NFL 2013: Week 7 Predictions
Can the Bengals make it three in a row? Can Peyton Manning win in his return to Indianapolis?
The answers and the rest of my predictions for Week 7 are to follow.
Week 7 Picks (Home team in CAPS)
Seattle over ARIZONA: Even though the Seahawks aren't at home, that doesn't mean they won't beat the Cardinals in Arizona and sure enough, Seattle won again to improve to 6-1.
ATLANTA over Tampa Bay: The list of teams I think the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can beat is very, very short and the Atlanta Falcons are not one of those teams. Matt Ryan and the Falcons turn things around with a much needed win at home even without wide receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White.
MIAMI over Buffalo: Although the Bills were able to force overtime against the Bengals last week, I was not impressed with them one bit. Despite rookie LB Kiko Alonso, who was credited with 22 total tackles in the game and will probably win Defensive Rookie of the Year, I don't see the Bills doing much this season. Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins by at least a touchdown.
New England over NY JETS: TE Rob Gronkowski has finally been cleared to play. I was starting to wonder if Gronk would ever play this season, but his return should give the Patriots a much needed boast on offense. The Jets have a good defense, perhaps one of the best in the league, but now that Tom Brady has his favorite weapon back, there's no way I'm picking against them this week.
PHILADELPHIA over Dallas: Hard to believe, but the winner of this game moves to 4-3 and into first place in the NFC East. DeMarcus Ware and DeMarco Murray are two of the Cowboys' best players and both are doubtful for Sunday's game. With that being said, I got to go with Nick Foles -- starting for a second straight week due to an injured Michael Vick -- and the Eagles.
Chicago over WASHINGTON: The Bears are at their best when they force turnovers, so if they can continue to do that they'll win in Washington. If they can't and let the Redskins hang around, then Washington has a good chance to get their second win of the season.
CAROLINA over St. Louis: I can't seem to figure these two teams out. Last week, both of these teams looked great. In previous weeks, however, both looked like they would have a season good enough to earn them a top ten draft pick. Since Carolina is at home, I'll go with the Panthers, but I'm not too confident.
San Diego over JACKSONVILLE: As ESPN College Gameday analyst Lee Corso would say, "Closer than the experts think." If there is such a thing as a moral victory in the NFL, the Jaguars earned one last week against the Broncos. Jacksonville may not be very good, but they are still an NFL team with NFL caliber players, so San Diego better come ready to play.
San Francisco over TENNESSEE: The Titans don't look like the same team without QB Jake Locker, but according to reports he will play on Sunday. With the 49ers getting back to what they do well with running the football, I like San Francisco.
GREEN BAY over Cleveland: Interested in being the next quarterback of the Cleveland Browns? Click here to see the Craigslist posting. A frustrated fan made the post on Monday after yet another disappointing performance from Browns QB Brandon Weeden, who is not having what you would call a Pro Bowl season. The Packers have one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Aaron Rodgers, so I'm going with Green Bay.
KANSAS CITY over Houston: QB Matt Schaub is out with a knee injury, so the Houston Texans will turn to Case Keenum Sunday in Kansas City. With that being said, I think I'll take the Chiefs.
Baltimore over PITTSBURGH: The Steelers finally got their first win of the season last week, but I don't expect them to go on a winning streak. Ravens/Steelers games are the most physical in the NFL, so this one will be close.
Denver over INDIANAPOLIS: Peyton Manning returns. Peyton not only helped build the Colts to what they are today, but you can argue he's the reason the Colts are still in Indianapolis. Manning had a great career in Indy and I expect him to play one of the best games he's played this season on Sunday night -- now that's saying something. Manning has already thrown for 2,179-yards and 22 touchdowns and it's still October.
NY GIANTS over Minnesota: The Giants are going to win a game eventually and with the Vikings turning to their third quarterback already this season in Josh Freeman -- someone who I've never been impressed with -- I think Eli will lead the Giants to their first win.
Bengals over LIONS: Last week I said the Bengals would beat the Bills because they didn't have a good tight end. Even though it took till overtime and Bills TE Scott Chandler did score a touchdown with Carlos Dunlap guarding him, the Bengals ultimately prevailed. This week will be much tougher because not only do good tight ends hurt the Bengals, but running backs that catch the ball out of the backfield do as well and the Lions have a good one.
Reggie Bush is arguably the best receiving back in the league and he currently is second on the team in receptions. His athleticism is going to be a nightmare for the Bengals linebackers and being able to contain Bush will be key. Lions All-Pro WR Calvin Johnson is questionable with a knee injury, but he is expected to play. Leon Hall and Terence Newman better come ready to play because Megatron is the best receiver in the league. Lining up against the second best receiver in A.J. Green every day in practice should help the Bengals secondary though.
This could be a high scoring game with the weapons each team has on offense, but the Bengals have the advantage on defense and that's why they will ultimately win this game. Mike Zimmer has done a great job with this group so far -- besides dropping Carlos Dunlap into coverage against the Bills last week that resulted in a Scott Chandler touchdown -- and it's because of the defense that the Bengals are 4-2 and in first place in the AFC North. Defense wins championships as the saying goes and the Bengals win with defense Sunday in Detroit. Bengals 27, Lions 24.
