Week 7 Picks

Despite improving two wins from last week, I still lost Week 6 to El Duquecito and dropped another two games on the season.



On to Week 7.....



Last Week: Dave (6-7-1) Gabe (8-5-1)



Season: Dave (37-46-3) Gabe (41-42-3)



Steelers (-3) at Dolphins



Dave: Steelers - Steelers are the best team in the NFL right now. Big Ben's back and Miami, for some reason, plays better on the road than they do in South Beach. I see Phins QB Chad Henne getting formally introduced to Troy Polamalu, James Harrison testing the league's limits on devastating hits and Rashard Mendenhall runs over a soft Miami run D. Steelers by 10.



Bengals (+3.5) at Falcons



Dave: Falcons - Last week's stomp-out by Philly aside, I still think Atlanta is one of the best, if not the best, teams in the NFC. Cincy has been a unmitigated disaster. Carson Palmer's taken a few steps back. The Bengals D can't rush the passer, even with my personal man-crush Micheal Johnson. Matt Ryan goes nuts on the Bengals as Atlanta experiences the most excitement in the ATL since Da Brat dropped "Funkdafied".



Jaguars (+9) at Chiefs



Dave: Chiefs - Dwayne Bowe's stone hands two weeks ago and a horseshit pass interference call against Houston last week are the only things keeping the Chiefs from being the league's sole undefeated team. Don't think they don't know that as they get the crap-tastic Jags and third string QB Todd Bouman in the friendly confines of Arrowhead. I see KC anger-bangs Jacksonville, led by a big night by Jamaal Charles. KC by 13.



Eagles (+3) at Titans



Dave: Titans - Jeff Fisher has always owned Philly. I'm a little more sold on Kevin Kolb than I was, maybe two weeks ago, but he's still above-average at best. We'll see how he does against a decent Tennessee defense. On the flip side, who on this Eagles D is slowing down Chris Johnson? Nate Allen? Gabe's man-crush Akeem Jordan? Maybe they'll sign Jeremiah Trotter by kickoff. Also, Kenny Britt is slowly moving into Beast Mode. I'll take the sneaky-good Titans by 6.



Redskins (+3) at Bears



Dave: Redskins - The Bears aren't good. There isn't a W in that win column that they legitimately earned. Washington's frisky and that D is going to have a field day on that high school offensive line of Chicago's. The Sulking Jay Cutler Face makes a cameo by halftime after Brian Orakpo puts him in the dirt a few times. Donovan McNabb puts on a show for his hometown and Ryan "Blame It On" Torain breaks the century mark. Skins by 7.



Browns (+13.5) at Saints



Dave: Saints - I'd like Cleveland's chances of covering better if they weren't trotting out Colt McCoy once again. Gregg Williams is going to blitz McCoy to death and Drew Brees will temporarily shake off the Madden Curse and spreads the ball around against a young Browns D. Reggie Bush could make an appearance as well, and that only makes Cleveland's chances of putting up a fight that much more grim. Saints by 17.



Bills (+13) at Ravens



Dave: Ravens - If the Ravens are the elite team that their press clippings suggest, then this game is over by the end of the first quarter. Ryan Fitzpatrick has played ok, as of late, but this Ravens defense is going to pound him into the floor. Ray Rice goes for 200 combined yards, Flacco throws for a couple scores and Baltimore's D makes a house call or two for the home crowd. Ravens by 21.



49ers (-3) at Panthers



Dave: Panthers - Niners are better than their record but, having to travel cross country for an early game after just barely beating Oakland last week? That's a tough co-sign. Matt Moore is a bit more competent than Jimmy Clausen, even with the concussed dome, and Steve Smith is going to torch this San Fran secondary. Panthers get their first win and pull off a mild upset against the league's biggest disappointment this season. Panthers by 6.



Rams (+3) at Bucs



Dave: Rams - Not sure if last week's win against San Diego counts as an "upset" given how bad San Diego has been all year, but the Rams are still decent enough to take care of business against the Bucs. Now, Tampa Bay isn't terrible either. Josh Freeman has shown the ability to make plays, even without a wideout of note, but the running game is a bit beat up. So, I'll give the slight edge to Steven Jackson, Sam Bradford and the Rams of Nellyville.



Cardinals (+6) at Seahawks



Dave: Seahawks - How well do you like the chances of an undrafted rookie QB with a weak running game going on the road in one of the league's loudest stadiums against a team that's pulled off a couple solid wins thus far? The Cards get Steve Breaston back, but unless they can get Beanie Wells going, this offense will continue to sputter. 'Hawks by 10.



Patriots (+2.5) at Chargers



Dave: Patriots - The Pats, coming off a big win against Baltimore, are underdogs to a Chargers team that's now lost to Oakland and St. Louis? Really? The chance to save Norv Turner's job ended last week against the Rams. Shawne Merriman, currently awaiting his exile, will rejuvenate his career in Baltimore. The mishandling of the Vincent Jackson(a Redskin next year) and Marcus McNeill's contracts should spell doom for cheapskate moron GM A.J. Smith and the Patriots should run the Chargers over as Brady spreads the wealth. Pats by 14.



Raiders (+8.5) at Broncos



Dave: Broncos - Umm......the Raiders are trotting out Kyle Boller at QB. Nothing to see here. Broncos by 17.



Vikings (+2.5) at Packers



Dave: Vikings - This isn't just me picking against my boys in hopes of a jinx. The Packers can't rush the passer without Clay Matthews(although "The Ultimate Warrior" looks like a go for Sunday night, albeit hobbled). The run game is non-existant. Favre, for as bad as his arm hurts, won't let that get in the way of him sticking it to his old mates yet again(lest we forget, the Vikes swept Green Bay last year). Moss returns to scene of his infamous mooning. At the risk of being made fun of by Gabe for a wrestling reference, this one should be a (Jim Ross voice) "slobberknocker", but I have no faith in my boys to pull this one out. Vikings by 9.



Giants (+3) at Cowboys



Dave: Giants - I knew San Diego and Dallas were going to be bad this year, but if you would have told me Wade Phillips and Norv Turner would be more likely to get canned than Eric Mangini and Raheem Morris, I would't have believed you. Look, I told you Dallas' offensive line was terrible, and now they go up against a devastating Giants pass rush. Over/under on sacks Romo takes should be around 4, and Romo picks about 2, and I'd take the over on both. Giants put the nail in Wade's coffin and Gabe nearly chokes on his Goya juice. Big Blue by 9.