NFL week seven predictions

As SCO begins NFL predictions for the year, eventful matchups have ensued. Whether it was the week 5 brawl between the Seahawks and Buccaneers or the five one-possession games in week 6, the season has been intense. Surprisingly, however, teams like the Ravens and Chiefs have backtracked in their defensive performances. 

For week 7, the most obvious pick is likely between the Raiders and the Chiefs. As the Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice makes his season debut, the Raiders passing defense continues to struggle on. Though for the game of the week, it’s hard to tell now that new American Football Conference (AFC) juggernauts have emerged (e.g., the Colts and Patriots).

Prediction Record:

Mooti: 0-0

Zach: 0-0

Luca: 0-0

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Thursday, Oct. 16

Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)

Mooti - Steelers

Zach - Steelers

Luca - Steelers

Mooti says: Last week, Joe Flacco played as well a game as an offensive coordinator could ask for. However, it stalls in comparison to Pittsburgh’s fourth-ranked red zone defense. For the Bengals to stay alive, Flacco must throw deep to his lethal weapons in Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Regarding offenses, while the Steelers and Bengals fit in the bottom 12 on both offensive rankings, the Bengals’ disjointed defense will be easy for the Steelers to take advantage of.

Zach says: Joe Flacco has been an improvement for this Bengals offense, but not a big one. The Steelers' defense started the season a bit rocky, but they have stabilized now and should be able to contain Flacco easily, although Chase will likely still have a solid game from his raw talent. I expect a typical divisional Steelers game here with plenty of field goals and a total combined score less than 35. Ultimately, the Steelers will come away with the win by about 3-7 points. 

Luca says: Without Joe Burrow, the Bengals offense has not looked nearly the same. While Joe Flacco looked to be an improvement from Jake Browning last week, it shouldn’t be nearly enough to make a difference against this division-leading Steelers team; Steelers by 14.

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Sunday, Oct. 19

Los Angeles Rams (4-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2)

Mooti - Jaguars

Zach - Rams

Luca - Rams

Mooti says: As the Rams face the Jaguars’ talented defense with detrimental injuries to the league’s leading receiver, Puka Nacua, it’s hard to tell whether they leave London with the win. However, I see Jacksonville capitalizing on offense with electrifying performances from running back Travis Etienne Jr. and sophomore wideout Brian Thomas Jr. Though it may be tempting to pick Los Angeles after the Jaguars' offensive line gave up 7 sacks to Seattle last week, I see their linemen improving and Jacksonville winning handily.

Zach says: Both teams are coming off somewhat disappointing games. The Rams’ offense struggled heavily against an abysmal Ravens defense while having endless opportunities to capitalize on red-zone drives. The Rams continue to have kicking struggles with Joshua Karty, but I believe this will be the Rams' big bounce-back game, solidifying them as the clear favorite of the division. Moving on to the Jaguars, their defense started the year strong, but as of late, the lack of stronger offenses has exposed them. I expect the Rams to win this one convincingly. The Jaguars' pass attack has picked up in the past few weeks. I believe the Rams' defense will get the job done and hold the Jaguars to less than 20 points.

Luca says: The Rams have been one of the most consistent teams this year, ranking top 10 in both offensive yards per game and total defensive ranking this year. In contrast, the Jaguars are outside of the top 15 in both categories. While they have amassed impressive wins against Kansas City and San Francisco earlier this year, Jacksonville will be simply overpowered; Rams get the win in this one.

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Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) at Minnesota Vikings (3-2)

Mooti - Eagles

Zach - Eagles

Luca - Eagles

Mooti says: Last week the Eagles suffered their most heartbreaking loss thus far. Their defense gave up 34 points to the Jaxson Dart-led Giants, while their offense continues to display signs of decline–namely from reigning rushing champion Saquon Barkley. Minnesota’s uncertainty at the quarterback position leaves me questioning its offensive efficiency. If Carson Wentz starts, I expect him to perform mediocre, especially after seeing his performance against the bottom-ranked Pittsburgh’s passing defense.

