Pro Picks: Week 7 brings a Super Bowl rematch, another London game and an NFC North showdown

Pro Picks is a weekly column where AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi shares his picks for upcoming games. For all previous Pro Picks, head here.

A Super Bowl rematch, another London game and a first-place showdown in the NFC North highlight Week 7 in the NFL.

There are six home underdogs, too.

The San Francisco 49ers (3-3) aren’t one of them, even though they’ll take on the undefeated two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs (5-0).

The inconsistent 49ers are 1 1/2-point favorites on BetMGM Sportsbook.

Two struggling 1-5 teams face off across the pond when the Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots meet. The Jaguars were routed by Chicago last week in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. They’ll move to Wembley Stadium to play the Patriots.

The Minnesota Vikings, the NFL’s other unbeaten team at 5-0, host the Detroit Lions (4-1) in an early battle for first place in the only division that features four winning teams.

Pro Picks aims to keep rolling after following up another winning week with a losing prediction in Thursday night's game between the Broncos and Saints.

Line: Bills minus 9 1/2

Josh Allen is playing at an MVP level and the offense just added wide receiver Amari Cooper so the only thing that can slow the Bills (4-2) this week is themselves on a short week after a Monday night win over the Jets. That’s unlikely against the woeful Titans (1-4). Tennessee’s defense is No. 1 in fewest yards allowed but the offense is next to last in yards and is averaging just 19.2 points per game.

BEST BET: BILLS: 30-17

Line: Vikings minus 1 1/2

Jared Goff and the Lions (4-1) are rolling on offense. They’ve scored 89 points in the past two games but face a difficult task against Minnesota’s defense. Detroit’s defense stepped up last week in Dallas after a rough game against Seattle. Losing Aidan Hutchinson is a major blow, however. The Vikings (5-0) are looking to continue their momentum and maintain their hold on the NFC North following a bye. Sam Darnold had his least productive game so this will be an important bounce-back game. It’ll be tough for the Vikings to keep up with the Lions.

UPSET SPECIAL: LIONS: 24-23

Line: Jaguars minus 6

The Jaguars (1-5) have unraveled after starting the season with high expectations. Trevor Lawrence mentioned the team being “fragile” and safety Andre Cisco said players “quit” last week. They have too much talent to be this bad. The rebuilding Patriots (1-5) were supposed to be here but they have reason for optimism because rookie QB Drake Maye showed plenty of promise in his first start.

JAGUARS: 24-20

Line: Falcons minus 3

The Seahawks (3-3) have lost three in a row after winning their first three games. The defense isn’t stopping the run and the offense is losing the turnover battle. Geno Smith leads the NFL with 1,778 yards passing but he’ll face a defense that’s ninth against the pass. The Falcons (4-2) have a multidimensional offense that can rely on Kirk Cousins throwing or Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier running or both. They could have a big day against Seattle.

FALCONS: 26-21

Line: Bengals minus 5 1/2

Joe Burrow and the Bengals (2-4) have no margin for error after another slow start. They’ve got to stack wins to have any shot at making the playoffs. The Browns (1-5) are in disarray and have the league’s worst offense behind Deshaun Watson. They’re the only team that hasn’t scored 20 points in a game or reached 300 yards.

BENGALS: 23-18

Line: Packers minus 2 1/2

C.J. Stroud and the Texans (5-1) aim for the team’s first four-game winning streak since 2018. Joe Mixon’s return boosted Houston’s run game. Will Anderson Jr. is coming off an incredible performance — three sacks, four tackles for loss — and could make things difficult for Jordan Love. The Packers (4-2) have held opponents to 19 points or fewer in their four wins and an opportunistic defense leads the NFL with 17 takeaways.

PACKERS: 26-23

Line: Colts minus 3

The Dolphins (2-3) finally won a game without Tua Tagovailoa before a bye. Maybe they should’ve signed Joe Flacco in the offseason. He has completed 70% of his throws with five TD passes and one interception while leading the Colts (3-3) to two wins in three games. But Flacco is going back to the bench once Anthony Richardson returns from an oblique injury. Richardson was back at practice this week. Indianapolis needs running back Jonathan Taylor to return to take pressure off Richardson.

COLTS: 23-16

Line: Eagles minus 3

Saquon Barkley faces his former team and the Eagles (3-2) try to build some momentum. Jalen Hurts has his receivers back and the offense looks better but still isn’t clicking. Making Barkley the focal point this week makes sense and also will open up the passing opportunities. Daniel Jones and the Giants (2-4) aren’t scoring enough points and will be missing stalwart left tackle Andrew Thomas. Maybe Philadelphia’s underachieving defensive line can take advantage.

