Score predictions and thoughts on every Sunday/Monday matchup on the Week 7 NFL slate.
The highest respect is in order to anyone still standing in an NFL survivor league or knockout pool after the way this season has started.
More likely, most were felled by the Los Angeles Rams at some point … or the Seattle Seahawks … or any other number of unexpected outcomes so far.
Meanwhile, there are just three unbeaten teams remaining in the NFL in the San Francisco 49ers (6-0), Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) and Minnesota Vikings (5-0) and two of those have tough challenges in Week 7.
The 49ers hit the road to take on a frisky Atlanta Falcons team while missing top WR Mike Evans due to his mounting injuries, and the Chiefs tangle with a Seahawks team desperate to turn the corner after its 3-3 start.
We break down those games and more with score predictions for the entire Week 7 NFL slate.
(All game times ET; all point spreads via DraftKings Sportsbook)
NFL Week 7 Schedule And Predictions
Early Results
Thursday
Chicago Bears 30, New England Patriots 24: The Bears ran their record to 5-2 and have looked like Super Bowl contenders in the two games since QB Caleb Williams’ return from his hamstring injury. Williams threw for 308 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs while Luther Burden III hauled in 4 passes for 130 yards and a TD for the once-again-surging Bears.
Sunday morning in Paris, France
New Orleans Saints vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: In progress …
Sunday 1 p.m.
San Francisco 49ers (6-0) at Atlanta Falcons (2-4): The undefeated 49ers top our NFL power rankings for the second straight week and already have a three-game lead in the NFC West, which would have seemed improbable entering the season for what was supposed to be the best division in football. San Francisco and MVP candidate Brock Purdy (1,460 passing yards, 14 TDs and 2 INTs) will look to keep rolling on the road in Atlanta despite being without top WR Mike Evans (ribs/Achilles). Nonetheless, San Francisco remains plenty potent with Purdy, RB Christian McCaffrey (540 combined rushing/receiving yards and 7 TDs) and TE George Kittle (26 catches for 337 yards and 5 TDs), backed by a top 5 defense giving up just 18.3 PPG and 300.0 YPG. That unit will be tested by the Falcons’ dynamic duo of Bijan Robinson (second in the NFL with 641 rushing yards, with 144 receiving yards and 5 total TDs) and WR Drake London (fourth in the league with 550 receiving yards). Atlanta has lost two straight games, though, and needs to turn the corner soon to stay in the thick of the NFC South race. San Francisco is a 2.5-point favorite. Prediction: Falcons 28, 49ers 27
Cincinnati Bengals (3-2) at Baltimore Ravens (4-2): QB Lamar Jackson is set to miss a third straight game with an ankle injury for Baltimore. After playing well in his first start, backup QB Tyler Huntley threw for just 165 yards and a TD in a disappointing 13-10 loss to the Browns last week. Jackson’s absence has sapped the Ravens’ offense of most of its upside, which is not ideal when going up against the Bengals and their prolific passing attack with Joe Burrow (1,361 yards, 11 TDs and 3 INTs), Ja’Marr Chase (27-289-4) and Tee Higgins (27-423-1). Cincinnati is a 3-point favorite. Prediction: Bengals 24, Ravens 17
New York Giants (3-2) at Houston Texans (2-4): After J.J. McCarthy’s wild fourth quarter last week in his Giants debut, as he came off the bench late in the team’s loss to the Saints and threw for 243 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT with 26 rushing yards, the Vikings castoff is now getting his chance to start this week. If ever there was a time for the Houston defense to find itself and get right … The Texans have won two straight, including a significant 34-31 win over the Jaguars last week, after their 0-4 start. They remain in must-win mode while trying to claw back into the playoff picture. QB C.J. Stroud has played well while throwing for 1,714 yards, 9 TDs and 1 INT, but as noted, the Texans once-vaunted defense has been middle-of-the-pack. That unit is going to again be without safety Reed Blankenship (concussion) and nickel Jalen Pitre (shoulder) while RB David Montgomery (groin) also remains sidelined and RT Blake Fisher (thumb) has been ruled out as well. Despite the mounting injuries, Houston is a 10.5-point favorite. Call it the J.J. McCarthy Effect. Prediction: Texans 27, Giants 19
