NFL picks and predictions: Week 7

Updated

Six weeks in, the NFL landscape has taken shape. Week 7 gives us a number of intriguing matchups, including the Seahawks traveling to Arizona, and Sam Bradford returning to Philadelphia in hopes of keeping the Vikings' undefeated stretch alive.

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We picked all of this weekend's games below. Take a gander and let us know where you disagree.



New York Giants vs. Los Angeles Rams (NYG -2.5)
SUN, 9:30 a.m. p.m. ET

NFL: OCT 16 Ravens at Giants
NFL: OCT 16 Ravens at Giants

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The Giants return to London for the first time since participating in the NFL's first-ever British game in 2007, while the Rams are playing in England for the first time since 2012 visit. It should be a close matchup between this pair of 3-3 teams, with pressure on both sides to keep pace in their respective divisions. We'll take the side with the biggest downfield threat -- even if Eli Manning is having a subpar year thus far.

Pick: Giants


Minnesota Vikings vs. Philadelphia Eagles (MIN -2.5)
SUN, 1 p.m. ET

Houston Texans v Minnesota Vikings
Houston Texans v Minnesota Vikings

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Sam Bradford makes his triumphant return to Lincoln Financial Field, this time as the shotcaller of an undefeated Vikings team. Philly has exceeded expectations already, but has been trending back down to earth of late -- while the Vikes are well-rested off their bye week. As good as Carson Wentz has been, we just don't see him being able to get much going against this Minnesota defense.

Pick: Vikings


New Orleans Saints vs. Kansas City Chiefs (KC -6.5)
SUN, 1 p.m. ET

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Oakland Raiders
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Oakland Raiders

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New Orleans is fresh off a win in which its offense was able to outscore the sky-high point total its sorry defensive corps allowed. Against a Chiefs team with no truly explosive weapons (the jury is still out on Jamaal Charles' health), they'll have a chance to do the same. It could end up being close, but we see the better team winning out here in a tight one.

Pick: Chiefs


Washington Redskins vs. Detroit Lions (DET -1)
SUN, 1 p.m. ET

The Washington Redskins play the Philadelphia Eagles
The Washington Redskins play the Philadelphia Eagles

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Washington hasn't suffered a loss since Week 2, and travels to Ford Field to take on one of the most inconsistent teams of the season to this point. Expect a close game, but it's just too easy to see the Lions dropping this crucial game at home.

Pick: Redskins


Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals (CIN -9.5)
SUN, 1 p.m. ET

Cincinnati Bengals v New England Patriots
Cincinnati Bengals v New England Patriots

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After facing the Patriots on the road, the Bengals now have the luxury of hosting the Browns. Cody Kessler has impressed, given the circumstances, but the Browns are just too overmatched here.

Pick: Bengals


Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins (BUF -3)
SUN, 1 p.m. ET

Buffalo Bills v Los Angeles Rams
Buffalo Bills v Los Angeles Rams

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After spending most of the season as a doormat, the Dolphins surprised in Week 6 by handily defeating the Steelers. We don't see enough evidence to call that anything but a fluke, though, as Buffalo rolls in as one of the league's hottest teams.

Pick: Bills


Oakland Raiders vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (JAC -1)
SUN, 1 p.m. ET

Kansas City Chiefs v Oakland Raiders
Kansas City Chiefs v Oakland Raiders

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Despite their disappointing start to the year, the Jaguars are actually favored against a 4-2 Raiders team. Jacksonville may slowly be piecing things together, but if the Raiders' backfield is at full health, they're too well-rounded to get knocked off by Jacksonville.

Pick: Raiders


Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans (TEN -2.5)
SUN, 1 p.m. ET

NFL: OCT 16 Colts at Texans
NFL: OCT 16 Colts at Texans

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It has come to this. Tennessee enters its home game against Indianapolis as a 2.5-point favorite. And while we understand the reasoning, the Colts have too much to play for to let this one slip away. If they do, it will have to be Chuck Pagano's last game as head coach, right?

Pick: Colts


Baltimore Ravens vs. New York Jets (BAL -1)
SUN, 1 p.m. ET

New York Jets v Arizona Cardinals
New York Jets v Arizona Cardinals

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It's Geno Smith time again for the Jets after a month-and-a-half of Ryan Fitzpatrick gradually regressing back to his career norms. Smith can't possibly perform worse than what Fitzpatrick was giving New York, but with no Eric Decker, we're not betting on him lighting it up, either. Expect a heavy dose of Matt Forte and Bilal Powell, but don't count on it being enough to win.

Pick: Ravens


San Diego Chargers vs. Atlanta Falcons (ATL -6.5)
SUN, 4:05 p.m. ET

Atlanta Falcons v Seattle Seahawks
Atlanta Falcons v Seattle Seahawks

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San Diego faces its second consecutive tough test after beating Denver last week, this time traveling to Atlanta. The Falcons, with last year's collapse fresh in everyone's memories, could be exused for treating this as a must-win in October, considering last week's loss to Seattle. If they wish to stay on top, they'll come out firing on all cylinders and play this trap game to perfection -- we expect them to.

Pick: Falcons


Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. San Francisco 49ers (TB -2.5)
SUN, 4:05 p.m. ET

San Francisco 49ers v Buffalo Bills
San Francisco 49ers v Buffalo Bills

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The 49ers reinfused Colin Kaepernick into their offense, but remain in a freefall, losing every game since Week 1. They'll host Tampa Bay, which despite its back-and-forth season, still deploys more talent than San Francisco on both side of the ball.

Pick: Buccaneers


New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (NE -7)
SUN, 4:25 p.m. ET

Cincinnati Bengals Vs. New England Patriots At Gillette Stadium
Cincinnati Bengals Vs. New England Patriots At Gillette Stadium

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What could've been touted as a battle between AFC heavyweights took a shot when Ben Roethlisberger underwent surgery on a torn meniscus last week. The Steelers still have several weapons for Landry Jones to turn to, but this is the kind of game that the Patriots win virtually every time.

Pick: Patriots


Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals (ARI -2)
SUN, 8:30 p.m. ET

NFL: OCT 02 Seahawks at Jets
NFL: OCT 02 Seahawks at Jets

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After losing three of their first four, the Cardinals may be back on track after beating up on lowly opponents in back-to-back weeks. They'll host a Seattle team, though, which seems to have gotten its offense rolling. We'll take the Seahawks in a nailbiter.

Pick: Seahawks


Houston Texans vs. Denver Broncos (DEN -7.5)
MON, 8:30 p.m. ET

NFL/
NFL/

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Houston has handily defeated all the bad teams on its slate this year while failing to even compete in its two losses -- to New England and Minnesota. Traveling to Denver on Monday night to take on the Broncos doesn't seem all that auspicious.

Pick: Broncos

Week 7 Power Rankings:

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