With several divisional rivalries and a clash of two unbeaten teams as the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to the Tennessee Titans, Week 7 of the 2020 NFL season promises to be full of excitement, surprises, and some high scoring showdowns. Not sure who’s winning this weekend? We’ve got you covered with NFL predictions for Week 7, including predictions against the spread for all of Sunday’s games plus Monday Night Football.
All spread lines are provided by Draft Kings and were correct at the time of writing. They are, of course, subject to change the closer we get to kickoff of the 1 pm ET games.
NFL predictions against the spread, Week 7
Sunday, October 25, 1 pm ET
Detroit Lions (+2.5) @ Atlanta Falcons (-2.5)
The Detroit Lions are terrible, the Atlanta Falcons are awful, let’s call the whole thing off. The Lions head into NFL Week 7 with the opportunity to move to .500 for the season, while the Falcons will be hoping to gain momentum from last week’s win over the Minnesota Vikings and put a series of heart-breaking tight defeats behind them.
They’re set for another close game today. The key to the game will rest with Atlanta being able to impose their running game with Todd Gurley on a Lions defense that has allowed the seventh-most rushing yards per attempt in the 2020 NFL season so far. The Falcons have to dominate the time of possession to prevent Matthew Stafford from throwing against the Falcons’ worst passing defense in the league.
NFL predictions against the spread for this Week 7 clash: The Falcons win but fail to cover the spread in an extremely tight game.
Final score prediction: Detroit Lions 27 Atlanta Falcons 28
Cleveland Browns (-3.0) @ Cincinnati Bengals (+3.0)
The Cleveland Browns defense had their way with the Cincinnati Bengals in the first AFC North clash back in September, and it’s hard to see anything but a repeat this Sunday. Although Baker Mayfield has had his critics in the 2020 NFL season, the Browns are 4-2 as they head into this Week 7 rivalry game and will be looking to bounce back from a crushing defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers last time out.
The strength of the Browns plays directly against the weakness of the Bengals. The Browns sit near the top of every rushing metric available while the Cincinnati defense is one of the most porous units against the run in the nation. Expect to see a big day for one of Kareem Hunt, Dontrell Hilliard, or D’Ernest Johnson.
NFL predictions against the spread for this Week 7 matchup: The Browns win and comfortably cover the spread.
Final score prediction: Cleveland Browns 31 Cincinnati Bengals 24
Pittsburgh Steelers (+1.0) @ Tennessee Titans (-1.0)
In what is the tastiest clash of the week, the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers travel to the 5-0 Tennessee Titans in a game where someone’s 0 has got to go. Whoever wins today’s matchup puts themselves in pole position in the race to become the number one seed in the AFC.
The Steelers have the historical advantage in this matchup, leading the series 46-32 and winning the last two clashes. Although the Titans were trounced 40-17 in 2017, I expect to see a game closer to the last time the two tussled in Tennessee back in 2014.
Although both teams have explosive offenses, the difference-maker today will be with the Steelers’ ability to shut down Derrick Henry. No other team is as good against the run in the 2020 NFL season, and they have also allowed the fewest passing yards in the league.
NFL predictions against the spread for the Week 7 NFL game of the week: Pittsburgh wins and covers the spread.
Final score prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers 27 Tennessee Titans 24
Carolina Panthers (+7.5) @ New Orleans Saints (-7.5)
Although the New Orleans Saints head into this Week 7 NFC South clash as the favorite, they do so without star wide receiver Michael Thomas who was ruled out on Friday.
Alvin Kamara has been the beating heart of the Saints offense, leading the team in both rushing and receiving yards. Given that the Panthers have allowed the most receptions to running backs in the 2020 NFL season, as well as allowing the second-most fantasy points to running backs (via Draft Kings scoring), it’s fair to assume that he will be the difference-maker once again for New Orleans.
On paper, the two are more evenly matched than the line against would suggest, and it should be a close contest as Teddy Bridgewater returns to his former home.
NFL predictions against the spread for this Week 7 showdown in the NFC South: The Saints win but fail to cover the spread.
Final score prediction: Carolina Panthers 24 New Orleans Saints 26
Buffalo Bills (-12.0) @ New York Jets (+12.0)
The New York Jets can’t stop anyone on defense, they can’t score on offense, and they head into Week 7 with the ever lingering question of whether this is Adam Gase’s last game in charge.
Incidentally, the answer to that question should unequivocally be a resounding yes.
It’s the perfect matchup for a Buffalo Bills team that comes off the back of two straight defeats to two teams helping set the tempo in the AFC, in the Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs.
Expect Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs to have a big day against a Jets defense that has allowed over 1500 passing yards so far.
NFL prediction against the spread for the AFC East encounter in Week 7: Buffalo wins and comfortably covers the spread.
Final score prediction: Buffalo Bills 37 New York Jets 14
Dallas Cowboys (+1.0) @ Washington Football Team (-1.0)
Jokingly calling the NFL East the NFL Least is easy because, well, it is by far the worst division in this 2020 NFL season.
Andy Dalton versus Kyle Allen in a quarterback battle in the capital doesn’t have the makings of an awe-inspiring clash, especially given Dalton’s debut against the Arizona Cardinals.
Washington struggles to score, Dallas can’t defend, and despite having one of the most impressive defensive lines in the country, neither can Washington. Ezekiel Elliott manages to hold onto the ball just enough to prove a difference-maker in this afternoon game to avoid.
NFL predictions against the spread for this Week 7 game to avoid: Dallas scrapes a win and covers the spread.
Final score prediction: Dallas Cowboys 17 Washington Football Team 14
Green Bay Packers (-3.5) @ Houston Texans (+3.5)
After struggling to score in three straight games, the Houston Texans have put up 30 points in two consecutive games. Romeo Crennel’s team nearly secured the shock of the 2020 NFL season so far last time out against the Titans, narrowly falling to defeat in overtime.
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers will be looking to bounce back after an unusually mistake-laden defeat to Tampa Bay. Rodgers shouldn’t suffer the same turnover turmoil against a Texans team that ties the Cowboys for the lowest number of interceptions in the league.
The Houston defense also features near the bottom of the league in passing yards and touchdowns allowed. It’s the perfect Rodgers revenge game.
NFL predictions against the spread for this Week 7 matchup: Packers win and cover the spread.
Final score prediction: Green Bay Packers 34 Houston Texans 24
Sunday, October 25, 4:05 pm ET
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Las Vegas Raiders
At the time of writing, there were no betting lines available on Draft Kings for this game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Las Vegas Raiders that was moved out of the Sunday Night Football slot due to “an abundance of caution” following the Raiders placing several players on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
The Raiders may be without their entire starting line today as they face a Buccaneers defense that ranks fourth in sacks and third in quarterback pressures.
Fresh off a two-touchdown game against Green Bay, Tom Brady faces a Raiders defense that has allowed over 400 yards and 30 points on average per game.
Final score prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 28 Las Vegas Raiders 17
Sunday, October 25, 4:25 pm ET
Kansas City Chiefs (-9.5) @ Denver Broncos (+9.5)
Recent history is very much against the Denver Broncos in this bitter NFL rivalry game in the AFC West in Week 7. The Broncos have lost nine straight games against the Kansas City Chiefs dating back to their 31-24 win in Arrowhead back in 2015.
It seems unlikely that the Broncos put an end to that run during the 2020 NFL season.
Last week, the Chiefs got the better of the Bills by putting the ball on the ground and carving up the Buffalo defense to the tune of 245 yards. The Broncos have one of the league’s more efficient rushing defenses, but then the Chiefs can simply put it in the hands of arguably the best quarterback in the NFL in Patrick Mahomes.
The Chiefs have too many ways to win as they attempt to reach a second consecutive Super Bowl.
NFL predictions against the spread for this Week 7 rivalry game: The Chiefs win but fall marginally short of covering the spread.
Final score prediction: Kansas City Chiefs 30 Denver Broncos 21
Jacksonville Jaguars (+7.5) @ Los Angeles Chargers (-7.5)
Can Justin Herbert get his first NFL win as the starting quarterback of the Los Angeles Chargers? The Chargers have lost four straight with Herbert under center, but the rookie has kept them within a score in each loss.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, on the other hand, have been blown away in three of their last four defeats and have a bottom-five defense in terms of yards given up in the 2020 NFL season.
NFL predictions against the spread for this Week 7: The Chargers win and cover the spread.
Final score prediction: Jacksonville Jaguars 20 Los Angeles Chargers 28
San Francisco 49ers (+2.5) @ New England Patriots (-2.5)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garroppolo returns to his motherland in a game that both teams need to win. A 49ers defeat sees them drop below .500, whereas a loss for the Patriots would see them in uncomfortable and unfamiliar territory at 2-4 for the 2020 NFL season.
Both teams are riddled with inconsistencies and injuries, with the 49ers injury report in particular reading like a football edition of “War and Peace”.
George Kittle remains the biggest threat on the 49ers offense. However, the Patriots have done a good job of neutralizing tight ends this season, allowing the third-least yards to the position. As such, expect a tightly fought battle on the ground between two teams who like to run the rock.
NFL predictions against the spread for this Week 7 must-win for each team: The 49ers emerge victorious and cover the spread.
Final score prediction: San Francisco 49ers 23 New England Patriots 21
Sunday, October 25, 8:20 pm ET
Seattle Seahawks (-3.5) @ Arizona Cardinals (+3.5)
Sunday Night Football delivers an NFC West showdown in the desert as Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals host Russell Wilson and the 5-0 Seattle Seahawks. Can the Cardinals deal Pete Carroll’s team their first defeat of the season?
Although the Seattle passing defense has been brutal at times, and there should be rich pickings for the Murray to DeAndre Hopkins connection, the Seahawks run defense should be just good enough to keep Murray and Kenyan Drake in check. This should force Murray to go toe-to-toe against Wilson in a shootout which the NFL MVP front-runner should be able to hold the upper hand.
Despite just squeezing past the Minnesota Vikings two weeks ago, the Seahawks should come away with their sixth win of the season and continue to be the favorite as the NFC’s representative in the Super Bowl.
NFL prediction against the spread for this Week 7 NFC West slugfest: Seattle wins and barely covers the spread.
Final score prediction: Seattle Seahawks 38 Arizona Cardinals 34
Monday, October 26, 8:20 pm ET
Chicago Bears (+5.5) @ Los Angeles Rams (-5.5)
Although the Chicago Bears head into Week 7 with a 5-1 record, the Los Angeles Rams are the favorites to win this Monday Night Football matchup.
In stark contrast to the Sunday Night Football clash above, expect a low scoring game between two defensive powerhouses. The Rams have allowed the lowest net passing yards per attempt in the NFL so far in the 2020 NFL season, and the key to the game will rest with how Nick Foles handles the relentless pressure of Aaron Donald.
NFL predictions against the spread for Week 7 Monday Night Football: Rams hold off the Bears at home but fail to cover the spread.
Final score prediction: Chicago Bears 14 Los Angeles Rams 18
If sports betting is your thing, and we urge you to gamble responsibly, check out the “Against the Spread” podcast.
Oliver Hodgkinson is an NFL Draft and NFL analytics contributor for the Pro Football Network. You can follow him on Twitter at @ojhodgkinson.