The New Orleans Saints hit the road to face the Chicago Bears in Week 7. This game marks the first time the Saints and former Head Coach/current Bears Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen will face each
other since the latter’s firing last season. There are more than a few storylines to follow in this game and despite the Saints record, this game should be worth watching. The Saints may be underdogs in the “Second City” but they don’t intend on coming in second in this game.
Now let’s take a look at this and all of the matchups in Week 7.
Last week, I went 10-5
I told you so: Falcons over Bills.
What do I know: Cowboys over Panthers?
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WEEK 7
Thursday, October 16th – Thursday Night Football
Steelers(4-1) at Bengals(2-4)
Since losing Joe Burrow to injury in Week 2, Cincy’s nosedive has been staggering, while Pittsburgh has been one of the quietest surprises in the league. This matchup of AFC North rivals should be one-sided, but the familiarity of divisional play will keep this one closer than it should be in Cincinnati. Pittsburgh wins 31-29.
Pick: Steelers
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Sunday, October 19th – Very Early Game
Rams(4-2) at* Jaguars(4-2) – Wembley Stadium – London, England
The Rams rebounded nicely with a dominant win in Baltimore last week, and they will continue to impress with a decisive win in London against the Jags.
Los Angeles wins 32-12.
Pick: Rams
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Sunday, October 19th- Early Games
Dolphins(1-5) at Browns(1-5)
Yuck. Cleveland wins 30-10.
Pick: Browns
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Raiders(2-4) at Chiefs(3-3)
Kansas City pulled out of a nosedive with a huge win over Detroit last week, and they will continue to soar against their division rivals in this one. Kansas City wins 23-19.
Pick: Chiefs
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Eagles(4-2) at Vikings(3-2)
Another Super Bowl team in a nosedive is Philly, and they’re going to have to win this game to pull out of it. Minnesota has been arguably the most up-and-down team in the league so far, and they will be just the opponent the Eagles need to get back in the win column. Philadelphia wins 28-17.
Pick: Eagles
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Panthers(3-3) at Jets(0-6)
Yuck again. Carolina wins 27-21.
Pick: Panthers
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Patriots(4-2) at Titans(1-5)
Revenge seems to be a bit of a story this week, and Mike Vrabel will have his revenge on Tennessee. Drake Maye will continue to look like one of the best young QBs in the NFL, against the aimless Titans. New England wins 27-17.
Pick: Patriots
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Saints(1-5) at Bears(3-2)
Revenge is certainly the name of the game in Chicago. The national narrative tells the tale of Dennis Allen looking to exact revenge against the team that fired him a season ago, but the flip side of that is more important, the Saints’ own narrative. It is the narrative of a team left to rot under his leadership since the abandonment by Sean Payton. A team that increasingly became estranged from its leadership under Dennis Allen in the captain’s seat. Now those players that had to struggle with and under Allen get a chance to get the upper hand on him and his defense on the field.
Another bit of vengeance sits with Spencer Rattler, who not only labored under Allen a season ago, but also lost his starting job at Oklahoma four-years ago, to none other than Chicago’s Caleb Williams. To say Rattler would like to outplay Williams would be quite the understatement. Rattler wants to beat Allen, to beat out Williams, to win his first career road game, but he can’t do that alone. It will ultimately be Taysom Hill that makes the biggest impact in this game, coming up with the biggest plays that put the Saints in position to win. Will the Saints exact some “vengeance” in Chicago and beat a favorite on the road? Yes. Yes, they will.
Saints win 26-24.
Pick: Saints
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Sunday, October 19th – Late Games
Giants(2-4) at Broncos(4-2)
Are either of these teams as good as some think they are? This game won’t really provide many answers. This will be an ugly game. Denver wins 19-18.
Pick: Broncos
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Colts(5-1) at Chargers(4-2) – Game of the Week
Indy comes back to SoFi Stadium, where they lost their only game of the season, just three weeks ago. This time, they leave Los Angeles with a win, in a game that will come down to the very last play. Indianapolis wins 27-24.
Pick: Colts
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Packers (3-1-1) at Cardinals(2-4)
Green Bay will continue to get themselves back on track with a convincing win in Arizona. Green Bay wins 29-17.
Pick: Packers
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Commanders(3-3) at Cowboys(2-3-1)
Washington has certainly been one of the most inconsistent teams in the NFL this season, and it is that inconsistency that keeps this NFC East rivalry game closer than it should be. Washington wins 27-25.
Pick: Commanders
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Sunday Night Football
Falcons(3-2) at 49ers(4-2)
Outside of NFC South matchups, Atlanta is undefeated, and the Niners aren’t an NFC South team. Atlanta wins 23-21.
Pick: Falcons
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Monday, October 20th – Monday Night Football Doubleheader
Buccaneers(5-1) at Lions(4-2)
This is definitely the marquee matchup in the NFC this week, but as good as the Lions have been at points this year, the Bucs are a class above them this season. Tampa Bay wins 23-17.
Pick: Buccaneers
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Texans(2-3) at Seahawks(4-2)
Following an 0-3 start, Houston has dominated their opponents over the last two weeks. The only thing is, those two opponents are two of the worst teams in the league, Seattle is a much, much tougher opponent, and they will show it here. Seattle wins 29-23.
Pick: Seahawks
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That’s how I see Week 7 shaping up. Leave us your picks, comments, and insight below!