Indianapolis Colts (2-4) at Minnesota Vikings (5-0): The Colts fired longtime general manager Chris Ballard this week and that is likely to be just the first domino for a team that could become a big seller on the trade market … unless it turns the corner fast. The prospects of that happening Sunday vs. the Vikings’ ferocious, blitz-heavy defensive attack seems unlikely. Tight end Tyler Warren, CB Sauce Gardner and LB CJ Allen are all out for Indianapolis. Minnesota is giving up the fewest points in the league by far (12.8 PPG) and second-fewest yards (259.8/game), which is why it remains unbeaten despite lackluster quarterback play from Kyler Murray (662 passing yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 93 rushing yards in essentially three games). The return of RB Jordan Mason to pair with Aaron Jones in the backfield should help a little. Minnesota is a 7-point favorite. Prediction: Vikings 23, Colts 16
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5) at Carolina Panthers (3-2): If the Buccaneers are going to maintain any shot at rallying — even in the mediocre NFC South — they probably need to win this game. QB Baker Mayfield returns from a three-game absence (thumb), but he wasn’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard before his injury with 615 passing yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs in three games. He’ll be without the services of top WR Emeka Egbuka (concussion) and starting RT Luke Goedeke (calf). Carolina is riding its first two-game win streak in a year after alternating wins and losses since the second half of last season. The Panthers incredibly rank second in the NFL in total offense (404.4 YPG) and fourth in scoring at 29.2 PPG, and QB Bryce Young’s belated fourth-year breakout is looking more real by the week as he’s passed for 1,549 yards, 11 TDs and 2 INTs. WR Tetairoa McMillan (32-471-2) and RB Chuba Hubbard (242 rushing yards and 3 TDs over the last two games) have been difference-makers as well. Carolina is a 3-point favorite. Prediction: Panthers 27, Buccaneers 20
Cleveland Browns (4-2) at Tennessee Titans (1-5): The Titans got their first win last week, 26-20 over the Colts, but it did nothing to quell concerns about second-year QB Cam Ward, who mustered just 102 passing yards, 1 TD and 1 INT in that one. The Browns have a -16 point differential despite their record, and QB Deshaun Watson has faded since his surprisingly strong start with just 319 passing yards and 1 TD combined over the last two games. The Browns do get starting RB Quinshon Judkins back from injury, but he’s averaging a meager 3.0 YPC this season. Watch this game at your own peril. Cleveland is a 2.5-point favorite. Predictions: Browns 20, Titans 16
Miami Dolphins (0-5) at New York Jets (2-4): How many fans outside of New York or Miami (or, heck, even in Miami) are watching this one? The rebuilding Jets have a prime opportunity to match last season’s win total with a victory Sunday. They’ll likely be without RB Breece Hall (quad injury) again with Braelon Allen (253 rushing yards over the last three games) continuing to lead the backfield while rookie WR Omar Cooper Jr. is coming off a breakout game (6-103-1 vs. the Patriots). Ollie Gordon II has been productive for Miami since being thrust into the RB1 role with 188 rushing yards and 2 TDs the last two games, but the Dolphins’ passing attack with Malik Willis ranks second-to-last in the NFL (153.6 YPG). New York is a 3.5-point favorite. Prediction: Jets 20, Dolphins 17
Sunday 4:05/4:25 p.m.
