NFL Week 7: 49ers, Eagles Seek Bounceback; Jaguars Down Saints in TNF

It may have seemed that a fairly unpredictable 2023 season may have reached its zenith of off-centered zaniness last week with near upsets (Hello, Buffalo) and shockers that scarred unbeaten teams (Eagles, 49ers) and their fans.

But injuries to key players throughout the league are mounting, and such setbacks could make Week 7’s slate of games even tougher to get a bead on, and produce results as wild as Week 6. 

Week 7 has five teams enjoying bye weeks and could host two games featuring backup QBs for both participants. But it also showcases two must-watch games — though, at the beginning of the year, we wouldn’t have projected either matchup to offer as riveting a storyline as it now does. 

We will keep you in suspense on those two contests. In the meantime, here’s a deeper look at Week 7 of the 2023 NFL season.

WEEK 7 PREVIEW

Byes: Panthers, Bengals, Cowboys, Texans, Jets, Titans

Jacksonville (4-2) at New Orleans (3-3), Thursday 8:15 ET, Amazon Prime: Perhaps the most interesting Thursday game since the Detroit-Chiefs season opener. Trevor Lawrence’s injury, while not serious as initially thought, couldn’t have come have at a worse time for Jacksonville. If Lawrence doesn’t play, or plays but is physically compromised, expect a heavy dose of RB Travis Etienne Jr., who’s been a force in Jacksonville’s two recent wins (267 total yards and four rushing TDs).

Saints QB David Carr hopes to build off his most productive game of the year, 357 yards passing in a disappointing loss to Houston. The Saints need to fix their red-zone issues on offense — their 7-of-19 conversion rate inside the opposing team’s 20-yard line is 27th in the NFL. 

We anticipate a big game from the versatile RB Alvin Kamara and like the home team on the short week for the slight upset: New Orleans 20, Jacksonville 16.

Atlanta (3-3) at Tampa Bay, (3-3): Expect this clash of might NFC South powers, because of its divisional implications, to be a tense, closely fought battle between two teams who are likely as average as Bill Parcells says their records say they are. We want to project that the winner of this game gets a leg up in the division, but the NFC South champ has 9-8 written all over it. 

Both teams come off losses in Week 6: the Bucs to the surging Lions, and the Falcons to the Commanders, in a game that Atlanta statistically controlled but squandered. Atlanta QB Desmond Ridder has seen an uptick in his productivity recently, but limiting turnovers will be key Sunday.

The resurrection of Tampa QB Baker Mayfield’s career continues to move in fits and starts: very good in the road win over New Orleans, unproductive against a tough Lions defense. Tampa certainly needs something from its running game, which has been flatlining (No. 29 in the NFL). 

We think Ridder cleans up his play, for one week at least, and the Falcons’ rush forces Baker into a couple of key mistakes. Atlanta 24, Tampa Bay 17.

Detroit (5-1) at Baltimore (4-2), 1 p.m.: The game of the week. The Lions are playing like a team that expects to do damage in January. Their defense, which Detroit fans hoped would be better this season, has exceeded expectations. But the Lions haven’t met a running threat from the quarterback position like Lamar Jackson. The dual-threat Jackson is averaging nearly 57 yards rushing per game while completing a career-best 70 percent of his passes.

The other great face-off this Sunday is Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown (455 receiving yards) and the Lions’ passing attack against the Ravens’ pass defense, coming in at No. 2 behind Cleveland. Goff is orchestrating a very balanced attack (No. 4 passing offense, No. 8 rushing), so if Baltimore’s secondary gets stingy, don’t be surprised to see the Lions try to run the ball against Roquan Smith and company.

Seems like it should be a tough pick, but we think the Lions are without a weakness and will devour the Ravens. (And if that does not happen, we’ll eat crow on Monday). Detroit 24, Baltimore 13. 

Las Vegas (3-3) at Chicago (1-5), 1 p.m. ET: Nothing like a matchup of two backup quarterbacks to get the blood thrumming. For Chicago, backup Tyson Bagent is expected to start after replacing the injured Justin Fields in the 19-12 loss to Minnesota, when Bagent’s strip-sack fumble resulted in a defensive touchdown proved to be the difference.

For the Raiders, QB Jimmy Garropolo’s back-injury prognosis is better than initially thought, but he’s questionable for the Bears’ game. If he’s unable to go, veteran Brian Hoyer will start, and the Raiders should feel better about their QB situation than do the Bears. 

The sun is shining and Raiders have a chance to make hay. They’re coming off two unimpressive wins and have a chance for a third against a Chicago squad absent its “franchise” quarterback.

If Fields were playing, we’d go with Chicago. But he is not. So…Raiders 23, Chicago 9.

