Ramblin’ Fan’s NFL Picks and Predictions: Week 7

Week 6 of the regular season is in the books and its time to review our record from last weeks NFL picks, as well as make our NFL picks and predictions for Week 7. Last week we did pretty well and finished the week with a respectable 10-5 record. This week I expect that the NFC West will finish 3-1 with one divisional matchup this week between the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals in Arizona accounting for the one loss. Technical difficulties postponed the publishing of this article but I will keep the blurb I wrote about the Thursday Night Football game for your enjoyment.  Lets get to this weeks NFL picks and predictions, again the NFC West games have been put in bold font in the table to make them easier to find.  In another shameless plug to gain Twitter followers anyone who follows me this week will receive a shoutout in this column next week.  Thanks for reading and as always Go Rams!!!

Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals (TNF). Russell Wilson has never won a game at Arizona’s University of Phoenix Stadium. Of course the only time he has ever played there also happened to be his first game as a professional QB but it was still fun to write. All kidding aside the Cardinals and Seahawks face off in another NFC West division showdown on Thursday Night Football. With two stout defenses and a short week this could be a low scoring defensive struggle. I am going to give the nod to the Seahawks on this one, but don’t be shocked if the Cardinals steal one at home. Seahawks win 24 – 20.

St. Louis Rams @ Carolina Panthers. The St. Louis Rams are coming off of one of their most convincing wins of the past decade, and yet they are still heavy underdogs to the 2-3 Carolina Panthers. The storyline regarding this game has largely been the front 7 of the Panthers, and the Rams inability to slow down the running game. The Rams certainly need to do a better job of slowing down the opposing ground game, but much of their poor statistics came against 2 of the NFLs most powerful run blocking teams (49ers & Texans). On the other hand the Rams offense has become much more balanced and dangerous since installing Zac Stacy as the starting RB. If Stacy can continue to grind out yards and keep the Panthers defense honest the Rams should win this game. The Rams special teams unit is one of the best in the NFL (aside from return yards) which could provide the edge needed for the Rams to get their 3^rd win in a row. Rams win 27 – 20.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons will be playing without Julio Jones after losing him for the season to foot surgery. That loss will certainly hurt the offense, and the defense has struggled this season. With all that you still have to expect them to pick up the W at home against the winless Bucs. The fact that the Falcons aren’t coached by Greg Schiano should give them a solid chance at winning this game. Falcons win 24 – 13.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Detroit Lions. The Lions unleashed rookie TE Joseph Fauria last weekend against the Cleveland Browns and are currently tied atop the NFC North. If Calvin Johnson can remain healthy enough to be effective as a receiver/decoy the Bengals may not have much of a chance to slow the Lions at Ford Field. With Reggie Bush and Calvin Johnson on the field defenses are at a major disadvantage. The Bengals do have a solid defensive front that can get pressure on Matthew Stafford, but I like the home team in what could be a shootout. Lions win 31 – 27.

Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins are coming off of their bye week looking to right the ship after back to back losses dropped their record to 3-2. The Bills on the other hand just have to be hoping to make it through this game without another injured QB. Former Rams QB Thad Lewis is set to make his second start at QB while rookie EJ Manuel recovers from a knee injury. The Dolphins haven’t been able to run the ball much this season, and the Bills haven’t been able to slow down the run much. Could be a good game but I am going with the home team with the promising young QB. Dolphins win 28 – 20.

New England Patriots @ New York Jets. The New England Patriots came back to beat the previously unbeaten Saints last weekend. Former Ram Danny Amendola is likely to be out again in this game, but Tom Brady continues to make it work with a squadron of “no name” pass catchers. The Patriots defense has quietly been a very solid unit, but the loss of Vince Wilfork a couple of weeks ago coupled with the loss of Jerod Mayo last week may make things easier for opposing offenses. Hard to bet against Belichick and Brady as they always seem to find a way. Patriots win 21 – 13.

Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles.  The Cowboys and Eagles will face off looking to gain the upper hand in the NFC East. The Cowboys will be without Demarcus Ware and that may be just fine with the Eagles Nick Foles as he hopes to continue to stake his claim to the starting job.  One thing the Eagles have been able to do all season long is run the football and Lesean McCoy should keep that going this weekend.  Eagles win 31 – 28.

