Week 7 Picks

Peyton Manning needs just three touchdown passes to become the NFL's
all-time leader. (I apologize about Manny Ramirez's eyes).
(Adam Hunger/USA TODAY Sports)

Will Peyton Manning break Brett Favre's all-time record for passing touchdowns?

Can the Browns continue to play well down in Jacksonville?

Will the Bengals' defense play better?

How many points will Aaron Rodgers and the Packers score on the Panthers?

So many questions and I have answers to them all in another post on C'mon Cincinnati.

My picks and thoughts on Week 7 are below.

Week 7 Picks (Home team in CAPS)

NEW ENGLAND over NY Jets: Tom Brady losing to the Jets, at home, on a short week? I don't think so. Rex Ryan's days in New York may be numbered if the pathetic Jets (1-5) continue to lose.

BALTIMORE over Atlanta: Ravens QB Joe Flacco threw for five touchdowns last week against Tampa Bay, in the first 17 minutes of the game! This week Flacco and the Baltimore offense face an Atlanta defense that ranks 29th against the pass, 28th against the run and has given up an average of 32.7 points per game the last three weeks (all losses). I think I'll take the Ravens in this one.

WASHINGTON over Tennessee: Tough game to pick since both teams are just brutal. Both have used two quarterbacks this season, both have terrible defenses and Washington has yet to figure out a way to run the ball -- running back Alfred Morris has yet to have a 100-yard game this season after having finished fourth in rushing last year. I blame play caller and head coach Jay Gruden for giving up on the run like he typical does, but nonetheless the Redskins are in shambles. However, the Redskins are at home and Kirk Cousins is better than both Jake Locker and Charlie Whitehurst. I like Washington to get their second win of the season.

Seattle over ST. LOUIS: Don't expect the loss to the Dallas Cowboys last week to linger over the Seattle Seahawks. I still believe that Seattle is one of the best teams in the league and they will bounce back in St. Louis.

Brian Hoyer and the Browns are the surprise team through the first
six weeks and could be a sleeper come playoff time.
(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Cleveland over JACKSONVILLE: I said last week to watch out for the Browns and after a 31-10 undressing of the rival Steelers, Cleveland has three very winnable games in as many weeks. First up, a trip down to Jacksonville to take on the winless Jaguars. The key to the Browns success so far has been the play of their quarterback and no, it's not Johnny Manziel. Brian Hoyer has thrown for 1,224-yards, seven touchdowns and has only turned the ball over twice and he has the Browns 3-2 and in the hunt in the AFC North. Watch out for Cleveland.

BUFFALO over Minnesota: I believe that Teddy Bridgewater is the future at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, but they are going to have go through some growing pains before he turns into a complete pro. Bridgewater threw three interceptions in last week's loss to the Lions and has yet to throw a touchdown pass in three games this season. I think Bridgewater will get there one day, but not in time to beat the Bills on the road this Sunday.

CHICAGO over Miami: I can't figure the Bears out. One week they look like a playoff team and other weeks they look like a team that is destined to be .500 or worse. And whenever I seem to pick them, they loss. So, I'll take the Bears this week because my luck with picking them has to change eventually, right?

New Orleans over DETROIT: If it were not for the Detroit defense, the Lions would be in real trouble right now. Detroit has struggled to score points at times this season and with All-Pro receiver Calvin Johnson out with an ankle injury, their struggles on offense may continue. The Saints are well rested coming off of a bye and even though they are on the road, they will still be playing in a dome, where they excel on offense. New Orleans will probably be without tight end Jimmy Graham, but I still like Drew Brees to put up enough points to get a much needed win.

GREEN BAY over Carolina: The Panthers were lucky to escape with a tie last week in Cincinnati, but I don't expect them to be as lucky this week in Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers has been putting his usual insane numbers -- 1,419-yards, 15 touchdowns and only one interception -- and has the Packers on a three game winning streak. Carolina has a terrible defense, they've given up 146 points the last four games, and I expect them to give up another 31 points to Rodgers and the Packers on Sunday.

SAN DIEGO over Kansas City: The Chargers just keep on winning and are quietly one of the best teams in the NFL. They will beat the Chiefs at home on Sunday setting up a great game next week on Thursday night in Denver against the Broncos.

Arizona over OAKLAND: It would not surprise me at all if the Raiders won this game, but I'm going to take the Cardinals here. Yes, Oakland has yet to win a game and yes, the Raiders are 31st in the league when it comes to running the ball and stopping the run and yes, they have a new head coach (Tony Sparano) and it's only Week 7, but they play tough. Three of the Raiders' losses have been by a combined 15 points and I think they will give the Cardinals all they can handle in Oakland. But I do think the Cardinals will leave the Raiders in search of their first win.

DALLAS over NY Giants: How 'bout them Cowboys! Jerry's Boys are 5-1 and are coming off a surprising upset of the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle and things are looking good in Big D. I'm a believer in the Cowboys and I expect them to keep on winning if they continue to run the ball the way they have thus far with DeMarco Murray and that offensive line.

DENVER over San Francisco: America's team takes on the San Francisco 49ers from Denver, CO, on Sunday. That's right; the Dallas Cowboys are no longer America's team. A new Harris Poll has surveyed over 2,000 adults and America has a new favorite team, the Denver Broncos. How much Peyton Manning has to do with that, I'm not sure, but if I was a betting man I would say a lot. Manning and the Broncos will face a tough test against the 49ers, but I like them to get the win in a close game and for Manning to pass Brett Favre for most passing touchdowns in NFL history.

Houston over PITTSBURGH: The Steelers are 3-3 this season and have yet to win two games in a row. They also have yet to lose two games in a row; in fact, they have alternated wins and losses every week in 2014. So, if this trend were to hold up, they would win on Monday night since they lost to the Browns last week. However, I see the trend coming to an end. Expect J.J. Watt to make several impact plays -- Watt has four sacks, three touchdowns and six pass deflections already this season -- and for Houston to get the win on the road.

Mike Nugent's 36-yard field goal
sailed wide right as the Bengals tied
the Panthers at 37.
(Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports)

COLTS over Bengals: What a frustrating two weeks it's been as a Cincinnati Bengals fan. Not like the last 23 years have been a walk in the park either, but the Bengals last two games have been beyond frustrating. I know they didn't lose last week, but a tie sure does feel like a loss when the Bengals had so many chances to win the game including a missed 36-yard field goal with two seconds left in overtime.

The biggest problem for the Bengals the last two weeks has been the defense. Through their first three games, Cincinnati gave up just 33 points. In the last two weeks, however, the Bengals have given up 80! Now, Pro Bowl linebacker Vontaze Burfict did miss one of those games, but that doesn't explain why the Bengals have been so bad on defense the last two weeks. The offense continues to score points even without A.J. Green, but if the defense doesn't start playing better then Cincinnati won't be winning very many games.

Indianapolis comes into the game on Sunday with extra rest after having played on Thursday night the previous week and they are on a four game winning streak. Andrew Luck leads the league in passing yards and touchdowns and as a team the Colts have scored more points than anyone else this season. As hard as it is to say, with this game being in Indianapolis, the Colts having extra rest and the poor play of the Bengals defense the last two weeks, I like the Colts in this one. Colts 34, Bengals 31.

Bye: Philadelphia, Tampa Bay

Last Week: 12-2-1
Overall: 63-27-1