This week in the NFL, we have a bunch of interesting games and players to keep an eye on.
The “nfl picks week 8 2021” is a website that has been created to help you with your NFL Week 7 game picks, schedule guide, fantasy football tips, odds, injuries and more.
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The NFL’s Week 7 schedule for the 2021 season is chock-full of intriguing games, and we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know going into the weekend. Our NFL Nation reporters provide us with the most important aspects of each game, as well as a bold prediction for each matchup and, of course, final score predictions.
Additionally, for each game, ESPN Stats & Information gives a key statistic to know, and our Football Power Index (FPI) digs deeper with a matchup rating (on a scale of 1 to 100) and a game forecast. Kyle Soppe, an ESPN researcher, also offers fantasy football and betting advice. Everything you need to know to prepare for a jam-packed weekend of NFL football is right here in one place.
Let’s take a look at the whole Week 7 schedule, which includes a matchup between Patrick Mahomes and Derrick Henry, an AFC North confrontation between the red-hot Ravens and the up-and-coming Bengals, a rematch between Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford, and a rookie-quarterback showdown in New England. It all comes to a head on Monday Night Football when the Saints take on the Seahawks on ESPN. (Unless otherwise stated, all games are on Sunday.)
CAR-NYG | NYJ-NE | ATL-MIA DET-LAR | PHI-LV | CHI-TB HOU-ARI | IND-SF | NO-SEA KC-TEN | CIN-BAL | WSH-GB CAR-NYG | NYJ-NE | ATL-MIA DET-LAR | PHI-LV | CHI-TB HOU-ARI | IND-SF | NO-SEA
CLE 17, DEN 14 on Thursday BUF, DAL, MIN, PIT, LAC, JAX have byes.
1 p.m. ET | CBS Matchup rating: 70.3 | KC -4.5 point spread (57.5)
What to look out for: Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes ranks third in the NFL with five 40-yard throwing plays and leads the league with 18 passing touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Titans have allowed six 40-yard passing plays, which is tied for third worst in the NFL. On Sunday, Tennessee’s battered secondary must find a way to deny the Chiefs’ passing game from making a major play. Turron Davenport (Turron Davenport)
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The Chiefs will limit Titans running back Derrick Henry to less than 100 yards on the ground. Against the Chiefs, Henry has had some huge games. He’s off to a fast start on the ground, with 783 yards and 10 touchdowns, and the Chiefs are allowing 5.2 yards per rush (No. 30 in the NFL). However, the Kansas City defense may have regained its footing in last week’s game against Washington, and defensive lineman Chris Jones’ (wrist) scheduled return should assist. Adam Teicher’s remark
Among 83 players with at least 150 targets since 2019, Titans receivers A.J. Brown and Julio Jones, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, and Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill all rank in the top 10 in yards per route. Brown is in sixth place with a 2.64, Jones is in eighth place with a 2.56, Kelce is in ninth place with a 2.50, and Hill is in tenth place with a 2.48.
Chiefs | Titans Injuries
What you should know about fantasy: Darrel Williams of the Kansas City Chiefs earned 23.9 fantasy points in his first start of the season in Week 6, a number that has yet to be matched by regular starter Clyde Edwards-Helaire (knee) this season. With 21 carries, he has definitely assumed the lead position, and he has caught multiple catches in four consecutive games. Check out the Week 7 rankings.
In its previous 17 games, including the playoffs, Kansas City is 4-13 against the spread (ATS). It hasn’t covered consecutive games since Weeks 6-8 of last season, and it’s 0-3 ATS this season against teams with winning records. Continue reading to learn more.
Chiefs 31, Titans 24 is Teicher’s prediction. Titans 35, Chiefs 30 is Davenport’s prediction. KC is expected to win 59.1% of the vote, according to the FPI (by an average of 3.2 points)
Must-reads for today’s matchup: Mahomes and the Chiefs have a turnover issue… The Titans beat the Bills thanks to Henry’s sixth consecutive 100-yard game… Williams, a Chiefs running back, converted his mother’s tears into joyous hollers… The Titans’ victory against the Bills is only the beginning of a difficult stretch of their schedule.
