NFL Week 7 Preview
Giants @ Eagles
This was written prior to the start of this game. The NFC East in 2020 is probably the wort divisions I've ever seen in my 10+ years of watching the NFL. Both of these teams will have top 10 picks in the draft if they don't win the division, but with Dak Prescott going down each of these teams have a chance to be the 4 seed in the NFC. The Eagles are a better team and it's because of Carson Wentz. Wentz is the best quarterback in the division now that Prescott is out. The Eagles and Giants both have solid defenses and I've been really impressed by the Giants secondary. James Bradberry has stood out all season and looks like a top 10 corner in the NFL. When his back is against the wall, Wentz knows how to find an escape and I think the Eagles will edge out the Giants on Thursday Night Football.
Matchup To Watch: James Bradberry vs Travis Fulgham
Player of the Game: Carson Wentz QB Eagles
Final Score: Giants 24 Eagles 26
Panthers @ Saints
This game has upset written all over it. The Saints are without Michael Thomas (hamstring) and Emmanuel Sanders (COVID-19), so Alvin Kamara will need to have another big game coming off the bye week. The Panthers are coming off of a close loss to the Bears where Teddy Bridgewater just didn't look like himself. I expect Bridgewater to redeem himself and make smarter decisions against the Saints defense this week. The Saints should be refreshed after the bye week and I expect to see a nice game plan from Sean Payton and New Orleans' offense. Robby Anderson is one of the hottest receivers in the NFL and his matchup against Marshon Lattimore will be fun to watch. I expect the Panthers to keep this game close, but they won't be able to contain Alvin Kamara as both a receiver and a runner.
Matchup to Watch: Jeremy Chinn vs Alvin Kamara
Player of the Game: Alvin Kamara RB Saints
Final Score: Panthers 23 Saints 27
Bills @ Jets
This is my pick for blowout of the week. The Jets are the worst team in the NFL and I'm not even sure if they'll get a win this season. Stefon Diggs is having a career year and Josh Allen will be able to get a rebound win this week. Both of these guys should have huge days statistically and blow out the Jets. The Jets offense will have Denzel Mims playing in his first career game. He could be a lone bright spot for this team. Look out for late hits on Josh Allen. We know that Josh Allen isn't afraid to lower his shoulder and takes the most hits out of any quarterback in the NFL. Gregg Williams is known for coaching his players dirty, so I'm hoping Josh Allen will slide more and get out of bounds. I'm really just hoping that he can stay healthy and have 0 hits to his head on Sunday.
Matchup to Watch: Denzel Mims vs Tre'Davious White
Player of the game: Stefon Diggs WR Bills
Final Score: Bills 31 Jets 9
Browns @ Bengals
This game is a potential new era, AFC North rivalry. Joe Burrow vs Baker Mayfield. . People are going to overreacting to the Browns loss so much so that I would actually put money on Cleveland. The Bengals lost to the Browns just a few weeks ago and are now playing without their starting running back Joe Mixon. I love Burrow, but he just doesn't have enough help. Bengals fans should getting used to the name Penei Sewell, he's the top left tackle in the draft and who every Bengals fan should be hoping for. Burrow has no protection and I expect Myles Garrett to rack up a few sacks again this week. I like the Browns in a two score game.
Matchup to Watch: Jonah Williams vs Myles Garrett
Player of the Game: Myles Garrett EDGE Browns
Final Score: Browns 26 Bengals 16
Cowboys @ WFT
Yikes... In this game you're picking the lesser of two evils. The Cowboys look terrible without Dak Prescott. Their defense looks like the Junior Varsity team at my high school. They've given up more than 30 points in every game this year besides week one against the Rams. Andy Dalton is still playing like a backup and has no offensive lineman to protect him from Chase Young and Montez Sweat. The Washington Football Team's D-line versus the Cowboys O-line is the biggest mismatch this weekend and I expect that matchup to be the deciding factor of this game. Terry McLaurin should be able to cook the Cowboys secondary and I expect Washington to come away with the "upset".
