play1:38Mike McCarthy: ‘The game goes on’ after midseason firingsMike McCarthy joins “The Pat McAfee Show” to give his perspective on what it means when an NFL head coach gets fired midseason.
play1:53Stephen A.: ‘Aaron Glenn has been awful’Stephen A. Smith explains why the Jets look worse than ever after hiring Aaron Glenn to be their head coach.
play1:35Watt to McAfee: Baker Mayfield’s skills are underratedJ.J. Watt joins “The Pat McAfee Show” to break down what Baker Mayfield has brought to the Buccaneers this season.
Stephen A. details importance of Eagles’ Week 7 matchup vs. Vikings (1:49)Stephen A. Smith challenges Dan Orlovsky on whether the Eagles need to win against the Vikings to solidify their position in NFC. (1:49)
Kurt Warner joins “The Rich Eisen Show” to explain why he fears the Eagles have lost their identity.
Mike McCarthy: ‘The game goes on’ after midseason firingsMike McCarthy joins “The Pat McAfee Show” to give his perspective on what it means when an NFL head coach gets fired midseason.
Mike McCarthy joins “The Pat McAfee Show” to give his perspective on what it means when an NFL head coach gets fired midseason.
Stephen A.: ‘Aaron Glenn has been awful’Stephen A. Smith explains why the Jets look worse than ever after hiring Aaron Glenn to be their head coach.
Stephen A. Smith explains why the Jets look worse than ever after hiring Aaron Glenn to be their head coach.
Watt to McAfee: Baker Mayfield’s skills are underratedJ.J. Watt joins “The Pat McAfee Show” to break down what Baker Mayfield has brought to the Buccaneers this season.
J.J. Watt joins “The Pat McAfee Show” to break down what Baker Mayfield has brought to the Buccaneers this season.
Let’s get into the full Week 7 slate, which culminates with “Monday Night Football” matchups between the Buccaneers and Lions (7 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN) and the Texans and Seahawks (10 p.m. ET, ESPN). (Game times are Sunday unless otherwise noted.)
Jump to a matchup: JAX-LAR | PHI-MIN | LV-KC NO-CHI | NE-TEN | MIA-CLE CAR-NYJ | IND-LAC | NYG-DEN WSH-DAL | GB-ARI | ATL-SF TB-DET | HOU-SEA
Stat to know: Lawrence was sacked a career-high seven times in the Week 6 loss to the Seahawks (the most Jacksonville has allowed in a game over the past 10 seasons). Meanwhile, the Rams have 19 sacks this season, which is tied for fourth most. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Rams WR Tutu Atwell will record 50-plus receiving yards. With Puka Nacua (ankle) likely sidelined, that leaves plenty of targets to be redistributed. And since the start of last season, Atwell has managed 2.0 yards per route run, an impressive number for a depth player. — Walder
Fantasy nugget: Rams WR Davante Adams should see an increase in targets. He has averaged 9.7 targets and 13.9 fantasy points per game this season. But Adams showed in his stints with the Packers, Raiders and Jets that he’s more than capable of taking over a game when called upon. The Jaguars’ defense has allowed the third-most receiving yards per game and has struggled mightily against perimeter receivers like Adams. See Week 7 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: Since the start of last season, the Jaguars are 10-4 ATS (against the spread) when getting at least three points. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Rams 27, Jaguars 21 Moody’s pick: Rams 20, Jaguars 17 Walder’s pick: Rams 23, Jaguars 21 FPI prediction: LAR, 59.6% (by an average of 3.3 points)
Matchup must-reads: Jaguars rule out Lloyd, NFL’s interceptions leader, vs. Rams … Rams red zone performance: ‘Hasn’t been to our standard’ … Jags eye bigger offensive role for Hunter to exploit speed
Stat to know: Hurts is averaging 2.98 seconds before a throw, which is the third-longest time in the league behind Caleb Williams and Justin Fields. Hurts faces a Vikings defense that averages 2.53 seconds to first pressure (fifth-fastest mark), per NFL Next Gen Stats. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Eagles DT Jalen Carter will get his first sack of the season. Philadelphia is generating sacks on only 4% of opposing pass rushes (that’s low!) but will get the perfect antidote for that in Week 7: the Vikings, regardless of who is at QB. Both J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz have sustained double-digit sack rates this season. — Walder
Fantasy nugget: Vikings RB Jordan Mason has logged at least 16 touches in four of five games this season. He should see a similar workload as the Vikings face a defensive front that ranks 26th in run stop win rate (28.6%). Philadelphia also allows the seventh-most rushing yards per game and just gave up big fantasy performances to the Giants’ Cam Skattebo (31) and the Broncos’ J.K. Dobbins (15.4) in its past two outings. See Week 7 rankings. — Moody
Maldonado’s pick: Eagles 24, Vikings 21 Moody’s pick: Eagles 26, Vikings 20 Walder’s pick: Eagles 20, Vikings 17 FPI prediction: PHI, 52.2% (by an average of 0.9 points)
Matchup must-reads: Eagles’ pass-rush depth takes hit as Smith retires … Why Vikings need Flores’ defense to play lights-out to win … What can we glean from Vikings’ trip to Dublin, London?
