Injuries are once again a major theme of the 2025 NFL season, with some of the best teams in the league dealing with massive absences. There also appears to be more parity in the National Football League than we’ve seen in recent seasons and with new contenders emerging, there’s an exciting later of unpredictability with every game on the NFL schedule each week.
Ahead of a slate that includes a pair of Monday Night Football games, with just two clubs on the bye, let’s dive into our NFL Week 7 predictions.
Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Cleveland Browns 14
NFL Week 7 Predictions
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Aaron Rodgers is a top-five quarterback this season, in terms of passer rating, when sitting in a clean pocket. The Cincinnati Bengals will likely be without Trey Hendrickson in Week 7 and this team already has one of the lowest pressure rates (16 percent) in the NFL. If that’s not enough of a matchup-decider, Joe Flacco is the second-worst quarterback versus pressure and this Steelers’ defense has 17 sacks in its last three games. While craziness happens on Thursday Night Football, this feels like a game the Steelers should control.
Jacksonville Jaguars 20, Los Angeles Rams 17
NFL Week 7 Predictions
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Of the 17 points scored by the Los Angeles Rams against the league’s worst defense, seven came almost immediately after a turnover. Sean McVay’s offense has only a 31.9 percent third-down conversion rate in the last four games and could now be without Puka Nacua (ankle) in Week 7 for a matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. This projects to be a low-scoring game, but Jacksonville’s experience playing overseas and the way its defense has played as of late give enough of an edge to beat Los Angeles.
Chicago Bears 28, New Orleans Saints 20
NFL Week 7 Predictions
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The New Orleans Saints will make things interesting in Week 7. Despite being a one-win team, New Orleans has played in quite a few one-score games. However, this Saints’ defense has surrendered a 109.4 QB rating with a 69.5 percent completion rate and 2.3 passing touchdowns per game this season. This is an opportunity Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams can make the most of, and this Bears’ passing game can deliver another strong performance in a victory.
Cleveland Browns 17, Miami Dolphins 13
NFL Week 7 Predictions
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Dillon Gabriel will get his first win as an NFL starter in Week 7. The Miami Dolphins defense has one of the lowest pressure rates (16.7 percent) in the league and this unit has a penchant for missing tackles, all the while struggling to defend the run (168.5 rush ypg allowed, most in NFL). That’s a recipe for a Cleveland Browns victory. Cleveland’s run defense (79.7 rush ypg and 3.1 ypc) will shut down De’Von Achane and take away Tua Tagovailoa’s primary read, with Quinshon Judkins rushing for 90-plus yards in a Browns’ victory.
New England Patriots 27, Tennessee Titans 17
NFL Week 7 Predictions
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In Week 7, Tennessee Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi will see what a difference that a new coaching staff can make for a young quarterback. That’s going to be the best thing Tennessee takes away from this upcoming loss to the New England Patriots. Drake Maye’s breakout season will continue on Sunday afternoon at Nissan Stadium, with his three touchdowns paving the way to a three-game win streak for New England.
Kansas City Chiefs 34, Las Vegas Raiders 14
NFL Week 7 Predictions
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In the last three games, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has a 70.4 percent completion rate and 113.4 QB rating, with this offense averaging 31.7 points per game. That’s before Rashee Rice’s Week 7 return. Even if the timing with his No. 1 receiver isn’t perfect in their first game back together, just having Rice on the field should make this a top-flight passing game again. That’s bad news for the Las Vegas Raiders, who are thin at cornerback, can’t pass protect and have a quarterback with a penchant for turnovers when pressured. Rivalry games can have a surprising result here and there, we don’t anticipate that happening here.
Philadelphia Eagles 21, Minnesota Vikings 20
NFL Week 7 Predictions
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Fortunately for the Philadelphia Eagles, they are facing the Minnesota Vikings at the right time. Minnesota’s offensive line is still banged up coming off the bye, and there’s real uncertainty about who the starting quarterback will be in Week 7. Even with that, an out-of-sync Eagles’ offense is unlikely to fix its issues versus Brian Flores’ complex scheme and talented front seven. Philadelphia can still sneak out of U.S. Bank Stadium with a victory, but it likely wouldn’t be a win that would re-ignite confidence from the fan base.