Chicago Bears @ Washington Redskins. While RGIII is starting to round into shape the Bears defense wont make life easy on him in week 7.  The Redskins likely wont be able to contain Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey, not to mention Matt Forte out of the backfield.  Rams fans everywhere can cheer for the Bears this week to give us our team the best pick possible in 2014. Bears win 24 – 16.

San Diego Chargers @ Jacksonville Jaguars.  The Jaguars showed against the Denver Broncos that they will play hard and compete against anyone.  However they also showed that they are still a little talent deficient and will have a hard time pulling out a win against a potential playoff team like the Chargers.  If the Chargers can keep the ground game going with Ryan Matthews as Keenan Allen continues to develop they should control this game throughout.  Chargers win 24 – 10.

San Francisco 49ers @ Tennessee Titans. The 49ers will travel to take on the Jake Lockerless Titans in Nashville.  Ryan Fitzpatrick just hasn’t been good enough for the Titans and the 49ers should be able to control the one-dimensional Titans offense.  The 49ers will likely run the ball very well on Sunday and keep the ball out of Kaepernick’s hands as their receiving corps is still pretty limited. 49ers win 24 – 6.

Cleveland Browns @ Green Bay Packers. The Browns have been somewhat of a surprise team this season, and the Packers have been riddled with injuries all over the place this season.  Still as long as the Packers have Aaron Rodgers they have a chance to compete against anyone.  Going to go with the home team that fields one of the best QBs in the league. Packers win 21 – 14.

Houston Texans @ Kansas City Chiefs. After the Rams absolutely dismantled the Texans last week you would have to be insane to pick them to upset the undefeated Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.  The Texans have announced that Chase Keenum will be starting at QB in place of the injured Matt Schaub, perhaps he will get the offense going again.  It seems unlikely as they will be facing one of the NFL’s best defenses.   Chiefs win 20 – 10.

Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers. An AFC North rivalry game between the defending Super Bowl Champions and the struggling Steelers.  The Steelers did manage to pick up their first win of the season last week against the Jets, but I can’t imagine them making it two in a row this week.  Perhaps Ray Rice finally gets on track and provides the Ravens offense with a little bit of a spark. Ravens win 23 – 17.

Denver Broncos @ Indianapolis Colts (SNF). Manning returns to Indianapolis to take on “The Next Peyton Manning” at Lucas Oil Stadium a.k.a “The House that Manning Built”.  Alright enough of that garbage and lets talk about the actual football that will be played.  If the Colts play anything like they did against the Chargers on Monday than the Broncos are going to absolutely shred them.  Peyton Manning threw only 2 TDs and one INT last week against the Jaguars, but this season he has been playing absolutely insane football.  Look for him to return to his ridiculous early season pace against a banged up Colts defense.  Also Von Miller will make his season debut which is bad news for Andrew Luck and the Colts offense.   Broncos win 38 – 28.

Minnesota Vikings @ New York Giants (MNF).  The Vikings will be starting Josh Freeman at QB on Monday Night football less than 2 weeks after signing him.  Eli Manning is playing pretty terrible football right now as he leads the NFL in turnovers.  The Vikings defense is one of the worst units in the NFL as they have surrendered 13 passing TDs (T-4th) in only 5 games.  The Giants may finally get off the first win of the season under the bright lights of Monday Night Football.   Giants win 31 – 24.

NFL Week 7 Matchups

Pick

Seahawks @ Cardinals (TNF)

Seahawks

Rams @ Panthers

Rams

Bucs @ Falcons

Falcons

Bengals @ Lions

Lions

Bills @ Dolphins

Dolphins

Patriots @ Jets

Patriots

Cowboys @ Eagles

Eagles

Bears @ Redskins

Bears

Chargers @ Jaguars

Chargers

49ers @ Titans

49ers

Browns @ Packers

Packers

Texans @ Chiefs

Chiefs

Ravens @ Steelers

Ravens

Broncos @ Colts (SNF)

Broncos

Vikings @ Giants (MNF)

Giants

Last Week

10-5

Overall Record

57-35