Fire from the Hip: Thoughts on Sports & Real Life

RECORD
Last Week: 9 - 4
Season: 38 - 16

As November nears, it is becoming clear that winter is around the bend. Forecasts are calling for blustery conditions with rain and snow showers in Buffalo, Kansas City, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. Watching the Texas and Nebraska game Saturday, the wind and snow definitely was a factor in the game. It will be interesting to see how teams game plan, particularly in the kicking game. A couple of interesting matchups this week will influence the AFC North as Carolina travels to Cincinnati and the Steelers meet the Falcons in Atlanta. With a Steeler win, Pittsburgh will suddenly find themselves just one game behind the idle, division-leading Ravens, despite a three game losing streak earlier in the season. The Bengals need a win to avoid a three game losing streak of their own. The matchup of the week though will come on Monday night as the Cowboys host the Giants in a critical NFC East game. The Giants continue to drive me crazy. I have had such a difficult time picking against them this year but I finally decided I ought to in Atlanta last week. They played horrendously in the first 35 minutes of that game before dominating the final 25. Hopefully, this game, they can erase my doubts about them. Without further ado, I present my picks for Week 7.

Detroit Lions at New York Jets - Jets

Following their first win of the season, the Lions travel to the Meadowlands to face the 3-3 Jets. Against the 30th ranked pass defense, Jets QB Chad Pennington will have ample opportunity to find WR Laveranues Coles who is second in the league in receiving yards. The Lions are a better team than their record indicates. Last week, Kevin Jones finally seemed to get on track with a season-high 127 yards rushing. However, the Lions are still not a team that can overcome mistakes and win on the road as the debacle in the Metrodome proved two weeks ago.

New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills - Patriots

The Bills started the season with a surprising effort against the Patriots on the road, dropping a 19-17 decision when QB J.P. Losman took a safety late in the game. Buffalo appeared to be headed in the right direction. Since then, they have played horrendously, most recently in embarrassing losses on the road in Chicago and Detroit. The offensive line has been porous, and RB Willis McGahee has proved a non-factor because the team has fallen behind early. The Patriots offense is starting to find its rhythm and should win this game on the ground. The weather at Orchard Park looks to be miserable so avoiding turnovers will be a focus of each team's offense.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Atlanta Falcons - Falcons

One of the tougher games of the week, the Steelers travel to Atlanta Sunday to meet the Falcons. Always a tough opponent at home, the Falcons rushing attack must be working on all cylinders against Pittsburgh. Last week, I predicted Atlanta would win with Michael Vick and Warrick Dunn rushing the football. And they dominated the first two and a half quarters as Vick and Dunn combined for 214 yards rushing. However, the team fell apart in the second half as the Giants rallied to win with 24 unanswered points. After allowing 185 yards rushing to Tiki Barber, what does the Atlanta defense have for an encore against Steelers RB Willie Parker? I think the team comes out fired up with eight man fronts, forcing the Steelers to win the game through the air. Ben Roethlisberger's performance last week hasn't erased my doubts about his ability to win a game without the benefit of a functioning rushing attack.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans - Jaguars

Even if Byron Leftwich is unable to go for the Jaguars, backup QB David Gerrard has shown he is a capable replacement. The Texans offensive will struggle mightily against one of the best defenses in the league this year.

Carolina Panthers at Cincinnati Bengals - Bengals

This is a difficult game to pick because it is hard to predict which Bengal team is going to show up. Will it be the one who started the season 3-0, finding different ways to win each week? Or will it be the team that has come out flat in two dismal performances against New England and Tampa Bay? Carolina has been a team I have been riding high on the entire season. The Bengals are a tough matchup for the Panthers defense because their offensive boasts such a balanced attack. I think the Bengals will have some success today moving the ball against the Carolina defense. Earlier in the season, the Panthers defense was susceptible to the run. I think the Bengals can pound the ball with Rudi Johnson. This could be the most entertaining game of the week as the Bengals eke out a win.

San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs - Chargers

The Chargers come to Kansas City playing their best football of the season. Kansas City needs Trent Green back. Damon Huard played well for a few games there but he is certainly a non-entity against a good defense, which the Chargers possess. I am not sure about Phil Rivers just yet, but I still like the Chargers to pull out a tough win in raucous Arrowhead Stadium.

Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Bucs - Eagles

Bruce Gradkowski has made quite an impression in his first couple of starts, playing superbly against two decent defenses. Last week, he engineered a magnificent game-winning fourth quarter drive, tossing a three yard touchdown pass on fourth down with 35 seconds left. However, the Eagles need a win after a tough loss in the Superdome last week. In a very close game, I like Donovan McNabb's ability to lead the Eagles over the Bucs in the fourth quarter.

Green Bay Packers at Miami Dolphins - Dolphins

The Dolphins defense is not culpable for the Dolphins dismal start to the season. Miami is the fourth ranked defense in the NFL. Expect the Dolphins front seven to stuff the Packers rushing attack, and force Brett Favre into bad decisions. The Packers are a young team and will have a difficult time on the road under the Florida sun. Ronnie Brown will provide all the necessary offense for Miami.

Washington Redskins at Indianapolis Colts - Colts

The Redskins are the most ridiculous team in the NFL right now. I know that is a bold statement but let's look at the facts. Washington has been disgustingly inconsistent. After a shocking win in overtime against the Jaguars, the Redskins have played terribly, losing to the Giants and Titans. The loss to the Titans, the first victory for Tennessee, was an especially painful loss, dropping the Redskins to the basement of the NFC East. It doesn't get any easier today against the Colts.

Denver Broncos at Cleveland Browns - Broncos

Today's game in Cleveland Browns Stadium offers some interesting story lines as the front four of the Broncos all played for the Browns two years ago. Reuben Droughns, WR Quincy Morgan, and DE Michael Myers have exchanged words all week so look for both teams to come out fired up. The Broncos are the better team and should win this game. However, I expect it to be entertaining.

Arizona Cardinals at Oakland Raiders - Cardinals

The Cardinals travel to Oakland in hopes that the Raiders provide the balm to heal the self-inflicted wounds from the devastating loss to Chicago last Monday night. Matt Leinart has looked fantastic in his first two starts. It will be interesting to see if the Cardinals come out with a sense of urgency against the Raiders. If they come out flat, the Raiders could surprise them but I expect the Cardinals to win this game.

Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks - Seahawks

The Seahawks return home to face the Vikings after a thrilling win last week in St. Louis. The Seahawks new stadium has become one of the biggest home field advantages over the last two years. Seattle once again calls on QB Matt Hasselbeck to carry the team with RB Shaun Alexander out of action for one more week. Minnesota will have a hard time putting up points against a respectable Seahawk defense.

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys - Giants

Here again I find myself with a tough pick as the Giants go on the road against a talented team. I am taking the Giants because I have faith in their ability to put pressure on QB Drew Bledsoe. The Cowboys, yet to beat a quality opponent, have not played to their potential this season. I am starting to think that there is something to the theory that TO is a poison for a team. Eli Manning has gone on the road and led New York to impressive comeback victories against Atlanta and Philadelphia. I think the Giants find a way to win in what should be an exciting game.