Schrock's Week 7 picks: Can Jimmy G leave New England with a W?

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Josh Schrock makes his picks for every Week 7 game.

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1/15
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<p>Well, look what we have here: The <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/nfl-week-7-true-or-false-49ers-next-two-games-will-define-season">49ers have a pulse</a>.</p>

<p>Kyle Shanahan's club entered Week 6 against the Los Angeles Rams with their season circling the drain. But thanks to a creative game plan and lots of YAC, the 49ers got back to .500 with a 24-16 win.</p>

<p>Now come the New England Patriots. After missing practice for 12 out of 14 days due to COVID-19, the Patriots tripped all over themselves in a disappointing 18-12 loss to Drew Lock and the Denver Broncos. Now at 2-3, Bill Belichick and Cam Newton have their backs against the wall and must respond to stay in the playoff hunt.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Week 6 saw Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' ferocious defense exposed Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. The Chicago Bears won yet again, moving into sole possession of first place in the NFC North, while the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans both won to set up a Week 7 battle of the AFC's remaining undefeated teams.</p>

<p>Week 7 promises to be filled with high drama. Let's get to the pick.</p>

<p><strong>Record: </strong>35-39 ATS (50-24-1 SU)</p>

Editor's note: All odds are provided by our partner, PointsBet. PointsBet is our Official Sports Betting Partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on PointsBet for the first time after clicking our links.

Well, look what we have here: The 49ers have a pulse.

Kyle Shanahan's club entered Week 6 against the Los Angeles Rams with their season circling the drain. But thanks to a creative game plan and lots of YAC, the 49ers got back to .500 with a 24-16 win.

Now come the New England Patriots. After missing practice for 12 out of 14 days due to COVID-19, the Patriots tripped all over themselves in a disappointing 18-12 loss to Drew Lock and the Denver Broncos. Now at 2-3, Bill Belichick and Cam Newton have their backs against the wall and must respond to stay in the playoff hunt.

Meanwhile, Week 6 saw Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' ferocious defense exposed Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. The Chicago Bears won yet again, moving into sole possession of first place in the NFC North, while the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans both won to set up a Week 7 battle of the AFC's remaining undefeated teams.

Week 7 promises to be filled with high drama. Let's get to the pick.

Record: 35-39 ATS (50-24-1 SU)

2/15
<p><strong>Line: </strong>Eagles -4.5</p>

<p>Look, do everything you can to avoid watching this game. Do chores, get an early start on next year's taxes, pour bleach in your eyes (don't do that). This game is going to be atrocious to watch.</p>

<p>But whoever wins will find themselves in the thick of the NFC East race. The Eagles are battered by injuries but the Giants just plain suck. Carson Wentz does enough to get the win.</p>

<p><strong>Pick: </strong>Eagles 23, Giants 17</p>

Line: Eagles -4.5

Look, do everything you can to avoid watching this game. Do chores, get an early start on next year's taxes, pour bleach in your eyes (don't do that). This game is going to be atrocious to watch.

But whoever wins will find themselves in the thick of the NFC East race. The Eagles are battered by injuries but the Giants just plain suck. Carson Wentz does enough to get the win.

Pick: Eagles 23, Giants 17

3/15
<p><strong>Line: </strong>Packers -3.5</p>

<p>The Packers <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/nfl-week-6-takeaways-49ers-keep-season-alive-raiders-playoff-path-clear">were pantsed by the Bucs</a> on national television, showing they have a long way to go to prove they are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.</p>

<p>There's good news, though, as Green Bay travels to Houston on Sunday to face a horrific Texans defense. Expect Aaron Rodgers to have a huge day and get back on track in the Lone Star State.</p>

<p><strong>Pick: </strong>Packers 34, Texans 27</p>

Line: Packers -3.5

The Packers were pantsed by the Bucs on national television, showing they have a long way to go to prove they are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

There's good news, though, as Green Bay travels to Houston on Sunday to face a horrific Texans defense. Expect Aaron Rodgers to have a huge day and get back on track in the Lone Star State.

