National Football League

2016 NFL Picks, Predictions For Week 7

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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With Week 7 on the horizon, it’s time to take a quick look at the latest round of NFL picks with 15 games on the schedule this upcoming weekend.

As crazy as it seems, we’re already through six weeks of the 2016 NFL season and things are just starting to get good. The contenders continue to separate themselves from the pack, while the pretenders try desperately to keep their fading playoff hopes alive.

With another 15 games of gridiron action scheduled for Week 7, I’ve taken the liberty of preparing another round of NFL picks to keep you well informed.

There are some intriguing matchups on the docket in Week 7. We’ve got a couple of prime showdowns on the agenda, with contenders jockeying for playoff positioning. We may even see the league’s sole undefeated team keep their record unblemished.

Either way, it’s sure to be a great week.

Now if you’ve been following along with my picks this season, I understand your hesitance to continue taking my advice. I finished Week 6 with an embarrassing 7-8 record, which leaves me at 52-40 on the year. I’m not going to say it’s acceptable, but it is what it is.

Whether you choose to follow them or not, here are my NFL picks for Week 7.

Week 7 Byes: Carolina Panthers (1-5), Dallas Cowboys (5-1)

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Chicago Bears (1-5) at Green Bay Packers (3-2)

Is it just me, or is there something a bit off with this Packers team in 2016? Aaron Rodgers isn’t quite himself, the play-calling has been questionable at times and the running game hasn’t been up to par.

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The Green Bay defense was doing its job until the Cowboys came in and ran roughshod in Week 6. Despite that demoralizing defeat, the Packers get a break in Week 7 with a home matchup against the 1-5 Bears.

It’s been a rough start for Chicago, which has allowed an inability to put points on the board turn their promising offseason into a pointless spending spree. Despite some surprising success from Brian Hoyer, they’re currently scoring the fewest points per game (16.8) in the NFL.

Even against the Bears 10th-ranked defense, Rodgers should be able to do enough damage to end the Packers’ losing streak at one. It’s not like Hoyer is going to find the end zone enough to outpace Green Bay on the scoreboard.

Pick: Packers

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New York Giants (3-3) at Los Angeles Rams (3-3)

As we saw last week, the loss of Trumaine Johnson was a big blow to the Rams’ defense. It’s highly unlikely he returns in Week 7 (via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport), which means it’s not going to be easy for Los Angeles to slow down the Giants lethal passing attack.

New York has put together the third-ranked passing game through six games, with Eli Manning enjoying the presence of three legitimate playmakers out wide. Although the running game has been a mess, the Giants are finding ways to put plenty of points on the board.

The Rams, on the other hand, have struggled to overcome their offensive woes from a year ago. Although they looked better against a feeble Detroit defense in Week 6, the offensive line has limited Los Angeles’ ability to move the ball consistently on Sundays.

Case Keenum continues to surprise, but the Rams haven’t been able to get their ground game going. Even if Kenny Britt puts up another unexpected performance against an average New York secondary, the Giants will still find a way to come out ahead on the scoreboard in Week 7.

Pick: Giants

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New Orleans Saints (2-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (3-2)

The Saints have looked solid on this two-game winning streak, but I still don’t have much faith in a team that’s trying to give its wins away. Both wins have been nailbiters against other poor teams, but that won’t be the case in Week 7.

Instead, the Chiefs should run away with this one in the friendly confines of Arrowhead Stadium.

As we’ve seen in recent weeks, Kansas City is more than capable of taking down quality teams. They demoralized Ryan Fitzpatrick to the tune of six interceptions, and knocked off an outstanding Raiders team on Sunday. It’s time to realize that Andy Reid’s squad is one worth taking seriously.

Especially against a miserable New Orleans defense, look for the Chiefs to run the ball early and often. The combo of Spencer Ware and Jamaal Charles should be more than enough to trample the Saints on the way to Kansas City’s fourth win of the year.

Pick: Chiefs

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Indianapolis Colts (2-4) at Tennessee Titans (3-3)

At this point, anything can happen with these AFC South teams. However, based on what we’ve seen lately, this one seems pretty straightforward. While the Colts have Andrew Luck, their defense is a disaster. Indianapolis currently has the 30th-ranked defense and can’t seem to close out games, as we saw on Sunday night. So what is there to make me believe they can contain this 10th-ranked Tennessee offense in Week 7?

In recent weeks, the Titans have been making plays at a consistent clip on offense. Marcus Mariota has shrugged off a slow start, putting together a 6:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio and completing about 70 percent of his passes in the last two weeks.

On top of Mariota’s success, the Tennessee ground game has also been sensational in 2016. DeMarco Murray is currently fourth in the NFL in rushing yards, which has the Titans fielding the third-ranked ground attack. It’s going to be the difference on Sunday.

The Colts will make some plays on offense, but the Titans will take advantage of Indy’s porous defense and earn the win.

Pick: Titans

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Minnesota Vikings (5-0) at Philadelphia Eagles (3-2)

Through three weeks, the Eagles looked indestructible. However, as we’ve seen the last two weeks, that was far from the case. Even with the strong play of rookie gunslinger Carson Wentz, this team has its flaws.

