NFL Big Games for Week 7

Last week, there were many dramatic games which produced some dicey situations when it comes to Division races. We would like to focus on three big games this week. Each game can mean the difference between an okay season and a playoff bid.

First up is the Saints vs. Panthers game. After six weeks, the Saints find themselves in last place in the NFC South. The NFC South is doing its best impression of the NFC East as this Division has three teams with 4-2 records followed by the Saints with a 3-3 record. When the 3-3 Saints face the 4-2 Panthers this week, New Orleans will have a chance to at least move into a tie with the Panthers. From a PossessionPoints.com Performance Ranking point of view, the Saints look like the team to win this Division, but this game will tell us if the Saints are a bunch of hype or the real thing.

The second game we want to highlight is the 3-3 Chargers traveling to play the 4-1 Bills. In Week 5, the Bills were our top RPM team. They spiraled downward to the middle of the pack with their significant loss to the Cardinals. While not truly a must win for either the Chargers or the Bills, a win for the Bills would allow Buffalo to hold on to the top spot in the AFC East. On the other hand, a win for the Chargers would keep San Diego on the heels of the Broncos or maybe even tie them if Denver should drop another game. A win would definitely give the Chargers an above .500 record for the first time this season.

The third game on our list for the week is a Black and Blue Division Classic: The Vikings visiting the Bears. Both teams are tied with the Packers on top of the NFC North with 3-3 records. The winner will at least have a share of the lead going into Week 8 while the loser will find themselves at least a game back. While this Division is battling each other to achieve .500 record, all their opponents in the NFC South and East already have at least a .500 record. What this means is that the way to the playoffs for an NFC North team is to win the Division as anything less than a Division Championship may not be enough to guarantee postseason play. So, any game when the Vikings, Packers or Bears play each other this season is a big game!