This Week in the NFL: Week Seven Kickoff, Best Bets, Odds, Lines, and More

Week 6 kicks off today, and we’ve got you covered at betJACK. Whether you are looking for odds and spreads, game storylines, or you’re a new member looking to get some insight on this weekend's slate of games. Speaking of new members, first-time signups can get up to $500 in bonus bets. But don’t worry, current users, we’ve got you covered with a Happy Hour bonus bet offer EVERY THURSDAY before the Thursday Night Kick Off!

Pittsburgh Steelers (-265) @ Cincinnati Bengals (+210):

Spread: Pittsburgh Steelers -5.5 Over/Under: 44.5

Storyline: AFC North Thursday night matchup. Steelers versus Bengals. Pittsburgh torched what was one of the best defenses in the league in a dominant 23-9 win over the Cleveland Browns and looks poised to notch another win in its belt. Aaron Rodgers has returned to form this season, leading the Steelers to a strong 3-game winning streak. And with a Bengals defense that has allowed 20+ points per game to their opponents, there’s next to no reason that he can’t continue this trend. On the other hand, Cincinnati seems more and more like a shell of itself. Even after the bizarre interdivisional trade for QB Joe Flacco, the complete absence of a run game has done nothing but hurt this team. Chase Brown has been one of the biggest factors in the early struggles post Joe Burrow injury, averaging just 2.7 yards per carry, and only 202 yards on 74 carries leaves more than a lot to be desired from Cincinnati’s lead rusher. The offensive line will continue to cause problems for a franchise plagued by QB injuries almost every year. With no clear and immediate solution, Cincinnati might spend another postseason looking to next season.

Standings:

- Pittsburgh Steelers 4-1 (1st in the AFC North)

- Cincinnati Bengals 2-4 (2nd in the AFC North)

Los Angeles Rams (-152) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (+125):

Spread: Los Angeles Rams -3 Over/Under: 45.0

Storyline: The Rams handled the injury-riddled Ravens last week without issue; however, they have a tough challenge as they take on a hot Jaguars team. The absence of standout WR Puka Nacua could greatly factor into which team comes back to the states with a win. Puka has yet to log a practice, and it’s trending more towards him being absent for this matchup. Devante Adams and Tyler Higbee led the receiving corps last week, and that trend will likely continue as they take on a Jags defense on the weaker side. At 4-2, Jacksonville, however, is playing some strong football. They are coming off a tough loss to the Seahawks, though. Before that loss, this team was playing with the best of them. Travis Etienne Jr and Brenton Strange are stepping up as the struggles for Brian Thomas Jr seem to be behind him. If this team can get those three more consistent and mix in a deep ball threat from rookie Travis Hunter, then this team is going to be a fun favorite for the postseason. 

Standings:

- Los Angeles Rams 4-2 (3rd in the NFC West) 

- Jacksonville Jaguars 4-2 (2nd in the AFC South)

Carolina Panthers (-122) @ New York Jets (+100):

Spread: Carolina Panthers -1.5 Over/Under: 42.0

Storyline: Rico Dowdle has been FLAWLESS for a Carolina team that clawed their way back to .500. Since taking over the backfield following the injury to Chuba Hubbard, he has shown that he has what it takes to make it in this league with an insane 472 yards and 2 TDs on JUST 81 carries…. However, this Carolina team, which may have found their groove, is in a tough spot. Chuba Hubbard is set to return this week, and with a 4-year, $33.2 million extension attached to him, Carolina almost HAS to play him heavily despite the success of Dowdle. However, we may see Chuba take a secondary role to Dowdle, who not only provides presence on the ground, but he also has a strong receiving stat line as well, 12-15-104 and a TD. Given their recent success and how much resilience this team has shown, it’s hard to see a reason as to why this team would just willingly hand the keys back to Hubbard, even with his contract, especially with a Jets defense that just never seems to show up. The New York Jets are, without a doubt, the worst team to ever grace MetLife Stadium. Which says a lot, given that the Giants and Jets both share this field. Justin Fields continues to look like anything but a starting NFL QB, Garret Wilson looks nothing like the starter we’ve seen in prior years, and Sauce Gardner could get routed by a toddler. The Browns will win a Super Bowl before this Jets team wins a game, and neither of these things is happening any time soon. 