Zach says: This is a big week for the Eagles as they seek to bounce back from back-to-back losses. Previously, a young, fiery Giants team and the gritty Broncos outwitted them. It's true, the Eagles continue to struggle with putting together a full game of efficient offense as they have repeatedly had a good first half only, or picking things up in the second half. The Minnesota Vikings have one of the best defensive schemes in the league, so it will be a good test for the Eagles to show what they have left of that 2024 Super Bowl team. I expect a very high-scoring game where Carson Wentz is expected to start and will prove once again that he deserves to lead the team over J.J. McCarthy. In the end, the birds will take this one in a high-scoring thriller, putting them back on the right track for their playoff hopes.

Luca says: The Eagles need to bounce back from disappointing consecutive losses to the Giants and Broncos, and I think they’ll get the job done. Offensive efficiency has been the biggest struggle for the Eagles, as they rank 30th in offensive yards per game and 29th in passing yards per game. While it is still unknown if veteran Carson Wentz or 22-year-old JJ McCarthy will start this one, neither has looked impressive thus far; I expect the Eagles defense to hold strong and carry their team to a W.

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New England Patriots (4-2) at Tennessee Titans (1-5)

Mooti - Patriots

Zach - Titans

Luca - Patriots

Mooti says: As of late, Drake Maye has made a name for himself in New England. His flawless performances in New Orleans and Buffalo have established him as one of the top quarterbacks in the league. On defense, the Patriots have terminated the run game week after week. Even in their week 1 loss to the Raiders, they limited rookie running back Ashton Jeanty to 38 yards. As for Tennessee, rookie quarterback Cam Ward boasts a 3:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. With the firing of head coach Brian Callahan, there is no world in which I see the Titans' offense taking over the game. For now, they sit in a similar situation to that of 2018 rookie quarterback Sam Darnold–hopeless and inefficient.

Zach says: This clash sees the New England Patriots hope to hold their lead in the AFC North over the Buffalo Bills in a game against a dreadful Titans side, who have just fired their coach. A repeated phenomenon in sports called the new manager bounce, where, after a coach or manager is fired, offers a spark of psychological hope in the players' minds. The team feels like a fresh start. As a result, I see the Titans pulling through this game. The Patriots weren’t able to put away the New Orleans Saints in Week 6 as effortlessly as they were predicted to, and I believe this will leak into Week 7, where the Titans will have a surprising upset win.

Luca says: The Titans are bottom 10 in both total offensive yards and defensive yards allowed, and they have losses to the 2-4 Raiders and 2-3 Texans. Rookie QB Cam Ward has a depressing QBR of 24.7 (33rd in the league, and there are only 32 teams), and he isn’t being helped by the Titans’ abysmal offensive line. Combine that with the Patriots’ 2-game winning streak (including a victory over the then-undefeated Bills) and great quarterback play from Drake Maye, and the Patriots should win this one decisively.

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Carolina Panthers (3-3) at New York Jets (0-6)

Mooti - Panthers 

Zach - Jets

Luca - Jets

Mooti says: After Panthers running back Chubba Hubbard’s unfortunate injury from week 5, they have become more dominant than ever. Running back Rico Dowdle collected over 200 all-purpose yards in his first two starts. If the Panthers bench Dowdle, there is no surprise they will still pull off the win, as Jets quarterback Justin Fields recorded an embarrassing 40 passing yards last week. Although it was against Denver’s star-studded defense, their No. 1 receiver, Garrett Wilson, will sit out this week’s matchup due to a knee injury. I expect the total score to remain low, but believe the Panthers’ offense will outperform New York.

Zach says: People have been suspecting the Jets of becoming the first 0-17 team in NFL history. While this is absurd to think about, it’s not out of the question. The Jets have had discipline issues as they have amassed 44 penalties in only 6 games. However, if there is a game for New York to win, this is the one. The Panthers have one of the worst passing offenses in the league and have to rely on Rico Dowdle in the rushing game too much. When people see two bad teams facing off, they expect a low-scoring, boring game, but I’m expecting a thriller of a game with over 55 total points scored. The fright of a winless season will end Sunday for the Jets in a game where their offense will magically come together and the whole team will play in harmony with minimal flags, instilling hope in them for next week's faceoff against Cincinnati.

