NFL Week 7 started out with a bang. The Chiefs and Raiders played a game last Thursday night that at one point looked like it might never end. Green Bay was competitive versus the New Orleans Saints without Aaron Rodgers while the Arizona Cardinals once again lost a key offensive player for the season.
Check out a recap of NFL Week 7!
2017 NFL Week 7 Recap
Kansas City Chiefs -3 at Oakland Raiders +3
How many penalties were called on the final play of the game before Oakland WR Michael Crabtree caught the winning TD pass? I’m not sure. Most believe that Crabtree pushed off before catching the winning pass.
I’m not sure if he did or didn’t. What I do know is that Kansas City had a 9 point lead in the game before imploding and losing straight up to their biggest rival. It was KC’s second loss in a row while the Raiders saved their spiraling season.
Result: Raiders 31, Chiefs 30
New York Jets +3 at Miami Dolphins -3
The Jets had this game. At halftime, the score was Jets 21, Dolphins 14. After the third quarter, the score was Jets 28, Dolphins 14. J-E-T-S looked like they might end up beating the rival Dolphins. Then, the unexpected happen. Matt Moore, who had replaced Jay Cutler at QB, subsequently rallied the Fins to an unimaginable 31 to 28 win. How did Moore do it?
I’m not exactly sure. It’s not like he outplayed Cutler. Moore threw for 188 yards, 2 TDs, and an INT. Cutler threw for 138 yards, 2 TDs and an INT. What’s crazy is that with the win the Dolphins are at 4 and 2. That means they’re tied with Buffalo and New England atop the AFC East Division.
Result: Dolphins 31, Jets 28
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +3 at Buffalo Bills -3
Buffalo almost blew this game. The Bills had relied on their defense this season. Versus Tampa Bay on Oct. 22, they had to rely on their 2 offensive stars: RB LeSean McCoy, and QB Tyrod Taylor. McCoy rushed for 91 yards from 23 carries. He also scored 2 rushing TDs. McCoy also caught 5 of 7 targets for 31 yards. Taylor completed 20 of 33 passes for 268 yards. He threw a TD pass. He also rushed for 53 yards from 6 carries.
There’s not much to say about Tampa Bay’s performance. Something’s not clicking for the Buccaneers. A season of high hopes has turned into dreadful performance after dreadful performance.
Result: Bills 30, Buccaneers 27
Jacksonville Jaguars -3 at Indianapolis Colts +3
Rookie RB sensation Leonard Fournette didn’t play. Offensive lineman Cam Robinson left early. There was no reason for the Jaguars to demolish the Colts. That’s what happened. The reason is because the Jaguars now believe in themselves.
Jacksonville’s defense sacked Jacoby Brissett 10 times for 64 yards lost. The Jags’ D also held the Colts’ rushing attack to 96 yards from 20 carries. It was a nice performance by Jacksonville on the road against an AFC South rival.
Result: Jaguars 27, Colts 0
Baltimore Ravens +5 at Minnesota Vikings -5
Every week, the Ravens get worse. In NFL Week 7, the Ravens managed to score 16 points off of 64 rushing yards and 144 passing yards. In a way, I feel bad for Baltimore. I mean, what do you do? Do you sack your $20 million dollar a year QB? Do you fire your Super Bowl winning coach?
For Minnesota, the victory made the Vikings the undisputed top team in the NFC North. Minnesota is a good football team. The Vikings get somewhat of a reprieve in Week 8. They battle Cleveland in a game at Twickenham Stadium in London.
Result: Vikings 24, Ravens 16
Arizona Cardinals +3.5 at L.A. Rams -3.5
The Arizona Cardinals are as snakebit as any NFL team I’ve seen in at least a decade. Just as a reminder, the Cards lost their top offensive player RB David Johnson early in the season. Arizona’s offense had been stagnant until they traded for former Minnesota rusher Adrian Peterson. For Peterson’s services, Arizona gave up a 7th Round Pick.
So, what happens on Sunday in London versus the L.A. Rams, a team that on paper, the Cardinals sure appeared to match up well with? QB Carson Palmer breaks an arm. Palmer is out at least 8 weeks after surgery.
The Rams are on their bye this week. They battle the terrible New York Giants in Week 9.
Result: Rams 33, Cardinals 0
New Orleans Saints -5.5 at Green Bay Packers +5.5
It appeared in the first half that New Orleans might not even beat the Green Bay Packers, much less cover a -5.5 spread. The two NFC heavyweights entered halftime with Packers leading 14 to 7. QB Drew Brees had thrown 2 interceptions. It appeared as if the Saints were toast.
