NFL opening lines for Week 7, Packers named double-digit favorites vs Washington

As the NFC race tightens up, Green Bay earns respect.

By Justis Mosqueda Oct 18, 2021, 12:36am CDT

When DraftKings sportsbook released their opening lines for Week 7 tonight they named the Green Bay Packers as one of the biggest favorites going into next Sunday’s matchups. As 10.5-point home favorites, after playing back-to-back games as road favorites, the Packers only rank behind the Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in terms of teams the sportsbook is confident will pull out this week. Collectively, the four double-digit favorites this week have accumulated a combined 21-3 record this season and are set to face off against teams that have combined for a 6-18 mark. Hello, mismatch.

The Packers will be hosting Washington, a team that has only cracked 22 points twice this season, their only two wins on the year. The Football Team is coming off of back-to-back home losses, making this only their third road trip of the year. With Green Bay’s money line set at -475, the number carries an implied probability that the Packers win 83 percent of the time against Washington at home.

Key injury news should play a big part in how you feel about Green Bay’s chances to walk away with a win. While the book is correct in assuming that a team led by Aaron Rodgers should be considered a big favorite against a team led by Taylor Heinicke, questions about offensive tackle David Bakhtiari, wide receiver Marques Valdes-Scantling, center Josh Myers, outside linebacker Preston Smith, and safety Darnell Savage still loom in the air as there are many ways for the green and gold gameday roster to shake out between now and Sunday.

This game marks an important pivot game for the National Football Conference, which currently has five teams with a record of 5-1 or better. The Saints (3-2), Green Bay’s Week 1 opponent, is the only team in the NFC at the moment with a record above .500 but also below 5-1.