1 p.m. ET | CBS Matchup rating: 62.6 | BAL -6.5 spread (46.5)
What to look out for: Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s ability to negotiate the Ravens’ defense. Burrow has thrown 14 touchdown passes in the first six games of the season, the second most by a Bengals quarterback. The Ravens, on the other hand, will provide him with a new test, as they limited him to his lowest Total QBR (4.2) in his career last season. In his sole encounter with Baltimore, Burrow was sacked seven times and was pressured on 48.7% of his dropbacks, a career high. Jamison Hensley (Jamison Hensley)
The Bengals’ offensive yardage will be restricted to less than 300 yards. Cincinnati’s offense has gotten away with some inconsistency against weaker opponents, but Baltimore and defensive coordinator Don Martindale will leave no room for mistake. – Ben Little
Know this: Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson is 5-0 versus the Bengals in his career, with an average margin of victory of 20.8 points per game. He is the NFL’s only player with 1,500 passing yards and 300 running yards this season. The Ravens have won three straight games against the Bengals, outscoring them 114-19.
Bengals | Ravens Injuries
1 p.m. ET | FOX Matchup rating: 47.8 | GB -7.5 spread (48.5)
What to look out for: Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams of the Green Bay Packers are on a roll. During the Packers’ current five-game winning run, Rodgers has 12 touchdowns and one interception, while Adams has an NFL-best 668 receiving yards. This season, Washington has surrendered 186 points in six games, the highest since 1998. It seems to be a set-up for Rodgers and the Packers to succeed. Demovsky, Rob
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Washington receiver Terry McLaurin will have his third 100-yard game of the season and score one touchdown, but the Redskins will be the only team this season to get inside the red zone without scoring a touchdown. Ja’Marr Chase of Cincinnati is the lone receiver to score 100 yards against the Packers this season. ‘John Keim’
The Packers have gone 16-2 at home in the regular season since Matt LaFleur took over as coach in 2019, which is the best home record in the NFL during that time period.
Washington | Packers Injuries
What you should know about McLaurin in fantasy football: In three of the last four weeks, he hasn’t finished higher than WR45. Check out the Week 7 rankings.
Washington is 1-5 ATS this season, the worst in the NFL, with a 0-3 ATS record as an underdog. Under coach Ron Rivera, the team is 0-4-1 ATS as a seven-point underdog. Continue reading to learn more.
Packers 33, Washington 24 (Keim’s selection). Packers 31, Washington 21 is Demovsky’s prediction. The FPI predicts that the United Kingdom will win 72.0 percent of the vote (by an average of 8.0 points)
Must-reads for the matchup: Hopkins is released, and Washington goes with the unproven Blewitt… In the red zone, the Packers’ defense is at an all-time low… Rivera’s Washington objective is to “play two halves of football”… There’s an injury here, there, virtually everywhere for the Packers.
1 p.m. ET | FOX Matchup rating: 28.9 | CAR -3 in the spread (43.5)
What to look out for: The Panthers have two dangerous edge rushers in Haason Reddick (6.5 sacks) and Brian Burns (6.5 sacks) (3.0). Against Giants tackles Nate Solder and Matt Peart, they have a chance to sabotage the game. After starting left tackle Andrew Thomas was placed on injured reserve earlier this week, Peart steps in. Solder has a below-average 82.8 percent pass block win rate, whereas Peart has an 81.0 percent pass block success rate. The Giants’ ability to manufacture offense should be determined by these matchups. Jordan Raanan is a writer.
Chuba Hubbard, the Panthers’ rookie running back, will gallop for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Carolina coach Matt Rhule promised a drastically different offensive approach with a stronger emphasis on the run, and the Giants’ run defense is rated 25th in the NFL (4.5 yards per carry allowed). David Newton is an author.
The Panthers have allowed 30.3 points per game in their last three games (all defeats), which ranks them 27th in the NFL. In their first three games, they allowed 10.0 points per game, the second fewest in the league.