Luca says: I expect this to be a low-scoring, close game. The Jets showed promise in a Week 1 thriller against the Steelers and have faced a very tough schedule so far; that being said, they are also dead last in offensive efficiency rankings with a pitiful 144 yards per game. However, the Panthers have one of the league’s worst pass rushes, hopefully giving Justin Fields the time he needs to deliver the Jets to a W. I’m not confident with this one, but I have the Jets by 3.

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Miami Dolphins (1-5) at Cleveland Browns (1-5)

Mooti - Dolphins

Zach - Dolphins

Luca - Browns

Mooti says: In what is likely the most boring matchup of the week, the Browns have shown themselves to be one of the worst teams in the league. Statistically, they have produced the worst scoring offense in the league, with Miami not far at the bottom of other offensive ranking lists. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been struggling to produce big offensive plays. I worry he will implode later in the game. However, I am confident that receiving threats like De’Von Achane and Jaylen Waddle will aid Tagovailoa in this AFC battle.

Zach says: All the talk for Miami has been about Tua Tugovailova’s lack of accountability and questionable “player meetings”. The offense has still been incredibly inefficient, and Tua has been playing horrifically, but I believe the Browns' offense is just even worse. Dillon Gabriel stepped in somewhat smoothly in Week 5 against the Vikings, but had a rough week against a tough Pittsburgh defense. Miami will check it down for Achane over and over, and I expect him to have a massive game even against a tough Browns defense. The Dolphins got this one only because I don’t believe the Browns will be able to score more than 10 points.

Luca says: With week 1 starter Joe Flacco now on the Bengals, the Browns have rookie QB Dillon Gabriel at the helm for week 7. Even though he posted just a 37.2 QBR last week against the Steelers, I think Gabriel will show improvement this week against this bottom-3 Dolphins defense. With Tyreek Hill out for the season and Tua Tagovailoa struggling for the once explosive Dolphins offense, I think the Browns should pull out the win at home.

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New Orleans Saints (1-5) at Chicago Bears (3-2)

Mooti - Bears

Zach -Bears

Luca - Bears

Mooti says: Over the past few weeks, the Saints have immensely struggled on offense. Costly 4th quarter turnovers and inconsistent defense have earned them their 5 losses. Meanwhile, sophomore Caleb Williams has blossomed into a franchise quarterback after an impressive 3 game win streak. I expect this game to stay competitive until the 3rd quarter, then Chicago to make the final key plays on offense.

Zach says: After a gritty win on a wet, windy night in Landover over a crafty Washington team, the Bears will cruise into this one a little overconfident and drop to their opponents' level. Rattler has gotten a bit better, but at the end of the day, he’s still incredibly mid and doesn’t know how to win games. While I believe the game will be closer than the 5.5 spread in favor of the Bears, Chicago will pull through with a win in a tight game. 

Luca says: Caleb Williams has looked solid for the Bears thus far under first-year head coach Ben Johnson. The Saints, on the other hand, are bottom 10 in offensive and defensive yards per game and have not looked great, although they did show signs of life at the end of last week’s game against the Patriots. I think the Bears' defense (which has struggled as of late) will do just enough to keep Spencer Rattler’s offense off the board and Caleb Williams will put together another solid performance. I have the Bears by 7. 

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Las Vegas Raiders (2-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (3-3)

Mooti - Chiefs

Zach - Chiefs

Luca - Chiefs

Mooti says: Despite their first 3 losses, the Chiefs look ready to take on any team as they’re fresh off a Sunday night win against Detroit. The Raiders have struggled immensely on the receiving end as phenom tight end Brock Bowers has not started since week 4. With Rashee Rice coming back from a six-week suspension, the Chiefs should blow out Las Vegas’s mediocre defense. 

Zach says: This divisional matchup doesn’t need much introduction. Geno Smith showed flashes of promise in Seattle during the 2024 season, but in Vegas, he seems to be throwing interceptions every game. Jeanty has been solid behind his line, but that won’t be nearly enough to run effectively against Kansas City. Steve Spagnuolo always has his defense well-prepared for gameday, and this one should be no different. I expect a convincing Chiefs win in Rashee Rice’s comeback game.

