Sanders's Week 7 NFL Predictions

NFL Week 7 Predictions

Okay. So I was wrong. The AFC North and NFC North aren’t the best divisions. The NFC East and the AFC West are. The Chargers and Chiefs dropped money on the Broncos and Raiders making the division a wide open 4 man race. Meanwhile, the NFC East is now 11-4 against teams outside their division and no team is under .500 (Giants 3-3, Eagles 3-2,  Redskins 4-2, Cowboys 5-1) It’s amazing how what was presumed one of the most confusing divisions in the League, is now still confusing but for the opposite reasons. It seemed like it was going to be like last year; who plays the least amount of bad football. But now, all 3 teams have shown grit and ability to beat their opponents when needed. Jeez.

Also, did anyone else turn the TV off during the Colts vs Texans Sunday night game middle of the 4^th quarter? I did. And I regret it as I heard I missed one hell of a rallied comeback. Maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to assume. Speaking of assuming, let us get on to me assuming who wins! (even though the recent trends say I am going to be wrong).

Sanders went 9-6 last week going to 56-36 on the season. One day he will get perfection. This week probably isn’t that week.

Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers

If this were any other team, I probably would predict the Packers to lose as their offense just can’t seem to get it together specifically Aaron Rodgers. It’s hard to imagine a world where Aaron Rodgers struggles but we are living in it right now. However, the Bears are one of the worst teams in the NFL. In fact, they may be 1-5, but I think the 0-6 Browns are a better team. At least the Browns have made every game interesting! Even when they got blown away by the Patriots, they were fighters for the first couple quarters. If anything, the Packers are in worse shape than we think if they lose to the Bears. But they can’t. Actually, they won’t. Not if they want the NFL world to take them seriously.

Bears 13  Packers 17

NY Giants vs St. Louis Rams

It feels like the Rams simply don’t know how to finish games at 3-3. They were a winning team but now just look like they can’t get over the hump in close games. In other words, if they aren’t winning, they aren’t clutch enough to win. Also, the offensive line is a huge reason for the penalties and why Gurley can’t get going. The Giants just came off a very hard fought win in Baltimore and are sitting 4^th in what looks like a tough NFC East. If the Giants want a shred of hope in staying in the playoff race, they must improve upon last week’s win and make it two in a row.

Giants 24  Rams 17

Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals

In a rough season for the Bengals, this seems like the exact type of game they would lose. However, this is the exact type of secondary Dalton and Green would go off on. It’s unfortunate. I have heard from others that Dalton sucks, but does he really? He has retained all improvements he made last year but has literally NO weapons but AJ Green. The running game is poor as well. The Bengals have a long road at 2-4 if they want to make the playoffs and it will probably be all lost if they go 2-5. Also, this is a great test for the Browns with Kessler at QB. They are playing this year to examine the future and so far Kessler has been playing well. Let’s see what he does against a Bengals defense.

Browns 20  Bengals 27

Washington Redskins vs Detriot Lions

Both of these teams are extremely underrated. Nobody is talking about the 4-2 Redskins with a quietly dominant run defense because the Cowboys are sitting pretty at 5-1 with a QB controversy. Meanwhile, nobody is talking about the Lions at 3-3 with the undefeated Vikings and Aaron Rodgers woes in their division. Did you know the Matt Stafford has been playing like a top 5 QB all season? Don’t believe? Go watch his highlights! The dude has gotten better ever since Megatron left and hasn’t gotten the attention he deserves. I declare this game, the UNDER-RATED BOWL this week. So who wins? I’ll give it to the team with the better record. I like the Lions a lot this year, but they need a more dominant defense if they want to win more games.

Redskins 24  Lions 20

Oakland Raiders vs Jacksonville Jaguars

Had a Raiders fan tell me this is the exact kind of game the Raiders would lose while doing well. I’d buy it…….if this were 2009. The Raiders are a good team. Were they held to 10 points last week? Yes, but the AFC West is a division that not even Brian Billick can figure out (figure of speech because he hasn’t actually voiced his opinion recently). The Jaguars were hyped last year but the defense is the same. Bortles and Co. can score points but the defense can’t hold off opponents. Then again, the Raiders haven’t proven to really prevent the opposing offense from scoring either. Get ready for a wild west shootout today ladies and gents!

