NFL Week 7 picks: Bengals topple Ravens, Vikings remain undefeated
With @schedulerelease, we’re on to our second set of predictions in Week 7. In Week 6, I went 8-5, while @schedulerelease went 6-7. We’ll look to keep it going, from the Patriots and Bears to the Cowboys and Eagles.
All lines via DraftKings. All times ET.
TNF: New England Patriots (4-2) vs. Chicago Bears (4-2)
Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video
Line: Chicago -3, O/U 50.5
One of the best games of the week, and the Thursday Night Football slate is getting into excellent territory. Caleb Williams looked pristine against the Falcons last week, running a perfection drill until his thirteenth pass attempt. Drake Maye added three more touchdowns to what is an improving resume after a disastrous three-game start. If the Chicago offense had lost a step against Atlanta, I’d pick New England here, but I think Williams keeps the Bears rolling on a short week. D’Andre Swift adds two touchdowns as well.
Brandon’s pick: Bears 34, Patriots 28
The Patriots’ offensive line is beat up, but the Bears’ defensive line is missing pieces as well. While the Bears’ plan to blitz worked pretty well last week against Penix, it won’t against Maye. I expect Drake Maye to take a lot of deep shots and rack up a lot of yards in the air. They should also be able to run the ball fairly decently. On the other side, Chicago’s offense with Caleb Williams healthy looked to be back to their dominant form, dominating time of possession against Atlanta with over 40 minutes. While I think they can move the ball well, I don’t think they’ll be able to sustain as long of drives against this New England defense. I’ll take the Patriots to win in what would be the fifth straight upset on Thursday Night Football.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Patriots 30, Bears 27.
Paris: Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) vs. New Orleans Saints (2-4)
Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET on NFL Network
Line: Pittsburgh -3.5, O/U 44.5
This is a weird game between two wholly unpredictable teams. The Steelers, fresh off a double-digit victory against the Colts, nearly lost to the Jalon Daniels-led Buccaneers in overtime. Meanwhile, the Saints always seem to have a lull in the first half of each game they play, only to pick it back up in the second half. Jordyn Tyson is being shipped to Paris with the team in a sign that he may make his season debut. I’ll take New Orleans because I believe the offense emerges a bit earlier on European time.
Brandon’s pick: Saints 26, Steelers 23
The NFL’s first ever regular season game in France will be a good one, but I see the Steelers prevailing here. Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle should be able to get some more rhythm this week against a weak Saints run defense. Additionally, the Steelers’ pass rush should get home against a Saints offensive line that is still dealing with some injuries. The Saints are a sneaky team, but the Steelers feel much more talented on both sides of the ball here.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Steelers 27, Saints 17
San Francisco 49ers (6-0) vs. Atlanta Falcons (2-4)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX
Line: San Francisco -3, O/U 50.5
The biggest question mark for me in this game is Mike Evans. With the virtual entirety of the receiving corps injured for San Francisco, it’s hard for me to see an offensive game plan for the 49ers when one’s starting wide receivers are Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins. If Evans plays, however (and I’m assuming he does, because he’s Superman apparently), the 49ers will win this game. The Falcons are good and growing, but I think in a shootout — which this game will be — the quarterback playing like the MVP right now wins.
Brandon’s pick: 49ers 34, Falcons 26
Both of these teams had rollercoaster games in Week 6. The 49ers put up a statement in the first half against Washington, but their offense fell completely flat in the second half after Mike Evans went down with an injury. The Falcons were close to pulling off a major comeback in a game where they barely possessed the ball and fumbled three times. I expect Atlanta to commit to running the ball more in this game, something that they should have last week against Chicago. Atlanta feels due for a win and San Francisco feels due for a loss. Even though the 49ers are missing practically their entire receiving core, I think Shanahan will generate a good game plan around Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle. This is also a Raheem Morris revenge game, so the 49ers’ defense, potentially getting Dre Greenlaw and Nick Bosa back, will be ready against Morris’s former team.