Luca says: The Chiefs are coming off a statement win against an excellent Lions team, and the Raiders have lost 4 of their last 5. It seems that the Chiefs' sluggish start is completely in the rearview now, as Patrick Mahomes has found his rhythm as of late. I have the Chiefs winning this one in a dominant fashion, although I predict Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty will have another solid game.

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Indianapolis Colts (5-1) at Los Angeles Chargers (4-2)

Mooti - Colts

Zach - Chargers

Luca - Colts

Mooti says: Daniel Jones has everything to prove in this game. After a slew of easy matchups against the Titans, the Raiders, and the Dolphins, the Chargers are the second offensively competitive team he will have to play this season. As the Colts have rallied behind a solid defensive secondary for their best franchise start since 2009, I expect Herbert to collapse in the fourth quarter.

Zach says: After a surprisingly strong start to the Colts' season, they struggled against 2nd string Jacoby Brissett filling in for Kyler Murray in Week 6 vs the Cardinals. The Colts' defense ball out when playing bad offenses, resulting in Cam Bynum leading a dance routine in the endzone almost every week, but they won’t be dancing this week. Justin Herbert will abuse his variety of passing options, and the Colts defense will struggle. Jonathon Taylor will have a very mediocre performance with inefficient running numbers, and Daniel Jones will come back to Earth and turn into an interception machine.

Luca says: The Chargers are a defensive-first team, while the Colts have the #1 scoring offense in football. This should be a hard-fought battle with each team contrasting each other’s specialties well. I believe this game will come down to quarterback play, and through six weeks, Daniel Jones has played slightly better than Justin Herbert. It's a toss-up, but I have the Colts.

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New York Giants (2-4) at Denver Broncos (4-2)

Mooti - Broncos

Zach - Giants

Luca - Broncos

Mooti says: The Broncos defense has shut down everyone. On track to break the 1985 Bears’ single-season sack record, I expect them to demolish New York’s entertaining Dart-led offense. Cam Skattebo should remain productive, but after losing Malik Nabers, Jaxson Dart will implode in the passing game against the league’s most decorated defense. 

Zach says: When it comes to football, there is so much more to the game than numbers and rosters. The Giants possess an energy that is unmatched by any other team in the league. To see the fright of the team when Jaxson Dart went into the blue tent for an injury checkup shows how much they trust this young guy. Skattebo runs with so much passion, and even while facing a top-notch Denver defense, he will score 2+ touchdowns. The Broncos' offense has been very mediocre in my eyes, and this whole Giants team now has hope, and they will continue their momentum in a stunning victory against the Broncos.

Luca says: Rookie QB Jaxson Dart will face his toughest test yet against the Broncos defense, the clear-cut best unit in the league. Cam Skattebo, who has been a revelation for the Giants, will have his hands full against Nik Bonnito and the Broncos’ stacked secondary. I predict that Bo Nix will thrive against the Giants’ poor defense, and Jaxson Dart won’t be able to keep up; Broncos by 7. 

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Green Bay Packers (3-1-1) at Arizona Cardinals (2-4)

Mooti - Packers

Zach - Packers

Luca - Packers

Mooti says: The loss of Kyler Murray has plagued the Cardinals for some time now. Along with James Connor’s season-long absence and Marvin Harrison Jr.’s underwhelming performances, the Cardinals have crushed most pre-season expectations. Josh Jacobs and the Packers’ offense should pull away with the win.

Zach says: With Kyler Murray set to return from injury this week, possibly, the Cardinals will get destroyed no matter who’s at QB. I’m expecting a similar game from Green Bay to their Week 2 win vs Washington, where the offense is flowing and the D takes care of business with plenty of sacks and takeaways. The Cardinals are so mediocre and fail to bring consistency to the field, so you never know what to expect, but I know what’s coming this week.

Luca says: Through the first two weeks of the season, Jordan Love and the Packers looked like the best team in the league; since then, it’s been shaky. After a terrible loss in Cleveland in a depressing 13-10 game, the Packers rebounded with a win against the struggling Bengals last week. I expect them to ride that momentum to a relatively easy victory against a weak Cardinals team. 

