AI Opinion / Explanation

Here's Week 7, all times Eastern. Buffalo, Jacksonville, the Chargers and Washington are on bye, which leaves 14 games. Kansas City (5-0) and Minnesota (5-0) are unbeaten, San Francisco is 6-0, and Miami (0-5) and Tennessee (1-5) are the bottom of the league. One note on the Thursday game: Patriots-Bears kicked off last night, and my data feed doesn't show a final score yet. I've kept it as a prediction below. If you've already seen the result, treat that one as a pre-game call. ## Thursday, Oct 22, 8:15 PM ET (TNF) **New England Patriots (4-2) @ Chicago Bears (4-2)** This game has a 50.5 total and a spread of Bears -2.5 to -3.5. New England has won three straight, and Drake Maye has thrown 10 touchdowns against 1 interception in that stretch after six picks in his first three games. Chicago has the league's best rushing offense at roughly 160.7 yards per game, led by D'Andre Swift, and its defense has 17 sacks, including five last week in a 31-23 win at Atlanta. Chicago's ground game and pass rush against a Patriots offense that is finally steady make this close, and home field gives the Bears a slim edge. **Prediction: Bears 27, Patriots 24** ## Sunday, Oct 25, 9:30 AM ET (Paris) **Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) @ New Orleans Saints (2-4)** Pittsburgh is a 3.5-point favorite with a 44.5 total. The Steelers have won three of four, including a 26-19 win at Tampa Bay. New Orleans just beat the Giants 34-27 but is 2-4 and has had trouble stopping anyone. A neutral-site game removes the Superdome edge, and Pittsburgh's defense and run game should control it. **Prediction: Steelers 24, Saints 20** ## Sunday, Oct 25, 1:00 PM ET **Indianapolis Colts (2-4) @ Minnesota Vikings (5-0)** Minnesota is a 6.5-point favorite on a 41.5 total. The Vikings are rested after their bye and have won on defense all season, including a 9-3 win over Chicago. Indianapolis fell 26-20 to Tennessee, a team with one win, and has struggled to finish drives. I expect a low-scoring Vikings win. **Prediction: Vikings 24, Colts 14** **Miami Dolphins (0-5) @ New York Jets (2-4)** The Jets are 4.5-point favorites with a 39.5 total, the lowest-scoring projection outside Cleveland-Tennessee. Miami is winless and coming off a bye. The Jets have their own problems, and running back Breece Hall (quad) did not practice Wednesday, but they are at home against the league's worst record. The SportsLine model likes New York to cover. **Prediction: Jets 20, Dolphins 13** **Cincinnati Bengals (3-2) @ Baltimore Ravens (4-2)** This is the closest line on the board, with Baltimore -1.5 to -3.5 and the week's highest total (about 51, tied with SF-ATL). The key is Lamar Jackson's ankle. He hasn't practiced since the Oct. 4 injury, was limited Wednesday and Thursday, and is listed as questionable, so check his final status before kickoff. Tyler Huntley has been mixed in his place, and the Ravens lost 13-10 at Cleveland last week. Cincinnati is rested off its bye. If Jackson plays even at partial speed, I'll side with Baltimore at home. **Prediction: Ravens 27, Bengals 24** **Cleveland Browns (4-2) @ Tennessee Titans (1-5)** This has the lowest total of the week (37.5) and a spread of Browns -1.5. Cleveland has been grinding out wins, including 13-10 over Baltimore. Tennessee beat Indianapolis 26-20 for its first win but has the league's worst offense overall. I'll take the steadier Browns in an ugly one. **Prediction: Browns 20, Titans 16** **Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5) @ Carolina Panthers (3-2)** Carolina is a 3.5-point favorite with a 44.5 total after beating Philadelphia 25-14. Tampa Bay lost 26-19 to Pittsburgh, and Baker Mayfield's