Dee Friedman
Week 7 in the NFL is highlighted by heavyweight meetings as the Bengals face the Colts and the Broncos host the 49ers. The Eagles and Bucs have the week off, while Kansas City and New Orleans return to action after a week 6 bye. Let’s take a look at this week’s slate.
Week 7 in the NFL is highlighted by heavyweight meetings as the Bengals face the Colts and the Broncos host the 49ers. The Eagles and Bucs have the week off, while Kansas City and New Orleans return to action after a week 6 bye. Let’s take a look at this week’s slate.
Thursday
New York Jets at New England
The Jets have not played well on the road this year and now face a challenge in New England. New York fell at Green Bay 31-24 in week 2 and were shutout 31-0 at San Diego in week 5. This is the first divisional game of the year for the Jets, who do a good job running the ball and stopping the ground game, but are only average defending the pass and have the worst passing offense in the NFL. The Patriots are not off to their usual great start, but have been reliable at home. New England beat the Raiders 16-9 in week 3 and demolished the Bengals 43-17 in week 5. The Pats were 8-0 at home last year and 6-2 against the spread.
Sunday
Miami at Chicago
The Dolphins are playing just their second true road game of the season. Miami fell at Buffalo 29-10 in week 2 and beat the Raiders in London 38-14 on September 28. This is the second straight game against NFC North competition for Miami. The Bears are playing their only home game during a six week span. Chicago is 0-2 at home with losses against Buffalo (23-20 in overtime) and the Packers (38-17). Dating back to the start of last season, the Bears are 1-7-2 against the spread at home. Seven of Chicago’s last ten home games have hit the over, dating back to the start of the 2013 season.
Atlanta at Baltimore
The Falcons were 1-7 on the road last year and are 0-3 this season. Atlanta is also 0-3 against the spread away from home this year after going 3-5 in 2013. The Falcons lost at Cincinnati 24-10 in week 2, fell at Minnesota 41-28 in week 4, and dropped a 30-20 decision to the Giants in week 5. Baltimore is 2-1 at home following a 6-2 mark last season. The Ravens are 7-4 against the number during those 11 games. This year, Baltimore lost at home to Cincinnati on opening day 23-16, beat the Steelers 26-6 four days later, and took care of Carolina 38-10 in week 4. This is the only home game during a five week run for the Ravens.
Tennessee at Washington
The Titans were road warriors last year going 4-4 away from home and 5-2-1 against the spread. They started this year well winning at Kansas City 26-10 in week 1. However, Tennessee was blown out in Cincinnati 33-7 during week 3, and 41-17 at Indianapolis in week 4. This is the only road game in a four week stretch for the Titans. The Redskins are 1-2 at home this year, with their lone victory coming against lowly Jacksonville. They fell to the Giants 45-14 in week 4, and lost 27-17 at Seattle in week 5. The Skins are 4-7 at home against the spread during the past two seasons.
Seattle at St. Louis
As good as the Seahawks have been the past three seasons, their road numbers are only average. Seattle is 11-7 against the spread on the road over that span, compared to 14-4 at home. Seattle lost at San Diego 30-21 in week 2 and beat the Redskins 27-17 in week 5. The Seahawks are among the best teams in the NFL both running the ball and defending the ground game. This is the second of two straight home games for St. Louis. The Rams have dropped three straight and six of the last seven meetings with Seattle. Their average margin of defeat in those six games is 12.3 points.
Cleveland at Jacksonville
After winning in Nashville 29-28 during week 5, the Browns are looking for consecutive road wins for the first time since 2008. The Browns fell behind the Titans 28-3, only to put together the biggest comeback for a road team in NFL history. In their only other road game this year, the Browns lost at Pittsburgh 30-27 in week 1. That game also featured a massive Browns comeback, though it fell just short. The Jags two home games this season have had the same result, but been contrasts in style. Indianapolis led Jacksonville 30-0 at halftime and cruised to a 44-17 victory in week 3. Against the Steelers in week 5, the Jags led early and trailed just 10-9 in the fourth quarter, ultimately falling 17-9. Jacksonville is 2-16 against the spread at home over the past three seasons.
Cincinnati at Indianapolis
The Bengals have been very good at home recently but only average on the road. Dating back to the start of last year, Cincinnati is 4-6 away from home and 3-6-1 against the spread. The Bengals started the year with an impressive 23-16 win at Baltimore, but got trounced in New England 43-17 in week 5. Cincinnati has three straight home games after this tilt. The Colts lost their home opener to Philadelphia 30-27, but have won two consecutive games at Lucas Oil Stadium, beating Tennessee 41-17 and Baltimore 20-13. Indy is 15-4 at home during the past three years and 14-5 versus the spread.
