NFL Week 7 Schedule: TV Listings and Picks for Every Game

It is nearly the midway point of the 2014 NFL season. Some teams are in too deep of a hole to climb back into the playoff picture at this point, but the vast majority are still very much alive in the highly competitive hunt.

A couple of Week 7's marquee showdowns feature division leaders doing battle, while two of the four teams from the most recent conference championship games cap off Sunday's slate in a prime-time clash.

Here is a closer look at the entire TV schedule, along with picks for every game and a more detailed breakdown of the best matchups on tap.

Thursday, October 16	Time (ET)	TV	Pick
Sunday, October 19	Time (ET)	TV	Pick
Monday, October 20	Time (ET)	TV	Pick
New York Jets vs. New England Patriots	8:25 p.m.	CBS/NFL Network	Patriots
Atlanta Falcons vs. Baltimore Ravens	1 p.m.	FOX	Ravens
Tennessee Titans vs. Washington	1 p.m.	CBS	Washington
Seattle Seahawks vs. St. Louis Rams	1 p.m.	FOX	Seahawks
Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars	1 p.m.	CBS	Browns
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Indianapolis Colts	1 p.m.	CBS	Colts
Minnesota Vikings vs. Buffalo Bills	1 p.m.	CBS	Bills
Miami Dolphins vs. Chicago Bears	1 p.m.	CBS	Bears
New Orleans Saints vs. Detroit Lions	1 p.m.	FOX	Saints
Carolina Panthers vs. Green Bay Packers	1 p.m.	FOX	Packers
Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Diego Chargers	4:05 p.m.	CBS	Chiefs
Arizona Cardinals vs. Oakland Raiders	4:25 p.m.	FOX	Raiders
New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys	4:25 p.m.	FOX	Cowboys
San Francisco 49ers vs. Denver Broncos	8:30 p.m.	NBC	Broncos
Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers	8:30 p.m.	ESPN	Steelers

Predictions for Top Week 7 Games

Cincinnati Bengals (3-1-1) vs. Indianapolis Colts (4-2)

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

A scorching first quarter in Week 6 was the latest chapter Andrew Luck wrote in his growing legacy as Peyton Manning's successor in Indianapolis.

ESPN Stats & Info has the details on the projected path Luck's current monster season is on:

Stephen A. Smith of ESPN First Take had high praise for the 2012 No. 1 overall draft pick:

Now the Colts come back home after seizing the AFC South lead on the road to face a Cincinnati team that tied Carolina at home last week, thanks to a missed 36-yard field goal by Mike Nugent as overtime expired.

The Bengals had the luxury of facing a declining, 26th-ranked Panthers defense in Week 6, which helped the offense continue functioning well despite the absence of superstar receiver A.J. Green. Now they'll go up against an Indianapolis unit that is 13th in total defense.

Adam Schefter of ESPN relayed the latest on Green's status:

With how well Luck is playing and how heavily his counterpart in Dalton has leaned on Green in the past, it's hard to imagine Cincinnati recovering from a disappointing result to take this one from the Colts on the road.

As long as Indy can shut down the Giovani Bernard-led Bengals rushing attack and force Dalton to beat it through the air, the hosts shouldn't have too much trouble with Luck leading the top-scoring offense in the NFL.

Prediction: Colts 31, Bengals 20

Carolina Panthers (3-2-1) vs. Green Bay Packers (4-2)

John Grieshop/Getty Images

With limited mobility to start the season, Cam Newton continued his promising progress as a pocket passer. A perceptibly lackluster receiving corps has been good enough for Newton to lead Carolina to the top of the NFC South.

NFL.com's Gil Brandt highlighted how Newton has cut down on the mistakes amid his fourth season:

Newton's athleticism shined through again in Week 6, as he ran for over 100 yards and threw for 284, flashing the immense dual-threat upside he has. Packers star linebacker Clay Matthews is nevertheless confident in how his team has upped the defensive ante, per Packers.com's Mike Spofford:

"

I think what we've seen, especially these first six weeks, is teams so protection-oriented they're trying their absolute best to slow us down. It's created awesome opportunities for our DBs to come up and make plays, and that's exactly what we've been doing, which is why we're tied for No. 1 in the league in turnover (ratio).

"

Also on Matthews' side is a Super Bowl MVP in QB Aaron Rodgers, who has the weapons to carve up a Panthers team that has conceded an average of 34 points in the past four games.

Rodgers should carve up Carolina, especially at Lambeau Field, based on the MVP level he's performing at right now, per NFL Network's Scott Hanson:

Newton's newfound legs will generate some big plays, yet it won't be enough to overcome the hostile environment and the Panthers' other side of the ball.

Defensive-minded Carolina head coach Ron Rivera will have to figure out what is wrong with his area of expertise. Otherwise, the Panthers defense of the NFC South, while it appears promising right now, won't be long-lived with a tough schedule on the horizon, starting with the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8.

Prediction: Packers 38, Panthers 27

San Francisco 49ers (4-2) vs. Denver Broncos (4-1)

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Colin Kaepernick and Manning are strong opposites in terms of arm talent. Where this game will be decided is how well Kaepernick can protect the football and whether San Francisco elects to establish the ground game better.

Straying from a formula that has helped the Niners get to three previous conference title games, Kaepernick has had the ball in his hands far more often. Although the team is still 4-2, it has a different identity.

In light of this SportsCenter graphic, perhaps Kaepernick is worthy of carrying the team:

If Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde can pound away at the Broncos' front seven, it will keep Manning and Co. off the field against a thin San Francisco defense and open up play-action opportunities.

Bleacher Report's Matt Bowen describes how that can be effective against Denver, where Kaepernick's golden arm can test the secondary in the high-altitude climate:

Kaepernick will have to play a near-perfect game for the Niners to pull this one out at Mile High, though. The Broncos offense will benefit from facing a San Francisco squad still without linebackers Aldon Smith and NaVorro Bowman—as well as Patrick Willis.

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported Tuesday that Willis' sprained toe will likely keep him out for Week 7.

The former two are absences the Niners have overcome somehow. Losing the emotional leader in Willis is too much for even the best game plan to combat. Manning is too good of a quarterback not to capitalize on the situation, and Denver found great balance in Week 6's win over the New York Jets, as Ronnie Hillman racked up 100 rushing yards.

It isn't all doom and gloom if San Francisco falls to 3-3, though. The Seattle Seahawks are off to a tough 3-2 start themselves, while the current NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals may not sustain their position atop the difficult division with Carson Palmer at quarterback and the league's statistically worst pass defense.

Betting against Manning at home in prime time is a fool's errand. Sunday night's showcase will be yet another prime example of that.

Prediction: Broncos 34, 49ers 24