Bold prediction: Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco will rush for 60-plus yards for the first time this season. The Chiefs run inside zone 32% of the time (second most), and the Raiders are allowing 4.7 yards per carry (fourth most). — Walder
Betting nugget: The Raiders are 4-0 ATS as double-digit underdogs since 2022. They have covered in three straight meetings against the Chiefs. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Chiefs 35, Raiders 13 Moody’s pick: Chiefs 34, Raiders 16 Walder’s pick: Chiefs 30, Raiders 14 FPI prediction: KC, 78.8% (by an average of 12.0 points)
Matchup must-reads: Rice practices, to play vs. Raiders … Moore had Sunday to remember in win vs. Lions
Stat to know: The Saints have allowed multiple passing touchdowns in eight straight games, the longest active streak in the NFL. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: The Bears will score 40 points. Yes, it’s what I thought they would do last week. But I’m still a big believer in this offense, and last week we saw one of the team’s prior weaknesses look like a strength: the running game, which averaged 5.4 yards per carry against Washington. — Walder
Fantasy nugget: Bears QB Caleb Williams is in an excellent spot with Rome Odunze and DJ Moore as his top receivers against a Saints defense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to QBs. Williams has also performed well when blitzed this season, and Chicago’s offensive line ranks eighth in pass block win rate (66.2%). On top of that, the Saints’ defense has surrendered the fourth-most rushing yards per game to opposing QBs. See Week 7 rankings. — Moody
Maldonado’s pick: Bears 35, Saints 27 Moody’s pick: Bears 23, Saints 20 Walder’s pick: Bears 40, Saints 17 FPI prediction: CHI, 65.7% (by an average of 6.4 points)
Stat to know: The Titans’ 35% conversion rate on third down since the start of last season is the second-worst mark behind the Browns’ (30.9%). In that same time frame, the Patriots have allowed a 42.7% third-down conversion rate (fifth worst). — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Patriots QB Drake Maye will throw four touchdown passes. New England is one of the heavier pass teams in the league, with a plus-3% pass rate over expectation that ranks fourth highest. Meanwhile, the Titans have the fourth-highest pass rate over expectation allowed (plus-1%). On top of that, don’t you think Vrabel is going to want to pour it on against his old team? — Walder
Mike McCarthy: ‘The game goes on’ after midseason firings
Fantasy nugget: Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson has posted only two games with double-digit fantasy points this season, averaging 10.7 touches and just 3.1 yards per carry. Stevenson, and to a degree, TreVeyon Henderson, get an excellent matchup behind an offensive line that ranks seventh in run block win rate (73.4%) against a defense allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to RBs. See Week 7 rankings. — Moody
Maldonado’s pick: Patriots 35, Titans 10 Moody’s pick: Patriots 33, Titans 23 Walder’s pick: Patriots 38, Titans 16 FPI prediction: NE, 66.1% (by an average of 6.5 points)
Matchup must-reads: Titans interim coach to stay positive for rookie QB Ward … Vrabel facing Titans first time since firing, says he’s unfazed … Titans fire coach Callahan: What’s next for Tennessee?
What we’re hearing on the Browns: If there is any matchup for the Browns’ offense to get on track, perhaps it’s against a Dolphins defense that ranks 29th in points allowed per game (29.0) and 31st in yards per play allowed (6.3). However, Cleveland’s players continue to emphasize the need to minimize self-inflicted mistakes before they can take advantage of opportunities. “If one guy messes up, all hell breaks loose for the offense,” WR Jerry Jeudy said. — Daniel Oyefusi
Stat to know: The Dolphins have been outgained by 602 yards this season, which is the third worst in the NFL, and the worst through their first six games since 2021. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks will lead all players in combined tackles in Week 7. Brooks has recorded a tackle or assist on 18% of his defensive plays, fourth highest among all LBs this season. My tackle model gives him the highest chance of any player to hit double-digit combined tackles this week at 44%. — Walder
Fantasy nugget: Browns RB Quinshon Judkins is well positioned to bounce back after a disappointing 3.6 fantasy points in Week 6. The rookie has had 19 or more touches and scored at least 13 fantasy points in three of his past four games. He now faces a defense that was eviscerated in back-to-back weeks by Rico Dowdle (32.4) and Kimani Vidal (22.8). See Week 7 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: The Browns are 1-8 ATS in their past nine games following a loss (5-12 ATS since start of last season). Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Browns 23, Dolphins 17 Moody’s pick: Browns 21, Dolphins 17 Walder’s pick: Dolphins 20, Browns 16 FPI prediction: MIA, 51.7% (by an average of 0.7 points)