NFL Week 7 – Early Preview

The NFL’s week 7 schedule has four divisional games on tap, including Kansas City playing San Diego and the NY Giants taking on Dallas. The best game of the week, though, will be an inter-conference affair between the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football.

Below is a preview of all the week 7 action. Keep in mind, the betting lines listed are those established at the start of the season. They are subject to substantial change once week 6 ends.

New York Jets at New England Patriots (-7.5), Thursday

Last season, these two teams split the series with one win each. Last time they met on TNF, the Patriots won 13-10 in a low scoring affair.  New England QB Tom Brady has an 18-6 record against the NY Jets, with 32 TDs and 11 INTs.

New Orleans Saints at Detroit Lions (-1.5)

The New Orleans Saints crushed the Detroit Lions the last time these teams met, winning 45-28 in the 2011 postseason. The Saints also won the last time they visited Ford Field (42-7).  Keep an eye on the health of WR Calvin Johnson, who hasn’t been himself this season.

Miami Dolphins at Chicago Bears (-6)

In their third tr,y the Chicago Bears will look for the first win at Soldier Field this season after losing to the Buffalo Bills and the Green Bay Packers. The last time the Fins met the Bears (2010), Miami was shut-out 16-0.

Minnesota Vikings at Buffalo Bills (-2.5)

QB Teddy Bridgewater will be on his third game as a starter for the Vikings (if he can stay healthy), and the Bills will be hosting their fourth home game of the season.

Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens (-3)

Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan are from the same 2008 draft class. While they have both been solid regular season performers, Flacco has a Super Bowl ring, while “Matty Ice: has only one playoff victory on his resume.  Ryan leads the series against Flacco 1-0, though.

Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers (-4)

QB Cam Newton has never played at Lambeau Field, but one of his losses on his rookie season was a 30-23 defeat to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in 2011.

Tennessee Titans at Washington Redskins (-3.5)

The instability of the quarterback situation in Tennessee and Washington makes this game one of the least attractive for fans. The last time the Titans visited Washington, they left with a 25-22 victory in 2006.

Seattle Seahawks (-6) at St. Louis Rams

The Seahawks have won six of the last seven in the series against the St. Louis Rams, including the last three in a row.  Seattle QB Russell Wilson is 3-1 against St. Louis, with 4 TDs and 3 INTs.

Cleveland Browns (-2.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars

Another unsexy NFL week seven matchup sees the Cleveland Browns visiting Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars. Each team has won two games in the series since 2010.

Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts (-2.5)

The Bengals visiting the Colts could easily be a playoff preview in the AFC. Andrew Luck threw for 326 yards and 4 TDs without an interception the only time he met Cincinnati, but Indianapolis lost the game. This game could come down to the Bengals’ ability to pressure Luck, as the third year pivot has looked unstoppable when he has time to throw.

Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers (-2)

The Kansas City Chiefs have dropped the last four games in the series against their AFC West rivals.  Chiefs QB Alex Smith has an 0-3 record all time against San Diego; meanwhile, Chargers QB Philip Rivers is 13-4 against KC with 27 TDs and 17 INTs thrown.

Arizona Cardinals (-3.5) at Oakland Raiders

The Cardinals and the Raiders have met seven times since 1983, with Oakland leading the series 4-3 straight up and 4-2 against the spread (no betting line in 1983). This year’s Raiders team is a far cry from the silver and black that marauded in the 80s, though.

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys (-3.5)

Last season was the first time the Dallas Cowboys were able to beat the NY Giants at AT&T Stadium since it opened in 2009.  New York has won and covered the spread in four of their last five visits to that venue.

San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos (-3)

Sunday Night Football features a potential Super Bowl preview, as the 49ers visit the Broncos.  Peyton Manning already lost to Seattle and beat Arizona, which means San Francisco will be their third game against an NFC West team.  Manning’s record against San Fran is 2-2 with 5 TDs and 6 INTs.

Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5), Monday

The Houston Texans will get to this matchup with 11 days of rest. The Steelers will be on their second primetime game of the season after they blew out the Carolina Panthers in week 3.