This weekend features some good games, although none are quite as enticing as the early anticipated Super Bowl rematch between the Falcons and the Patriots. No, New England does not look as good as they perhaps usually do, but don't they often just barely win, yet still do it enough to be a major factor come playoff time? And the Falcons did look dominant, until another huge collapse that underscored that team's issues with discipline and an apparent inability to keep a big lead ushered in still yet more questions and doubts about how good they are, and how apparently little they learned from last year's Super Bowl collapse.
Let's take a closer look at the week 7 match-ups to take place:
Arizona at L.A. Rams - The Cardinals are not the team that I expected them to be at this point. But then again, neither are the Rams. In fact, it seems that these two teams could have exchanged the types of seasons each has gone through, and it would make more sense. And yet, all of that can change if Arizona pulls of what would be a huge victory in Los Angeles this weekend. One win on the road against the Rams, and the Cardinals would be right back in the race for the NFC West title. But a loss, on the other hand, and they are well behind not one, but two teams, and with history not being especially kind to them. The Rams offense has looked incredible to this point, and Arizona's defense will have their hands full. I keep expecting the Rams to lose, and they keep winning. So, this weekend, I will go with the smart money, and predict the home team to produce a big, possibly season defining, win, and solidly establish themselves as a serious playoff contender. My pick: L.A. Rams
Baltimore at Minnesota - The two purple and gold teams square off against one another in a relatively rare meeting here. The Ravens have not shown any real consistency this year, and have looked suspect. The Vikings, in the meantime, have to be feeling good about their chances all of a sudden, with a huge victory against Green Bay, and the Packers loss of their best player, Aaron Rodgers. My guess, they should be extremely fired up, and playing at home, they will likely be a bit too much for the mostly unpredictable, but somewhat disappointing, Baltimore Ravens. My pick: Minnesota
Carolina at Chicago - The Panthers missed an opportunity to take a solid lead in the NFC South last weekend, although they lucked out when the Falcons blew a big lead. Still, the Panthers will travel to Soldier Field to take on a suddenly tough Chicago Bears. Indeed, Mitch Trubisky has injected new hope to this recently beleaguered franchise, and now, the Bears and their faithful fans are beginning to believe that special things can and will happen for them. This should be a tough, back and forth game, and Chicago fans will likely have reason to feel good. However, my expectations are that Carolina will find a way to win this one in the end. My pick: Carolina
Jacksonville at Indianapolis - Most people might have thought that this would be a battle between two teams fighting not to be in last place by this point. And in a sense, perhaps, it is. But Jax has been playing surprisingly well to date, and they have every reason to believe that this can be a breakout kind of season. They have taken several teams by surprise, and they really do look good. The Colts, by contrast, look bad, and are in danger of falling into complete irrelevance. My suspicion is that they will, that their season is already over. My pick: Jacksonville
New Orleans at Green Bay - The Packers now have to figure out how to remain competitive without Aaron Rodgers at the helm, but history has not been kind to them when they had to adjust without him. They tried it in the past, but only really started winning consistently with Rodgers back in the lineup. And they did not look good without him against Minnesota last weekend, either. But they do have home field advantage, although the Saints are looking hot right now. This is a tough game, and I can see it going either way. But New Orleans will likely put some points on the board, and I am suspicious about the Packers ability to match them without Rodgers. My pick: New Orleans
N.Y. Jets at Miami - A big divisional showdown between the surprising Jets and the Dolphins, who just might have saved their season with that awesome comeback in Atlanta, which is a tough place to play. Suddenly, the Fins should be feeling quite good about themselves, and this is their chance to solidly get right back into the AFC East race, and push the Jets farther back in the process. With home field advantage and a ton of momentum, it is hard to go against the Dolphins here. My pick: Miami
Tampa Bay at Buffalo - The Bills need to win this one to keep up in the tight AFC East race, as well. They will take on Tampa Bay, in another unusual match-up between unfamiliar opponents. Tampa Bay is a good team on the rise, but the Bills are one of the toughest defenses out there, at least so far. Plus, they have home field advantage, they are well rested, and they must have that sense of urgency, because they absolutely need to win this to keep up in the very tight AFC East race. The Bucs are improving, sure, but the Bills up in Buffalo should be a bit too much for them this weekend. My pick: Buffalo
Tennessee at Cleveland - A few years ago, the Titans were at home and held a 25-point lead, and somehow squandered it. The Browns pulled off the biggest comeback history for any road team in NFL history, which is just about the only truly significant positive that this franchise has enjoyed in recent years. But the Titans are not the same team, and even though they are on the road, you have to think that they should be favored against a Cleveland squad that has truly looked horrible this season. Right now, it is difficult to see the Browns turning this around to salvage anything really for this season. And it is hard to see how they can really get the better of the Titans in this contest. My pick: Tennessee