EAGLES: 24-19

Line: Rams minus 7

It’s rare to see a one-win team favored by a touchdown but the Rams (1-4) are in that spot. They’re coming off a bye and looking to get back on the winning track while the Raiders (2-4) celebrate off-field victories. Tom Brady’s bid to purchase a minority stake in the team got approved on the same day star wide receiver Davante Adams was traded to the Jets. Neither team is going anywhere but the Raiders have Maxx Crosby and he could wreck Matthew Stafford’s afternoon so this one should stay close.

RAMS: 20-17

Line: Commanders minus 8 1/2

While Bryce Young watches Andy Dalton from the sideline for the Panthers (1-5), rookie QB Jayden Daniels has quickly displayed he’s the real deal in Washington. The Commanders (4-2) had won four in a row before battling Baltimore in a close loss. They’re facing a defense that’s given up 33.8 points per game.

COMMANDERS: 27-20

Line: 49ers minus 1 1/2

Chiefs coach Andy Reid is 21-4 coming off a bye in his career; 13-1 in Philadelphia and 8-3 in Kansas City. One of those losses came last year when the Eagles beat the Chiefs in Kansas City in a Super Bowl rematch.

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs (5-0) are unbeaten while playing far less than their best ball. The injury-filled 49ers (3-3) have been up and down so far. Still, they have the No. 2 pass offense behind Brock Purdy and No. 3 run offense despite missing Christian McCaffrey. Super Bowl champions are 6-3 in rematches the following season. The Niners need this one more.

49ERS: 26-23

Line: Jets minus 1 1/2

Davante Adams is expected to step in and play, a huge boost for Aaron Rodgers and the Jets (2-4). New York is a couple of missed field goals away from 4-2, but still hasn’t done enough to win close games. Russell Wilson could make his debut for the Steelers (4-2) even though Justin Fields has played well enough to win. Still, the Steelers are 28th in passing and 20th in scoring and Wilson has greater upside.

JETS: 20-16

Line: Ravens minus 3 1/2

Lamar Jackson looks like a two-time NFL MVP and the Ravens (4-2) are back after an 0-2 start. Derrick Henry has turned Baltimore’s offense into a nightmare for defensive coordinators. Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles is one of the best at scheming ways to stop potent teams. Baker Mayfield is even more dangerous when the Buccaneers (4-2) run the ball successfully as they did in New Orleans.

RAVENS: 26-24

Line: Chargers minus 1 1/2

Justin Herbert’s passing and J.K. Dobbins’ running have given the Chargers (3-2) a balanced offense and they’re playing Jim Harbaugh’s winning brand of ball. Harbaugh is 6-0 as a coach on “Monday Night Football.” Kyler Murray and the Cardinals (2-4) are a model of inconsistency, following up an upset over San Francisco with a lopsided loss to Green Bay. Jonathan Gannon’s defense is giving up too many yards (373.3) and points (27.2).

CHARGERS: 24-20

Last week: Straight up: 12-2. Against spread: 11-3.

Overall: Straight up: 62-30. Against spread: 52-38-2.

Thursday: Straight up: 5-1. Against spread: 4-2.

Monday: Straight up: 4-4. Against spread: 2-6.

Best Bet: Straight up: 4-2. Against spread: 4-2.

Upset Special: Straight up: 4-2. Against spread: 4-2.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) celebrates after David Montgomery scored a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys in the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy runs with the ball against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Graphic shows NFL team matchups and predicts the winners in this week’s action.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, center, runs with the ball as New Orleans Saints defensive end Chase Young and safety Johnathan Abram (24) defend during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Pro Picks: Week 7 brings a Super Bowl rematch, another London game and an NFC North showdown

Pro Picks: Week 7 brings a Super Bowl rematch, another London game and an NFC North showdown

NEW YORK (AP) — Judges seeking appointments to the federal bench. Wealthy Republicans hoping for ambassadorships. Criminals who wanted pardons.

They were among the big spenders at Donald Trump ’s Washington, D.C., hotel while he was president. And many got what they wanted, according to a report released Friday by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee.

The 57-page report said spending at Trump’s luxury hotel by those seeking favors helped him turn the presidency into a “money-making opportunity,” raising the specter of more “pay to play” schemes should GOP presidential nominee be re-elected next month.

