NFL Week 7 Preview

This is the week I push forward. A 6-7 prediction record is absolutely horrible and I can’t stand for it. The NFL’s week 7 will serve up some juicy matchups for hungry football lovers and trust I’ll be there to watch it all. The matchups get better and better as the season goes on as we weed out pretenders from contenders. The middle weeks of the NFL season usually allow us to sort out what teams will be in the playoffs and what teams will be sitting at home. If your favorite team is on a bye this week, don’t worry, just turn the channel to one of these games:

Minnesota Vikings (6-0) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-0)

On paper, this is the game of the weekend. The living legend, Brett Favre, against the building legend, Ben Roethlisberger. The league’s best back against the league’s second best run defense. The Vikings against the Steelers should certainly highlight the weekend and the Steelers, winners of three straight, need this win to validate them before they go into their bye week. Pittsburgh is 0-2 against opponents with a winning record and toppling the NFC’s best team would certainly give them a boost.

But it won’t be easy. Minnesota comes in after a near loss to the Baltimore Ravens last weekend and will arrive in Pittsburgh calm and confident. Favre has been flawless as a Viking with 12 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson leads the league in rushing yards and receiver Sidney Rice and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe are growing into legitimate vertical threats, making the Viking offense a very scary unit. Toss in a solid offensive line and a quality backup running back in Chester Taylor and it’s easy to see why Minnesota is second in the league in scoring at 31.5 points a weekend.

The Vikings defense hasn’t been all that stingy and will probably go into the game without their top corner with Antione Winfield walking around Vikings practice all week in a boot. Pass rusher Jared Allen has definitely played up to par but the last three games against the St. Louis Rams, Ravens and Green Bay Packers have showed that if you can block Minnesota’s front four, you can move the ball against them.

Moving the ball is something the Steelers have been getting better at in the last few weeks. Rashard Mendenhall has finally taken over for the ineffective Willie Parker and Roethlisberger is letting it fly. “Big Ben” leads the league in passing yards and he’s in the top five in passer rating and completion percentage. The Steelers all the sudden have weapons everywhere on offense. Hines Ward is tied for the league-lead in receptions and leads the NFL in receiving yards. Tight end Heath Miller is starting to get recognized as a top tight end and is tied for second in the league in TD catches. Santonio Holmes was the Super Bowl MVP last year and Mendenhall has scored four touchdowns in his last three games.

The Steelers defense is ranked third overall and with all-everything safety Troy Polamalu back in the fold, Pittsburgh will go into a home game with the Vikings very confident. Peterson will find running against the Steelers tough but he possesses the ability to cut it back for a big gain on any given play. Favre’s experience will definitely help against the Steelers compound pressure schemes but don’t be surprised if Big Ben outplays him. Pittsburgh’s defense may not be able to shut down Minnesota but they can definitely contain them. The Vikings defense on the other hand, has allowed a few 380-yard passers and as long as Pittsburgh’s offensive line keeps Ben upright, the Steelers will have success. Pittsburgh needs this game for validation and they will be ready to capitalize. Steelers 27-20

San Francisco 49ers (3-2) vs. Houston Texans (3-3)

The Texans have been tip toeing the edge of average for years but they’re starting to gather some steam as a scary team this season. Signal caller Matt Schaub leads the NFL in passing yards and has been shredding teams as of late. Receiver Andre Johnson has a valid argument if he ever wanted to tell you he’s the best in the league and tight end Owen Daniels is tied for second in receiving touchdowns.

When we last saw the 49ers, they were getting slapped around to the score of 45-10 in their own backyard. You can trust hard-as-nails head coach Mike Singletary had the Niners running some extra sprints during practice the last couple of weeks. Rookie holdout Michael Crabtree will make his debut in the state he built a legendary