud (10 of 21, 86 passing yards) during Week 7’s loss to Green Bay. Stroud played well against Indianapolis in all three of his previous matchups. But the Texans are without sidelined star wideout — and noted Colts killer — Nico Collins.

The offense remains a work in progress for the Colts. Indianapolis QB Anthony Richardson is last among starters in completion percentage and quarterback rating. Through the struggles, Indianapolis is still finishing close games — winning four of its last five. Richardson also deserves credit for leading multiple second-half scoring drives during Week 7’s win over Miami.

A healthy Jonathan Taylor (questionable) is a difference-maker for the Colts. The lead back’s biggest individual game during each of the last two seasons came against Houston. The Texans were also missing five defensive starters during Week 7 — with many of those same players popping up on the Week 8 injury report.

—Scott Phillips

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Green Bay Packers at Jacksonville Jaguars (FOX)

What do you do when you’re one of only four but still get little recognition? You can ask Ringo Starr or follow the Green Bay Packers, the “other” team in the NFC North.
The Lions and Vikings are understandably stealing headlines this season. However, the five-win Packers are among the elite teams of the NFC and are road favorites against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8.

The Packers can’t take this game lightly because their next seven matchups include three division rivals and four possible NFC playoff teams. But head coach Matt LaFleur has the pedigree to ensure his team takes the Jaguars seriously.

Jordan Love is sometimes reckless but has major upside, especially under LaFleur. He has 15 touchdown passes on the year — more than Jared Goff and Kirk Cousins — and a 104.7 passer rating over his last three games (all wins).

Love and company may enjoy a huge day considering the Jaguars are last in the NFL in defensive expected points added.

What is most worrisome for the Jaguars — and the rest of the NFL — is that Love has shown he can lead the Packers to dominant wins and navigate a comeback. Last week, he led Green Bay to a last-second field goal to defeat the Texans.

—Dan Holmes

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Two teams heading in opposite directions lock up when the Detroit Lions host the Tennessee Titans. Following a massive NFC North road win at Minnesota, the Lions hope to avoid a trap game ahead of another big division matchup with Green Bay in Week 9. Ineffective offense continues to hamper Tennessee during its early-season freefall. Detroit is favored by double digits against the Titans.

The Lions are rolling offensively. Detroit owns the NFL’s No. 2 overall offense with a top-four passing (third) and rushing (fourth) attack. Over the last four games, Detroit generated more touchdowns (18) than quarterback Jared Goff has incompletions (15).

MVP-caliber play from Goff is only the start of the Lions’ balanced attack. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs gained 150 total yards and broke multiple big gains against the Vikings in Week 7. Big-play receiver Jameson Williams is facing a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy. Even with that looming, Detroit is stocked with offensive talent.

Tennessee’s defense is allowing the fewest yards per game and fewest first downs allowed per game in the league. But the Titans need to force turnovers to overcome their putrid offense.

Near the bottom in almost every offensive category, Tennessee struggled with backup QB Mason Rudolph at the helm in Week 7. After the Titans traded DeAndre Hopkins to the Chiefs midweek, Tennessee’s offense could be even worse.

Regular starter Will Levis (shoulder) is considered week-to-week and will start again once fully healthy. Regardless of who starts, the Titans need better protection. Tennessee is 28th in sack rate and allowed numerous hits on Rudolph against the Bills.

Limiting turnovers will be key for Tennessee. The Titans are 31st in turnover differential, while the Lions are tied for eighth in takeaways despite already having taken their bye week.

—Scott Phillips

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Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (FOX)

Sole possession of first place in the NFC South is on the line Sunday when the Atlanta Falcons visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Falcons are a small road favorite, even though they are coming off of an ugly loss to the Seattle Seahawks this past week.

Atlanta won the previous meeting between the two teams in overtime a couple of weeks ago. Winning again on Sunday would not only give the Falcons the top spot in the NFC South, but also the tiebreaker for the season.

The biggest issue for the Buccaneers — and perhaps the driving force behind their home underdog status — is the fact they are absolutely decimated by injuries at wide receiver after losing Evans and Godwin in Monday night’s loss to the Ravens.

