2021 NFL picks, score predictions for Week 7

Philadelphia Eagles (2-4) at Las Vegas Raiders (4-2)

Sunday, October 24, 4:05 PM ET

I’m sorry but I’m not buying the Las Vegas Raiders as a legitimate contender — something about this team wreaks of an oncoming letdown. Sure, they step up amid the off-field drama and delivered a win in Week 6, but when does that emotional high wear off?

Maybe it does in Week 7 against the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that has shown glimpses of greatness at times in 2021. The front five has hindered the offense, but Lane Johnson is set to return and Jalen Hurts is just waiting for an opportunity to go off. Maybe he can do it against a Raiders defense that is among the worst against the pass this season.

As long as the Eagles can contain Derek Carr and keep him from carving up their secondary, they should have just enough juice to pull out the win in Week 7. They haven’t done a great job of getting after the quarterback this year, so they’ll need to rely on the back end to make it happen.

It’s a longshot, but I’m predicting the Eagles step up to the challenge and put the clamps on the Raiders. Carr struggles and the rest of the roster comes back down to the Earth, realizing that their franchise is on a wobbly foundation at the moment. Philadelphia wins and works its way back in the Wild Card hunt.

Prediction: Eagles win 30-26 | Spread: Raiders (-3)