Matchup to Watch: Cowboys Wide Receivers vs WFT's secondary
Player of the Game: Terry McLaurin WR WFT
Final Score: Cowboys 16 WFT 17
Packers @ Texans
Other than this being a great quarterback match up, this shouldn't be a very close game. However, Deshaun Watson against Aaron Rodgers will be fun to watch. Watson and Rodgers are two magicians behind the line of scrimmage. Watson hasn't had one of those vintage "Houdini" moments yet, but it could come out this game. The Packers have the 24th ranked pass defense in the NFL and Watson could catch their defense sleeping and make a miracle play. Outside of last week, Aaron Rodgers is having an amazing year. I expect him to get back on that level this week. The Texans have one of the worst run defenses in the NFL, so expect to see a lot of Aaron Jones on Sunday. The Texans defense won't be able to hang with the Packers offense and I expect the Packers to strike early and often.
Matchup to Watch: Randall Cobb revenge game!
Player of the Game: Aaron Jones RB Packers
Final Score: Packers 30 Texans 23
Lions @ Falcons
Both of these teams are in the bottom half of their division and are coming off of big wins. The Falcons picked up their first win of the season last week after firing head coach Dan Quinn. This move could spark their team and put them on a win streak. The Lions played their best game of the season last week and D'Andre Swift looked really good; However, the Falcons have a top ten rush defense. The Falcons pass defense is ranked 30th in the NFL. Expect Lions offensive coordinator, Darrell Bevell, to let Matthew Stafford drop back and sling the ball on Sunday. This should be a close, high scoring game, but I expect the Lions to come out on top because of the advantage Matthew Stafford's clutch gene.
Matchup to Watch: Julio Jones vs Jeff Okudah
Player of the Game: Kenny Golladay WR Lions
Final Score: Lions 27 Falcons 26
Steelers @ Titans
This is the game of the week. I'm so excited to watch both of these undefeated teams face off in a game that could be huge in terms of playoff standings. The Titans are one of my favorite teams to watch. Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry, and AJ Brown make up one of the best QB-RB-WR trios in the NFL, but the loss of left tackle Taylor Lewan will be huge. Rushing on Tannehill's blindside this week is all-pro pass rusher, TJ Watt. The emergence of Chase Claypool adds another dimension to the Steelers offense. Claypool is a strong candidate for offensive rookie of the year and has already surpassed JuJu Smith-Schuster as the team's number one receiver. This game should be close and I expect the Steelers to come out on top. The Steelers have the best run defense in the NFL which won't be able to completely stop Derrick Henry, but should somewhat contain him. The Titans have the highest run percentage on early downs. If the Steelers bring their A-game, this will cause the Titans to have a lot of 3rd and longs. What the Titans need to do to win this game is utilize play action and down field passing. Arthur Smith needs to be in his bag this Sunday in order for the Titans to win this game.
Matchup to Watch: AJ Brown vs Joe Haden
Player of the Game: TJ Watt OLB Steelers
Final Score: Steelers 28 Titans 24
Buccaneers @ Raiders
If this game plays out, I expect the Buccaneers to have another big day. COVID-19 has chosen its next victim and unfortunately it's the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders dodged a bullet with four of their offensive lineman being activated off the COVID-19 list just in time for this game, but they lost a handful of practice days. The Raiders will be without LT Trent Brown and SS Johnathan Abram on Sunday due to the virus. The Buccaneers are coming off of their best game of the season and the team is beginning to gel. Unfortunately we won't be seeing Antonio Brown suiting up against the Raiders, but the Buccaneers are fully healthy. Their are too many factors which hurt the Raiders, so I expect Tom Brady and the Buccaneers the Raiders uncertainties.
Matchup to Watch: Josh Jacobs vs Devin White
Player of the Game: Devin White LB Buccaneers
Final Score: Buccaneers 27 Raiders 20
Chiefs @ Broncos
The Broncos always play the Chiefs tough and this will be Broncos QB, Drew Lock's second game back from an AC joint sprain. Drew Lock looked terrible at the end of the game in week 6. He was making bone-headed decisions and seemed completely flustered. However, earlier in the game he was throwing dimes. His anticipation was amazing and was dropping the ball right over his receiver's shoulders. This week he has to go against Chris Jones and Frank Clark. He's going to feel the pressure so Broncos offensive coordinator, Pat Shurmur needs to install quick passing into his game plan. Tyreek Hill hasn't had his breakout game yet, but I smell it coming. Unless Drew Lock plays the best game of his career, I don't see the Broncos winning this one.
