NFL Office Pool Picks - Week 7

Presented by Dale Sims

The Crystal Ball

Last week was odd with many games turning in the last moments, almost invariably against me and I take my first week losing straight up at 6 – 7 bringing me to 55 – 32 on the season, I will never make seventy percent at this rate.  (Not that I ever have before my best season ever was a shade over 68 %.)  Oddly enough I did better against the spread going 7 – 5, this is highly unusual almost invariably I do worse against the spread than straight up.

The standard disclaimer goes like this.  I have my own views and pick the games independently and without consultation from anyone associated here at Football Forecasters.  These picks are used as my preliminary selections for a pick’em league I participate in but this is the early week version; I make changes based on injury reports and other information that comes out after this column is submitted.  Anyone even thinking of using this for other than for its limited entertainment value is an idiot.  (Anything free is generally, but not always, worth what you paid for it.)

Week 7

Carolina at Cincinnati – Carolina is injured and so is Cincinnati, but Carolina has had longer to get well and to adjust.  Losing both the Center and the left tackle on that offensive line is hard to compensate for but facing Peppers it looks like a lot too much, Panthers win 24 – 20.

Detroit at N.Y. Jets – Detroit off their first win of the season travels to play the Jets.  The Jets now even on the season continue to play above expectations.  They are a team that has been in every game and are winning the games they are supposed to like this one, Jets win 21 – 17.

Green Bay at Miami – These are two struggling teams but someone is likely to get their second win this week.  Green Bay is coming off of a bye and has made some adjustments so they are losing closer, Miami has many problems but few solutions; Packers win 21 – 20.

Jacksonville at Houston – Houston has been able to mount a decent offense at home and Jacksonville has lost a number of key defensive players.  But the Jacksonville offense has been effective and the Houston defense has not; Jaguars win 24 – 14.

New England at Buffalo – New England goes to Buffalo for their second meeting of the year.  In the last match up New England had all they could do to pull out a close victory at home.  While New England has addressed some issues expect another close game, Patriots win 21 – 20.

Philadelphia at Tampa Bay – Tampa Bay found its first win of the season last week but everything still is not fixed there though getting their rookie guard on the field certainly seemed to help their running game.  Philadelphia lost at the superdome last week but this week, Eagles win 24 – 17.

Pittsburgh at Atlanta – Pittsburgh finally found an offense and Roethlisberger was solid; Atlanta was unable to handle the Giants running game.  Against Pittsburgh and one of the better run-blocking lines in the NFL that looks like a fatal flaw, Steelers win 27 – 17.

San Diego at Kansas City – The Chargers have opened up the playbook and Rivers has shown a good command of it in their recent wins.  Kansas City has been uneven but is playing well, as always, at home but they have too many deficiencies on offense, Chargers win 28 – 10.

Denver at Cleveland – Denver returns to Cleveland, a place familiar to their defensive line to be sure, as most of them were playing there not too long ago.  That defense looks formidable particularly against a Cleveland offense that does not, Chargers win 28 – 14.

Arizona at Oakland – This match up features the two worst offensive lines in the NFL.  Arizona will ether be angry or in despair; judging from the Green press conference after the game angry seems to be the prevailing mood in the coaching staff, Cardinals win 28 – 10.

Minnesota at Seattle – Seattle comes home off of a close divisional win on the road to the comfortable confines of home.  This game marks the return of Hutchinson to Seattle where he gets to find out how it is to play there as an opposing lineman, Seattle 27 -20.

Washington at Indianapolis – Washington lost an embarrassing game last week while Indianapolis is coming off their bye week.  This should be offensively entertaining as neither team has shown much in the way of defense recently, going with the better offense, Colts win 31 – 27.

N.Y. Giants at Dallas –Another important division game in the NFC North; it is no secret, you beat the Cowboys by getting defensive pressure on Bledsoe, preferably up the middle.  The Giant defense is certainly capable of that but has not been consistent, Cowboys win 21 – 20.