Pick: Packers 34, Texans 27

4/15
<p><strong>Line: </strong>Cowboys -1</p>

<p>Just steer clear of the NFC East.</p>

<p>Andy Dalton looked abysmal on Monday night and Kyle Allen hasn't been any better since the Football Team pushed Dwayne Haskins in front of the metro.</p>

<p>The Cowboys have more talent on offense but their defense is a train wreck. There's no quit in the Football Team. Give me the upset.</p>

<p><strong>Pick: </strong>Football Team 24, Cowboys 23</p>

Line: Cowboys -1

Just steer clear of the NFC East.

Andy Dalton looked abysmal on Monday night and Kyle Allen hasn't been any better since the Football Team pushed Dwayne Haskins in front of the metro.

The Cowboys have more talent on offense but their defense is a train wreck. There's no quit in the Football Team. Give me the upset.

Pick: Football Team 24, Cowboys 23

5/15
<p><strong>Line: </strong>Titans -1</p>

<p>The battle of the last two remaining AFC undefeated teams finally takes place barring any sort of COVID-19 setback.</p>

<p>The Steelers' defense has been good but the loss of Devin Bush is a big blow. But the Titans' defense has been an eye sore to open the season and I don't think it gets any better against Big Ben, Chase Claypool and the gang.</p>

<p>Pittsburgh bottles up Derrick Henry and squeaks out a big win.</p>

<p><strong>Pick: </strong>Steelers 28, Titans 24</p>

Line: Titans -1

The battle of the last two remaining AFC undefeated teams finally takes place barring any sort of COVID-19 setback.

The Steelers' defense has been good but the loss of Devin Bush is a big blow. But the Titans' defense has been an eye sore to open the season and I don't think it gets any better against Big Ben, Chase Claypool and the gang.

Pittsburgh bottles up Derrick Henry and squeaks out a big win.

Pick: Steelers 28, Titans 24

6/15
<p><strong>Line: </strong>Browns -3</p>

<p>Baker Mayfield and the Browns offense was putrid against the Steelers. The Bengals' defense might be just the remedy they need to get back on track.</p>

<p>We already saw this matchup in Week 2. The Browns got the win and Joe Burrow got us a cover. Put me down for a repeat.</p>

<p><strong>Pick: </strong>Browns 28, Bengals 27</p>

Line: Browns -3

Baker Mayfield and the Browns offense was putrid against the Steelers. The Bengals' defense might be just the remedy they need to get back on track.

We already saw this matchup in Week 2. The Browns got the win and Joe Burrow got us a cover. Put me down for a repeat.

Pick: Browns 28, Bengals 27

7/15
<p><strong>Line: </strong>Bills -13</p>

<p>My god, Vegas couldn't set a line high enough for me to bet on these Jets.</p>

<p>The Bills went from darlings to down on their luck in two weeks and need a bounce-back performance to start feeling good about themselves again.</p>

<p>The Jets can just watch tape of Trevor Lawrence torching Syracuse this weekend.</p>

<p><strong>Pick: </strong>Bills 31, Jets 13</p>

Line: Bills -13

My god, Vegas couldn't set a line high enough for me to bet on these Jets.

The Bills went from darlings to down on their luck in two weeks and need a bounce-back performance to start feeling good about themselves again.

The Jets can just watch tape of Trevor Lawrence torching Syracuse this weekend.

Pick: Bills 31, Jets 13

8/15
<p><strong>Line: </strong>Falcons -2</p>

<p>Atlanta fired Dan Quinn and Raheem Morris tried a new coaching tactic: Holding players accountable for their mistakes. It worked in Week 6 as Matt Ryan and Julio Jones torched the sliding Vikings.</p>

<p>Now here come the Lions, whose defense also has issues. This one should be a shootout, but Julio and Ridley make more plays than Kenny Golladay.</p>

<p><strong>Pick: </strong>Falcons 35, Lions 30</p>

Line: Falcons -2

Atlanta fired Dan Quinn and Raheem Morris tried a new coaching tactic: Holding players accountable for their mistakes. It worked in Week 6 as Matt Ryan and Julio Jones torched the sliding Vikings.

