NFL Preview: Week 7

    Here is a look at your games for Week 8.  Jacksonville, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Arizona are bye.  Dammit, no Maurice Jones-Drew for my fantasy team this week.  With Willie Parker uncertain as well, all of a sudden I need a #2 back to compliment Adrian Peterson. 

GAME OF THE WEEK: Chargers at Bills

San Diego seems to have finally shaken off their 0-2 start to the season, but face a challenging trip to upper New York this Sunday.  It won't be easy: just two weeks ago, the Chargers traveled east to Miami and was dominated, although the final score of 17-10 doesn't really dictate that as the case.  And the Bills have already beaten two west coast visitors wary of a 1:00 game at Ralph Wilson Stadium in 2008.  After suffering a concussion against the Rams, Trent Edwards will be back in the lineup for Buffalo, and that is key.  I'd trust him with the keys to the offense more than J.P. Losman anyways, even against a Chargers defense that has been susceptible at times.  I expect this to be a low-scoring game won in the trenches, and while the Chargers do have to make a 3,000 mile trip east, I am still not completely sold on the Bills being one of the AFC's elite.  San Diego continues their rise back to the top of the standings with a close win in this game. 

OTHER TOP GAMES:

Saints at Panthers
Something will have to give in this game: New Orleans' top rated pass offense, or Carolina's second rated pass defense.  The Panthers can shut down the pass, but shutting down Drew Brees and his cast of misfit receivers might be too tall of a task for even them.  It would be in their best interest to play a game of ball control to keep Brees on the sidelines and the score out of the high 20s or low 30s.  Just as is the case in the NFC East, each divisional game in the NFC South has added importance this year with all four teams at or above .500.  New Orleans is last in the division, but only a game back of Carolina, Atlanta, and Tampa Bay. Before making the across the pond trip to London next week, they need to come out and win a critical division showdown.  For a team that won't see their home field until November 24, the road ahead is difficult, but they have the firepower to play with anybody. 

Vikings at Bears
The NFC North is a three-way logjam at 3-3 between the three professional teams in the division (calling the Lions a professional football team would likely be a stretch at this point), and this game should at least temporarily give two of those three teams an idea where they stand.  Last year, Adrian Peterson had a coming-out party against the Bears, but a year later, Chicago's healthy run defense is one of the best in the league.  If he cannot find holes to run, a large burden will be placed on Gus Frerotte's shoulders, which I think would give an advantage to the home team.  We know how well Minnesota stops the run, but their pass defense is susceptible at times.  And Kyle Orton has been avoiding turnovers the past couple weeks.  I like the Bears to take a close game that will likely not get out of the teens. 

Colts at Packers
 After watching the Colts beat up on the Ravens last Sunday, I told myself that everyone wrote them off way too quickly.  Peyton Manning is finally healthy, and at least last week, the defense played with the same reckless abandon we have seen the past couple of years.  We will see how they hold up in Lambeau, never an easy place to win.  Both the Colts and Packers are porous against the run, so this will turn into a game of who runs the ball the most effectively.  Therein lies the problem: Indy is last in run offense and Green Bay is 21st.  Plus, the Colts will be without Joseph Addai.  The Colts need this win more than the Packers, based mostly on the fact Tennessee is already two games up in the AFC South.  At least Green Bay, at 3-3, is tied for first in the NFC North.  I give the slight edge to Manning and company. 

Broncos at Patriots (Monday night)
New England returns to Foxboro after a glass half empty, half full trip out west.  The victory over San Francisco where Matt Cassel shined was a pleasant surprise, while last week's beatdown to San Diego was a nightmare.  Denver comes to town, and they cannot stop either the run or pass.  Cassel will have the opportunity to lead the Patriots to victory in this contest, but I expect Belichick and company to rely on the run game early to soften up Denver's defense.  The Patriots themselves will have difficulties on defense trying to slow down Jay Cutler, Selvin Young, and Brandon Marshall,  meaning this game could very well turn into this weekend's home of offensive fireworks. 

