NFL week seven preview

CINCINNATI — Thursday Night Football: Denver Broncos @ Cleveland Browns – 8:20 p.m. on FOX and NFL Network (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Kristina Pink) Radio: Westwood One (Ian Eagle, Tony Boselli) This is an important game for two struggling teams. After starting 3-0, Denver has lost its last three games. Meanwhile, Cleveland has dropped their previous two games to 3-3, and that’s with high expectations for this season. And now the Browns will have to win a crucial game without Baker Mayfield. In his place at quarterback is Case Keenum, a serviceable journeyman who took the Vikings to the NFC Championship in 2017.

Unfortunately, Keenum won’t have many weapons to work with as both running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt will be out tonight, and the status of receivers Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. are unknown ahead of Thursday night. That could make things less stressful for the Denver defense that has struggled the last three weeks.

Both teams need this game. Denver needs to stop the bleeding of their three-game losing streak to keep pace in a competitive AFC West while Cleveland needs a win ahead of a difficult stretch of games.

Game pick: Broncos 21 Browns 17

Kansas City Chiefs @ Tennessee Titans – 1 p.m. on CBS (Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, Evan Washburn) This has the makings of being a great game. Tennessee is coming off an impressive win over Buffalo on Monday Night Football, and I think that win can translate to a lot more of them. Tennessee is a unique team because in an era of electric passing offenses, they are winning games by running the football. And it’s not like their defense is complementing their offense like run-dominant offenses had complementing them before the age of dynamic passing attacks.

Meanwhile, Kansas City doesn’t have a great defense either, and it’s cost them some games this season. They held Washington to 13 points last week, so now the question is can they do it again against an offense that can put up points in Tennessee. Patrick Mahomes has been prolific per usual this season, but it must be difficult to play quarterback and run an offense knowing you have to put up so many points to outscore a defense that hasn’t stopped many teams this season.

Kansas City needs to win this game to keep pace in the AFC West and with an absolutely brutal schedule coming up. Tennessee doesn’t need to win this game because they play in the weak AFC South and have favorable schedule the rest of the season, but it would boost their morale to beat a team that has represented the AFC in the last two Super Bowls.

Game pick: Titans 34 Chiefs 31

Chicago Bears @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 4:25 p.m. on CBS (Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson) I don’t get why this is the game of the week. Sure, Chicago has played better that last three weeks and were competitive against Green Bay, but they aren’t nearly at the level Tampa Bay is.

The Buccaneers keep on humming, and they haven’t even played their best football yet. Tom Brady; what he’s doing at age 44 is absurd. He’s on pace to throw for 6,000 yards this season. And if Leonard Fournette can keep things moving for the Tampa Bay running game… that can only make this offense more dynamic.

Game pick: Buccaneers 35 Bears 17

Sunday Night Football: Indianapolis Colts @ San Francisco 49ers – 8:20 p.m. on NBC (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya) Radio: Westwood One (Ryan Radtke, Rod Woodson) I don’t love this game, but it’s still got some excitement to it. Both teams need to win this game, first of all. Indianapolis has looked much better the last three weeks, and it could be argued they should be 3-3 right now instead of 2-4 had it not been for Lamar Jackson’s heroics in the fourth quarter and overtime in week five. Carson Wentz has been better the last three games, and Jonathan Taylor got things going in the running game last week against Houston. Now with a healthy T.Y. Hilton, can the Colts offense finally produce at a level we expected them to coming into the season?

For San Francisco, it’s hard not to feel for them as they deal with a slew of injuries. So many key players are questionable heading into this week and other key players are already on injured reserve. But they still need to a find a way to win this game to keep pace in the NFC playoff race.

Game pick: Colts 27 49ers 21

Monday Night Football: New Orleans @ Seattle Seahawks – 8:15 p.m. on ESPN (Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Louis Riddick, Lisa Salters) ESPN2 (Peyton and Eli Manning and guests) Radio: Westwood One (Kevin Harlan, Kurt Warner) Another game that may not attract the average viewer, but it’s still an important game for both of these teams. Seattle’s season is quickly slipping away with Russell Wilson out through week nine and a defense that has been atrocious. To make matters worse, playing at home this Monday night doesn’t add much promise; they’re 0-2 at home so far this season.

Meanwhile, New Orleans has been up and down so far this season alternating wins and losses through the first five weeks. Yet, a win in a game they very well can win would put them at 4-2 and in great position to chase an NFC wild card spot. Jameis Winston has actually been productive through the first five games of the Saints season with 12 touchdowns to just three interceptions, which for Winston is impressive. If he can improve his completion percentage, he can really be a good all-around quarterback and elevate this Saints offense.

Game pick: Saints 34 Seahawks 21

Other week seven games

Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants – 1 p.m. on FOX
A game between two teams who are struggling. Carolina, like Denver, has come crashing back down to Earth while the Giants haven’t been able to get their season off the ground. Now with Saquon Barkley, Kedarius Toney and Darius Slayton all out for the Giants Sunday, the outlook looks bleak.

Game pick: Panthers 24 Giants 10

New York Jets @ New England Patriots – 1 p.m. on CBS
I think New England is better than their record shows. Mac Jones has taken strides through the last three games, but he still needs to achieve the combination of making the big throw while also avoiding the big mistake. The good news for him in this game the Patriots are facing the Jets and, well, you get the point.

Game pick: Patriots 27 Jets 6

Washington Football Team @ Green Bay Packers – 1 p.m. on FOX
Outside of Cleveland, Washington has been the most disappointing team in the league this season. I really thought with their stout defense and underrated offense they were going to win 10 games, at least. Now, they might lose 10 games, at least.
Meanwhile, Green Bay has done a fantastic job putting week one to bed completely. The last five weeks have shown why they are a force to be reckoned with in the NFC. They haven’t even played their best football on either side, and are still 5-1.

Game pick: Packers 31 Football Team 17

Atlanta Falcons @ Miami Dolphins – 1 p.m. on FOX
Another disappointing team this season has been Miami, but it’s not that surprising. They just don’t have the talent to compete. There’s a developing story that they could be getting quarterback DeShaun Watson in a trade this week, but how much will he be able to reinvigorate Miami’s season? Is it too late to get back in the race?
Meanwhile, Atlanta has shown some fight in their last three games. After getting destroyed in their first two games, they have bounced back nicely with two wins in their last three and a four-point loss in the other. And Matt Ryan… still has it. With 868 passing yards and eight touchdowns to no interceptions over the last three games.

Game pick: Falcons 31 Dolphins 17

Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens – 1 p.m. on CBS
More on this game in my weekly Bengals preview up Friday afternoon.

Game pick: Ravens 28 Bengals 18

Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams – 4:05 p.m. on FOX
Jared Goff returns to face his former team. Matthew Stafford faces his former team. The latter quarterback will lead his team to a big win.

Game pick: Rams 45 Lions 17

Philadelphia Eagles @ Las Vegas Raiders – 4:05 p.m. on FOX
A game that may get lost in the shuffle this week, but this is still an important game for both teams. Derek Carr has been really good so far this season for Las Vegas, and he has the multitude of skill weapons to attack a struggling Philadelphia defense.
But on the other side, can the Raider defense slow down the dynamic Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts bring to their offense? Points could be bountiful in this game.

Game pick: Raiders 34 Eagles 21

Houston Texans @ Arizona Cardinals – 4:25 p.m. on CBS
Yeah, okay.

Game pick: Cardinals 41 Texans 13