Panthers | Giants Injuries
1 p.m. ET | CBS Matchup rating: 25.2 | NE -7 spread (43)
What to look out for: In the Week 2 clash between these teams, the Patriots intercepted Jets quarterback Zach Wilson four times, with many of them being gift-wrapped by the No. 2 overall selection. Is history going to repeat itself? In their previous five games, the Patriots had just two interceptions and a minus-3 turnover differential. — Reiss, Mike
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Speculative prediction: A safety pick-six in the first quarter Marcus Maye will, in a sense, slay two birds with one stone. It will be the Jets’ first interception in eight games, going back to last season, as well as their first touchdown of the season. This season, the Jets have been outscored 30-0 in the opening quarter and 75-13 in the first half. They will, however, find a way to lose the game. Cimini, Rich
Jakobi Meyers of the New England Patriots has 121 career catches but 0 receiving touchdowns. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, no other wide receiver in the last 40 seasons has had more than 100 catches before his first career touchdown reception.
Jets against. Patriots: Injuries
What you should know for fantasy football: In Weeks 4 and 5, just five players ran for a touchdown and saw three targets. Jonathan Taylor, Kareem Hunt, Austin Ekeler, and Najee Harris are four names that will come as no surprise. Michael Carter, a rookie running back for the New York Jets, is ranked sixth. Check out the Week 7 rankings.
New England is 0-4 against the spread and 1-3 ATS at home this season, including two outright defeats as a favorite. Continue reading to learn more.
Patriots 23, Jets 20 is Cimini’s prediction. Patriots 27, Jets 17 is Reiss’ prediction. NE, 70.9 percent, according to the FPI (by an average of 7.6 points)
Must-read matchups: Jets rookie Wilson fights the ‘Mahomes Effect… To establish they are a good team, the Patriots need crucial performances… Why isn’t Moore receiving the ball when the Jets need playmakers?
1 p.m. ET | FOX Matchup rating: 21.1 | ATL -2.5 point spread (47.5)
What to look out for: Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has never passed for 300 yards in consecutive games in his NFL career, and he’ll go up against a Falcons defense that hasn’t allowed a 300-yard passer all season. Tagovailoa has never thrown for three touchdowns in a game, but three of Atlanta’s five opponents have done it this season. — Louis-Jacques Marcel
Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley will have his first 100-yard game of the season and score two touchdowns to get his season back on track, according to a bold prediction. Ridley excelled on the field during joint workouts with the Dolphins in August. He’ll do the same thing again on Sunday, regardless of who he’s up against. Michael Rothstein is a writer and producer.
Atlanta tight end Kyle Pitts (308) and Miami wide Jaylen Waddle (301) are the Nos. 4 and 5 rookies in receiving yards this season, respectively.
Falcons vs. Dolphins: Injuries
What to know for fantasy: Pitts was the TE3 against the Jets in Week 5 after not finishing in the top-15 tight end spot for two weeks in a row. Check out the Week 7 rankings.
It’s 4:05 p.m. ET | FOX Matchup rating: 49.9 | LAR -15.5 spread (50.5)
What to look out for: Sunday’s clash features a couple of fascinating reunions. Rams coach Sean McVay will face Goff, his former four-year quarterback, who confessed this week that he is still bitter about the way last January’s blockbuster deal that brought him to Detroit in exchange for Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford went down. While McVay and Goff will be meeting for the first time, Stafford will be facing his old club for the first time after requesting a trade after 12 seasons. Lindsey Thiry (Lindsey Thiry)
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Goff will throw for 300 yards or more, according to a bold prediction. Despite the fact that he has only had one such game this season, he will give it his all against his former squad while attempting to be as precise as possible. It will be difficult for him to go up against former colleagues Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey, but he is familiar with their habits. Eric Woodyard’s remark
Stafford’s 16 touchdown passes this season are the most by a quarterback in his first six games with a franchise in NFL history.
Lions | Rams Injuries
What to know for fantasy: In five games this season, the NFC has seen a quarterback complete over 25 passes and average 0.85 fantasy points per pass, with Stafford accounting for two of them (Weeks 1 and 6). Check out the Week 7 rankings.
This season, double-digit favorites are 8-0 straight up and 6-2 against the spread. Continue reading to learn more.
Rams 34, Lions 19 is Woodyard’s prediction. Rams 38, Lions 14 is Thirty’s choice. LAR, 86.3 percent, according to the FPI (by an average of 15.0 points)
Must-read matchups: Lions QB Jared Goff is’motivated’ to face the Rams in Los Angeles… How the Stafford-Goff deal came to be in Detroit and Los Angeles… Why did the Rams’ McVay-Goff alliance fall apart?
