NFL Week 7 2024: It's Time to Batch the NFL
One quarter of the season is complete. Each game counts more now. Injuries may tell the story as much as talent does.
NFL Quick Hitters:
Batching the NFL - The pretenders, the never-will-be’s, and the champs are fairly obvious at this point. The teams that are Super Bowl Level:
AFC: Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and the Houston Texans
NFC: Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and the Packers
That’s it for the Super Bowl. The Next Level, that would need everything to go just right are:
AFC: Bills, Chargers, and Bengals (but they have no margin for error)
NFC: Commanders, Eagles, 49ers (if they get healthy they could jump to SBL), and the Buccaneers.
Everyone else can start playing for next year.
Trades - Jets get Adams. Bills get Cooper. Chiefs still haven’t made a move to upgrade their receiving core. I’m all-in on the Cooper to the Bills trade. he’ll make a difference. He’s a good fit. He can stretch the field. And he’s cost effective costing only about 800K against the Bills cap space. Adams to the Jets? He’ll help. But if the Jets lose another they’ll have a tough time making the playoffs. They’re effectively 3 games behind the Bills in the division. I don’t think it’s bad but I don’t believe it makes a difference. Jets have a favorable schedule but they haven’t played consistently. I think they’re deluding themselves. Jets are not a championship team. Better to save your draft capital.
Fields vs. Wilson - Rumors are that Wilson will start over Fields. Don’t get it. Steelers are a defensive team. They run the ball. They have a super star in T.J. Watts. None of that is impacted by a change in QB. In fact, it could hurt the running game. No one is worried about Wilson running the ball. Jets defense is tough and physical. If I’m making the decision I keep the mobile QB that’s led us to a 4 -2 record.
Worse loss of the week - Dallas Cowboys. Again. Cowboys are as average as average can get yet consider themselves to be a SB contender. They’re deluding themselves. It’s time for the Dallas Cowboys to admit they’re years away from being a true Super Bowl team. Stop living off the past. No one is scared of the current roster. You get crushed by good teams (Lions, Ravens, Saints) and squeak by against average teams (Steelers).
NFL Games: Week 6
Last week’s totals: 10 - 4: Not bad but I swear I picked the 49ers and the Ravens. Not sure what happened there.
Season’s totals: 57 - 35
Survivor pick/Lock of the week: (current streak 3) Bills
(Oh, and if you use these picks - or the fantasy lineup at the bottom - to gamble do so at your own risks. I’m a ‘gut feel’ type of picker. I don’t do a computer analysis.)
Thursday Night Game
Broncos vs. Saints - Saints got rolled last week by Tampa. Do they bounce back? Denver has been up and down which is to be expected with a rookie QB. But the Saints will be starting a rookie QB as well. Broncos win.
Sunday Games
Patriots vs. Jaguars - Jaguars are as frustrating a team as I’ve seen. They’ve beat themselves multiple times and should have a winning record. Looks like they wore down against the Bears. And by the second half didn’t appear interested. Hopefully they haven’t given up on the season. Jags win.
Seahawks vs. Falcons - Falcons are playing at home and have a powerful offense. They can score in bunches. Everything is a grind for the Seahawks. Falcons run it. Falcons hit big plays. Falcons wins.
Titans vs. Bills - Bills didn’t play well Monday night. But they got the win. And in fact, without a hail-mary at the end of the half by the Jets - who rushes only two players on that play? Stupid - it might end up being a blow-out. Bills welcome in Amari Cooper and roll against the Titans. Bills win.
Texans vs. Patriots - Rumors are Patriots will start Drake Maye this week. Texans win big.
Buccaneers vs. Saints - Saints are at home but could be starting a young, inexperienced backup QB. Buccaneers win.
Bengals vs. Browns - Browns defense has played well against the Bengals. They’ve pressured Burrow and forced lots of turnovers. Not this time. Burrow plays within the system, gets the ball out quick, and in the hands of Higgins and Chase. Browns have no soul. Bengals win.
Texans vs. Packers - Great game. This could go either way. Pack is at home and seem to be improving each week. Pack wins.
Dolphins vs. Colts - Dolphins aren’t winning until they get a QB. Tua may be coming back in a week or two but it will likely be too late. Maybe they be a spoiler. They need a plan at QB for the future of the franchise. Colts win.
Lions vs. Vikings - Who would’ve of thought that the NFC north would be the toughest division in football? Lions are coming off of an emotional revenge game. They crushed the Cowboys. But they lost Hutchinson. He’s one of their emotional leaders. And a great talent. He makes a difference. Vikings win.
Eagles vs. Giants - This is a division game with attitude. Barkley is coming home to NY wearing the dreaded and hated Eagles green. Eagles have their receivers back but pound the ball with Barkley. Eagles win.
Raiders vs. Rams - Rams are coming off a bye week. They are still short at the WR position. Raiders seem to be dumping players. Sometimes shedding players is addition by subtraction. Not this time. Rams win.
Panthers vs. Commanders - Commanders bounce back in a big way. This one is a blow-out and could’ve been the lock of the week. But it’s not fair picking the Panthers opponent every week. Load up your daily fantasy football team with Commanders. Commanders win.
Chiefs vs. 49ers - The 49ers need this win more than the Chiefs. But still no Christian McCaffrey. This equals trouble in the red zone. Chiefs don’t beat themselves. Chiefs don’t lose coming off of bye weeks. I think Chris Jones has a huge game. Chiefs win.
Jets vs. Steelers - Jets get some help on offense. They didn’t look great last week and lost a game the Bills tried to give them. They are effectively 3 games behind the Bills in the standings. They need this one. Rumors are Steelers will start Russell Wilson. I can’t understand this decision. It doesn’t make sense. If Russell starts Jets win. If Fields starts Steelers win. Either way J.T. Watt is going to be a force. Steelers win.
Monday Night Game
Ravens vs. Buccaneers - Ravens are figuring it out. Really, how hard is it to hand the ball off to Henry. Or tell Lamar to make a play. Buccaneers play hard but this is a step up in class. Ravens win a tight one.
Chargers vs. Cardinals - Should be a fun game. Chargers are rounding into shape and bonding. Chargers win.
My FanDuel lineup: (Last week score 135.7, +$5) Team #1: Cousins, Ekeler, Williams, London, Waddle, McLaurin, Kelce, J. Williams, Titans. Team #2: Daniels, Ekeler, K. Williams, McLaurin, Williams, Mooney, Know, London, Dolphins
Season score: +20
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