Bye: Oakland, New Orleans
This Week: 1-0
Last Week: 10-5
Overall: 63-30
The answers and the rest of my predictions for Week 7 are to follow.
Week 7 Picks (Home team in CAPS)
Seattle over ARIZONA: Even though the Seahawks aren't at home, that doesn't mean they won't beat the Cardinals in Arizona and sure enough, Seattle won again to improve to 6-1.
ATLANTA over Tampa Bay: The list of teams I think the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can beat is very, very short and the Atlanta Falcons are not one of those teams. Matt Ryan and the Falcons turn things around with a much needed win at home even without wide receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White.
MIAMI over Buffalo: Although the Bills were able to force overtime against the Bengals last week, I was not impressed with them one bit. Despite rookie LB Kiko Alonso, who was credited with 22 total tackles in the game and will probably win Defensive Rookie of the Year, I don't see the Bills doing much this season. Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins by at least a touchdown.
New England over NY JETS: TE Rob Gronkowski has finally been cleared to play. I was starting to wonder if Gronk would ever play this season, but his return should give the Patriots a much needed boast on offense. The Jets have a good defense, perhaps one of the best in the league, but now that Tom Brady has his favorite weapon back, there's no way I'm picking against them this week.
PHILADELPHIA over Dallas: Hard to believe, but the winner of this game moves to 4-3 and into first place in the NFC East. DeMarcus Ware and DeMarco Murray are two of the Cowboys' best players and both are doubtful for Sunday's game. With that being said, I got to go with Nick Foles -- starting for a second straight week due to an injured Michael Vick -- and the Eagles.
Chicago over WASHINGTON: The Bears are at their best when they force turnovers, so if they can continue to do that they'll win in Washington. If they can't and let the Redskins hang around, then Washington has a good chance to get their second win of the season.
CAROLINA over St. Louis: I can't seem to figure these two teams out. Last week, both of these teams looked great. In previous weeks, however, both looked like they would have a season good enough to earn them a top ten draft pick. Since Carolina is at home, I'll go with the Panthers, but I'm not too confident.
San Diego over JACKSONVILLE: As ESPN College Gameday analyst Lee Corso would say, "Closer than the experts think." If there is such a thing as a moral victory in the NFL, the Jaguars earned one last week against the Broncos. Jacksonville may not be very good, but they are still an NFL team with NFL caliber players, so San Diego better come ready to play.
San Francisco over TENNESSEE: The Titans don't look like the same team without QB Jake Locker, but according to reports he will play on Sunday. With the 49ers getting back to what they do well with running the football, I like San Francisco.
GREEN BAY over Cleveland: Interested in being the next quarterback of the Cleveland Browns? Click here to see the Craigslist posting. A frustrated fan made the post on Monday after yet another disappointing performance from Browns QB Brandon Weeden, who is not having what you would call a Pro Bowl season. The Packers have one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Aaron Rodgers, so I'm going with Green Bay.
KANSAS CITY over Houston: QB Matt Schaub is out with a knee injury, so the Houston Texans will turn to Case Keenum Sunday in Kansas City. With that being said, I think I'll take the Chiefs.
Baltimore over PITTSBURGH: The Steelers finally got their first win of the season last week, but I don't expect them to go on a winning streak. Ravens/Steelers games are the most physical in the NFL, so this one will be close.
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| Peyton Manning returns to Indianapolis, the place where his Hall of Fame career got started. (Nam Y. Huh/AP) |
NY GIANTS over Minnesota: The Giants are going to win a game eventually and with the Vikings turning to their third quarterback already this season in Josh Freeman -- someone who I've never been impressed with -- I think Eli will lead the Giants to their first win.
Bengals over LIONS: Last week I said the Bengals would beat the Bills because they didn't have a good tight end. Even though it took till overtime and Bills TE Scott Chandler did score a touchdown with Carlos Dunlap guarding him, the Bengals ultimately prevailed. This week will be much tougher because not only do good tight ends hurt the Bengals, but running backs that catch the ball out of the backfield do as well and the Lions have a good one.
Reggie Bush is arguably the best receiving back in the league and he currently is second on the team in receptions. His athleticism is going to be a nightmare for the Bengals linebackers and being able to contain Bush will be key. Lions All-Pro WR Calvin Johnson is questionable with a knee injury, but he is expected to play. Leon Hall and Terence Newman better come ready to play because Megatron is the best receiver in the league. Lining up against the second best receiver in A.J. Green every day in practice should help the Bengals secondary though.
This could be a high scoring game with the weapons each team has on offense, but the Bengals have the advantage on defense and that's why they will ultimately win this game. Mike Zimmer has done a great job with this group so far -- besides dropping Carlos Dunlap into coverage against the Bills last week that resulted in a Scott Chandler touchdown -- and it's because of the defense that the Bengals are 4-2 and in first place in the AFC North. Defense wins championships as the saying goes and the Bengals win with defense Sunday in Detroit. Bengals 27, Lions 24.
Bye: Oakland, New Orleans
This Week: 1-0
Last Week: 10-5
Overall: 63-30
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