thumb is something to watch, though he was a full participant Wednesday. Carolina is the more consistent team and is at home. **Prediction: Panthers 24, Buccaneers 20** **San Francisco 49ers (6-0) @ Atlanta Falcons (2-4)** The spread has moved between 49ers -2.5 and -4.5 with a total near 50, so this has real shootout potential. San Francisco is unbeaten but has won close games (32-29 at Seattle, 23-17 over Washington). Atlanta lost 31-23 to Chicago and has been up and down. The 49ers are the better team, but I don't see a blowout. **Prediction: 49ers 27, Falcons 23** **New York Giants (3-2-1) @ Houston Texans (2-4)** Houston is a 10.5-point favorite, the largest spread of the week. The Texans beat Jacksonville 34-31 last week, so the offense is clicking again. The Giants lost 34-27 to New Orleans and look like a team that has been playing over its head. Houston's pass rush should control this one. **Prediction: Texans 27, Giants 16** ## Sunday, Oct 25, 4:05 PM ET **Denver Broncos (4-2) @ Arizona Cardinals (2-4)** Denver is a 4.5-point favorite with a 43.5 total, and the SportsLine model backs the Broncos to cover. Denver has been winning with defense, including a 17-14 win over Seattle on Thursday night. Arizona upset the Rams 18-16 last week, but rookie running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) is questionable. Denver is the more complete team. **Prediction: Broncos 24, Cardinals 17** ## Sunday, Oct 25, 4:25 PM ET **Los Angeles Rams (2-4) @ Las Vegas Raiders (3-3)** The Rams are 4.5- to 5.5-point favorites with a 47.5 total. Los Angeles lost 18-16 at Arizona last week after a 37-34 loss to Buffalo, so it is 2-4 despite scoring well. Las Vegas lost 33-30 to Buffalo. Both defenses have leaked points, so this should be high-scoring. I'll take the Rams' better offense. **Prediction: Rams 28, Raiders 24** **Green Bay Packers (4-2) @ Detroit Lions (3-2)** Detroit is a 3- to 3.5-point favorite on a 53.5 total, the highest of the day. The Lions are rested off their bye after a 45-21 win at Arizona. Green Bay beat Dallas 23-13 and Jordan Love has been in the MVP conversation, but his back is a concern: he was limited in practice. Detroit at home off a bye with a potent offense is the edge, though this could go either way. **Prediction: Lions 30, Packers 27** ## Sunday, Oct 25, 8:20 PM ET (Sunday Night Football) **Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) @ Seattle Seahawks (3-3)** The market has Seattle as a slight favorite (-2 to -2.5) on a 42 total, which is surprising for an unbeaten road team. Kansas City is 5-0 and Patrick Mahomes practiced fully. Seattle, the defending champion, lost 17-14 at Denver and scored only 14 points, so its offense has stalled. Lumen Field is a real advantage, so this is nearly a coin flip, but I'll go with Mahomes in the close, late-game spots. **Prediction: Chiefs 24, Seahawks 21** ## Monday, Oct 26, 8:15 PM ET (Monday Night Football) **Dallas Cowboys (2-4) @ Philadelphia Eagles (2-4)** Dallas is a 4.5-point road favorite on a 44.5 total, a rare line for a 2-4 team. The reason is Philadelphia: Jalen Hurts is reportedly out for the season (blood clots), and Saquon Barkley is also expected to miss time. The Eagles have lost four of five and scored just 14 in a loss to Carolina. Dallas lost 23-13 at Green Bay but still has the better offense available here. **Prediction: Cowboys 24, Eagles 17** --- The closest calls are Bengals-Ravens, Chiefs-Seahawks, Packers-Lions and Patriots-Bears. The biggest mismatches are Giants-Texans, Colts-Vikings and Broncos-Cardinals. Final injury designations to check before kickoff: Lamar Jackson (BAL), Jordan Love (GB), Baker Mayfield (TB) and Jeremiyah Love (ARI).