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NFL RedZone companion, week seven: The Chargers put on a show at Wembley and it's Brady v Mack in Chicago

Alex Finnis
Philip Rivers brings his Los Angeles Chargers to London this Sunday - FR25496 AP
Philip Rivers brings his Los Angeles Chargers to London this Sunday - FR25496 AP

Is this the week we get a good London game? The Seahawks made light work of the hapless Raiders at Wembley last weekend, and now we welcome the Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans to our shores - two AFC teams very much in the hunt for January football.

After the Broncos dismantled the Cardinals on Thursday Night Football, and with the Bengals and Chiefs facing off in what could be another screamer in the Sunday late game, the Giants travelling to Atlanta on Monday night and the Packers, Steelers, Raiders and Seahawks all on bye, that leaves us with 10 games to tune into on RedZone this week.

Here’s your week seven companion to the greatest show on television.

Five games to dial in on

The Titans and Chargers clash at Wembley

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) is sacked by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Onwuasor for a 7-yard loss - Credit: (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Marcus Mariota was sacked 11 times in the Titans' defeat to Baltimore Credit: (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Not technically on RedZone as it doesn't kick off until 14.30, but the Chargers arrive in London with Philip Rivers quietly playing one of the best seasons of his career. Combine that with Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler putting up record numbers out of the backfield and you have a Los Angeles offense that could and should be making a deep run into the playoffs.

That means they should be beating a Titans team which is either one of the league’s best bad teams or worst good ones. Tennessee have once again looked frustratingly inconsistent, going from beating the Super Bowl champs one week to getting embarrassed by the Bills the next. The wildcard here is that the long trip to London often wreaks havoc with the form book.

While the Titans’ run defense has been top five through six weeks, the issue they have is Gordon and Ekeler look equally potent through the air as on the ground. This is a modern Chargers offense in that it can hurt you in a multitude of ways, and despite the long trip from the west coast you still have to fancy them to put on a winning show for the Wembley crowd.

Tom Brady v Khalil Mack in Chicago

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes under pressure from the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of an NFL football game - Credit: (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Tom Brady pulled off the game-winning drive against the Chiefs last week Credit: (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Chicago go into this huge clash with New England as a wounded bear - their surprise week six defeat to Brock Osweiler and Miami means they’ll be playing angry. Whether that’s a positive against a surgical Patriots is yet to be seen, but another defeat will leave the Bears vulnerable in the NFC North and have people questioning whether the hype train left the station a year too early.

The battle everyone wants to see is Khalil Mack - maybe the best defensive player in the league right now - up against the GOAT, Tom Brady. Mack is already such a presence in this Bears team that he’s basically their quarterback. If he, Akiem Hicks and co. can’t put pressure on Brady it might be asking too much of Chicago’s actual QB, Mitchell Trubisky, to keep up. His six-touchdown destruction of the Buccaneers a couple of weeks ago says far more about the Bucs defense than his own talents.

The Eagles look to right the ship against Carolina

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) scores a touchdown in the second half against the New York Giants - Credit: (Danielle Parhizkaran/USA Today)
The Eagles will look to star wideout Alshon Jeffery to beat the Panthers Credit: (Danielle Parhizkaran/USA Today)

Have the Eagles recovered from their shaky start? The commanding week six win over the Giants will have gone some way to calming fans’ nerves, but with the Panthers coming to town they now face a real test. If they pass it you have to think they’ll kick on and win the NFC East, but a defeat would leave a huge question mark hanging over their playoff hopes.

Philadelphia’s pass rush hasn’t been the force it was last season, while Carolina’s offensive line has exceeded expectations, keeping Cam Newton’s pocket relatively clean. Against one of the league’s strongest run defenses he may be forced to throw the ball more than average - perhaps time for the Curtis Samuel breakout game?

With Jay Ajayi injured Philly may also have to look through the air for their big plays. Corey Clement and Wendell Smallwood are both… fine, but are far from feature backs. The Panthers will kick themselves if they allow one of these backups to go off on Sunday.

A huge test for the explosive Saints offense

Drew Brees thanks the fans after breaking the NFL record for passing yards as The New Orleans Saints take on The Washington Redskins during Monday Night Football at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome - Credit: (The Daily Advertiser via AP)
Drew Brees is now the NFL's all-time leading passer Credit: (The Daily Advertiser via AP)

In this new all-offense-all-the-time NFL, you could argue the Baltimore Ravens are the only team with a consistently great defense. They are the only team allowing fewer than 300 yards per game, and at 12.8 are giving up almost five points per game fewer than Dallas, the league’s next stingiest defense.

A proper test for the Saints, then, who with the Rams and Chiefs have the best offense in the NFL. If New Orleans pull off the win in Baltimore I’d almost be ready to say defense doesn’t really matter in the NFL this season. Where before championships were decided by a top class pass rush and tight secondary, now it’s just about who can come out on top in an 80-point shootout.

