Aaron Rodgers finally gets a shot against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8. 

It’s a one-off – a far-different experience than Rodgers had when he head-to-head against Brett Favre in Green Bay. Which game do you remember the most? 

The Monday Night Football matchup on Oct. 5, 2009? Rodgers had 389 passing yards, but Favre led the Vikings to a 30-23 victory. Then, Favre led Minnesota to a 38-25 victory at Lambeau Field on Nov. 1, 2009. Those are the games that are remembered – even if Rodgers did beat Favre head-to-head twice in 2020. Rodgers led the Packers to a 31-25 victory in Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

We’re back there now in the Sunday Night Football matchup between the Packers and Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Green Bay has some other history to overcome. The Packers have lost their last six trips to Pittsburgh – a streak that extends back to 1970. If they can exorcise that and beat Rodgers in the same night, then that can create a whole new narrative for both sides. 

That is the highlight of a Week 8 schedule that also features a rematch between the Giants and Eagles, Dallas at Denver in the Sunday afternoon window and another Monday Night Football matchup with the Chiefs, this time against the reeling Commanders. 

Straight up: 66-39-1 (7-6 in Week 7) 
Against the spread: 55-49-2 (6-7 in Week 7) 

Here are our straight-up picks for Week 8. Odds according to Caesars. 

POWER RANKINGS: Colts, Broncos, Cowboys keep moving up; Vikings, Commanders slip for Week 8

NFL picks, predictions for Week 8

Thursday, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video  

Will JJ McCarthy (ankle) get a chance to start against his college coach? Carson Wentz has split the last four starts in his place. The Chargers are 2-1 S/U at home, but they have given up 27 or more points the last three weeks. This is a toss-up game. 

Pick: Chargers 24, Vikings 21

Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS

The Dolphins continue to flounder through a miserable season, but they are 2-2 ATS as an underdog and that line is more than a touchdown. Yes, Bijan Robinson is going to carve up a Miami run defense that allows 159.3 yards per game. Tua Tagovailoa has a 79.8 career QB rating in stadiums with a retractable roof. Will Miami play a little closer this time? 

Pick: Falcons 27, Dolphins 20 

Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS

The Jets and Bengals rank 29th and 31st, respectively, in total offense, but they are trending in different directions. Justin Fields might not be the starter for New York in Week 8, and that means we get Joe Flacco and Tyrod Taylor. Flacco hit 22 of 32 passes for 257 yards and two TDs when targeting Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins last week. It’s not rocket science. 

Pick: Bengals 23, Jets 14 

Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox

The Browns are 0-3 S/U on the road this season, and they have lost those games by an average of 20.7 points per game. New England is 3-1 S/U and 3-1 ATS as a home favorite. Drake Maye has a 78.1 completion percentage through a four-game winning streak. The Browns have a total of three sacks in those losses. Will that change here? 

Pick: Patriots 22, Browns 16

Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox

The Giants beat the Eagles 34-17 on Oct. 9, but how will New York respond after the brutal fourth quarter against the Broncos? Look for the Eagles to make adjustments after allowing 172 rushing yards in the first meeting. Philadelphia is 1-2 ATS at home, but this has some payback feel to it. The Eagles have not lost at home to the Giants since 2013. 

Pick: Eagles 31, Giants 19

Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox

The Panthers have a 4-3 record and have shown balance on offense around Bryce Young, Rico Dowdle and a defense that ranks in the top 10 against the run and pass. The Bills had a bye week to register back-to-back losses to the Patriots and Falcons. Buffalo is 9-0 S/U after a bye week under Sean McDermott, and that includes a 5-2-2 ATS record. Look for Josh Allen to get right here. 

Pick: Bills 34, Panthers 20

Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS

This line would hint that Lamar Jackson (hamstring) will make his return for Baltimore. The Ravens are 16-4 S/U after a bye week under long-time coach John Harbaugh, but they are also 11-9 ATS. Caleb Williams – a Gonzaga College High School legend – has a chance to sweep two road games on the Beltway. 

Pick: Ravens 31, Bears 27

Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox

The Texans are favored on a short week, which is an interesting play. The 49ers’ defense allowed 10 points to the Falcons, and Christian McCaffrey had 201 all-purpose yards. That’s still a solid challenge for Houston, who is 1-1 S/U at home this season. How will C.J. Stroud respond here? 

Pick: 49ers 22, Texans 20

Sunday, 4:05 p.m., Fox

The Buccaneers are on a short week. Baker Mayfield continues to make it work with a revolving door cast of receivers, and Emeka Egbuka and Mike Evans should be healthy here. The Saints have scored 20 or more points twice this season – but both times were at home. The Buccaneers are 1-1 ATS a favorite, and it’s a tricky line as a result. Tampa Bay has won the last three meetings at the Caesars Superdome, and that includes two blowouts. 

Pick: Buccaneers 27, Saints 15 

• Dallas Cowboys at Denver Broncos (-3) 

Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS

Which over-reaction will carry over into this game? The Cowboys’ 44-point outburst against Washington or the Broncos’ 33-point fourth quarter against the Giants? Both? Javonte Williams will face his former team, and the Broncos allow 93.3 points per game. Dallas ranks third in the NFL with 31.7 points per game, but they are 1-3 S/U on the road. The Broncos are 3-0 S/U at home. Denver has won the last six meetings in this series. 

Pick: Broncos 31, Cowboys 29

• Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts (-14) 

Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS

The Colts beat the Titans 41-20 in Week 1, and they have not slowed down since. Jonathan Taylor has three games with at least rushing TDs. Tennessee ranks 29th against the run. The Titans are 2-5 ATS, but both covers were when they were underdogs of seven points or more. This game should be closer this time around. 

Pick: Colts 27, Titans 14 

• Green Bay Packers (-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers 

Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC 

Jordan Love has one start at Pittsburgh – a 23-19 loss that ended with a late interception. Rodgers hasn’t been sacked in his last two games. Will that change with Micah Parsons – who is coming off a three-sack performance? This will be another Sunday Night Football classic with huge ratings. This time, Green Bay makes the play in the clutch. 

Pick: Packers 24, Steelers 23 

• Washington Commanders at Kansas City Chiefs (-10) 

Monday, 8:15 p.m., ABC/ESPN

The Commanders’ season has turned for the worse, and they were 0-4 S/U when giving up 24 points or more. That’s a bad omen against a Kansas City-offense is clicking around Patrick Mahomes II. The defense allowed just three first rounds against the Raiders. It’s still a double-digit line, but if Jayden Daniels (hamstring) is out, then it’s tough to pick the Commanders here. 

Pick: Chiefs 31, Commanders 17