NFL Week 8: 5 games to watch on Sunday

Which games should you be spending your Sunday glued to during the NFL slate? We run down the top five games of the day.

5. Houston Texans at Seattle Seahawks

Everyone is freaking out about rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson, and understandably so. Watson has thrown for 15 touchdowns and looks the part of a potential superstar in the making. This week, his 3-3 Texans travel after their bye to take on the Seahawks. Seattle is desperate to win this game, as a victory would pull it even with the Los Angeles Rams atop the NFC West. The big question is whether Watson can slice and dice the Legion of Boom.

4. Oakland Raiders at Buffalo Bills

This is a sneaky good game. Buffalo is 4-2 and trying to reach the playoffs for the first time since 1999, which is the league’s longest active draught. Meanwhile, the Raiders are supposed to be one of the best teams in the NFL, and yet are 3-4. Whoever wins this game has to be feeling very good about getting to the postseason, while the loser takes a step back and loses what could be a big tiebreaker.

3. Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins

This is one of the best rivalries in the game, and there haven’t been many in recent memory more important than this. Washington and Dallas are both 3-3 and 2.5 games behind the surprising Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East. With the Eagles at home against the winless San Francisco 49ers this weekend, the winner of this one likely keeps pace while the loser has to start thinking about making a run at the wild card spots.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers at Detroit Lions

The Lions have a chance to win their division for the first time since the Clinton Administration (1993), but those hopes are dwindling with the Minnesota Vikings sitting a 1.5 games ahead. Detroit has a chance to win this weekend at home, coming off a bye, against the Steelers. Pittsburgh has been hot in recent weeks, nothing wins over the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals. Detroit is an underdog at home, but there is reason to believe that a good game will get the Lions back over .500. Meanwhile, the Steelers are trying to stay atop the AFC, with a win getting them to 6-2.

1. Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots

This might be the most entertaining game of the weekend. Philip Rivers and Tom Brady should be able to light up the scoreboard, with both offenses primes for huge days. It could take 30 points (or more) to win this one, with both playing for plenty. The Patriots are trying to keep pace in the AFC with the Steelers and Chiefs (all three are 5-2), while the Chargers are aiming for their fourth straight win, getting to 4-4.