4:05 p.m. ET | FOX Matchup rating: 39.3 | LV -3 | FOX Matchup rating: 39.3 (49)
What to look out for: How will the Raiders manage their emotions against an Eagles squad that hasn’t played in over a week? In an emotional week that featured the departure of coach Jon Gruden following his email controversy and concluded with its most stunning all-around game in recent memory, Las Vegas experienced it all. The Eagles are refreshed, and the Raiders’ defense will be put to the test once again with another quarterback capable of extending plays in Jalen Hurts. Gutierrez, Paul
Hurts will become the first quarterback since 1950 to dash for two touchdowns in three consecutive games. Hurts will take advantage of the Raiders’ 26th-ranked run defense (4.6 yards per carry allowed) to help the Eagles get back on track. He’s tied for the most quarterback running touchdowns (five) and leads his club in rushing yards entering Week 7. (300). Tim McManus, Ph.D.
Derek Carr, the quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, is 54 yards short of 2,000 passing yards. Through seven games, a Raiders quarterback has thrown for 2,382 yards (Rich Gannon in 2002).
TB -12.5 | CBS Matchup rating: 56.7 | 4:25 p.m. ET (47)
What to look out for: To get to 5-1, the Bucs have overcome a slew of injuries, notably among their defensive backs, and penalties. But, if you look carefully, just one of those victories came against a top-10 defense (the Patriots), and it was by a hair’s breadth against a rookie quarterback. So, although this game may be closer than predicted, the Bucs’ pass rush should continue to be the difference-maker against Chicago quarterback Justin Fields and a Bears offensive line that has allowed a league-high 22 sacks this season. Jenna Laine is a writer who lives in New York City.
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Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady will make three mistakes, but the Buccaneers will still win comfortably. On defense, the Bears are a force to be reckoned with, as they lead the NFL in sacks. Although the loss of pass-rusher Robert Quinn (Reserve/COVID-19 list) is a blow, the Bears’ defense has enough playmakers to scare Brady. The Bears’ issue is that they can’t score enough points to profit on their turnovers. Dickerson, Jeff
Brady has thrown 10 touchdown passes to Buccaneers receiver Antonio Brown since Week 15 of last season. That is the most by any quarterback-receiver combination in the NFL during that time period.
Bears | Buccaneers Injuries
What you should know about fantasy: Five times this season, a single player has accounted for 100% of his team’s backfield touches: Harris (Week 1), David Montgomery (Week 3), Alvin Kamara (Week 5), James Robinson (Week 6) and… Chicago’s Khalil Herbert (Week 6). Check out the Week 7 rankings.
Unders are 5-1 in Chicago games this season, which is tied for the best under record in the league (Bengals and Chargers). This season, though, all three Tampa Bay home games have gone above the amount. Continue reading to learn more.
Buccaneers 28, Bears 10 is Dickerson’s prediction. Buccaneers 30, Bears 20 is Laine’s prediction. TB, 81.1 percent, according to the FPI (by an average of 12.1 points)
Bears pass rusher Quinn has been placed on the COVID-19 list… Sherman will be sidelined for a few weeks due to a strained hamstring.
4:25 p.m. ET | CBS Matchup rating: 48.6 points | ARI -17.5 point spread (47.5)
What to look for: It won’t be a homecoming since it’ll be in Arizona, but Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins and defensive lineman J.J. Watt will be facing the only other club they’ve ever played for. That implies, regardless of what they say publicly, there will be plenty of emotion. The key issue on Sunday will be how they’ll manage it and if their emotions will impact their performance. Josh Weinfuss (@JoshWeinfuss)
Watt will score a touchdown, according to my bold prediction. Watt has undoubtedly had this game against the club he spent his first ten seasons with highlighted on his calendar since the schedule was released. Watt has six career touchdowns, three of which have come on offense, and he’ll add to that total against the Texans on Sunday. Sarah Barshop is a writer.
Hopkins has six receiving touchdowns so far this season, and he’s on pace to join Anquan Boldin (seven, 2008) as the only Cardinals in the Super Bowl era to have seven in their first seven games. Hopkins, on the other hand, has been kept under 100 receiving yards in eight consecutive games, the third-longest stretch in his career and the most since he was held under 100 yards in 13 straight games in 2016.
