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Welcome to Week 7 football fans! We kick things off with a Sean Payton homecoming in "Nawlins", hop to London for another International Series game, get several marquee matchups on Sunday, and then close with a Monday night doubleheader. Football remains undefeated!
The Week 7 slate is an intriguing one with tough divisional rivalries such as the Vikings vs. Lions, as well as a Super Bowl rematch featuring the Chiefs and Niners. Of course, not every game is an exciting matchup on paper...how many of you are pumped for the Rams vs. Raiders?
Good, bad, and ugly...we'll go through every Week 7 game in this article, offering picks, predictions, and analysis on each and every one. Thanks for joining us here at RotoBaller; let's dive into the slate!
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Denver Broncos 20, New Orleans Saints 17
Sean Payton returns to "The Big Easy" for a homecoming clash against his former team in this Thursday night meeting between the Broncos and Saints.
Sean Payton might be the most important figure in Saints history. He also quit on them. It's OK to feel whatever you want on Thursday night.https://t.co/olrVKIwHpF
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) October 16, 2024
Other than the curiosity factor of seeing how Payton fares against the organization that he led to a Super Bowl title, there's not much sizzle to this matchup between two squads that have struggled mightily to generate points.
The Saints enter Week 7 as a walking MASH unit. Their top two receivers, Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (meniscus) will join injured QB Derek Carr on the sidelines, leaving rookie Spencer Rattler and Alvin Kamara to fend for the New Orleans offense.
It won't be an easy task against a rugged Broncos defense that's relinquishing just 16.0 points per game. Denver's rookie QB Bo Nix has been uneven but should be able to put up enough points against an abysmal Saints defense that allowed Tampa Bay to score 51 last week.
New England Patriots 23, Jacksonville Jaguars 20 (London)
The Jaguars continue their "homestand" in London this week against the Patriots. Jacksonville was dominated by the Bears at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last week and will look to find more success at Wembley Stadium this Sunday.
It's unlikely...even against the 1-5 Patriots, as this group of Jags might've finally quit on their head coach Doug Pederson, who is pro football's version of a dead man walking.
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye got the first start of his NFL career last week, and while he was thrown into a tough situation against the Houston Texans, he flashed some of the tools that made him the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Maye's presence under center will continue to energize the Pats, while Jacksonville could well stay flat...and leave Pederson behind in London.
Buffalo Bills 28, Tennessee Titans 13
The Bills escaped with a win over the Jets on Monday night and on Tuesday announced that they were acquiring wide receiver Amari Cooper in a trade with Cleveland. Pretty solid start to the week.
Things should stay golden for Buffalo against the 1-4 Titans. Turnover machine Will Levis only had one interception in the team's Week 6 loss to the Colts, though his general ineffectiveness led to just 17 points against one of the league's worst defenses.
Tennessee ranks 31st in the league in both total yards and passing yards per game. Levis could be benched in this one if things get too out of hand.
Indianapolis Colts 20, Miami Dolphins 13
By all accounts, Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson will return to the lineup in Week 7. Is that a good thing? Veteran backup Joe Flacco has certainly been an improvement for the Indy passing attack that's amassed 537 yards through the air in Flacco's two starts.
The Colts QB situation could be worse, just ask the Miami Dolphins. With Tua Tagovailoa still sidelined after suffering a scary concussion earlier in the year, Tyler Huntley is expected to lead the 'Fins in Week 7.
Mike McDaniel had a Week 6 bye to prepare Huntley and will look to get Miami back on track against a porous Colts defense. We could give Huntley two more bye weeks worth of preparation and he still won't be Tua.
Detroit Lions 24, Minnesota Vikings 23
Whoa...how tough is the NFC North? The worst record in the division is 4-2. Minnesota will look to stay unbeaten at home but will have their hands full with a Lions squad that's coming off their best performance of the year in a 47-9 Week 6 beatdown of the Cowboys.
#Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown says he typically loves to watch Vikings star Justin Jefferson, “but this weekend I’m not a fan.” Says they got to know each other during the Receiver series but it’s all business vs. Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/u74aonTHIY
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) October 17, 2024
Detroit's loss of all-world edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson can't be ignored and neither can Minnesota's swarming defense. However, the Lions have perhaps the NFL's best offensive line to go with dynamic weapons at the skill positions.
Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold has been phenomenal this year, but did look human against the Jets in Week 5 while Minnesota running back Aaron Jones is banged up. Any game within this division feels like a coin toss at the moment, but expect the Lions to make a statement this week and win a tight one.
Cincinnati Bengals 27, Cleveland Browns 17
After an abysmal start to the season, the Bengals will look to continue to scratch their way back to a .500 record against the divisional rival Browns. Despite averaging just over 26 points per game, Cincinnati heads to Cleveland with a 2-4 record.
It's a good spot for Joe Burrow and company to get back on track. The Browns continued to be buried by Deshaun Watson's contract and waved another white flag on the season when they traded Amari Cooper to the Bills earlier this week.
Star running back Nick Chubb could return to action this week, but with Watson under center, it might not matter, as this Cleveland offense ranks dead last in the NFL in total yards per game.
Green Bay Packers 24, Houston Texans 21
One of Week 7's most intriguing matchups features the Houston Texans traveling to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers. Both squads have looked like legitimate contenders to start the year, while both have also dealt with some bumps along the way.
The all white uniforms that the Packers will wear Sunday vs. the Texans.
📷 @packers pic.twitter.com/Vuct1ABohg
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 16, 2024
Green Bay weathered the absence of quarterback Jordan Love nicely and has now won two straight. Meanwhile, Houston is currently dealing with the loss of stud receiver Nico Collins, though running back Joe Mixon returned to the lineup to total 132 yards and two TDs in the Texans' Week 6 win.
