Week 7 pigskin picks

Hard to believe we are already in Week Seven! Let's not waste any time pondering though... ON TO THE PICKS!!!

• Green Bay visiting Cleveland: Derek Anderson has completed 11 passes... in his last two games combined! Ouch! Look for the Pack to come out on top in a big way.
• Panthers hosting Bills - intriguing game here. Each team has yet to find an identity. Buffalo plays at home, holds Cleveland's quarterback to only 2 completions, and allows the Browns to get their first win in one of the most disgusting NFL games ever, a 6-3 loss. Last week, Buffalo visited New York and beat the Jets in overtime? weird season, I know. Carolina hasn't given us any reason to believe yet either: they started 0-3 and got 2 wins against Washington and Tampa Bay, nothing to brag about. Buffalo will still be without Trent Edwards, Steve Smith has been crying all week to the media about how he's no longer "valuable" to the team, I see Carolina narrowly defeating Buffalo in the 4th quarter.
• Indy travels to St. Louis: to deliver one of the worst beatings we will see all year. This one's over at halftime, Jim Sorgi better get loose cause I anticipate him playing at least one quarter.
• Chargers playing in Kansas City: I think SD gets back on the winning track here against a dismal KC who finally got their first win last week (oh yeah, that was to the lowly Redskins, I'm not sure if that even counts).
• Texans host 49ers: This should be one of the more competitive games of the week. Andre Johnson is a beast. Mike Singletary has the Niners playing tough and they very well could be 4-1 if not for a Favre miracle in Week 3. I think the San Fran comes out of the bye week running and beats Houston in a very close game.
• New England vs. Tampa Bay (in London): Patriots absolutely slaughtered the winless Titans last week and now Brady & Co. get to feast on another 0-6 team, uh oh. I expect to see another laugher, most likely 42-3 or something along those lines. The Bucs don't have a clue what they are doing against most teams, let alone a Bill Belichick coached team. The Pats are starting to hit their stride and this will be a nice way to coast into a bye week with a tough schedule awaiting them in week 9. NE's next 4 opponents: Miami, Indy, NYJ, and NO. I'd say its a good time for a bye week too.
• Atlanta plays at Dallas: Even with the Cowboys coming off a bye week it's not going to change the fact that this is simply an average team with too few playmakers. Matt Ryan is playing great and the Falcons are absolutely loving their new addition of Tony Gonzalez. ATL wins by 10.
• New York Jets travel west to the Black Hole (Oakland): A battle of low-tier quarterbacks - Sanchez vs. Russell. We all know how awful Jamarcus Russell is, nuff said. However, what we didn't expect (or rather people living in NY didn't want to believe) was the rookie quarterback's implosion so early in the season. Sanchez is tied for most turnovers in the league with 10. Last week he looked beyond pitiful in an OT loss to Buffalo in which he tossed 0 TD and 5 INTs! And that was at home! Now he goes to Cali, back home to play DAHHH RAAAAAHHHDEEERRRSS!!! (God I love when Berman gets on a roll with their highlights and screams this approx 7 times in 40 seconds) Oakland suprised Philly, whom many believe are a Superbowl favorite, and blitzed the hell outta McNabb to get their 2nd win of the year. I have to believe we might just witness DAAAAAHHHHH RAAAHHHDDDEERRRS first 2 game winning streak since my college days (ok I'm really not that old I swear! I'm referring to 2002 for crying out loud!!!!) Oakland upsets the Jets, and for the 2nd straight week I'm laughing while friends of mine are crying, gotta love it!
• Chicago at Cincy: Red zone woes plagued the Bears last week. The Bengals suprised us and lost at home to the streaky Texans a week ago. This game will go back n forth, back n forth, in the end I see Carson Palmer's prowess and game management being the difference. Cutler's not quite there yet when it comes to seeing everything on the field and making the best decisions. Bengals by 3.
• Monday Night Football in the Nation's Capitol: Eagles vs. Redskins - will the Eagles take advantage to rebound against one of the worst teams in the league? Can Wash get a win in primetime and save Zorn's job? Two very interesting questions. 8 days ago I would have laughed at them and said Philly will win by 21 at least. Now I'm not so sure. For whatever reason the Eagles laid an egg last week in Oakland. Blame it on the Raiders blitzing, on having to fly out west, the "Black Hole's intimidating nature", blame it on whatever you want, it's inexcusable to lose to the Raiders when you are considered a Superbowl contender. That being said... (my cousins are cursing me out somewhere) I still think Philly pulls through, gets back on the same page, and beats the Redskins... by 4 in a game that's way closer than it should be.
• Saints at Miami: Drew Brees and Co. put on another show, win by 24. Too easy to call: New Orleans can score in 5 seconds, the Dolphins wildcat is good but takes too long to progress down the field. Just a poor matchup for Miami, don't wory Phins fans, your team will compete very well this year.
• Arizona traveling to the Meadowlands to play the NY Giants: Both teams need a win. Both are favored to win their division. Giants are coming off a humbling disaster in New Orleans where their number #1 ranked defense gave up 48 pts to Drew Brees in an ugly 21 point loss down in the Bayou. Kurt Warner and his boys can put up points too. Larry Fitzgerald does things that many only dream of. This will be a great game, possible NFC playoff preview, I see Kurt Warner getting pressured in a fumble or int late in the game sealing the deal for New York. Giants by 7.
• The main course for the week: Pittsburgh Steelers host the undefeated Minnesota Vikings - this is where Favre gets his first loss. Troy Polomalu is returning to the field for the first time since week one, giving the defense a HUGE lift. Roethlisburger will be throwing all over the place and Favre will try to out duel him leading to costly turnovers. We will all be asking the Vikings: Why didn't Peterson get the ball more? Tough for the NFL's most dangerous player to affect a game when he doesn't get touches. I see the Steelers coming up with a big home win by 13 pts, 37-24.
• Last call... Should be a great week with the Pats getting another win and hopefully the Jets getting another loss. Can't lie - I hope I'm wrong and the I can have the Giants on one tv losing tonight and the Yanks losing on the another one to the Angels. I'll be working tonight and smiling cuz it's my job, but if you see that smirkish grin on my face, you'll know why! Thank God for football!