NFL 2015: Week 7 Picks

Six weeks in and five undefeated teams.

This is the furthest into a season I can remember having this many teams still with an unblemished record. At least three of those teams will go into Week 8 still undefeated, the Bengals, Broncos and Packers have byes this week.

Bill Belichick and Tom Brady beat the Colts, again, last Sunday
to remain undefeated.
(AFP Photo/Joe Robbins)

Three of the undefeated teams, Cincinnati, Green Bay and New England have been great this season due in large part to the play of their quarterback's. Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady are off to great starts, which is no surprise to any of us, but Andy Dalton continued his MVP caliber play last week in Buffalo throwing for 243-yards and three touchdowns.

Dalton has the Bengals in great shape going into the bye week and I said it last week and I will continue to say it, he is right in the thick of the MVP conversation along with Brady and Rodgers.

Here are their updated stats through Week 6. Followed by their stats when the game matters most, the fourth quarter.

Regular Season	Yards	CMP%	TD	INT	QB Rating	Record
Andy Dalton	1,761	67.4	14	2	116.1	6-0
Aaron Rodgers	1,491	68.1	14	2	115.9	6-0
Tom Brady	1,699	70.6	15	1	118.4	5-0

Italics indicate leader of the group

Fourth Quarter	Yards	CMP%	TD	INT	QB Rating	Comebacks
Andy Dalton	371	74.3	4	0	146.2	2
Aaron Rodgers	332	77.8	3	0	132.9	1
Tom Brady	331	73.0	3	0	127.2	0

Italics indicate leader of the group

Quite the battle between the three quarterbacks, unfortunately, not much will change with Rodgers and Dalton on byes, but the weekly updates will continue. Should be a great race down to the last game. 

Having touched on New England, Cincinnati and Green Bay, the other two undefeated teams are Denver and Carolina. Cam Newton played great in the fourth quarter last week to lead yet another comeback against the Seattle Seahawks -- two weeks in a row Seattle has blown a fourth quarter lead -- and kept the Panthers from losing their first game. 

Denver on the other hand, continues to win close games. They've won by 6, 7, 12, 3, 6 and 3 points each of their games, respectively, this season and last week was no different. Peyton Manning, who leads the league in interceptions with 10, just about gave the Browns the game last week with three interceptions including a pick-six. However, the Denver defense continues to play well and they are the main reason why the Broncos have yet to lose a game. 

New England, Cincinnati, Green Bay, Denver and Carolina make up the top five of the Week 7 edition of the AR Top 32. Who else made the top ten? Click here to find out. 

Now for my picks for this week's slate of games. 

Week 7 Picks (Home team in CAPS)

Seattle over SAN FRANCISCO (Thursday, 8:25 P.M. ET, CBS/NFL): Flashback a few years ago and this was one of the marquee games in the NFL each year. Now, at a combined 5-9, the Seahawks and 49ers are chasing the Rams and Cardinals in the division and the loser on Thursday night -- in this case the 49ers -- falls into last place in the NFC West. Seattle has a host of problems, Russell Wilson gets sacked too much, RB Marshawn Lynch had only 182-yards rushing and one touchdown going into Thursday night and the Legion of Boom looks like the Legion of Doom. They have to turn things around or the two-time defending NFC champions may miss the playoffs, which was unthinkable seven weeks ago. A win against the 49ers helps matters, but the Seahawks still have a long way to go.

The Buffalo Bills made their first trip to London this week
to face the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second of three games
to be held at Wembley Stadium this season.
(Photo Courtesy of BuffaloBills.com)

Buffalo over JACKSONVILLE in London (Sunday, 9:30 P.M. ET, Yahoo): Once again, NFL fans will be able to watch football for about 14 straight hours on Sunday. The Bills and Jaguars will kick things off early Sunday morning as the second of three games being played in London. This will be the first ever streamed online. Fans outside of Buffalo and Jacksonville -- who will be able to watch the game on CBS -- will have to watch the game on their laptop, tablet or phone via Yahoo.com. The game is free and could be a precursor to the future as the NFL looks to expand the game globally. I think it's a tremendous idea and I look forward to watching to Bills defeat a underwhelming Jaguars team. 

WASHINGTON over Tampa Bay (Sunday, 1:00 P.M. ET, FOX): Until the Redskins run the ball consistently -- they ran for a whopping 34-yards on 17 carries against the Jets last week -- it's hard for me to pick them. With that being said, however, they're at home this week against a bad Buccaneers team. Maybe they'll finally give Alfred Morris the ball. I'll go Redskins. 

Atlanta over TENNESSEE (Sunday, 1:00 P.M. ET, FOX): The Falcons suffered their first loss of the season, but I don't expect to see a losing streak. Atlanta's next three games are at Tennessee, home against Tampa Bay and at San Francisco. Matt Ryan and Co. could very well be 8-1 heading into their Week 10 bye. Titans QB Marcus Mariota suffered a sprained MCL last week and is out for Sunday's game. I like the Falcons in this one. 

