NFL's Week Seven Pick'em

By Derek Lofland.

My 2008 record after an upset laden (8-6) Week Six is 56-32. 

San Diego (3-3) at Buffalo (4-1): This is a very good AFC matchup. You have the Bills, who surprised people by winning four games before losing in a blowout to Arizona. They have had a bye and are looking to rebound.

The Chargers have been up and down. They smoked the New York Jets and New England, but managed to lose to Miami.

A theme I am seeing early in the season is that San Diego is not playing particularly well on the road. They lost at Miami and at Denver already this season. They have played their best football at home. I look for Lynch to have a nice day running the ball and for Rivers to throw a few interceptions on the road. I am going with the home team to win this close game.  

Winner: Buffalo

New Orleans (3-3) at Carolina (4-2): This is a must win for the Saints. They are already in last place in the division. A loss is going to drop them back two games in the division with three teams to hop over.

They have to get in the mix with these other teams. This game is very simple. Can the tough Carolina defense contain the explosive New Orleans offense? Can New Orleans stop the Carolina two-headed monster of Williams and Stewart?

I know Carolina looked bad last week and that New Orleans looked very tough...

I like Carolina to rebound this week. Carolina reminds me a lot of Minnesota and Washington. Two teams that don't necessarily have explosive offenses but were able to beat the Saints with tough defense, conservative offense, and special teams. It is going to be a very close game, but I like the home team.  

Winner: Carolina

Minnesota (3-3) at Chicago (3-3): This is a hard one to pick, too. Peterson has been very up and down this year and Gus Frerotte vs. Kyle Orton doesn't scream an advantage at QB. To Orton's credit, he has played very well this season. Minnesota didn't show me much in that Detroit game.

That should have been a blowout and they just stunk up the field. Neither team can win without running the ball, and the Vikings stop that as well as anyone. I don't see a decisive advantage on either side, so I will go with the home team. Chicago in a classic Black and Blue Division type of game.  

Winner: Chicago Bears

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