@schedulerelease’s pick: 49ers 23, Falcons 20
Cleveland Browns (4-2) vs. Tennessee Titans (1-5)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Line: Cleveland -1.5, O/U 38.5
4-2 would be an appropriate record for the Browns, save for their quarterback. Deshaun Watson has been passable through the first six weeks of the season, but at the end of the day, he has not done well enough to elevate this offense to the heights it is capable of with all its young playmakers. At some point, Cleveland’s offense will run into a brick wall, and the time for a change will come. It won’t be this week against a disastrous Titans team, however. Make no mistake, despite Tennessee’s win against the Colts this past week, they’re among the bottom feeders of the NFL.
Brandon’s pick: Browns 19, Titans 13
The Titans finally got a win! The defense and special teams stepped up in key moments, forcing six sacks and two interceptions and returning a blocked punt for a touchdown, however, they vastly got outplayed overall. They managed just 186 yards of offense, 11 first downs, and 21 a half minutes of possession, while the Colts nearly doubled them in all three of those stats. That is not a sustainable way of winning games in the NFL, and I still view them as a bottom 3 team. The Browns continue to pull off close wins against good teams, thanks to their much improved defense and an offense that makes just enough plays to win games. Give me the Browns.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Browns 20, Titans 10
Indianapolis Colts (2-4) vs. Minnesota Vikings (5-0)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Line: Minnesota -6.5, O/U 41.5
I’m on an island here, but I actually think the Colts are a good team. They have all the pieces, and for some reason, it’s not meshing. Part of that is due to Daniel Jones, who has not made the plays he’s needed to make after coming back from an Achilles tear. The vast majority of it, however, falls on coaching. Shane Steichen and Lou Anarumo have avoided responsibility thus far, and while general manager Chris Ballard was fired after ten years at the helm, I think we see a full brain trust reset at the end of the year. Minnesota remains undefeated, but it’s closer than you’d expect.
Brandon’s pick: Vikings 20, Colts 17
While the Vikings feel due for a loss, they are coming off a bye week and are looking to stack another win before their schedule becomes extremely difficult over the course of November. The Colts are being bashed by the media for losing at home to the Titans, but I still think they largely showed they were the better team and the loss was fluky. One matchup to watch is the Vikings’ defense against Daniel Jones and the Colts’ offense. I expect Jones to be under pressure the whole game and he could be forced into some mistakes. I also think the Vikings’ offense will be able to move the ball against a bad Colts defense that is dealing with a few key injuries. Give me the Vikings to go to 6-0.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Vikings 28, Colts 20
Miami Dolphins (0-5) vs. New York Jets (2-4)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Line: New York -4.5, O/U 38.5
The Jets, for all the hate they receive, have been surprisingly resilient this year. New York is 2-4, but you wouldn’t know it from their play on the field. The offense is disjointed but full of talent, and the defense has outplayed its potential. Meanwhile, the Dolphins have been a mess, but intentionally so. This is a rebuild for 2027 (really, 2028). The Jets win and continue to build their resume.
Brandon’s pick: Jets 34, Dolphins 18
The Dolphins seem to have owned the Jets in recent years. There is a lot to like about Miami in this spot, as they’re coming off a bye and have looked more and more competitive in each game they’ve played. However, the Jets have some really solid, young pieces and they’ve played much better at home than on the road. I’ll take the Jets here.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Jets 24, Dolphins 20
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5) vs. Carolina Panthers (3-2)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Line: Carolina -3.5, O/U 44.5
I’m going into this game expecting that Baker Mayfield won’t play, even though betting markets seem to believe that he will. Jalon Daniels has been serviceable, even good to an extent, but in a shootout, he doesn’t have the requisite experience. Bryce Young has grown into his role, and Carolina is dangerous atop the NFC South. The Panthers win and continue to make a statement in the NFC.
Brandon’s pick: Panthers 27, Buccaneers 16
The Panthers have a 1.5-game lead in the NFC South heading into Week 7 and they could gain even more ground with a win against their division rivals this week. The Buccaneers looked on their way to an upset victory last week before some key mistakes and drives allowed in the 4th quarter took their game into overtime. They should be getting Baker Mayfield back, too. Ultimately, I’m going to take Carolina to win the home matchup between these two this year. Bryce Young has played so well and I think they can control the game more than Tampa Bay can.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Panthers 21, Buccaneers 19
Cincinnati Bengals (3-2) vs. Baltimore Ravens (4-2)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Line: Baltimore -3, O/U 51.5
The biggest question: where on Earth is Lamar Jackson? If he plays, this is the game of the week, but if he doesn’t, I can’t envision a win for Baltimore. Tyler Huntley is one of the best backups in the league, but going against a revamped Cincinnati defense, the Ravens will need more than that. Joe Burrow has played as well as can be expected to start the season, and assuming Jackson is out, the Bengals earn a massive win in Baltimore.