This could be the game of the week, as not only is the unstoppable force v immovable object offense against defense battle intriguing, but so is what this new look Ravens attack might do to the Saints. New Orleans had a good defense for approximately one season before reverting back to old ways, but I still back them to edge this one. Just.

A vital battle in the NFC East

The Dallas Cowboys defensive line celebrates a fumble recovery against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third quarter of a game at AT&T Stadium  - Credit: (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Cowboys tore apart the Jacksonville Jaguars in week six Credit: (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Cowboys and Redskins have both been fairly uninspiring, and yet are both coming off their strongest weeks of the season with renewed hope of winning the division. Washington pulled out to an early lead and clung on to upset the Panthers, while the Cowboys ripped apart the Jaguars in a 40-7 hammering no one saw coming.

These are both teams whose strengths lie in defending a lead rather than chasing the game, and also both defense-first teams in this offense-first NFL - in total yards allowed this season Dallas are fourth and Washington are fifth. The winner could be decided by who comes out strongest in the first quarter.

You’d expect to see a lot of Ezekiel Elliott and Adrian Peterson, and a game heavy in short passes, but this season has already tossed out expectations out the window many times before.

Five players to keep an eye on

Brandin Cooks (WR, Los Angeles Rams)

Wide receiver Brandin Cooks #12 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates his touchdown to take a 28-17 lead over the Minnesota Vikings - Credit: (Harry How/Getty Images)
Brandin Cooks is enjoying another successful season, this time in Los Angeles Credit: (Harry How/Getty Images)

Cooper Kupp’s injury means the Rams’ explosive trio of wide receivers is down to two, but it will give Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods even more chance to eat.

Cooks will likely find himself matched up against Jimmie Ward against the 49ers on Sunday, which looks favourable for the former Patriot. Cooks currently sits tenth in receiving yards, but this might be his best opportunity of the season to power himself up that list.

Terrell Suggs (LB, Baltimore Ravens)

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs (55) sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the second half of an NFL football game - Credit: (AP Photo/David Richard)
Terrell Suggs has still got it, even in the twilight of his career Credit: (AP Photo/David Richard)

If the Baltimore defense are going to slow down Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara, they’re going to need their star to have a big game.

The 36-year-old hasn’t lost pace, with 15 tackles, 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble so far this season. Keep an eye on fellow linebacker Za’Darius Smith too - the pair have ten sacks between them in six weeks.

Baker Mayfield (QB, Cleveland Browns)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws under pressure from Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Melvin Ingram (54) during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium - Credit: (Ken Blaze/USA Today)
Baker Mayfield had a touch day against the Chargers, but could bounce back in Tampa Bay Credit: (Ken Blaze/USA Today)

The Bucs defense is giving up an outrageous 355.8 passing yards per game, and now it’s Baker Mayfield’s turn to grind them into mincemeat. The impressive rookie should see this as an opportunity to put up some big, flashy numbers against a team incapable of making a stop.

Mayfield has been easily the best of the rookie QBs, and is ranked ninth overall at the position by Pro Football Focus. Here he can lead the Browns back to .500, and keep them relevant as we head towards the second half of the season.

Brock Osweiler (QB, Miami Dolphins)

Miami Dolphins quarterback Brock Osweiler (8) looks to pass, during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears - Credit: (AP Photo/Joel Auerbach)
Brock Osweiler will start again for the Dolphins on Sunday Credit: (AP Photo/Joel Auerbach)

Who thought we’d be talking about Brock Osweiler this season? I certainly hoped we wouldn’t, but Brock actually had a really good game against the Bears last week (28/40, 380 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions), and will continue as the Dolphins starter with Ryan Tannehill struggling with a shoulder injury.

You never really know what you’ll get with Osweiler, which is why he’s worth watching against the Lions this week. If he’s serviceable Miami could find themselves at a heady 5-2 going into week eight.

Danielle Hunter (QB, Minnesota Vikings)

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter celebrates after a sack during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals - Credit: (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Danielle Hunter's celebrations are almost as good as the sacks themselves Credit: (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Hunter has been a monster for the Vikings this season, racking up seven sacks and 28 tackles, nine of which were for loss. He could make life absolute hell for poor Sam Darnold, who faces the toughest test of his fledgling career.

Darnold and the Jets were surprisingly good against the Colts, but if Hunter’s in the mood they could be making a very quick emergency landing at the Meadowlands on Sunday.

Alex's picks for the week

Chargers beat Titans, Vikings beat Jets, Dolphins beat Lions, Panthers beat Eagles, Browns beat Buccaneers, Jaguars beat Texans, Colts beat Bills, Patriots beat Bears, Saints beat Ravens, Rams beat 49ers, Redskins beat Cowboys, Chiefs beat Bengals, Falcons beat Giants.

  • Think you can do better? Leave your picks in the comments section below