NFL week 7 tips: Los Angeles Rams and top teams make push towards playoffs
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The best teams in the NFL are beginning to make their push towards the playoffs as we enter week 7 of the 2016 campaign.
Injuries are also beginning to take their toll with a number of sides forced to field backups in key positions, which could alter the course of their respective seasons.
Here, Coral outline five top NFL week 7 tips for the latest round of matches…
New York Giants @ Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have proven to be a hot and cold team in the NFL this season, currently sitting at 3-3 in the NFC West. After reeling off three wins on the bounce they have since lost back-to-back matches to Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions, although they are still keeping pace with Seattle Seahawks in their division.
However, they are in dire need of a win at Twickenham in game two of the International Series to ensure that the two-match gap does not get any larger. Running back Todd Gurley needs to improve his form as he is averaging just 2.9 yards per carry this term to ease the pressure on the arm of Case Keenum.
The Giants are fresh off a comeback win over Baltimore Ravens as Odell Beckham Jr continued his resurgence with 222 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Ben McAdoo’s men will rely on him again to drive them to victory, but the Rams’ defence will aim to prevent Eli Manning driving the ball downfield.
Los Angeles have one of the best defensive lines in the game, and through them backing the Rams to win on the money line at 5/4 could be a prudent option.
Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins
The Bills are arguably the form team in the NFL, securing four wins on the bounce after looking very ordinary in the first two weeks of the campaign. By adding another win they can ramp up the pressure on New England Patriots at the top of the AFC East ahead of their clash next week.
Running back LeSean McCoy has been struggling with a hamstring issue and is unlikely to feature, which could open the door for Miami to snatch the victory.
The Dolphins have been terrible on defense this season, but limited Pittsburgh Steelers to just 15 points in their impressive win over Mike Tomlin’s men. They will have taken confidence from that victory and as a result backing them at 3/1 to claim a 1-6 point triumph at home over their divisional rivals could be a smart bet.
Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals lost their cool against the Patriots last week as they spurned a four-point lead at Gillette Stadium to lose 35-17, with Vontaze Burfict fortunate to escape a suspension for his actions on the field.
Marvin Lewis’ men were plagued with the same problems they have shown throughout the campaign, struggling to capitalise on their opportunities in the redzone and playing poor defensively in critical moments of their contests.
At 2-4 the pressure is on them to turn their season around to remain in the playoff mix, and although the Browns are 0-6 they have not been pushovers in their defeats. Browns coach Hue Jackson was formerly the offensive coordinator at the Bengals, so he will have a good grasp on their strategy.
Cleveland will keep this game close and so taking the spread at +9.5 for the visitors is s sensible option, given their plucky displays and the Bengals’ struggles in both redzones.
Baltimore Ravens @ New York Jets
The Jets are in turmoil this season due to the form of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. The 34-year-old enjoyed the best campaign of his career in 2015, almost guiding the club to the playoffs. However, this term he has been a disaster committing a host of turnovers for Todd Bowles’ men.
Their patience finally ran out in their defeat to Arizona Cardinals, with Bowles making the decision to pull him from the game and play backup Geno Smith. Smith was the Jets’ starter in 2013 and 2014, but due his capacity to make errors on a consistent basis he was replaced by Fitzpatrick, which does not say much about their chances against the Ravens.
Baltimore have had issues of their own at quarterback as Joe Flacco has struggled with a shoulder injury, but will play at MetLife Stadium. Due to the fact that both offenses have been poor, taking the under on 41.0 total points at 41.0, is a wise bet to take as neither team are prolific in the endzone.
New England Patriots @ Pittsburgh Steelers
This was meant to be a clash of titans in the AFC, putting two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL against each other as Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger were set to lock horns. However, Roethlisberger tore his meniscus in the Steelers’ defeat to Miami Dolphins and has been ruled out for at least Sunday’s match.
New England are overwhelming favourites to win at Heinz Field as Landry Jones will start at quarterback for the home side, going against the second-best scoring defense in the league.
The Patriots’ offense has been electric since Brady’s return from his suspension and he has always been impressive the Steelers, none more so than his four-touchdown display in their win on the opening day in 2015.
There have been a few passive aggressive shots from the Steelers’ coaching staff in the media this week involving the Patriots’ past indiscretions with the NFL rulebook. This will not have gone unnoticed by Bill Belichick and his team, who have usually punished their opponents on the field for remarks with little mercy.
A huge win for the visitors is not out of the question, which is why backing the Patriots at 7/1 to secure a 19-24 point victory could produce a big win for punters.
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