NFL: Week 7 Predictions

With more shocks and upsets than you can shake a stick at, week 6 of the NFL season was a stunner, but after a 5-9 performance (47-44 on the season), I’m going to have to get in the same mind-set of the Patriots, Texans and Bengals, and look to bounce back from a disappointing week.

With 6 teams on a bye, week 7 is a condensed box of intriguing and fascinating matchups, all starting in San Francisco this Friday morning where Tom Brady’s conquerors from last week meet the reeling 49’ers…

[BYES : Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers]

Friday 1:20am

Seattle Seahawks 6-16 San Francisco 49’ers

These two teams were involved in two of the most surprising results of week 6, the Seahawks robbing the Pats late on, while the Niners got absolutely battered by the Giants. This NFC West battle between two 4-2 sides is a much bigger game than many would have expected at the start of the year, and this could have a bearing on what we could see. I expect a hard-hitting defensive war, with San Francisco’s physical front 7 giving Russell Wilson all he can handle and Seattle’s wideout-abusing secondary giving Alex Smith nowhere to go. So this game will be won on the ground, and could come down to whether Marshawn Lynch or Frank Gore has a better day. I’ll take Gore and the Niners to bounce back and get a big win at home.

(Update: 49’ers came off the better in this match-up, 6-13)

Sunday 6:00pm

Tennessee Titans 27-20 Buffalo Bills

Finally the Titans showed me a glimpse of the team I thought they could be at the start of the year in beating the Steelers. The return of Kenny Britt as the no.1 field stretcher has helped every part of the Tennessee offense, especially Chris Johnson, who now has more room to run. The defense limited Ben Roethlisberger to check downs a lot and seems to have turned the corner. Buffalo also pulled out a big win against the Cardinals in OT, even though they gave Arizona enough chances to win the game. This one hinges on the Titans’ O-line, if they can stop the Bills’ pass rush, they are an easy defense to score on, and with the experience of Matt Hasselbeck once more at QB for Tennessee, I have a feeling the Titans continue their revival in Buffalo.

Dallas Cowboys 23-27 Carolina Panthers

The Cowboys played very very well last week in Baltimore, but still didn’t win the game, and this has to be a big worry, especially considering the Ravens lost Lardarius Webb and Ray Lewis in the game. But the only consistent thing about Dallas is their inconsistency, and a trip to Carolina to meet Cam Newton has danger written all over it, especially with the Cowboys’ banged-up secondary. Even if they dial pressure, the Cowboys could see Newton running riot as DeMarcus Ware ends up frustrated. This Panthers team has a decent defense to cause Tony Romo issues, and I think that this could be a shock for Dallas and would see them slip to 2-4, sending the alarm bells ringing in Jerry Jones’ office.

Baltimore Ravens 17-24 Houston Texans

The Ravens’ season just got blown apart by injuries. Lardarius Webb, their premier cover corner tore his ACL and is out for the year. Ray Lewis, their all-pro legend line-backer tore his triceps and is on IR (designated to return). These two injuries are beyond huge for this team, then couple that with Joe Flacco’s struggles on the road, and you’re giving Ray Rice too much to do if the Ravens are to win this one. The Texans, especially their defense, will be raring to go again after their shocking SNF performance against the Packers, and expect Baltimore’s surprisingly poor run defense to be tested, if not hammered.

Cleveland Browns 19-17 Indianapolis Colts

Two rookie QB’s in two rebuilding franchises. Cleveland has been boosted this week by firstly, their win against division rivals Cincinnati, and secondly the arrival of Jimmy Haslam, promising to turn the franchise around. They will be looking to consolidate that win last week, but Andrew Luck will be keen to bounce back from his poorest performance in the NFL so far, in a demoralising loss to the Jets, by putting some points on the 1-5 Browns. However, the most impressive unit on the field will be the Cleveland defense, and Luck will have his work cut out with Joe Haden covering Reggie Wayne and his defense struggling to handle the speed and big play ability of the Browns’ young receivers. An upset of sorts could be on the cards here too.

