The Predictors’ guide to the top two Week 8 NFL matchups

Written by: Miles Jordan,William Petersen •

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Giants running back Cam Skattebo

The Sunday slate of games in Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season kicks off with an NFC East Divisional matchup as the Philadelphia Eagles host the New York Giants, and is rounded out by the oldest quarterback in the NFL hosting his former Super Bowl-winning team as the Green Bay Packers travel to Pennsylvania to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Let's get into the top two matchups from the Week 8 Sunday slate:

Giants (2-5, 1-2 NFC East) vs. Eagles (5-2, 1-1)

New York

After knocking off the Eagles 34-17 in Week 6, the Giants looked on pace to pick up their third win of the season against the Denver Broncos in Week 7, as they led 19-0 entering the fourth quarter. However, disaster struck quickly, and New York gave up 33 points in the fourth quarter, including 22 unanswered, before Denver kicker Wil Lutz kicked the game-winning field goal to hand the Giants their fifth loss of the season.

New York is bouncing back off a 33-32 loss to the Broncos, but despite the final score, its rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart played his best game of the season as the Giants’ signal caller. Dart threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns on 15 completions, while tacking on five carries for 11 yards and a score. The Ole Miss graduate set a career-high in scrimmage yards (294), and total touchdowns (4) as New York came up short in Denver.

His rookie counterpart, running back Cam Skattebo, notched his best game of the season against Philadelphia in Week 6. The Arizona State graduate tallied 19 carries for a career high 98 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns, as the Giants stunned the Eagles in MetLife Stadium in early October.

Skatttebo backed up his performance vs. Philly the following week against Denver, where he tallied 16 carries for 60 rushing yards, and caught three passes for 34 yards and a receiving touchdown - the first time in his career he has scored in back-to-back games.

Philadelphia

The Eagles sit atop the NFC East, despite a Week 6 loss to the Giants, and are coming off a 28-22 victory in Week 7 over the Minnesota Vikings.

Like Dart, Philadelphia’s signal-caller Jalen Hurts also just played his best game of the season in Week 7. The Super Bowl LIX MVP threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns, completing 19 of 23 attempts - his best QBR of the season (95.1).

His standout performance came just a week after he recorded his worst QBR of the season against New York (29.1). He threw for 283 passing yards and split his touchdown passes and interceptions (1/1). Yet, he was not the only Eagle to underperform against their divisional rival.

The last time running back Saquon Barkley faced his former team, he recorded 12 carries for 58 yards and added nine receiving yards on two receptions. He has failed to score a rushing touchdown in his last three outings.

Barkley, who finished the 2024-25 NFL season with 2,504 rushing yards, became the first player in NFL history to record over 2,500 rushing yards in a season (including playoffs) and the third player to lead the league in rushing yards and capture a Super Bowl in the same season, joining Dallas Cowboys Emmitt Smith and Denver Broncos’ Terrell Davis.

Yet, the 2024 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year has struggled to produce throughout the first half of his second season in Philadelphia. The Penn State graduate and former Giant has tallied 113 carries for 369 yards and three touchdowns, while racking up 20 receptions for 135 receiving yards and a score through the air. In 2024, Barkley found the endzone 13 times on the ground - 18 including playoffs - and finished with a career-high in carries (345).  - Miles Jordan

Stats to know

Giants:
  • 17th in total offense / 11th in rushing / 18th in passing
  • 29th in total defense / 25th in rushing defense / 26th in passing defense
  • Points per game: 21.9 / Points allowed to opponents per game: 25.3
  • Total yards per game: 348.7 / Yards allowed to opponents per game: 389.1

The Giants have seen somewhat of an offensive resurgence through the play of rookies Dart and Skattebo. New York should see this trend continue with an Eagles defense that ranks near the bottom half of the league in total defense. Keep an eye on how the Eagles' defense adjusts to these two rookies, mainly Skattebo, after allowing three rushing touchdowns to the Arizona State alum in their first matchup. Skattebo has found the endzone in two straight games, and his usage only seems to be growing even with the return of Tyrone Tracy Jr. In the Giants' 33-32 loss to the Broncos in Week 7, Skattebo finished with 16 carries for 60 yards and 3 receptions for 34 yards and a touchdown.

