NFL week 7 previews

MillerLite · 10-20-2006, 03:44 AM

(NFL Week 7 Previews (Courtesy of USA Today / Sports)

Carolina (+3½) at Cincinnati
Panthers WR Steve Smith and Bengals WR Chad Johnson played on the same team in college. Junior college. Imagine opposing coaches at that level trying to stop those two. The Panthers are 4-0 since Smith returned (can a receiver make that much of a difference?), and the Bengals are struggling on offense. The Bengals can restore some faith with a win after last week's troubling loss to Tampa Bay. Will they?
Panthers 24, Bengals 20

Pittsburgh (-1½) at Atlanta
The Falcons cannot afford to lose two consecutive games at home to quality opponents. Right here, we find out if the Falcons want to compete with Carolina and New Orleans in the NFC South. It won't be easy for the Falcons. Steelers coach Bill Cowher is 3-0-1 against the Falcons, and the Steelers are an NFL-best 31-10 in October since 1996.
Falcons 21, Steelers 17

New England (-5½) at Buffalo
Not saying all teams coming off a bye week have an edge (Cincinnati and Atlanta last week, to wit), but the Patriots have won the past five against the unreliable Bills and have had an extra week to prepare.
Patriots 23, Bills 16

Jacksonville (-9½) at Houston
Jacksonville's running game is there, its passing game improves with each game and its defense is stout. That's not good for the Texans, who have the 30th-ranked offense and 32nd-ranked defense.
Jaguars 34, Texans 23

San Diego (-5½) at Kansas City
It's not easy winning at Arrowhead, but the Chiefs have already lost a game there this year, and San Diego just might be the best team in the AFC right now.
Chargers 24, Chiefs 14

Green Bay (+4) at Miami
Miami is due for a win. The Dolphins are in need of a win. Coach Nick Saban might just combust in a postgame press conference if Miami loses.
Dolphins 24, Packers 21

Detroit (+3½) at New York Jets
As first-year NFL coaches go, the Jets' Eric Mangini has figured it out a little quicker than the Lions' Rod Marinelli.
Jets 27, Lions 21

Philadelphia (-5) at Tampa Bay
The world should right itself in this game when the Eagles return to the win column and the Buccaneers return to the loss column.
Eagles 28, Buccaneers 17

Denver (-4½) at Cleveland
The Broncos defense has allowed one touchdown this season, the first team to allow so few touchdowns to start the season since the Detroit Lions pitched seven shutouts to start the 1934 season.
Broncos 20, Browns 10

Washington (-9½) at Indianapolis
The Titans almost beat the Colts in Indy, and the Titans beat the Redskins in Washington. You can't always make unconditional inferences in the NFL, but the Redskins can't beat the Colts in Indy.
Colts 34, Redskins 21

Arizona (-2½) at Oakland
Of the Chicago Bears, Arizona coach Dennis Green said after the Monday night debacle, "They are who we thought they were."
And the rest of us said the same thing about the Cardinals.
Cardinals 24, Raiders 14

Minnesota (+6½) at Seattle
The Seahawks will realize how much they miss left guard Steve Hutchinson, now with the Vikings. But they won't miss him to the tune of a loss.
Seahawks 20, Vikings 16

New York Giants (+3) at Dallas
After getting blown out by the Seahawks, I lost faith in the Giants. After handling the Redskins at home and the Falcons on the road, I regained faith.
Giants 24, Cowboys 20

MTKrav911 · 10-20-2006, 02:33 PM

This week is a hard one because a lot of decent teams last week looked crappy but still edged out a win.

My NY Football Giants vs. Dallas will be interesting. Both offenses have been potent, but Dallas has no offensive line and likely the GIant's monsters will put Bledsoe on his back all night.

If they can control Vick and McNabb as easily as they did, they can smoke Bledsoe.

Should be an interesting matchup.

And if Tiki keeps having 100 plus yard games like he has the last couple of weeks, forget about it!

This is the only game I'm gonna touch this week, I can't feel any heat off the other ones. I'm tempted to bet 5000 on Arizona beating the Raiders, but in a battle of the two worsts???? Nah.

subgenius · 10-20-2006, 03:48 PM

The Bengals look good this year. I feel they will win this game. That is the only real disagreement I have in your analysis. Well, also the Cowboys-Giants game, but that is just because the C-boys are my favorite team

MuStAnG12687 · 10-20-2006, 11:23 PM

I dont think the Giants are going to have it all that easy...they have a shaky offense (with the exception of Tiki) and they are facing the 6th ranked defense...should be a great game. I'll be rooting for the Cowboys (Jets fan) and actually think they will win this game...