Baltimore Puts A Halt To Saints Four-Game Win Streak
Week 6 Results: 11-4
Record this season: 55-38
As we enter Week 7 of the NFL season and I am left asking myself this question, do the New York Jets truly have something special in Sam Darnold?
As most know four rookie quarterbacks won their starts in Week 5, the first time that’s ever happened in the NFL. In Week 6, all but one of those quarterbacks lost their starts and that one quarterback was Sam Darnold.
Now I get it, Sam Darnold didn’t have to face the Los Angeles Chargers or the Minnesota Vikings. We’ll give Josh Allen a pass considering he was injured during his start vs the Houston Texans.
With that said, between the four quarterbacks Sam Darnold looks like the most poise and the most accurate of the four and you’ll love this one: An actual franchise quarterback.
I know he throws his share of interceptions and most likely he’ll throw one or a couple vs a superior Vikings team this Sunday, but if I’m a Jets fan you have to exercise caution at what you may see from this 21-year-old quarterback.
Growing pains come with young quarterbacks, Darnold doesn’t have the Chiefs wide receivers or Bears defense, but what he has that we can say that Patrick Mahomes has certainly displayed is the ‘look’.
The Week 7 slate features a low maintenance list of games as an early matchup that sees Tom Brady and Patriots visiting Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears as a must-see game.
Later on Sunday afternoon we’ll see Drew Brees, a touchdown away from reaching the 500 TD club, face a ferocious Ravens defense that’s allowing a league low 12.8 PPG as the Saints visit M&T Bank Stadium.
Without further or do, here are my NFL Week 7 picks.
Denver Broncos at Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals welcome a Denver Broncos team that has allowed a 200-yard rusher over the last two weeks. David Johnson has not looked like his 2016 self, but this is a favorable matchup to get him going.
For the Denver Broncos, the road has not been well traveled. Dating back to last season the Denver Broncos are 1-9 on the road with a -137 point differential.
Prediction: Arizona Cardinals 24 Denver Broncos 14
Tennessee Titans vs Los Angeles Chargers
The only question that may exist regarding the outcome for this game is by how many points will Los Angeles win by? In all seriousness, Tennessee’s offense is in shambles and Los Angeles has rolled to three consecutive victories.
This is a team that’s turned it around from last season’s 0-4 start and since then have won 13 out of their past 18 games. Chargers get an easy victory in Wembley over a skidding Titans team.
Prediction: Los Angeles Chargers 31 Tennessee Titans 13
Buffalo Bills at Indianapolis Colts
The Colts have lost four consecutive games, but the positive takeaway from their latest loss was the emergence of running back Marlon Mack, who finished with 89 rushing yards on just 12 carries last week vs the Jets in his return. The Bills have been stingy defensively vs the run of late and are only allowing 15 PPG over the past four games.
Derek Anderson will start in place of an injured Josh Allen, and I imagine he will be under pressure vs an Indianapolis Colts defense which is tied for 3rd in sacks.
Prediction: Indianapolis Colts 20 Buffalo Bills 17
Detroit Lions at Miami Dolphins
A matchup coming off a bye week vs a Brock Osweiler led Dolphins team may seem like a walk in the park on paper, but not so. The Dolphins put up 500+ yards of offense on a Bears defense ranked among tops in the NFL last Sunday and they too were coming off a bye week.
If there’s a reason for optimism, however, it would be that Detroit has the capability to put pressure on Osweiler and rush him into poor decisions. I’m banking on that being the case here.
Prediction: Detroit Lions 21 Miami Dolphins 16
Minnesota Vikings at New York Jets
The Jets score a lot of points when they win and score few points when they lose. The Vikings are coming into their own and figure to challenge the Jets secondary which just a few weeks ago let Blake Bortles carve them up for 388 passing yards.
It’s not as close of a matchup as Vegas (Minnesota -3.5) has it in actuality. Adam Thielen reaches the 100-yard mark for a seventh straight game to begin the season.
Prediction: Minnesota Vikings 30 New York Jets 19
New England Patriots at Chicago Bears
While I have my own worries about New England’s offensive line going into this matchup with a scary Bears defense, I can’t forget looking back at Week 2 and seeing the difference four weeks makes.