Now here come the Lions, whose defense also has issues. This one should be a shootout, but Julio and Ridley make more plays than Kenny Golladay.

Pick: Falcons 35, Lions 30

9/15
<p><strong>Line: </strong>Saints -7</p>

<p>OK, maybe the Panthers <em>do </em>need Christian McCaffrey.</p>

<p>After three straight wins, the shine fell off as the Bears' defense bottled up Teddy Bridgewater.</p>

<p>The Saints are coming off a bye week and should get Michael Thomas back provided he didn't start a fight club in the locker room.</p>

<p>No McCaffrey and no answers for Alvin Kamara and Thomas equals a bad time for Matt Rhule on Sunday.</p>

<p><strong>Pick: </strong>Saints 31, Panthers 16</p>

Line: Saints -7

OK, maybe the Panthers do need Christian McCaffrey.

After three straight wins, the shine fell off as the Bears' defense bottled up Teddy Bridgewater.

The Saints are coming off a bye week and should get Michael Thomas back provided he didn't start a fight club in the locker room.

No McCaffrey and no answers for Alvin Kamara and Thomas equals a bad time for Matt Rhule on Sunday.

Pick: Saints 31, Panthers 16

10/15
<p><strong>Line: </strong>Seahawks -3.5</p>

<p>Kyler Murray might as well have the deed to Jerry World with how he keeps performing at AT&T Stadium. After a brilliant Monday night performance, the Cardinals come home to face Russell Wilson and the only remaining undefeated NFC team.</p>

<p>This has high-scoring shootout written all over it. The Seahawks' defense has been getting gashed every week. The Cardinals' defense showed signs of improvement last week and I think Kyler makes enough plays to get a massive win.</p>

<p><strong>Pick: </strong>Cardinals 34, Seahawks 31</p>

Line: Seahawks -3.5

Kyler Murray might as well have the deed to Jerry World with how he keeps performing at AT&T Stadium. After a brilliant Monday night performance, the Cardinals come home to face Russell Wilson and the only remaining undefeated NFC team.

This has high-scoring shootout written all over it. The Seahawks' defense has been getting gashed every week. The Cardinals' defense showed signs of improvement last week and I think Kyler makes enough plays to get a massive win.

Pick: Cardinals 34, Seahawks 31

11/15
<p><strong>Line: </strong>Chargers -7.5</p>

<p>Jacksonville threw us off the scent with that Week 1 win, but it's clear now that they are exactly who we thought they would be: Terrible.</p>

<p>Justin Herbert and the Chargers are coming off a bye week and are getting some important pieces back. Bolts big.</p>

<p><strong>Pick: </strong>Chargers 30, Jags 14</p>

Line: Chargers -7.5

Jacksonville threw us off the scent with that Week 1 win, but it's clear now that they are exactly who we thought they would be: Terrible.

Justin Herbert and the Chargers are coming off a bye week and are getting some important pieces back. Bolts big.

Pick: Chargers 30, Jags 14

12/15
<p><strong>Line: </strong>Chiefs -9.5</p>

<p>Drew Lock returned and looked rusty in a win over the Patriots. But the Broncos' defense appears to be hitting its stride even without Von Miller.</p>

<p>The Chiefs are coming off a short week and still haven't looked like the dominant force they were last year.</p>

<p>I'll take Patrick Mahomes, but it's a lot closer than you think.</p>

<p><strong>Pick: </strong>Chiefs 30, Broncos 24</p>

Line: Chiefs -9.5

Drew Lock returned and looked rusty in a win over the Patriots. But the Broncos' defense appears to be hitting its stride even without Von Miller.

