Upcoming Match-ups

Will Packers Rebound Without Rodgers? Week 7 ATS Locks

Matt McEwan

by Matt McEwan in NFL Football

Updated Jan 17, 2018 · 9:38 AM PST

Drew Brees handing the ball off to Mark Ingram. (By Keith Allison (Flickr) CC License)

At some point, even the most reliable NFL teams let you down. And that’s what happened last week when the Chiefs undefeated season came to an end against the Steelers. The signs were there to suggest Pittsburgh would get their season on track, and we should have recognized them. For that, we apologize. But no one could foresee Aaron Rodgers breaking his collarbone against the Vikings, so we assume no responsibility for that incorrect lock … we’re sure you can reach out to your sportsbook and do the same.

Joking aside, our 1-2 record from our Week 6 ATS Locks is unacceptable. We promise to make it up to you this week. (Unless another pivot we’re betting on breaks his collarbone.)

As always, tune into the ATS Checkdown Podcast — released every Thursday morning — for a more in-depth discussion on why you should be betting these teams. We won’t be offended if you feel you need that after last week. If you’re willing to overlook that misstep and trust us unconditionally, then carry on.

New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers (+5.5)

We have to (very) respectfully disagree with our guy Antonio Pierce here. Yeah, Brett Hundley looked pretty bad on the road filling in for Aaron Rodgers against a tough Vikings defense last week. But this week, the third-year pivot is playing at home, with a gameplan built to suit his strengths, against a leaky Saints defense.

New Orleans ranks 28th against the pass and is allowing 4.3 yards per carry (22nd). Drew Brees is going to put points on the board, but Mike McCarthy will have his offense prepared to answer.

Pick: PACKERS (+5.5)

Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears (+3)

Trubisky Time has been a lot of fun, and we do believe the Bears have finally found themselves a quarterback. But this is a bad matchup for Chicago. Both the Bears and Panthers want to establish a ground game and rely on their defenses to win the battle for field position. The issue for John Fox is that the Panthers are much better at this. Trubisky will be facing the best pass-rush he’s seen as a pro and it will overwhelm the rookie.

Pick: PANTHERS (-3)

Seattle Seahawks at New York Giants (+5.5)

This is a matchup between arguably the two worst offensive lines in the NFL. At least, that was the case prior to Week 6. The Giants shuffled their line last Sunday in Denver and Ben McAdoo turned the play-calling duties over to offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan. The result was 148 rushing yards against the top rush defense in football, and an old-fashioned ass whooping.

Seattle has yet to resolve its own offensive line issues, and it will result in Russell Wilson being asked to do too much.

Pick: GIANTS (+5.5)

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