Dallas at San Francisco - Wow! Remember when this was the rivalry in sports, back in the 1990's? Well, times have changed, as these two teams have combined this season for a 2-9 record to date. And those two wins were both by the Cowboys, who still have playoff hopes, although they have fallen far behind Philadelphia in the race for the NFC East title. Who could have predicted Dallas looking this mediocre so far? As for San Francisco, they have been more competitive than their 0-6 record would suggest, and they do have home field advantage in this one. But Dallas comes in well rested, and with a sense of urgency, because they need to get things done. They need to win this one, to do those things that everyone expected them to do this season. My guess is that they will. My pick: Dallas
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh - The Bengals have finally showed some signs of life, and seem to be back in this season. But this division, the AFC North, has been incredibly consistent and predictable. In other words, it has been boring. Believe me, I hope to be wrong with this pick, because every now and then, you want to see the Yankees not go to the World Series, let alone win, and you want to see the Steelers not dominate this division quite as often as they do. And Pittsburgh has been especially dominant against the Bengals. But unfortunately, that is likely to continue with this game. My pick: Pittsburgh
Denver at L.A. Chargers - Frankly, both of these teams are hard to figure out. The Chargers looked like they were going to suffer through another disastrous kind of a season, finding new and interesting ways to lose, much like they did all season last year. However, they suddenly seemed to find a way to win, with some big help from the Giants both times. First, the Giants lost to the Chargers last minute, allowing L.A. to earn their first win of the year. The, the Giants themselves earned their first win last week in Denver, which also helped the Chargers out again, as that team won a second straight game, beating the Raiders in Oakland. Now, incredibly, the Chargers have a real opportunity to pull ahead of the Broncos and keep up with the Raiders by winning this game, while pulling within a couple of games of the suddenly reeling Chiefs. That's quite incredible, considering that this team was 0-4 just two weeks ago! And you know what? I think that they are going to do it, to boot! My pick: L.A. Chargers
Seattle at N.Y. Giants - The Giants finally earned their first win of the season last week, shocking the Broncos in Denver to do it. That was unexpected, but can they really beat a well-rested Seahawks when that team comes to town? The Giants have home field advantage, but so far this season, that has not been any kind of advantage, as the Giants are still winless at home. The Seahawks still make mistakes, and are not quite what they were a few short years ago. Still, although I wish I did not have to say this, they should be better than the Giants, and should do enough to secure this win. My pick: Seattle
Sunday Night Football - Atlanta at New England - The hugely anticipated rematch of last year's Super Bowl is finally here! The Falcons somehow blew that 28-3 lead and lost a Super Bowl that they seemed to have in the bag. Perhaps it is difficult not to take something like that personally. However, you have to wonder how much Atlanta actually learned from that loss, as they suffered yet another hugely disappointing loss after holding a big lead just last week. They took a solid lead, only to find a way to squander it and lose again. Had they won, they would have finally been alone atop the NFC South ratings. Instead, all they had were more questions and criticisms about being very talented but undisciplined, and lacking the common sense to run the ball and eat the clock up as much as possible when they have a big lead. That likely would have won the game for them last week, and it surely would have won the Super Bowl for them nine months ago - and it would have been this franchise's first and only Super Bowl championship. Now, they go up to Foxboro to take on the Patriots again, although New England has hardly looked like they normal, dominant selves, either. For some reason, the Pats have seemed particularly vulnerable at home, as that is where their only two losses thus far have come. That should be encouraging for the Falcons, although I am still a bit skeptical that they can find a way to win this one. Too much emotional baggage and, frankly, too undisciplined. My pick: New England
Monday Night Football - Washington at Philadelphia - Philadelphia has sprinted out to a hot start, and that is what makes this game so huge! Because if the Eagles manage to win here, they will take the NFC East by the throat, and will appear to have the early momentum for a possible run at home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Of course, the season is still fairly young, but Washington needs to find a way to win this if they realistically want any chance at actually winning this division. But Philly looks good, they have home field advantage and a ton of momentum, and I suspect that they will follow through with a tough win, essentially outlasting Washington more than anything else. My pick: Philadelphia
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