Matchup to Watch: Tyreek Hill vs AJ Bouye and Justin Simmons
Player of the Game: Chris Jones DT Chiefs
Final Score: Chiefs 30 Broncos 13
Jaguars @ Chargers
Justin Herbert has been one of my favorite players to watch all season and this week he's fresh. The bye week is most vital for rookie quarterbacks because this is the first time they can take a step back and evaluate their game. Herbert has been pretty damn good all year and he's playing a struggling defense. The Jaguars have the worst pass defense in the NFL and I expect Herbert to take shots downfield on Sunday. CJ Henderson has shown some promise in his rookie season and he has a huge challenge this week against Keenan Allen. The Chargers are a better team and I expect them to blow Jacksonville out.
Matchup to Watch: CJ Henderson vs Keenan Allen
Player of the Game: Justin Herbert QB Chargers
Final Score: Jaguars 17 Chargers 30
49ers @ Patriots
This matchup has the best offensive minds going head to head. Kyle Shanahan vs Bill Belichick, these games are always very competitive. The 49ers are coming of their best game of the season and the Patriots just got embarrassed by the Broncos. Cam Newton is coming off his worst game of the season, but he's playing against a defense who is terrible against mobile quarterbacks. The 49ers will also be without both of their starting safeties. I expect 49ers WR's, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, to get a lot of short passes. The Patriots try to takeaway the best thing that the opposing offense does, so I don't expect George Kittle to get many receiving yards. The 49ers are going to be challenged this game, but their key to the game is Jimmy Garoppolo playing turnover free football. The Patriots key to the game is letting Cam Newton run. This should be a really close game, but I expect the 49ers to barely edge out New England.
Matchup to Watch: George Kittle vs the Patriots defense
Player of the Game: Arik Armstead DE 49ers
Final Score: 49ers 27 Patriots 24
Seahawks @ Cardinals
Both the Seahawks and the Cardinals have shown a lot of promise this year. The Seahawks are a top 2 team in the NFL and Russell Wilson has been the best player in all of football. The Seahawks are coming off of a bye week which means Pete Carroll has had a lot of time to self scout his defense and fix some of their problems. I'm interested to see how Deandre Hopkins will play against the Seahawks defense. Seattle runs a type of cover three with man coverage on the teams number one receiver. Hopkins may cause Carroll's defense some issues. Russell Wilson is the best quarterback on Sunday Night football and I expect him to cook against a defense who hasn't seen anything close to the Seahawks offense. This week, we will see what Kyler Murray is truly capable of. This could be an offensive dual and I don't see Wilson losing that type of game. I like Seattle in a high scoring game.
Matchup to Watch: Deandre Hopkins vs Shaquill Griffin
Player of the Game: Russell Wilson QB Seahawks
Final Score: Seahawks 30 Cardinals 25
Bears @ Rams
My #1 bet against the spread this week is the Bears +6. Jared Goff always struggles against the Bears and Matt Nagy does a good job coaching against this defense. The Rams are coming off of a huge loss and I'm curious how they respond. Could Kyle Shanahan have discovered the formula to slow down Aaron Donald? The Rams have a lot to prove on Monday Night Football. The Rams had a hard time stopping the 49ers receivers after the catch, so I expect Nagy to get the ball in Cordarrelle Patterson's hands and let him get busy after the catch. Sean McVay is really good coming off of a loss and does a good job adapting his game plan after a bad game. This game is going to be really close, but I think McVay and the Rams pick things up after an embarrassing loss in week 6.
Matchup to Watch: Bears IOL vs Aaron Donald
Player of the Game: Robert Woods WR Rams
Final Score: Bears 22 Rams 24