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Washington Commanders (3-3) at Dallas Cowboys (2-3-1)

Mooti - Cowboys

Zach - Cowboys

Luca - Cowboys

Mooti says: As fantastical as it sounds, the Cowboys' #1 offense and #32 defense will likely win, in what should be a high-scoring game. Both teams have subpar defenses and look to come back from disappointing one-score losses.

Zach says: This is a tough game to pick a winner because both sides have shown sparks of what they could be, but fail to do it consistently. Dallas has absolutely no defense, but the explosiveness of their pass attack creates space and flexibility for the run game to thrive. George Pickens has been a star so far this season in the absence of Ceedee Lamb, and many suspect his role will decline with Lamb's return, but I completely disagree. I’m expecting a dynamic pass offense where the defense will have to pick their poison, but will not be able to stop both of these two talented receivers. The Commanders' offense struggled in Week 6 and doesn’t seem to have that same 4th quarter winning ability as last season. This will be a high-scoring close game, but Dallas will come on top.

Luca says: The Cowboys have the #1 offense in the league in yards per game and the #3 offense in points per game. The Commanders, on the other hand, have a bottom-5 defense and are coming off a deflating loss to the Bears. I expect the Cowboys to dominate this game offensively and keep Jayden Daniels’ offense from scoring a ton; Cowboys by 10.

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Atlanta Falcons (3-2) at San Francisco 49ers (4-2)

Mooti - Falcons

Zach - Falcons

Luca - Falcons

Mooti says: With a top 10 running back and wide receiver on offense, the Falcons should continue their powerful performance headed into week 7.

Zach says: I am a Brock Purdy hater. Mac Jones is clearly the better QB, at least for this offense, and I just know Purdy will be throwing interceptions and have some sort of injury as an excuse, forcing him to come out. The Atlanta offense is coming off a dominant win against a Super Contender, the Buffalo Bills, and will continue their momentum, tearing apart this short-staffed 49ers defense, which just lost Fred Warner, who was the only guy holding that side of the field together. San Francisco will struggle on both ends of the ball, and Bijan will have another big game, giving the Falcons a large margin of victory.

Luca says: The San Francisco 49ers’ injuries are stacking up, and losing Fred Warner is a huge hit for them; Falcons by 3. 

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) at Detroit Lions (4-2)

Mooti - Buccaneers

Zach - Lions

Luca - Buccaneers

Mooti says: In what should be a competitive showing of offensive prowess, I expect Baker Mayfield to add on to his MVP-caliber year. Though the Lions took a step back defensively last week, I expect them to challenge the Bucs as they lose by 3 points.

Zach says: Two great teams are facing up. Many believe that since the Bucs beat the Lions last year in one of Detroit's few losses in their stellar 2024 season, they will do it again. However, this is not the case. The Lions' defense will finally show up when it matters and hold off one of Baker Mayfield's potential game-winning drives, earning the Lions a big win.

Luca says: Baker Mayfield is in MVP form, and the Buccaneers are riding high after two strong wins against the Seahawks and the 49ers; their only loss this season came against the 4-2 Eagles, who beat them 31-25 in week 4. The Lions, a strong contender themselves, are coming off a big loss to the surging Chiefs and will look to get back on track this Sunday. I expect this to be a close game, but I have the Bucs by 3. 

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Houston Texans (2-3) at Seattle Seahawks (4-2)

Mooti - Seahawks

Zach - Seahawks

Luca - Seahawks

Mooti says: This pick is simple. One of the most injury-prone offenses in Houston versus the dominant Seahawks defense. I expect Sam Darnold to depend on deep balls to top wideout Jaxson Smith-Njigba, in what should be a comfortable win.

Zach says: The Texans have one of the best defenses in the league, so it will be interesting to see how this turns out for the Seahawks' efficient offense. The Houston run game hasn’t been the same without Joe Mixon, and they’ve yet to find their main RB1 replacement for him. This feels like the type of game where Seattle plays down to Houston's level, but that won’t stop them from coming out with a victory.

Luca says: Ever since his rookie season, QB CJ Stroud hasn’t been the same, and as a result, his Texans squad looks to be one of the worst teams in the league this year. The Seahawks are coming off a strong win against the 4-2 Jaguars and should easily be able to keep the momentum up with this one; Seahawks by 14.