Brink's Best Bets: 49ers at Patriots and All NFL Week 7 Predictions

Week 6 was somewhat of a train wreck. Correctly selecting 5 winners out of 14 games is quite bad. I'll take the L on this one, bury the ball, and just get straight to the picks being better in Week 7.

Season Record: 51-40
49ers Picks Record: 2-4

Best & Worst Picks of Week 6

My Best Pick: Bucs 31 - Packers 16
Final Score: Bucs 38 - Packers 10

My Worst Pick: Bills 44 - Chiefs 27
Final Score: Chiefs 26 - Bills 17

Week 7 Predictions

Giants @ Eagles (-4) - The battle for the bottom, Eagles win in dramatic fashion Eagles 27 - Giants 23

Packers @ Texans (+4.5) - Packers bounce back in a big way Packers 31 - Texans 19

Browns @ Bengals (+3.5) - Burrow wins his first battle of Ohio Bengals 28 - Browns 24

Cowboys @ Washington (-1) - The Cowboys' free-fall continues WFT 27 - Cowboys 23

Bills @ Jets (+13.5) - Gase should never coach in the NFL again Bills 49 - Jets 3

Lions @ Falcons (-1.5) - Falcons' offensive talent pulls this one out Falcons 30 - Lions 24

Panthers @ Saints (-7.5) - Panthers are more reliable, Brees blows this one Panthers 21 - Saints 20

Steelers @ Titans (+2.5) - Take the undefeated home underdog Titans 20 - Steelers 17

Seahawks @ Cardinals (+3.5) - Seattle's terrible defense costs it in this one Cardinals 38 - Seahawks 34

Chiefs @ Broncos (+9.5) - Broncos aren't quite ready for KC Chiefs 27 - Broncos 19

Jaguars @ Chargers (-7.5) - Go with the better QB. Chargers 23 - Jaguars 10

Buccaneers @ Raiders (+3) - Tampa's tough defense carries it in this one Bucs 22 - Raiders 16

Bears @ Rams (-5.5) - At some point, the Bears may convince the NFL world they're legit Bears 19 - Rams 17

49ers @ Patriots (-2.5)

Why SF Wins: The name may say Patriots, but this isn't the dominant dynasty we have grown accustomed to watching over the past 2 decades. The 49ers come into this matchup with the better record and carrying momentum from a big prime-time victory on Sunday Night Football. New England, on the other hand, is reeling from an embarrassing loss to the Denver Broncos during which it could only post 12 points. Cam Newton hasn't been MVP Cam. His QB rating on the season is 81.5, nearly 20 points lower than Jimmy Garoppolo's 101.2. In Week 6, the 49ers' offensive line protected their franchise QB and it was easy to see why Patriots coach Bill Belichick never wanted to let him go. If the 49ers can continue to protect the QB, and the 49ers cornerbacks continue to play at a high level, the 49ers will be able to walk out of Foxborough at 4-3.

Why SF Loses: As well as the 49ers played in Week 6, they played just as poorly in their Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The 49ers are feeling great after their last big win, but the truth is they only have to look back a few weeks to see how many holes this team can have on a bad day. The 49ers have a known weakness defending mobile QBs. Cam Newton can provide that element for the creative Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. On defense, it's likely that the only coach who knows 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo better than Kyle Shanahan is Patriots coach Bill Belichick. The greatest football coach in the history of the game will surely have an advantage in defending against his former pupil. If the Patriots can put the pressure on Garoppolo and control the ball with long drives, they will take down the 49ers and get to 3-3.

Prediction: Both teams enter this game covered in desperation. The 49ers need to get over .500 heading into a huge showdown with division leader Seattle in Week 8. The Patriots are losing ground in the AFC East as now both the Dolphins and Bills lead them in the division. This will be a great game, a chess match between two icons of their industry. The young offensive wizkid vs. the legendary defensive master. If Tom Brady was behind center for New England, i'd have to give this one to the Pats, but with Cam Newton at the helm I simply do not believe he has mastered his role as the Patriots QB just yet. When cornerbacks Jason Verrett and Emmaunel Moseley are both on the field, the 49ers defense transforms from a decent defense to a top-10 unit. Both will play Sunday, and both will be the difference makers in this one. 49ers 22 - Patriots 20

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