The Vikings, however, are arguably the best team in the NFL right now. Not only has their offense been playing smart, mistake-free football, but the defense has been lights out. As the old saying goes, defense wins championships.

Wentz hasn’t had a bad game up to this point, but that could change against Minnesota’s elite defense. They’re creating turnovers and notching sacks at an impressive clip and should keep that trend going in Week 7.

Philadelphia will obviously put up a fight. However, between the defense’s otherworldly play and Bradford’s opportunity to stick it to the Eagles, the Vikings shouldn’t have too much trouble staying undefeated.

Pick: Vikings

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Cleveland Browns (0-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)

I’m a bit baffled at how off the Bengals have been this season. What appeared to be a sensational offense has failed to get off the ground, and the defense isn’t holding up its end of the bargain either. Luckily, they’ve got a Week 7 date with the Browns to get them back on track.

I mean, is there really any reason to think this Cleveland team can win? They’ve failed to do so through six games, despite some close calls. So why would that change in Week 7?

Yes, they’ve made some big plays. Rookie Cody Kessler has surprised as a decent starting quarterback, and Terrelle Pryor suddenly emerged as the Browns’ offensive sparkplug. If only the 29th-ranked defense could make some plays in crunch time.

Andy Dalton and Co. desperately need to get back on track if they plan on pushing for a playoff spot. It’s not going to be an easy road considering the hole they find themselves in at 2-4, but a convincing win against Cleveland will at least give this squad a much-needed confidence boost.

Pick: Bengals

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Washington Redskins (4-2) at Detroit Lions (3-3)

I keep picking against both of these teams, and it keeps biting me on the backside. So it makes it all the more difficult to decide which team to pick against in Week 7.

In this situation, I have to give the victory to the Redskins.

The main reason I don’t have much confidence in the Lions is their miserable defense. While Matthew Stafford and the offense keep Detroit in games, the defense can’t get out of its own way. They’ve giving up way too much on a weekly basis—heck, they made the Rams’ poor offense look like one of the NFL’s best in Week 6.

Meanwhile, the Redskins have been cruising to the tune of four straight wins. Kirk Cousins has kicked his early-season woes, and the defense is making enough plays to keep opposing offenses at bay. Especially with the way the running game played against the Eagles, it seems necessary to buy into the D.C. offense for the moment.

It’s going to be an interesting game, but I believe the Redskins get the W in this one. The return of Latavius Murray would also be helpful.

Pick: Redskins

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Oakland Raiders (4-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3)

I’ve been on the Raiders bandwagon for much of the 2016 campaign, but I’m starting to lose some confidence in this team. They got embarrassed by the Chiefs a week ago and will now face a Jaguars defense that is capable of a similar showing.

Realistically, it’ll come down to what Jacksonville can do on offense.

Blake Bortles has had an up-and-down season, and we’ve seen inconsistent production from the Jaguars’ running game. Although they have plenty of offensive weapons to work with, this team needs to find a groove. Luckily, they face off against Oakland’s league-worst defense in Week 7.

It’s going to be another nailbiter, as both of these teams have endured on several occasions this season. However, when it all comes down to it, the home team will secure the win with a late-game drive.

Oakland was looking like a contender, but they’ll need a new gameplan in the near future.

Pick: Jaguars

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Buffalo Bills (4-2) at Miami Dolphins (2-4)

It’s crazy how big of an impact one change can make. The Bills switched offensive coordinators in Week 3, and it’s paid major dividends. The offense has been unstoppable since, as the increased role of LeSean McCoy has allowed Buffalo to sport the top running game in the NFL.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins have looked lackluster in 2016 outside of their Week 6 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. And honestly, I think the loss of Ben Roethlisberger played a bigger part in that than anything else. If it wasn’t for Big Ben getting hurt and the pitiful play of the Browns, the Dolphins would be winless.

So why would I have any reason to believe they can beat the Bills?

Buffalo is on a four-game winning streak, and appears to be firing on all cylinders. Unless McCoy gets hurt and Tyrod Taylor misses the team flight, the Bills will walk away from Week 7 victorious.

Pick: Bills

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Baltimore Ravens (3-3) at New York Jets (1-5)

Picking the Ravens keeps backfiring on me, but I’m having a hard time believing this Jets team can actually compete in Week 7—or any week for that matter.

Despite three straight losses, Baltimore is still sporting the No. 3 defense in 2016. They’ve done a great job of keeping opposing offenses contained, but they’ve struggled to put their own points on the board. However, going up against a deteriorating New York defense, I think Joe Flacco and Co. should be able to make enough plays.

Plus, it’s not like Gang Green is going to put up many points of its own. This offense has been a wreck in recent weeks, and the coaching staff had finally seen enough on Monday when they pulled Ryan Fitzpatrick. Geno Smith didn’t do any better, though, which bodes well for the Ravens.

