The NFL Roundup 2019: Week 7

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

It really has been quite the dynamic start to the year for the NFL. For we’ve already seen a major coaching change take place, some blockbuster trades and franchise quarterbacks take the bench, and we aren’t even at the halfway point of the season just yet. Which means Week 7 should provide us with plenty more incredible stories as teams seemingly work harder than ever to find success and well, we won’t be wasting any time today reflecting upon the feelings that football evokes. Because there are a lot of storylines brewing for this weekend’s slate of games, so let’s get right down to it and preview what matchups and stories are worth keeping an eye upon in Week 7 in the NFL.
 
Is Jalen Ramsey going to transform the Rams secondary into an elite unit?
I have to admit, I’m quite impressed with the Rams right now. Because the king’s ransom they gave up for cornerback Jalen Ramsey speaks volumes to the fact that they want to win and win big and they’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen and keep their defense as elite as possible. But while Ramsey is indeed a solid corner, is he going to outright transform the Rams defense into a vaunted unit that quarterbacks fear? I honestly don’t know. Because I’m not sure the secondary is the only reason for the drop off in quality for the Rams D since the pass rush is sloppy too. Plus, Ramsey has now proven that if he doesn’t get his way or feel like a superstar his performance won’t be that great either. So, it’s a high risk and high reward move that the Rams made here and if Ramsey can indeed provide a spark for this ailing defense, then expect the Rams to improve as they push to defend their title.
 
Will Ryan Tannehill provide the Titans offensive woes?
First and foremost, kudos to Titans head coach Mike Vrabel for doing what needed to be done by benching Marcus Mariota in Denver last week. Because #8 has received more than his fair share of chances to get this team rolling and simply hasn’t gotten it done. But while the move is a good thing for the franchise, is Mariota’s understudy going to finally get this offense into the end zone? And honestly, this is another ‘I dunno’. Because Ryan Tannehill didn’t exactly wow the football world during his time in Miami, and while he was an upgrade against Denver last week, he was still as mediocre as can be. So, it’s really up to Tannehill to make some magic happen on the field this week, but don’t hold your breath, because the man has had many years in this league to develop into something more than a high-quality backup.
 
Will the Bengals finally win a game this weekend?
It’s tough for any team to have a losing season, because they had such high hopes in the offseason that this would be their year. But it has to be extra tough to start off the new season without a win, especially heading into Week 7 and I cannot imagine the mood in the Bengals locker room right now. But every game presents new opportunities to win and one has to wonder if Cincy can finally put together a victory against the Jaguars this week and honestly, it’s possible, provided they do one key thing. Because the Cincinnati defense is terrible against the run, and if they can shore up the line against Leonard Fournette, they’ve got a chance. But in all honestly, I don’t have a lot of faith in them this weekend, because this is a bad football team at every level right now and I fully expect Fournette to run wild when these two squads take the field. 

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The Most Interesting Games to Watch This Weekend

Thursday Night Football
Kansas City Chiefs (4-2) at Denver Broncos (2-4)
Empower Field at Mile High – Denver, CO
8:20 p.m. EST – FOX/NFL Network/Amazon Prime Video 

​Two weeks ago, this is a game that would have been irrelevant because the Broncos looked like trash and the Chiefs looked like heroes. But what a difference a couple of weeks can make, because Denver is suddenly playing incredible on defense, and they’re serviceable on offense and the Chiefs, well their defense is in free fall right now since they couldn’t stop a sloth from getting into the end zone. Which means this game might be quite interesting, since the Denver D is hungry to prove itself as elite once again and will be attacking Patrick Mahomes with impunity and the anemic Broncos offense, will be chomping at the bit to score points on the incompetent KC defense. So, don’t be shocked in the Broncos pull off the upset in this one, because Kansas City is not as good as advertised. 

Baltimore Ravens (4-2) at Seattle Seahawks (5-1)
CenturyLink Field – Seattle, WA
Sunday, October 20, 2019 – 4:25 p.m. EST – FOX

You really cannot go wrong with watching a pair of scrappy teams go at it on a Sunday afternoon and that’s precisely what this game features. Because both of these teams consistently fight hard when they’re challenged and that means we are in for a knockdown, drag it out brawl on the field and I couldn’t be happier. But while both of these teams feature solid and dynamic defenses, it’s the quarterbacks that will be receiving all of the attention in this one. After all, Lamar Jackson is doing a phenomenal job of improvising on the field when it comes to RPO concepts, which is making life hell for opposing defenses and Russell Wilson, well, the man is simply elite and can drop a surprise on a defense on a moment’s notice. As to who will this game, well I haven’t a clue, but what matters more is that this one is going to be a lot of fun to watch.

Sunday Night Football
Philadelphia Eagles (3-3) at Dallas Cowboys (3-3)
AT&T Stadium – Arlington, TX
8:20 PM EST – NBC 

I’m always down to watch an NFC East divisional matchup, since they’re always brutal and intense. But let’s be honest, it’s the Cowboys that are the focus of this particular game. Because they’re a team that is loaded with talent, and they simply cannot get it done. They stumble often, blow leads and make dumb coaching decisions in game and that means this matchup is a big deal for ‘Dem Boys’. For they need to get their season on track and quick, and honestly, I’m not sure if they can do it. After all, any team that’s challenged them or pushed back has been able to walk away with the win and you know Philly is ready to turn up the heat since they’re still upset about last week’s loss in Minnesota. So, if Dallas can put it all together and keep a level head, expect them to win. But in all honesty, I expect Philly to come out swinging in this one and that means, another loss is probably in the cards for a team that is all about hype over substance.