Five must watch games of Week 7 in the NFL
Week 6 saw the last two undefeated teams fall, and this week the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles look to rebound against tough opponents.
We are a third of the way thorough the NFL regular season, which is kind of depressing to think about. To console those of you worried about the season flying bye to quickly, Week 7 is set to give us a handful of games that will keep us glued to the TV all weekend.
Last week we saw some heavy hitters like the Niners and the Eagles fall. This week San Fran and Philly will look to bounce back from their first losses of the season, while other teams that are looking to strengthen their position among the league’s best will get to make their case.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ New Orleans Saints: Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET
How to watch: https://en.as.com/nfl/jacksonville-jaguars-vs-new-orleans-saints-times-how-to-watch-on-tv-and-stream-online-nfl-n-2/
If I told you before the season that the Saints would be .500 through the first six weeks of the season, you might have believed me. If I told you they’d be 3-3 going into Thursday Night’s game against the Jags, and that Derek Carr only has five TDs in those games, you might tell me to hit the road. The Saints have managed to win games without scoring the ball, and that’s thanks to a stellar defense that has been shutting down opponents in their three wins. The hope is that with Alvin Kamara’s return the Saints offense will start to improve, but they will have to do it against a tough Jags defense.
The Jags have had a long few weeks, but recovered from their two week stay across the pond and have won three straight including their two games in London against the Falcons and the Bills. Trevor Lawrence and the offense look like maybe they were starting to right the ship after a couple of sub par games, but it’s been the defense that has been putting them in position to win. Josh Allen and the Jags D have allowed just 16 ppg since giving up 37 to the Houston Texans in Week 3.
Detroit Lions @ Baltimore Ravens: Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET
How to watch: https://en.as.com/nfl/lions-vs-ravens-times-how-to-watch-on-tv-stream-online-nfl-n/
The Detroits Lions should be considered one of the top teams in the league. Dating back to Week 9 of last year, they are 14-4, and have lost only one game this season. Last year’s Lions were out gunning teams towards the end of the season, but this year’s Lions have been rock solid on the other side of the ball, holding opponents to 20 points or less in five of their first six games. Last week we got a glimpse of just how potent the offense can be when Jared Goff gets going, and he did it against a tough Tampa D.
The Ravens may be 4-2, but they have yet to impress in any of their first six games. They have been sneaking by teams, that if we are honest aren’t great teams or at least weren’t when they played them. They beat the Texans on opening day, then the Bengals who were hampered by Joe Burrow’s injury. Their win against the Browns was a given seeing the Cleveland offense couldn’t do anything with a rookie QB under center. Baltimore’s loses to the Colts and the Steelers were two of the ugliest games you could stand to watch, and clinics on how to blow a game. They got a win in London against Tennessee, but this week will be their first chance beat a good team and convince the league that this team is for real.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 p.m. ET
How to watch: https://en.as.com/nfl/chargers-vs-chiefs-times-how-to-watch-on-tv-stream-online-nfl-n/
It’s make or break time for the Chargers who have had a disappointing start to the season. I get it, they are a team that can’t stay healthy enough to find the consistency for their offense to really start clicking, but this is the NFL. Justin Herbert was almost immediately crowned an elite QB in this league, but if he can’t make it work with the weapons he does have available, then we are going to have to rethink that label of an “elite.” LA’s first five games have all been decided by seven points or less. They might be 2-3, but their games always come down to the wire, and are usually pretty fascinating to watch.
All this talk of the Chiefs not looking like the Chiefs. All this doubt around the new look offense. That stuff doesn’t matter. Look at their record. This is a team that knows how to do just enough to win, even if their offense isn’t clicking like we are used to seeing. The fact their defense is stepping up and winning games should only comfort KC fans. That has been their weak link and if they give the offense time to find that chemistry, it’s big trouble for the rest of the league. One of those guys that looks bound to create chemistry with Mahomes is Rashee Rice who is starting to break out of his shell in his rookie year.
Miami Dolphins @ Philadelphia Eagles, 8:20 p.m. ET
How to watch: https://en.as.com/nfl/miami-dolphins-vs-philadelphia-eagles-times-how-to-watch-on-tv-stream-online-nfl-n/
Was Philly’s loss to the Jets maybe a case of the Eagles looking ahead to their big Sunday night match up against the Dolphins this week? Maybe. But that still doesn’t excuse Jalen Hurts for throwing three interceptions, or Devonta Smith dropping a couple of wide open catches that could have changed the game. We kept on saying that the Eagles haven’t looked their best, but as long as they kept winning, we kept sweeping those problems under the run. The Jets beat them last week, and now look who is coming up in the coming weeks: the Dolphins, the Commanders, the Chiefs, the Cowboys, the Bills, the Niners and the Cowboys again.
Miami’s offense has only been shut down for two quarters this year. That came against the Bills in their only loss of the season, but they have rebounded from that loss like champions and with weapons like Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle at Tua Tagovailoa’s disposal, this team is only going to get tougher to defend. They are putting up numbers that are equivalent to those of the St. Louis Rams Greatest Show on Turf team and show no signs of slowing down. De’Von Achane’s injury is a tough blow, but Raheem Mostert showed that he can carry the load until the rookie comes off of IR.
San Francisco 49ers @ Minnesota Vikings, 8:15 p.m. ET
How to watch: https://en.as.com/nfl/49ers-vs-vikings-times-how-to-watch-on-tv-stream-online-nfl-n/
San Fran might have been guilty of the same thing that the Eagles were guilty of in their loss to the Browns on Sunday. It seemed impossible the Niners could lose in Cleveland, but the planets aligned for the Browns and it just felt like Kyle Shanahan’s team was destined to lose to a team without their starting QB. Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffery both got hurt, but even before that the offense was stuggling against the Browns D. Neither suffered serious injuries and should be back for the Monday Night showdown in Minnesota.
The good news for the Vikings is they have won two of their last three after losing their opening three games of the season. The bad news is the league’s best receiver, Justin Jefferson, is out for the next few weeks and so is Marcus Davenport who sprained his ankle last week against the Bears. The Vikings are starting to play their best ball, but these injuries are coming at exactly the wrong time for a team looking to turn their season around.