NFL Week 7 bold predictions: Which players and teams will turn heads?
Week 7 in the NFL might feature the most appetizing schedule of games 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 high-powered (and familiar) foe in the Detroit Lions.
Additionally, the Houston Texans and Green Bay Packers will also pit two of the game's best young quarterbacks in C.J. Stroud and Jordan Love against one another. And the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers will wrap things up Sunday night with a prime-time matchup featuring the respective team debuts of Davante Adams and Russell Wilson.
With no shortage of major storylines brewing, here are USA TODAY Sports' bold predictions for Week 7:
John Mara will have a tough time sleeping on Sunday night
Saquon Barkley will make his much-anticipated return to MetLife Stadium this weekend, which brings to mind the musings of New York Giants co-owner John Mara during the offseason. Mara didn't want to see the star running back leave after six seasons – but especially hated the idea of Barkley landing as a free agent with the dreaded NFC East-rival Philadelphia Eagles. As Mara put it, he'd "have a tough time sleeping" if Barkley wound up in Philly. Well, what happened happened and Barkley bolted with a three-year, $37.75 million deal. Now he comes back to the Meadowlands ranked fourth in the NFL in rushing (482 yards, 5.3 per carry) and fifth for yards from scrimmage (574). The Giants, by the way, rank 24th in rushing yards. Barkley insisted this week that he has no hate for the G-Men, but intended or not, the revenge will be sweet. So what if they shower him with constant boos? Barkley is poised to have a big day in leading the Eagles to victory in such familiar surroundings. I'll predict a 100-yard rushing game and buck-fifty in total yards with two touchdowns. It will be enough to make Mara toss and turn all night long.
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— Jarrett Bell
Saquon Barkley got paid and now will 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. Yet there was hardly any animus involved on his side, especially since it was Payton who decided to leave the Big Easy nearly three years ago.
That might not be the case Sunday in The Big Apple. In a city buzzing about the Jets, Mets, Yankees and Liberty, the lowly Giants are sure to command some attention this weekend when they face Saquon Barkley and his Philadelphia Eagles for the first time since the running back was allowed to leave last March during free agency – quite reluctantly so as it pertained to owner John Mara. Now a member of Big Blue's fiercest rival after taking a three-year, $37.75 million deal in Philly, Barkley has been one of the league's most productive backs – averaging a TD and nearly 115 yards from scrimmage per game. Now he gets to take aim at the team that drafted him second overall in 2018 but opted to replace him with the likes of Devin Singletary while reallocating money into the offensive line. (And after all that, the Giants rank 24th in rushing, while the Eagles average more than 40 yards per game more than they do.)
Barkley, who provided the Giants' offensive identity for basically his entire tenure and often without much adequate help, surely had something to prove already. Now, he stands to face a defense that may be without injured studs Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, who's on IR. Don't be surprised if Barkley has one of those memorable – perhaps career – days to the tune of something in the neighborhood of 200 total yards and three TDs.
− Nate Davis
Davante Adams will have 13 catches, 125+ yards, 1 TD in Jets debut
Davante Adams hasn’t caught a pass from Aaron Rodgers during the regular season since Jan. 9, 2022. Their time apart won’t hinder their rapport on the field. Adams and Rodgers will pick up right where they left off. I predict Adams will have 13 receptions on Sunday, which will match the second most he’s had 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-needed win, snapping a three-game losing streak. Rodgers and Adams wanted to reunite as teammates. They are going to show why they are such a formidable duo in prime time Sunday night.
– Tyler Dragon
Niners get massive Super Bowl revenge
A quick glance at the USA TODAY NFL staff’s Week 7 picks indicates that I’m the lone individual brave enough to pick the San Francisco 49ers to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in America’s “Game of the Week” on FOX. I predicted that the Niners would win by a score of 23-21, essentially saying they will cover the spread. Going against Andy Reid’s team when it's coming off a bye is pretty bold to begin with. But saying that the Niners, without Christian McCaffrey, are going to “blow out” the Chiefs is certifiably bold. San Francisco hands the Chiefs their first loss of the season and exacts a smidge of revenge from February’s Super Bowl loss with a final margin of at least 10 points.
— Chris Bumbaca
Lions hold Justin Jefferson to under 100 yards receiving
Maybe this doesn't seem so bold on its face. But in eight contests against Detroit, Jefferson has averaged more receiving yards per game (134.1) than he has against any other opponent. The Lions, meanwhile, are without their best asset for throwing Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold off his game after Aidan Hutchinson suffered a broken 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 attempting to replicate the New York Jets' physical approach last week, in which they were flagged five times in the secondary but limited Jefferson to six catches on 14 targets for 92 yards. And with aggressive newcomers at cornerback in Carlton Davis III and rookie Terrion Arnold, the Lions shouldn't shrink from the challenge.
— Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz