• Justin Jefferson getting it done: Jefferson’s 6.2 yards after the catch (YAC) per reception is on pace for a single-season career high, while his 211 total YAC ranks fifth among wide receivers. Jefferson has also been highly effective after contact, averaging 3.2 yards after contact per reception, his best rate since his rookie season (2.8).

• Micah Parsons enters the Packers matchup coming off a dominant performance: In Week 7, Parsons recorded the first three-sack game of his career, and his 44% pass-rush win rate tied for the second-highest by any player in a game this season. Pittsburgh will be at a disadvantage regardless of where Parsons lines up, as the Steelers’ tackle group ranks third lowest in the NFL with a 53.7 pass-blocking grade.

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NFL Week 8 is here, and with it comes a fresh wave of advanced data and analysis.

PFF’s media research team has been hard at work this week, preparing for kickoff — pulling data-driven insights and talking points for our broadcast partners around the league. Now, we’re sharing those same nuggets with you. So, whether you’re looking to win your fantasy matchup, hit on your bets or just get smarter about the game, these are the key storylines to know for every Week 8 contest.

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MIN@LAC | MIA@ATL | CHI@BAL | BUF@CAR | NYJ@CIN | SF@HOU | CLE@NE | NYG@PHI | TB@NO
DAL@DEN | TEN@IND | GB@PIT | WAS@KC

Minnesota Vikings @ Los Angeles Chargers

Justin Jefferson’s 6.2 yards after the catch (YAC) per reception is on pace for a single-season career high, while his 211 total YAC ranks fifth among wide receivers. Jefferson has also been highly effective after contact, averaging 3.2 yards after contact per reception, his best rate since his rookie season (2.8). With 108 total yards after contact — also fifth among wideouts — Jefferson is on pace to challenge his career-best 244 from 2020, when he led the league in that category.

Rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II has quickly emerged as another dangerous option in the Chargers’ high-powered passing offense. Over the past two weeks, Gadsden has been highly efficient, averaging 2.97 yards per route run, the second-highest mark among tight ends during that span. He’s also shown strong ability after the catch, with 96 YAC, tied for the most at the position alongside fellow rookie Tyler Warren.

Miami Dolphins @ Atlanta Falcons

Jaelan Phillips has reestablished himself as a force on the Dolphins’ defense, leading the team with 22 total pressures through the early part of the 2025 season. After battling injuries over the past two years, Phillips appears back to full strength and is on pace for career highs in both pass-rush win rate (18.2%) and pressure rate (16.7%) to start the campaign.

Michael Penix Jr. pushed the ball downfield more than usual last week against the 49ers, attempting a season-high five passes that traveled 20 or more yards downfield. Darnell Mooney was targeted on three of those deep attempts, and his return could provide a much-needed boost to Atlanta’s conservative vertical passing game, which ranks 30th in the NFL with just an 8% deep-pass rate.

In 2024, Mooney proved to be a legitimate downfield threat, recording 377 receiving yards on deep targets, the 10th most among all receivers.

Chicago Bears @ Baltimore Ravens

D’Andre Swift and the Bears’ running game have found their rhythm over the past two weeks. Since Week 6, Chicago has recorded 14 explosive runs of 10 or more yards, the most in the NFL during that span. Swift has been the driving force, leading all players with 10 explosive gains. A key factor behind the surge has been the offensive line’s dominance — Chicago has averaged 2.8 yards before contact per carry, the highest mark in the league over the past two games.

Even with Lamar Jackson sidelined for the two games before Baltimore’s Week 7 bye, the Ravens have continued to feature the league’s most explosive rushing attack. Their 14.5% explosive-run rate on designed carries matches last season’s figure — a rate that also led the NFL in 2024.

Buffalo Bills @ Carolina Panthers

Josh Allen has built a reputation as one of the NFL’s premier deep passers, but he has yet to connect for a touchdown on a throw of 20 or more yards this season. His 23 deep-pass attempts are the second most in the league without a score. Unfortunately for Buffalo, this week’s matchup doesn’t present an easy chance to change that trend.

The Panthers’ defense has been among the league’s best at limiting deep plays, allowing a 54.5 passer rating on throws of 20 or more yards — the third lowest in the NFL — while surrendering just seven completions, tied for the third fewest. The turnaround from 2024 has been dramatic, as Carolina ranked near the bottom of the league last season with a 117.1 passer rating allowed on those attempts.

A key driver of that improvement is Jaycee Horn, who has been outstanding in deep coverage. This season, Horn has allowed just one reception on eight targets of 20 or more yards, recording three interceptions and a 0.0 passer rating allowed on those plays.

New York Jets @ Cincinnati Bengals

The Jets’ offensive game plan changes significantly depending on whether Tyrod Taylor or Justin Fields is at quarterback. When Taylor is on the field, New York has a 75.0% early-down (first and second down) pass rate. With Fields, that number drops to 52.6%. Interestingly, Taylor has scrambled on a higher percentage of dropbacks this season (14.3%) than Fields (9.7%).

Ja’Marr Chase has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of Joe Flacco’s arrival. Over the past two weeks, Chase has been targeted 35 times — 10 more than any other pass catcher during that span (Jaxon Smith-Njigba ranks second). His 89.5 PFF receiving grade ranks second in that same period, trailing only Smith-Njigba.

San Francisco 49ers @ Houston Texans

Christian McCaffrey delivered his best rushing performance of the season against the Falcons, recording a season-high 24 carries for 129 yards and seven explosive runs. His seven explosive gains surpassed the six he totaled over the first six games. Replicating that success will be difficult against a Texans defense that has allowed the league’s fifth-lowest explosive-run rate at just 5.8%.