Then, the Saints came out in the second half and dominated. Green Bay had a huge excuse on offense. QB Brett Hundley started his first NFL game. What’s surprising is that Hundley appeared to be shackled. He rushed a few times with the football. He only completed 12 of 25 passes. The Packers didn’t try to open the game up at all. Hundley only targeted Jordy Nelson 4 times.
Result: Saints 26, Packers 17
Carolina Panthers -3 at Chicago Bears +3
It must be infuriating to watch Cam Newton play football if you’re a Carolina Panther fan. When Cam is on, there are few in the NFL better than he is at the position. Cam wasn’t on versus Philadelphia in Week 6. He wasn’t on versus the Chicago Bears in Week 7. Newton threw 2 interceptions in this one. He also got sacked 5 times. Chicago QB Mitch Trubisky threw only 7 passes and the Bears beat Carolina 17 to 3. That’s just odd.
Result: Bears 17, Panthers 3
Tennessee Titans -6.5 at Cleveland Browns +6.5
Tennessee was supposed to smack around the Cleveland Browns. It didn’t work out that way. The Browns’ defense stepped it up big time. It doesn’t matter. Tennessee beat Cleveland in a field goal fest. Marcus Mariota wasn’t exactly awe-inspiring. Neither was RB Derrick Henry who rushed for 13 yards on 13 carries. Hey, a wins a win, right?
Result: Titans 12, Browns 9
Dallas Cowboys -6 at San Francisco 49’ers +6
Was I off about this game, or what? In hindsight, what was I thinking backing the San Francisco 49’ers at +6? Ezekiel Elliott got a reprieve from a judge. He suited up and played. Zeke played as if he hadn’t a care in the world. He accounted for 147 yards and scored 2 rushing TDs. He also caught a pass for 71 yards that he turned into a TD. As good as Zeke was, Dak Prescott was better. He threw 3 TD passes. He rushed for a TD. Dak was unreal in the blowout win.
Result: Cowboys 40, 49’ers 10
Cincinnati Bengals +5.5 at Pittsburgh Steelers -5.5
Here’s another game that makes no sense. Why would I take Cincinnati on the road versus the Pittsburgh Steelers? On paper, it sure looked like Cincy might keep it close. The Bengals went into this game off a bye. Before the bye, Cincinnati had won 2 in a row.
The score was 20 to 14 at halftime. That’s well within shouting distance of the spread. In the second half, Pitt scored 9 points. The Bungles, err, Bengals, scored 0.
Result: Steelers 29, Bengals 14
Denver Broncos +1.5 at L.A. Chargers -1.5
Denver doesn’t resemble the same team that started out the season going 3 and 1 in their first 4 games. That Denver Broncos’ team would have handled the L.A. Chargers. This team could get nothing going on offense versus the Bolts. Denver has a tough matchup in Week 8 versus KC. That’s become a must win game all of a sudden.
Result: Chargers 21, Broncos 0
Seattle Seahawks -6 at New York Giants +6
Here’s another NFL pick where I thought I was being smart. Don’t ask me why I decided to back the Giants at +6. At halftime, the score was Giants 7 and Seattle 3. I thought it might end that way. Nope. The Giants are just a bad football team. Seattle pulled away to a 24 to 7 win. Seahawks’ QB Russell Wilson was amazing. He threw for 334 yards and 3 TDs.
Result: Seahawks 24, Giants 7
Atlanta Falcons +3.5 at New England Patriots -3.5
I was dead right about this game. I had a feeling the Patriots might dominate. They did. The Falcons are a mess of a football team. They got 7 points out of one of the worst defenses in the NFL. What’s really nuts is that Atlanta rushed for 120 yards on 22 carries. That’s a 5.45 per carry average. You’d think you’d win a football game averaging 5.5 yards a carry. Not Atlanta.
Result: Patriots 23, Falcons 7
Washington Redskins +4.5 at Philadelphia Eagles -4.5
Early on, it appeared as if Washington might make a game of it. Washington’s got a decent defense. It frustrated the Eagles’ offense in the first quarter. But, then, Washington’s D got tired. That’s what’s been happening Washington’s D.
Philadelphia QB Carson Wentz threw for 268 yards and 4 TDs. Wentz and Philly’s offense were unstoppable in the second half. The Eagles beat Washington by 10 points.
Result: Eagles 34, Washington 24