NFL Picks Week 7: 10 Contenders and Pretenders
Week 7 is full of exciting matchups including two great rivalry games in the Giants-Cowboys and Vikings-Packers. Throughout the NFL there are great teams with poor records, while there are also teams that are simply pretending to be good.
Teams such as the Dallas Cowboys(1-4) and Cincinnati Bengals(2-3) are underperforming, but will be sure to turn things around in the weeks to come. While teams like the Chicago Bears(4-2) and New England Patriots(4-1) will begin to choke and breakdown.
The following slides are five contenders that will make good out of this struggling start, and five pretenders who will fall from glory and show their true colors.
Chicago Bears (4-2)
1 of 10
Pretenders
The Chicago Bears are currently first in the NFC North standings, but overall not a very good football team and it will begin to show in Week 7 against the Washington Redskins.
The Bears are currently 22nd overall in passing yards with 192.8 per game and 26th overall in rushing with 92.3. They have only won one game in dominant fashion this year, with the rest being by only seven points or less.
The fact that the Bears can't produce significantly on offense will hurt them in the long run. As of now their Defense has been extremely impressive in holding opposing offenses to low scoring games. But this will not last for long, beginning with a close heartbreaking loss to the Redskins this Sunday.
Week 7 Prediction : Washington Redskins 30 @ Chicago Bears 29
Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)
2 of 10
Contenders
The Bengals have started off poorly at 2-3, but their last two loses were only by three points. Carson Palmer has to take control of this offense and has started to produce. This will happen, starting in Week 7.
Fresh off of a bye week, the Bengals will be going to Atlanta to take on the Falcons. Expect Palmer to lead this offense to score over 24 points for the first time this season.
Week 7 Prediction : Cincinnati Bengals 37 @ Atlanta Falcons 20
New England Patriots (4-1)
3 of 10
Pretenders
The New England Patriots are a great franchise, but they will begin to crumble losing two consecutive games.
After a 4-1 start, the Patriots will lose to the San Diego Chargers in Week 7 and then the Minnesota Vikings in the following week. Although many may not believe it, the New York Jets are going to win the AFC East division hands down.
The Patriots have a solid squad, but without the constant deep threat of Randy Moss their offense becomes less lethal.
Sure, they won their first game without Moss, but the Patriots barely got by in overtime, winning by three.
Granted it was against a very good Ravens team, but from here on out the Patriots will fail. Not only will it be extremely tough for the Pat's to catch the Jets, but they also have to worry about beating out the Miami Dolphins who seem to have put together a solid group for 2010.
Week 7 Prediction : New England Patriots 24 @ San Diego Chargers 27 OT
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Dallas Cowboys (1-4)
4 of 10
Contenders
At the beginning of the season the Dallas Cowboys had extremely high expectations of making it to the Super Bowl, which is being hosted by Dallas this year. But now it looks like they might not even make the playoffs. NOT SO FAST.
With a win this week against their rival New York Giants, the Cowboys would put themselves right back into the mix in the NFC East. The Giants would then have a record of 4-3, while the Cowboys would bump themselves up to 2-4. Now it doesn't seem so bad right?
Of course you can expect a thrilling, passionate, hard-hitting game full of everything a rivalry is supposed to be made of. One of the greatest rivalry in sports at that.
Make sure to tune in to ESPN on Monday Night.
Week 7 Prediction : New York Giants 17, Dallas Cowboys 21
Kansas City Chiefs (3-2)
5 of 10
Pretenders
The Kansas City Chiefs got off to a spectacular start winning their first three games of the season, but since then have lost their spark losing their last two games.
Going up against a highly inconsistent Jacksonville Jaguars team, you never know what to expect. Earlier this season the Jaguars beat the Indianapolis colts 31-28, but last week lost to the Tennessee Titans 30-3.
Well, this week the Jaguars team that upset the Colts in Week 4 will show up and make another upset, beating the Chiefs in their home stadium, which is a rough environment to play in.
Week 7 Prediction : Jacksonville Jaguars 26 @ Kansas City Chiefs 20
Seattle Seahawks (3-2)
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Contenders
Even though the Seahawks are off to a decent start, many people may think they are pretenders. With a dominating win this week against the Arizona Cardinals, everyone will realize that Seattle has a ton of potential and will be a threat in the playoffs.
Marshawn Lynch has recently been acquired which creates a dangerous tandem alongside Justin Forsett. The Seahawks have a fairly easy schedule besides a few rough games against teams such as the Giants and Saints. Other than those two games they should be able to win every other matchup. Not necessarily saying they will, but they have the potential to.
Week 7 Prediction : Arizona Cardinals 17 @ Seattle Seahawks 38
Tennessee Titans (4-2)
7 of 10
Pretenders
The Tennessee Titans have arguably one of the best backs in the NFL in Chris Johnson, along with two great quarterbacks that can contribute successfully no matter the situation.
But, the Titans have an extremely difficult schedule ahead of them, which seems too much to overcome. Remaining on their schedule are the following teams: Eagles, Charges, Dolphins, Redskins, Texans(twice) and Colts(twice).
The Titans collapse will begin in Week 7 in a crushing loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Week 7 Prediction : Philadelphia Eagles 38 @ Tennessee Titans 20
Minnesota Vikings (2-3)
8 of 10
Contenders
Despite what all the experts and analysts may say, I believe Brett Favre will prevail and lead this Vikings team to a serious playoff run.
The Minnesota Vikings' offense is full of too many talented players to count them out, from pure athletes like Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson, to the deep threats of Sidney Rice and Randy Moss.
Against the intense rivalry of Green Bay, it is guaranteed to be one of the more exciting matchups of the week. The Vikings will prevail victorious in an overtime thriller.
Week 7 Prediction : Minnesota Vikings 37 @ Green Bay Packers 34
Arizona Cardinals (3-2)
9 of 10
Pretenders
The Arizona Cardinals rank near the bottom of every important team category this season, but somehow have managed a 3-2 record.
They are 30th in passing yards, averaging only 152.6 yards per game along with 29th overall in rushing offense, averaging 87.4 YPG.
Then on defense they give up an average of 241.2 passing YPG, ranking them 26th in the entire NFL, as well as 140.8 rushing YPG placing them at 29th in the league for rushing defense.
Battling the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks, the Cardinals will lose miserably just like their other two losses this year. So far this season if the Cardinals don't win they get crushed, and that is exactly what will happen in Week 7.
Week 7 Prediction : Arizona Cardinals 17 @ Seattle Seahawks 38
Oakland Raiders (2-4)
10 of 10
Contenders
The Oakland Raiders have not looked very good this season other than the very impressive win over the San Diego Chargers, but you can not count them out in a struggling AFC West . At 2-4 the Raiders are tied for second with the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers, behind the Kansas City Chiefs at 3-2.
With a win this week against Denver, the Raiders put themselves in a great position at 3-4, with four more divisional games remaining. In Week 7, Oakland will find themselves in a hard fought battle which they will win in the final minutes of the game.
Week 7 Prediction : Oakland Raiders 23 @ Denver Broncos 20
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