AND THE REST:

Steelers at Bengals
The Bengals new motto needs to be "Close only counts in horseshoes," because the NFL's only 0-6 team has been close several times to getting that elusive first victory of the year.  While Willie Parker may miss yet another game with a knee injury, the Steelers should come ready to go off their bye week.  Pittsburgh's defense will eat Ryan Fitzpatrick for lunch, and for a change, it won't be a narrow defeat for Cincinnati against their hated rivals.  

Titans at Chiefs
What little chance KC actually had in this game probably went out the window with the news today that Larry Johnson has been suspended for violating team rules.  Tennessee, of course, is off to the best start in the history of a franchise that stretches back to Houston and the AFL, and I don't think the lowly Chiefs will slow them down.  The Titans defense should have no trouble, and against Kansas City's suspect run defense, should be able to play ball control on offense. 
 
Ravens at Dolphins
Just 10 months after a gift from lame duck Brian Billick prevented the Dolphins from going 0-16, there is a belief of being able to win in both of these circles again.  But any time you have an up-and-coming team, there will be rough patches.  Last Sunday, for instance, Baltimore was blown out by the Colts, and the Dolphins allowed the Texans to march down the field for the winning touchdown in the waning moments.  Look for a hard-hitting defensive battle, but unlike in 2007, this should be watchable football. 

49ers at Giants
Are the Giants who we thought they were?  They certainly did not look like it Monday night against a hungry Cleveland team.  San Francisco makes the trip east, and is really making progress as a team.  The Niners had the Eagles on the ropes last Sunday before losing it in every aspect of the game in the fourth quarter.  J.T. O'Sullivan will be a target this week, as he has been sacked and intercepted quite a bit.  New York's highly regarded defense should get back on track after an embarrassing performance in the Dawg Pound.  

Cowboys at Rams

HBO is probably disappointed that all of Dallas' issues came to head after the end of training camp.  This week, the Cowboys potentially lost Tony Romo for four weeks, acquired Roy Williams from the Lions (unfortunately they did not get rid of the other Roy Williams), and saw the plug pulled on their game of PacMan by the commish.  Against the Rams horrid secondary, Dallas should be able to win with Brad Johnson if Romo is unable to go, but they still must tread lightly with a team that shocked an equally talented Redskins team last week. 

Lions at Texans
Detroit is so good at losing, they invent new ways of doing so.  Just last week, Dan Orlovsky, making his first career start at QB for the injured Jon Kitna, ran right out of the end zone for a safety without ever realizing he was near the end line.  The Lions ended up losing, by you guessed it, two points.  This week, they travel to Houston for a game that I seriously hope you are not forced to watch by our friends at FOX. 

Jets at Raiders
Any time these two match up, it is going to invoke memories of the old AFL, when the Raiders were actually a feared franchise, and of course, the infamous Heidi Game.  I don't think anyone would be offended if they switched to a movie in the fourth quarter of this game.  Tom Cable obviously didn't win over the troops in his first week on the job, because they flat out sucked in New Orleans.  After getting scorched by Drew Brees, Brett Favre gets a turn this week against the Oakland secondary. 

Browns at Redskins
What looked to be irredeemable a couple of weeks ago is no more for the Browns.  After crushing the Giants on Monday night, they are 2-3 and at least for the moment have found new life.  Unfortunately, they have to travel to FedEx Field to face a Redskins team that will not be in the mood for any shenanigans after losing to the hapless Rams.  Cleveland is riding a lot of momentum, but coming off the short week against a talented team looking for redemption, look out. 

Seahawks at Buccaneers (Sunday night)
John Madden is taking the week off, reportedly because he was feeling suicidal after seeing himself in so many Frank TV ads during the MLB postseason.  Big John might get annoying after about five plays, but it's not SNF without him.   As for this contest between two defending division winners, one is obviously on a repeat path, while the other is sending out their retiring coach on a sour note.  To add to the Seahawks'  neverending problems, Matt Hasselbeck will miss his second straight game.