Eagles:
  • 27th in total offense / 30th in rushing / 22nd in passing
  • 23rd in total defense / 22nd in rushing defense / 19th in passing defense
  • Points per game: 24.3 / Points allowed to opponents per game: 23.6
  • Total yards per game: 299.6 / Yards allowed to opponents per game: 355.9

The Eagles' offense has been nearly unrecognizable from their offense from their Super Bowl-winning season last year. The Eagles in 2024 were the best rushing offense in the league thanks to their HOF-caliber offensive line, but with injuries and a different scheme, their rushing offense is nearly nonexistent through seven weeks. The Eagles have moved to a more pass-centric offense, which has seen star running back Barkley take a backseat role. Barkley, through seven games, has only 113 carries for 369 yards, averaging 3.3 yards per carry and three rushing touchdowns. Last season, Barkley averaged 5.8 yards per carry, rushing for 2,005 yards in the 2024 regular season.

With Barkley seeing less work, Jalen Hurts has already thrown the ball 195 times for 11 touchdowns and only one interception. In their 28-22 win over the Vikings in Week 7, Hurts threw for 326 yards, going 19/23 with three touchdown passes. Devonta Smith led the way with nine receptions for 183 yards and a touchdown, while WR1 A.J. Brown hauled in four receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns. If the Eagles' passing attack can produce even half of what it did against the Vikings, Philly should have no problem beating a Giants secondary that ranks near the bottom of the league.

Odds as of Friday, October 24, 2025: Eagles -7.5 / Total O/U 43.5 / Giants ML +330

Best Bets:

\ 1. Jalen Hurts over 211.5 passing yards (-111)

  • Hurts averages 214 passing yards per game, but over the last three games, he’s averaged 296.3. Look for Hurts to continue airing it out against a Giants secondary that will have to “pick their poison” between Smith and Brown.

\ 2. Cam Skattebo anytime touchdown (+100)

  • Skattebo’s role continues to increase as the season rolls on, and the Eagles' defense is a middle-of-the-pack run defense that struggled against the rookie in their first matchup. Skattebo has two straight games with a touchdown, and this trend will continue given the energy and versatility he brings to the Giants' backfield. The odds alone show that Vegas is quite confident that he will get into the box on Sunday, given that the odds are even money, which is great for certainty when betting, as well as your bankroll, meaning you will double your wager when Skattebo finds paydirt*. - Willy P*

Banged up Score/Injury Report

The Team BUS™, or “Banged Up Score™,” is a proprietary algorithm that assesses a team's overall health in relation to future performance.

Giants:

The Giants are trending in the wrong direction. New York ranked 21st overall in team health heading into their Week 7 matchup. The two most significant areas of concern were positionally at wide receiver and linebacker.

Team BUS Since Week 4:

Week 4: 82.6

Week 5: 80.7

Week 6: 79.7

Week 7: 78.3

Injury Report: The Giants went into their Week 7 game without linebackers Swayze Bozeman and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, and defensive lineman John Mchauel Schmitz. While all three remained on the injury report following Wednesday's practice, each was able to complete at least a limited practice. Of greater concern is defensive lineman Chauncey Golston - who was doubtful for Week 7 and was unable to practice - and linebacker Brian Burns, who did not practice with a knee injury. Finally, wide receiver Darius Slayton will be a keep player to keep an eye on heading into the weekend. The Giants are Banged-Up at wide out, but getting Slayton back would give that group a significant boost going into this key divisional matchup versus the Eagles.

Eagles:

The Eagles have maintained a strong BUS rating over the first half of the season, checking in at 8th during Week 7. The Eagles have benefited from a balanced approach, but questions remain behind Barkley, as running back health is the most significant positional health concern.

