NFL Week 7 Predix

By Jacob Sanders

There are two major storylines going on this year in the NFL that have continued through the last 7 weeks and the 2019 season is slowly being defined by them. One being that quarterbacks are dropping like flies and Patrick Mahomes became the next victim on Thursday (although he will return in a few weeks, so relax KC fans) meaning we will have had 8+ starting QBs not starting due to injury this season. WOW. The second storyline being the refs. The fact that both Baker Mayfield and Clay Matthews were willing to get fined and speak out about the refs poor performances during games says a lot about the state of being a referee in today’s NFL. That’s a whole nother can of worms though I’m not willing to completely open though. After all, this is a weekly predictions column. Not analysis of today’s storylines….

Sanders went 9-5 last week putting him to 58-34-1 overall. He also predicted the Broncos to win on Thursday (what was he thinking?) and will start Week 7 0-1.

SF 49ers vs WAS Redskins

Look, I do this column for free. If I was payed, I’d probably give better analysis and thoughts on teams like the Washington Redskins, Cincinnati Bengals or Miami Dolphins. The fact is, you’re reading my opinion without a head boss telling me what is and isn’t professional to write. So let me lay it out for you. The Redskins are a bottom 3 NFL team and the 49ers are a top 3 team in the NFL currently. Barring some tragic event to the 49ers before or during the game, the Redskins aren’t going to come close to winning what I assume will be a blowout game. Also, the 49ers have one of the best defenses on the League. No one has done well against them yet. The Redskins won’t either.

49ers 30 Redskins 10

AZ Cardinals vs NY Giants

This is probably one of the better matchups of the week despite both teams owning losing records. The reason that this may be the morning game to watch along with Colts vs Texans is because it displays a matchup we may want to tune into for years to come: Murray vs Jones. With Barkley and Engram coming back into the fold, both offenses are going to be in full strength and with both defenses being lackluster, I expect this one to be a shootout. Because I expect it to be a shootout, I also expect the offense with more explosiveness to win. Kingsbury takes another W on the road with his offense that “doesn’t belong” in the NFL.

Cards 33 Giants 27

HOU Texans vs IND Colts

Now this is your premier morning matchup. This game can go a long way towards locking up the AFC South for the Texans or blowing it wide open for the Colts’s taking. To be clear, this game doesn’t decide the division, but the game is more impactful in deciding the decision winner if the Texans win than if the Colts win. In other words, this is as close to an early season must-win as we’re gonna get. Unfortunately, for fans like me, I’ve got the Texans penned in winning here. I love this Colts team and I personally want to see them make a run at the NFL and AFC. But the Texans have been protecting Watson which has resulted in him playing his best football so far in the NFL. That doesn’t bode well for any team trying to play against the Texans. If you want to beat them, you gotta disrupt Watson. Not sure the Colts have the manpower to do so.

Texans 26 Colts 20

OAK Raiders vs GB Packers

Not gonna lie, the Raiders have been a pleasant surprise this season. And while I’m no huge fan of the style the Raiders have been using to win, it’s been working. Gruden found his ground’n’pound back in Josh Jacobs and it’s helped Derek Carr’s development in Gruden’s offense tremendously. But the defense has been flat out awful at times. Which is why I’m not a fan of this winning style. Trying to outscore your own defense just makes headaches for games if your a fan. Plus you’re being asking to play against a Packers offense that’s finally finding out what they’re made of? That’s a pretty tall ask for the Raiders here. And the game is in Lambeau field. If you ask me, Rodgers has his 2019 breakout game here to announce not only is the Packers D legit, but the Packers offense has finally arrived. A scary prospect for the entirety of the NFL.

Raiders 17 Packers 27

MIN Vikings vs DET Lions

Let’s address the elephant in the room for a second. The Lions got slightly robbed last Monday from the refs. The reason I say slightly, is because the Lions had a chance to pull away with a lead from which the Packers could never recover. But the Lions didn’t do that and I carry less sympathy than most fans because of that. It’s also why I’m absolutely certain the Vikings win this game here. This Lions team is tough but this Vikings team has caught on fire since looking absolutely dreadful the first 4 weeks (at least, by my expectations, they were dreadful). I watched this Vikings team dismantle an NFC favorite and that’s enough for me to believe the Vikings should be beating lesser opponents. However, it’s an NFC divisional rivalry. It’s gonna be closer than any fan of the Vikings or Lions want for comfort.

