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🏈 (Updated 11:52 AM) NFL Week 7 - Top 4 Sunday Games to Watch

PLUS: Updated Inactive List, Predictions, Betting Odds and Top Picks

Author

Kevin Draft
October 22, 2023

Game Day Insights
Read Time: 4.1 mins

NFL Week 7 Sunday 1 pm Games are About to Kick Off

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22

The NFL’s last two unbeaten teams — the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles — both lost last Sunday, and now comes a Week 7 slate that features five 5-1 squads, three 4-2 teams and a cluster of others hovering around .500.

Several games on this week’s schedule are potential playoff previews, including the Miami Dolphins versus the Eagles, both of whom may be Super Bowl contenders.

Meanwhile, life doesn’t get any easier for the Las Vegas Raiders, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants’ as their starting quarterbacks are nursing injuries that will or could force them to sit out in Week 7.

It’s almost game time. Let’s get it!


  1. Top 4 Sunday Games to Watch

  2. Our Take & Betting Nuggets

  3. Inactive List (updated as of 11:52 am ET)

Top 4 Most Watchable NFL Games for Sunday

#1 Lions(5-1) vs. Ravens (4-2)

Our Take

The Lions, with momentum on their side, are keen to push their win streak to five games, solidifying their leadership in the NFC North. However, standing in their way is the robust defense of the Ravens.

Detroit's offensive might is evident, ranking behind only Miami and Buffalo in terms of points scored. And while Jared Goff and his crew have been on fire, last week's standout performance against Tampa Bay's defense, with Goff clocking 353 yards and two touchdowns, raises eyebrows. Amon-Ra St. Brown's impressive display, securing 12 catches for 124 yards and a touchdown, adds to the intrigue. A victory here would tie the Lions with their franchise's best-ever start from 1956.

On the other side, the Ravens, after clinching a win against Tennessee, are eager to find consistent form. They've had missed chances earlier in the season, notably against the Colts and Steelers.

The question remains: Can Lamar Jackson, with his capable yet inconsistent receiving corps, match the pace set by the Lions?

Betting Nuggets

  • The Lions are 5-1 ATS this season, tied with the Dolphins for the best record in the NFL. The Lions have covered in 28 games since Dan Campbell took over in 2021, the most of any team during that span.

  • The Lions are 7-1 ATS in their last eight road games.

  • The Ravens have gone under in 5 of their 6 games this season. Since the start of the 2022 season, the Ravens have gone under in 17 games, tied with the Saints and Titans for the most instances in the NFL.

#2 Chargers (2-3) vs. Chiefs (5-1)

Our Take

Riding the wave of five consecutive wins after an initial stumble against the Lions, the Chiefs are yet to unleash their full might, logging 30 fewer yards and 5 fewer points per game compared to last season.

This afternoon, they're set to host the unpredictable Chargers, who at 2-3, seem to have lost some spark. Their recent Monday night game against the Cowboys ended in heartbreak, with Justin Herbert's interception in the final 90 seconds snuffing out their comeback hopes.

Chargers' coach Brandon Staley is under pressure to reverse their fortunes, especially considering their recent history: they've been defeated in three straight games by the Chiefs and have come up short in six of their last eight encounters. Meanwhile, the Chiefs have consistently dominated the AFC West, claiming the division title for seven consecutive years.

This Sunday promises fireworks as two of the league's premier quarterbacks, Herbert and Patrick Mahomes, square off. The suspense, however, lies in which version of the Chargers will take the field.

Betting Nuggets

  • This will be the 54th time Patrick Mahomes is the starting quarterback in a game where the Chiefs are favored by 5-plus points, the most such games by any starting QB since Mahomes' first full season in 2018.

  • Mahomes has been favored in 98% of his home starts (52 of 53 games) including Sunday against the Chargers, the second-highest rate by a quarterback in the Super Bowl Era (min. 10 home starts).

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#3 Dolphins (5-1) vs. Eagles (5-1)

Our Take

In what could be a glimpse of a Super Bowl face-off, the 5-1 Eagles will clash with the equally formidable 5-1 Dolphins at Lincoln Financial Field this Sunday night. Philadelphia's pride took a hit with a recent loss to the Jets, and to regain momentum, they'll have to combat Miami's explosive offense, which has racked up an impressive 2,992 total yards in just six games. Yet, the Eagles aren’t lagging far behind, boasting an offense that averages 395.0 yards per game.

The sidelines of this duel will be occupied by innovative head coaches directing two of the game's most promising quarterbacks: Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa, once teammates at Alabama. Adding more sizzle, each squad possesses dynamic wide receiver pairs – Miami with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and Philadelphia with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

A subplot to this showdown is Miami's defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio. Once an Eagles consultant during their Super Bowl 57 run, he's familiar with their playbook. But the Eagles equally understand Fangio's tactics. As these two football juggernauts meet, the real question is: Who will outmaneuver the other in this anticipated showdown?

Betting Nuggets

  • The Dolphins are 5-1 against the spread, tied with the Lions for the best record in the NFL.

  • This will be the seventh straight Dolphins game where the over-under is at least 45 points, the longest active streak in the NFL.

  • This would be the 12th consecutive home game the Eagles have been favored, the longest active streak in the NFC.

#4 Bills (4-2) vs. Patriots (1-5)

Our Take

The Patriots, once the titans of the AFC East under Bill Belichick, are now teetering on the brink, currently at 1-5 and with three consecutive losses.

The mighty have indeed fallen, with Belichick now answering questions about his tenure's security. As they seek a much-needed upswing, a win against the in-form Bills seems almost like a pipe dream.

Buffalo is soaring, demonstrating prowess both offensively and defensively, while the Patriots seem to struggle to find their footing.

Recent history is also in Buffalo's favor, boasting wins in their last four encounters with New England, which includes a crucial January 2022 playoff victory.

Though the Patriots managed a slim victory in December 2021, the scales are heavily tilted this time. Can Belichick muster up some of his old magic to halt the rampaging Josh Allen-led Bills?

Betting Nuggets

  • Buffalo is favored by 8.5 points in New England. The last time the Bills were favored by this much at New England was 1993, the last season of their 4-year run of making the Super Bowl. The only 3 times they were favored by this much in New England were 1991 (-8.5, lost by 3), 1992 (-16, won by 34) and 1993 (-10, won by 3 in OT).

  • The Bills are favored for the 25th consecutive regular-season game, the longest active streak in the NFL.

  • New England has also failed to cover in nine straight games as an underdog, tied for the second longest ATS losing streak as an underdog in the Super Bowl Era.

  • The Patriots have failed to cover in nine of their last 10 games.

Updated as of 11:52 am ET

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