Standings:

- Carolina Panthers 3-3 (3rd in the NFC South)

- New York Jets 0-6 (4th in the AFC East)

Los Vegas Raiders (+525) @ Kansas City Chiefs (-770):

Spread: Kansas City Chiefs -12 Over/Under: 45.5

Storyline: There was so much hope for this Raiders team going into this season. And Geno Smith continues to plague this offense as well as the lack of a true run game and receiving core. With elimination inevitable in the next week or so for this team, there’s a solid chance that we could see them sell before the deadline, especially with Kenny Pickett coming off the injury list and O’Connell nearing a return. There will be some pieces moving and roster changes, especially if Smith continues to play poorly. The Chiefs, however, seem ready to right the ship after starting the season weak. Though at .500, there is plenty of room for improvement. Especially as the Chargers and Broncos continue to play winning ball. With Rashee Rice set to return this week, they gain another offensive weapon for a team that has been anything but playing below its standards. Time will tell, though, whether adding this talented WR to their scheme will totally change the way things have been trending for this team. Luckily, they have a chance to ease him into his WR1 role and assert themselves as contenders once more. 

Standings:

- Los Vegas Raiders 2-4 (4th AFC West)

- Kansas City Chiefs 3-3 (3rd in the AFC West)

Miami Dolphins (+133) @ Cleveland Browns (-162):

Spread: Cleveland Browns -3 Over/Under: 40.0

Storyline: As if on-field struggles weren’t enough for this one-win team, Tua has added to the fire this week with a disaster of a press conference. It seems this team's lack of talent isn’t the only reason for their horrendous season, as the very clear lack of leadership and accountability has plagued this franchise. After another very disappointing loss to put them at 1-5, it’s clear that this team is nothing like we expected it to be and likely will look totally different come the trade deadline. Speaking of teams likely to look drastically different come the trade deadline, the Cleveland browns fall once again as they were dominated by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The absence of a defense that was supposed to be one of the best in the league seems to have completely flipped, and with the lack of performance from DE Myles Garrett (after the, for lack of a better word, temper tantrum) it’s been a disappointing season so far for Cleveland. It’s likely that by this trade deadline, Browns fans will be seeing plenty of new faces both offensively and defensively, as well as a possible shakeup in sideline personnel.

Standings:

- Miami Dolphins 1-5 (3rd in the AFC East)

- Cleveland Browns 1-5 (4th in the AFC North)

New England Patriots (-375) @ Tennessee Titans (+290):

Spread: New England Patriots -7 Over/Under: 42.0

Storyline: Drake Maye continues to be a top 5 QB this season after extending the Patriots' win streak to 3 and adding another dominant win. However, this team is still lacking a run game presence as TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson continue to struggle to produce anything beyond 3 yards a carry. Granted, it looks like that success for Maye will continue as they are lined up to take on a Titans team that just fired their HC. Another week and another disappointing performance from Cam Ward, who continues to struggle immensely as he adjusts to the league. As the #1 draft pick continues to struggle to produce at a professional level, the biggest question is how much longer the young QB will be put out, especially after the firing of their head coach. Veteran QB Brandon Allen is their backup with Will Levis on IR, and if the Titans fall to 1-6, it’s likely Allen will take over starting reps. 

Standings:

- New England Patriots 4-2 (1st in the AFC East)

- Tennessee Titans 1-5 (4th in the AFC South)

New Orleans Saints (+210) @ Chicago Bears (-265):

Spread: Chicago Bears -5.5 Over/Under: 47.0

Storyline: Again, Spencer Rattler struggled to succeed in a costly, 25-19 loss to the Patriots despite throwing 20-26-227 neither he nor Alvin Kamara could find the endzone as they fell to 1-5 on the season. Unfortunately, their schedule doesn’t get any easier as they take on a red-hot Bears team with the postseason in their sights. Caleb Williams and D’Andre Swift played a good game, enough for them to get another much-needed win over the Commanders, and at 3-2 (their two losses being in the division), they will need to extend this 3-game streak to 4 with a floundering Saints team expected to take the field opposite of them. If they can send the Saints home with a loss, it will do much to improve their postseason hopes and standings, likely making themselves contenders with all three of their division opponents facing tough matchups this week. 