Two of the NFL's best young quarterbacks will be in action in this one, but Love will narrowly edge C.J. Stroud in Lambeau, as the Packers press to keep pace in the stout NFC North.
Atlanta Falcons 27, Seattle Seahawks 23
This "Battle of the Birds" features two teams that are each hard to put your finger on. Atlanta comes in the winners of three straight with wild divisional wins over the Saints and Bucs leading to a routine domination of the lowly Panthers last week.
After a fast start under new head coach Mike Macdonald, Seattle has now dropped three in a row and will look to get back above .500 outside of the friendly confines of Lumen Field. We've seen Kirk Cousins steadily improve each week and we can expect another big game from him at home against a Seahawks squad that's allowing 7.1 yards per pass attempt.
Philadelphia Eagles 17, New York Giants 14
Although the Eagles picked up a win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 6, Philly fans were probably hoping for more style points with Nick Sirianni's squad coming off their bye. With A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith both now healthy and back in the Philadelphia lineup, the Eagles will look to gain some ground in the division against the New York Giants.
The G-Men put forth another lackluster offensive performance in a 17-7 Week 6 loss to the Bengals. New York's Daniel Jones-led offense ranks 29th in the NFL in points per game (16.0). The good news is rookie superstar Malik Nabers should be in line to return from a two-game absence caused by a concussion and could find some success against a secondary that remains Philly's defensive weak link.
It might not matter, as the Eagles will likely ride former Giant Saquon Barkley to a tight win in his first return to the Big Apple since leaving in free agency this past offseason.
Washington Commanders 35, Carolina Panthers 17
The NFL teaches us to always be on upset alert, but boy, it's tough to envision the Panthers being able to hang with rookie sensation Jayden Daniels and the Commanders offense in this one.
Daniels was impressive even in a loss to the Ravens last week and has this Washington offense humming to the tune of 29.7 points per game.
Carolina is watching Daniels' success with envy, as their highly-drafted QB Bryce Young still languishes on the bench. The insertion of Andy Dalton did provide a brief spark for the Panther offense, but a defense that's allowing a league-worst 33.8 points per game is the bigger problem. Daniels should put up video game numbers in this matchup.
Los Angeles Rams 24, Las Vegas Raiders 20
With the Davante Adams chapter now officially closed for the Raiders, Antonio Pierce's squad will look to move on against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 7. Las Vegas won't need any big adjustments for life after Adams, as we can expect tight end Brock Bowers to continue as the team's de facto WR1.
The 1-5 Rams will look to try to get back on track following a much-needed bye week. L.A. could have Cooper Kupp back in the lineup, although Kyren Williams, Matthew Stafford, and the rest of the supporting cast could be enough to handle the Raiders alone.
Outside of an ugly Week 2 loss to Arizona, Sean McVay's bunch has been competitive every week, which is more than we can say for the Raiders.
San Francisco 49ers 27, Kansas City Chiefs 24
In Week 7's marquee matchup, the Chiefs travel to San Francisco for a Super Bowl rematch (and possible Super Bowl preview?) with the Niners. Patrick Mahomes and company sport a pristine 5-0 record, despite not yet playing their best football and dealing with a plethora of injuries.
Chiefs have won 4 of the last 5 against the 49ers 👀 pic.twitter.com/xv3Yjwxzjo
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 16, 2024
The Niners have their own injury issues with Christian McCaffrey yet to play a game in 2024 and his all-star back-up, Jordan Mason, questionable with a sprained AC joint.
Kansas City's defense has been the underrated hero for Andy Reid's team, but they'll face stiff competition against a San Fran offense that appears to be hitting its stride following a 36-point explosion against Seattle last week. This will probably be another classic and the Niners will get the win at these less-than-championship stakes.
New York Jets 17, Pittsburgh Steelers 16
Despite a 2-4 record, the Jets pulled the trigger on a trade to reunite Davante Adams with Aaron Rodgers earlier this week. Adams is expected to suit up in what feels like a make-or-break Sunday night matchup against the Steelers.
Although Justin Fields has played relatively well while leading Pittsburgh to a 4-0 start, veteran quarterback Russell Wilson has reportedly been taking first-team reps in practice this week.
It might not matter who is under center for the low-flying Steelers against a stubborn Jets unit that remains one of the best in the league. Rodgers and Adams could conjure enough of the old Green Bay magic to steal a much-needed win this week.
Baltimore Ravens 31, Tampa Bay Bucs 27
These two squads enter an intriguing Monday night matchup with equal 4-2 records. The Ravens are the winners of four straight after an 0-2 start to the season.
Both Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry are playing MVP-level ball at the moment. The pair are likely licking their chops at the prospect of a Bucs defense that's allowing 385.7 yards per game this year.
Tampa Bay is not without its own offensive firepower. Baker Mayfield has been fantastic while leading the Bucs offense to 29.7 points per game. Mayfield connected with Chris Godwin early and often last week in the team's eye-popping 51-27 victory over New Orleans.
Look for points, points, and more points in this one with Baltimore's defense making a few more key stops than Tampa's.
Los Angeles Chargers 20, Arizona Cardinals 14
The Bolts came off a Week 5 bye to snatch a meaningful division win at Mile High last week. Jim Harbaugh's squad was content to lean on J.K. Dobbins and grinding clock after jumping out to an early lead against Denver. We can expect more of the same this week.
Arizona has been a team marked by inconsistency, a trait which can largely be attributed to their quarterback, Kyler Murray, who remains one of the NFL's biggest QB enigmas.
Murray will likely be without rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. who is currently in the league's concussion protocol while trusted Arizona running back James Conner is also banged up.
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