As Week 6 was unfolding, I was 10 of 12 on my picks going into Sunday Night Football. Unfortunately I lost all three primetime games to finish off the week. Nonetheless, I raised my pick percentage after correctly picking 10 games. We are officially a third of the way through the NFL season and just when a semblance of a playoff picture is forming, the NFL (“Not For Long”) league has other ideas… Here are my Week 7 picks; featuring an upset in London…
Week 6 picks: 10-5, Cumulative picks: 55-36-1 (.603)
Week 7 Matchups & Predictions
(Thursday) Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals, 8:15 PM EST
Pittsburgh is the best team in the AFC North with the other three teams having no certainty or stability at the quarterback position. The Steelers are on a three game win streak and that should continue here.
Pick: Steelers win 24-16
Los Angeles Rams @ Jacksonville Jaguars (London, England) 9:30 AM EST
The Rams best football this season has been about four quarters (the 2nd half of Tennessee and the 1st half of Philadelphia). They have been able to get by with mediocre and even subpar performances. Now, Puka Nacua is likely to be out for this game because of an ankle injury. Two reasons why LA loses… 1) the multiple east coast travel/trips catches up to them and 2) lack of urgency and execution in the redzone / final operation to score points. For the first time this season, I’m going with the Rams opponent (not happy to make this pick)…
Pick: Jaguars win 27-23
New Orleans Saints @ Chicago Bears, 1:00 PM EST
So, the Chicago Bears don’t suck under Ben Johnson / Caleb Williams. But I still have caution about the “playoff” ability of this team. Fortunately, they are playing at home against the Saints (dome team). So they should get a win here and move to 4-2.
Pick: Bears win 28-13
Miami Dolphins @ Cleveland Browns, 1:00 PM EST
Miami enters this game as the underdog (+2.5) which is surprising the Browns offense only managed 248 total yards on 75 total plays against the Steelers last week. I like Miami in the upset even though Tua just called out players for missing meetings…
Pick: Dolphins 24-13
New England Patriots @ Tennessee Titans, 1:00 PM EST
Mike Vrabel revenge game. Vrabel gets to face off the team that fired him after the 2023 season following back-to-back losing seasons. It was hardly Vrabel’s fault as Tennessee never had a respectable quarterback during his tenure. Drake Maye (NE) is head and shoulders above the Ryan Tannehill (TEN) that he had then. Vrabel has the more balanced team with the Patriots and they’ll get a win on the road in Nashville.
Pick: Patriots win 30-16
Las Vegas Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs, 1:00 PM EST
Look out the Chiefs are starting to roll and look better than they did in the 2024 season despite winning 15 regular season games. Why are they playing better? The offensive line now has Creed Humphrey (#1 PFF center) and Trey Smith (#4 PFF guard). What a difference it makes to give Patrick Mahomes more time to create…
Pick: Chiefs win 33-20
Philadelphia Eagles @ Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 PM EST
Are the Vikings going to start Carson Wentz? That would bring a lot of intrigue to this game. The Eagles have had 9 days to prepare since their Thursday Night dud against the Giants. I’m not sure they have sorted out all of their problems. And I don’t think they are just offensive problems. 34 points to the Giants is a defensive problem too.
Pick: Eagles win 26-20
Carolina Panthers @ New York Jets, 1:00 PM EST
I’m surprised that the Panthers are only -1.5 favorites. They have beaten the Dallas Cowboys (top 10 offense) and shut out the Atlanta Falcons who just beat the Buffalo Bills. The Jets are winless and Justin Fields is not taking them anywhere.
Pick: Panthers win 24-14
New York Giants @ Denver Broncos, 4:05 PM EST
The Giants surprised us on Thursday Night Football. I’ll applaud them for their physicality. However, I think they still have room for development offensively and defensively. Winning at Denver is a challenge and I’m not sure they are there as a franchise yet.
Pick: Broncos win 28-20
Indianapolis Colts @ Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 PM EST
I’m not sure what has happened to the Chargers the last three weeks. They barely pulled out a win against a one-win Miami team. Their defense seems to be missing Poona Ford because Achane rushed for 128 yards on 16 rushing attempts. Maybe an underrated component here is that Indianapolis will be traveling back to SoFi stadium and should feel very comfortable on the road. Jonathan Taylor is going to be a problem for the Chargers in this one..
Pick: Colts win 30-27
Washington Commanders @ Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 PM EST
The Eagles loss opened the door for Washington to move into a tie for the division but the Commanders wasted the opportunity with their loss to the Bears on MNF. At first I was leaning towards Washington but now I’m favoring Dallas with the possibility of Cee Dee Lamb’s return. Dallas’s defense continues to be the issue though…
Pick: Cowboys 34-33
Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 PM EST
Green Bay and Arizona always have memorable games. This one might not make that list though. This is the point in the year where the Packers start rolling.
Pick: Packers win 31-20
(Sunday Night Football) Atlanta Falcons @ San Francisco 49ers, 8:20 PM EST
The 49ers lost Fred Warner for the season due to an ankle dislocation and fracture. I give a ton of respect to Warner as he has been one of the most dependable players in the NFL and has been the true heartbeat for San Francisco’s defense. Even though SF has started the year 4-2, this changes the complexion of their season. Bijan Robinson and company will most likely exploit the absence of Fred Warner; paving way to another heavy run attack for Atlanta.
Pick: Falcons win 27-20
(Monday Night Football) Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Detroit Lions, 7:00 PM EST
Baker Mayfield has played this year with a significant chip on his shoulder and has delivered with his team’s record. If the Bucs win this game, I am a full believer in them moving forward. But I have to see it one more time. I’m taking Detroit after they got punched in the mouth by Kansas City.
Pick: Lions win 31-28
(Monday Night Football) Houston Texans @ Seattle Seahawks, 10:00 PM
I’m going with an upset here. Will Anderson will create havoc for the Seattle offensive line and prevent Sam Darnold from being able to generate explosive plays downfield. Houston’s secondary led by Derek Stingley will aid in the sticky coverage of Jaxson Smith-Njigba.
Pick: Texans win 24-20
Teams on Bye: Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens
Who are your favorites for this week? If you had to place a bet on one team who are you picking? Add your pick of the week and upset of the week in the comments below too.
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