Week 7 NFL Preview & Analysis

As week seven of the National Football League is approaching, the most dominant team in the entire league remains the New England Patriots. It is not only the fact that the Patriots are the only team at 6-0 that is fascinating. It is the fact they have a points for and against differential of +142. The next closest team in the NFL in this category are the 5-0 San Francisco 49ers, who are at +83.

In week seven, the Patriots should be considered the heavy favourite to beat the New York Jets, and the 49ers should have no problem against the Washington Redskins. Here are four intriguing matches however that should be very competitive.

Oakland Raiders @ Green Bay Packers

It took the Oakland Raiders a while to get over the Antonio Brown saga as they went 1-2 in their first three games. Since then, they have come away with very impressive wins over the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears. The Packers are 5-1 after their tight 23-22 win over the Detroit Lions on Monday.

Why the Raiders win

 Oakland will be the more well-rested team, as they had a week six bye. The Packers meanwhile are coming off a short week as they just had a tough battle against a divisional opponent on October 14.

Why the Packers win

Despite the significant turf toe injury to Packers wide receiver Davante Adams, the Packers offense has been good enough the last two weeks in wins over the Dallas Cowboys and Lions. The Packers have not lost to the Raiders since September 13, 1987. In that span, the Packers have won seven straight.

Betting Insights

• The Packers have won each of their last eight home games against AFC West opponents.
• Five of the Raiders’ last six road games have gone OVER the total match points line.
• The Raiders have lost the first quarter in each of their last six road games against NFC opponents.
• Aaron Jones has scored at least one touchdown in six of his last seven appearances at Lambeau Field.
• Jamaal Williams has scored a touchdown in three of his last five appearances in day games.

[adrotate banner=”83″]

My Take:

Raiders lost by 20 points in hostile territory earlier this season in Minnesota. The Packers are just as good as the Vikings and Oakland will have their hands full at Lambeau. Take Green Bay.

Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts

In this AFC South Division battle, the Texans only lead the Colts by half a game. At 4-2, Houston was not given a great chance to beat the Kansas City Chiefs last week, but came away with a seven point road win. The Colts are at 3-2 and have played well despite the preseason drama surrounding the surprise retirement of Andrew Luck.

Why the Texans win:

Deshaun Watson continues his mid-season magic where he has helped Houston generate 84 points the last two weeks. Many Texans players are contributing offensively. In Houston’s 53-32 win over Atlanta, Will Fuller had 217 receiving yards and three touchdowns and in Houston’s 31-24 win over Kansas City, Carlos Hyde had 116 rushing yards.

Why the Colts win

There is no doubt that Jacoby Brissett has been reliable for the Colts over the first five weeks of the season. He has a quarterback rating of 94.9 with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions.

Betting Insights

• The Colts have won seven of their last eight home games.
• The Colts have covered the line in four of their last five games against the Texans.
• Eric Ebron has scored a touchdown in each of the Colts’ last four games against AFC South opponents.
• T.Y. Hilton has scored at least one touchdown in each of his last four appearances in day games.
• DeAndre Hopkins has scored a touchdown in each of his last four appearances in road games against AFC South opponents.
• Deshaun Watson has scored the first touchdown in each of the Texans’ last two regular-season games against AFC South opponents.

[adrotate group=”7″]

My take:

The game completely hinges on the play of Watson. When it is the great Watson, the Texans are an elite team in the NFL. Even though the Texans will battle a Colts squad that limited the Kansas City Chiefs to only 13 points in week five, the Texans offense is performing on all cylinders at the moment, and generating their points in different ways. Take Houston.

Baltimore Ravens @ Seattle Seahawks

Despite having a better record, the Seattle Seahawks (5-1) are not leading the NFC West. The Ravens, who are at 4-2, meanwhile comfortably lead the AFC North.

Why the Ravens win

After back-to-back losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns, the Ravens have momentum having won their last two games against AFC North Divisional foes, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals.

Why the Seahawks win

The Seahawks are rather lucky to be 5-1 at the moment. In four of their five wins, the Seahawks have won by a total amount of eight points. Seattle’s D finds a way to contain Lamar Jackson.

Betting Insights

• The Seahawks have won seven of their last eight home games.
• The road team has covered the line in each of the Seahawks’ last eight games.
• Mark Ingram II has scored the first touchdown in each of the Ravens’ last three road games.
• Mark Andrews has scored a touchdown in four of the Ravens’ last eight regular season games.
• Tyler Lockett has scored a touchdown in each of the Seahawks’ last four home games.
• Chris Carson has scored at least one touchdown in five of the Seahawks’ last six home games.

My take:

The Seahawks have the edge because they are at home. If this game was in Baltimore, there is no doubt the Ravens would be favoured.

New Orleans Saints @ Chicago Bears

Not many would have expected that the New Orleans Saints would be 5-1 without Drew Brees and with Teddy Bridgewater at the helm. The Bears are at 3-2, following a rather embarrassing 24-21 loss to the Oakland Raiders in London on October 6.

Why the Saints win

No Drew Brees. No problem. The Saints still have unbelievable depth at offense led by running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Michael Thomas.

Why the Bears win

Chicago’s D is the best in the NFL, and they are even better at Soldier Field. Oh, and the defense is well-rested having had a bye in week six.

Betting Insights

• The Saints have covered the line in each of their last 10 games in October.
• Each of the Bears’ last six day games have gone UNDER the total match points line.
• Tarik Cohen has scored the first touchdown in three of the Bears’ last four regular season day games at Soldier Field.
• Alvin Kamara has scored at least one touchdown in each of the Saints’ last three games against NFC North opponents.

My take:

One could argue that the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints have comparable offense at the moment in terms of performance depth. Three weeks ago the Vikings only scored six points on the Bears. Expect much of the same issues for the Saints on Sunday.

[adrotate group=”7″]