NFL Week 7: Predicting the Scores of Each Game
Week 7 of the 2010 NFL season is highlighted by Brett Favre returning to Green Bay on Sunday Night. In addition, there are teams that were contenders a season ago that are in a must-win situation, such as the Chargers and the Cowboys.
In Week 6 we saw big hits, and lots of them. Brandon Meriweather, James Harrison, and Dunta Robinson were all fined for their dangerous hits. We all know the NFL is extremely physical, but these helmet-to-helmet hits are not necessary. Yes, I'm talking to you Brandon Meriweather.
Without further ado, here are my week 7 NFL picks.
Enjoy.
Top QB: 29-43, 389 yards, 3 TDs
Top RB: Jamaal Charles - 17 carries, 141 yards, TD, 7 catches, 87 yards
Top WR: Anquan Boldin - 9 catches, 166 yards, 2 TDs
Top Kicker: Matt Prater
Top Defense: Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons
1 of 14
After many considered the Falcons to be the class of the NFC, they failed to show up in Philly, losing 31-17 in a game they trailed the entire time. I fully expect them to bounce back this week against a Bengals team that is struggling to look like the team they were in 2009.
The Bengals' bye week came at a perfect time, with them blowing a lead against the Buccaneers. There is no way they should have lost that game, and I'm stressing on this game because I picked them in survival football. Shame on you, Carson Palmer.
In an AFC North that includes the Steelers and Ravens, the Bengals need to pick it up, and pick it up fast.
Unfortunately for them, the Falcons will be rejuvenated at home, and will win it.
Fearless Forecast: Falcons 23, Bengals 17
Pittsburgh Steelers at Miami Dolphins
2 of 14
Last week, the Dolphins got a huge win in Green Bay, as they improved to 3-2 for the season. It was their third win of the season, and more impressively, their third win away from home.
That is a good sign for this team. However, what they have failed to do is defend their home field, losing to both the Jets and the Patriots in Miami. Those two losses could come back to bite them.
Will they get their first home win of the season here? Not so fast. Ben Roethlisberger is back, and he returned with a bang last week, throwing for three touchdowns en route to a blowout win over the Browns.
It was the perfect way for "Ben" to return (He is no longer "Big Ben," as he so clearly stated). The Steelers are 4-1, and Roethlisberger has only played one game, they will only get better.
I like the Steelers in this one. Sorry, Dolphins fans.
Fearless Forecast: Steelers 26, Dolphins 17
Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens
3 of 14
If you have not picked the Ravens yet in your survival football pool, then go ahead and do it here. This is as safe a game as you will find.
The Ravens let one slip through their fingers last week in New England, and I can assure you they won't let this one slip away.
Unless a miracle has happened over the bye week, I don't see how the Bills can win this game. The best thing Bills fans can hope for is that they compete.
Fearless Forecast: Ravens 31, Bills 7
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Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs
4 of 14
After starting out the season a surprising 3-0, the Chiefs have dropped their last two games. Don't let that fool you, the Chiefs will not go away, and with Todd Bouman starting at quarterback for the Jags, the Chiefs will improve to 4-2.
The Chiefs lost a heartbreaker to the Texans last week in a game they should have one. This team has what it takes to win the division in AFC West with the Chargers' struggles. A good team wins games they should win, and the Chiefs will do so this week.
In the Jaguars' embarrassing performance on Monday Night Football, they lost both David Garrard and Trent Edwards to injuries. Now they have turned to veteran backup Todd Bouman. Things are not looking too promising in Jacksonville.
Fearless Forecast: Chiefs 34, Jaguars 6
Cleveland Browns at New Orleans Saints
5 of 14
Although the season hasn't started out quite as Saints fans hoped, this team is still 4-2, and after a dominating win in Tampa Bay, have they gotten it together?
With both Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush going down to injuries, Chris Ivory has stepped it up and filled the void beautifully, headlined by last week's 15-carry, 158-yard performance. That's 10.5 yards per carry if you were wondering.
They shouldn't have any problems with the Browns, who will start rookie Colt McCoy for the second straight week.
While McCoy probably didn't expect to see the field this season, he did a sufficient job last week in Pittsburgh for his first start. That's an impossible task to ask of a rookie to win in Pittsburgh against that ferocious defense.
The Saints will coast to 5-2.
Fearless Forecast: Saints 27, Browns 10
Washington Redskins at Chicago Bears
6 of 14
After the Bears' disappointing 23-20 loss at home against the Seahawks, there is one question in my mind: Will the Bears fast start go to waste?
The Bears have no offensive line; Jay Cutler continually gets sacked and sacked. That is not exactly a recipe for success.
Can they regroup against the Redskins? The Redskins are 3-3, and right in the mix in the NFC East. They need to prove they can be consistent. I firmly believe that the Redskins are definitely a better team than the Bears. The 'Skins have the talent in place, they just need to put it all together.
I think the Bears continue to struggle, and lose this one.
Fearless Forecast: Redskins 20, Bears 14
San Francisco 49ers at Carolina Panthers
7 of 14
With Jimmy Clausen not producing, the Panthers have turned back to Matt Moore in hope of some sort of spark. Clausen did not appear to be ready to be a starting quarterback yet, and now it makes sense why he dropped so far in the draft.
The 49ers come into this game fresh off of their first win of the season. It wasn't pretty against the Raiders, but they will take any win they can get at this point.
If they want to win the NFC West as their owner claims they would, they cannot afford many more losses. Alex Smith is going to have to prove he can be the quarterback of the future.
