Jaguars avoid OT on TNF. Plus, Week 7 game picks and fantasy advice
Welcome to Week 7 in the NFL. The Jacksonville Jaguars have joined the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins as the AFC's lone five-win teams (yes, we know, the Chiefs and Dolphins haven't played yet 😏).
Previously on NFL: Jacksonville Jaguars 31, New Orleans Saints 24 — Trevor Lawrence played, despite an ailing knee. Now the Jaguars quarterback gets some extra rest days before his team's Week 8 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Jaguars probably should have blown out the Saints, who managed to get back into this one and even had a chance to force overtime.
Game of the week: Miami Dolphins at Philadelphia Eagles — Is this a Super Bowl 58 preview? Both teams are trending toward deep January playoff runs. However, on "Sunday Night Football," the pregame hype will surround the quarterbacks: the Eagles' Jalen Hurts and Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa. The two go head-to-head for the first time in the NFL but will be forever linked due to their overlapping collegiate tenures at Alabama. If you recall, it was Hurts who was benched in favor of Tagovailoa in Alabama's dramatic overtime victory over Georgia in the 2018 national championship game.
Sneaky-good game of the week: Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens — Could this also be a Super Bowl 58 preview? 🤷♂️ That might be a stretch, given that the Lions have never reached the Super Bowl, have only played in the conference championship game once and are generations removed from the franchise's 1950s heyday. Still, the Lions enter this inter-conference showdown tied for the best record in the NFC. The Ravens pose a great challenge, however, with a game-plan wrecking pass rush that is tied for the NFL lead in sacks (24) and could make Jared Goff's afternoon a long one.
Survivor Pool Game of the Week: Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks — Outside of a shocking win over the Cowboys in Week 3, the Cardinals have teetered on that fine line between somewhat respectable and being in full-on tank mode for USC's Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Caleb Williams (or, UNC's Drake Maye if enough folks convince themselves he's the top guy). The Seahawks, meanwhile, are an ugly loss in Cincinnati away from being a half game behind the division-leading 49ers. The Seahawks have won the last three times against the Cardinals, and four of the last five matchups. Expect that trend to continue Sunday. (Previous survivor pool picks - Week 1: Ravens ✅, Week 2: 49ers ✅, Week 3: Chiefs ✅, Week 4: Eagles ✅, Week 5: Dolphins ✅, Week 6: Bills ✅)
➤ PHOTOS: Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games
NFL Week 7: Pigskin prognostications
- Week 7 picks: Paste BN Sports' panel of football experts has provided fans with the great public service of making prognostications for every game this weekend.
- Lorenzo's Locks: Find out why Paste BN Sports' Lorenzo Reyes is high on a trio of road teams this week.
- NFL Week 7 betting odds: Which teams are favored this week? If you’re new to sports betting, don’t worry. We have tips for beginners on how to place bets online.
- Power rankings: See how all 32 teams stack up heading into Week 7.
NFL news, notes and analysis
- Ranking all 32 teams' throwback and alternate uniforms: In Week 6, the Buccaneers sported their glorious "Creamsicle" uniforms for the first time since 2012. But that throwback comeback will hardly be the last, plus some fresh fashion-forward alternates are also coming down the pike. Nate Davis does important work by ranking the NFL's alternate uniforms.
- Bill Belichick's magic rapidly fades as Patriots continue to flounder: The Patriots are 1-5 for the first time ever under Belichick, and their repeated mistakes have put a serious damper on the coach's mystique, Jarrett Bell writes.
- 'My benchmark … is greatness': Davante Adams has been vocal about his frustrations with losing games, but indicated that he wants a larger role in the Raiders' offense.
- QB-coach disconnect proves costly for playoff hopeful: Simple operational issues dogged the Falcons in their most recent loss, with Atlanta struggling to execute basic tasks, Jarrett Bell writes.
- Stop calling Jared Goff a game manager: After joining the Lions as a toss-in for the Matthew Stafford trade, Goff has developed into one of the league's best quarterbacks, Shawn Windsor writes.
- Colts rookie QB Anthony Richardson out for season: Richardson will undergo shoulder surgery that will end his rookie season after just four games.
Fantasy football: Six teams on a bye, what to do?!?
This week and Week 13 are the biggest for teams on a bye week, with six teams sitting out this weekend's action. It is highly likely, given the teams not playing in Week 7, that your fantasy football roster has been profoundly impacted. Lucky for you, we're here to help.
- Fantasy rankings for Week 7: For your convenience, these position-by-position rankings were updated for this week's games and are based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.
- Studs, duds and sleepers: Here are some names to know going into Week 7. Is it finally time for first-round pick Jahmyr Gibbs to be the bell-cow back in Detroit? Meanwhile, will the Lions' quarterback be "Jared Off" against the Ravens' stingy defense?
- Waiver wire possibilities: Bye weeks and injuries have conspired to ruin your fantasy football season. Who should you pick up and who should you drop?
- Mecole Hardman trade ushers new era of fantasy frustration: The Jets jettisoned disappointing Mecole Hardman, returning the receiver to the Chiefs. Hardman was perpetually more potential than production in Kansas City.
NFL Week 7 schedule
Bye week: Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans
Thursday
Sunday
- Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
- Las Vegas Raiders at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
- Cleveland Browns at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
- Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots, 1 p.m. (CBS)
- Washington Commanders at New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
- Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
- Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)
- Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)
- Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
- Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
- Miami Dolphins at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)
Monday
- San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings, 8:15 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN and ESPN2)
Talkin' football
- It's a Football Podcast: Paste BN Sports NFL insiders Safid Deen and Tyler Dragon dish on the latest hot topics surrounding the league. This week's podcast pontificates if the Cowboys are back or if the Chargers just Chargered on "Monday Night Football."
- NFL Facebook group: Run a post route to The Ruling Off the Field 🏈 to engage in friendly debate and conversation with football fans 🏟.
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