With Evans and Godwin sidelined, there’s not another wide receiver on the roster who has more than eight catches this season. That is going to put a ton of pressure on quarterback Baker Mayfield to try to find plays on offense, and he is likely going to have to rely on tight end Cade Otton and running backs Rachaad White and Bucky Irving to make plays. They are now the leading pass-catchers on the team.

Tampa Bay could also have issues on defense when trying to stop the Falcons’ passing game. The Buccaneers are allowing 254 passing yards per game (fourth-most in the NFL) and were not only embarrassed by Jackson on Monday night but also had no answer for Cousins in Week 5 when he threw for four touchdowns and played his best game as a Falcon.

Atlanta is only 2-4 against the spread over the past three years as a road favorite. The Buccaneers are 3-5 against the spread during that same stretch as a home underdog. Something has to give here.

—Adam Gretz

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Aaron Rodgers finally got his man, but Davante Adams didn’t do much to reverse the Jets’ fortunes on offense. Luckily, the pair gets the Patriots for a second crack at a reunion celebration, and New York heads to Foxborough as heavy favorites.

Part of that edge is due to a resurgent Breece Hall, who languished through the early-season slog and has returned to dynamic form in the two weeks since coach Robert Saleh was fired. Hall was the lone bright spot for New York against the Steelers, scoring once on the ground and totaling more receiving yards than Adams and Garrett Wilson combined in the blowout loss.

The Jets pass defense had been its lone competitive advantage, but Russell Wilson emerged from hibernation last week and tallied 264 yards and a pair of touchdowns against New York. That’s encouraging for Patriots rookie Drake Maye, whose promotion has the New England offense looking … well, not good, exactly, but certainly more interesting.

Maye lost wideout DeMario Douglas to illness in London but still managed 276 yards and a pair of scores while completing 70 percent of his passes last week. His production is close to miraculous, given New England’s patchwork offensive line, and his mobility has kept drives from collapsing the last two weeks. Unfortunately, Maye has been the team’s leading rusher in both of those games, and the Pats’ inability to muster even the rumor of a rushing threat means the Jets will be keyed in entirely on the rookie.

Couple that with the Jets facing a lost season if they fall to the division’s basement dwellers, and it’s a reasonable bet that Sunday’s game will be one of those “character-building” contests people talk about for first-year quarterbacks.

—J.J. Bailey

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The possible Week 8 return of Tua Tagovailoa headlines the matchup between the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals and contributes to Miami being the early favorite.

Tagovailoa has been on the NFL’s injured reserve list since suffering a concussion in Week 2 against the Bills. The Dolphins’ QB has been the victim of four concussions in his five NFL seasons. Betting on Miami has been tricky for football fans in the Tua Era, but that’s less important than his long-term health. The specific risks of playing after a particular number of concussions are unknown, and his ongoing health remains a concern.

Regardless, Miami’s offense needs a boost. The Dolphins have only three passing touchdowns and rank 30th in passing yards. The receivers and fill-in passers have been mediocre. According to Pro Football Reference, Miami is -19.9 in points expected from its passing game, but it could be worse. Miami’s two wins were fourth-quarter comebacks; otherwise, this team could be sitting behind the Patriots and the Jets.

The Cardinals recorded an uninspiring victory in Week 7 against the Chargers and have done just enough in two of their three wins to squeak by on top. Kyler Murray is playing well and protecting the football. He has the highest quarterback rating in his career and the best passer rating since 2021. Only 27, Murray is becoming a quarterback who can be depended on to keep his team (no matter how forgettable it may be) in games.

Marvin Harrison Jr. may be the sizzle, but Arizona tight end Trey McBride is the steak in the Cardinals offense, as Murray loves to get the football to his star tight end.

McBride’s 45 targets, 33 catches and 322 yards receiving lead the Cardinals, and he is key to Arizona’s success against Miami’s stringent pass defense, which ranks first in the league in passing yards allowed per game (154.5).

—Dan Holmes

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Philadelphia Eagles at Cincinnati Bengals (CBS)

The Eagles and Bengals are excellent teams on paper that have not always looked like excellent teams on the field. The Bengals enter Sunday’s game as a small home favorite and are looking to win their third game in a row to get back to .500 for the season.