Cleveland (3-2) at Indianapolis (3-3), 1 p.m. ET: Another backup QB game…likely. For the Colts, it is assured, as they announced this week that rookie QB Anthony Richardson is scheduled to have season-ending shoulder surgery. For Cleveland, starting quarterback Deshaun Watson confirmed micro-tears in his throwing shoulder. He will miss practice Wednesday and says he may play Sunday but will not if he’s “unable to throw normally.” (Note that it was Watson himself who discussed the micro-tears; neither Cleveland coaches nor the Browns medical staff have yet to officially corroborate Watson’s diagnosis.)

For Browns fans, the fear is an emotional letdown against an Indy team, that while not very good, is at home and just one game out of first in the AFC South. The other concern is that their backup quarterback situation could not be dicier. Cleveland beat the 49ers despite backup P.J. Walker not because of him. If Walker is again called upon he, like Minshew, will need to play more judiciously if his team is to win. 

True, Cleveland’s defense is a force of nature right now. But it’s human nature to relax after an accomplishment as major as knocking a power from the ranks of the unbeaten. And P.J. Walker should be a terrifying spectacle for Cleveland supporters. Our “upset” special: Indianapolis 13, Cleveland 10.

Washington (3-3) at New York Giants (1-5), 1 p.m. ET: The Giants came within a blown PI call of pulling off the biggest upset of the season in Buffalo. They’ll likely go again with backup QB Tyrod Taylor in this divisional tilt as starter Daniel Jones is slow in recovering from his neck injury. Saquon Barkley’s return last week and his 93 yards rushing played a pivotal role in keeping New York within striking distance of a win.

On offense for Washington, if QB Sam Howell plays efficiently, as he did against Atlanta (three touchdowns), then the Commanders fare well. However, the Giants defense rose from the dead last week and throttled a potent Buffalo offense for three quarters. Can it repeat that effort against Howell and Washington’s attack?

Something tells us New York found something against the Bills. Maybe it was just being in such close proximity to all that free national healthcare. In any case, we’re going with the Giants at home to pull off another mini-upset. New York 17, Washington 16.

Buffalo (4-2) at New England (1-5), 1 p.m. ET: Buffalo’s season is becoming as enigmatic as it can get. The Bills rout Miami, lose to Jacksonville, barely escape with a prime time win against a bad Giants team. Defensively, with the season-defining injuries to three terrific starters, Buffalo may be skating on thin ice, even though it leads the league in sacks. But it was the Bills offense that, until a 14-point fourth quarter, looked so shaky against New York.

Meanwhile, New England’s offense remains in shambles. QB Mac Jones played better against Vegas than in prior weeks, but that was a low bar to clear. We keep expecting Jones to pull out of his season-long nosedive. And though it is entirely possible he plays better Sunday, it will not be enough to get Belichick to 300. Buffalo 27, New England 17.

Pittsburgh (3-3) at Los Angeles (3-3), 4:05 p.m. ET: The Steelers, like Buffalo, are a puzzle from week to week. They come off a bye following a huge home win over Baltimore. With QB Kenny Pickett getting some time off to heal the knee he injured in Week 5, the Steelers might be poised to make a push, with their schedule setting up somewhat favorably over the next three weeks.

But for that to happen, Pickett needs to play better, especially early in games. His stats (five TDs, 1,027 yards passing, 78.8 rating) do not really indicate just how ineffective he and offense have been in the first half of games this season.

The Rams right now are at .500 and things are trending upward since the return of receiver Cooper Kupp. QB Matthew Stafford and his OL, which has played better than expected this season (10 sacks allowed), will face a huge test Sunday against Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt, whose eight sacks is tied for the league lead. 

The Rams defense, even with the great Aaron Donald (2.5 sacks), have managed only eight sacks as a team. So a well-rested Pickett and Pittsburgh might do damage if the offense can off to a better start. 

But we do not see a fast start for happening for the Steelers. Los Angeles 27, Pittsburgh 20.

Arizona (1-5) at Seattle (3-3), 4:05 p.m. ET: Seattle, coming off a disappointing performance in its Week 6 loss in Cincinnati, returns home to play a feisty but outmanned Arizona team whose season may be ready to capsize. The Cardinals will look to take advantage of Seattle’s vulnerable pass defense, ranked 28th in the NFL. But the Cardinals passing attack ranks just 25th and a game plan that asks Josh Dobbs to throw a lot doesn’t play to the quarterback’s strengths.

Seattle hopes to see QB Geno Smith bounce back from a mistake-marred outing against the Bengals, where his two INTS nullified 329 yards passing. The Seahawks’ offense needs to improve its red zone efficiency — a repeat Sunday of the missed opportunities and penalties that sunk them in Cincy will also help the Cardinals hang around and make things uncomfortable.

