The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsThe NFL week roles around again as San Francisco host Seattle and Matt Coles takes a look at each clash in America and the UK, with the international series once again being hosted at Wembley Stadium in London.
It is unprecedented that five teams are going into Week 7 with a perfect record. Three of those teams, the Denver Broncos (6-0), Cincinnati Bengals (6-0) and the Green Bay Packers (6-0) all have their bye week, and will take the week off to prepare to maintain that 100% next week. Both the Patriots (5-0) and the Panthers (5-0) play this week, looking to go 6-0 like the three mentioned above.
Detroit finally got their first victory of the season last week, beating Chicago 37-34 at Ford Field in the big NFC North clash in Week 6. The Lions still have an outside shot of the playoffs, and with the NFL, anything is possible.
Thursday Night Football
Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers
The first game of the weekend is a major match-up in the NFC West, with both the Seahawks and the 49ers struggling for form this season. Both are at 2-4, and have not performed at anything like their best so far. Seattle will be the more confident coming into this one, having won all three of their 2014 games against the 49ers, conceding just 27 points in the process. The 49ers will look to turn that around to get their season going here.
Sunday at Wembley
Buffalo Bills @ Jacksonville Jaguars
The second International Series game of the 2015 season is another Jaguars home game, their third out of a four year-run. Buffalo will be the happier team coming to the game with a .500 record (3-3), while the Jags are struggling at 1-5. The Bills have also won the last three meetings, scoring at least three TDs in each game, and will look to apply pressure on the Patriots in the AFC East.
Sunday Evening Games
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Washington Redskins
A match-up of two win teams at FedEx Field on Sunday, as the Buccaneers travel to Washington. Neither side have been good through the air, but the Bucs ground game could give the Redskins some defensive problems. The Buccaneers really need a win here, with two teams in their division (ATL, CAR) having already won five games. The Skins are 2-4, but know a win could see them jump to the top of the hotel contested NFL East.
Atlanta Falcons @ Tennessee Titans
One of those teams with five wins are the Atlanta Falcons, who travel to Tennessee on Sunday. Despite having the third best defence in the league, the Titans are only 1-4, having already had their bye week. This is the first league game between the two in the last four years, having played in the last three pre-seasons. The Falcons will undoubtedly be favourites, but the Titans could kick-start their run with victory here.
New Orleans Saints @ Indianapolis Colts
After losing a tight game to the Pats last weekend, the Colts host the Saints with just a 3-3 record. Drew Brees’ side only have a 2-4 and make the trip to Indy with a desperate need for a win. However, it has only been Brees performing so far, with the Saints ranked 31st for rushing yards, and then also 32nd for defence. The Colts conceded 62 points in this game in 2011, and will not be looking for a repeat as they look to tighten their grip on the AFC South.
Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions
Another NFC North clash for the Lions, this time hosting the Vikings. Detroit got that elusive first win against the Bears last weekend, and will be full of confidence going into this game. The Vikings also won last week, but it was an unconvincing performance. The Vikes won the Week 2 match-up by 10, and will be favourites to do so again to apply pressure to the 6-0 Packers at the top of the standings.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Kansas City Chiefs
The 4-2 Steelers travel to Kansas City to face the 1-5 Chiefs on Sunday at the Arrowhead. In recent years, this has always finished within a single score, with Pittsburgh winning two of the last three, and their recent form would give them the edge going into this one. The Steelers rushing game will test the Chiefs defence, which along with the offence, ranks firmly in mid-table (22nd and 20th in the league respectively).
