Above-average QB play usually will hold a workforce in a recreation. In case your workforce will get below-average QB or worse, that is a recipe for catastrophe.
Forward of the Week 7 schedule, Yardbarker NFL writers challenge ugly play from Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield and one other excellent recreation for Commanders rookie QB Jayden Daniels.
Listed below are predictions for every NFC workforce:
NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS (3-3) | No recreation, bye week
NEW YORK GIANTS (2-4) | WR Malik Nabers comes again, goes off |Nabers hasn’t caught something in October whereas within the concussion protocol, however the rookie ought to do effectively at residence towards a younger Philadelphia Eagles secondary. With rookies Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell manning two of Philadelphia’s three cornerback spots and veteran Darius Slay questionable with a knee damage, New York’s No. 1 receiver ought to prime the 115 yards he had towards the Dallas Cowboys in his final recreation.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (3-2) | RB Saquon Barkley makes himself at residence | Misplaced within the postgame histrionics of his head coach was the truth that Philadelphia’s prized free agent ran for simply 47 yards on 18 carries in a 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Anticipate Saquon Barkley, the NFL’s fourth-leading rusher with 482 yards, to greater than double that quantity at MetLife Stadium vs. the Giants, with whom Barkley put up 7,311 yards speeding and receiving yards in six seasons.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (4-2) | Commanders drop 40 on Panthers | Anticipate Washington to attain 40 factors at residence Sunday towards a Carolina workforce permitting a league-worst 33.8 factors per recreation. Solely the Lions rating extra factors per recreation (30.2) than rookie QB Jayden Daniels and the Commanders (29.7). Daniels ought to relish the chance to play towards a Panthers workforce that allowed 200 speeding yards to Falcons operating backs in Week 6. He already has 322 yards on the bottom. — Bruce Ewing
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS (2-4) | Protection struggles once more | The Cardinals have made progress on offense, however the protection — particularly towards the run (153 YPG) — stays a serious concern. These struggles are going to proceed on Monday night time at residence towards the Los Angeles Chargers, who’re one of many more practical operating groups within the league (127.8 YPG).
LOS ANGELES RAMS (1-4) | Protection will get two interceptions and offers up fewer than 10 factors | The Rams protection has struggled this season, however that may change with a breakout recreation at residence Sunday towards a brutal Las Vegas Raiders offense that’s beginning Aidan O’Connell at QB (27-for-40, 227 yards vs. Steelers in Week 6) and has already signaled it’s prepared to surrender on the season by buying and selling WR Davante Adams.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (3-3) | 49ers hand Chiefs first loss | The 49ers are too proficient to be with out back-to-back wins this season. Thursday night time’s large divisional win over Seattle could possibly be a place to begin and on Sunday, the 49ers will get a small piece of Tremendous Bowl revenge and hand the Chiefs (5-0) their first lack of the season whereas displaying they’re nonetheless a legit Tremendous Bowl contender.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (3-3) | RB Kenneth Walker rushes for 125 yards | Walker has slumped the previous two video games (51 yards on 19 carries), however he will get an Atlanta Falcons protection on the street Sunday. The Falcons are one of many NFL’s worst groups towards the run (142.7 yards per recreation). Anticipate Walker — and the Seahawks — to bounce again from a loss to the Niners. — Adam Gretz
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS (4-2) | No recreation, bye week
DETROIT LIONS (4-1) | TE Sam LaPorta scores once more | RB David Montgomery recently received a two-year, $18M contract extension over the weekend, however he might have bother putting paydirt towards Minnesota’s second-ranked run protection when the Lions battle the Vikings at U.S. Financial institution Stadium for the division lead. Luckily for the Lions, Minnesota’s Thirtieth-ranked go protection (263 YPG) is far more porous, which ought to permit Detroit’s Professional Bowl tight finish to attain his second landing in as many weeks.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (4-2) | Xavier McKinney provides to league-leading interception complete | McKinney leads the NFL with 5 interceptions, however Sunday’s recreation towards the Cardinals was his first with out a takeaway. Solely three quarterbacks have extra passing makes an attempt than Houston’s C.J. Stroud (210), which ought to actually play into the arms of Inexperienced Bay’s proficient security when the Packers host the Texans on Sunday.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (5-0) | WR Justin Jefferson has second 100-yard recreation of 2024 | Per StatMuse, Jefferson has extra yards receiving towards the Lions (1,073) than towards some other workforce. The NFL’s sixth-leading receiver had a season-high 14 targets towards the New York Jets in Week 5 earlier than taking final Sunday off on bye and could have no downside reaching the century mark at residence towards a Detroit workforce that misplaced Professional Bowl defensive finish Aidan Hutchinson to a grotesque leg damage towards the Cowboys in Week 6. — Bruce Ewing
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS (4-2) | RB Bijan Robinson runs wild | The No. 8 general choose of the 2023 NFL Draft had his finest recreation of the season in Week 6 towards the Panthers, speeding for 95 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. With the Seahawks’ Twenty seventh-ranked rush protection (144.7 YPG) coming to city, Robinson will set a profession excessive in speeding, surpassing the 124 yards he gained in Week 2 final season towards the Packers.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-5) | RB Chuba Hubbard has third 100-yard recreation | Misplaced in Carolina’s tough begin to the season is Hubbard’s emergence as one of many league’s finest backs. He ranks third in speeding (485 yards), trailing solely Baltimore Ravens RB Derrick Henry (704 yards) and 49ers operating again Jordan Mason (609 yards). Hubbard could have a monster recreation Sunday on the street towards a Commanders protection permitting 5 yards per carry.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-4) | Damage-plagued Saints shut out towards Denver Broncos | Beginning wideouts Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) are anticipated to overlook Thursday’s residence recreation. A non-existent speeding assault, a quarterback — rookie Spencer Rattler — making his second profession begin and a proficient Broncos protection are a recipe for New Orleans’ first residence shutout loss since Jan. 6, 2002.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (4-2) | QB Baker Mayfield has one other multi-interception recreation | In a battle of Heisman winners, Mayfield — who leads the NFL with 15 TD passes — will likely be outplayed on Monday in Tampa by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Every week after throwing three interceptions towards the Saints, Mayfield will wrestle towards a proficient Baltimore secondary that options former All-Execs Marlon Humphrey and security Kyle Hamilton. Mayfield has already been sacked 17 occasions, tied for fourth most within the NFL. — Eric Smithling
