Week 7 NFL Game Picks: Titans Keep Rolling! Who Takes First-Place Battle in AFC North?

 As the season really is getting into it's heart, the games each week get more and more important. Last week was really a good beginning to sort out teams with playoff/super bowl hopes, and teams that are playing for draft position in the off-season. This week those determinations become even more intensified. We have another slate of games to predict.

Week 6 Predictions Record: 8-6
2021 Season Overall: 60-34

Thursday Night Football - Denver Broncos (3-3) at Cleveland Browns (3-3)

Such an interesting TNF matchup. At full strength or even close to it at all, the Browns would he heavy favorites. However, they are down over 6 starters including QB Baker Mayfield and RBs 1 and 2 Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Those are just a few names to consider among other injuries. Case Keenum will be starting Thursday Night for Cleveland. As bad as Denver has looked over the past few weeks, they are playing a lineup of many backups with not much NFL playing time in recent years. I think it will be close, but Teddy Bridgewater should have a bounceback game in a tight affair between these two teams. It's sort of a toss-up, but I'm going to with health over skill.

The Pick: Broncos 24, Browns 22

Kansas City Chiefs (3-3) at Tennessee Titans (4-2)

What a treat in the early window. This is a super fun match of two contending AFC teams that also happened to meet in the AFC championship game just two seasons ago. The Titans are hot and riding high right now off the heels of a super impressive victory over the Bills while the Chiefs come in after a rough win vs Washington. I think the Chiefs have the more explosive offense but also quite a worse defense and I don't see them keeping up with Derrick Henry at all. The King cannot be stopped right now. The Titans win a close one to further establish that they are contenders and not a one game fluke vs Buffalo. 

The Pick: Titans 33, Chiefs 26

Washington Football Team (2-4) at Green Bay Packers (5-1)

This one might be ugly. The Packers are one of the hottest and best teams in the league right now while Washington is bad and also banged up as well at the same time. Aaron Rodgers is going to have a field day and this one won't be particularly close.

The Pick: Packers 30, WFT 12

Cincinnati Bengals (4-2) at Baltimore Ravens (5-1)

Not many would have expected the top two teams in the AFC North to be Cinncy and Baltimore going into week 7. The early season success by both of these teams sets up a fun game here. I am a huge supporter of the Bengals this season and think they will wind up as a wildcard in the playoffs, but I just don't think they beat Baltimore yet. Maybe when they play again later in the year, but on the road against one of the hottest teams in football I just can't pick them. Lamar Jackson is doing TOO well right now to jump ship. I think this one will be really close with some turnovers and stuff along the way, but Baltimore will find a way to win.

The Pick: Ravens 32, Bengals 28

Carolina Panthers (3-3) at New York Giants (1-5)

Perfect opportunity for a get right game for Carolina here. They've dropped three straight games including back-to-back heartbreakers. The banged up Giants will stand no chance. Another thing to watch for is the Carolina debut of former DPOY CB Stephon Gillmore. He should have an easy game to be acclimated to Charlotte as the Giants WR core could consistent of only Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton with injuries to Kadarius Toney and Kenny Golladay.

The Pick: Panthers 27, Giants 13

Atlanta Falcons (2-3) at Miami Dolphins (1-5)

Snooze-fest. We get the Falcons who are not a good team but have won a couple lately due to matches with awful teams vs the Dolphins who find ways to outdo themselves for being worse and worse each week. This one will be a barnburner and we fully expect Atlanta to win. Cordarrelle Patterson should continue his hot streak against Miami's reeling defense. Despite likely losing this game, there could be some help on the way soon for Miami as reports are spiraling that the team is currently close to a deal that would land them superstar Texans QB Deshaun Watson. Aside from that, the Dolphins suck.

The Pick: Falcons 28, Dolphins 17

New York Jets (1-4) at New England Patriots (2-4)

Happy that New England gets an easy one here. They have lost heartbreakers in two out of the past three games against real contending teams. They finally get the easy game here. The Jets are coming off a bye week but it doesn't matter as Bill Belichick will scheme them up and have his offense and defense executing to perfection at all times against this atrocious Jets roster. Damien Harris is in for a big game against this bottom 5 Jets rush defense. Mac Jones could be in for a good one as well. Jones vs Zach Wilson game 2 already. 