NBC Matchup rating: 58.0 | Spread: SF -4 | 8:20 p.m. ET (44)
What to look out for: There are plenty of storylines here, including the North Dakota State quarterbacks on opposing sides of the field, the return of Colts defensive end DeForest Buckner to San Francisco, and more. However, the factor that will determine the outcome of this game is the same one that determines the outcome of most games: turnovers. The 49ers have a turnover differential of minus-5, which is tied for third-worst in the NFL, while the Colts have a turnover differential of plus-7, which is tied for third-best. Both teams are desperate for a victory, and the turnover fight will likely determine who gets it. Nick Wagoner is a writer.
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Buckner will equal his sack total from the previous season with two. Playing against the club that selected him and where he spent the first four years of his NFL career until being dealt to the Colts in March 2020 is “a bit personal” for him. Buckner has eight games in his career with at least two sacks. Mike Wells’ remark
The Colts have the NFL’s second-worst red zone efficiency at 42.9 percent (nine of 21 red zone drives ended in a touchdown).
Colts | 49ers Injuries
What you should know about fantasy: In the first three weeks of the season, Indianapolis running back Taylor was RB28. He’s been RB2 since then. Check out the Week 7 rankings.
Coach Kyle Shanahan of the 49ers is 8-19-2 ATS as a favorite. San Francisco is 2-7 as a favorite of at least three points in its previous nine games, including 2-2 this season with back-to-back defeats. Continue reading to learn more.
49ers 27, Colts 24 is Wells’ prediction. 49ers 30, Colts 23 is Wagoner’s prediction. SF, 65.2 percent, according to the FPI (by an average of 5.4 points)
Matchup must-reads: The Buckner trade between the 49ers and the Colts is revisited… How QB-obsessed Fargo influenced Wentz of the Colts and Lance of the 49ers… Wentz seems to be the ‘big-play machine’ the Colts were hoping for.
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN Matchup rating: 55.7 | NO -4.5 spread (42.5)
What to look out for: Will Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith be able to save his team from slipping into a seemingly insurmountable 2-5 hole? The Seahawks, who are currently four games down in the NFC West and will be without Russell Wilson for at least one more game after this one, are in desperate need of a victory. Last week, Smith performed well enough in the second half to give the Seahawks a chance to win before fumbling in overtime on a T.J. McDonald catch. Watt sack for stripping He won’t have to deal with a powerful pass rush or a dominating defense in New Orleans. Brady Henderson’s quote
After rushing for a season-high 144 yards last week, the Seahawks will run for a season-low total and fall short of 50 yards on Monday night. Not only is Seattle’s backfield hurt right now, but the Saints’ run defense has been one of the best in the league for the previous four years. They’ll be especially eager to eliminate that aspect of Seattle’s game in order to compel Smith to move the ball. Triplett, Mike
The Seahawks have allowed 433.2 yards per game this season, which is the worst in the NFL. They’ve given up 100 running yards in six consecutive games (tied for their longest streak since 2011).
Saints | Seahawks Injuries
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In this week’s matchup between the Saints and the Seahawks, Matthew Berry recommends Marquez Callaway as a fantasy possibility.
What you should know about fantasy: Saints running back Alvin Kamara has an uninspiring 3.5 targets per game during the first four weeks of the season. The old Kamara reminded us of his potential as a pass-catcher before going on bye in Week 6, hauling in five of eight targets for 51 yards and a score against Washington. Check out the Week 7 rankings.
New Orleans has covered nine of its previous twelve games after a bye week. Continue reading to learn more.
Saints 26, Seahawks 22 is Triplett’s prediction. Seahawks 23, Saints 21 is Henderson’s prediction. NO, according to the FPI (58.7%). (by an average of 3.1 points)
Matchup must-reads: As a difficult stretch of elite WR corps approaches, the Saints’ investment in CB Lattimore is paying off… Could Brown, a rookie cornerback, be the answer to the Seahawks’ cornerback woes? … The rushing assault of the Seahawks may help Smith avoid ‘coming up short.’
The “nfl picks week 7 pick em” is a website that provides NFL game picks, schedule guide, fantasy football tips, odds and more.
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