Vikings head into Detroit as underdogs despite being undefeated, while the Colts and Titans look to be waving the white flag already.
The NFL schedule for Week 8 is stacked with the kind of games that start separating pretenders from the real thing. The undefeated Vikings travel to face a division rival in Detroit, and oddsmakers have them as underdogs despite the perfect record. Elsewhere, Ravens-Bills and Chiefs-Broncos headline a slate that also includes Bears at Seahawks on Monday night.
Meanwhile, not every franchise is playing for October relevance. The Colts and Titans both appear to be shifting into sell mode, a sign that their seasons have effectively turned toward next year. On the other side of the ledger, teams in the NFC West and NFC North are reportedly looking to add pieces as they push for playoff positioning.
Among the week's other matchups, the Commanders are favored to handle a shorthanded Eagles squad, and the Jaguars are expected to roll past the Colts. Analysts across outlets are divided on several of the closer matchups, but the broad shape of the week is clear: haves are buying, have-nots are selling, and the undefeated Vikings are about to find out if Detroit can finally hand them a loss.
What happens next is simple: the games get played, and by Monday night the league's hierarchy will look a little different.