We are almost half-way through the 2020 NFL season. Time flies when you are having fun, I guess. Let’s preview Week 7 action.
Packers at Texans 1 PM ET FOX
Texans are a mess, but they are competitive. Dashaun Watson (107.6 QB rating) is dangerous and mobile with weapons. Texans run game respectable 4 YPC with David Johnson as the work horse. Will Fuller having a nice season with 455 yards and 4 TDs so far. Brandin Cooks adds 367 yards and 2 TDs and Randall Cobb will face his former team at 277 yards and 2 TDs. Tight end Darrell Fells with 205 yard and 3 TDs can produce too. Watson is spreading the ball around and having success despite the 1-5 record. Houston is only middle of the pack in PPG at 24.3 on offense.
The Texans big issue is on defense allowing 30.3 PPG. Aaron Rodgers (109.7 rating) should feast on them. Aaron Jones is banged up but could still play. Davante Adams, MVS and Tonyan should have big days for Green Bay. Green Bay’s defense will be fired up after getting torched by Tampa Bay. Rodgers had 2 interceptions and won’t let that happen again. Green Bay should win this game by double digits.
Lions at Falcons 1 PM FOX
This game has shootout written all over. The Lions defense and run defense showed signs of life in Week 6 stopping a decent Jacksonville offense. The Falcons looked great getting their first win last week over Minnesota. Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley are healthy enough and that is bad news for Detroit. Matt Ryan likes having Julio.
With Julio Jones (3.5 games): 69.9% completion percentage, 8.2 Y/A, 10 TDs, 1 INT, 114.3 passer rating for Matt Ryan
Without Julio Jones (2.5 games): 58.2% completion percentage, 6.6 Y/A, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 73.1 passer rating for Matt Ryan
Detroit still has secondary injuries with Desmond Trufant and Justin Coleman out. It will be up to the young CBs in Okudah and Oruwariye to contain Jones and Ridley. In other words, Detroit is going to need a real strong pass rush like in Week 6 to stop the Falcons passing attack.
Todd Gurley is having a solid year at 4.3 YPC and the Lions run defense has three bad games and 2 good games. They will need a good game to make the Falcons one dimensional.
The Falcons defense has been terrible but showed life in Week 6. Grady Jarrett still a beast but the Falcons pass rush is lacking. Tak McKinley is still hurt and should miss this game. Dante Fowler will have to step up a lot to earn that big contract he has. Deion Jones is a good cover LB and should have a big matchup against TJ Hockensen. The Lions will need to protect Stafford, avoid turnovers and make plays with Golladay, Jones and Amendola on this young Falcons secondary.
This game comes down to turnovers in a shootout. Whoever wins the turnover battle, wins the game.
Bears at Rams 8:20 Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football features two good defenses in the Bears and Rams. Jared Goff has rebounded with a nice year so far (101.4 QB rating). Darrell Henderson has taken the lead back role and producing 4.8 YPC in his second season. Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Gerald Everett, Tyler Higbee and Josh Reynolds is plenty of weapons. This game comes down to protection for Goff from the Bears strong pass rush led by Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks and Robert Quinn.
The Bears on offense are doing just enough with Nick Foles (80.4 QB rating) to be 5-1. Trubisky has an 87.4 rating but was benched in Week 3. David Montgomery started strong but now only has 3.7 YPC. The Bears miss guard James Daniels (IR) and Tarik Cohen (IR). Allen Robinson (474 yards and 2 TDs), Anthony Miller (169 yards and 2 TDs), rookie Darnell Mooney (196 yards and 1 TD), and Jimmy Graham (203 yards and 4 TDs) will need to step up against a solid Rams defense (19.0 PPG allowed for 5th best in league). Aaron Donald (7.5 sacks already) is always a problem and OLB Leonard Floyd (2 sacks) faces his old team. Jalen Ramsey will look to shut down Robinson which will hurt the Bears offense.
I see a low scoring defensive game. Rams pull it out with a late FG.
Vikings have a bye and traded Yannick Ngakoue (3rd and 5th round pick) and Danielle Hunter is on IR for the year with surgery. It’s rough in Minnesota land right now at 1-5.
Saints beat the Panthers for your bonus pick in the NFC South clash. Bucs beat the COVID Raiders.
Enjoy the games.