Baltimore Sun staff writers pick every game of the NFL season. Here’s who they have winning in Week 7:

Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.)

Brian Wacker (53-40 season; 11-4 last week): Jaguars

Childs Walker (60-33 season; 9-6 last week): Jaguars

Mike Preston (52-41 season; 9-6 last week): Jaguars

C.J. Doon (62-31 season; 10-5 last week): Jaguars

Tim Schwartz (60-33 season; 13-2 last week): Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders at Chicago Bears (Sunday, 1 p.m.)

Wacker: Raiders

Walker: Raiders

Preston: Raiders

Doon: Raiders

Schwartz: Raiders

Cleveland Browns at Indianapolis Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m.)

Wacker: Browns

Walker: Browns

Preston: Browns

Doon: Browns

Schwartz: Browns

Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m.)

Wacker: Bills

Walker: Bills

Preston: Bills

Doon: Bills

Schwartz: Bills

Washington Commanders at New York Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m.)

Wacker: Commanders

Walker: Commanders

Preston: Commanders

Doon: Commanders

Schwartz: Commanders

Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday, 1 p.m.)

Wacker: Buccaneers

Walker: Buccaneers

Preston: Buccaneers

Doon: Falcons

Schwartz: Buccaneers

Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Rams (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.)

Wacker: Rams

Walker: Rams

Preston: Rams

Doon: Rams

Schwartz: Rams

Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.)

Wacker: Seahawks

Walker: Seahawks

Preston: Seahawks

Doon: Seahawks

Schwartz: Seahawks

Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.)

Wacker: Packers

Walker: Packers

Preston: Packers

Doon: Packers

Schwartz: Packers

Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.)

Wacker: Chiefs

Walker: Chiefs

Preston: Chiefs

Doon: Chiefs

Schwartz: Chiefs

Miami Dolphins at Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, 8:20 p.m.)

Wacker: Eagles

Walker: Eagles

Preston: Dolphins

Doon: Dolphins

Schwartz: Dolphins

San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings (Monday, 8:15 p.m.)

Wacker: 49ers

Walker: 49ers

Preston: 49ers

Doon: 49ers

Schwartz: 49ers

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By MATT OTT (AP Business Writer)

Applications for unemployment benefits fell to their lowest level in eight months last week as businesses continue to retain workers despite elevated interest rates meant to cool the economy and labor market.

Jobless claim applications fell by 13,000 to 198,000 for the week ending Oct. 14, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s the fewest since January.

Jobless claim applications are considered a proxy for layoffs.

The four-week moving average of claims, which flattens out some of the week-to-week volatility, ticked down by 1,000 to 205,750.

Though the Federal Reserve opted to leave its benchmark borrowing rate alone at its most recent meeting, it is well into the second year of its battle to rein in persistent inflation. The central bank has raised its benchmark rate 11 times since March of 2022, with part of its goal to cool hiring and bring down wages. But the labor market has held up better than expected.

In September, employers added 336,000 jobs, easily surpassing the 227,000 for August and raising the average gain for each of the past three months to a robust 266,000. The unemployment rate remained at 3.8%, close to a half-century low.

In August, American employers posted a surprising 9.6 million job openings, up from 8.9 million in July and the first uptick in three months.

Besides some layoffs early this year — mostly in the technology sector — companies have been trying to retain workers.

Overall, 1.73 million people were collecting unemployment benefits the week that ended Oct. 7, about 29,000 more than the previous week.

A pro-Palestinian “die-in” at Harvard University yesterday is being followed by a call for a “general strike” this afternoon.

The Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee, already embroiled in a scathing letter the group co-signed blaming Israel for the Hamas terror attack Oct. 7, is now urging fellow Crimson students to “walk out of class.”

An Instagram post on the @HarvardPSC page states, “Stand in solidarity with Palestinians Facing Genocide. Walk out of class, meet at Mass Hall. Thursday — 1-3 pm.”

The post already has 1,210 likes and comments that run the gamut from “You guys are amazing” to “Prove that you stand with Palestine by leaving the USA, UK, EU and remaining in Palestine.”

Another comment pointed out that access to Harvard Yard appears to be limited to just students who can show a campus identification.

This all comes a day after members of the group and supporters marched to the Harvard Kennedy School to stage a “die-in” while chanting “Free, free Palestine” and “Barry, Barry you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide.”

They were heckling former President Barack Obama who was scheduled to attend the “Harvard Internet Summit,” but backed out reportedly due to COVID symptoms.

The protesters were reportedly targeting Obama for his support during his tenure in the White House for Israel.

A spokesperson for the PSC wrote that the group believes Obama is “deeply implicated” in the “ongoing genocide” of Palestinians by approving “billions of dollars” in military aid to Israel, the campus newspaper The Harvard Crimson reported.

