The Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks have not looked the part of contenders one year after meeting in the NFC championship game.
After Week 7, both teams are on the outside looking in on the way-too-early playoff picture. Will that change in Week 8?
The Rams (2-4) are coming off an 18-16 loss against Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West. Afterward, Los Angeles coach Sean McVay said, “”We won’t win a game unless we figure out how not to beat ourselves.”
The Rams have lost three of their last four games, Myles Garrett is still recovering from a knee injury and now Los Angeles travels to Las Vegas to take on an improved Raiders‘ team.
Seattle (3-3) is back in the Sunday Night Football spotlight against unbeaten Kansas City, and this is a huge game for the Seahawks. Seattle also has lost three of its last four games, and quarterback Sam Darnold has struggled after returning from a hip injury.
San Francisco (6-0) leads the NFC West with an unbeaten record, so it’s on the Rams and Seahawks to catch up now.
S/U: 59-33-1 (9-5 in Week 6)
ATS: 39-53-1 (8-6 in Week 6)
NFL POWER RANKINGS: Rams keep falling, Packers on the rise
NFL picks, predictions for Week 7
All spreads and odds are courtesy of bet365 Sportsbook.
All prediction market implied probabilities are from ProphetX. ProphetX displays market percentages instead of betting odds. The percentages reflect the collective implied probability of an event.
Patriots (+2.5) over BEARS
Thursday, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video
This is a solid Thursday Night Football game. Caleb Williams is coming off a 305–yard performance in his return from a hamstring injury. Drake Maye has 10 TDs and one interception through a three-game win streak. Both teams have top-10 statistical defenses, too. New England has allowed more than 100 rushing yards one time this season. If that holds, a road upset is possible.
Steelers (-2.5) over SAINTS
Sunday, 9:30 a.m., NFL Network
Mr. Rodgers goes to Paris. Aaron Rodgers averages 40 pass attempts the last three weeks for the Steelers, but he’s also taken 11 sacks in that stretch. Can the Saints heat up the quarterback? That makes this a tough-to-call game if the Steelers cannot generate a better running game behind Rodgers. Underdogs are 4-1 ATS in the International Series the last three weeks. We still trust Rodgers here.
Pick: Steelers 28, Saints 24
49ers (-4.5) over FALCONS
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
San Francisco is working off a short week, but Brock Purdy continues to play at an MVP level and the defense has forced six turnovers in road games this season. Atlanta is 0-3 ATS at home this season with Michael Penix Jr., and turnovers shouldering the blame. How much will Atlanta slow the game down with Bijan Robinson?
VIKINGS (-5.5) over Colts
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Colts had issues protecting Daniel Jones against the Titans in Week 6. That won’t get any easier against Minnesota in Week 7. The Vikings will turn up the pressure with Dallas Turner, who has 5.5 sacks. Kyler Murray had a 76.2% completion percentage in two starts with the Vikings before the bye week, and Minnesota is 1-1 ATS at home.
Pick: Vikings 28, Colts 18
Dolphins (+5.5) over JETS
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Dolphins are one of two winless teams remaining and had a bye week to prepare for the Jets, who have allowed just 16 points per game at home. New York misses Breece Hall (quad), who could lift a rushing attack that averages 94.5 yards per game. The Dolphins have won five of the last six meetings.
Pick: Jets 21, Dolphins 17
Browns (-1.5) over TITANS
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Browns unpredictable season continues on the road. Cleveland ranks eighth in the NFL in pass defense (205.2 ypg.), and Cam Ward has passed for more than 200 yards in only one game this season. Deshaun Watson has been sacked a league-high 24 times, and the Titans had six sacks in Week 6.
Pick: Browns 19, Titans 16
PANTHERS (-3.5) over Buccaneers
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
Jalon Daniels is getting better with each start, and Baker Mayfield (thumb) remains out with an injury. The Panthers are at home, however, where Bryce Young averages 345 passing yards per game with five TDs and one interception. The Panthers won both meetings last season by a combined total of five points. Don’t let this line creep up too much more.
Pick: Panthers 31, Buccaneers 19
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Bengals (+2.5) over RAVENS
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Will Lamar Jackson (ankle) return for the AFC North showdown with the Bengals? Cincinnati is coming off a bye week. Cincinnati is 2-4 S/U with Joe Burrow as the starter in road games at Baltimore, and the Bengals rank 27th in the NFL in rushing yards at 82.8 yards per game. Baltimore will counter with Derrick Henry, and this has the feel of the wildest game in the early window.
Pick: Bengals 29, Ravens 27
Giants (+8.5) at TEXANS
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
The JJ McCarthy era appears to have arrived for the Giants – and he will fittingly match up against former Ohio State QB CJ Stroud, whom he beat when he was at Michigan in 2022. The Texans have pieced together a two-game winning streak, but they have allowed three 300-yard games this season. The Giants are a chaos team and are 3-2 ATS as an underdog. This is the largest spread this season. With Houston coming off the London trip, this one will be tight.
Pick: Texans 30, Giants 23
MORE: NFC East on verge of bleak record with Eagles, Giants, Cowboys
Broncos (-4.5) over CARDINALS
Sunday, 4;05 p.m., CBS
The Cardinals are 0-2 S/U with two blowout losses at home, but they showed their unpredictability with the victory against the Rams. Denver’s offense is struggling around Bo Nix, but the defense continues to generate sacks and turnovers. Arizona could sneak in a late cover, but we think Nix gets the Broncos on track. Denver is 4-0 S/U in one-score games.
Pick: Broncos 28, Cardinals 23
LIONS (-3.5) over Packers
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., Fox
NFC North rivals have issues that collide. Green Bay continues to struggle to run the football, but Jordan Love could torch the league’s worst pass defense with receivers Christian Watson and Matthew Golden. Jahmyr Gibbs presents a challenge for the Packers’ run defense, which has been suspect. Expect Detroit to heat up the pass rush, too. This feels like a potential shootout.
Pick: Lions 34, Packers 28
RAIDERS (+5.5) over Rams
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., Fox
The Rams continue a tough schedule on the road, where the Raiders have lost three-point games to the Chiefs and Bills. Kirk Cousins continues to target tight end Brock Bowers in bulk. The Raiders have struggled to stop the run the last two weeks. Matthew Stafford averages 353.5 passing yards in two road games, but he also has four interceptions in those games.
Pick: Rams 26, Raiders 23
MORE: Five ways Sean McVay has been failing the Rams
CHIEFS (+2.5) over Seahawks
Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC
The Seahawks are at .500, and they average two turnovers per game. Sam Darnold hasn’t been as efficient in his last three starts, and the Chiefs are willing to play a ball-control game around Kenneth Walker III, who leads the NFL with 665 rushing yards and six TDs. Will there be some vintage Patrick Mahomes magic late in what should be a tight finish? We’ll take the Chiefs in a rare underdog spot.
Pick: Chiefs 23, Seahawks 21
EAGLES (+4.5) over Cowboys
Monday, 8:15 p.m., ESPN
The Eagles have scored 20 points or less in each of their last four games, and backup quarterback Tanner McKee did not have much run support in Week 6. Will Saquon Bakerly return from a hamstring injury? Dallas also is a mess. The defense looked better against Green Bay, but the offense flopped around Dak Prescott. Which desperate team wants it more? The Eagles are 0-3 ATS at home.
Pick: Cowboys 23, Eagles 20
