[brid video=”664768″ player=”23231″ title=”NFL%20Week%207%20schedule%20and%20gamebygame%20predictions” duration=”183″ description=”NFL Week 7 consists of some tremendous matchups around the gridiron world. Two undefeated teams in that of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans will do battle in a game that was postponed from earlier in the year.Over in the NFC, we’re highly intrigued to see two surprising teams in that of the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams do battle on “Monday Night Football.”As we have done all year, here’s a look at the NFL Week 7 schedule with game-by-game predictions.” uploaddate=”2020-10-21 20:47:33″ thumbnailurl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/thumb/664768_t_1603313279.png” contentUrl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/sd/664768.mp4″]
NFL Week 7 consists of some tremendous matchups around the gridiron world. Two undefeated teams in that of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans will do battle in a game that was postponed from earlier in the year. That’s where we start with NFL Week 7 predictions.
Over in the NFC, we’re highly intrigued to see two surprising teams in that of the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams do battle on “Monday Night Football.”
As we have done all year, here’s a look at the NFL Week 7 schedule with game-by-game predictions.
Updated: Oct. 25, 11:40 AM EST
NFL Week 7 Sunday games
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints
Time/station: 1:00 PM EST, Fox
Panthers-Saints point spread: Saints -7.0 (over/under 51.0)
How’s this for having heightened expectations? Some are already calling for Drew Brees to be replaced under center in New Orleans by Jameis Winston. This, despite the fact that Brees heads into Week 7 on pace for 4,260 passing yards with 29 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Sure the future Hall of Famer has regressed. His arm is not the same. He’s struggling throwing it down the field. Even then, that’s insane.
As for the Panthers, they saw their three-game winning streak come to an end against the Chicago Bears back in Week 6. This comes after Carolina went north of 320 days without a win and with Christian McCaffrey sidelined to injury. Unfortunately, the stellar earlier-season performance we saw from Teddy Bridgewater did not repeat itself this past Sunday. He threw zero touchdowns compared to two interceptions against the Bears. With that said, I expect Teddy and Co. to rebound here.
NFL Week 7 predictions: Panthers 30, Saints 27
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets
Time/station: 1:00 PM EST, CBS
Bills-Jets point spread: Bills -10.5 (over/under 48.0)
Update: Sam Darnold will start in Week 7
How bad has it been for the Jets thus far this season? They just took a $19-plus million dead cap hit to rid themselves of perhaps the team’s best offensive player in that of Le’Veon Bell. That’s primarily because Bell didn’t get a long with a head coach in Adam Gase who should have already been without a job by now. The winless Jets rank 32nd in points scored (75) and 30th in points allowed (185). It’s laughable.
Related: Jets to fire Adam Gase?
Despite some major struggles Week 5 against the Titans and a loss this past Monday night, there’s absolutely no reason to believe that the first-place Bills will somehow lay an egg against a team that might not even win a game this season. Expect Josh Allen and Co. to tear a non-competitive Jets squad to shreds here.
NFL news: Bills suffer COVID-19 outbreak
NFL Week 7 predictions: Bills 38, Jets 10
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals
Time/station: 1:00 PM EST, CBS
Browns-Bengals point spread: Browns -3.0 (over/under 51.0)
Related: NFL Week 7 injury report
For the second time in just over a month, these two Ohio rivals will be doing battle against one another. It’s just the start of what promises to be a fun feud between Baker Mayfield and Joe Burrow in the AFC North moving forward. As for the Bengals, they followed up four consecutive competitive performances with a blowout Week 5 loss to the Baltimore Ravens before blowing a 21-0 to the Indianapolis Colts this past Sunday. This speaks to how far Zac Taylor’s squad still needs to go while in the initial stages of its rebuild.
The same thing can be said about a Browns team that entered Week 5 at 4-1 the first time since Bill Belichick was manning the sidelines in Cleveland back in 1994. Baker Mayfield was a disaster in a blowout 36-7 loss to the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers. In reality, the Browns proved they were not ready for primetime. That’s unlikely to repeat itself in Week 7.
NFL Week 7 predictions: Browns 35, Bengals 20
Dallas Cowboys at Washington Football Team
Time/station: 1:00 PM EST, Fox
Cowboys-Washington point spread: Washington -1.0 (over/under 45.0)
Will Dallas lose a step on offense now that Dak Prescott is lost for the season? There’s little question on that front. Is Andy Dalton one of the better backup quarterbacks in the NFL? No doubt. With three receivers on pace for north of 1,000 receiving yards and an elite back in Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys are still going to score points with the best of them.
Dallas’ issues this season have been on the defensive side of the ball (north of 36 points per game). The good news for Mike McCarthy’s squad? This is not going to play a role against a Washington offense that has scored the third-fewest points in the NFL and just netted 70 passing yards in a Week 5 loss to the Rams. The bad news? Dallas’ offense now looks like a complete mess with Dak Prescott sidelined. Despite this, expect Mike McCarthy’s squad to pick up a third win on the season.