Arizona Cardinals 17-20 Minnesota Vikings

Both of these teams have surprised everyone this year, and hold 4-2 records. Both teams come into this one off of disappointing losses and will be looking to clamp down on mistakes. In tight games, like this one promises to be, the running game is a key factor, and if you gave me the choice between William Powell and Adrian Peterson, I know who I’d take. No offence Billy. Arizona’s O-line is poor and I expect Jared Allen to get at least 2 or 3 sacks in this one, and the defense is starting to drop off the high level it was at earlier in the season, so I’m going with the Vikings at home. NB: watch special teams in this one, Patrick Peterson and Percy Harvin are two guys who can score from anywhere on the field.

Washington Redskins 20-37 New York Giants

The Giants looked every inch the Super Bowl Champions last week when destroying the 49’ers in San Francisco, and a massive reason for that is the return of Ahmad Bradshaw, adding a threat in the run game, and opening things up for Eli Manning. But the Skins are in a no-win situation, even if they stop the run, their poor secondary will be torched, and if they don’t, RG3 won’t have enough time to chase the score. Expect a lot of points here, but ultimately, the Giants continue to look ominously good.

Green Bay Packers 27-16 St. Louis Rams

The Pack’s offense exploded against the Texans last week, and you have to think that even half of that performance will be enough to win this one. However, the Rams are a tough team to beat at home, and their cornerback tandem of Cortland Finnegan and Janoris Jenkins have been excellent. But the Rams’ offense will provide the Green Bay D too many opportunities to turn the ball over, so the Packers should pull out a win here.

New Orleans Saints 34-24 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This has all the hallmarks of a shootout, with two defenses who can’t stop the run or the pass. Drew Brees’ team has looked much better in the past couple of weeks, while the Bucs dominated the Chiefs last week. The game looks too close to call, and normally I would go with the better defense in Tampa Bay, but with Aqib Talib’s suspension, Drew Brees could pick apart the Bucs.

Sunday 9:25pm

New York Jets 17-30 New England Patriots

So it seems that the Jets can survive without Darelle Revis, and I, along with many others, forgot that the Jets’ D is actually quite good. They confused and frustrated Andrew Luck last week, but doing the same to Tom Brady is a whole different kettle of fish. The Pats’ D is better than the Indianapolis defense that Shonn Greene shredded, and expect the Patriots to stop the run and take their chances with Mark Sanchez, a tactic that often works. At 3-3, Brady and Co. need to go on a run. The run starts here with a huge win.

Jacksonville Jaguars 23-27 Oakland Raiders

Two teams with two all-pro RB’s. Maurice Jones Drew and Darren McFadden both have the capacity to win this game on their own, however it is the Raiders who have the better supporting cast, with Carson Palmer, Denarius Moore and a defense that stepped up to almost cause an upset against the unbeaten Atlanta Falcons last Sunday. The Raiders aren’t a great team, but they’re good enough to beat Blaine Gabbert and Jacksonville in Oakland.

Monday 1:20am

Pittsburgh Steelers 27-20 Cincinnati Bengals

An AFC North matchup that is absolutely massive, even this early in the year. The Steelers’ fans are beginning to get on their team’s back, and their poor performances away from Heinz field suggest a struggle this week on the road against the Bengals. Cincinnati are improving on defense and look explosive in the passing game, but while the D is improving on the back end, the front seven can’t seem to stop the run. Rashard Mendenhall is the key to this game, if he plays, Pittsburgh wins. Even though he’s missed two days of practice with an Achilles injury, the Steelers sound confident that he will go, so I predict accordingly.

Tuesday 1:30am

Detroit Lions 20-31 Chicago Bears

Chicago’s defense has been a turnover-producing monster recently, and with Matt Stafford having problems in the same department, this would seem an open and shut case. However, Mikel Leshoure has been a huge boost to the Lions, and putting the ball in the RB’s hands 20+ times will surely give Detroit a chance, even if they are chasing the game, late on. The game should come down to the extent to which Jay Cutler punishes the Detroit secondary, and with Matt Forte at 100% again, expect the Bears to have a balanced, impressive offensive display at Soldier Field. Look for the Bears to put up an opportunistic defensive showing that could hold off a late Stafford bombardment with a pick 6.

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