Team BUS (Since Week 4):

Week 4: 83.3

Week 5: 85.0

Week 6: 82.4

Week 7: 84.5

Injury Report: Defensive tackle Jalen Carter was listed as questionable heading into Week 7 but was able to play after missing Week 6 with a heel injury. Of greater concern is A.J. Brown missing practice on Wednesday due to a reported hamstring injury. This will be a major storyline to watch heading into the weekend. Adoree’ Jackson left last week’s contest with a concussion and was not able to practice on Wednesday. There is still time for him to be ready for Sunday, but that is likely trending towards a game-time decision if he is unable to practice today. Finally, keep an eye on the offensive line. Six-foot-six, 332-pound guard Landon Dickerson has been banged up all season. Between his preseason knee injury and the now-lingering ankle injury, he has been a mainstay on the injury report, yet he has shown tremendous resiliency. Expect him to play even if he remains limited in practice throughout the week. Center Cam Jurgens did not practice with a knee injury, which took him out of the week 7 game against the Vikings. Backup Brett Toth filled in for the remainder of last week’s game, but in the past, head coach Nick Siriani has used Landon Dickerson to fill in at center, making his ankle injury even more of a factor in the Eagles’ game planning. -Jillian Neufeld

New York is looking for its first consecutive victories against Philadelphia since knocking them off in November of 2020 and 2021, while the Eagles hope to remain atop of the NFC East entering the midway point of the season.

Kickoff: Sunday, October 26, at Lincoln Financial Field (1:00 p.m. ET on FOX)*

Packers (4-1-1) vs. Steelers (4-2)

Green Bay

The Packers are coming off their second two-game win streak of the season. Green Bay knocked off the Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals in Weeks 6 and 7, and started the season 2-0 after taking down the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders in Weeks 1 and 2.

A massive part of the Packers' success has come from their fifth-year quarterback Jordan Love, who is currently on pace for his most efficient season yet as a starter. Through Week 7 of the NFL season, Love has completed a career-high 69.3% of his passing attempts, resulting in 1,438 passing yards and 10 passing touchdowns, with only two interceptions. Since becoming a starter in 2023 after the departure of Aaron Rodgers, Love has tossed 11 interceptions in each of his last two seasons. He has cut that number down significantly and has yet to have a game with 2+ interceptions in 2025.

In 2024, Love threw at least one interception in each of the Packers' first eight games, including a three-interception performance in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings, and two in a nail-biting win over the Houston Texans. However, Love cleaned up his act as the Green Bay made a late-season playoff push, and finished his final seven games of the regular season with a 9-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Love, the former understudy of Rodgers in Wisconsin, will now go up against the four-time NFL MVP for the first time in his career, with the help of his counterpart in the backfield, running back Josh Jacobs.

Jacobs has recorded the second most rushing touchdowns in the league (8) through Week 7, only behind Indianapolis Colts running back and MVP frontrunner Jonathan Taylor. The former Las Vegas Raider leads Green Bay in rushing yards (414), and has caught 16 passes for 178 receiving yards - fourth most on the team in both categories.

In his last three outings, Jacobs has scored two rushing touchdowns against the Cowboys, Bengals, and Cardinals, helping the Packers pick up two wins and a tie, and maintain one of the better records in the NFL. He has scored a rushing touchdown in every game but one - Green Bay’s 13-10 loss to the Browns in Week 3. He also posted his lowest rushing yards of the season (30) against Cleveland. In fact, 30 rushing yards is the lowest Jacobs has recorded since he tallied -2 rushing yards against the Buffalo Bills in Week 2 of the 2023 NFL season.

Pittsburgh

For the first time in his 21-year career, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will face his former team, the Green Bay Packers.

Despite a below-average performance from the 41-year-old quarterback in 2024 with the New York Jets, Rodgers proved that he still has more gas left in the tank and has propelled the Steelers to the No. 1 seed in the AFC North. Rodgers has thrown for 1,270 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and five interceptions through Week 7, and is tied for fourth in the NFL with passing touchdowns.

