The 2011 NFL season continues to shine as they enter their seventh week. Not only have seen skirmishes on the field between teams, but we learned NFL coaches, like the 49ers’ Jim Harbaugh and the Lions’ Jim Schwartz, are far from immune by the emotions on the field.
Here are the NFL Predictions for Week 7 including a few surprisingly close calls including better than average success by the road teams. Last week I managed a stronger performance with my picks, resulting in a 9-3 record and was able to maintain my pace in the NFL Pick’em contest.
Denver Broncos vs. Miami Dolphins
The Broncos, fresh off their bye week, will usher in the Tim Tebow era as the Broncos travel to South Florida to take on the Dolphins, who are still recovering from their Monday night game with the New York Jets. Despite what the Bronco faithful think, Tebow is going to suffer some growing pains in this start as both team fight to change the course of their 2011 season. The Broncos will eventually come away with a narrow margin of victory on the road.
Broncos 17 Dolphins 14
Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans
The Texans, who are 1-2 on the road, will be looking to turn their fortunes around when they travel back to Tennessee and play against the Titans, who should be healthier after their bye week. The Texans will need to find a way to open the passing game to keep the Titans’ defense honest and give running back Arian Foster a chance. The game should be close but look for the Texans to right the ship.
Texans 28 Titans 21
Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bears and Buccaneers are both riding the momentum of solid wins in Week 6 and will be eager to continue the trend. The Bears who are winless on the road are going to need to find a way to earn a win against a Bucs team that over took the New Orleans Saints last week. In order to do so, they will have to keep Bucs’ quarterback Josh Freeman under control and not have a similar line of 300 plus yards with 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.
Bears 31 Buccaneers 28
Seattle Seahawks vs. Cleveland Browns
In the lackluster game of the week, the Seahawks will visit the Dawg pound to take on a struggling Browns team. Both teams have somehow combined for 2 wins each. Each cellar dwelling team has lack any consistent playmakers . NFL fans can expect a few turnovers in this game along with inept offenses. Something will have to give and eventually the Browns will come out on top as a winner.
Browns 20 Seahawks 17
San Diego Chargers vs. New York Jets
The Chargers are welcomed back from the bye week as they face on the desperate New York Jets who are trying to get themselves back into the playoff race. The Chargers will need to fight off the fatigue of traveling to the East coast. While their 4-1 record is impressive, they are going to have their hands full with the home crowd and the Jets who are going to be able to pull out a close win and continue their road back to playoff contention.
Jets 17 Chargers 14
Washington Redskins vs. Carolina Panthers
The Redskins faltered last week against the Philadelphia Eagles and will need to return to form if they want to make a serious run at the playoffs. Even though the Panthers are 1-5, the average NFL fan is excited to watch rookie quarterback Cam Newton take the field. The Redskins’ defense is better than most and will give Newton all he can handle and then some. The Redskins will bounce back and earn a win on the road.
Redskins 24 Panthers 21
Atlanta Falcons vs. Detroit Lions
The Falcons will travel to the Motown with a 3-3 record and in need of a win to keep pace in the NFC South. They have had their troubles on the road, 1-2, especially where the performance of quarterback Matt Ryan is concerned. They will be taking on a fired up Lions team that suffered their first loss last week. The home crowd and the Lions will keep the edge in this contest as they bounce back and earn their sixth win of the season.
Lions 31 Falcons 28
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals
The Steelers and Cardinals will featured a rematch of Super Bowl XLIII though neither team is no where near at the same level. The Steelers will need to leave the friendly confines of their home field and travel out West to face a Cardinals offense that is average at best. The key to this game will be the Cardinals’ defense and their ability to force turnovers and turn them into points. The game will be close but in the end the Steelers’ will score just enough points.
Steelers 24 Cardinals 21
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Oakland Raiders
The Chiefs and Raiders will face off in one of the better rivalries in the AFC. The Chiefs will need to find a way to keep their passing game on target if they are going to find a way to earn a win. The Raiders will counter with a heavy dose of Darren McFadden who should have no problem finding open lanes once he gets past the trenches. The game should be entertaining no matter who is on the field, but the Raiders will be the one earning their fifth win of the season.
Raiders 28 Chiefs 20
Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Packers are the last undefeated team in the NFL and the way they have been performing since the start of the 2011 NFL season, there is a good chance they will remain that way for the remainder. The Vikings would be wise to continue with the Christian Ponder campaign after Donovan McNabb showed no signs of being able to lead a NFL team. The Packers will earn yet another win over a NFC North rival.
Packers 31 Vikings 10
St. Louis Rams vs. Dallas Cowboys
Both the Rams and the Cowboys come into this game in must win mode if they want to salvage anything from the season. The Cowboys are going to need to learn from their mistakes if they want to have anything better than a .500 season this year. That means head coach Jason Garrett will need to take the reins off Tony Romo and let him throw against a Rams defense that is susceptible.
Cowboys 17 Rams 14
Indianapolis Colts vs. New Orleans Saints
The Colts have continued to find ways to come up short like they did last week versus the Cincinnati Bengals. They will need to erase all of their mistakes if they are going to take down the Saints, who are still stunned from their loss to the Bucs. The Saints offense should have little to no issues moving the ball against the Colts defense, meaning lots of points and yards.
Saints 35 Colts 14
Baltimore Ravens vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Monday Night football will feature two teams going in opposite directions. The Ravens are solid on both sides of the ball and have one of the premier running backs in the game to help move the chains when needed. Meanwhile the Jags have one win and are looking for answers on the offensive side so they can stay competitive. The game might be close through the first half but look for the Ravens to open it up by the third quarter.
Ravens 31 Jaguars 10
2011 NFL Season Record 54-32