NFL Week 7 predictions: Cowboys 27, Washington 17
Green Bay Packers at Houston Texans
Time/station: 1:00 PM EST, Fox
Packers-Texans point spread: Packers -3.5 (over/under 57.0)
Update: Aaron Jones (calf) ruled out for Week 7
Fun fact. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was on pace to throw for nearly 4,900 yards with 52 touchdowns and zero interceptions on the season before an absolutely dreadful Week 6 performance. After taking a 10-0 lead against Tampa Bay on Sunday, the Packers were outscored 38-0. Rodgers himself threw two interceptions, including a pick-six. It was one of the worst statistical outings of his career.
Unfortunately for Texans interim head coach Romeo Crennel, his team will be tasked with taking on an angry Aaron Rodgers in Week 7. Despite earning this first win of the season in Week 5, a 30-14 blowout win over the hapless Jaguars, these Texans are still in trouble. That was magnified during a 42-36 overtime loss to the Titans in Week 6. The Texans’ defense allowed 601 total yards of offense. Even with Aaron Jones sidelined, Green Bay’s offense should roll. Good luck against Aaron Rodgers and Co. in this one.
NFL Week 7 predictions: Packers 35, Texans 21
Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons
Time/station: 1:00 PM EST, Fox
Lions-Falcons point spread: Falcons -2.0 (55.0)
Funny story. The Lions and Falcons were giving up an average of 64 combined points per game heading into Week 6. That would have represented the highest total between two teams facing off this late in the season in NFL history. Fortunately for both teams, their defenses came to play this past Sunday. Atlanta picked off Kirk Cousins three times in picking up its first win of the season.
Related: Five likely Julio Jones trade scenarios
Meanwhile, Detroit blew out a hapless Jaguars team by the score of 34-16. Could that have saved Matt Patricia’s job? Time will tell. What we do know is that the Lions are now 2-3 and have staved off irrelevance heading into Week 7. Expect that to change against a Falcons team led by the emergence of Matt Ryan and the squad’s offense.
NFL Week 7 predictions: Falcons 38, Lions 30
Pittsburgh Steelers at Tennessee Titans
Time/station: 1:00 PM EST, CBS
Steelers-Titans point spread: Steelers -1.0 (over/under 51.5)
Injury update: Titans LT Taylor Lewan (ACL) out for the season
Two undefeated teams going up against one another in the AFC. If this sounds familiar, it should. Pittsburgh and Tennessee were about to take on one another back in Week 4 before a major outbreak of COVID-19 hit the Titans’ organization. The game has since been rescheduled for Week 7. And it’s going to be a dandy.
Related: NFL investigating Titans
Tennessee came off its 16-day hiatus back in Week 5 by defeating a Super Bowl contender in that of the Buffalo Bills by the score of 42-16 before dropping 42 this past Sunday against Houston. Ryan Tannehill has now accounted for 13 touchdowns and just two interceptions in five games. As for the Steelers, they are 5-0 on the season and continue to play great football. Pittsburgh ranks 10th in the NFL in scoring at over 30 points per game and boasts the NFL’s sixth-best scoring defense. With that said, go with the home team in a narrow game.
NFL Week 7 predictions: Titans 20, Steelers 17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Las Vegas Raiders
Time/station: 4:05 PM EST, Fox
Buccaneers-Raiders point spread: Buccaneers -5.0 (over/under 52.0)
Update: Game moved from Sunday night
There was a time not too long ago that some thought Tom Brady would take his talents to Las Vegas. It took several months and includes him heading to the desert metropolis as a visitor. Brady will do so with his Buccaneers at 4-2 following a blowout 38-10 win over the previously undefeated Packers in Week 6.
As for the Raiders, they sit at a surprising 3-2 following their shocking Week 5 win over the defending champion Chiefs. Two of Las Vegas’ three wins have come against Super Bowl contenders in that of Kansas City and New Orleans. After sending their entire starting offensive line home after the team apparently broke NFL-mandated COVID-19 protocols, Las Vegas received clearance Sunday that all but right tackle Trent Brown can play.
NFL Week 7 predictions: Buccaneers 31, Raiders 13
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos
Time/station: 4:25 PM EST, CBS
Chiefs-Broncos point spread: Chiefs -7.5 (over/under 44.0)
Drew Lock (shoulder) returned this past Sunday after missing the past couple games. That didn’t go too swimmingly with Lock throwing two ugly interceptions. Fortunately for the Broncos, their defense stepped up big time in an 18-12 win over the New England Patriots.
It’s highly unlikely to matter against the defending champion Chiefs come Week 7. Kansas City can’t be happy about giving up 40 points to the division-rival Raiders back in Week 5. Its defense entered that game ranked No. 2 in the NFL in points against. Said defense rebounded big time in a Week 6 win over the Bills. We know Patrick Mahomes will do his damage. However, expect the Chiefs’ defense to also step up here.