Yet, a common theme has emerged in each of the Steelers' two losses this season, and it has been Rodgers' inability to hold onto the football. In Pittsburgh’s Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Rodgers tossed two interceptions, threw for just over 200 yards, and completed 54.6% of his passing attempts. Then, in Week 7 against the Bengals, the Steelers' signal caller threw two more costly interceptions, which were the difference maker in Pittsburgh's two-point loss on Thursday Night Football. His two picks canceled out his four interceptions and 294 passing yards. If he didn't turn the ball over, it would have been his best outing of the season.

However, what makes Rodgers and the Steelers' 2025 performance so impressive so far is their supporting cast, or lack thereof. Outside of wide receiver DK Metcalf, who has tallied 22 receptions for 406 receiving yards and two touchdowns, Pittsburgh has struggled to find another offensive weapon to match Metcalf’s production.

Tight end Pat Freiermuth has tallied the second-most receiving yards (187) and touchdowns on the team (2); however, a majority of those stats come from the Steelers' loss to the Bengals, where the six-foot-five tight end recorded five receptions for 111 receiving yards and his first two touchdowns of the season.

Sitting behind Freiermuth, running back Jalen Warren has recorded the second-most receiving yards on the team (184), meaning out of the three players hauling in a majority of the team's receiving yards, only one of them is a wide receiver. In the backfield, Warren has tallied 26 more carries than his counterpart, Kenneth Gainwell. However, while Warren has notched 311 rushing yards on 70 carries, he has yet to score a rushing touchdown, while Gainwell has three rushing scores on 44 carries for 190 yards. -Miles Jordan

Stats to know

Packers:
  • 14th in total offense/ 15th in rushing / 12th in passing
  • 6th in total defense / 2nd in rushing defense / 15th in passing defense
  • Points per game: 26.3 / Points allowed to opponents: 20.8
  • Yards per game: 357.2 / Yards allowed to opponents: 307.2

The Packers have been one of the most efficient offenses so far this season through seven games, and there are two reasons why. Jordan Love’s ability to take care of the football and the pure power that Josh Jacobs provides when running the football. Through seven games, Love has only thrown two interceptions this season with an average passer rating of 108.1. With how Love has been playing so far this season, I have my eye on his passing yards prop, which is set at 237.5 yards. I have my eye on this prop is due to Love’s success with not turning the ball over, which has been a product of his decision-making, but also from the Packers' commitment to the run game.

Josh Jacobs has found the endzone every game this season except in their 13-10 Week 3 loss to the Browns. With Jacobs a near lock to get into the endzone every week, Vegas has him listed at (-195) to score anytime on Sunday night, which isn’t the best value. But if you wanted to get a little sweaty and take Jacobs to score 2+ touchdowns (+320), I think the value will be worth the risk. Jacobs has scored two touchdowns in the Packers' last three games and I could easily see him doing it again against a Steelers defense that should be more focused on Jordan Love and the passing game, given the Steelers are the second-worst team in passing defense in the NFL.

Steelers:
  • 25th in total offense / 26th in rushing / 19th in passing
  • 28th in total defense / 17th in rushing defense / 31st in passing defense
  • Points per game: 25 / Points allowed to opponents: 23.3
  • Yards per game: 308.2 / Yards allowed to opponents: 398.2

The Steelers have finally found a stable quarterback in 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers after fiddling between Justin Fields and Russell Wilson last season. Rodgers has had success producing in the passing game for the Steelers, with four games with multiple touchdown passes. Due to Rodgers looking more like his time in Green Bay than his time in New York, the Steelers sit atop the AFC North even though their defense is a bottom-four defense in the NFL. It will be interesting to see how the Steelers' defense handles such a high-powered Packers offense, especially since they give up almost 400 yards per game through only seven weeks. I believe that if this were not a home game for the Steelers, the spread would probably be double or more of what it opened up at, which is -3 in favor of the Packers.

If the Steelers are going to have any chance to win this home tilt against one of the best teams in the NFC, they are going to have to continue to feed tight ends Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and Jonnu Smith, who combined for four receiving touchdowns last week against the Browns on Thursday Night Football. These three tight ends will be the key to success, given the Packers' defense historically struggles against tight ends, and it has not been any different so far this season. In six games, the Packers have given up five touchdowns to tight ends, which smells good when looking at the odds for Freiermuth to score a touchdown (+370),  Washington at (+300), and Jonnu Smith at (+290).

