The NFL rolls along in the 2017 season as there are fifteen games on tap, including last night's battle between the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs, which Oakland won in nail biting fashion, 31-30.The headliner game is the Sunday night match in New England between the Patriots (4-2) and the Atlanta Falcons (3-2) in a rematch of last season's Super Bowl, which the Pats won, 34-28 in overtime in the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. Atlanta blew a 28-3 lead in that game.
Can the Falcons exorcise their demons from that letdown (which many called a big time choke by Atlanta) in addition to ending their two-game losing streak? Can Tom Brady and the Patriots rebound in Gillette Stadium after losing their last two home games?
This will definitely be a good game to watch between two of the better teams in the NFL, including two of the best quarterbacks (Brady and Matt Ryan) in the game.
Another big game on Sunday has the New Orleans Saints (3-2) traveling to face the Green Bay Packers (4-2), who will be without QB Aaron Rodgers (likely for the rest of the season) in this one. The Saints have won three straight and Drew Brees has been nothing short of awesome this year, throwing ten touchdown passes with just two interceptions. The Saints lit up the Detroit Lions, 52-38 last week as their defense scored three touchdowns in the wild game.
The surging Los Angeles Chargers (2-4) host the Denver Broncos (3-2) on Sunday and will be looking to avenge their opening game loss six weeks ago on Monday Night Football.
The Broncos (coming off an embarrassing home loss to the NY Giants) squandered a 24-7 lead as the 'Bolts scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, only to have rookie kicker Younghoe Koo's field goal blocked on a second attempt (after Denver used the pimpy timeout to thwart the made kick) that cost them a chance to tie it at 24-24 in the closing seconds. Koo has since been cut by the Chargers and Nick Novak is back and he made the game-winning field goal last week against Oakland as time expired in a 17-16 win.
And the Washington Redskins (3-2) face the high flying Philadelphia Eagles (5-1) on Monday Night Football in another rematch from Week One.
In that game, the Eagles dominated the 'Skins in D.C. 30-17 as Carson Wentz set the tone for the superb season he has enjoyed to this point (13 TD passes and only three INT) with two scoring passes and 307 yards to pace the victory. Washington QB Kirk Cousins is no slouch as he has passed for nine touchdowns so far with only two picks. The Redskins are coming off a close home win (26-24 vs. 49ers) following their bye week.
All in all, it looks to be another exciting week in pro football, so here we go again with the capsule style previews for the rest of the action and also the Heftyinfo predictions for Week Seven.
Tampa Bay (2-3) at Buffalo (3-3) - The Bills play good defense and are always tough at home. Bucs starting QB Jameis Winston was injured last week and former Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick nearly rallied the team back from a 31-0 deficit. Winston is starting this week.
Carolina (4-2) at Chicago (2-4) - The Bears beat up on the Ravens strong D to the tune of 237 rush yards in last week's surprising win. The Panthers lost a squeaker at home to Philadelphia. Toss up here.
Tennessee (3-3) at Cleveland (0-6) - Can the Browns finally get a win against a team that struggles on the road? Nope.
Jacksonville (3-3) at Indianapolis (2-4) - The Colts are STILL waiting for the return of QB Andrew Luck.
Arizona (3-3) at Los Angeles Rams (4-2) (in London, England) - Go figure -- Two teams from way out West have to travel all the way to England to play a football game. Toss up here as well.
New York Jets (3-3) at Miami (3-2) - Jay Cutler and the Dolphins stunned Atlanta last week, coming back from a 17-0 halftime deficit to steal the win. The Jets blew a 14-point lead in a home loss to the Patriots.
Baltimore (3-3) at Minnesota (4-2) - Can the first place Vikings keep a good thing going? The Ravens looked lost last week against the Bears in a home loss in OT.
Cincinnati (2-3) at Pittsburgh (4-2) - Which Steelers team will show up in this game?
Dallas (2-3) at San Francisco (0-6) - The Cowboys were kicked below the belt as the league mandated six-game suspension of Ezekiel Elliott is back on again. Ouch !
Seattle (3-2) at New York Giants (1-5) - Can the Giants pull off another stunner after they dispatched of the mighty Denver Broncos on the road last week? Seahawks nearly always dominate following a bye week.
The Heftyinfo picks for Week Seven . . . . . (Home teams are listed in bold; Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS)
Oakland over Kansas City
Buffalo over Tampa Bay
Chicago over Carolina
Tennessee over Cleveland
New Orleans over Green Bay
Indianapolis over Jacksonville
LA Rams over Arizona (game played in London, England)
MIAMI over NY Jets
Minnesota over Baltimore
Pittsburgh over Cincinnati
Dallas over San Francisco
LA Chargers over Denver
Seattle over NY Giants
New England over Atlanta
Philadelphia over Washington
Last Week's Record - 7-7
SEASON RECORD - 51-40
Lock of the Week Record - 4-2
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