NFL Week 7 picks: NFC Least lead is in play
It’s so fitting to call the NFC East the NFC Least this season. Just adding an L to the division makes sense: Dallas, Washington, Philadelphia and the New York Giants have been collecting losses.
On Thursday night, NFL viewers will be treated to (subjected to?) Giants at Eagles. In some ways, it is a potential battle for first place in the NFL’s worst division. With the Cowboys and Washington going at it on Sunday, the winner at the Linc has a shot at the top spot should Dallas lose.
The NFC East has a 2-15-1 record (.139) in non-division games, which is third worst through six weeks since the 1970 merger. The AFC East was 1-9 (.100) after six weeks in1986 and the AFC Central was 2-16 (.111) in 1984. NFC East teams have also been outscored by 10.2 points per game in non-division games, twice as high as the next-worst sector, the AFC East (5.1).
Philadelphia has something of an excuse considering there are more starters on the injury list than on the field. The Eagles have displayed tremendous grit in going 1-4-1, which stands second to Dallas (2-4), and ahead of Washington and New York, both 1-5. The Giants come off their first victory for coach Joe Judge, beating Washington.
Philadelphia, No. 23 in the AP Pro32, is a five-point favourite over No. 29 New York. Pick: Eagles, 22-20
SUNDAY
No. 30 Jacksonville (-7 1⁄2) at No. 22 L.A. Chargers The Chargers have played better than a 1-4 team. Now they face a 1-5 team. Best bet: Chargers, 30-15 No. 21 Detroit (+2 1⁄2) at No. 27 Atlanta Only because we are required to pick an ... Upset Special: Lions, 30-29 No. 7 Tampa Bay (pick-’em)
at No. 12 Las Vegas
Don’t see it as much of a gamble backing Tom Brady in Sin City. Pick: Buccaneers, 27-24 No. 3 Pittsburgh (-2) at No. 4 Tennessee Battle of the unbeatens. The Steelers will stay unblemished. Pick: Steelers, 23-16 No. 14 Cleveland (-3 1⁄2) at No. 26 Cincinnati Looking for a bounce back from the Browns, though the Bengals are improving. Pick: Browns, 33-23 No. 24 Dallas (-2) at No. 31 Washington Man, it has gotten ugly in Big D. A trip to D.C. helps. Pick: Cowboys, 20-15 No. 19 Carolina (+7 1⁄2) at No. 10 New Orleans
The rested Saints should be up to speed at last. Pick: Saints, 30-20 No. 9 Buffalo (-12) at No. 32 N.Y. Jets The last thing the NFL’s worst team needs is an opponent coming off two untidy losses. Pick: Bills, 37-13
No. 6 Green Bay (-3 at No. 25 Houston
1⁄2)
Pro Picks still is shaking its head over how bad the Packers looked at Tampa. Pick: Packers, 27-24 No. 1 Seattle (-3) at No. 13 Arizona What a statement the Cardinals could make by winning this one. Nope, but close. Pick: Seahawks, 30-28 No. 16 San Francisco (+2 1⁄2) at No. 17 New England It’s been 20 years (pre-Brady) since the Patriots were 2-4. A loss would put them there. Pick: Patriots, 22-20
No. 2 Kansas City (-9) at No. 20 Denver
Like the Chargers, Denver is better than its results thus far. Still ... Pick: Chiefs, 31-20
MONDAY
No. 8 Chicago (+5 1⁄2) at No. 11 L.A. Rams Maybe by December we will have faith in the Bears. Pick: Rams, 23-19
RECORD
Straight up: 58-32-1 Against spread: 48-38-2