The 49ers take one step forward, and one step back here, falling to 1-6, while the Panthers pick up their first win of the season.
Fearless Forecast: Panthers 24, 49ers 14
St. Louis Rams at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8 of 14
Before the season started, this match up between the Rams and the Bucs looked like it would be a game featuring two of the worst teams in football.
To everyone's surprise though, both of these teams came out of the gates running, and what once looked like a meaningless game, suddenly is an intriguing one.
The Rams have been very impressive this season, at least at home. On the road, the Rams have struggled, including a 44-6 loss in Detroit. Sam Bradford has been the biggest positive for the Rams, and is proving all the haters wrong.
The Bucs on the other hand are 3-2, suffering losses to the Steelers, and the Saints. The Bucs won't be making the playoffs this season, but they have a good chance to improve to 4-2 here. Did anyone expect them to have four wins this season in total?
Fearless Forecast: Buccaneers 20, Rams 13
Philadelphia Eagles at Tennessee Titans
9 of 14
The Eagles thought they had their quarterback situation solved, but then Michael Vick got hurt. Vick's injury opened the door for Kevin Kolb, who has filled in beautifully in his two games, and is making a case to regain his job as the team's starting quarterback.
A win in Tennessee against a good Titans team would go along way in helping his case.
Last week, the Titans embarrassed the Jaguars on Monday Night Football, but lost Vince Young to a knee injury in the process. If he is unable to play this week, Kerry Collins would come in, and there are not too many back ups that are as serviceable as him in the NFL.
Just two years ago Collins led the Titans to a 12-4 record before being bounced by the Ravens in the playoffs.
The last two weeks I have picked against the Eagles, and it has worked out for them. For them to win their third straight game, they will have to contain Chris Johnson, and Kevin Kolb can't make many mistakes.
I think they accomplish both of those tasks and soar to their third straight win.
Fearless Forecast: Eagles 24, Titans 20
Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks
10 of 14
The Pete Carroll effect has been evident in 2010, as the Seahawks are 3-2 with a new group of players. If you were to tell me that Mike Williams, the former top ten pick out of USC would finally be living up to the hype, I would have called you crazy.
Williams has been a bust ever since he was drafted in 2005, but clearly Pete Carroll knows how to get something out of him.
Needing a running back, the Seahawks acquired Marshawn Lynch from the Bills for just a fourth-round pick. What a steal that was. He has gone from a Bills team going nowhere, to a Seahawks team who is in the worst division in the NFL, with a good chance to make the playoffs.
The Cardinals, before their bye week, shocked the Saints without scoring a touchdown by a wide receiver or running back. Max Hall, an undrafted rookie out of BYU, will get his second start of his NFL career, and I expect him to struggle again.
The Seahawks will dominate this one at home.
Fearless Forecast: Seahawks 31, Cardinals 13
New England Patriots at San Diego Chargers
11 of 14
Last week Deion Branch made Patriots fans forget about that Moss guy who was traded. Branch, in his return to New England, reeled in nine catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. Tom Brady's favorite target is back.
Every season the Chargers seem to get off to a slow start, and this season is no different. At 2-4, the Chargers are decimated with injuries and are 0-4 on the road, including losses to the Raiders and Rams.
With Antonio Gates, Malcom Floyd, Legedu Naanee all expected to miss Sunday's game against the Patriots, Patrick Crayton will be a key target for Phillip Rivers for all you fantasy football gurus out there.
The Chargers need this game, and a win here could revive their season. A loss and they drop to 2-5, but in the weak AFC West, they are not out of it.
The Patriots are one of the hottest teams in football right now, and I think they will keep it rolling in San Diego.
Fearless Forecast: Patriots 30, Chargers 24
Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos
12 of 14
In a game the Broncos deserved to win last week, a late pass interference call plagued them, dropping them to 2-4. Don't kid yourself, the Broncos are a good team, and will rebound against the Raiders, who will likely be starting Kyle Boller.
With injuries to both Bruce Gradkowski, and Jason Campbell, Kyle Boller draws the start. If Raiders fans didn't feel confident with Gradkowski, and Campbell, you can imagine the fear they have with Boller starting.
The Broncos will bounce back this week.
Fearless Forecast: Broncos 27, Raiders 13
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
13 of 14
The most interesting game of Week 7 comes at primetime, on Sunday Night Football. Brett Favre returns to Green Bay, where he lit up his former team last season for 515 yards, seven touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
It's a brand new season though, and a lot has changed. Favre looks like a different quarterback from 2009 and has allegations of sexual harassment following him around. Whether the rumors are true, who knows, but one thing is for sure: Brett Favre will come to play Sunday night.
The Packers, who many considered to be Super Bowl favorites, are riddled with injuries and have been one of the most disappointing teams of the season. Aaron Rodgers would like nothing more than to take down Favre.
I don't see him doing it, though. Rodgers will go to 0-3 against his former teammate, and Favre will have his best game of the season.
Fearless Forecast: Vikings 31, Packers 27
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys
14 of 14
If the Cowboys don't win this week, they can kiss their season goodbye. A win here against the Giants could turn their season around. They need to stop hurting themselves, though; this team just looks undisciplined.
Unlike the Cowboys, the Giants have won three straight games after a bad start, and have gone through a complete transformation. Their defense has been the thing that's been most impressive about this team.
In an NFC East battle, anything can happen, and the Cowboys are desperate. Wade Phillips has gotta be feeling the heat right now.The tension will cool off for him, at least for a week.
Fearless Forecast: Cowboys 27, Giants 20
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