The Pick: Patriots 25, Jets 10

Philadelphia Eagles (2-4) at Las Vegas Raiders (4-2)

This is actually one of the tougher games all week to pick. The Eagles have looked really good at times and also really bad at times. You never really know which one you are going to get in a given week. They deserved a win against the Bucs last week if not for a bad taunting call by the refs. The Raiders have shown they can be really good as they were 3-0 to start the year but then dropped 2 straight before HC Jon Gruden resigned. With their new staff in place, they won big against Denver last week and it's now tough to see where they stand. Gotta pick a few upsets as Vegas is home and favored so I'm taking Philly in a close one. Jalen Hurts will find some mojo in this one. 

The Pick: Eagles 27, Raiders 26 (OT)

Detroit Lions (0-6) at Los Angeles Rams (5-1)

Jared Goff vs his former team and Matthew Stafford vs his. A fun storyline doesn't change the fact that this will be a blowout. I do not agree with anyone who thinks this has sneaky upset potential with Goff getting a revenge game. No. Just no. Goff has been terrible, it's not like he's been doing well without his former coach. He's 0-13 all-time without Sean McVay. The Rams are going to dominate in all aspects of the game and flat out embarrass the Lions. 

The Pick: Rams 40, Lions 10

Chicago Bears (3-3) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1)

The one-year anniversary of the infamous Tom Brady "I thought it was 3rd down" game. The result is going to be much different this time. I firmly believe this game has a chance to be Matt Nagy's last as the HC of the Bears. They are spiraling out of control. While they are .500 at the moment, they don't have many impressive wins and lose badly when they lose. Justin Fields doesn't look ready yet and the Bucs D is no cakewalk to say the least. The Bucs know what they have to do and will execute without hesitation against a rookie QB-led team. The Bucs passing defense might be poor right now, but their rush D is elite, and Chi-town runs their offense based off the run game. It's over before it even begins here.

The Pick: Buccaneers 31, Bears 16

Houston Texans (1-5) at Arizona Cardinals (6-0)

Another insanely lopsided affair. The NFL's last remaining unbeaten vs one of the very worst teams in football. This is the JJ Watt/DeAndre Hopkins revenge game as well. Expect both of them to go off. The Cardinals are obviously killing it right now, especially suddenly on defense. Rookie QB Davis Mills on Houston is going to have a rough one. Cardinals get to 7-0, lock it in.

The Pick: Cardinals 37, Texans 14

Sunday Night Football - Indianapolis Colts (2-4) at San Fransisco 49ers (2-3)

This is actually an underrated SNF game. A must-win for both teams. If the Niners win with Jimmy G back in the lineup, they move to .500 and work there way back into the crowded NFC wildcard chase. If the Colts win, they are up to 2 straight wins and they work their way back into the AFC South race. The Colts defense should do well against Jimmy G but I'm a little worried about the Niners D vs Jonathan Taylor and the Colts robust running game. I think this could go either way and should be pretty close, but again, I like Jonathan Taylor to go off again and put the Colts out on top.

The Pick: Colts 28, 49ers 26

Monday Night Football - New Orleans Saints (3-2) at Seattle Seahawks (2-4)

The Saints come off their early bye week well rested to face a reeling Seattle team in a must-win situation. Geno Smith vs Jameis Winston is an interesting QB match. Winston is overly aggressive with the football while Geno Smith is too conservative. One style will prevail in this one. I think this is going to be a fun MNF game to watch and come down to the wire like it normally does for these two squads, but I have more trust in Winston right now than I do Smith. The Saints will be able to operate their usual offense while the Seahawks will run a much more conservative gameplan. With the Hawks D being as bad as it is, they could go down quickly, and I don't know if they have the firepower to rally back with Smith in as QB. You also have to remember the Saints have the dominant Alvin Kamara who will probably run wild vs Seattle as well. Saints win a close one that very well could come down again to if Geno Smith can score a game-winning drive or not.

The Pick: Saints 27, Seahawks 23