NFL Week Seven Gets Revved Up

The NFL's seventh week is coming off some eye-popping results in Week Six and the teams we felt would be contenders seem to be falling into place.

What may be Game Of The Year erupted at Foxboro as the Chiefs erased a 24-9 gap and Patrick Mahomes proved his bona fides beyond all remaining doubt, but Tom Brady showcased why he is Greatest Ever in a 43-40 shootout, the highest scoring game in the history of the rivalry dating to the inaugural American Football League season.

2002's 41-38 overtime thriller had been the highest scoring game in the rivalry



There was also the ugly incident where a fan dumped beer on Tyreek Hill at Foxboro; the fan was banned from the stadium for at least this season.  

Thus do we get to Week Seven's games -



Broncos over Cardinals -  Two going-nowhere (a combined 3-9) teams.   Both have new quarterbacks but Denver is using an experienced passer in Case Keenum, and his experience has gotten him nothing after winning the first two games this season.   Rookie Josh Rosen for the Cardinals, though, has struggled with being a rookie, and facing a Broncos team that has lost four straight is not that enticing a chance at improvement.

Chargers over Titans, London -   Tennessee's disaster of a 21-0 home shutout by the hated Baltimore Ravens was lowlighted by the sacking of Marcus Mariota eleven times. It raised the issue of the Titans offensive line - see John Glennon's breakdown - which overall has been a longtime strength of the team. The Titans have lost two straight games and have just one win over the Chargers since their 1992 Houston Oilers season.   San Diego has surged of late and stand at 4-2.

This is one of the league's London games amid a quote from league executive Mark Waller that London "is definitely ready" to have an NFL team.   Concurrent with that is the story that the Jaguars are exploring actually moving to London though keeping their executive offices in Jacksonville. 


Texans over Jaguars -  The Jaguars meanwhile have fallen badly since beating the Patriots and at 3-3 host the now-3-3 Texans, winners of three straight despite a minus-1 turnover differential.   Deshaun Watson was sacked seven times in the win over Buffalo but Blake Bortles has faltered with five INTs in his last two games.   Look for Houston to continue momentum.


Dolphins over Lions -  Miami pulled out a clutch win over the Bears and now at 4-2 they get the weaker (at 2-3) Lions, winless on the road so far and giving up over 500 yards of offense in holding off the Packers last week.    Buying into new coach Matt Patricia is clearly a slow process, but two wins in the last three games is a sign of progress; that won't be enough against a now-surging Dolphins squad.


Eagles over Panthers - Carolina didn't pull it off over the Redskins with two fumbles and another Cam Newton pick - surprisingly the Panthers are plus-3 in turnover differential, and they get an Eagles team that is minus-4 in turnover differential and has lost three of the last five games.   Even with that the Eagles have shown a little more consistency than the Panthers.


Browns over Buccaneers -  The Bucs fired their defensive coordinator - ex-Falcons coach Mike Smith - and at 2-3 have sunk from the high-scoring days of the first three games.   At minus-6 in turnover differential the Bucs haven't been able to hold onto the ball.  Jameis Winston did show improvement with four touchdowns despite two INTs over his two-INT gag job off the bench against the Bears.   The Browns for their part are coming off a home humiliation by the Chargers, but Baker Mayfield has shown more so far than some may have expected and clearly is becoming the true leader of the Browns.

Tom Brady's flying touchdown vs the Chiefs wasn't the first time he faked out the defense - Brian Urlacher is the best-known victim


Patriots over Bears -   New England's 46-10 massacre in Superbowl XX is almost the only success the Bears have ever had against them.    Since then the Patriots have annihilated the Bears, winning in 1988, 1994, 1997, 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014.   The rise of Matt Nagy and Mitchell Trubisky certainly adds competition to the rivalry going in, and the way the Chiefs attacked the Patriots defense gives the Bears (presently scoring 28 points per game) reason for optimism.   But the toughness of the Patriots also showed and taking down a rising quarterback and coach aren't unfamiliar missions for Belichick.


Vikings over NY Jets -  This could be the sleeper game of the weekend as the Vikings and Jets both have three wins and the Jets are scoring 27 to 28 points a game, contrasting the sluggish 23 points per game scored by the Vikings.   Sam Darnold, though, has yet to break 60% completion for the season vs. 63% completion allowed to opponent quarterbacks; Kirk Cousins meanwhile is at an eye-popping 71% completion rate.   The Jets have also allowed 81 points (27 per game) in their last three even with back-to-back wins.    We think this game will be competitive, but that the Vikings squeek it out.


Saints over Ravens - The Saints come in with one loss - Week One's 48-40 defeat to the Bucs - and Drew Brees is looking, surprisingly, for his first career win over the Ravens  - he's had nine touchdowns, eight INTs, and been sacked ten times in four career games vs Baltimore.   The Saints ground out the win over the Browns in their first meeting with an AFC North team, and we think it gave the Saints warning of what to expect from the Ravens.   Being in the Superdome may help.

CJ Beathard's INT and Richard Sherman's stupid penalty meant Aaron Rodgers won again


Rams over 49ers - The Rams are doing seemingly everything right, though their last four wins have been competitive games.   The Niners have collapsed without Jimmy Garoppolo and one wonders if C.J. Beathard (despite having a better completion rate - 62% - than Garoppolo - 59%) will ever figure out how to actually win a game, having done so only once in his career.


Cowboys over Redskins -  The Cowboys believe it or not are 3-3 heading to Washington, now 3-2.   Destroying a vaunted Jaguars defense gives the Cowboys some momentum with four straight wins in this rivalry on their side as well. 


Chiefs over Bengals -  The Chiefs won't go unbeaten but they get a Bengals team that got taken down a notch - again - by the Steelers.   Same old Bengals - talented and consistent winners but never enough to beat the good teams.


Falcons over NY Giants -  The question is when does Eli Manning get benched?   Supposedly owner John Mara is refusing to let the coaches go with backup Kyle Lauletta, this even as Eli Manning gets worse.   The Giants decision to build the team around Eli with a shored-up O-line (former Patriot Nate Solder was supposed to be the anchor) and running back Saquon Barkley has spectacularly blown up and the season looks lost, even with the uneven Falcons next up.



So it goes entering Week Seven