The excitement of NFL action continues as the league gears up for Week 7, with teams and fans eagerly anticipating “Thursday Night Football” featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals. Following a mixed bag scoring of 15-15 in Week 6, the focus shifts to the upcoming matchups. Here are my predictions with insights and confidence levels for each game.
First up, the Steelers, favored by 5.5 points, head into Cincinnati with strong momentum after winning three of their last four encounters against the Bengals, including three consecutive victories in Cincinnati. Despite concerns about playing on a short week, I still favor Pittsburgh to win with a confidence level of 7, as well as to cover the spread, which I rate at 6.
In London, the Los Angeles Rams face off against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are both looking to assert themselves. The Rams’ offensive prospects depend heavily on Puka Nacua’s availability due to an ankle injury. I’ll predict a Rams win with a confidence level of 2, but take the Jaguars to cover the spread, also rating this at 2 for confidence.
The Kansas City Chiefs, heavily favored by 12 points over the Las Vegas Raiders, look to capitalize on Patrick Mahomes’ impressive form and the return of Rashee Rice to their lineup. My take is that the Chiefs will win comfortably, confidently rated at 9, and also cover the spread, rating this at 6.
The encounter between the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears—where the Bears are slight favorites at 5.5 points—is intriguing due to contrasting special teams performance. I foresee an upset in favor of the Bears but predict a closer game than the odds suggest, rating Chicago’s win with a confidence level of 4 and a minimal 1 for covering the spread.
As for the Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns, it’s a tightly contested matchup. While Miami showcases significant offensive talent, reports of team infighting might give Cleveland an edge defensively. My prediction leans toward a Dolphins upset with a confidence level of 3, suggesting they will also cover the spread with a higher confidence of 5.
The New England Patriots travel to face the Tennessee Titans as heavy favorites, where I expect the Patriots, equipped with a strong MVP contender in Drake Maye, to win decisively with a confidence level of 9 and to also cover the spread at 7.
In the matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings, I see potential for Minnesota to pull off an upset win in a tight contest, rating their chances at a confidence level of 3 for the win and 4 for covering the spread.
Carolina Panthers are slight favorites in their game against the New York Jets, and their solid performance so far leads me to predict a Panthers win, with a confidence level of 6 and a covering of the spread at 5.
In a matchup of the New York Giants at Denver Broncos, I anticipate a solid Broncos win by a margin of 7, giving them a confidence level of 5 and covering the spread rated at 3.
As for the clash between the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Chargers, there’s an intriguing dynamic at play. With both teams displaying potential, I’ll lean towards the Colts securing an upset win, rated with a confidence level of 3 and again for them covering the spread.
When the Washington Commanders visit the Dallas Cowboys, the home advantage plays a crucial role, leading me to pick Dallas to win and cover with a confidence level of 2.
Finally, the Green Bay Packers are favored against the Arizona Cardinals, who are struggling with injuries. With Green Bay in better shape, I expect them to win and cover, rated at 5 and 3 respectively.
In the last matchup of the week, the Atlanta Falcons take on the San Francisco 49ers. Although it’s a close call, I will predict a San Francisco win but favor Atlanta to cover the spread, both rated at 1.
In summary, this week’s selections reflect a mix of confident predictions and potential upsets, with several intriguing matchups to watch. Fans can expect competitive performances as teams aim to bolster their standings in the league.