Week 8 of the 2024 NFL season sees rookie clashes, renewed historic rivalries and opportunities for teams to turn their fortunes around.

The week started with The Los Angeles Rams’ impressive — but controversial — 30-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings Thursday.

Sunday is a day of blockbuster action with no sides in a bye week, meaning it’s a packed slate of games.

Here are the three matches you don’t want to miss.

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Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (3-4) – 1 p.m. ET

The Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals have both endured highs and lows this season, and both have faced their own questions.

The Eagles have struggled on offense, with questions surrounding head coach Nick Sirianni after the team’s poor finish last season.

But they’ve somewhat answered those critics in recent weeks, first beating the Cleveland Browns and then celebrating a dominating victory over the New York Giants, where they looked much more alike on offense and defense.

Running back Saquon Barkley had a big game against his former team, and the return of receiving duo AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith helped QB Jalen Hurts settle into a rhythm.

Ahead of the Week 8 matchup with the Bengals, Sirianni said he was impressed by the “selflessness” his team has shown as they find their identity.

“When you build a team and build as a group, build together to try to do this, those things go a long way, the selflessness,” he told reporters Wednesday. “But at the end of the day, it’s about winning the football game and what we have to do to be successful.

“And when you’re a guy that gets the ball a lot, like (Brown and Smith), and then it’s a day where you don’t get the ball, how do you affect the game in a positive way when you’re not touching the football? And those guys, I just can’t say enough.”

For Cincinnati, the team is riding a two-game winning streak after falling into a 1-4 hole to start the season.

Quarterback Joe Burrow played well despite the results, but now, with the entire team firing on all cylinders, the Bengals look a much more formidable outfit than they did a few weeks ago.

Burrow is only a top-10 NFL quarterback in every major passing category, but he faces a tough test against Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who the 27-year-old says “keeps you on your toes.” .

“If you can just find completions, get the ball in your guys’ hands, then you’re going to give them more opportunities to make plays after the ball, score touchdowns, put the ball in your guys’ hands,” Burrow. said. “It’s not always going to be the coverage you expect compared to the concept you’re calling it for. Is it “can you still make a positive profit?”

“Some of the best plays turn out to be two-, three-, four-yard gains, but maybe you got pressure and had to slide in the pocket. You get hit, but you find the backs trying to keep the ball in your guys’ hands, let them give them more opportunities to make plays.”

Chicago Bears (4-2) vs. Washington Commanders (5-2) – 4:25 p.m. ET

Sunday’s matchup could see the top two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft go head-to-head, health permitting.

Choice no. 1 overall Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears and the second pick Jayden Daniels Washington’s running backs have both shined in their brief NFL outings, showing why they’re so highly regarded.

Daniels enjoyed a historic start to his rookie campaign, but suffered a rib injury during Washington’s Week 7 win over the Carolina Panthers, leaving the game and not returning.

Chiefs head coach Dan Quinn said after the win that Daniels was “week-to-week” with the injury but remained “hopeful” he could play against the Bears.

The 23-year-old missed training during the week to question his participation. If unable to match, choice no. 2 of 2015, Marcus Mariota, will step in for him.

With Daniels potentially out, all eyes will be on Williams, who has steadily improved after a rough start to life in the NFL.

The former USC star struggled with accuracy and adjusting to the speed of pro football in his early appearances, but has blossomed of late to help the Bears to three straight wins.

After two touchdowns and five turnovers in the first three games, Williams has seven touchdowns and just one turnover in his last three outings.

The 22-year-old is aided by a star-studded veteran offense as he bonds with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, while running back D’Andre Swift has also gotten into a groove.

Washington cornerback Mike Sainristil said he believes the Commanders defense has the tools to slow down Williams and the Bears offense.

“I think just going against the different quarterbacks that we’ve faced this season has definitely helped us prepare to this point,” Sainristil told reporters. “Caleb Williams is a good quarterback — mobile, can throw out of the pocket, extend plays really well.

“But I think early on, being able to keep him in the pocket and have him play linebacker in hashes is going to be big for us.”

The Bears are 4-2 bye while the Chiefs are 5-2, so this is a game to watch.

Dallas Cowboys (3-3) vs. San Francisco 49ers (3-4) – 8:20 p.m. ET

Sunday Night Football sees the renewal of one of the NFL’s most historic rivalries.

The duels between the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers came to define the 1990s, with the two star-studded teams meeting several times in high-profile playoff matchups, with the winner often going on to lift the Lombardi Trophy as Super Bowl champions.

However, since those glory days, both have struggled for postseason success, but it doesn’t take away from the significance of the silver and navy of Dallas facing the red and gold of San Francisco.

Gone are the days of Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Deion Sanders, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith. Now, Brock Purdy, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb represent the rivalry.

And both teams enter Sunday’s game looking to get their seasons off to a stuttering start.

The 49ers have been plagued by injuries and are coming off a Super Bowl rematch loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7.

They will continue to be without star point guard Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has been ruled out for the season after suffering a knee injury in last Sunday’s loss.

San Francisco has had a rough start to the season — largely due to a slew of injuries — as they sit at 3-4 through seven weeks.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys are coming off the bye at 3-3 and in need of some good vibes.

Their last game was a humiliating 38-point loss at home to the Detroit Lions, meaning they’ve lost all three home games and won all three road games.

Like the 49ers, their season has been plagued by injuries, but some questionable decisions from head coach Mike McCarthy and Prescott haven’t helped things in Texas.

Both teams could use a win on Sunday to start their season and rekindle their playoff aspirations.

For 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, he says it’s important to rely on the character of his team, and the results aren’t going their way.

“I’ve been in this situation before where everything doesn’t go perfectly, and you’re a little bit ‘back’s the wall,'” he told reporters Wednesday. “But our group, our culture, has never been a problem.

“I’ve never had to make a big deal about stuff. And whenever there is, I’ll call the guys and address them. But we know each other pretty well, I think they know me pretty well. And we have a bunch of good people who don’t blame each other and know what to do after stuff like this. There’s only one thing, you can sit and talk and evaluate all these things or you can get down to business and find a way to be better next week.”

Full Sunday Schedule for Week 8

Travel @ home

Baltimore Ravens (5-2) vs. Cleveland Browns (1-6) – 1 p.m. ET

Tennessee Titans (1-5) vs. Detroit Lions (5-1) – 1 p.m. ET

Indianapolis Colts (4-3) vs. Houston Texans (5-2) – 1 p.m. ET

Green Bay Packers (5-2) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5) – 1 p.m. ET

Arizona Cardinals (3-4) vs. Miami Dolphins (2-4) – 1 p.m. ET

New York Jets (2-5) vs. New England Patriots (1-6) – 1 p.m. ET

Atlanta Falcons (4-3) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3) – 1 p.m. ET

Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (3-4) – 1 p.m. ET

New Orleans Saints (2-5) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (3-3) – 4:05 p.m. ET

Buffalo Bills (5-2) vs. Seattle Seahawks (4-3) – 4:05 p.m. ET

Chicago Bears (4-2) vs. Washington Commanders (5-2) – 4:25 p.m. ET

Carolina Panthers (1-6) vs. Denver Broncos (4-3) – 4:25 p.m. ET

Kansas City Chiefs (6-0) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (2-5) – 4:25 p.m. ET

Dallas Cowboys (3-3) vs. San Francisco 49ers (3-4) – 8:20 p.m. ET

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