FOOTBALL NFL ARTICLES

A defensive struggle is expected on Sunday afternoon, as the Baltimore Ravens visit the Minnesota Vikings in Week 7 on CBS. The Ravens come into the game at 3-3 and a game out of first place in the AFC North, while the Vikings are 4-2 and tied with Green Bay for first in the NFC North. The Ravens and Vikings have not met since 2013 when it was Baltimore winning 29-26 at home. Surprisingly, the last three meetings between the teams have gone over the total.... 

The Cincinnati Bengals have a chance to get back into the AFC North race, as they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in Week 7 action on CBS. The Bengals started the season 0-3 but they have won two straight, and with a win on Sunday they could move within a game of the Pittsburgh Steelers who lead the division at 4-2. This has been an ugly series of late for the Bengals, as they have lost seven of the last eight against the Steelers, including four in a row.... 

The NFL’s hard luck team, the San Francisco 49ers, host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in a game that can be seen on FOX. The 49ers made some history they really didn’t want to make last week, as they lost their fifth straight game by three points or less. While the 49ers come into this Week 7 game at 0-6 SU, they are a profitable 4-2 ATS. They will be facing a Dallas team that has been a disappointment so far at 2-3 SU and ATS and one that will likely be missing Ezekiel Elliott for the next six games.... 

Don’t laugh, but if the Miami Dolphins win this Week 7 matchup against the Jets and the Patriots lose their Super Bowl rematch against the Falcons, the Dolphins with Jay Cutler at quarterback will be leading the AFC East. Somehow the Dolphins are 3-2 on the season even though they are last in the NFL in scoring, averaging just 12.2 points per game. They will be facing a New York team that is 3-3 straight up and 4-2 against the spread.... 

While the New Orleans Saints have turned their season around with three straight victories to climb above .500 for the first time since the 2013 season, life for the Green Bay Packers just became much more difficult. The Pack lost Aaron Rodgers to a potentially season-ending injury when his collarbone snapped on a tackle against the Vikings. Taking the best player off the field certainly impacted Green Bay last week as they were unable to sustain anything with Brett Hundley behind center. Hundley will make his first career start in Week 7 as he tries to keep the Packers afloat.... 

It wasn’t pretty, but the Mitchell Trubisky era earned its first win and the Chicago Bears have plenty of reasons to be excited about the remainder of their season. The No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft hasn’t put up eye-popping numbers since taking over and the offense is still stuck in neutral, but to get a victory when the Bears tried their damndest to give it away says a lot about the character of the club. Trubisky will attempt to stabilize the Bears offense when they host the Carolina Panthers in Week 7.... 

It’s been a bad month for the Oakland Raiders, who saw their playoff hopes take another blow with a loss to the Chargers on Sunday, their fourth straight defeat after opening the season with a pair of impressive victories. They did get Derek Carr back in the lineup after missing one game with a bad back, but his return wasn’t enough to revive a struggling offense. It’s hard to say a game in mid-October is a must-win, but the Raiders will fall further behind the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West if they don’t win their Thursday night Week 7 affair.... 

It wasn’t a good week for the health of quarterbacks around the NFL, and while the loss of Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay captured most of the headlines around the league, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had to persevere without their gunslinger after Jameis Winston left in the first half with a shoulder injury. Winston didn’t return to the game, but he was seen on the sideline taking some throws, so maybe we’ll see the former No. 1 overall pick back on the field when the Bucs visit the Buffalo Bills in a Week 7 matchup.NFL ATS Pick – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills Game Preview... 

Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is trending toward a return for this game, which will make a big difference in the projected margin of victory. Tennessee would have been favored anyway if this was a battle of backup quarterbacks but the expected presence of Mariota tilts the scales even further in the Titans’ favor.Watch this regular season Week 6 matchup live on Monday, October 16, 2017, at 8:30 p.m. ET at Nissan Stadium.... 

Denver is at home and has been much better this season, so it’s no surprise to see the Broncos listed as the favorite in this one. The Giants haven’t been good on offense this year and are now missing their top two offensive weapons. It wouldn’t be a shock if they are held down by a spectacular Broncos defense.Watch this regular season Week 6 matchup live on Sunday, October 15, 2017, at 8:30 p.m. ET at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.... 

While it has been a bumpy start for Pittsburgh, the oddsmakers are confident the Steelers can keep this one close. The Chiefs will remain to stay undefeated on the season with a win while Pittsburgh would restore a great deal of confidence if it can pull the upset. Despite the early-season struggles, don’t count out the Steelers in this one, as they have some of the most potent weapons in the league.This matchup in Week 6 of the regular season will take place on Sunday, October 15, 2017, at 4:25 p.m. ET at Arrowhead Stadium.... 

Los Angeles finally got its first win of the season last time out but has little margin for error if it wants to get back in the playoff race. The Chargers will be the underdogs in this matchup if Raiders quarterback Derek Carr can play, but that is no sure thing. If he is not available, Los Angeles will have a definite chance to win.This is a critical game for the Raiders to avoid falling to 2-4 on the year but it won’t be an easy game either way, but especially if they are missing their quarterback.... 

