Welcome to the wacky world of the NFL after Week 6 and before the midway point of the 2025 season. There has been no clear dominant force or clear worst team.
That leads to some real shockers for the top and bottom, with the often surprising results of a given week. It’s been tougher than expected in a year of transition for many teams.
That, however, won’t deter us from diving headfirst into another fearless forecast of professional pigskin prognostications:
(Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook)
POWER RANKINGS: Packers, Bucs, Patriots rise; 49ers, Eagles drop in shakeup at top for Week 7
Sam Greene, Kirby Lee
NFL picks against the spread for Week 7
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Game of Midweek: Steelers (-5.5, 42.5 o/u) at Bengals
Thursday 8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video
The Steelers’ pass rush is on fire with six sacks each against the Vikings and Browns the past two weeks and will be looking to lick their chops against three-team long-time division rival QB Joe Flacco. Flacco, 40 and Aaron Rodgers, 41, will duel as former Jets in Brady-Brees Super Bowl ring style. Cincinnati stays in another game at home to push Pittsburgh, but the visitors will make the key defensive play late.
Pick: Steelers win 24-20 but fail to cover the spread.
MORE: How Bengals are latest stop in Joe Flacco’s AFC North career
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Game of the Week: Buccaneers at Lions (-5.5, 53 o/u)
Monday 7 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
The Bucs have been coming through in close games late with the gritty passing and running from Baker Mayfield. He’ll keep them hanging around with a makeshift skill position core, taking advantage of the Lions’ defensive injuries. But Detroit will rev up the offense to big things back at home with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery getting the rushing attack on track.
Pick: Lions win 34-27 and cover the spread.
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Lock of the Week: Seahawks (-3, 42 o/u) over Texans
Monday 10 p.m. ET, ESPN
This is more about the number than the 4-2 Seahawks being that much better than the 2-3 Texans. Seattle has been crushing it traveling across the country so it will be stocked to have a home game for its loud crowd. Its defense can swarm C.J. Stroud and contain his receivers. On the other side, Klint Kubia will give Mike Macdonald just enough offense.
Pick: Seahawks win 23-17 and cover the spread.
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Upset of the Week: Jaguars (+3, 46 o/u) over Rams
Sunday 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network (in London, England)
The Rams are headed to be without game-plan wrecking wide receiver Puka Nacua across the pond, which changes the entire dynamic of their offense. The Jaguars’ offense still has plenty of kinks but should get Trevor Lawrence going in his one of his favorite places to play. Former Rams assistant Liam Coen, a Sean McVay protege, will edge his master thanks to winning the turnover battle.
Pick: Jaguars win 24-23.
MORE: How long Puka Nacua is out for after suffering foot injury
Nathan Ray Seebeck, Mark J. Rebilas
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Saints at Bears (-5.5, 45.5 o/u)
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox
The Bears will be wary after a tough game against the Commanders on Monday night but will also be thrilled to be at home to get Caleb Williams to execute well on downfield passing vs. the Saints’ secondary. New Orleans will see Spencer Rattler hit a wall while Chicago gets into tee-off mode in the second half.
Pick: Bears win 27-14 and cover the spread.
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Dolphins at Browns (-2.5, 41 o/u)
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox
The Browns’ offense isn’t scoring enough to win most games, leaning plenty on dominant total defense led by Myles Garrett. The Dolphins’ defense is leaky and might help them break out of a slump. Meanwhile, Miami’s offense also has been a mess of late, not helping at all vs. an angry Garrett.
Pick: Browns win 20-17 and cover the spread.
MORE: Why Tua Tagovailo’s quip about players’ meetings is bad news for Mike McDaniel
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Patriots (-6.5, 42.5 o/u) at Titans
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS
It’s the Mike Vrabel revenge game as he coaches against his reeling former team back in Nashville. He won’t show much mercy here with his offense getting red-hot with Drake Maye and confident it won’t get stopped much. On the other side, Vrabel’s replacement Brian Callahan will continue to feel a different kind of heat.
