NFL Week 7 Predictions: Raiders and Teams Sure To Grab Crucial Victories

Week 7 contains a crucial set of fixtures for a number of NFL teams, as the playoff picture is just barely starting to take shape.

Some teams are already done for the season, forced to cast a longing eye toward the 2012 draft. For the time being, they need a miracle in order to make the postseason.

Miami, St. Louis, Minnesota and Indianapolis are just some of the teams who have likely begun setting up their 2012 draft boards in earnest, along with peeking at next summer's free agency class, but these three teams are looking to get a win this weekend that could put them back on (a tenuous) track to a playoff appearance.

Oakland Raiders

Raider Nation went into full-scale panic mode after quarterback Jason Campbell went down for the year with a nasty collarbone injury.

For awhile, it looked like the silver and black would be forging on ahead this season with Kyle Boller and Terelle Pryor.

Luckily, the team pulled off a great—but pricey—trade to acquire the semi-retired Carson Palmer from Cincinnati.

If Carson starts in Week 7, and there are some rumblings he may, we get to see if he can keep Oakland in the hunt for the AFC West crown.

I’m rooting for the guy and the team may get some luck as this next squad plays one of their biggest rivals.

New York Jets

The Jets have a huge match against the San Diego Chargers this week and they need to win it in order to remain competitive in an AFC East that is New England’s to lose.

Rex Ryan still believes his group can win the Super Bowl, but they are now working on it one step at a time. His choice words for Chargers coach Norv Turner have only thrown more heat on the fire before this showdown, the New York Daily News reported.

Beating the Chargers and fixing the problems on offense and defense will be a key step the Jets must take this week if they are to make a push toward the Wild Card round.

Houston Texans

The Texans were supposed to roll to the AFC South crown this year with Colts quarterback Peyton Manning out, and Indianapolis playing some of the worst football on earth without their leader.

Now the Texans have some stiff competition from the surprise Tennessee Titans, who are playing incredible defense and winning despite Chris Johnson’s ineffectiveness at running back.

The teams meet for the first time this week in a match that has playoff implications (however marginal, they exist).

If the Texans lose, they risk falling too far behind, and may never recover to catch the surging Titans.

Another scenario is that the Week 17 match between these two clubs could determine the AFC South title.

Either way, this is shaping up to be a very important game.