We think a Seattle team still fuming from last week and playing before a rowdy crowd will be too much for Arizona to overcome. Seattle 30, Arizona 13.

Green Bay (2-3) at Denver (1-5), 4:25 p.m. ET: A matchup of two teams that have disappointed so far in 2023. Packer fans thought in Jordan Love that the heir apparent to Favre and Rodgers was at hand. In Denver, the arrival of Sean Payton and his offensive genius was supposed to turn around the play of QB Russell Wilson. 

Neither has happened. Love’s 2023 season peaked with a terrific fourth-quarter comeback against New Orleans but he’s been dreadful since. The Pack would hope for more of an impact from star RB Aaron Jones, who returned from a hamstring injury and had only six touches in the Week 5 loss to Detroit. But he’s questionable as of Wednesday.

Last Thursday night, Broncos QB Russell Wilson had miserable night throwing the ball against a tough Kansas City defense. He’ll need to rediscover wideouts Jerry Jeudy and Marvin Mims Jr., but Packers pass defense, ranked ninth in the league, may be at the same level as Kansas City’s, which does not point to a bounce-back performance for Wilson.

We do not see that happening. Though our confidence in Jordan Love flees when the light is turned on, we are going with the Pack for the road win. Green Bay 23, Denver 20.

Los Angeles Chargers (3-3) at Kansas City (5-1), 4:25 ET: The Chargers let an opportunity slip away Monday night in their tough loss to Dallas. Now, instead of having a chance to play for a share of the division lead, L.A. limps into hostile Arrowhead staring a sub-.500 record in the face. 

The stagnant Chargers running game goes up against a tough KC run defense, which means Justin Herbert, whose throws were all over the place against Dallas, will likely face a number of 3rd-and-longs against Chris Jones and an equally stout KC pass defense.

As for the Chiefs, even though they are No. 4 in NFL in total offense (382 yards per game), they continue to have problems finishing drives — exhibit 1A: they managed only one touchdown drive against the lowly Broncos defense last Thursday. 

The Chargers defense, meanwhile, is a paradox — they field one of the NFL’s  potent pass rushes (21 sacks, third in the NFL), led by ends Khalil Mack (seven sacks) and Joey Bosa (three), but are dead last in the league in pass defense. 

The upshot? If the Chargers can’t get to Patrick Mahomes, we anticipate Taylor Swift to be in a beaming tizzy most of the afternoon. Kansas City 24, Los Angeles 20.

Philadelphia (5-1) at Miami (4-2), Sunday Night Football, 8:15 p.m. ET, NBC :  Wait a minute…did we say Detroit visiting Baltimore was the game of the weekend? Scratch that. The Eagles at the Dolphins is Oppenheimer and Barbie and Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce date night all rolled into one epic Sunday night event. 

This game features the NFL’s highest ranked offenses. The Eagles are coming off their first loss and the inconsistency on offense evident that they seemed to resolve reappeared last week. Expect a better performance from Jalen Hurts, whose three interceptions propelled New York to the upset. Another thing to keep an eye on is whether A.J. Brown will maintain his tremendous roll. The Eagles WR is working on a streak of four consecutive games with at least 125 yards receiving.

But will the Eagles’ offense play well enough to stay with the blistering Miami offense? Expect Sean Desai, Philadelphia’s first-year defensive coordinator, to be reviewing the film of Miami’s lone loss, to Buffalo, to look for clues as to how the Bills challenged the schemes and pace of Mike McDaniel’s offense. 

We respect the Eagles and their physicality. But when it’s all said done, Miami in 2023 is just too much of a unicorn. The game of the year: Dolphins 33, Philadelphia 30. 

San Francisco (5-1) at Minnesota (MNF), 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC): The bloom came off of the 49ers and QB Brock Purdy in their loss to Cleveland, Purdy’s first as an NFL starter. 

This week, doubts about the second-year QB’s capabilities spiked among his detractors — everything from his hands being too small to play effectively in bad weather to whether he can put a team on his back should injuries subtract from the wealth the 49ers have at other skill positions, which is what happened when Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey exited in the loss to the Browns. Samuel is expected to play Monday; McCaffrey (as of Wednesday) is day to day and “questionable” for Minnesota. 

Minnesota bought itself some time this season with their defensive struggle of a win over Chicago. The offense really missed the brilliant Justin Jefferson, who was placed on IR with a hamstring injury and will not be reevaluated until mid-November. Against a 49er defense that on paper looks formidable, one would think Kirk Cousins and the Vikes offense to be in trouble. But the Niners pass rush is spotty.

We look for a deeper San Francisco team to better overcome its injury situation. 49ers 34, Minnesota 17.