It’s BYE-Mageddon this week, with 6 teams on a bye. That means there are 13 matchups this week and we’ll be breaking down every single one of them. Through 7 weeks, we’re 67-38-1 in predicting matchups.
Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Chargers
This is not a game we want to touch with the Minnesota Vikings having to start Carson Wentz and the Los Angeles Chargers defense breaking down under pressure as of late. Given Carson Wentz is playing, the Chargers defense can get back into form.
Winner: Los Angeles Chargers
Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons
At this stage, it doesn’t really matter who the Miami Dolphins are facing, we’re expecting them to lose. The Dolphins got hammered by the Cleveland Browns, yes, the Cleveland Browns. They’ve lost to the Browns & Panthers this year. The Dolphins run defense might let Bijan Robinson put up 200 yards. Bijan Robinson outperforms the entire Miami Dolphins defense as the Atlanta Falcons cruise past them.
Winner: Atlanta Falcons
New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals
In only his 2nd game with the Cincinnati Bengals, it was 40-year old Joe Flacco that led the Cincinnati Bengals to a big win on Thursday Night Football. Flacco threw for over 340 yards, with 161 of those to Ja’Marr Chase. The two got clicking and that was against a good Steelers defense. The Bengals now play a Jets defense that is not good at all. Not sure if the game script will call for Flacco to throw for 300 yards again, but he should put together another solid performance and his 2nd victory with the Cincinnati Bengals to help them move back to .500.
Winner: Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots
It was the best game all season that the Cleveland Browns played. They scored 3 offensive touchdowns and one on defense. It was a complete game for them. However, that was against the Miami Dolphins who are 1-6 and on the brink of a complete failure of a season. A team that has also beat the Miami Dolphins this year is the New England Patriots. The Patriots also have looked better all season and Drake Maye is balling out. Maye won’t necessarily ball out against the Browns as the Browns defense can hold their own, but the Patriots defense is not going to give up more than one or two offensive touchdowns to the Browns offense.
Winner: New England Patriots
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles
Only one game separates these two teams, after having just faced one another in week 6. In that game, the Eagles lost on Thursday Night Football. This time, the game is in Philadelphia and the Eagles are coming off their best offensive performance of the season with Hurts, Smith, & Brown all having great games. The Eagles offense makes it two weeks in a row with the aerial attack as they get their revenge on the New York Giants.
Winner: Philadelphia Eagles
Buffalo Bills at Carolina Panthers
After starting 4-0, the Buffalo Bills have dropped 2 straight to the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons. They now face a Carolina Panthers team that shut out the Atlanta Falcons, 30-0. That was a bit of a fluke game for the Panthers though and have barely been able to get by the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets since. The Bills are coming off a bye on a mission to get things back on track and should move to 5-2.
Winner: Buffalo Bills
Chicago Bears at Baltimore Ravens
This game is going to come down to whether or not Lamar Jackson plays. At the time of writing this, reports say he is trending upwards and probable to play. If that’s the case, Lamar saves the day. If he’s out, the Ravens lose and their playoff aspirations tank.
Winner: Baltimore if Lamar Plays, Chicago if Lamar sits
San Francisco 49ers at Houston Texans
The Houston Texans might have the best defense in the league, but they can’t score on offense. The run game is non-existent and Nico Collins might be out this week. This is bad news for the Texans and great news for Mac Jones who will need to fill in for Brock Purdy, that he doesn’t need to do much to help his team win.
Winner: San Francisco 49ers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints
It doesn’t matter if the entire Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense is out, as long as Baker Mayfield stays healthy. Baker is having himself a MVP-Worthy season with the practice squad right now. The 2 losses were against the Philadelphia Eagles and the Detroit Lions, both Super Bowl Contenders. The offense runs through Baker and he’ll torch a New Orleans Saints team that he dominated last season.
Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dallas Cowboys at Denver Broncos
Dak Prescott is playing at a MVP level and that’s not talked about enough. He is lighting up the stat sheet, but the Cowboys defense is atrocious. This game will be high scoring, but Bo Nix doesn’t have it in him to hang with the opposing team for two weeks in a row.
Winner: Dallas Cowboys
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are 6-1 and atop not only the AFC South, but the entire NFL. They might not be as dangerous as their record appears as most of their wins have come against teams below .500. Thankfully, they have one more week before the tough stretch of their schedule begins. They’ll head into the back half with a 7-1 record.
Winner: Indianapolis Colts
Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers faces his successor in Jordan Love. This is another game that’s a tossup, that will come down to the play of their defenses. Unfortunately for Aaron, his former team is better and has the better offense as well, with Josh Jacobs being a monster on the ground and through the air.
Winner: Green Bay Packers
Washington Commanders at Kansas City Chiefs
With Jayden Daniels ruled out and Terry McLaurin likely out another week, the chances of the Washington Commanders winning this one is next to nothing. The Kansas City Chiefs win big at home on Monday Night.
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