When the lights come on in Week 7, NFL fans will be treated to a number of outstanding matchups once again.
The Week 7 schedule includes a handful of division leaders playing in primetime, a potential NFC Championship matchup (or two...), and an international game that kind of has a sneaky Super Bowl potential at this stage of the year, believe it or not.
We're going to do our best to pick winners and predict the final score of each of these games, taking into account what each team has done up to this point, where they are at injury-wise in Week 7, where each game is being played, and how things could play out in some awesome matchups.
2025 NFL Picks and Score Predictions for Every Primetime Game in Week 7
Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)
Thursday, October 16, 8:15 PM ET
The Cincinnati Bengals are on the cusp of falling completely out of relevance in the middle of October, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have a chance to push them over the edge. What more could you ask for if you're Pittsburgh?
The Steelers had an early bye week this season, so playing on a short week here shouldn't be that big of a deal for them. They've got to maintain focus as they try to create separation in a division that is about as shockingly there for the taking as any, especially this early in the season.
The Steelers finding a way to improve to 5-1 on Thursday night against the Bengals would create such a massive gap between them and everyone else in the AFC North that they would have arguably the biggest margin for error of any team in the league.
This matchup features the two oldest starting quarterbacks in the league with Aaron Rodgers leading the Steelers and Joe Flacco leading the Bengals. It's going to be so weird to see the collection of players on the field for these two squads, but the Steelers have to get this one taken care of. They are 5.5-point favorites, and an upset by the Bengals would be the shocker of the week. I do think the Bengals can keep it close.
Prediction: Steelers win 23-20
Los Angeles Rams (4-2) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2)
Sunday, October 19, 9:30 AM ET
The Rams and Jaguars aren't playing in "primetime" in the USA, but the game is starting in a primetime window over in London, so it gets an honorary mention in this post.
And this is one of the marquee matchups of the week anyway, so it works out.
The Rams are fresh off a gritty road win against the Baltimore Ravens, but they might have lost Puka Nacua in the process. Even if it's just for a couple of weeks, that's going to be a tough one for them to overcome, because he means that much to their offense.
They have guys who can pick up the slack in the meantime, but the Jaguars also have a strong secondary and their defense has played well this season. At 4-2 to start the year, the Jaguars aren't exactly the biggest "surprise" team in the NFL, but they are playing above what many expected.
To the point that, on a neutral field, the Rams are just 2.5-point favorites. The Jaguars have a chance to create a little distance between them and the Texans, which might be needed, and gain some ground on the Colts. This is going to be one of a number of tough matchups for them after they beat Kansas City on Monday night, then laid flat against Seattle at home.
I don't mind the Jaguars as underdogs in this one. With Puka Nacua out, we'll see if Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams can find a way to compensate, but we can't sleep on the Jags' defense. They're 7th in points allowed this season and 2nd with 14 takeaways.
Prediction: Jaguars win 26-24
Atlanta Falcons (3-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (4-2)
Sunday, October 19, 8:20 PM ET
This week's Sunday Night Football matchup features the suddenly hot Atlanta Falcons against the S n Fr nci co 49 rs. That's not a typo, that is just meant to be an indicator that the 49ers are missing so many players right now, they might as well be missing letters in their name as well.
The 49ers are so snake-bitten this year, you almost have to feel bad for them. They put up a really good fight this past weekend in Tampa Bay despite facing long odds to begin with, and then losing Fred Warner in the middle of the game.
Ultimately, it's hard to see the 49ers being able to make up for the amount of talent they've lost in the injury department already. The Falcons have so many weapons offensively, and in their last two games, they've played extremely well.
We've also seen this Falcons team get shut out 30-0 by the Panthers this year, so who really knows?
Based on the last two weeks, I would think it's safe to bet on the Falcons going on the road in this one. The 49ers are still somewhat surprisingly favored by 2.5 points at home, but we'll see how much that line changes throughout the week. With Atlanta coming off of such a quality couple of wins againt the Bills and Commanders, this could be a letdown week for them, but I wouldn't bank on it.
Prediction: Falcons win 27-21
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) @ Detroit Lions (4-2)
Monday, October 20, 7:00 PM ET
What more could NFL fans ask for than for a Monday night matchup between two 1st-place teams in the NFC, and two teams that could be jockeying for a spot in the Super Bowl in just a couple of months?
Baker Mayfield has played like an MVP for the Bucs this season, and his supporting cast around him is one of the most exciting in the NFL. The Bucs have so many different weapons on offense, so many ways to beat you, and Mayfield is the straw that stirs the whole drink.
They're going to give the Detroit Lions all they can handle, but the Lions are going to be playing ticked off in this game after losing on Sunday night against the Kansas City Chiefs. The drama here is going to be awesome.
This is a matchup where the Lions are currently favored by 5.5 points at home, and that's an understandable gap. The Bucs have, on a couple of occasions, flirted with disaster this season, but they're not called the "Cardiac Bucs" (by me) for nothing. This team has been clutch when it matters most.
The Lions need to hope that this game doesn't come down to Baker Mayfield having the ball late in the 4th quarter, whether the Bucs are leading or down by one score. He's been as clutch as anyone in the NFL this season, absolutely cooking with grease when the pressure is on.
Part of me badly wants to pick the Bucs as a straight-up upset this week, but the Lions are coming off of a loss, playing at home, and they're going to refocus. If Detroit had pulled it out against the Chiefs, the Bucs might have caught them on an off week.
Prediction: Lions win 31-27
Houston Texans (2-3) @ Seattle Seahawks (4-2)
Monday, October 20, 10:00 PM ET
Shoutout to anyone on the East Coast who has to cover this game. What a diabolical start time of 10 PM for this one.
Ouch.
It won't be so bad for the folks out West in Seattle, who get to cover a team that could be playing for sole possession of first place in this one, or at least keeping pace with both the Rams and 49ers. The Seahawks made wholesale changes on the offensive side of the ball in the 2025 offseason, and the boldness of GM John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald paid off.
Sam Darnold is playing great (most of the time), the absence of DK Metcalf has only paved the way for more big plays from Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and the Seattle defense is playing great as well.
It's been a season full of complementary football so far for the Seahawks, who are quietly one of the most threatening teams in the NFC. They'll be an awesome test for the Texans, who have had back-to-back get-right games before this matchup.
The Texans have the #1 scoring defense in the NFL thanks to a bit of an easier schedule so far, but those guys are for real. This would be such a huge win for Houston to get back to .500 and keep up with the rest of the teams in their division. As good as Seattle has played this season, I think desperation is on Houston's side and that defense will do whatever it takes to get this team to a win.
Prediction: Texans win 23-19