Brandon’s pick: Bengals 34, Ravens 23
This is the first time since 2021 that the Bengals aren’t playing in primetime for their annual visit to Baltimore. Joe Burrow has had a tough time beating the Ravens throughout his career, but it seems that Lamar Jackson is leaning towards not playing. Expect Chase and Burrow to have a great game off the Bengals’ bye week and for their improved defensive line to cause some struggles for Tyler Huntley.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Bengals 35, Ravens 27
New York Giants (3-2-1) vs. Houston Texans (2-4)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX
Line: Houston -10, O/U 42.5
J.J. McCarthy sighting! The Giants have benched Jameis Winston for the third-year QB out of Michigan, a decision I think will benefit them in the long run. McCarthy is raw but incredibly talented — there’s a reason he was the No. 10 pick just two years ago. Providing him with Malik Nabers and Isaiah Likely should give McCarthy a solid base of playmakers. Unfortunately, Houston’s defense is one of the best in the league. I like the Giants’ hopes for the rest of this season, but they’ll need the bye to reset themselves. This week, it’s too quick of a turnaround, and the Texans win it.
Brandon’s pick: Texans 30, Giants 21
The Giants’ QB situation has been one of the more entertaining storylines of the 2026 NFL season, and the fact that new starter JJ McCarthy was able to put up 243 yards of offense and nearly come back from down 24 in just 11 minutes left in the game is wild. I’m intrigued to see how McCarthy does as the starter against a Houston defense has shown some elite moments even though they are underperforming expectations. I don’t expect McCarthy to generate explosive plays like the ones against New Orleans and he is going to be flustered in the pocket. Meanwhile, CJ Stroud has been playing just as well as his rookie season. I’ll take the Texans.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Texans 27, Giants 17
Denver Broncos (4-2) vs. Arizona Cardinals (2-4)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS
Line: Denver -4.5, O/U 43.5
Not really all that confident in my pick here, but the Broncos’ defense has been ravaged by injuries while their offense has been mostly inept behind the subpar quarterbacking of Bo Nix. The Cardinals haven’t been that much better, but their offense is competent enough with Trey McBride, Michael Wilson, and Jeremiyah Love. I think Denver ekes it out due to Arizona’s red-zone struggles, but I think there’s a pretty massive opportunity for the Cardinals here.
Brandon’s pick: Broncos 27, Cardinals 26
The Broncos’ offense has been awful for a majority of this season outside of two second-half comebacks against the Jaguars and Rams. Other than that, their playcalling has been atrocious, they aren’t able to run the ball well, and Bo Nix is afraid to take hits and throw the ball downfield. They have only converted four of their last 26 third downs across two games against the Chargers and Seahawks. That being said, Arizona is good opponent to get things right against. While they just beat the Rams, they won’t be able to control the ball and sustain long drives against Denver’s stout defense. Give me the Broncos in another ugly one.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Broncos 19, Cardinals 13
Green Bay Packers (4-2) vs. Detroit Lions (3-2)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX
Line: Detroit -3, O/U 53.5
The Packers are, dare I say, good? Jordan Love has figured it out after a very shaky start and Josh Jacobs is on his way back from the commissioner’s exempt list (though he might end up back on it soon enough, anyways). Their defense ranks top in the league in passing yards allowed and points allowed. Meanwhile, the Lions’ defense is non-existent, and Kelvin Sheppard might be shown the door sooner rather than later, which is the difference-maker here for me. This will be a points fiasco, but I think Trey Smack wins it on a walk-off for Green Bay.
