It Was Good to be Bad in the NFL’s Week 7

Article ByKyle Garlett

October 24, 2023

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Posted in: US Sports Betting News, US Gambling News

We began Week 7 in the NFL with five one-win teams. We’re now down to one, after a Sunday of upsets saw four of the five teams pick up their second win.

If you were betting on the NFL this weekend, it was likely a down week, with several of the teams that have been the best against the spread also losing. The Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, and Los Angeles Rams lost for just the second time in seven weeks against the spread. Beating the spread for the first time all season was the Denver Broncos.

Apart from being a frustrating weekend of football at the betting window, the large number of below .500 teams winning – there were five in all – puts a damper on the upcoming trade deadline.

Teams Less Likely to be Sellers

The Broncos have been rumored to want to trade wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, and willing to trade Courtland Sutton. But their win over the Green Bay Packers has them just a game out of second place in the AFC West.

The Chicago Bears have an excellent trade piece in cornerback Jaylon Johnson. But in Chicago’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders, he intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown. Now there is word that he is in contact extension talks, and has become less likely to be moved.

The New York Giants could have been one of the biggest noisemakers at the trade deadline, with Saquon Barkley as a possible trade piece. But they beat the Washington Commanders, they are playing noticeably better football the last two weeks, and Barkley scored the game-winning touchdown on Sunday.

In four of the last five seasons, a 2-5 team has come back to make the playoffs. You have the Giants that were in the playoffs last year, the Broncos have a Super Bowl-winning head coach, and the Bears were one of the trendiest preseason picks to make the playoffs. They were paying +165 at BetUS.com when the season began.

It’s easy for each of these teams to talk themselves into a potential playoff run this season, and believe in keeping their players to accomplish that. Or maybe even trying to be buyers at the October 31 trade deadline.

Wagering on Trades

The best football sportsbooks offer a wide variety of game bets, as well as special bets on where players will end up next.

Even with the Broncos win, there is still action on where Jeudy might end up, either at the trade deadline or next season. BetUS.com has the Kansas City Chiefs as the favorite at +300 for Jeudy’s Week 1 home in 2024. 

The Tennessee Titans are 2-4 and have already started trading away their assets. Safety Kevin Byard was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday in exchange for safety Terrell Edmunds and a fifth- and sixth-round pick in 2024. Derrick Henry is also very tradable, and BetUS.com has his next team (if it’s not the Titans) at +300 for the Buffalo Bills. 

As losers to the previously one-win New England Patriots on Sunday, the Bills are certainly in the market for a big move.

The Washington Commanders lost to the previously one-win Giants on Sunday, and they are thought to be shopping defensive end Chase Young, the No. 2 overall pick in 2020 NFL Draft. In April, the Commanders declined to pick up his fifth-year option, so Young will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. 

BetUS.com has the Detroit Lions as Young’s most likely next team, paying +200. The San Francisco 49ers are at +300 to either trade for Young this week, or sign him next off-season.

Adding confusion to the potential trades for the Minnesota Vikings was their win over the 49ers on Monday night. You can still wager on the next team for Kirk Cousins – the New England Patriots lead the way at +300 – but that is for Week 1 of next season, and not a trade before the end of this month.

Minnesota is now 3-4 after their big win, and the schedule ahead is quite favorable. Between now and the middle of December, they play five teams with losing records, one weak team with a winning record (the Atlanta Falcons), and they have their bye.

And by the time Minnesota plays its two games with the Lions in Week 16 and Week 18, wide receiver Justin Jefferson will be back on the field.