Vikings 17 Lions 14

JAX Jaguars vs CIN Bengals

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to try and see the positive side of starting 0-6? Yeah, me neither. Yet I can tell you that the positives for the Bengals is that they are clearly in rebuilding mode and winless season is how you secure yourselves the best draft positioning. I do like Zac Stacy but I think he needs a better QB under center before we can really judge who he is. He has lost some close games against SEA and BAL. It’s not like his team is getting stomped. As for the Jaguars, Minschew Mania cooled down REAL fast and it’s probably time. He’s more than likely destined to be a backup QB but it was nice while it lasted. But, if there is a road where Minschew does become the franchise starting QB for years to come, it starts here by beating up on a dreadful team. Hey, if you can show that you can consistently beat lesser opponents, you’re already halfway there to securing a QB position. Honestly though, I see Leonard Fournette doing more work than Minschew in this matchup.

Jaguars 24 Bengals 17

MIA Dolphins vs BUF Bills

I am staying the course here. It’s the Dolphins. They’re going 0-16. Yes, sure, I picked them to win last week. But that’s because circumstance led to believe the Redskins would lose. Instead, the hapless Dolphins lost…..yikes. Anyway, the Bills are a great team coming off a bye. They’ll be 5-1 after this bout! Also, if there’s a game for Josh Allen to pop off, this one’s it. If there’s any reason to watch this game, it’s to watch Josh Allen do some magic.

Dolphins 10 Bills 23

LA Rams vs ATL Falcons

A LOT of people are picking the Falcons for an upset win over the Rams. I don’t believe it. Yes, the performance the Rams put up was pitiful against the 49ers but that was a top 3 defense and the Falcons are arguably the worst defense in the NFL. Quite the difference to consider here. Another thing to consider, is that it seems like if you can get Goff off rhythm, the entire Rams offense shutdown. So ponder this: Can the Falcons disrupt Jared Goff? I doubt it. HIGHLY doubt it.

Rams 24 Falcons 16

LA Chargers vs TEN Titans

This is the exact type of game no one wants to try and predict. You have the option of picking a very mediocre Chargers team or a really bad Titans team that occasionally pulls off some stupid good performances to upset contenders. In this case, the Chargers might be the wiser choice. Rarely do you find yourself picking a team that has been rattled by the injury bug, but the Chargers have the better quarterback and more playmakers on offense. The Titans, on the other hand, have very little going for them. And Tannehill has been named the starting quarterback. Oh boy.

Chargers 21 Titans 10

BAL Ravens vs SEA Seahawks

Another really fun matchup for this week featuring two top 5 offenses. Wait, am I telling you that a matchup of the Ravens against the Seahawks if an offensive matchup? Yes. Yes I am. The Ravens have the No. 1 offense in the NFL while the Seahawks have the No. 5 offense. Their defenses? No. 13 and No. 20 respectfully. If you’re reading between the lines like I am, it means there’s gonna be a lot of scoring in this game. And if you’re expecting a high scoring game like I am, you have to go with the fact that Russell Wilson is having an MVP season so far. Lamar Jackson and company will keep up, but Wilson’s gonna pull it out at the end and add even more to his campaign for being named MVP.

Ravens 20 Seahawks 29

NO Saints vs CHI Bears

This is the toughest matchup to call, especially with the Saints being without Alvin Kamara. A large part of me believes that the Saints win this one as well because Teddy B has gotten so comfortable in Payton’s scheme. However, this is the Bear’s defense we are talking about and I’m not sure the Saints offense will move at all without Kamara in. The biggest question to answer is if the Bears offense will suddenly wake up to take a win at home. Surprisingly enough, the Saints defense has been pretty good so I’m gonna say no to that question. In fact, I’m certain this game doesn’t get above double digits. Get ready for a snoozefest, folks.

Saints 9 Bears 6

PHI Eagles vs DAL Cowboys

I’m seriously being asked to pick between two teams that I envisioned storming the NFC and yet both are 3-3. And neither are coming off good losses. The Cowboys lost to the Jets and the Eagles got routed by the Vikings. Ugh. What a way to start your season by going .500 for the first 6 games. As for the main points of this matchup, both the Eagles and Cowboys have struggled lately on offense. The Cowboys offensive line has been allowing more pressure to Prescott than in years past causing Prescott to lose rhythm and make poor choices. The Eagles, on the other hand, just haven’t lived up to their potential on offense for most of the season. So who are you supposed to pick? In this case, the team with the better defense. Cowboys secure their W in Jerry World.

Eagles 20 Cowboys 24

NE Patriots vs NY Jets

Can you believe that so many analysts are picking an upset by the Jets here? I mean, it’s not out of the realm of possibility. The Jets are an actual team when Sam Darnold is under center and have the potential to give the Patriots a rough day. But this is the best defense in the NFL we’re talking about. Did people really forget about that? It’s going to take much more than Sam Darnold for the Patriots to lose to the Jets….

Patriots 30 Jets 23