Cincinnati’s defense, a major flaw in the first few weeks, has put things together over the past two weeks by allowing just 21 total points in back-to-back wins. The catch is that those wins came against the Daniel-Jones New York Giants and a one-win Cleveland Browns team that had to use three quarterbacks due to injuries.

The Bengals defense will face a significantly bigger test this weekend against an Eagles offense led by Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. If the Bengals limit Philly’s offense, maybe Cincinnati can start building some momentum for the second half of the season.

Stopping Barkley is the key, and that is easier said than done. The Bengals are allowing 136 rushing yards per game (21st in the NFL) and nearly 4.5 yards per carry. They are vulnerable on the ground, which could present an opportunity for Barkley to have another huge game — a trend for him this season. He has been a great fit in the Eagles offense and has been especially dominant over the past four weeks, averaging 7.6 yards per carry.

The Eagles defense has also played great over the past two weeks, not allowing a single touchdown in back-to-back wins. The catch here is that those two performances also came against the same Giants and Browns teams.

Neither team has been overly dominant in covering the spread this season, with the Bengals coming in 4-3 against the spread and the Eagles having a 3-3 mark.

—Adam Gretz

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The Los Angeles Chargers and New Orleans Saints meet on Sunday, following Week 7 losses for both teams.

Odds show the Chargers as favorites, largely because the Saints have unrest at the quarterback position. Rookie Spencer Rattler will start for a third consecutive week following Derek Carr’s injury. Last year’s rookie quarterback, Jake Haener, will lurk as the understudy. Few quarterbacks drafted in the fifth round (like Rattler) or those drafted in the fourth round (like Haener) acclimate quickly (or ever) to the NFL.

But while the Saints are on a five-game losing streak, they do rank fifth in red zone scoring percentage since Carr went down.

Jim Harbaugh would love his team to be the “Michigan of SoCal,” and the Chargers running attack is living up to that aspiration. The offense averages 116 yards per game on the ground, 20 yards more than last season. Still, the Chargers often get flummoxed in the red zone; the Bolts are -12 in expected points from rushing.

A great kicker is a wonderful weapon, but wins in this league are forged through celebrations in the end zone. Harbaugh’s team has scored only nine touchdowns in six games. While the Chargers are doing an excellent job holding onto the ball (only four turnovers, ranking third in the NFL), too often they settle for three rather than six, seven or eight.

The outcome of this game may come down to the fundamentals and special teams. The Chargers have been penalized for the third-fewest yards in the league, while the Saints are the second-worst punting and eighth-worst punt coverage team.

—Dan Holmes

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Buffalo Bills at Seattle Seahawks (FOX)

It’s no wonder this matchup has the highest over/under of the week, as the Seahawks love to play fast, and the Bills have Josh Allen playing at the peak of his considerable powers. The Bills are road favorites after shellacking the Titans at home, but the Seahawks are coming off their most complete win of the season against Atlanta.

Seattle will likely be without lead receiver Metcalf, who is now week-to-week with an MCL sprain. That throws a wrench into the Seahawks’ offensive game plan, as they have the lowest called run rate in the league and use shifts three times more often than the NFL average.

With Metcalf out, Kenneth Walker III will likely see more work, and Seattle’s early-down formations will be something to watch. The Seahawks lead the league in empty formations on first and second down, but with an increased need on the ground, their preferred offensive style could be put on hold. Geno Smith is the NFL leader in pass attempts and yards, but his numbers could take a hit out of necessity.

Speaking of numbers, how about zero? That’s Allen’s interception total in 189 pass attempts this season. The 28-year-old trails only Daniels in EPA per dropback and has the best passer rating of his career. With Cooper now in the fold, his air numbers should only improve.

Allen’s legs remain disastrous for defenses. He boasts the league’s second-best rushing EPA, ahead of Henry and behind only Daniels. James Cook pairs perfectly with Allen out of the backfield, and Seattle’s soft run defense should be particularly exploitable for the duo.

—J.J. Bailey

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Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders (CBS)

The Week 8 matchup between the Bears and Commanders is one of two NFC battles featuring teams that both have winning records. The odds have the Bears as favorites on the road.