Green Bay Packers (4-2) at Detroit Lions (3-2): Just as many (hand raised!) were ready to write off the Packers and coach Matt LaFleur a few weeks ago after that 35-14 loss to Falcons, they’ve responded with three straight wins and a couple of eye-openers the last two weeks over the Bears (31-7) and Cowboys (23-13). The defense has come to life, even as it continues to await the eventual return of star EDGE Micah Parsons. The offensive line remains an issue, but Jordan Love (1,684 yards, 11 TDs, 4 INTs) has navigated that and the abject lack of a rushing attack as second-year WR Matthew Golden (28-473-3) is having a breakout season to form one of the more potent WR tandems with Christian Watson (29-538-6). The Packers’ league-worst rushing offense gets a boost, meanwhile, with the return of Josh Jacobs this week, while LB Zaire Franklin has been ruled out with a shin injury. … Speaking of significant returns, the Lions are desperately hoping the return of star safety Brian Branch this week (from a torn Achilles) makes a pronounced difference for a defense that ranks dead-last at 404.4 YPG allowed and 30th in scoring (29.6 PPG allowed). Even a league-average defense makes Detroit and its loaded offense a contender. RB Jahmyr Gibbs comes into the day third in the league in combined rushing/receiving yards (747) with 9 total TDs. Detroit is a 3.5-point favorite. Prediction: Packers 34, Lions 31
Denver Broncos (4-2) at Arizona Cardinals (2-4): Denver has a -11 point differential despite its impressive record and resume (wins over the Jaguars, Rams and Seahawks; only losses to the unbeaten Chiefs and 49ers). There is an endless supply of advanced stats to show how poorly QB Bo Nix (1,049 yards, 6 TDs, 3 INTs) is playing or that he almost refuses to throw the ball downfield or over the middle. Facing a rebuilding Cardinals team would seem like a prime opportunity to get right, except Arizona is coming off its biggest win and best defensive performance of the season (18-16 over the Rams). Denver is a 4.5-point favorite. Prediction: Broncos 27, Cardinals 16
Los Angeles Rams (2-4) at Las Vegas Raiders (3-3): The preseason Super Bowl favorite Rams are still tied for the fourth-best odds to win it all (+1200) on DraftKings Sportsbook despite an abysmal start. Nobody is denying the potential this team has if it ever gets to full strength, but star EDGE Myles Garrett remains sidelined after arthroscopic knee surgery (with a chance to return next week) and now WR Davante Adams is out indefinitely with a severe hamstring injury. (LB Nate Landman is also out this week.) Time is running thin for the Rams to wake up and start stacking victories, though. This might as well be a must-win game for reigning MVP Matthew Stafford (1,794 yards, 11 TDs and 6 INTs), Puka Nacua (37-417-1 in four games; listed as questionable but expected to play through a calf injury) and Co. The Raiders may have lost three straight since their 3-0 start, but they continue to be competitive with three-point losses to the Chiefs and Bills during this losing streak. QB Kirk Cousins remains productive with 1,582 passing yards, 14 TDs and 5 INTs, but the running game and the struggles of second-year RB Ashton Jeanty (just 3.2 YPC) are a concern while rookie backup Mike Washington Jr. is questionable with foot/back injuries. Los Angeles is a 3.5-point favorite. Prediction: Rams 31, Raiders 21
Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. on NBC)
Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) at Seattle Seahawks (3-3): The Seahawks are already painfully aware of what they’re missing in letting Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III leave via free agency for Kansas City. Seattle has a bottom-half-of-the-league rushing attack (107.2 YPG), which has in turn put extra pressure on QB Sam Darnold’s arm, which … is always a volatile recipe. Darnold is second in the league with 7 INTs (along with 7 TDs) despite playing essentially four games. Meanwhile, the Chiefs have been revitalized with Walker as the centerpiece of their offense, leading the NFL in total offense (414.0 YPG), rushing (159.8 YPG) and ranking fifth in scoring (28.0 PPG). Walker leads the league with 665 rushing yards on a career-best 6.3 YPC as he returns to his former home in Seattle to go up against the league’s top-ranked defense (237.3 YPG allowed). It’s a perfect matchup of opposing strengths. The Seahawks are far more desperate for a win, however, while already three games back in the NFC West. Seattle is a 3-point favorite. Prediction: Seahawks 24, Chiefs 22
Monday Night Football (8:15 p.m. on ESPN/ABC)
Dallas Cowboys (2-4) at Philadelphia Eagles (2-4): The “Somebody Has To Win Bowl,” though leave it to these two teams to finagle a tie. The NFC East made history by becoming the first division in league history to go winless for two straight weeks, and one would think that dubious streak ends Monday night somehow. It’s unclear what the Eagles’ plan is for the rest of the season now that starting QB Jalen Hurts is out for the year recovering from very serious blood clots that spread to his lungs and opened up an inquisition into the team’s handling of the matter and why Hurts got on two cross country flights and played in the team’s London game two weeks ago. RB Saquon Barkley is expected to return from his hamstring injury, but he’s officially listed as questionable. But with Hurts shelved and the offensive line in upheaval, could the Eagles become sellers? Meanwhile, the Cowboys have been absolutely humbled the last two weeks by the Buccaneers and Packers as it’s been their vaunted offense as much as their maligned defense at fault. Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Co. have mustered just 29 points over the last two weeks. Dallas may still be the favorite in the collapsing NFC East, but that will at some point require winning another game. Dallas is a 4.5-point favorite. Prediction: Cowboys 23, Eagles 17
