NFL Week 8 Preview: Ravens and Commanders Face Do-or-Die Situations
The NFL season has hit its pivotal halfway point, bringing with it a stark reality: preseason predictions are melting away, leaving teams to confront what their records truly represent. As byes sweep across the league, Week 8 emerges as the perfect moment to discard early-season assumptions and embrace the defining challenges ahead.
Nowhere are these critical junctures more evident than in Baltimore and Washington, where the Ravens and Commanders find themselves at crossroads that could shape their playoff destinies. For these teams, Week 8 isn't just another game—it's a referendum on their ability to deliver when stakes are highest.
The league landscape shifts dramatically as teams face the truth behind their win-loss columns. Some contenders solidify their positions while pretenders fade, creating clearer pathways in the playoff race. Coaches adjust strategies, players elevate performances, and front offices begin evaluating the true worth of their rosters.
As Sunday approaches, the pressure mounts in locker rooms across the nation. Coordinators draw up game plans with championship implications, while players know every snap could determine whether their season soars or sinks. This is the crucible where contenders are forged—or broken.
For fans, Week 8 offers the clearest view yet of which teams have the resilience to navigate the season's second half. The Ravens seek to validate their early-season promise, while the Commanders look to transform potential into dominance. Both understand: these aren't just games, but opportunities to rewrite their season's narrative.
The NFL's midway point always reveals truths, but this year's Week 8 carries extra weight. With playoff positioning taking shape and division races intensifying, each result sends ripples through the league's landscape. Teams now face the uncomfortable but necessary question: Are we what our record says we are?
For complete analysis, game predictions, and staff picks for Week 8's crucial matchups, explore The Athletic's full coverage, where experts break down the pivotal moments that will define the second half of the season.