NFL Week 7 schedule: 5 most important games to watch
There are still 13 NFL games to be played in Week 7, and these five have the most impact on the postseason races beginning to take shape.
5. Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals
An NFC West clash which has been moved to Sunday night, the Cardinals and Seahawks both have plenty on the line. For Seattle, it’s about continuing to move towards the top seed in the NFC. At 5-0, Russell Wilson is the clear MVP frontrunner, while the Seahawks have looked like perhaps the league’s best team (even with a porous defense).
Meanwhile, Arizona is trying to keep itself firmly in the division race. A win and the 4-2 Cardinals are suddenly right there with Seattle, and now have an all-important head-to-head win against it.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Las Vegas Raiders
It’s an interconference game, but this is big for both sides. The Buccaneers can move to 5-2 with a victory and head home with a widening lead in the NFC South, either over the Panthers or Saints. Furthermore, beating Las Vegas on Sunday afternoon would be a quality road win, something Tampa Bay is yet to achieve this season.
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As for Jon Gruden’s group, a victory legitimizes the Raiders. Las Vegas has already beaten the Saints and Kansas City Chiefs. Another win over what is universally considering a top-tier team would be huge.
3. Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints
Very simple here. Both teams are trying to keep pace with the Buccaneers and should they fall short in the NFC South, maintain good position for an NFC Wild Card berth. Carolina is 3-3 while New Orleans is 3-2, and although the Saints just had a bye week, they’ll be without receivers Emmanuel Sanders (COVID-19 list) and Michael Thomas (ankle). Tough game for both, but the winner feels great.
2. San Francisco 49ers at New England Patriots
The 49ers are 3-3 and trying to stay afloat despite myriad injuries. A win in Foxboro would put San Francisco is decent position for a playoff spot, even though its schedule only grows tougher by the week.
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As for New England, this is a must-win. After losing at home to the Denver Broncos last Sunday, a defeat here drops the Patriots to 2-4 and starts casting doubt on whether the offensively-limited group can recover.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers at Tennessee Titans
It’s a battle of two undefeated teams. For both, the winner earns a huge tiebreaker as they fight with the Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens for the top seed — and now the lone bye — in the playoffs. The loser remains in fine position to win its division (especially Tennessee), but now a critical breaker goes the other way.
