NFL Week 7 Picks

This could be a very interesting week, as it seems like nearly every game, the better team is on the road. However, all the really bad teams playing at home this week are playing very good teams that should still beat them easily, so I don't know if any of them can pull off an upset at home. I always have a bad feeling when looking over my picks and seeing mostly road teams, but sometimes, there's just no avoiding it. I need to bounce back though after a lousy Week 6.

Green Bay Packers (3-2) vs. Cleveland Browns (1-5)
The Packers should have this game pretty easily under normal circumstances. With reports that the flu has been running through the Browns' locker room this past week, this game will get ugly very fast.

San Francisco 49ers (3-2) vs. Houston Texans (3-2)
Frank Gore returns and Michael Crabtree enters the starting lineup for the 49ers, but I have been more impressed by the Texans in recent weeks than I have been with the 49ers all season. Matt Schaub has been tremendous, and their defense is rightfully starting to pick up. While those additions for San Francisco are great, they both may have some rust they need to shake off first.

Minnesota Vikings (6-0) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)
There's certain teams over the past few years that I just hate to pick against unless they're facing each other. The Steelers are one of those teams, along with the Giants, Colts, and Patriots (with a healthy Tom Brady). The loss of Aaron Smith greatly hurts their ability to slow down Adrian Peterson, but I will continue to trust in their defense. Ben Roethlisberger is having an amazing season, and Minnesota is struggling right now with their pass defense, which is being hurt even more now by injuries. Rashard Mendenhall is emerging at running back and has earned the starting job for Pittsburgh over Willie Parker. The Vikings have looked terrific so far, better than the Steelers have, but they have to lose sooner or later, and it will come at Heinz Field.

New England Patriots (4-2) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-6) [Game being played in London]
The Buccaneers "host" the Patriots in London, but no home field advantage would have saved them in this matchup. This will be another blowout for New England.

Indianapolis Colts (5-0) vs. St. Louis Rams (0-6)
Arguably the best team in the league (although I personally disagree) against the worst team in the league. Need I say more?

San Diego Chargers (2-3) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (1-5)
The Chargers will move the ball against the Chiefs much better than the Cowboys or Redskins ever did the past two weeks. The Chargers cannot overlook the Chiefs, especially after the loss to the Broncos, but they should be fine.

Buffalo Bills (2-4) vs. Carolina Panthers (2-3)
The Panthers wrap up a three game win streak against awful teams before facing the good teams again. Jake Delhomme is awful, but this game will be all about the running back combination of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart for Carolina. Then again, the Jets ran the ball all over the Bills last week and still managed to lose, and the Panthers are even less competent than the Jets right now. Still, I can't expect the Bills to win this one.

New York Jets (3-3) vs. Oakland Raiders (2-4)
I don't know what has happened to Mark Sanchez and the Jets recently. You can excuse the loss to the Saints, but they should have beat the Dolphins and could not lose to the Bills. This team is in a downward spiral right now. They will again be without receiver Jerricho Cotchery, so Nnamdi Asomugha can focus on shutting down Braylon Edwards. The Raiders are a better run defense than the Bills, if only because the Bills are worst in the league. But the Jets were playing the Bills at the Meadowlands, which is usually a pretty tough place for opponents to play (except for the Bills who are used to the weather), while this week the Jets make the cross-country trip to Oakland which is usually a very tough place for opponents to play. Three weeks ago, I couldn't imagine picking the Raiders to beat the Jets, but after the Jets' recent games and the Raiders beating the Eagles last week in Oakland, it has come to this.

Chicago Bears (3-2) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)
I have the Bengals over the Bears in my Power Rankings, but faced with this matchup, I see the better team winning, yet now I think that's the Bears. Perhaps there is a higher ceiling with potential for the Bengals which inflated their ranking after some big wins this season, but I think I'm still hanging on that close win against the Browns, and losing to the Texans last week hurt. I think the Bears are consistently a better team though. This game can certainly go either way depending on which Bengals team comes to play, but my gut is telling me to go with the Bears.

Atlanta Falcons (4-1) vs. Dallas Cowboys (3-2)
The Cowboys need to come out of their bye week with a big home win, but they will need to compete with the high-powered Falcons' offense. Dallas should have all three of their running backs involved again though, and they have bumped Miles Austin into the starting lineup, but there are still health concerns with Roy Williams and the running backs, and Tony Romo needs to play better. The Falcons are really clicking right now. I just need to see more from the Cowboys before I can trust in them again.

New Orleans Saints (5-0) vs. Miami Dolphins (2-3)
The Dolphins pulled off a couple impressive wins at home after losing Chad Pennington, but they face a daunting task with the Saints coming in. They will not be able to keep up with the offensive output from New Orleans.

Arizona Cardinals (3-2) vs. New York Giants (5-1)
After suffering their first loss on the road in New Orleans last week, the Giants are happy to return home facing a West Coast team, although the game being in primetime helps to offset the time zone difference. The Cardinals boast a very dangerous passing game though, and the Giants got killed last week by the Saints passing the ball, but hopefully the Giants will be able to get more pressure on Kurt Warner than they did on Drew Brees. The Giants should bounce back and win this game.

Philadelphia Eagles (3-2) vs. Washington Redskins (2-4)
The Eagles look awful following a loss to the Raiders, but the Redskins have been horrendous all season, including a loss last week at home to the previously winless Chiefs. The Eagles are too good of a team to lose consecutive games against awful teams.

Last Week: 7-7
Season: 59-31