With Josh Gordon and Julian Edelman added to the fold, New England looks explosive offensively and over the past three games have averaged 38.3 PPG. Can Chicago match that? Mitchell Trubisky has 9 TDs in his last two games, so expect a close one.
Prediction: New England Patriots 28 Chicago Bears 26
Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles
The Carolina Panthers will have trouble getting their first road win of the season in Philadelphia. The Eagles made life tough for Cam Newton last time these two teams met last season and it started with the pressure up the middle. Pressure led to two of Cam Newton’s three interceptions on the night in a 28-23 loss. That doesn’t change here.
Prediction: Philadelphia Eagles 24 Carolina Panthers 18
Cleveland Browns at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield since making his first NFL start back in Week 4 has thrown five interceptions, including one in each start. That may change vs arguably the NFL’s worst defense as the Buccaneers have given up 16 TDs and recorded only 1 INT while allowing a 129.5 Passer Rating to opposing quarterbacks.
It’s somewhat of a tailor-made matchup for Cleveland, but their vulnerability on the back end should make this a very entertaining game. It’s been a while since Cleveland has won a road game.
Prediction: Cleveland Browns 36 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33.
Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars have been lit up over the past two weeks and a Week 7 matchup with the Houston Texans at home serves as a gut-check game.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have struggled to get to the quarterback or force turnovers in 2018. While Houston is formidable at the skill positions, their offensive line is on pace to allow well over 50 sacks.
That’s a lot of punishment for a quarterback coming off his second ACL injury. Deshaun Watson will be forced into mistakes that Jacksonville turns into touchdowns.
Prediction: Jacksonville Jaguars 27 Houston Texans 13
New Orleans Saints at Baltimore Ravens
Drew Brees has never defeated the Baltimore Ravens, but this may be the best offense he’s ever had to do so. Still, he’s facing a Ravens defense that’s looking as scary as some defense 18 years ago did.
Baltimore has the offensive weapons to make this a tough game on the Saints defense. They won’t bottle up the Saints offense, but their disruption along the defensive line will make for a tough day for Drew Brees, who will reach the 500 TD mark in this game.
Prediction: Baltimore Ravens 26 New Orleans Saints 23
Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers
What’s the gift for Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers coming off a tough Monday night loss at Lambeau field? A date with the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams pass offense hasn’t clicked over the last two weeks as Jared Goff has one touchdown pass over the last two games.
They’ll find much more success vs a 49ers defense that has allowed 14 TDs through the first six weeks of the season.
Prediction: Los Angeles Rams 37 San Francisco 49ers 17
Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins
Dallas is 0-3 away from home and in those three road games they are averaging 12.3 PPG. The Washington Redskins aren’t explosive offensively but have a quarterback who doesn’t give the other team extra possessions.
Head coach Jay Gruden and defensive coordinator Greg Manusky should love their matchups against Dallas’ receiving core, and so do I. Stopping Ezekiel Elliot and Dak Prescott from running the ball will be the key to victory for Washington.
Prediction: Washington Redskins 24 Dallas Cowboys 20
Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs suffered their first loss last Sunday to the New England Patriots, but still showed that their offensive firepower is enough to win anywhere. The Bengals have offensive firepower of their own, but far too inconsistent to keep up with a team averaging 35.8 PPG.
Look for Andy Reid to have a counterattack for the Bengals formidable front four that includes Geno Atkins.
Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs 38 Cincinnati Bengals 21
New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta is in last place in the NFC South at the moment, but there’s reason to believe this team at 2-4 can make some noise. The next four games, including this Monday night game vs the New York Giants, are all winnable games ahead of a Thanksgiving showdown with the Saints. 6-4 or 5-5?
You’ll take that after a 1-4 start aided by injuries, but first thing’s first, beat a bad Giants team that has allowed 30+ points in each of their last three games.
Prediction: Atlanta Falcons 31 New York Giants 24
Which game are you most looking forward to from the NFL Week 7 slate? Leave your comments below!