NFL Week 7 predictions: Chiefs 34, Broncos 13
Jacksonville Jaguars at Los Angeles Chargers
Time/station: 4:25 PM EST, CBS
Jaguars-Chargers point spread: Chargers -7.5 (over/under 49.0)
Since starting the season with a win over the Colts, Jacksonville has been outscored by a combined margin of 161-98 during its five-game losing streak. It’s almost like moving on from a half-dozen Pro Bowlers on that side of the ball impacted the Jaguars’ success on defense.
As for the Chargers, they also seem to be in a rut right now. Despite the stellar play of rookie quarterback Justin Herbert, Los Angeles sits at 1-4 on the season. It’s somewhat shocking that head coach Anthony Lynn has not been bandied about as a potential hot seat candidate. Since the start of the 2019 season, his Chargers have lost 13 games by one score. In fact, they are 3-13 in said games. The good news? This shouldn’t be an issue in Week 7.
NFL Week 7 predictions: Chargers 28, Jaguars 16
San Francisco 49ers at New England Patriots
Time/station: 4:25 PM EST, Fox
49ers-Patriots point spread: Patriots -3.0 (over/under 44.5)
At this point, getting Cam Newton back has to be seen as a godsend for the Patriots. His positive COVID-19 diagnosis pretty much shook up what was a successful early part of the schedule for the Tom Brady-less Patriots. This will have a huge impact Week 7 against a struggling and injury-plagued 49ers squad. That’s only magnified with New England at 2-3 on the season following an ugly loss to the Broncos in Week 6.
As for San Francisco, Jimmy Garoppolo returns to New England for the first time since the Patriots traded him back in 2017. He does so after helping the 49ers even their record at 3-3 following a brilliant performance in a Week 5 win over the Los Angeles Rams. With New England struggling big time on offense, expect the 49ers to pull off the narrow Week 7 road upset.
NFL Week 7 predictions: 49ers 23, Patriots 17
NFL Week 7 Sunday Night Football
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals
Time/station: 8:20 PM EST, NBC
Seahawks-Cardinals point spread: Seahawks -3.5 (over/under 55.0)
Update: Game moved from Sunday afternoon
Arizona was able to respond after losing two consecutive by defeating a borderline NFL team in that of the Jets back in Week 5 by the score of 30-10. It then dominated a mistake-filled Dallas Cowboys squad in Week 6. Kyler Murray performed at a high level after two consecutive down games earlier in the campaign. Even then, there’s some major concerns for the Cardinals. That includes elite pass rusher Chandler Jones being lost for the season due to torn biceps.
Related: Top 100 NFL players of 2020
This will play a major role against leading MVP favorite Russell Wilson and the undefeated Seahawks. Wilson has Seattle at 5-0 and averaging 33.8 points per game. Without their best pass rusher in the mix, the Cardinals’ secondary will be exposed. And while Murray will help Arizona’s offense put up points, it won’t be enough.
NFL Week 7 predictions: Seahawks 35, Cardinals 27
NFL Week 7 Monday Night Football
Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams
Time/station: 8:15 PM EST, ESPN
Bears-Rams point spread: Rams -6.0 (over/under 45.0)
This was being billed as a huge game between two one-loss teams. That’s until the Rams laid an egg against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers in Week 6. Boasting a 4-2 record, all four of the Rams’ wins this season have come against bad NFC East teams. That’s something to look at heading into Monday night.
The difference here could be Los Angeles’ elite interior pass rush led by Aaron Donald, who has recorded 13 quarterback hits and 7.5 sacks on the season. Nick Foles struggles with pressure from up the middle. It will lead to a mistake or two, making the difference in this defense-dominated game. The Rams will bounce back in a big way.
NFL Week 7 predictions: Rams 20, Bears 16
NFL Week 7 Thursday Night Football
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles
Time/station: 8:20 PM EST, NFL Network
Giants-Eagles point spread: Eagles -4.5 (over/under 43.5)
Injury update: Both Zach Ertz and Miles Sanders OUT for the Eagles
Update: Eagles win 22-21 (top takeaways)
Through the first six weeks of the NFL season, Daniel Jones and Carson Wentz have been among the worst regular starting quarterbacks in the NFL. Jones is leading a Giants team that boasts a 1-5 record while throwing three touchdowns compared to six interceptions for a 70.6 passer rating. That’s about as bad as it gets in the NFL.
As for Wentz and his Eagles, they are 1-4-1 on the season and have been outscored by an average of nearly a touchdown per game. Wentz has now thrown nine interceptions after throwing just seven in each of the past three seasons. I expect Philadelphia to get back on track here. If that doesn’t happen, Doug Pederson’s job could very well be on the line. Our NFL predictions this week include an Eagles double-digit win.
NFL Week 7 predictions: Eagles 24, Giants 13