The Chiefs are coming off a short week and still haven't looked like the dominant force they were last year.

I'll take Patrick Mahomes, but it's a lot closer than you think.

Pick: Chiefs 30, Broncos 24

13/15
<p><strong>Line:  </strong>Rams -6</p>

<p>What in the hell are we supposed to do with the Bears? They are 5-1 and have outscored their opponents by 12 totals points in six games. They can't run the ball. They can't throw it. They've been getting by on good defense and other teams making mistakes.</p>

<p>That sounds like a perfect recipe to beat a Rams team that was kind of exposed by the 49ers. But I just can't pick the Bears. I'll learn my lesson if they beat the Rams, but I have faith Sean McVay and Jared Goff get back on track. Bears cover but can't get the win.</p>

<p><strong>Pick: </strong>Rams 24, Bears 20</p>

Line:  Rams -6

What in the hell are we supposed to do with the Bears? They are 5-1 and have outscored their opponents by 12 totals points in six games. They can't run the ball. They can't throw it. They've been getting by on good defense and other teams making mistakes.

That sounds like a perfect recipe to beat a Rams team that was kind of exposed by the 49ers. But I just can't pick the Bears. I'll learn my lesson if they beat the Rams, but I have faith Sean McVay and Jared Goff get back on track. Bears cover but can't get the win.

Pick: Rams 24, Bears 20

14/15
<p><strong>Line: </strong>Bucs -3.5</p>

<p>This is tricky. The Bucs are putting it all together after spanking the Packers last Sunday. Tom Brady and the offense still have some kinks to work out, but the emergence of Rob Gronkowski and the return of Chris Godwin make them one of the more explosive units in the NFL.</p>

<p>The Raiders have some COVID issues along their offensive line and the Bucs' defense is just too good for them to move the ball with some or all of that unit missing.</p>

<p>Brady lights up a terrible defense and this one isn't close.</p>

<p><strong>Pick: </strong>Bucs 31, Raiders 20</p>

Line: Bucs -3.5

This is tricky. The Bucs are putting it all together after spanking the Packers last Sunday. Tom Brady and the offense still have some kinks to work out, but the emergence of Rob Gronkowski and the return of Chris Godwin make them one of the more explosive units in the NFL.

The Raiders have some COVID issues along their offensive line and the Bucs' defense is just too good for them to move the ball with some or all of that unit missing.

Brady lights up a terrible defense and this one isn't close.

Pick: Bucs 31, Raiders 20

15/15
<p><strong>Line: </strong>Patriots -2</p>

<p>The 49ers got a little bit of their swagger back in beating the Rams and now Jimmy Garoppolo returns to his old stomping grounds to face Bill Belichick.</p>

<p>Belichick won't let Shanahan beat him with short quick passes and a running game. The Patriots are great at neutralizing what their opponent does best. The Patriots will shut down the short quick passes and end arounds, making Garoppolo go down the field to beat them.</p>

<p>It's hard to see the Patriots losing back-to-back games at Gillette Stadium but they just don't have the weapons they used to. Ryan Izzo, Damiere Byrd and an aging Julian Edelman aren't enough for the Pats to overcome Shanahan and Garoppolo.</p>

<p><strong>Pick: </strong>49ers 24, Patriots 21</p>

Line: Patriots -2

The 49ers got a little bit of their swagger back in beating the Rams and now Jimmy Garoppolo returns to his old stomping grounds to face Bill Belichick.

Belichick won't let Shanahan beat him with short quick passes and a running game. The Patriots are great at neutralizing what their opponent does best. The Patriots will shut down the short quick passes and end arounds, making Garoppolo go down the field to beat them.

It's hard to see the Patriots losing back-to-back games at Gillette Stadium but they just don't have the weapons they used to. Ryan Izzo, Damiere Byrd and an aging Julian Edelman aren't enough for the Pats to overcome Shanahan and Garoppolo.

Pick: 49ers 24, Patriots 21

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