NFL Picks Week 7: Quick Score Predictions for Every Major Game

Quick score predictions for the major games in Week 7 of the NFL season.

San Diego Chargers (4-1) at New York Jets (3-3)

The Chargers have had two weeks to prepare for their trip to the East Coast, but that kind of travel is never easy for teams out west.

Waiting for them will be a Jets team that got its defense back on track on Monday night against the Dolphins. This game will still come down to which quarterback plays better. That's difficult to tell right now, as both Mark Sanchez and Philip Rivers have struggled at times this season.

At home, against a West Coast team, the Jets will edge the Chargers.

Jets 27, Chargers 21

Chicago Bears (3-3) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2)

Both teams are fresh off big divisional wins in Week 6, as the Bears beat the Vikings by 29 at home and the Bucs survived a late rally from the Saints to earn their fourth win.

Tampa Bay currently sits atop the NFC South, and a win would ensure it holds off the Saints for another week. The Bears are still three games behind the Packers and two behind the Lions, so another loss could be a backbreaker.

As long as Mike Martz sticks with what worked last week—the run game and short drops—the Bears should be fine on offense. The defense will do just enough to beat the Bucs on the road.

Bears 24, Buccaneers 17 

Atlanta Falcons (3-3) at Detroit Lions (5-1)

I get a feeling that the Lions are going to rally around coach Jim Schwartz and the emotion he showed following Detroit's first loss of the season last Sunday.

Matthew Stafford is also going to like some of the matchups he sees in the Falcons' secondary. The key for the Lions, however, will be stopping Michael Turner. The Falcons have plenty of stars on offense, but Turner is the engine that allows Atlanta to run efficiently.

I think Turner is going to be productive enough to limit Stafford's opportunities and the Falcons will upset the Lions at Ford Field. 

Falcons 20, Lions 17

Houston Texans (3-3) at Tennessee Titans (3-2)

This week is as important a divisional game as you'll see early in the season, as the Texans are holding on for dear life after losing both Mario Williams and Andre Jonhson to injury.

The Titans had a bye week to dissect what went wrong in their loss to the Steelers two weeks ago. And while the Titans rank 32nd in rushing yards this season, I think Chris Johnson finally finds some space with the football in his hands.

He'll help the Titans improve to 4-2 at home. 

Titans 27, Texans 17