Even if Flacco and the Baltimore offense struggle, the Jets shouldn’t do any better. It could be a low-scoring affair, but the Ravens will likely make enough plays to end their losing streak.

Pick: Ravens

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-3) at San Francisco 49ers (1-5)

As pitiful as the 49ers have been this season, the Buccaneers haven’t been any better. Tampa Bay may have the better record, but their wins came in a Week 1 fluke and a last-second surprise against a crumbling Panthers team.

Although they were demolished by the Bills in Week 6, the 49ers looked like a stronger team with Colin Kaepernick under center. The offense made a few more plays, Torrey Smith got involved and Kaepernick’s athleticism brought a new dynamic to the equation.

Despite their impressive roster, the Buccaneers have been a mess this year. Jameis Winston is suffering somewhat of a sophomore slump, key players are injured, and the offense just can’t seem to get going. To top it all off, Tampa Bay sports the 20th-ranked defense that’s giving up 28.4 points per game.

With home-field advantage, San Francisco should walk away from this one victorious. It’s not going to be pretty, but a win is a win, right?

Pick: 49ers

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San Diego Chargers (2-4) at Atlanta Falcons (4-2)

If it wasn’t for a missed pass interference call, the Falcons might be 5-1 right now. Instead they’re 4-2, and are in need of a bounce-back game. Enter the Chargers, a team that has suffered from its fair share of setbacks in 2016.

It also doesn’t help that San Diego currently has the 24th-ranked pass defense and is going up against the NFL’s second-best passing offense. There’s simply no way they can contain the ridiculous combination of Matt Ryan and Julio Jones, as most teams have struggled to do throughout this season.

I’m sure the Chargers will make create a few highlights on offense with the way Philip Rivers and Melvin Gordon have been playing in 2016. However, it seems hard to imagine them doing enough to keep up with Atlanta on the scoreboard.

San Diego may have pulled off a quality win against the Broncos last Thursday. However, the Chargers always seem to have Denver’s number and Trevor Siemian is no Matt Ryan. This should be an exciting showdown, but I’m confident the Falcons will come out on top.

Pick: Falcons

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New England Patriots (5-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)

I really liked this Steelers team coming into the season, but their stock is definitely trending in the wrong direction right now. With the loss of Roethlisberger to a torn meniscus in his left knee, it’s looking like Pittsburgh will be forced to go with Landry Jones in Week 7 (via the Post-Gazette’s Ron Cook).

That doesn’t bode well for them, as we saw against the Dolphins on Sunday. It also doesn’t help that they’ll be going up against a red-hot Patriots team.

With Tom Brady back under center, New England is rolling through the second quarter of the 2016 campaign. They’ve trounced two quality teams since his return, and should find a way to keep their momentum rolling in Week 7.

Realistically, Landry doesn’t have what it takes to outscore Brady and Co. It should be a good game at Heinz Field, but I just don’t see the Steelers making enough plays with an average quarterback at the helm.

Pick: Patriots

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Seattle Seahawks (4-1) at Arizona Cardinals (3-3)

The Seahawks may be 4-1 heading into Week 7, but it’s been a bumpy road. They’ve had some lucky calls, but their good luck is going to run out eventually.

This is going to be daunting task for Seattle as the Cardinals are starting to catch fire. They crushed the Jets on Monday night, and are watching the continued emergence of David Johnson unfold before they’re very eyes. Especially in the friendly confines of University of Phoenix Stadium, Arizona seems to have a slight edge.

Sure, Seattle may have kept the Falcons from steamrolling them in Week 6. They did crack a bit down the stretch, though, and got some help from the zebras. Johnson and the Arizona offense won’t be so forgiving.

This could be the game of the week, with both of these teams looking like serious contenders at this point in the season. However, as long as Carson Palmer is healthy, I believe the Cardinals will squeak out a hard-fought win and tighten the race in the NFC West. I’ll probably regret this one, but that’s my gut feeling.

Pick: Cardinals

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Houston Texans (4-2) at Denver Broncos (4-2)

Yes, the Broncos are coming off a disappointing Thursday-night loss to the Chargers. However, they aren’t facing anywhere near as daunting a task in Week 7 with the Texans coming to town.

Realistically, Houston hasn’t been nearly as impressive as their record would indicate. They’ve only notched one quality win, with the other three coming against teams that have combined for six wins on the year. Brock Osweiler has underwhelmed, and it’s not going to get any easier against his former team.

I can just imagine the Broncos’ secondary will be drooling at the opportunity to stick it to Osweiler, who jumped ship this offseason. While they haven’t been as dominant as they were in 2015, the Denver defensive backs are more than capable of shutting down a slightly-above-average Houston passing game.

That doesn’t mean the Broncos offense won’t suffer some struggles as well. Siemian is still a work in progress, and C.J. Anderson has been inconsistent through six games. However, if it takes the Texans overtime to beat the Colts, they’re going to be in for a rude awakening against the Broncos.

It’s an exciting Monday night matchup that should see the Texans lose their grip on the AFC South lead.

Pick: Broncos

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