After this meeting between the Cardinals and the Saints, now place the rest of the NFL. Once is not custom, it is the Jaguars and the Giants who are honored for the poster of the week. Both franchises are in the process of rebuilding and giving hope to their supporters. This is THE match not to be missed.
For the rest, Bill Belichick, Arthur Smith and Dak Prescott will be in the spotlight. Here is precisely the program for week 7.
The match not to be missed
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-4) – New York Giants (5-1)
Who knew the Giants would be among the best teams in the NFC conference after 6 weeks? And yet, it is. Behind Eagles for the moment untouchable, New York keeps pace, as well as the Vikings. Surprising when you know that they only won 4 games last year. A victory in Florida would further validate this very good start to the season. We must indeed go back to 2008 to find traces of a 6-1 record for the Giants. Facing them, they will have a Jacksonville team that is more fickle. The Jaguars lost avoidable games, but also showed some great things. Their victories against the Colts or the Chargers, for example, proved that this team had talent. It now remains to prove it every weekend. What this young team can not do for the moment.
In attack, New York relies heavily on its ground game. If Daniel Jones is currently delivering the best season of his young career, there is still a second option behind Saquon Barkley. The running back is back in top form. With 771 yards, the runner is the player who gains the most yards from the line of scrimmage (616 on the run and 155 in the air). Sunday, he will find himself facing a defense that has a habit of closing the trenches. Jacksonville is third on the rush with just 3.6 yards allowed per carry. Miles Sanders is also the only running back to have exceeded 100 yards this season against the Jaguars. Can Barkley imitate his Philadelphia counterpart? Answer on Sunday?
The stat: 325
Kick-off in the night from Monday to Tuesday at 02:30
New England Patriots (3-3) – Chicago Bears (2-4)
On Monday, Bill Belichick will once again have the opportunity to make history. A success against the Bears would indeed allow him to become the second most successful coach in the NFL. With 324 wins, he is now tied with George Halas. Ironically, it is against his Bears that Bill Belichik can overtake the former Chicago coach. He will then only have Don Shula (with 347 victories) in his sights. At 70, the Patriots coach is already part of the very select group of coaches who have taken part in at least 400 games with the same team. He can therefore sit at the table of George Halas (506 with the Bears), Tom Landry (454 with Dallas) and Don Shula (422 with Miami). For that, write a little more history so he will have to win during this Monday Night Football.
A meeting which should mark the return of Mac Jones. If Bailey Zappe has left a good impression in these last two games, the sophomore should be lined up behind the offensive line. The opportunity to engage in a duel with Justin Fields. The two men come from the same draft vintage (2021) and will inevitably be linked until the end of their career. Fields, selected 11th, is currently not successful with Chicago. Inconstant, he struggles to exploit his potential. Mac Jones on the other hand, chosen with the 15th choice last year, has been in constant progression since his first tenure. Within an environment conducive to its development, the former Alabama shows great things. On Monday, the two men will have the opportunity to compete against each other.
Player: Dak Prescott
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Dallas Cowboys (4-2) – Detroit Lions (1-4)
Good news from the Dallas side. This Sunday, Dak Prescott should make his return. Injured in the thumb during the first game of the season, the quarterback had not walked the lawns since. In his absence, Cooper Rush has acted very well. Four wins (for one loss only) which allow the Cowboys to be more than ever in the race for qualification. However, last Sunday’s game against the Eagles exposed Rush’s ceiling. The pitcher is good, but will struggle to raise his level of play in big games. That’s why Prescott’s return will help this attack.
Against the Lions, this side of the ball will be crucial for Mike McCarthy’s men. Detroit has the worst defense in the league (34 points collected per game) and Dak Prescott must take the opportunity to warm up. Be careful, however, not to be too enthusiastic and want to do too much. Especially since the big gap in Dan Campbell’s men in defense is on the ground. With 167.6 yards conceded in the race, the Michigan franchise is the worst team in this sector. Ezekiell Elliott and Tony Pollard should not be forgotten. On the other side of the ball, despite 0 points facing New England, the Lions have a productive offensive squad. In particular thanks to an offensive line that protects Jared Goff very well (7 sacks collected, 1st in the league) and who will have to work against one of the best pass-rushes in the championship (24 sacks for the Cowboys, 1st in the league).
Coach: Arthur Smith
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Cincinnati Bengals (3-3) – Atlanta Falcons (3-3)
While he had been with the Titans for almost 10 years, Arthur Smith had made a discreet arrival at the Falcons last year. From now on, he is in the process of giving reasons to the leaders who trusted him. After a far from catastrophic season in 2021 (7-10), Atlanta seems to have progressed. On paper, the workforce is not necessarily cut to play at the top of the table, yet the Falcons are currently showing a balanced balance sheet and share the head of the NFC South with the Buccaneers. A start to the season that has something to give confidence. This Sunday, they move to a big piece of the AFC: Cincinnati. The Bengals are neither more nor less than the last participants (unfortunate) of the Super Bowl.
In this meeting between two teams with the same record (3-3), the ground game will certainly be key. Since the start of the season, Arthur Smith has sent a clear message to the league. Atlanta faces the ground. Just look at last week’s stats. The Falcons beat San Francisco with 40 runs and 14 assists. In this scheme, Marcus Mariota has less pressure and he is good. His throws are not forced and he can give his team the benefit of his physical qualities. As a result, the franchise is third best in the league in this sector (165.2 yards/game). The Bengals will therefore have to be vigilant, they who have difficulty in this area at times (21st in the league with 121 yards conceded per game).
The division duels
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Baltimore Ravens (3-3) – Cleveland Browns (2-4)
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Carolina Panthers (1-5) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3)
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Tennessee Titans (3-2) – Indianapolis Colts (3-2-1)
At the heart of the season, the rhythm of intra-division oppositions drops a little. We still have our lot for this week 7. All three games will be played at 7 p.m. Starting with the AFC North and moving from Cleveland to Baltimore. If the Ravens again let slip a favorable gap to finally bow, the urgency is rather on the side of the Browns. Kevin Stefanski’s men are on three consecutive defeats and have not won for a month (vs. Pittsburgh on Oct. 22).
Also in this AFC conference, in the South this time, Tennessee wants to take advantage of its rest week to start its second part of the season well. For now, the Titans are first in the division, but the slightest misstep against the Colts and Indianapolis would come back ahead. Finally, in the NFC, Tampa Bay must redeem itself from its setback against the Steelers last week. Tom Brady and his men therefore have the perfect victim available: the Panthers. Carolina may be the worst team in the league right now and not sure a game against the champ 2020 restores confidence to the men of Steve Wilks.
The rest
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Washington Commanders (2-4) – Green Bay Packers (3-3)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Denver Broncos (2-4) – New York Jets (4-2)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Las Vegas Raiders (1-4) – Houston Texans (1-3-1)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Los Angeles Chargers (4-2) – Seattle Seahawks (3-3)
Kick-off in the night from Sunday to Monday 02:20
Miami Dolphins (3-3) – Pittsburgh Steelers (2-4)
In the rest of the week’s meetings, Green Bay will be closely scrutinized in Washington. After two straight losses to New York teams, the Packers can no longer afford to leave games on the way. The attack does not succeed and this trip to the federal capital is crucial for Aaron Rodgers and his team. Later in the evening, another struggling quarterback will be observed: Russell Wilson. Except it’s not safe to play. Affected, the former Seahawk is uncertain for the reception of the Jets by his Broncos.
The Raiders and the Texans them come out of their week of rest and will face each other in Las Vegas. Further west, in California, Los Angeles remains on three consecutive victories. The reception of Seattle will be an opportunity for the Chargers to aim for the pass of three. Finally, Monday Night Football will be an opposition in AFC. The Steelers travel to Florida to face Miami. Both franchises are in top divisions and already need wins.
The posters
Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Baltimore Ravens (3-3) – Cleveland Browns (2-4)
Carolina Panthers (1-5) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3)
Cincinnati Bengals (3-3) – Atlanta Falcons (3-3)
Dallas Cowboys (4-2) – Detroit Lions (1-4)
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-4) – New York Giants (5-1)
Tennessee Titans (3-2) – Indianapolis Colts (3-2-1)
Washington Commanders (2-4) – Green Bay Packers (3-3)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Denver Broncos (2-4) – New York Jets (4-2)
Las Vegas Raiders (1-4) – Houston Texans (1-3-1)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Los Angeles Chargers (4-2) – Seattle Seahawks (3-3)
San Francisco 49ers (3-3) – Kansas City Chiefs (4-2)
Kick-off in the night from Sunday to Monday 02:20
Miami Dolphins (3-3) – Pittsburgh Steelers (2-4)
Kick-off in the night from Monday to Tuesday at 02:30
New England Patriots (3-3) – Chicago Bears (2-4)
At rest : Buffalo Bills (5-1) – Los Angeles Rams (3-3), Minnesota Vikings (5-1) and Philadelphia Eagles (6-0).