All three of the Steelers tight ends got into the endzone against the Browns, but if I had to pick a flier bet, I would go with Freiermuth as he is a better route runner, has better hands, and better odds than a big body Washington, who seems to only be targeted when they’re in short yardage situations, especially in the Redzone. Freiermuth is also coming off a game with five receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns after only having one catch the week prior; his usage is going up, and Rodgers has always loved throwing it to sure-handed tight ends. It will be interesting to see who Mike Tomlin uses more between the three tight ends, but Jonnu Smith seems to be the TE1 for the Steelers, even though Freiermuth had a big week last time out.

Odds as of Friday, October 24, 2025: Packers -3 / Total O/U 45.5 / Steelers ML +150

Best Bets:

\ 1. Jordan Love over 237.5 passing yards (-111)

  • Love averages 239.7 passing yards so far this season, and I love his spot here against a Steelers secondary that has struggled to cause turnovers and limit big games through the air. Love has cleared this line in 3/6 games this season and will do it again this week against a terrible Steelers pass defense.

\ 2. Jonnu Smith anytime touchdown (+290)

  • As I said above, the Packers are terrible at covering tight ends, and Smith has the second-most targets on the Steelers through seven weeks. Smith scored the first touchdown for the tight end room against the Browns, and it seems like Smith and Rodgers have a budding connection that has only gotten stronger throughout the weeks. I'm gonna stick with the target trend that favors Smith, but don’t be surprised if Freiermuth also gets in if the Steelers find themselves in a shootout. - Willy P

Banged up Score/Injury Report

Packers:

The Packers BUS is trending downward slightly as the wear and tear on the team is accumulating. The good news is that they have a few players who are moving in the right direction to return to the field which may reverse the trend if they can come out of this week in good shape injury-wise.

Key injuries for the Packers include kicker Brandon McManus, who is battling a quadricep strain and has not returned to practice, although fill-in kicker Lucas Havrisik has put in an impressive performance, breaking a franchise record with a 61-yard field goal against the Cardinals. The Packers’ receiving corps is also a point of interest. Dontavion Wicks did not practice on Wednesday with a calf injury; however, Christian Watson logged limited practice and has indicated that there’s a possibility he returns to the field this week for the first time since his ACL tear in week 18 last year. October marks 9 months since Watson’s initial injury, putting him right on track for what is considered an optimal return to play after ACL reconstruction. RB Josh Jacobs was limited in practice but played through the calf injury against Arizona, including 2 touchdowns. Positive news on the defensive side is that DL Devonte Wyatt is showing signs of returning after being sidelined since week 4. Before the unspecified knee injury against Dallas, Wyatt was making waves with 2 sacks, 5 QB hits, and 13 pressures over 4 games.

Team BUS Since Week 4:

Week 4: 86.8

Week 5: BYE

Week 6: 86.2

Week 7: 85.8

Steelers:

The Steelers come into week 8 with only six players on their injury report, and 3 of those practiced fully on Wednesday. Center Zack Frazier was limited in practice with a calf injury; however, head coach Mike Tomlin did not bring up the possibility of Frazier missing the week 8 matchup in recent press availability, so the expectation is that he will likely play. The possible return of WR Calvin Austin III could provide QB Aaron Rodgers with more options down the field, as Austin has been out with a shoulder injury since week 4. Austin had 10 catches and 2 touchdowns over the first 4 weeks of the season. Notably, star LB T.J. Watt did not practice on Wednesday; however, he was designated as “resting vet.” He did not have an injury designation. -Jillian Neufeld

Team BUS Since Week 4:

Week 4: 83.3

Week 5: 85.0

Week 6: 82.4

Week 7: 84.5

Both teams are fighting for their fifth win of the season, with Green Bay hoping to add to its two-game win streak, and Pittsburgh looking to get back in the win column.

Kickoff: Sunday, October 26, at Acrisure Stadium (8:20 p.m. ET on NBC)*

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