NFL Week 7 Picks: Rounding Up Top Experts' Predictions

With six weeks of the 2014 NFL season gone, the cream is rising to the top, while the lead is sinking to the bottom.

As a result, the games are somewhat easier to handicap. Since parity reigns supreme, you can never be truly sure about a result, but you can at least make your predictions with the help of weeks of evidence. You're not grasping in the dark for confirmation like you were in Weeks 1 or 2.

Still, it's always nice to see how some smart minds are forecasting each week's slate of games. Below are the picks from Bleacher Report's six NFL national lead writers, followed by more in-depth predictions for three of the biggest clashes.

Top Expert Predictions

Matchup	Matt Bowen	Mike Freeman	Matt Miller	Ty Schalter	Michael Schottey	Mike Tanier
ATL at BAL	BAL	BAL	BAL	BAL	BAL	BAL
TEN at WAS	TEN	WAS	WAS	WAS	WAS	WAS
SEA at STL	SEA	SEA	SEA	STL	SEA	SEA
CLE at JAX	CLE	CLE	CLE	CLE	CLE	CLE
CIN at IND	IND	IND	IND	IND	IND	CIN
MIN at BUF	MIN	BUF	BUF	BUF	BUF	BUF
MIA at CHI	CHI	MIA	CHI	MIA	CHI	CHI
NO at DET	DET	NO	NO	DET	DET	DET
CAR at GB	GB	GB	GB	GB	GB	GB
KC at SD	KC	SD	SD	SD	SD	SD
ARI at OAK	ARI	ARI	ARI	ARI	ARI	ARI
NYG at DAL	DAL	NYG	DAL	NYG	DAL	DAL
SF at DEN	DEN	DEN	DEN	DEN	DEN	DEN
HOU at PIT	PIT	PIT	PIT	HOU	HOU	PIT

Note: You can view the Week 7 picks from all 16 of B/R's experts here.

Games to Watch

Indianapolis Colts vs. Cincinnati Bengals

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

The nature of the Cincinnati Bengals' 43-17 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 5 was such that you questioned everything the team had done up to that point.

The Bengals regained some respectability after their 37-37 tie with the Carolina Panthers. If Mike Nugent converts on a chip shot in overtime, then Cincinnati's 4-1, and all is right with the world.

Looking at Week 7, however, the AFC North leaders could be in serious trouble. A.J. Green told ESPN's Bob Holtzman that playing against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday may be out of the question as he deals with the lingering effects from his toe injury:

If this game comes down to who has the better offense, then the absence of Green will hit the Bengals in a big way, even with Mohamed Sanu stepping up in Week 6. Not to mention that Cincinnati's defense has gone from one of the best in the league to one of the worst in terms of yardage.

You can see on the left that they're anchored near the bottom of the league.

In the event this game turns into a shootout, you have to ask yourself two questions: Will Andy Dalton keep pace with Andrew Luck, and will the Bengals' porous run defense stop Indy's ground game?

The first answer should be somewhat obvious. While Dalton is having his best year in terms of efficiency, Luck gets the edge with Green out of the equation.

The second answer is a little trickier, but the Bengals have the worst run defense in the league, according to Football Outsiders. The combination of Trent Richardson and Ahmad Bradshaw should be enough support for Luck and the passing game.

Indy gets the slight edge, especially with the game at home.

Prediction: Indianapolis 31, Cincinnati 24

Green Bay Packers vs. Carolina Panthers

Speaking of QBs having career years, Cam Newton is nearing that plateau. He's unlikely to ever eclipse the crazy numbers he posted during his rookie year, but that's nearly impossible, as defenses have since adjusted.

Plus, everybody knows that having your quarterback carry the ball 126 times in one season is a great way to get your quarterback hurt.

Newton's QB rating (92.2) and QBR (65.2) are both the highest they've ever been, while his completion percentage (61.7) is tied with his career best. The fact that he remains this efficient with the receivers at his disposal is nothing short of astounding.

Max Henson of Panthers.com believes this is the best version of Newton fans have seen, a point with which B/R's Matt Miller agreed:

With all of that said, the Panthers are pretty much a one-man show right now. The defense is among the league's worst, while the running game has been decimated by injuries. In last week's tie with the Bengals, Newton was responsible for 91 percent of the Panthers' total yards, per Chris Sprow of ESPN.com:

That kind of reliance on Newton is unsustainable, and with Carolina taking on the high-powered Green Bay Packers offense, things aren't looking too good for Week 7.

Aaron Rodgers is currently in seek-and-destroy mode, becoming the first QB in NFL history to record 15 touchdowns and one interception or fewer through six games, per NFL on ESPN:

The Panthers are giving up an average of 5.5 yards a carry on the ground, which should mean that Eddie Lacy looks more like his 2013 self, too.

Until the Panthers defense proves it can stop somebody, don't expect Carolina to beat really good teams on the road.

Prediction: Green Bay 30, Carolina 17

Denver Broncos vs. San Francisco 49ers

This is the kind of game where you can't take umbrage at those backing the San Francisco 49ers or those picking the Denver Broncos. Both teams are among the best in the league, and both have had moments of weakness that give you pause.

It's the safe pick, but I'm backing the Broncos. Despite having a lackluster running game, Denver ranks first in the league in offensive DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average), according to Football Outsiders. They also boast the second-best defense, per FO.

San Francisco's defense is also among the best in the league, so this game could come down to quarterbacks.

Colin Kaepernick's looked great since that Week 2 debacle against the Chicago Bears, throwing for 1,007 yards, seven touchdowns and an interception over the last four games.

B/R's Matt Bowen thinks the 49ers' play-action passing could hold the key to neutralizing the Broncos defense.

It would still be foolish to bet against Peyton Manning, especially at home, where he's averaging 330 yards and a little over three touchdowns a game.

Manning's also approaching history. With three more passing touchdowns, he'll surpass Brett Favre for the most all time.

The legendary QB denied that that is a focus of his preparation heading into the game.

"I think we've concentrated on important things; we've had two good wins coming off a bye week," he said, per ESPN.com's Jeff Legwold. "That's what I've concentrated on, kind of doing whatever it takes to win. I don't feel like it's been a distraction."

Manning may not walk away with the record, but he should capture the win.

Prediction: Denver 27, San Francisco 23