This all comes as the war in Israel intensifies with both Hamas and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) battling as Palestinians in Gaza seek refuge. An explosion at a Gaza hospital is being blamed on Israel, yet the IDF is saying it was an errant rocket fired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The IDF posted audio backing up that claim on X, the formerly called Twitter.

Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada and the European Union and they still hold 200-plus hostages.

This is a developing story … 

The Chicago Bears will look to end a 56-week drought without a home victory Sunday when they face the Las Vegas Raiders at Soldier Field. The Bears are again underdogs, however, and will have to put forth a crisp and complete effort to get back on the winning track.

As kickoff nears, here’s a look at a dozen attention-grabbing facts and figures.

159

Passing touchdowns for quarterback Tyson Bagent during his career at Shepherd University, an NCAA record among all divisions. Bagent made 53 starts for the Rams between 2018 and 2022 and completed 1,400 passes for 17,034 yards, which is a Division II record. He threw for a career-high 518 yards in his college debut — a loss to Notre Dame College in 2018. Bagent threw for a career-high seven touchdowns in a win against West Virginia Wesleyan later that season.

6

Bagent passes targeted for DJ Moore during the second half of his NFL debut Sunday. Bagent threw 14 passes overall and connected four times with Moore for 44 yards. His final pass — an interception on the Bears’ final drive — also was intended for Moore but significantly underthrown. In the first five games, Moore was averaging seven targets from Justin Fields.

7

Starts missed due to illness or injury from Fields over the last three seasons. That number is expected to tick up to eight Sunday with Fields doubtful to play against the Raiders due to a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand. As a rookie in 2021, Fields missed two games because of an injury to his ribs, two more with an ankle issue and another when he came down with COVID-19. Last season, he missed the Week 12 game against the New York Jets with a separated shoulder as well as the season finale due to a hip injury.

4

Three-and-out possessions the Bears defense forced in the second half of Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The Bears allowed only 58 total yards and two first downs after halftime and didn’t allow the Vikings to convert any of their six third-down attempts in the second half. Coming into the game, the Bears had forced nine three-and-outs over 53 possessions.

8

The Bears’ league ranking in rushing yards allowed, with opponents averaging 89.5 yards per game through six weeks. The Bears limited the Vikings to 46 rushing yards on 22 attempts after limiting the Washington Commanders to 29 yards on 10 rushes in Week 5. A year ago, the Bears defense ranked 31st against the run, allowing 157.3 yards per game. No opposing running back has topped 75 rushing yards against the Bears this season.

2.9

Yards per rush for Raiders running back Josh Jacobs through six games, a 41% dip from a season ago. In 2022, Jacobs led the league in rushing yards (1,653) and was a first-team All-Pro. He also had 12 touchdowns. So far this season, Jacobs ranks 20th in the NFL in rushing yards (312) and has reached the end zone just twice.

1,024

Career receiving yards against the Bears for Raiders standout Davante Adams. Adams played against the Bears 16 times during his eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers and amassed 81 catches while scoring 10 touchdowns. His biggest game came in 2016 when he contributed to a 26-10 Packers victory at Lambeau Field with 13 catches for 132 yards with two touchdowns.

335

Receiving yards this season by Jakobi Meyers, who signed with the Raiders in March on a three-year, $33 million deal with $21 million guaranteed. Meyers entered free agency widely considered to be the top receiver available on the open market in a class that included Robert Woods, Adam Thielen, D.J. Chark and Allen Lazard.

13

Consecutive field-goal attempts Bears kicker Cairo Santos has made, dating to December. Santos is 10-for-10 this season and has made all 12 of his point-after-touchdown kicks. His last missed field goal was a 40-yarder that was blocked by the Green Bay Packers in Week 13 last season. In 57 career games with the Bears, Santos has made 90.7% of his field-goal attempts, a franchise record.

13-3

Record, in Bears games during the Eberflus era, of the team that wins the turnover battle. This season, the team with the advantage in the turnover margin is 5-0. The Bears and Kansas City Chiefs each had two takeaways in Week 3 in a 41-10 Chiefs victory. The three occasions last season in which the Bears won the turnover battle but still lost the game came against the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills.

1-5

The Bears’ record through six weeks, the team’s worst start since 2016 and the 11th time they have started 1-5 or worse during the Super Bowl era. The 1969 Bears, under coach Jim Dooley, and the 1997 team with Dave Wannstedt at the helm each lost their first seven games of those seasons. The Bears have yet to win consecutive games under Matt Eberflus, making them one of only two teams in the league to not have back-to-back victories over the last two seasons. The Arizona Cardinals are the other.

9

Bears quarterbacks who have started against the Raiders in the teams’ last 10 meetings, a list that includes Fields (2021), Chase Daniel (2019), Jay Cutler (2015), Caleb Hanie (2011), Brian Griese (2007), Kordell Stewart (2003), Shane Matthews (1999), Dave Krieg (1996) and Jim Harbaugh (1993 and 1990).

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