The NFL Roundup Week 7 - The Most Fascinating Games to Watch on Sunday and Monday

Written by John Edward Betancourt

The phrase, 'it's personal' and all the iterations and meanings that go with it, are thrown around a lot in sports, to the point where one could consider it to be cliché. But, despite it's potential overuse, things do get awfully personal in sports. Players and coaches change teams, there's bad blood involved and well, games that get personal, often result in something special for the fans.

Those in the stands and at home often times are witness to spectacular performances when the player in question decides to stick it to their former team in glorious fashion, or if they have something to prove and oddly enough, this weekend's games feature a few contests that fit into both of those molds, which means how these games unfold should be outright fascinating and here are the ones we are keeping an eye on come tomorrow and Monday Night.

---

MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
​11 a.m. EST - FOX

Quarterback Sam Bradford has had quite the wild ride in the NFL. After being selected first overall by the Rams in 2010, he was unceremoniously traded to the Eagles in 2015, and after seeing success in Philadelphia, he was awarded with a lovely new contract and the possibility that most likely, he was the guy going forward for the Eagles. But then...the team traded up to pick Carson Wentz in this year's draft and Sam demanded a trade, eventually he got his wish and was shipped off to Minnesota after Teddy Bridgewater's horrific knee injury and now Sam is giving us the best performance of his career. He's been lights out for the Vikings and as fate would have it, the Prodigal Son returns to Philadelphia this weekend to face off against the team that was happy to trade him away, and you know that he will be looking to tear that defense to shreds and do anything and everything to ensure that the Eagles fully regret letting him go. Of course, Philly knows this and will work to shut him and the offense down to send a message that reaffirms why they sent him packing, but either way, there's some serious emotion going into this game and it should be an incredible one to watch. 

BALTIMORE RAVENS AT NEW YORK JETS
11 a.m. EST - CBS

For many, many years now, the New York Jets have been searching for a franchise quarterback, to no avail. It's been starter after stater in Gotham and in 2013, the Jets thought that maybe, just maybe they had finally found their man in Geno Smith when they drafted him in the second round, but alas, Geno struggled from the get go. His inability to read a defense led to poor decisions and turnovers and eventually, a benching. But, opportunity always comes knocking in the NFL and as fate would have it, Geno is getting another shot to start for the Jets tomorrow and if the benching did what it was supposed to do, Geno studied the game and set his mind right because this could be his last chance to prove to the league, the Jets and himself that he is indeed a quality quarterback that can play at a high level and hopefully #7 will accept the challenge and prove everyone that has doubted him, including myself, wrong.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS
Sunday Night Football - 8:30 p.m. EST NBC

Arizona Head Coach Bruce Arians is well known for a couple of things. For starters, he's a no nonsense, tell it like it is coach and second, he expects every single one of his players to execute well and give the team their best on every single down. That philosophy has led to some amazing success, with the Cardinals finding their way to the NFC Championship game last year, but this year...well things have changed. The team has for the most part been mediocre on the field and it's something that Bruce simply cannot stand, and he's called out players publicly for poor play and made changes to the lineup left and right. He is a man looking to prove that his team is better than people give them credit and what better an opportunity to show that the Cardinals are still a force to be reckoned with, than by beating the 4-1 Seattle Seahawks. But, what makes this game a touch more personal, is that while Coach Arians speaks to how the team needs to do better, it's safe to assume that he would like to prove to himself that he's still the able to guide this team to great success and that's he still one hell of a Head Coach.

HOUSTON TEXANS AT DENVER BRONCOS
​Monday Night Football - 8:30 p.m. EST ESPN

Of all the games this weekend has to offer, none of them are filled with as much bad blood as Monday Night's game since this features the return of Brock Osweiler to the Mile High City. Much has been made of this matchup and with good reason. Osweiler was hand picked by John Elway to take over the franchise once Peyton Manning said goodbye. He was embraced and supported by his teammates during his seven game run last year, but rather than stay with Denver, he bolted for the big bucks that Houston was offering and well...it doesn't get more personal in a matchup than this. The Denver Broncos want to expose and embarrass Brock on Monday Night to show the world why Mr. Elway let him walk and Brock, well considering the rough season he's had in Houston, he would love nothing more than to prove his doubters wrong and torch the Denver defense. Either way, this should turn out to be one incredibly fierce and entertaining game.