But the report, which focused on spending by U.S. officials rather than foreign governments, offered few new revelations from earlier findings as it was limited in scope. The committee's Democrats, who are in the minority, documented $300,000 of such spending in just 11 months of Trump's presidency spanning 2017 and 2018.

Records examined by the committee also did not always include whether the money was personal or from taxpayer sources. That distinction is necessary to show whether the payments amounted to a violation of the Constitution's emoluments clause, which bars presidents from receiving payments or gifts from government officials without congressional approvals.

Among the examples cited: Two former ambassadors—one eventually sent to Germany and the other Switzerland—spending thousands of dollars at the hotel before and after they were confirmed for their positions. And campaign fundraiser Elliott Broidy spending more than $15,000 there before he was pardoned by Trump for illegal lobbying.

“We must put legal barriers in place now to prevent the kind of rip-off corruption our Founding Fathers so strongly opposed,” Rep. Jamie Raskin, the committee’s ranking member, said in calling for new legislation to prohibit such spending.

The Trump Organization said it charges government officials at cost at its properties, and descibed the report as purely political.

“This is just another desperate attempt by House Democrats to rehash an old unsubstantiated story just two weeks before the upcoming Presidential Election," said company spokeswoman Kimberly Benza in a statement. “To be clear, The Trump Organization does not profit whatsoever from any government officials staying at our properties.”

In a statement, the Republican-controlled Oversight Committee called the report “more recycled garbage from the Democrats’ fruitless and close to a decade-long investigation of President Trump.”

The report was based on financial documents released by Trump’s former accounting firm, Mazars, at request of the Oversight Committee when the Democrats were in control. But the flow of those documents was shut down when the Republicans took over in 2023.

The report says at least 16 federal and state officials spent more than $100,000 at the Trump International Hotel while in office during the 11-month period, raising the possibility they used taxpayer money.

Spending by ambassadors to Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Hungary and the United Kingdom often came at times when they were on official business.

During a 2018 conference in Maryland, 10 miles from Washington, U.S. ambassadors to Germany, Switzerland and Canada chose to stay at the Trump hotel even though there were plenty of hotels closer to the conference site.

“Let’s Keep TRUMP hotel,” wrote then-Canadian Ambassador Kelly Craft in email after an aide suggested closer hotels. The charge for Craft’s stay was $1,395 per night, according to the report.

Former ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, stayed 19 nights at the hotel, half before he was confirmed as ambassador, spending nearly $10,000, the report says.

A spokeswoman for Craft said the former ambassador personally paid for all room expenses above the government-approved per diem rates, adding, “There was absolutely never any direct or indirect 'pay to play’ inferences by President Trump or anyone associated with him.”

Grenell did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Trump administration has argued that government officials paying for products or services offered by a president, such as use of a hotel room, doesn’t count as a banned gift under the emoluments clause. The Supreme Court declined to rule when the issue came before it in 2021 because Trump had already left office.

The report says four future federal judges also stayed at the hotel at key dates during the 11-month period while pursuing Trump’s nomination, Senate confirmation or both.

In addition to Broidy, the report detailed $6,000 in spending by other people pardoned by Trump, including real estate lawyer Albert Pirro for his tax evasion conviction and Ken Kurson who pleaded guilty to cyberstalking.

Broidy and Pirro did not immediately reply to requests for comment. Kurson declined to comment.

Friday’s report also added details to an earlier 2022 finding from the Oversight Committee that Trump’s company arranged for the Secret Service to pay for rooms in his properties in excess of government-approved rates. Such spending happened more than 40 times – twice for rooms over $1,200 a night – while agents were protecting the president and his family. Trump’s company previously claimed the Secret Service was being given rooms for free or for a nominal charge, “like $50," or at cost.

Other reports by Democrats on the Oversight Committee found foreign governments and officials from 20 countries spent nearly $8 million at Trump properties, much of that while key policy decisions were being debated.

Trump's company put $200 million into renovating the historic, federally-owned Old Post Office building into a hotel after signing a lease with the General Services Administration in 2012. Trump sold the hotel rights to a Miami-based investment group in 2022 for $375 million. The hotel is now a Waldorf Astoria.

Condon reported from New York.

FILE- The north entrance of the Trump International is seen in Washington, March 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally, File)

FILE - A view of The Trump International Hotel is seen, March 4, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)