The NFL regular season is a third of the way completed. Week 6 wrapped up on Monday night with a Bills win over the Jets in the Meadowlands and sets the stage for Week 7, which begins with Thursday Night Football. The Broncos and Saints are the first game of the week and is followed by an exciting Sunday slate of games with a doubleheader on Monday Night Football. There’s so much to cover about Week 6 and what to watch for in Week 7, so let’s jump right in.
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Week 6 Storylines
From a game in London to a 38-point blowout in Dallas, Week 6 had it all. There is a lot to cover from the week and a lot to look forward to in Week 7, so let’s dive into some of the biggest takeaways from Week 6.
Lions embarrass Cowboys in Dallas
Is it time to panic in Dallas? Dak Prescott and the Cowboys were embarrassed on their own field as they lost 47-9 to the Lions. Fans were booing for nearly the entire game and tensions started to rise on the Cowboys sideline. The game got so out of hand that the Lions started to throw touchdown passes to their offensive linemen since David Montgomery, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta and Jameson Williams had already scored. The loss marked the Cowboys’ third loss at home this season which means they have not won a game in Dallas since December 30, 2023.
Saints lose fourth straight after 2-0 start
Derek Carr and the Saints were undefeated after two weeks, but things have taken a turn for the worse. New Orleans has lost 4 straight games since their 2-0 start and Derek Carr’s return to the field still seems uncertain. Carr suffered an injury in Week 5 against the Chiefs so Spencer Rattler made his first career start on Sunday against the Buccaneers. Rattler threw for 243 yards and a touchdown, but he was just 22 for 40 and tossed 2 interceptions. In the end, the Saints lost 51-27 as Baker Mayfield dominated from the jump. Things are beginning to look bleak in New Orleans.
Drake Maye era off to a rocky start
It was the start of a new era in New England on Sunday. Jacoby Brissett had led the Patriots to a 1-4 record in the first five weeks of the season and Jerod Mayo decided it was time for a change. The Patriots started their third overall pick from this year’s NFL Draft, Drake Maye. The rookie quarterback completed 20 of his 33 passes for 243 yards and tossed three touchdown passes. However, he also threw two interceptions and took four sacks. That led to the Texans winning 41-21 in Maye’s debut. There are plenty of silver linings from the loss and Maye’s next chance for a win will come this week in London against the Jaguars.
Week 7 Headlines
A lot happened in Week 6 that is going to affect Week 7. Plus, we have our first big trade of the season as Davante Adams has been traded from the Raiders. Here are three of the biggest things to look for in Week 7.
Davante Adams reunited with Aaron Rodgers
Davante Adams wanted out of Las Vegas and it took less than two weeks for his wish to be granted. The Raiders traded Adams to reunite with Aaron Rodgers in New York for a conditional 3rd-round pick. Adams had missed the last 2 games due to a hamstring injury but could return for New York’s Week 7 game. If he does, the Jets’ offense will now have Adams, Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard and Breece Hall. Is that going to be enough to turn around their 2-4 start? We’ll find out on Sunday Night Football when the Jets travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers.
A Super Bowl rematch in San Francisco
Arguably the biggest game in Week 7 is the Super Bowl rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are a perfect 5-0 while Brock Purdy and the Niners have dealt with some injuries and are just 3-3 after six games. But for the first time this season, the Chiefs are underdogs. Kansas City is +1.5 against the 49ers in Week 7 as the Chiefs face their toughest task yet. Can Mr. Irrelevant be the man that ends Kansas City’s perfect season?
Baker Mayfield vs Lamar Jackson on Monday Night Football
This week’s edition of Monday Night Football is a doubleheader with action in Tampa and Phoenix. The Buccaneers are hosting the Ravens at 8:15 PM ET and the Cardinals welcome the Chargers for a 9:00 PM ET kickoff. The battle between Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield has gathered plenty of attention, since both teams are 4-2 and have extremely dangerous offenses. Even with the Bucs’ 51-point showing in Week 6, they are 3.5-point underdogs on Monday night. Can Mayfield and the Bucs snap Baltimore’s four-game win streak?
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NFL Week 7 Best Bets
It’s never too early to lock in some NFL best bets before the lines move. Here are two of our favorite picks for Week 7, with one pick on Sunday Night Football and the other on Monday Night Football.
Jets -1.5 over Steelers (-110)
Aaron Rodgers and the Jets nearly completed the upset against Josh Allen and the Bills on Monday night, but a miscommunication between Rodgers and Mike Williams on the final play of the game ended that dream. Plus, Greg Zuerlein missed two key field goals in the second half which would have given them the lead. On the bright side, Breece Hall finally broke out of his slump and Davante Adams could be joining the offense on Sunday.
Justin Fields has done a fantastic job in the first third of the season. He’s led the Steelers to a 4-2 record through six weeks but his reward might be getting benched. Russell Wilson finally appears to be ready to return from his calf injury and could start on Sunday night. If he does, the Jets have a huge advantage since Wilson has had zero game situations to create chemistry with his receivers. And going against one of the best secondaries in football won’t be an easy start for Wilson either. I would take the Jets up to a field goal if Adams is able to make his Jets debut.
Buccaneers +3.5 over Ravens (-110)
Baker Mayfield and the Bucs have quietly been one of the best teams in football this year. Tampa Bay is 4-2 with their only losses coming from the Broncos and the Falcons. It’s a bit of a head-scratcher to see those are the teams the Bucs have lost to considering they’ve beaten the Commanders, Lions, Eagles and Saints. Regardless, Mayfield has been extremely effective with Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, while Bucky Irving looks set to be a star out of the backfield. They’ve proven they can hang with the best and that’s what they’ll need to do on Monday.
Baltimore has won four games in a row since their 0-2 start. Lamar Jackson and company have beaten the Cowboys, Bills, Bengals and Commanders in their last four games and Derrick Henry looks like he’s back in the prime of his career. However, here’s the thing. Five of Baltimore’s six games have been decided by one possession. Three of those five games have come by a field goal. Mayfield and the Bucs should be able to stay competitive in this primetime game, which makes me lean towards them staying within a field goal.
