In the third series of off-weeks for NFL 2026. You won’t be seeing the first-place Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars, or the last-place Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders.
Last week, the selections were fairly spot on. While the Carolina Panthers did win at Philadelphia, last week’s prediction was posted before it was announced that Eagles’ quarterback Jalen Hurts would miss the game.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns did knock off the Baltimore Ravens. And the Tampa Bay Buccaneers nearly surprised the Steelers. However, Todd Bowles’s club squandered a 16-3 fourth-quarter lead and lost in overtime, 26-19. Meanwhile, here are three more surprising prognostications.
Here are 3 bold predictions for NFL Week 7
Falcons hand 49ers their first loss of 2026
It’s obvious that opposing teams enjoy playing at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Perhaps that’s one way to explain why Kevin Stefanski’s Falcons are not only 0-3 at home, but they’ve been outscored a combined 95-49 in those setbacks. Atlanta has allowed at least 30 points in losses to the Panthers (34-3), Ravens (30-23 in OT) and Bears (31-23).
Still, the Falcons are home for the third straight Sunday, while the unbeaten San Francisco 49ers make the long trip east after a Monday night battle with the Commanders. The Niners’ balanced attack may be without wideout Mike Evans, and the Falcons’ fourth-ranked rushing defense will clamp down on Christian McCaffrey. Expect plenty of points and Stefanski’s squad to stun the NFC West leaders via another big outing from Bijan Robinson.
Titans win second straight game in edging Browns
One of the big surprises in the league this season has been the play of rejuvenated Cleveland Browns’ quarterback Deshaun Watson. He’s hitting on 63.8 percent of his passes for 1,174 yards and seven TD passes, compared to four turnovers. He’s also rushed for 196 yards, second on the team.
The Browns sit atop the AFC North with a 4-2 record, that marked tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. Cleveland can equal last season’s win total with a victory over the 1-5 Titans. Robert Saleh got his first win as Tennessee’s head coach last week by knocking off the Colts at Indianapolis.
Here’s a sobering statistic. The last time the Titans won consecutive games was Weeks 10 and 11…of 2022. That ends this week as Saleh’s defense stifle a Browns’ team that has scored a combined 25 points in its last two games.
Lions hold Packers to fewer than 20 points in key divisional win
Dan Campbell’s club has had an extra week to prepare for this longtime divisional rival. After a 1-2 start, the Green Bay Packers have suddenly strung together three straight wins. And it’s worth noting that a year ago, Matt LaFleur’s team swept this series for the first time since 2020.
Entering Week 7, only the Buffalo Bills are averaging more points per game than the Detroit Lions. On the other hand, only the Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans are giving up more points per outing than Campbell’s squad. The saving grace for the Lions has been the fact that they have committed only one turnover in five games—a lost fumble by running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
Speaking of the league's fifth-leading rusher, Gibbs will lead a ball control attack designed to keep Love and the Green Bay offense off the field. For the first time this season, the Lions will not give up at least 21 points in a game as they cool off the Pack.
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