Week 7 in the NFL could present the most appetizing match schedule so far this season.
The headliner, of course, is the Super Bowl rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. But the Minnesota Vikings will join the Chiefs in putting their perfect record on the line against a powerful (and familiar) foe in the Detroit Lions.
Additionally, the Houston Texans and Green Bay Packers will also pit two of the best young quarterbacks in the game against each other in CJ Stroud and Jordan Love. And the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers will conclude the event Sunday night with a prime-time matchup featuring the respective team debuts of Davante Adams and Russell Wilson.
With no shortage of major storylines, here are USA TODAY Sports’ bold predictions for Week 7:
John Mara will have trouble sleeping Sunday night
Saquon Barkley will make his highly anticipated return to MetLife Stadium this weekend, bringing to mind New York Giants co-owner John Mara’s thoughts during the offseason. Mara didn’t want to see the star running back leave after six seasons – but particularly hated the idea of Barkley landing as a free agent with the formidable NFC East rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. As Mara puts it, he would “have trouble sleeping” if Barkley ended up in Philadelphia. Well, what happened happened and Barkley agreed to a three-year, $37.75 million deal. He now returns to the Meadowlands ranked fourth in the NFL in rushing (482 yards, 5.3 per carry) and fifth in yards from scrimmage (574). By the way, the Giants rank 24th in rushing yards. Barkley insisted this week that he has no hatred for the G-Men, but that, intentionally or not, revenge will be sweet. What if they showered him with constant boos? Barkley is about to have a big day leading the Eagles to victory in such familiar surroundings. I will predict a game of 100 rushing yards and a total of fifty yards with two touchdowns. This will be enough to keep Mara tossing and turning all night.
-Jarrett Bell
Saquon Barkley got paid and will now make the Giants pay
Denver Broncos HC Sean Payton’s victorious return to New Orleans on Thursday night marked a triumphant visit to the city where he established himself as a Saints (and NFL) legend. Still, there was virtually no animosity on his side, especially since it was Payton who decided to leave the Big Easy nearly three years ago.
This may not be the case on Sunday in the Big Apple. In a city bustling with the Jets, Mets, Yankees and Liberty, the lowly Giants will certainly command attention this weekend when they take on Saquon Barkley and his Philadelphia Eagles for the first time since the running back was allowed to leave last March during the free period. agency – reluctantly so as far as owner John Mara is concerned. Now a member of the Big Blue’s fiercest rival after signing a three-year, $37.75 million contract in Philadelphia, Barkley has been one of the league’s most productive backs – averaging a touchdown and nearly 115 yards from scrimmage per game. He can now set his sights on the team that drafted him second overall in 2018 but opted to replace him with players like Devin Singletary while reallocating money to the offensive line. (And after all that, the Giants rank 24th in rushing, while the Eagles average over 40 yards per game more than them.)
Barkley, who provided the Giants’ offensive identity for virtually his entire tenure and often without much adequate help, surely already had something to prove. Now he faces a defense that could be without injured studs Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, who is on IR. Don’t be surprised if Barkley has one of those memorable days – perhaps career-long – with around 200 total yards and three touchdowns.
Davante Adams will have 13 catches, 125+ yards and 1 touchdown in his Jets debut
Davante Adams hasn’t caught a pass from Aaron Rodgers during the regular season since January 9, 2022. Their separation won’t hinder their on-field relationship. Adams and Rodgers will pick up where they left off. I predict Adams will have 13 receptions on Sunday, which will match the second-highest he has in a single game in his career. Adams’ 13 catches will lead to over 125 receiving yards, and he’ll also have a touchdown for good measure.
The Rodgers-Adams connection will lead New York to a much-deserved victory, ending a three-game losing streak. Rodgers and Adams wanted to come together as teammates. They’ll show why they’re such a great duo in prime time Sunday night.
The Niners get massive Super Bowl revenge
A quick look at the USA TODAY NFL staff’s Week 7 picks indicates that I’m the only one brave enough to pick the San Francisco 49ers to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in “Game of the Week” American on FOX. I predicted the Niners would win by a score of 23-21, essentially saying they would cover the spread. Facing Andy Reid’s team when they have just received a bye is rather daring at first. But to say that the Niners, without Christian McCaffrey, will “blow out” the Chiefs is certainly bold. San Francisco inflicts on the Chiefs their first defeat of the season and takes a little revenge for the Super Bowl defeat in February with a final margin of at least 10 points.
—Chris Bumbaca
Lions limit Justin Jefferson to less than 100 receiving yards
Maybe it doesn’t seem so bold at first glance. But in eight games against Detroit, Jefferson averaged more receiving yards per game (134.1) than against any other opponent. The Lions, meanwhile, are without their best asset having ruled Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold out of his game after Aidan Hutchinson suffered a fractured tibia and fibula. But here’s a vote of confidence for defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who knows he can’t let Jefferson off easy. That could mean trying to replicate the New York Jets’ physical approach last week, in which they were flagged five times in the secondary but held Jefferson to six catches on 14 targets for 92 yards. And with aggressive newcomers at cornerback like Carlton Davis III and rookie Terrion Arnold, the Lions shouldn’t shy away from the challenge.
—Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
This article was originally published on USA TODAY: NFL predictions: Which players and teams will turn heads in Week 7?