The headline for this game is the potential quarterback battle between 2024 NFL Draft No. 1 pick Williams and Daniels, who was selected right after Williams with the No. 2 pick. As it should be, these two exciting players are establishing themselves as the franchise cornerstones they were projected to be.

Daniels leads the NFL in completion percentage and became the first quarterback to accumulate at least 1,000 passing and 250 rushing yards in his first five NFL games. But he is dealing with a rib injury, and the Commanders are only “hopeful” that he’ll play Sunday.

On the other sideline is Williams, who, after a rough beginning, has elevated his play in the pocket. In the Bears’ more recent game, in London against the Jags, he threw four touchdown passes and ran for 56 yards.

We won’t know for years if Daniels vs. Williams can reach the heights of Brady vs. Manning or Elway vs. Marino, but there’s never been a pair of QBs picked No. 1 and No. 2 in the same draft who later met in the playoffs. Sunday’s nationally televised clash between Daniels and Williams could be a playoff preview, and both quarterbacks are still quite wet behind the ears.

The difference in the Young Quarterback Bowl may come down to supporting casts. Wide receivers D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze and tight end Cole Kmet are Williams’ top targets, while D’Andre Swift leads Chicago’s backfield. Daniels’ leading receivers are WR Terry McLaurin and veteran TE Zach Ertz, and the Commanders have an excellent backfield tandem in pass-catching back Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr.

The Commanders have a better group, and that’s why they’ll be tough to beat in the District.

—Dan Holmes

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The unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs travel to play the Las Vegas Raiders in a classic AFC West rivalry game. A statement win over the 49ers in a Super Bowl rematch in Week 7 has the Chiefs riding high. The Raiders, on the other hand, are reconfiguring after losing starting QB Aidan O’Connell to injured reserve. Kansas City is a double-digit favorite on the road in Las Vegas.

Timely conversions and the running game are carrying the Chiefs’ offense amid Patrick Mahomes’ sluggish stretch. Held without a touchdown pass and only 154 passing yards in Week 7’s win, Mahomes managed a ball-control offense behind 189 rushing yards.

Kansas City’s gameplan against the Raiders could be similar — even with the Chiefs’ midweek trade for veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Las Vegas is solid against the pass (eighth in passing yards allowed) and mediocre at stopping the run (23rd in rushing yards allowed). Lead back Kareem Hunt could be in line for a third consecutive 20-plus carry game.

Las Vegas is back with original starting quarterback Gardner Minshew under center after he was benched for his performance during Week 5. Minshew turned the ball over four times during his Week 7 return after replacing O’Connell. The Las Vegas offense moves the ball more effectively with Minshew, but his eight interceptions are tied with Mahomes for the league lead.

The Raiders will likely have to throw, thanks to a 30th-ranked running game facing Kansas City’s No. 4 run defense. Las Vegas rookie tight end Brock Bowers could be a major factor in this game. Kansas City’s defense has allowed seven catches and 83 yards per game to tight ends, and Bowers ranks second in the NFL in catches and fifth in overall targets.

—Scott Phillips

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The Broncos are one of the hottest teams in the NFL and have a great opportunity to improve to 5-3 on Sunday when they host a one-win Panthers team that might be the worst team in the NFL. The Broncos are more than a touchdown favorite as they look to win for the fifth time in six games.

Denver’s offense under rookie quarterback Bo Nix is starting to show some improvement, especially after a 33-point effort in New Orleans this past week, but the real star of this team has been a defense that is allowing just 15.6 points per game, the third-lowest total in the NFL. The Broncos’ 28 sacks are also the second-most in the NFL, with five players already recording at least three of them.

All of that is a terrible matchup for a Carolina team that is scoring just 15.7 points per game.

Presumptive starter Andy Dalton has been ruled out after he and his family were in a car accident on Tuesday. Second-year quarterback Bryce Young, who has a 49.5 passer rating this season, will reclaim his spot atop the depth chart — at least for one week.

Wide receiver Diontae Johnson has been Carolina’s closest thing to a playmaker on offense this season, but he is almost certainly going to draw the attention of the Broncos’ defensive backfield.