Standings:

- New Orleans Saints 1-5 (4th in the NFC South)

- Chicago Bears 3-2 (4th in the NFC North)

Philadelphia Eagles (-125) @ Minnesota Vikings (+104):

Spread: Philadelphia Eagles -2 Over/Under: 43.0

Storyline: Jalen Hurts and company were just routed by the New York Giants, as it’s clear that this Eagles team lacks the same dominance that we saw only a year prior. Barkley continues to start this season slowly, and the Hurts-AJ Brown deep ball has been nonexistent for this team. However, they are facing a stingy Vikings defense, and with the offensive woes continuing, they could be in for yet another reality check. Carson Wentz led the Vikings to a bounce-back victory over Cleveland and is hoping to carry that victory against Philly. Minnesota will likely start Wentz again this week as JJ McCarthy continues to recover from an ankle injury. However, it’s likely that they continue to ride with Wentz under center even if McCarthy is cleared to play, as the offense has legs with the veteran QB under center and plays totally different when rookie McCarthy is given the keys. Assuming Wentz is the starter, Philly’s secondary will have its work cut out for them, and with the threat of Justin Jefferson, it’s likely the Vikings will take control of this game quickly. 

Standings:

- Philadelphia Eagles 4-2 (1st in the NFC East)

- Minnesota Vikings 3-2 (3rd in the NFC North

Indianapolis Colts (+107) @ Los Angeles Chargers (+130):

Spread: Los Angeles Chargers -1.5 Over/Under: 48.0

Storyline: Daniel Jones and Co. continue to exceed expectations (despite having arguably the weakest schedule in the league) after another strong showing against the Cardinals. They are lined up to face the Chargers this week, and with Jacksonville right on their tail, this is a must-win game for the Colts and Jones. They’ll need to prove to the rest of the league as well that they are, in fact, contenders as they sit at 1-1 in teams over .500, as their opponents have a combined 18-24 record. If Jones can play well and the Colts leave LA with a win, then it is without a doubt that this team is a playoff, possibly Super, contender. The Chargers, however, are hoping to right the ship after a shaky victory over a 1-5 Dolphins team. As Justin Herbert rallies his team and the great 18-124 rushing performance from Kimani Vidal, this team, despite injury, looks like they are returning to the team they were at the beginning of the season, which is something they’ll need as Kansas City is starting to show life. 

Standings:

- Indianapolis Colts 5-1 (1st in the AFC South)

- Los Angeles Chargers 4-2 (1st in the AFC West)

New York Giants (+290) @ Denver Broncos (-375):

Spread: Denver Broncos -7 Over/Under: 40.0

Storyline: Cam Skattebo and Jaxson Dart looked like veterans as the Giants stunned the Eagles last week in a 34-17 victory. With the future looking bright for the Giants, they will have another opportunity to show that success is in their sights. With a Denver team that nearly fell to the Jets, they look primed to start a winning streak. Denver, on the other hand, has its sights set on the lead of the AFC West, riding a 3-game win streak; however, it was thanks to a dominant 9-sack outing that they were able to take down the Jets. Bo Nix struggled immensely against a Jets defense that has been anything but professional. With a tougher challenge ahead of them in a Giants front that has proven they can cause trouble, he will need to be at the top of his game as the run game struggles to perform. 

Standings:

- New York Giants 2-4 (4th in the NFC East)

- Denver Broncos 4-2 (2nd in the AFC West)

Green Bay Packers (-335) @ Arizona Cardinals (+225):

Spread: Green Bay Packers -6.5 Over/Under: 44.0

Storyline: Green Bay was able to keep the Bengals in check last week and take the win despite a poor outing for Jordon Love. Josh Jacobs continues to be the star of the offense, and without a clear WR1, this team has found success. However, they’ll need their defense, particularly offseason addition Micah Parsons, to begin to perform on par if they want the success to succeed. Luckily, they are facing a Cardinals team this week that has not only struggled but could be without their starting QB. With an offense riddled with injuries and underwhelming performances from both Kyler Murray and what should’ve been a standout WR Marvin Harrison Jr, the Cardinals find themselves in a tough spot and likely one of the last tough spots that 3rd-year head coach Johnathan Gannon will find himself in. The pressure continues to build for this young team, and a loss here may be the tipping point that leads to a wave of change. 

