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Baltimore Beatdown Picks: Week 7

New Orleans Saints v New York Giants Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

With each passing week, teams are expected to make strides to solidify their identity and standing within the league. Who will make surprising steps forward and who will regress unexpectedly in Week 7? In a sport that is characterized by parity, the Baltimore Beatdown staff attempts to determine who will get a mark in the win column for every matchup. Have an opinion? Vote in the polls at the bottom of this article or leave a comment.

Current standings:

  1. Frank (56-35)
  2. Sage (55-26)
  3. Kyle A. (54-37)
  4. Kyle B. and readers (53-38)
  5. Vas (52-39)
  6. Jake (51-40)
  7. Logan and Zach (50-41)
  8. Dustin (49-42)

An analysis of the Baltimore Beatdown staff picks

Consensus winners

Philip Rivers is quietly having a stellar season in his 15th year as a pro, throwing 15 touchdowns to just three interceptions and posting a 115.1 passer rating through six games. In contrast, the Titans were demolished last week by the Ravens and appear to be in free fall with an ailing Marcus Mariota.

While Sam Darnold and the Jets have outperformed expectations, Minnesota is on a two game win streak and looking to make ground in a tightly packed NFC North. Chicago’s loss to the Brock Osweiler and the Dolphins was one of the more shocking storylines from last week, and there is no relief in facing the defending AFC champion Patriots after they were able to outlast the Chiefs prolific offense in a Sunday Night Football shoot out in Week 6.

With each passing week, the scrutiny builds for the New York Giants. Despite break out performances from rookie Saquon Barkley, the Giants are once again stuck as a bottom feeder team. Atlanta is a disappointing 2-4, but Matt Ryan still connects with Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley enough to bring the Falcons aerial attack into the top five.

‘Lone wolf’ picks

  • Kyle B. is the only writer who predicts the Bills will beat the Colts (IND -7.5)
  • Logan (once again) is solo in thinking the Rams undefeated season will end when they face 49ers this week (LAR -9.5)

When a franchise has a revolving door at the sport’s most important position, it is difficult to have confidence in the team’s ability to execute, particularly on the road. Derek Anderson, the latest quarterback for Buffalo, has a 20-27 career record as a starter. While Indianapolis has just one victory in 2018, the Colts are scoring almost double the amount of points Buffalo is averaging per game, as the Bills are dead last with 12.7.

The 49ers put up a valiant fight against the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football, but that showing alone was not inspiring enough for the majority of Beatdown contributors to pick against the Rams this week. While Sean McVay’s squad is likely to drop a game at some point, San Francisco’s 13th ranked run defense will have a tough task trying to contain Todd Gurley who leads the league in rushing yards.

Can the Ravens keep Brees at bay?

Every time New Orleans and Baltimore face off, it is noted that the Ravens are the only NFL squad Drew Brees has never beaten. Brees is 0-4 against the Ravens; however five out of nine Baltimore Beatdown writers predict the league’s third ranked offense will defeat the Ravens number one defense on Sunday.

Still, the Ravens return from their road trip with a slight edge (BAL -2.5) over one of the hottest teams in the NFL. The Saints have not dropped a game since their Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers, and they are averaging a league-high 36 points per game. If the Ravens defense can contain Brees, Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara, the national respect they are garnering will continue to grow.

All writers’ picks can be found in the table below.

NFL Week 7 Picks

Games Frank Sage Kyle A. Kyle B. Vas Jake Logan Zach Dustin BB Readers
Games Frank Sage Kyle A. Kyle B. Vas Jake Logan Zach Dustin BB Readers
Broncos at Cardinals Broncos Broncos Broncos Cardinals Cardinals Broncos Broncos Cardinals Broncos Vote
Saints at Ravens Saints Ravens Ravens Ravens Ravens Saints Saints Saints Saints Vote
Titans at Chargers Chargers Chargers Chargers Chargers Chargers Chargers Chargers Chargers Chargers Vote
Browns at Buccaneers Browns Browns Buccaneers Buccaneers Buccaneers Buccaneers Browns Buccaneers Buccaneers Vote
Panthers at Eagles Eagles Eagles Panthers Eagles Eagles Eagles Panthers Eagles Eagles Vote
Vikings at Jets Vikings Vikings Vikings Vikings Vikings Vikings Vikings Vikings Vikings Vote
Lions at Dolphins Lions Dolphins Lions Lions Lions Dolphins Lions Lions Lions Vote
Patriots at Bears Patriots Patriots Patriots Patriots Patriots Patriots Patriots Patriots Patriots Vote
Bills at Colts Colts Colts Colts Bills Colts Colts Colts Colts Colts Vote
Texans at Jaguars Jaguars Jaguars Texans Jaguars Jaguars Jaguars Jaguars Texans Jaguars Vote
Cowboys at Redskins Redskins Cowboys Redskins Redskins Cowboys Redskins Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys Vote
Rams at 49ers Rams Rams Rams Rams Rams Rams 49ers Rams Rams Vote
Bengals at Chiefs Chiefs Chiefs Chiefs Bengals Chiefs Chiefs Bengals Chiefs Chiefs Vote
Giants at Falcons Falcons Falcons Falcons Falcons Falcons Falcons Falcons Falcons Falcons Vote
Week 6 Record 11-4 11-4 9-6 8-7 8-7 7-8 8-7 10-5 11-4 10-5
Season Record 56-35 55-36 54-37 53-38 52-39 51-40 50-41 50-41 49-42 53-38

Vote in the polls below for every Week 7 game!

Poll

Who will win in Week 7: Broncos or Cardinals?

This poll is closed

  • 70%
    Broncos
    (75 votes)
  • 29%
    Cardinals
    (32 votes)
107 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who will win in Week 7: Saints or Ravens?

This poll is closed

  • 25%
    Saints
    (119 votes)
  • 74%
    Ravens
    (344 votes)
463 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who will win in Week 7: Titans or Chargers?

This poll is closed

  • 7%
    Titans
    (21 votes)
  • 92%
    Chargers
    (266 votes)
287 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who will win in Week 7: Browns or Buccaneers?

This poll is closed

  • 53%
    Browns
    (156 votes)
  • 46%
    Buccaneers
    (134 votes)
290 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who will win in Week 7: Panthers or Eagles?

This poll is closed

  • 30%
    Panthers
    (88 votes)
  • 69%
    Eagles
    (202 votes)
290 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who will win in Week 7: Vikings or Jets?

This poll is closed

  • 84%
    Vikings
    (243 votes)
  • 15%
    Jets
    (44 votes)
287 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who will win in Week 7: Lions or Dolphins?

This poll is closed

  • 56%
    Lions
    (157 votes)
  • 43%
    Dolphins
    (123 votes)
280 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who will win in Week 7: Patriots or Bears?

This poll is closed

  • 66%
    Patriots
    (190 votes)
  • 33%
    Bears
    (95 votes)
285 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who will win in Week 7: Bills or Colts?

This poll is closed

  • 20%
    Bills
    (55 votes)
  • 79%
    Colts
    (215 votes)
270 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who will win in Week 7: Texans or Jaguars?

This poll is closed

  • 29%
    Texans
    (79 votes)
  • 70%
    Jaguars
    (189 votes)
268 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who will win in Week 7: Cowboys or Redskins?

This poll is closed

  • 40%
    Cowboys
    (114 votes)
  • 59%
    Redskins
    (167 votes)
281 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who will win in Week 7: Rams or 49ers?

This poll is closed

  • 87%
    Rams
    (239 votes)
  • 12%
    49ers
    (33 votes)
272 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who will win in Week 7: Bengals or Chiefs?

This poll is closed

  • 8%
    Bengals
    (24 votes)
  • 91%
    Chiefs
    (255 votes)
279 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who will win in Week 7: Giants or Falcons?

This poll is closed

  • 12%
    Giants
    (34 votes)
  • 87%
    Falcons
    (234 votes)
268 votes total Vote Now