NFL Week 7 Preview

 

By Monty Babers
Special to DFWSportsOnline.com

 

Week 7 in the NFL is here and we couldn’t have a better slate of games on the calendar!

 

There are seven matchups on Sunday with a point spread of three or less, which means they should be very close outcomes with exciting action! If you were looking for a weekend to take a break and go to the pumpkin path with the family, well this isn’t it!

 

Kicking off Sunday’s action is the 5-1 Detroit Lions taking on the 5-2 Baltimore Ravens, who are favored by three at home. I think the Lions are playing some of the best football in the NFC, maybe out of the entire league! The Ravens are still looking for that breakout performance on offense after re-working it during the offseason. If you want to see two of the NFL’s top quarterbacks in a head to head matchup, this is one you don’t want to miss! The Ravens have a slight edge on defense, helping Baltimore capture five victories so far this season. I think they will struggle trying to round up this very explosive Lions offense with so many weapons to hurt you all over the field. While Baltimore is favored, I think Detroit goes on the road and steals this victory as the road dog! This game will be on FOX at noon. My prediction is Lions 28-Ravens 17

 

If you’re wanting what should be a closer than anticipated game in the late afternoon, then look no further than the divisional battle of the 2-3 LA Chargers facing a 5-1 Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium. Vegas is giving the Chiefs -5.5, but don’t be fooled by the Super Chargers record, this team is very talented and desperate to get a divisional win, especially against the defending champions. KC has been suspect, playing in close games, just not being able to put teams away early like they have in past seasons. Never count this LA team as a non-contestant with Justin Herbert playing QB1 as he has been excellent so far with the main struggle of their losses being horrific clock management and suspect late game coaching decisions. Although I do think they won’t be able to get it right this week against a superior opponent, look for this one to be a nail-biter at the end with either having a chance to claim the victory. This game will be featured on CBS at 3:25 pm. Chiefs 30-Chargers 27

 

This next one has the potential to be something special as Sunday Night Football features a highly touted matchup of the 5-1 Miami Dolphins headed to face the 5-1 defending NFC Champions Philadelphia Eagles.

 

Since the beginning of the season, this matchup has been building up to be a potential “banger” of a game. This will be a contest of the very best in the AFC against the very best in the NFC. Over the past several weeks the Sunday Night Football primetime spot hasn’t lived up to its hype, but this game is shaping up to be the potential regular season game of the year, with two offenses that are absolutely incredible at what they do as well as defenses that like to wreck opponents with former Alabama Crimson Tide teammates Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa facing off against one another.

 

The Eagles will get a nod in this game since they are playing at home, favored by three with a defense who has the talent to slow down the Dolphins dynamic offense. While Philly struggled in their first loss last week due to their offense played very one-dimensional opposite the Jets amazing defensive performance, they will want to bounce back with a stellar game plan and get an impressive win against a great team. Of note, the offensive line appears like it’s back to full strength again with All-Pro Lane Johnson back from injury.

 

If Miami wants to upset the Eagles, they have to be firing on all cylinders. They are averaging eight yards per play while no other team is even averaging above six. They will have to keep the ball in their possession for a majority of the game and keep it out of the Eagles hands to win this game, which will be a tough task against a world class Philly defense. I give the edge to the Eagles in this contest due in  I small part to the game being in Philadelphia. This one should be everything it’s cracked up to be. You can watch this game on NBC at 7:20 pm. Expect a high scoring affair with a score of Eagles 35-Dolphins 28

 

Monday night brings us an all NFC matchup on ESPN at 7:15 P.M. between the 5-1 San Francisco 49ers and the 2-4 Minnesota Vikings. This game is a home game for the Vikings but the Niners are favored by 7 points. This is more than fair as they are coming off an inexcusable loss and will be hungry for a win over a Minnesota team that has had a very rough season, they have lost three of their last four, all being one score games. This is the opposite of last year where they won 11 one score games, this has come back to haunt them as they aren’t able get the job done at the end.

 

This game has the potential ti be a route as the Niners out-class the Vikings in all aspects of the game and will more than likely run away with this one! 49ers 40-Vikings 25.