NFL Week 8 schedule: 5 best games of the slate

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tennessee Titans

The Titans and Buccaneers are both sub-.500 teams, so why is this game on the list? For historical purposes, to an extent. Tennessee and Tampa Bay both believed they finally found franchise quarterbacks when they were at the top of the 2015 draft. The Buccaneers had the first pick and landed Jameis Winston. The Titans followed and took Marcus Mariota. Here we are five years later, and Mariota has been benched for Ryan Tannehill while Winston is on the brink of being out of town once his rookie contract expires. Lot of storylines in this one.

4. Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs

It seems rather unlikely Patrick Mahomes will play in this game. Hell, he dislocated his kneecap in Denver only a week ago, and it appeared he might be done for the season judging by that scene. Now, here we are, and Mahomes is practicing on Wednesday for Kansas City. It’s incredible. Meanwhile, the Packers are 6-1 and only playing their third road game of the year. How does Aaron Rodgers and Co. handle the noise in Arrowhead, for what promises to be a jacked-up crowd? The only reason this game doesn’t top the list is smart money remaining on Matt Moore to play.

3. Los Angeles Chargers at Chicago Bears

This is the classic loser-is-finished game. The Chargers are 2-5 and teetering after one of the most ridiculous losses you’ll ever see. The Bears are getting booed off the field at home, and while they are only 3-3, the schedule the rest of the way is brutal. It’s time for head coach Matt Nagy and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky to figure something out, win a game and get rolling.

2. Philadelphia Eagles at Buffalo Bills

Buffalo is 5-1 and yet very few believe in it as a real contender. That’s probably because theBills lost to the only decent team they’ve played in the New England Patriots. The five wins? They’ve come against the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals and Titans. In come the Eagles, who at 3-4 are a mess in their own right. Still, Philadelphia is at least talented and certainly desperate.

1. Carolina Panthers at San Francisco 49ers

This is a fantastic one. Kyle Allen has stepped in for Cam Newton and been terrific, winning all four of his starts while throwing for nine touchdowns and no interceptions. He now meets the undefeated 49ers and their excellent defense. Should be a classic.