This Tactic has got my number.

This is probably a good learning opportunity for me.
lichess.org/training/63221

I don't understand why play continues with 8.Nxe4... I mean, sure there's a lot of pressure building on the f3 square, and black getting a protected pawn there would be bad, but is 8.Nxe4 really the best move?

I'd like to hear everybody's insight, please.

The question isn't whether white will lose the queen, it's only a matter of when. White's possible tries without playing 8.Nxd4 are:

8. Re1 Be7 (white pins the pawn, black replies by breaking the pin with the bishop
9. c3 Nxf3 (white declines to take black's Nd4 and instead counterattacks the black knight with a pawn)
10. gxf3 Bxf3 (it's critical to note here that black's queen will now attempt to make a path for the g2-square to deliver mate. White has no way to prevent it)
11. Be2 Qxd5 (11. Qa4+ Kf8 12. Be2 Qxd5 is similar)
And now it's impossible to defend the threat of Qg5-g2 mate without sacrificing a significant amount of material. I encourage you to analyze these lines with a computer (click the game ID in the puzzle) to verify your analysis.

@dRr0x0rZZ
Thanks for your insight. I guess my chess sense is really short-sighted.