C.J. Stroud posted a 40.4 passing grade against the Seahawks in Week 7 — the lowest of his career — with turnover-worthy plays being the biggest factor. He committed a career-high six turnover-worthy plays, four of which came under pressure, also a career high.

The 49ers’ pass rush has slowed without Nick Bosa, but their 15 pressures against the Falcons in Week 7 marked their highest total without him in the lineup this season.

Cleveland Browns @ New England Patriots

Quinshon Judkins has been one of the league’s most effective rushers in short-yardage situations this season. On plays with 1 or 2 yards to go, Judkins has recorded 16 rushing first downs or touchdowns, tied with Kareem Hunt for the most in the NFL.

Stefon Diggs has been a welcome addition to the Patriots’ wide receiver group. Among receivers this season, his 2.67 yards per route run rank behind only Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Puka Nacua and CeeDee Lamb. Against single coverage, Diggs is a perfect 12-for-12 on targets and receptions, making him the only receiver with a 100% completion rate against single coverage among players with at least 10 such targets.

New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles

Over the first six weeks of the season, Jalen Hurts attempted only six passes from under center, completing four for 5 yards. That changed in a big way in Week 7, when Hurts went 4-for-4 from under center for 121 yards, including three explosive completions. It marked his first career game with 100 or more passing yards from under center. The Giants have faced the third-fewest pass attempts from under center (22), but have allowed four passing touchdowns, tied for the fifth-most in the NFL.

Cam Skattebo’s chain-moving ability was a key factor in the Giants’ Week 6 win over the Eagles. He recorded nine conversions on 19 rushing attempts, tied for the second-most by a player in a game this season. Overall, his 28% rushing-conversion rate ranks ninth among 37 running backs with at least 50 carries. That area has been a weakness for the Eagles, who have allowed the fourth-highest rushing-conversion rate in the league at 29%.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints

In this divisional matchup, Baker Mayfield can feel confident with Tristan Wirfs protecting his blind side. The All-Pro tackle hasn’t allowed a sack since Week 15 of the 2023 season — a streak spanning 898 pass-blocking snaps, the most by any offensive tackle in that stretch. Throughout his career, Wirfs has been remarkably consistent, allowing just 12 total sacks across the regular season and playoffs, with two coming against division rival New Orleans.

The Saints’ pass rush, meanwhile, has found new life over the past two weeks. Since Week 6, New Orleans has posted a 43% pressure rate — sixth highest in the NFL — a major jump from its 28% mark through Week 5, which ranked 28th.

Dallas Cowboys @ Denver Broncos

The Broncos are likely to face an extra-motivated Javonte Williams in his first matchup against his former team. Williams is averaging a career-high 5.3 yards per carry this season, third among qualifying running backs. His physicality has been a major factor, with 451 yards after contact, trailing only Jonathan Taylor. For Denver, 80% of the rushing yards it has allowed this season have come after contact, the third-highest rate among defenses.

Bo Nix’s fourth-quarter heroics in Week 7 were nothing new for the second-year quarterback, who is the only player since the start of 2024 with at least 125 passing yards and two passing touchdowns in the fourth quarter on three separate occasions. His 46 rushing yards also stood out, tied for the second most by a quarterback in a fourth quarter since last season. The Cowboys’ defense has allowed a touchdown on 40% of drives faced in the fourth quarter, the highest rate in the league.

Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts

There will be a significant battle in the trenches in this matchup, particularly in the run game. Quenton Nelson leads all interior offensive linemen in run-blocking grade (91.8) and positively graded run-block rate (26%), while Tanor Bortolini ranks among the top six centers in run-blocking grade (83.7) and impact run-block rate (18%). On the other side, the Titans feature multiple playmakers against the run — Sebastian Joseph-Day’s 16 run stops rank second among interior defenders, and Jeffery Simmons’ 12 rank fourth.

Play-action passing has helped the Titans’ offense find rhythm over the past two weeks. Cam Ward has completed 12 of 13 passes for 120 yards, two touchdowns and a 144.7 passer rating on play-action dropbacks. Rookie wide receiver Chimere Dike entered Week 7 with just 25 receiving yards but nearly tripled that total with 70, including 61 off play action. The Colts, however, have defended play action well this season, ranking third in the NFL with just 4.2 yards per play allowed.

Green Bay Packers @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Micah Parsons enters the Packers matchup coming off a dominant performance against the Cardinals. Parsons recorded the first three-sack game of his career, and his 44% pass-rush win rate tied for the second-highest by any player in a game this season. Pittsburgh will be at a disadvantage regardless of where Parsons lines up, as the Steelers’ tackle group ranks third lowest in the NFL with a 53.7 pass-blocking grade.

The Steelers’ defense has faced passes thrown inside the numbers on 59% of attempts — the highest rate in the league. That trend is likely to continue, as Jordan Love has been one of the NFL’s most efficient passers in that area, ranking among the top three qualifying quarterbacks with 9.3 yards per attempt and a 120.8 passer rating.

Washington Commanders @ Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have run inside zone on 33.1% of their rushing attempts this season, the third-highest rate in the league. While they haven’t been among the most efficient on those plays — their 4.0 yards per attempt on inside zone ranks 14th in the NFL — they could find success against a Commanders defense allowing 4.8 yards per attempt on inside zone, which ranks 28th this season.

With Jayden Daniels sidelined by a hamstring injury, the Commanders will again turn to Marcus Mariota to keep the offense moving. Over the past two seasons, Mariota has graded extremely well in relief of Daniels. Among 54 quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks since 2024, Mariota owns the highest PFF passing grade (90.4) and the highest big-time throw rate (7.8%) while also posting the lowest turnover-worthy play rate (1.5%).