Minnesota at Buffalo
The Vikings played well in their season opening 34-6 road win over St. Louis, but were outscored 62-19 in their next two road games (losses against the Saints and Packers). Minnesota went 0-7-1 away from home last year but managed to keep games closer than expected, finishing 4-4 against the spread. The Vikings destroyed Buffalo 38-14 in their last meeting. This matchup is sandwiched between divisional games for the Bills. Buffalo went 1-4 following divisional tilts last year. The Bills were 4-4 at home last year and 6-2 against the spread.
New Orleans at Detroit
The Saints exit their bye week looking for their first road victory of the season. New Orleans is 2-0 at home and 0-3 on the road. They lost 37-34 in overtime at Atlanta in week 1, fell 26-24 at Cleveland in week 2, and dropped a 38-17 week 4 decision to Dallas. Since the start of last year, New Orleans is 1-10 against the number on the road. The Saints have won four straight regular season games following byes, though, with an average margin of victory just under 20 points. The Lions looked good at home early this year beating the Giants 35-14 and Green Bay 19-7; but the Lions put in a surprisingly lackluster performance in their 17-14 loss to Buffalo 17-14 in week 5. Detroit is just 8-11 straight up and against the number over the past three years at home. The Lions are good on defense and pass the ball effectively, but have struggled in the ground game.
Carolina at Green Bay
The Panthers are on the road for the third time in four weeks and the challenges aren’t getting any easier. This is the second of five straight games for Carolina against opponents that made the playoffs last year. Last season, Ron Rivera’s team went 5-3 away from home and 3-5 against the spread. In 2012, the Panthers were 4-4 on the road but 6-2 against the number. Green Bay is 2-0 at home with convincing wins against the Jets and Vikings. The Packers have won five of their last seven meetings with Carolina, but are just 3-2 all time against the Panthers at Lambeau Field.
Kansas City at San Diego
The Chiefs come off of a bye in week 6, which followed a 22-17 loss at San Francisco in week 5. Kansas City dropped a 24-17 game in week 2 at Denver and their lone road win came against Miami (34-15) on September 21. After starting last year 9-0, the Chiefs dropped three straight following their bye. Kansas City coach Andy Reid lost six straight games after his bye week when coaching Philadelphia in 2012, but won following the week off every season between 1999 and 2012. After starting the year with three home games in five weeks, San Diego is playing their only game at Qualcomm during a four week span. This season, the Chargers have beaten Seattle, Jacksonville, and the Jets at home, the latter two convincingly. San Diego is 8-3 straight up and against the spread under Mike McCoy at home.
Arizona at Oakland
The Cardinals, who are off to a solid 3-1 start, are in the Bay Area looking to go 2-1 on the road this year. Arizona beat the Giants in New York 25-14 in week 2, and fell at Denver 41-20 in week 5. Last season, the Cards were 4-4 on the road and 5-2-1 against the spread. Following a bye week and coaching change, the Raiders are at home for a second straight week. The Raiders have not had a winning mark at home against the spread in any of the past seven seasons. The teams have split their last four matchups.
New York Giants at Dallas
For a second straight week, the Giants play a divisional road game. Strangely, New York plays all three of their NFC East rivals on the road before any of them travel to MetLife Stadium. Dallas won both meetings between the teams last year, though each game was decided by less than a touchdown. The teams have split their last eight matchups. Dallas is 2-1 at home with wins over New Orleans and Houston, and a 28-17 opening day loss to San Francisco. The Cowboys were 5-3 at home last year.
San Francisco at Denver
The Niners and Broncos have each made a Super Bowl appearance in the last two years, but neither was able to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. San Francisco will be coming off of a Monday night game on the road, so they have a very short week to prepare. The 49ers have won two straight versus Denver with their last matchup in London in 2010. San Francisco has won five of their last seven against Denver, but that dates all the way back to a 55-10 win in the 1990 Super Bowl. The Broncos are 3-0 at home this year and 17-2 at home in the last three seasons. They are 11-7-1 against the spread during those 19 home games.
Monday
Houston at Pittsburgh
The Texans are on the road, again. Houston’s schedule has two road games in the first three weeks, three over the first five games, and five in the first half of the year. Thus far, Houston is 1-2 away from home with a win at Oakland, a loss against the Giants, and an overtime setback in Dallas. The Texans are 2-2 all time against Pittsburgh, and 1-1 at Heinz Field. The Steelers are 1-1 at home this year with a win over Cleveland and a loss to Tampa Bay. Pittsburgh has gone 5-3 at home each of the last two years. This is the first of three straight home games for the Steelers.