Carolina Panthers 28, New York Jets 21
NFL Week 7 Predictions
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For the first time since October 2021, the Carolina Panthers have a shot at being above .500. Rico Dowdle, coming off consecutive games with 200-plus scrimmage yards, is the biggest reason for this team’s success as of late. Just behind that is a defense that has held its last four opponents to 73.4 rush ypg with a 3.4 yards-per-carry average. Carolina can take away the one thing the New York Jets do well, and even if Sauce Gardner blankets Tetairoa McMillan, Dave Canales will ensure that Dowdle feasts on a defense that is allowing 145 rush ypg in the last month.
Denver Broncos 24, New York Giants 17
NFL Week 7 Predictions
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The fun probably ends here for Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo in a Week 7 matchup versus the Denver Broncos. In the last four games, the league’s No. 1 defense has allowed just 74 rush ypg and 3.5 yards per carry, with quarterbacks averaging 155.8 pass ypg and posting a 58.3 percent completion rate with a 75.7 QB rating. Even if Bo Nix struggles again, Denver’s defense and a strong performance on the ground from J.K. Dobbins should propel the Broncos to a victory.
Washington Commanders 34, Dallas Cowboys 28
NFL Week 7 Predictions
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Opponents have averaged 174.7 rushing yards and 251 passing yards per game against this Dallas Cowboys defense in the last three games. The recipe for success is simple for the Washington Commanders, just let Jayden Daniels and Bill Croskey-Merritt do their thing. Dak Prescott and George Pickens will do their best to keep it close, but Dan Quinn’s familiarity with the Cowboys’ offense gives Washington another edge that should translate into a win.
Indianapolis Colts 24, Los Angeles Chargers 17
NFL Week 7 Predictions
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The Los Angeles Chargers have two big problems in this Week 7 draw versus the Indianapolis Colts. First, opponents have averaged 144.8 rush ypg and 5.2 yards per carry against Los Angeles in the last four games. Second, the Chargers’ defense really struggles at generating pressure without Khalil Mack. Those two issues together are a recipe for a loss to Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor, especially given how dominant the Colts’ offensive line has been this season.
Green Bay Packers 28, Arizona Cardinals 20
NFL Week 7 Predictions
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At the very least, the Arizona Cardinals will be without James Conner and Trey Benson for this Week 7 contest. It’s a bad spot to be in ahead of a matchup against the league’s best run defense. Arizona will put up a fight against the Green Bay Packers, but there’s just no way to trust this Cardinals team and Kyler Murray in close games. Packers fans just shouldn’t bank on this win being any easier to watch than the too-close-for-comfort victory over Cincinnati.
Atlanta Falcons 27, San Francisco 49ers 23
NFL Week 7 Predictions
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The San Francisco 49ers defense has just three sacks in its last four games and now this unit, which has allowed 4.5 yards per carry over the last three contests, just lost linebacker Fred Warner. Even if Brock Purdy and Ricky Pearsall are able to return in Week 7, the holes on defense will prove costly on Sunday Night Football against Bijan Robinson and the Atlanta Falcons.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24, Detroit Lions 21
NFL Week 7 Predictions
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We’re not picking against Baker Mayfield on Monday Night Football. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3.7 yards per carry allowed) can contain Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, forcing Jared Goff to beat them with pressure in his face. Furthermore, Mayfield has already demonstrated he can still thrive with backup receivers and Detroit’s secondary is just as depleted as the Buccaneers’ receiving corps. It should still be a great primetime game, but the Bucs pull another close one out in the final minutes.
Seattle Seahawks 20, Houston Texans 14
NFL defense rankings
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The Seattle Seahawks have one of the highest pressure rates (21 percent) and sack rates (8.1 percent) in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans offensive line still ranks 29th in ESPN pass-bock win rate (51 percent). On top of that, Seattle has allowed just 71 rush ypg since Week 2. Try as the Texans’ defense might on Monday Night Football, the pass rush just won’t be quite enough to overcome the edge Seattle’s defense will have versus the Texans’ offense.
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Matt Johnson is Senior Editor of NFL and College Football for Sportsnaut. His work, including weekly NFL and college ... More about Matt Johnson