With the season nearing the halfway point, the playoff picture is slowly becoming clearer. According to SportsLine projections, there are already nine teams with a less than 10% chance to make the postseason. Maybe a couple of those teams have the chance to turn things around, but for now, that leaves 23 teams with somewhat realistic playoff hopes.
That also means that when two of those 23 teams meet, there are massive implications on the line. Add in in-division and in-conference games, and the stakes get even higher. We can no longer say "it's early." This middle chunk of the season is equivalent to Saturday — aka "Moving Day" — in a golf tournament.
Teams can't guarantee a playoff berth yet, but they can sure play their way into (or out of) contention. Using SportsLine projections, these are the five most important games in Week 8 based on how they'll impact the playoff race. ET on Fox (Stream: fubo, try for free) The NFC South got a lot more interesting in Week 7 with the Falcons beating the previously undefeated 49ers and the Buccaneers demolishing the Panthers.
Though Carolina still leads the division at 3-3, SportsLine currently sees Atlanta and Tampa Bay as the top two favorites, and Sunday's results certainly played a big role in that. This is a particularly big game for the Buccaneers. At 2-5, they're running out of losses they can afford.
A win, though, would not only give them the early head-to-head advantage over Atlanta but also get them to 2-0 in the division. ET on CBS, streaming on Paramount+ In-division matchup? Two of the league's most pleasant surprises?
Massive opportunity for both teams? The Browns and the Steelers are both 5-2 this season, tied atop the AFC North, with Cleveland holding the tiebreaker after a head-to-head win earlier this year. This has the chance to be a massive statement for the Browns, plain and simple.
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