Week 7 NFL Predictions

Heading into week 7 of the NFL season, there are many teams looking to separate from the pack and many teams looking to turn their seasons around in the right direction. The Patriots, Jets and everyone else in the AFC East are obviously looking to separate themselves as all 4 teams stand at 3-3. Teams like the Packers and Steelers are looking to build on strong efforts in recent weeks in an attempt to chase the division leaders for 1^st place. There are many intriguing match-ups in week 7 and this is how I see the games playing out:

• Tennessee Titans @ Buffalo Bills

I see Chris Johnson having a big game today against a Bills defense who struggles mightily against the run. Matt Hasselbeck will once again start in place of Jake Locker.

Prediction: Titans

• Cleveland Browns @ Indianapolis Colts

Surprisingly this is the first time rookie QBs have faced off this year as Brandon Weeden will face Andrew Luck. Luck and the Colts are coming off of a horrible performance against the Jets last week and will face a Browns team who has looked better in recent weeks. Look for Browns RB Trent Richardson to explode and have a big game.

Prediction: Browns

• Green Bay Packers @ St. Louis Rams

Green Bay is coming off a huge win against the Texans and have reached the .500 mark. Although St. Louis has played well recently I think Aaron Rodgers has another big game.

Prediction: Packers

• Arizona Cardinals @ Minnesota Vikings

This is a tough game for me to call. You have the Cardinals who stand at 4-2 and have defeated teams like the Patriots, Seahawks and Eagles but has also lost to the Rams and Bills the past 2 weeks. Which Cardinals team shows up against the Vikings who also stand at 4-2? Christian Ponder has played well this year and I think his success continues into this week as well.

Prediction: Vikings

• Washington Redskins @ New York Giants

The Giants are coming off of a huge win against the 49ers and stand at 4-2 while the Redskins (3-3) look to take over 1^st place in the NFC East. I think RG3 finally comes back to earth and will throw a few interceptions as Eli continues his success against the league’s worst passing defense.

Prediction: Giants

• New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The return of Jonathan Vilma should give the Saints some added incentive against a tough division foe in Tampa Bay. If New Orleans has any playoff aspirations they need to start pulling out some W’s and quickly.

Prediction: Saints

• Dallas Cowboys @ Carolina Panthers

Two teams who have really disappointed this year face off in Raleigh today. The Cowboys (2-3) look to bounce back after a tough loss to the Ravens while the Panthers (1-4) look to break a 3 game losing streak. Cam Newton has been terrible this year but I think today he finds some 2012-esque magic.

Prediction: Panthers

• Baltimore Ravens @ Houston Texans

After losing Ray Lewis and Lardarius Webb to injury last week, the Ravens defense will have some trouble shutting down Arian Foster and the Texans. The Texans are also looking for revenge after a tough Playoff loss to the Ravens in January.

Prediction: Texans

• Jacksonville Jaguars @ Oakland Raiders

Does anyone want to know or care what happens in this game? I didn’t think so.

Prediction: Raiders

• Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals

The Steelers (2-3) are one of those teams looking to turn their season around while the Bengals (3-3) try to catch the Ravens in the AFC North. After a bye week I think Ben Roethlisberger has a big game and brings his team back to .500.

Prediction: Steelers

• Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears

Matthew Stafford and the Lions (2-3) have been very inconsistent this season and will need a strong performance Monday Night to defeat the first place Bears (4-1). I think Stafford and Megatron both break out of their season long slumps and both have huge games.

Prediction: Lions

Game of the Week

• New York Jets @ New England Patriots

The Patriots look to separate themselves from the pack in the AFC East while the Jets come to Foxboro riding high after a blowout win over the Colts. Tom Brady will have his way with a terrible Jets defense and Mark Sanchez will struggle like he does every other week. This one won’t even be close.

Prediction:  Patriots