As for Nix, he is starting to figure things out more and more each week. After recording just one touchdown to four interceptions in his first four games, he has flipped the script the past three weeks with four touchdowns to only one interception. He has also been extremely effective using his legs, already rushing for 255 yards and three touchdowns. Facing a Panthers defense that is allowing a league-worst 34.7 points per game (no other team is allowing more than 28.0 points per game this season) should be a great opportunity for him to keep building on those numbers.

Even though it’s a potentially big line for Denver to cover, the Broncos are 5-2 against the spread this season. The Panthers are 1-6 against the spread, matching their overall record.

—Adam Gretz

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Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers (NBC)

Normally, when the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers meet, it’s either in the playoffs or a marquee matchup between NFC contenders. Unfortunately for both teams, that is not the case entering Week 8. In a pivotal game, both squads are simply desperate for a win, with the 49ers favored at home against a Cowboys team coming off a 47-9 loss to Detroit before a bye.

Viewed as Super Bowl contenders coming into this season, Dallas (3-3) and San Francisco (3-4) are currently out of playoff contention. Injuries have played a big part in their struggles but they don’t absolve either team of its disappointing showings thus far.

The Cowboys hope to be healthier coming out of the bye, but pass rusher Micah Parsons (ankle) and cornerback DaRon Bland (toe) are questionable. There are big concerns surrounding the team’s defense, which is giving up 28 points per game (second-to-last in the NFL) and 143.2 rushing yards per game.

Another issue for Dallas has been a one-dimensional offense that is producing a league-low 77.2 rushing yards per game. The Cowboys are second in the league in passing offense (259.3 yards per game), but the lack of balance has stifled the team’s scoring output. The 49ers will no doubt look to take advantage by cranking up the pressure on Dak Prescott.

Balance hasn’t been a problem for San Francisco’s offense, even though star running back Christian McCaffrey has yet to play this season. Jordan Mason is second in the league in rushing (667 yards), and Brock Purdy is third in passing yards, much of that coming before last week’s injuries to his weapons.

The 49ers won’t have McCaffrey back this week, especially with the team’s bye coming up. They also just lost Brandon Aiyuk (torn ACL and MCL). Deebo Samuel’s status is uncertain after he was hospitalized with pneumonia. This obviously makes things tougher for Purdy, who is looking to bounce back after throwing three interceptions last week.

—Mark Ross

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New York Giants at Pittsburgh Steelers (Monday, ESPN, ABC)

Quarterbacks will be in the spotlight on Monday night when the Steelers host the Giants. Russell Wilson’s debut went well for the Steelers in a primetime win over the Jets in Week 7. Things aren’t going so hot for Jones and the struggling Giants. Jones was benched during the fourth quarter of New York’s latest loss — creating uncertainty about his future as a starter. Pittsburgh is favored by close to a touchdown over the Giants.

Pittsburgh’s passing game looks rejuvenated with Wilson under center. After shaking off some early rust, he and the Steelers ran off 31 unanswered points on the Jets.

Former starter Justin Fields was replaced in part for only averaging 184 passing yards over the first six games. In his debut, Wilson put up 264 passing yards and developed instant chemistry with No. 1 target George Pickens — connecting for 111 yards and a touchdown.

A sluggish Steelers backfield is also coming to life. Lead back Najee Harris rushed for 100 yards in back-to-back games for only the second time in his career. With the Giants run defense dead last in opponent yards per carry, Harris could be in for another strong afternoon.

New York’s offense looks lifeless. The Giants rank near the bottom in most major offensive categories. Perhaps most concerning, the Giants haven’t generated a play longer than 15 yards from scrimmage over the last two games.

Incapable of throwing a consistent deep ball, Jones was replaced by backup Drew Lock against the Eagles. It doesn’t help Jones that the Giants can’t run the ball (28th in rushing yards per attempt) or protect the quarterback (23rd in sack rate). The Giants could be in for another uphill battle against a punishing Steelers defense that is second in points allowed.

—Scott Phillips

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(Photo of Dak Prescott: Sam Hodde / Getty Images)