Week 7 gives football fans a full Sunday, starting with an early kickoff in Paris and ending under the lights in Seattle. The marquee games are easy to spot: a first-place NFC North showdown in Detroit, an undefeated Kansas City team walking into one of the loudest stadiums in the league, an AFC North rivalry with a big question mark at quarterback, and a perfect 49ers team on the road in Atlanta. If you are not sure where to focus, this slate breakdown covers the four games worth setting aside time for, what the betting lines say, and a pick for each.
Packers at Lions: The NFC North Game of the Week
Detroit is a 3-point home favorite against Green Bay, and the total sits around 53, which is the highest of the week. That number tells you what the market expects: points, and lots of them. The Lions (3-2) are coming off a bye and are tied for first in the league in points per game, with Jared Goff throwing 12 touchdown passes without an interception. Jahmyr Gibbs has been the engine, becoming just the fifth player in NFL history with 700 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns through five games.
Green Bay (4-2) has won three straight to climb from 1-2 to the top of the conversation in this division. Jordan Love is expected to play despite back soreness from the Dallas win, and the Packers get Josh Jacobs back for the first time this season after he missed the first six games. Green Bay’s rushing attack has been the weakest in the league, so Jacobs could change the shape of the offense. The pass defense is where Detroit looks most vulnerable, and Love has been one of the league’s most productive deep passers.
The Packers lead the league in interceptions, but Detroit has turned the ball over just once all season. Something has to give. With both offenses clicking and both defenses giving up chances through the air, the points are more likely than not.
Chiefs at Seahawks: Sunday Night With a Revenge Storyline
Kansas City arrives at 5-0 for the 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff on NBC, facing a 3-3 Seattle team that is favored by about 3 points at home. The total is in the low 40s. The headline for casual fans is Kenneth Walker III, who now plays for the Chiefs and is returning to Lumen Field to face the team that drafted him. Expect the crowd to have plenty to say about it.
Patrick Mahomes practiced fully this week with a knee issue, and Travis Kelce was limited with an ankle issue. The Chiefs are thin elsewhere: wide receiver Rashee Rice, right tackle Jaylon Moore and running back Brashard Smith are all out. Seattle will be without running back Zach Charbonnet and linebackers Drake Thomas and Chazz Surratt, and safety Nick Emmanwori plus edge rushers DeMarcus Lawrence and Uchenna Nwosu are questionable.
An undefeated team getting a field goal’s worth of points as an underdog is worth a look. Seattle has the crowd and the home field, but Kansas City has Mahomes, and the injuries on the Seahawks defense matter against him.
Bengals at Ravens: Everything Hinges on Lamar Jackson
Baltimore (4-2) is a 1.5-point home favorite over Cincinnati (3-2), with a total near 48.5. That line is built on the assumption that Lamar Jackson plays, and that is not guaranteed. Jackson has missed two straight games with a high-ankle sprain, was limited in practice all week, and is listed as questionable. He said he is heading in the right direction but has not made a call, so the Ravens may not settle it until inactives come out at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday. If he sits, Tyler Huntley would make a third consecutive start.
Baltimore lost last week to Cleveland 13-10 without Jackson, and the offense labored. Cincinnati is coming off its bye and has lost six of its last eight against Baltimore, including a 24-0 shutout last year. Joe Burrow has talked about not wanting to fall to 0-2 in the division.
This is a game to check on Sunday morning before you make any decision. If Jackson plays, the Ravens deserve to be favored. If he does not, the Bengals become a much more appealing side.
49ers at Falcons: Can Atlanta Stop the Unbeaten Run?
San Francisco is 6-0 and a 2.5-point favorite in Atlanta, with a total near 49.5. The Falcons (2-4) are coming off a loss to Chicago, and the injury list is long: Brian Robinson Jr. is out, and linebacker Divine Deablo is out, with 10 players questionable. That puts even more weight on Bijan Robinson, who leads the NFL in scrimmage yards with 785.
The 49ers have problems of their own. Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel and Nick Bosa are all out, and San Francisco is playing on a short week after a Monday game and traveling for a 1 p.m. kickoff. Brock Purdy has been playing at a historic level, and Christian McCaffrey gives the Niners their own star running back for a matchup with Bijan Robinson. Atlanta has also been tough at home against San Francisco, going 7-1 in the last eight meetings there.
San Francisco is the better team, but with that many key players out and a spot that favors the home team, the points matter more than the winner.
This Week’s Best Bets
Here are the leans for the four featured games. Lines move all week, so check the current live NFL odds before you place anything.
- Packers at Lions: Packers +3, with a lean to the over in a high-scoring game
- Chiefs at Seahawks: Chiefs +3
- Bengals at Ravens: Check Lamar Jackson’s status first. If he plays, take the Ravens -1.5; if not, take the Bengals
- 49ers at Falcons: Falcons +2.5
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