Standings:

- Green Bay Packers 3-1-1 (1st in the NFC North) 

- Arizona Cardinals 2-4 (4th in the NFC West)

Washington Commanders (-130) @ Dallas Cowboys (+108):

Spread: Washington Commanders -2 Over/Under: 55.0

Storyline: Chicago got the better of the Commanders last week after they weren’t able to take down their NFC rivals. However, that being said, Jayden Daniels played excellently, 19-26-211 and 3 TD, adding in 1 INT. Mix in a serviceable showing from rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and they are in line to have another strong game against a Cowboys team that couldn’t keep the Panthers in check. Dak Prescott and Dallas continue to do anything but meet their expectations, even with the light of George Pickens. The absence of defensive star Micah Parsons is all the more evident as the season progresses, and unless their guys can step up and perform at a serviceable level, then they will continue to struggle and underwhelm. 

Standings:

- Washington Commanders 3-3 (2nd in the NFC East)

- Dallas Cowboys 2-3-1 (3rd in the NFC East)

Atlanta Falcons (+116) @ San Francisco 49ers (-139):

Spread: San Francisco 49ers -2.5 Over/Under: 47.0

Storyline: Penix Jr. looked great, and with Bijan Robinson playing exactly as expected, this team had a dominant win over what were once Super Bowl favorites in the Buffalo Bills. The Falcons face a slightly tougher defense this week with the 49ers; however, the Atlanta defense has been solid to say the least, and with San Francisco continuing to be plagued with injuries, there’s a high chance that they’ll take advantage of that, especially with Brock Purdy in line to return. The 49ers could be in line to receive a bunch of their players from injury this week, and they’ll need all the help they can get after the team was buried by the Bucs last week. With the Falcons finally finding their identity and their young QB finding his place amongst the pros, this game could end up falling into Atlanta’s lap if the 49ers' injury list continues to grow. 

Standings:

- Atlanta Falcons 3-2 (2nd in the NFC South)

- San Francisco 49ers 4-2 (1st in the NFC West)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+195) @ Detroit Lions (-240):

Spread: Detroit Lions -5.5 Over/Under: 52.5

Storyline: Tampa Bay has transformed Baker Mayfield into the clear and universal MVP of the league despite only being 6 weeks into the season. After another dominant win, and leading an offense that is putting up an average of 22.6 points per game. Add in the fact that he has a 12-1 TD to INT ratio… Mind you, they are doing all this without consistently having their starting WR group and their starting RB. They have a good matchup ahead of them, however, with the Detroit Lions. The Lions are coming off a tough loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and will look to bounce back as they take on an offense that has been equally as explosive as they have. They’ll look to get the run game going in this one after it struggled to find success (98 yards total) against a shaky KC defense. This game could really go either way and is, without a doubt, a game of must-watch football. 

Standings:

- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5-1 (1st in the NFC North)

- Detroit Lions 4-2 (2nd in the NFC North)

Houston Texans (+145) @ Seattle Seahawks (-190):

Spread: Seattle Seahawks -3.5 Over/Under: 40.5

Storyline: Houston took advantage of a depleted Ravens team with a dominant 44-10 win. After winning their last two games, Houston looks poised to turn their season around with Nick Chubb and Nico Collins returning to their standout forms. They’ll need that efficiency against a tough Seattle defense, especially with the offensive line continuing to struggle protecting their star QB. Speaking of star QBs, Sam Darnold continues to be a fantastic offensive addition for Seattle after a strong showing against Jacksonville. They have an opportunity to insert themselves into the top position in their division. They’ll have their work cut out for themselves against a Texans defense that is coming off back-to-back impressive showings, so we’ll see if Darnold can keep the ball in the hands of his receivers. 

Standings:

- Houston Texans 2-3 (3rd in AFC South)

- Seattle Seahawks 4-2 (2nd in NFC West)

Bye Week Teams:

- Baltimore Ravens 1-5 (3rd in the AFC North)

- Buffalo Bills 4-2 (2nd in AFC East)