Last week, the Colts erased a 21-point deficit and held off the Bengals to avoid a major upset that likely would have shrunk your survivor pool by a considerable margin. The Colts won 31-27, and chalk prevailed.
However, those who looked to Foxborough were not as fortunate. The Patriots have missed large chunks of practice time the last few weeks due to COVID-19, and it certainly showed Sunday as they looked rusty in their 18-12 upset loss to Denver. The Broncos spoiled 73 of the 400 remaining Circa survivor entries who pegged the Patriots as their pick, while 71 contestants escaped danger when the Colts won. And 250 participants had a relaxed Sunday afternoon cheering their choice of the Dolphins, as the most popular pick of the week blanked the Jets 24-0 in a game that wasn’t even as close as the score indicated. What will Week 7 bring?
Games to Consider
Los Angeles Chargers over Jacksonville Jaguars: To borrow a line from the late Dennis Green in the most memorable postgame news conference of all time, “They are who we thought they were.” The Jaguars are who we thought they were heading into the season, which is a terrible football team. They beat the Colts in the opener and played the Titans close the next week. But since then they have looked like the Trevor Lawrence suitors we all expected them to be. They not only have been bludgeoned but had a streak of three weeks in a row in which their opponents gained their first wins of the season.
The Chargers (-7.5) have played well but don’t have much to show for it. They’ve squandered some big leads and already lost several heartbreakers, a category in which they seem to perennially lead the league. This is a great option, though not the safest on the board.
Kansas City Chiefs over Denver Broncos: Always a worthy consideration are the defending champs and their video-game offense. However, the Denver altitude is one home-field advantage the pandemic hasn’t compromised, and the Chiefs (-9.5) not only will be on the road but off a short week against a Broncos team that can defend at a high level. The Chiefs likely will win, but chances are you’ve used them already. If not, you’re better off saving them for later in the season. Pass.
The Pick
Buffalo Bills over New York Jets: I have some profound insight regarding this game that led me to pick the Bills: They are playing the New York Jets. Enough said. The Jets not only will be underdogs in every game, chances are they won’t be catching less than a touchdown from here on out. The Jets aren’t just bad, they are totally uncompetitive, and they will get steamrolled by the Bills (-12). This should be a no-sweat Survivor Sunday once again picking against this putrid Jets squad.
William Hill (not to be confused with the sportsbook of the same name) is a contributor to VSiN’s Point Spread Weekly.