Must watch games of Week 7: Lions vs. Vikings, Texans vs. Packers, Chiefs vs. 49ers, Jets vs. Steelers, Ravens vs. Bucs

We are officially a third of the way through the NFL’s regular season and we have some mouthwatering matchups heading into the middle stretch of the season. A huge NFC North battle between two teams eyeing the division title and more in Minnesota. Two of the top young guns in the game square off from Green Bay. We have a rematch of last year’s Super Bowl from San Fran. And two juicy primetime games on Sunday and Monday night will have us glued to the TV all weekend.

Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, October 20th @ 1:00 p.m. ET

Coming off of their biggest win of the season the Detroit Lions roll into Minnesota to take on the last remaining undefeated team in the NFC. Detroit dominated the Dallas Cowboys last week as Jared Goff and the offense flexed their muscles scoring 40+ points for a second straight week. Aidan Hutchinson suffered a devastating injury last game, and now it’s time for coach Dan Campbell to rally his troops for the game against the division leading Vikings. No one could have predicted Minnesota coming out of their BYE week undefeated, but here they are, one of two teams that have been perfect through the first third of the season. Rested and refreshed this a a chance for the Vikings to make a statement to anyone out there that still might be doubting this team.

Houston Texans vs. Green Bay Packers, Sunday, October 20th @ 1:00 p.m. ET

Houston is coming off of their first “big” win of the season. The Texans hadn’t really had one of those convincing wins that we got used to seeing in CJ Stroud’s rookie year, but getting Joe Mixon back made up for the loss of Nico Collins at WR and the Texans put up 41 points on the Patriots. The offense is starting to click and the defense has only given up more than 20 points once this season. The Packers meanwhile came out and played a complete game with Jordan Love under center for the first time this season. Romeo Doubs and Chirstian Watson are starting to take off in Lambeau and the offense is scoring at ease. The Packers know that there is a big match up in the NFC North going on at the same time, and someone will fall which will give them a chance to move up the division standings.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers, Sunday October 20th @ 4:25 p.m. ET

It’s a rematch of Super Bowl LVIII from San Fran as the Niners host the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs in four o’clock slot on Sunday afternoon. The Chiefs record is perfect to start their three peat run, but it hasn’t always looked perfect. They pulled off narrow victories against the Ravens, Bengals and the Falcons and had to come back on the Chargers before beating the Saints in a route before their BYE. They come out of their week off perfect, but plagued with injury with Isaiah Pacheco still out and Rashee Rice done for the season. The Niners have been dealing with injuries of their own, but have their heads above water and lead the NFC West after their win over Seattle last week. Christian McCaffery hasn’t played a single down this season, and last week Jordan Mason went down with a shoulder injury that knocked him out of last game. The Niners have yet to hit their stride, but a win over the Chiefs could let the league know they are ready to make a repeat run to Super Bowl Sunday.

New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, October 20th @ 8:15 p.m. ET

The drama that is playing out in New York is enough of a show all it’s own. Robert Saleh is out. Jeff Ulbrich is in. He demoted Nathaniel Hackett and took the play calling duties away from him. Aaron Rodgers isn’t happy with anything going on, including Greg Zuerlein’s kicking. New York has lost three straight games, and are falling behind the Bills in the AFC East, but there is good news. Devonte Adams is reuniting with his favorite quarterback after the Jets traded for the Pro Bowl receiver. It may not be the solution to all the problems in New York, but it will make this team more competitive. The Steelers may be 4-2, and tied at the top of the AFC North with the Ravens but there could be a shake up coming under center. Justin Fields has been less than convincing in his first six games as a Steeler, luckily for him the Steelers have one of the best defenses in the league. Coach Mike Tomlin admitted he’s considering starting Russell Wilson who has been sidelined with a calf injury since the beginning of the season. Lots of change on the horizon for two teams who have started the season in very different fashions.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, October 21 @ 8:15 p.m. ET

The Ravens may not be undefeated, but they are currently looking like the best team in the league. With Lamar Jackson playing at the MVP level and Derrick Henry hitting stride in Baltimore’s offense this team is looking unstoppable. They just knocked off one of the hottest teams in the league last week and now they travel south to take on a Tampa team that is quickly creeping into the discussion for NFC’s best team. They beat the Commanders in the first week of the season and the Lions in Detroit just a few weeks later. Baker Mayfield and the Bucs put up 51 on an injury plagued Saints team last week and now they set their sights on the Ravens in what should be an emotional Monday night game in Tampa just days after Hurricane Milton touched down on the shores of the Bay.