Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) runs off before a field goal attempt in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 7 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.

Live to fight another day.

It's a great life motto that also translates well to survivor pools. There's a lot more space on the island during this time of the year, but that also means the resources are beginning to dry up as well.

Parity remains the name of the game in the NFL this season, with little separation between the best and worst – aside from the New York Jets, who remain in a league of their own.

That has made life difficult for survivor pools as we navigate the schedule on a week-to-week basis. The season moves quickly and the calendar is about to flip to November, indicating the end of the regular season is already fast-approaching.

More importantly, the league might begin to take on a new identity as the trade deadline looms and tanking ramps up for some of the league's bottom feeders.

That should open some doors for us down the stretch. Here are the best survivor picks for Week 8.

NFL survivor picks Week 8

Cincinnati Bengals (vs. New York Jets)

Cincinnati righted the ship in Week 7, getting its first win with Joe Flacco under center. The 40-year-old looked like he found the fountain of youth, even showing off his scrambling ability in the late stages of "Thursday Night Football." Flacco showed that he still has something left in the tank, which is more than enough for Cincinnati to survive until Joe Burrow returns.

Atlanta Falcons (vs. Miami Dolphins)

If the NFL made an exception and allowed the Dolphins to have 12 players on defense, they still wouldn't be able to stop the run. They have been shredded on the ground this season, allowing a league-high 128.2 yards per game to running backs. That is Atlanta's bread-and-butter, meaning Bijan Robinson might be on record watch in Atlanta. The Falcons get back on track and the calls for a coaching change in Miami grow louder.

New England Patriots (vs. Cleveland Browns)

It comes down to Drake Maye's arm on Sunday, since the Cleveland defense should shut down the New England running game. As long as the Patriots hold up in pass protection, it's hard to envision them losing this game against a Dillon Gabriel-led offense. Maybe it's a little too close for comfort, but the Patriots maintain their grip on the AFC East before a couple of difficult matchups in the next two weeks.

Indianapolis Colts (vs. Tennessee Titans)

The coaching change didn't make a difference for the Titans and talent is still an issue with this team. The Colts are rolling and can drop 30 points in their sleep. Don't overcomplicate it.

What team should you pick in NFL survivor pools this week?

The Cincinnati Bengals.

The Jets are the gift that just keeps on giving. Fresh off a loss to the Panthers in Week 7 to drop to 0-7, Aaron Glenn's team is desperate for a win. The problem is that Glenn's team hasn't proven capable of securing a win outside of their Week 1 effort against the Steelers.

This game is the only thing standing in the way of the trade deadline and a much-needed bye week. New York might have its mind on something else in Cincinnati on Sunday as they drop to 0-8.

Expect the well-rested Bengals to take care of business against a demoralized Jets squad that can't wait for January.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL survivor pool picks Week 8: Which team should you trust?

Reporting by Nick Brinkerhoff, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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