The Rams lost a close one to the Seahawks last time out or they, too, would be in first place in their division. Both teams are 3-2 on the year and looking like playoff contenders after they both finished several games under .500 a season ago. This is an intriguing game between a pair of up-and-coming clubs that are built differently.The Rams are excelling because young quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley are playing really well, while the Jaguars look good because of a strong defense.... 

The Buccaneers may only a half-game advantage on the Cardinals in the standings but have looked much better. Arizona’s two victories have come in overtime and its minus-44 point-differential is the second-worst in the NFL behind only the Indianapolis Colts.

The Cardinals’ offense is struggling, but the Bucs’ offensive attack didn’t look too hot either last time out so this one could be a defensive battle.... 

The Texans’ normally-stingy defense was run over last time out in a shootout loss to the Chiefs. Even without star defensive end J.J. Watt, Houston should get back on track in this one. Cleveland is low on talent and has big-time quarterback problems, so it figures to be a long day.

Watch this regular season Week 6 matchup live on Sunday, October 15, 2017, at 1 p.m. ET at NRG Stadium.... 

The Ravens’ offense has been awful this season but somehow the team is sitting at 3-2 on the year and need to win games like this to keep their playoff hopes alive. Chicago showed some signs of life last time out against Minnesota but this is a tough matchup, especially if Trubisky is asked to do too much.

Watch this regular season Week 6 matchup live on Sunday, October 15, 2017, at 1 p.m. ET at MT&T Bank Stadium.... 

New England has to play this one on the road but has the huge talent advantage and shouldn’t have much trouble. The oddsmakers aren’t paying any attention to the records as the Jets are a big-time underdog even though both teams are 3-2 on the season.Watch this regular season Week 6 matchup live on Sunday, October 15, 2017, at 1 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium.... 

It won’t be easy as Minnesota is at home in this matchup, and defending that turf will pull the Vikings and the Packers even at 4-2 apiece. This is a pivotal spot for both teams and it should be a close matchup. There is an avenue for each side to win this one and it could come down to turnovers and critical stops in big situations.... 

The talent level on these teams is pretty similar. Detroit may have the slight edge there, but the home field advantage for New Orleans helps wipe that out. Both of these teams fancy themselves playoff contenders and this is a critical game on both sides.If either defense can come up with just a handful of stops and turnovers, it will give their team a big leg up. Tune in for what should be an entertaining contest between a pair of NFC teams.... 

The Eagles are coming off a whipping of the Arizona Cardinals in which they led 21-0 after one quarter and cruised. Cam Newton was great last time out as the Panthers got out to a big lead on the Lions and held on for the win.Both of these teams have the type of talent to make a playoff push. Each is competing for its division title and this has large-scale ramifications for both side.... 

The Miami Dolphins might be 2-2 on the season, but they are looking like a paper tiger. Miami has trouble scoring the ball and that’s not a good sign in Week 6 when it will need to score to keep up with the Atlanta Falcons.The Carolina Panthers are playing well in the NFC South so the Falcons need to keep winning to keep pace. They shouldn’t have much trouble in this matchup against the Dolphins.... 

Washington is the superior team and plays at home. The 49ers are a pesky opponent who won’t be an easy out, but the Redskins are a potential playoff team that needs to keep winning to stay around in the NFC East race. San Francisco may not win but the bigger question surrounds the spread, and the 49ers seem to have a good shot at covering in this one.Watch this regular season Week 6 matchup live on Sunday, October 15, 2017, at 1 p.m. ET at FedEx Field.... 

Chicago is 1-3 on the season and coming off a horrific offensive performance in Green Bay where Mike Glennon turned the ball over four times. The Vikings are hoping to stay in the NFC North race and are hopeful that they will have their starting quarterback for this contest. Either way Minnesota could be favored, but especially so if Sam Bradford is under center.This contest in Week 5 of the regular season will go down Monday, October 9, 2017, at 8:30 p.m. ET at Soldier Field.... 

The Chiefs are the only undefeated team left in the NFL at 4-0 and are hoping to claim the top seed in the AFC in the playoffs. There is a long way to go, but a nice road win here would be another step in the right direction.The Texans dominated Tennessee last time out and have both sides of the ball working. Based on Houston’s recent success, this game has been deemed a coin flip, with each team able to emerge victorious depending on what kind of bounces happen in the contest.... 

The Rams have always played Seattle tough but usually as a big underdog. They will be the surprising favorites in this matchup and will look to play up to that prediction. The Seahawks have a bunch of big-game experience and cruised to a win last time out against the Colts. They can tie the Rams atop the NFC West at 3-2 apiece with a win on the road in this matchup.This contest in Week 5 of the regular season will go down Sunday, October 8, 2017, at 4:05 p.m. ET at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum....