NFL Week Seven Picks

Mark Jones's NFL Week Seven Picks

Last week, I was 6-8. That's pretty bad without the spread! Of course, there were several major upsets by St. Louis, Cleveland, and Arizona. With that horrendous outcome of last weeks picks, I am down to just 25-20 for the year. Hopefully this week will be calmer and I can go at least 9-5!

Big Games

San Diego (3-3) @ Buffalo (4-1)

The San Diego Chargers had to win last week, and they came through in good fashion. Their 30-10 rout of the quickly-dropping Patriots brought them back to .500 after an embarrassing loss the week before to Miami. This week, the Chargers will head out to upstate New York to play the high-flying Buffalo Bills.

Buffalo is coming off a bye week that followed their only loss of the season: 41-17 @ Arizona. The Bills started the season 4-0, with wins over Seattle, Jacksonville, Oakland, and St. Louis, whom they outscored by a combined 119-63.

Pick: This should be a great game, but I think the Bills should come out on top.

Score: Buffalo 24, San Diego 21

New Orleans (3-3) @ Carolina (4-2)

All of the Saints' three losses this year have been by five or less points (24-29 @ Washington, 32-34 @ Denver, and 27-30 vs. Minnesota). The offensive trio of Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, and Deuce McAllister have been great, as predicted, and made the Saints No. 2 in the league in total offense (they're No.1 in the league in passing, but the running game hasn't been quite as good).

But it's mainly their defense that's the problem. Personally, I think that they still think it is preseason, but it's not my decision... 

On the other hand, the Carolina Panthers have been having a fairly decent year, but they've been ranging from spectacular to awful from week to week. Their worst loss, which came last week in a 27-3 blowout @ Tampa Bay, wasn't pretty at all.

Their No. 3 defense didn't look too good either, especially on third down, when Bucs QB Jeff Garcia just tore apart their secondary. This week, they hope to rebound in a crucial home game at Bank of America Stadium, where they are 3-0 this year.

Pick: Another close game, but look for the Saints to finally wake up.

Score: Saints 23, Panthers 17

Minnesota (3-3) @ Chicago (3-3)

The Vikings, who have looked like one of the NFL's average teams this year, are looking to go into Chicago and finally get above .500 for the year. Their stats make them seem better than they are (ninth in rushing, seventh in defense), but Adrian Peterson could wake up any game now.

The QB change a couple weeks ago from Jackson to Frerotte has improved their passing game and brought them up to just 17th, which is excellent for a team whose main preseason question was at quarterback.

Their opponent on Sunday, the Chicago Bears, are three choke jobs away from 6-0; they were up 17-3 on the Panthers but lost 20-17, up 24-21 on Tampa Bay but lost 27-24 in OT, and up 20-19 on Atlanta but lost 20-22.

They do have impressive wins @ Indianapolis and @ Detroit, however.

Pick: The Bears could be undefeated, and I expect them to look like they are in this game.

Score: Minnesota 14, Chicago 24

Indianapolis (3-2) @ Green Bay (3-3)

The Colts will head to Lambeau Field to take on the Packers in a much-needed game for both teams. The Colts, who in their first four games did not meet expectations, are coming off a huge 31-3 rout of the Ravens (2-3).

The offense, led by Manning and Addai (who had been playing awfully until that game), reeled off 31 points on the NFL's best defense, and the Bob Sanders-less defense held Baltimore to a measly field goal.

The Packers started out with two good wins, 24-19 over Minnesota and 48-25 over Detroit. But since then, their perfect start has been turned around by three consecutive losses to Dallas, Tampa Bay, and Atlanta. Last week, though, they did get a much-needed win @ Seattle, 27-17. But they still need to win this game badly.

Pick: The Colts, now that they've woken up, are too much for the inexperienced Packers.

Score: Indianapolis 34, Green Bay 21

Other Games

Pittsburgh (4-1) @ Cincinnati (0-6)

The Steelers have looked like one of the NFL's elite teams this year, with their only loss coming 16-6 vs. the Eagles, so this game shouldn't be too hard for Pittsburgh.

Score: Steelers, 30-14.

Tennessee (5-0) @ Kansas City (1-4)

Tennessee, who certainly seems to be the NFL's best team, is undefeated, and I don't expect that to change this week. Plus, their defense is giving up a league-record 11 points a game.

Score: Tennessee 28, Kansas City 3

Baltimore (2-3) @ Miami (2-3)

The Ravens and the Dolphins are two opposite stories. The Ravens, after starting 2-0, have lost three straight, including 31-3 @ Indy last week.

On the other hand, the Dolphins, after starting 0-2 (although that was expected), have won two of their last three, including @ New England and @ San Diego.

Score: Baltimore 14, Miami 20

San Francisco (2-4) @ New York Giants (4-1)

The Giants, who were playing excellently until last week's 35-14 loss to the Browns, need to rebound and win this game badly. I bet they'll do it.

Score: San Francisco 17, NY Giants 34

Dallas (4-2) @ St. Louis (1-4)

Last week, Dallas lost to a mediocre NFC West team, and St. Louis beat a good NFC East team. But when both these teams play the same division for the second week in a row, I don't expect last week's results to matter.

Score: Dallas can't be too bad, can they?! They'll win, 38-13.

Detroit (0-5) @ Houston (1-4)

Houston is much better than their record shows. Detroit isn't. I don't think the Texans will have too much of a problem here.

Score: Lions 10, Texans 24

New York Jets (3-2) @ Oakland (1-4)

Packers fans have got to be thinking, "Oh, God, why did we let Favre go?!" They'll be thinking that even more after Brett wins another push-over.

Score: Jets, 35-16

Cleveland (2-3) @ Washington (4-2)

Before last week, the Redskins would be the easy pick to win. But not now after the Redskins' disappointing loss 17-19 to the Rams and Cleveland's amazing 35-14 win over the Giants on MNF. This one will be very close, but Washington's determination will get them the win.

Score: Washington 24, Cleveland 17

Seattle (1-4) @ Tampa Bay (4-2)

Seattle's beaten-up offense can't score too many points, and the Bucs should carry last week's effort from the 27-3 win over the Panthers right into this game.

Score: Tampa Bay 27, Seattle 9

Denver (4-2) @ New England (3-2) on MNF

Jay Cutler's Denver Broncos are an odd team this year. Of course, so are the Brady-less Patriots. Both of these teams are going to really want to win this game, especially on Monday Night Football. It is going to be heated, even for Foxborough.

Score: Broncos 27, Patriots 21

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