NFL Week 7 Predictions: Breaking Down Sunday's Best Early Games

As we look ahead to Week 8 of the 2012 NFL campaign, there are several early games on Sunday that feature dynamic quarterbacks and playoff contenders.

Whether it be a dual-threat quarterback against the reigning champions or a struggling signal-caller facing a depleted defense, Week 8 should offer plenty of thrills for everybody.

Here's a look at my predictions for the best early matchups on Sunday.

Green Bay Packers at St. Louis Rams

One thing we know about the Rams this season is that the secondary is suddenly legit. 

Sporting Cortland Finnegan and rookie Janoris Jenkins, the Rams have shocked everyone, allowing just 6.5 yards per pass attempt (sixth-best in the NFL) while giving up four passing touchdowns and notching eight interceptions.

Aaron Rodgers was struggling by his standards until last week, when he lit up the Houston Texans for 338 yards and six touchdowns. 

St. Louis will be another test for Rodgers this time around, but the explosion against Houston may be just what Rodgers needed to get rolling again.

Prediction: Packers 27, Rams 17

Washington Redskins at New York Giants

The Giants may have just dominated the San Francisco 49ers, but they are allowing 4.6 yards per carry this season (24th in the NFL) and the last time they faced a dual-threat quarterback, Michael Vick passed for 241 yards and a touchdown and ran for 49 yards on six carries.

Robert Griffin III has been a beast for the Redskins in his rookie season, completing 70 percent of his passes for 8.3 yards per attempt and five touchdowns and rushing for 370 yards and six touchdowns. 

The good news for New York is that the Redskins can't stop anybody, allowing 28.8 points per game this season (26th), and the Giants just dropped 26 points on a formidable 49ers defense.

Prediction: Giants 33, Redskins 27

Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans

This matchup has been diminished by the fact that both Ray Lewis and Lardarius Webb are out for the season due to injuries, but the Ravens are still a strong team and they face a Texans squad that just got rocked by the Packers.

While the Texans got walloped by Green Bay, I see them bouncing back at Reliant Stadium, and I don't like Baltimore's run defense or pass defense against the Texans without Lewis or Webb.

The Texans are averaging 28.8 points per game this season (fifth in the NFL) and they feature a balanced offensive attack.

Prediction: Texans 27, Ravens 24