INDIANAPOLIS over New Orleans (Sunday, 1:00 P.M. ET, FOX): The Colts can't seem to figure out a way to beat a team outside the AFC South. Indy lost to the Patriots yet again on Sunday night and ran a bizarre fake punt play that everyone is calling the worst play in NFL history. Colts punter Pat McAfee gave a great explanation on The BOB and TOM Show this week that's worth a listen. Here's the link. As for the game, I think the Colts will finally get a win against a team not from the AFC South, it will be against a team from the NFC South. 

Minnesota over DETROIT (Sunday, 1:00 P.M. ET, FOX): Lions finally got their first win of the season, but don't expect a winning streak. Minnesota gives up the second fewest points per game at 16.6 and I expect them to give Detroit another loss on Sunday. 

Pittsburgh over KANSAS CITY (Sunday, 1:00 P.M. ET, CBS): The Chiefs managed just 57-yards rushing on 18 carries last week without Jamaal Charles and I expect their woes to continue the rest of the season. Landry Jones will most likely get the start at quarterback for the Steelers with Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Vick hurt, and I think he'll play well. Kansas City is 24th in the league in points allowed at 26.5 per game and I expect them to give up that many and more against Pittsburgh. 

ST. LOUIS over Cleveland (Sunday, 1:00 P.M. ET, CBS): Last three weeks for Cleveland, three point loss at San Diego, three point win in overtime over Baltimore, three point loss at home to Denver. Credit to the Browns for staying in ball games, but they're still 2-4. QB Josh McCown has played well since returning from a concussion, averaging 341.8-yards per game, but the Browns are 1-3. Things won't get any easier with a trip to St. Louis to visit a well-rested Rams team and I look for the losing to continue. 

MIAMI over Houston (Sunday, 1:00 P.M. ET, CBS): QB Brian Hoyer and the Texans played very well last week, but it was against the Jaguars. In fact, Houston's only two wins are against the aforementioned Jaguars and the Buccaneers. With the Dolphins being at home and coming off their best performance of the season, a 38-10 dismantling of the Titans, I like Miami here. 

NEW ENGLAND over NY Jets (Sunday, 1:00 P.M. ET, CBS): Don't be so quick to the Patriots here. New England looks as dominate as they did back in 2007 when they went 16-0 in the regular season and were a David Tyree helmet catch away of winning the Super Bowl. I think there are only a hand full of teams in the league that can beat the Patriots and the Jets are one of them. Expect the Jets to blitz early and often against Brady and to run the ball to keep the Patriots offense off the field. "Closer than the experts think," as Lee Corso would say and I like New England by a field goal. 

SAN DIEGO over Oakland (Sunday, 4:05 P.M. ET, CBS): At 2-4, the Chargers may not be going anywhere this season, but QB Philip Rivers may break a few records along the way. Rivers threw for 503-yards in a losing effort to the Packers last week and is on pace to throw for 5,643-yards, which would break Peyton Manning's record of 5,477-yards. Expect Rivers throw for 300-yards easily on Sunday as the Raiders have the worst pass defense in football, giving up 299.2-yards per game. Rivers will throw the Chargers to victory against the rival Raiders on Sunday. 

NY GIANTS over Dallas (Sunday, 4:25 P.M. ET, FOX): Cowboys versus Giants doesn't have the same feel to it without Tony Romo and Dez Bryant. Bryant, actually, may play Sunday, but I would be surprised if we see him out there. If he is, he'll be catching passes from Matt Cassel instead of Brandon Weeden. With Tony Romo still hurt, Dallas has decided to give Cassel a shot. Cassel is a better quarterback than Weeden, but he's still at best a backup quarterback. The Giants blew a fourth quarter lead against Dallas the last time these two teams meet and I don't expect the same thing to happen this time around. Giants win a close one. 

The play of QB Cam Newton has Carolina at 5-0
and in first place in the NFC South.
(Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images)

CAROLINA over Philadelphia (Sunday, 8:30 P.M. ET, NBC): Carolina is 5-0 and they should be commended for that. Despite the fact that their wins are against New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Houston and Seattle, they are all wins in the NFL. The Eagles are so up and down this season, I can't figure them out. The Panthers are at home and I trust them more than the Eagles. Carolina wins by less than a touchdown. 

ARIZONA over Baltimore (Monday, 8:30 P.M. ET, ESPN): RIP Baltimore Ravens 2015 season. Baltimore has not played well and a trip to Arizona on Monday Night Football after the Cardinals lost last week to Pittsburgh is not what the doctor ordered. Ravens lose again.

Bye: Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Green Bay

This Week: 1-0

Last Week: 7-7

Overall: 55-37 (.599)