Brandon’s pick: Packers 33, Lions 31
The Lions are off a bye, hoping to get back into the race for the divsion title. Green Bay swept them last year and I don’t really see that changing this time around. The Packers will have another great day passing the ball and they should finally be able to run the ball with Josh Jacobs back. The Lions have shown that they are still good, but their offense does not carry the same explosiveness that it did a couple years ago. I trust Matt LaFleur and Jonathan Gannon to have a good game plan on both sides of the ball. Give me the Packers.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Packers 31, Lions 20
Los Angeles Rams (2-4) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (3-3)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX
Line: Los Angeles -4.5, O/U 47.5
The Rams can’t keep losing like this. They’re a theoretical Super Bowl contender, the overwhelming favorites before the season began, and here they are, 2-4, playing atrocious situational football. If the Eagles gain an extra yard in Week 4, Los Angeles is staring down the barrel of 1-5. This is about as must-win as it gets for them, with games against the Chiefs, 49ers, Packers, and Seahawks (twice!) still remaining. Las Vegas is a young and improving team, but still has yet to prove its mettle with close losses to the Chiefs and Bills. I think the Raiders are for real and keep it close, but the Rams need this too much.
Brandon’s pick: Rams 27, Raiders 24
The Rams didn’t just lose to the Cardinals last week; they got completely out-coached and almost looked undermanned on defense. They now have some key injuries to their interior defensive line and receiver, as Kobie Turner, Poona Ford, and Davante Adams will all be out for a significant time. The Raiders have looked like a fringe playoff team, sitting at 3-3 after three straight wins to non-playoff teams then three straight losses to playoff contenders. The Rams are embarrassed to be 2-4 in a season that carried so much hype. I’ll take the Rams to bounce back here, mostly because them being 2-5 does not make sense.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Rams 35, Raiders 24
SNF: Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) vs. Seattle Seahawks (3-3)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock
Line: Seattle -2.5, O/U 42.5
Kenneth Walker, welcome back to Seattle, this time in the backfield of Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs are for real and have proved their talent on both sides of the ball. Steve Spagnuolo has dialed up exquisite coverage at perfect times, bringing back memories of the Chiefs’ 2022 and 2023 defenses. Meanwhile, Mike Macdonald has done the same with Seattle’s defense, but Sam Darnold has fallen apart to begin the year. Nothing on offense is clicking right now, and while the return of Zach Charbonnet will help the Seahawks, Walker will have the last laugh.
Brandon’s pick: Chiefs 29, Seahawks 25
The Chiefs remain undefeated but feel a little bit overrated to me, considering that they have eked out a couple wins against average teams like the Colts and Raiders. If there’s one team to stop them in their tracks right now, it’s Seattle. Without Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton, Seattle’s defense can focus on containing their former teammate, Kenneth Walker. The Seahawks are sitting at .500 at the one-third mark of the season, with most of their losses due to turnovers. Last week, they largely outplayed Denver, but Sam Darnold threw three interceptions that changed the course of the game. I think Darnold will have a better passing day on Sunday Night and hand the Chiefs their first loss.
@schedulerelease’s pick: WT XX, LT XX
MNF: Dallas Cowboys (2-4) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4)
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN
Line: Dallas -4.5, O/U 44.5
Is it fair to say that both these teams are horrible? The NFC East as a whole is just a train wreck. Philadelphia has faced the fallout of their decision to play Jalen Hurts in London after discovering his blood clot in the days prior to kickoff (a questionable decision, to put it diplomatically). Tanner McKee, while serviceable, is not Hurts, and even if he was, this Sean Mannion-led offense is a disaster. Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ offense is an equal disaster, with unfathomable levels of talent across the board but dismal returns. At the end of the day, I trust McKee to score on a horrid Dallas defense, while Dak Prescott will be left to deal with his offense’s discombobulation against a very skilled Eagles lineup.
Brandon’s pick: Eagles 27, Cowboys 19
The Cowboys have disappointed on national television each of these past two weeks with lackluster performances from their offense. On the other hand, the defense looked better in Week 7 at the Packers, outside of letting a few too many third down conversions. The Eagles, on the other hand, generated next to nothing on offense in Tanner McKee’s first start of the year. I’ll take the Cowboys to do just enough and revitalize their campaign to win the division this year.
@schedulerelease’s pick: Cowboys 24, Eagles 13