Pick: Patriots win 27-17 and cover the spread.
MORE: Why Drake Maye’s sophomore breakout deserves early MVP consideration
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Raiders at Chiefs (-10.5, 45.5 o/u)
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS
The Chiefs are almost at “full wrath” with their revamped passing offense for Patrick Mahomes. They get there with Rashee Rice returning to help Travis Kelce, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thorntoh. All of a sudden the Chiefs’ offense looks loaded with Mahomes’ running, providing a new bonus. The rival Raiders are no match for this.
Pick: Chiefs win 31-17 and cover the spread.
MORE: Patrick Mahomes puts together a dominant SNF showing against Lions
Kirby Lee, Bill Streicher
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Eagles (-2.5, 42.5 o/u) at Vikings
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox
The Eagles need to stop their slide after two consecutive losses to the Broncos and Giants. If they can protect the ball in Minnesota, that should happen. The Vikings can give up yards and may struggle with the overall balance and versatility with the visitors, the Carson Wentz narrative aside.
Pick: Eagles win 23-20 and cover the spread.
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Panthers at Jets (-1, 44 o/u)
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox
Rico Dowdle has sparked Carolina’s offense to rip up two bad defensive teams at home in Miami and Dallas. New York qualifies as such on the road. Bryce Young is playing with confidence again for a .500 team, while Justin Fields is on the brink of being benched. The Panthers’ fun with Dave Canales continues, causing more misery for coaching counterpart Aaron Glenn.
Pick: Panthers win 24-22 and cover the spread.
MORE: Where Jets-Browns ranks among worst London games ever
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Giants at Broncos (-7, 40.5 o/u))
Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS
The Giants have new life with Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo leading the offense. They can stay with the Broncos with the combination of running to avoid passing too much against tough pressure and secondary play. Bo Nix will have some more hiccups to keep this close at home, but in the end, Denver wins with that defense and a better dose of the rushing attack.
Pick: Broncos win 24-20 but fail to cover the spread.
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Colts at Chargers (pick ’em, 48.5 o/u)
Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS
The Colts are rolling with Jonathan Taylor on the ground and that’s where Jim Harbaugh’s defense is starting to struggle big time, also giving up big game-breaking runs. The Chargers are hurting again in the backfield and receiving corps. Justin Herbert will try to stay game, but Harbaugh’s other former team is better overall at the moment.
Pick: Colts win 27-24 and cover the spread.
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Commanders (-2.5, 53.5 o/u) at Cowboys
Sunday 4:25 p.m., Fox
Jayden Daniels makes the Commanders operate differently with his leadership, athleticism and clutch playmaking. The pressure is on the Cowboys’ offense with Dak Prescott and his best healthy receiving weapons to keep lighting it up, but old friend Dan Quinn will bring just enough defense with him from Washington.
Pick: Commanders win 27-24 and cover the spread.
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Packers (-6.5, 44.5 o/u) at Cardinals
Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
The Packers were content sitting on their lead against the Bengals, but they cannot be so nonchalant against another bad team with a hurting starting QB on the road. The desert will be packed with Cheeseheads to give Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs and others plenty of needed love.
Pick: Packers win and 24-14 and cover the spread.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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Falcons at 49ers (-3, 45 o/u)
Sunday 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
The Falcons go back in prime time coming off a short week, going from home on Monday night to away on Sunday night. The 49ers are recovering from their tough loss to the Buccaneers but they should get some reinforcements on offense to help overcome growing defensive injuries.
Pick: 49ers win 27-20 and cover the spread.
MORE: Fred Warner is latest 49ers star to be hit with the injury bug
Stats of the Week
- Week 6 record straight up: 9-6
- Week 6 record against the spread: 5-10
- 2025 season record straight up: 60-31
- 2025 season record against the spread: 42-49