Raiders 31  Jaguars 27

New Orleans Saints vs Kansas City Chiefs

This is a tough one. The Chiefs are very unpredictable. The Saints however, ARE predictable. Drew Brees will have a great day like usual but the defense won’t show up. It’s kind of sad. 400 yards in a game is a feat to behold that we are shocked when even Tom Brady does it like he did against the Browns earlier this season. When Drew Brees does it? Meh. No one cares. Why? Because this has become the norm for the Saints and it’s such a shame that we ignore the greatness that Brees puts out each week at 37. Who says age can keep you down? Back to the Chiefs though, they are super boring. Their offense just isn’t rolling at all and it makes you wonder if they can take advantage of a bad Saints defense. Most critics are picking the Chiefs. I’m giving this game to Drew Brees. No, not the Saints. Drew Brees. Because he will be the reason they win if they do win.

#DREWBREESFOR2016MVP

Saints 27  Chiefs 24

Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins

You have to wonder if the Bills are just this good or if they are over-achieving every week. I pick the first. The Bills are just this good. They are playing their hearts out for their coach and have the most mobile offense in the league. McCoy and Taylor are almost impossible to get your hands on. The Dolphins are coming off of a spicy win against the Steelers. However, that was against an injured Roethlisberger and even bad teams can have good games. I don’t believe in the Dolphins just yet. I’ll be shocked if the Bills lose this actually.

Bills 24  Dolphins 20

Baltimore Ravens vs NY Jets

The truth hurts Baltimore fans. The Ravens have now had 20 games in the past 2 season decided by one score or less. One could argue the Ravens could be 6-0 but we can also argue they could be 0-6. This matchup here, is a tale of two outcomes. This really comes down to if Flacco is healthy or not. If Flacco is healthy, Baltimore can take advantage of the Jets and throw it deep all day to Wallace and Perriman to win the game. If Flacco is not healthy however and still plays, this game is a different story. Suggs, Dumervil, Mosley, Smith Sr., Wright and Yanda already look like they’ll be out this game. This means Geno Smith should have easy pickings to take a step in the right direction to prove that he should be the Jets starter or a starter elsewhere. Baltimore simply looks too banged up to be able to win a game. Rather unfortunate for them and rather fortunate Geno Smith.

#ALLABOARDTHEGENOCOASTER

With a healthy Flacco: Ravens 23  Jets 21

With an unhealthy Flacco: Ravens 16  Jets 24

Minnesota Vikings vs Philadelphia Eagles

I could go on forever about this game but it’s better I keep it short(er). Until PROVEN otherwise, the Vikings have the best or 2^nd best defense (leave that up to you guys, I believe they are the best) in the NFL and will be the reason they win games. People say Bradford is realizing his potential this season but this team never needed a good QB to win in the first place. I am not calling Bridgewater bad as I like the kid but can we say Bridgewater would have the same success elsewhere? Probably not. I want to see a game where the Vikings defense falters and Bradford has to single-handedly carry his team. Till he does that, I’m no believer in him.

The Eagles are now on a 2 game skid and looking to get back on track. This would be a great game to do so but I figured if the Eagles had managed to go 5-0 at this point, they would lose here. Yeah the Eagles defense is great to but they can be beaten. The Vikings D is an immovable object and it’s not like the Eagles really have an unstoppable force for an offense. On a sidenote, can Blair Walsh get out of his fear already? Jeez man. Go from being a great kicker to mediocre because of one faulty kick in a playoff game. The great kickers man up and get past it. I still have hope for him.

Vikings 20  Eagles 13

Indianapolis Colts vs Tennessee Titans

Andrew Luck is so good. That’s all I have to say about the Colts. How THE HELL do you lose a game being two scores ahead in under 3 minutes? Ugh. Such a waste of Andrew Luck’s prime. It’s almost like he is getting the Drew Brees treatment. In fact, those two should talk over what it’s like to have a terrible defense but still score a lot of points and somehow manage to win games. I would watch that feature segment. Anyway, because of how rotten the Colts defense is, I’m picking the Titans. Mariota is on a roll and DeMarco Murry is having a comeback player of the year type of season. We knew you were still there Murray. Thanks for coming back out to give us highlight reels.

Colts 28  Titans 30

San Diego Chargers vs Atlanta Falcons

Chargers are probably the best 2-4 team right now. I was actually expecting them to lose last week after the Broncos managed to get the onside kick. Those are just the kind of events that have been happening to the Chargers. When examining this game, I looked at how well the Chargers and Falcons have performed. The Chargers are averaging 28.8 points per game but their defense is allowing  25.8 points per game while the Falcons are averaging a ridiculous 33.1 points per game but the defense is allowing 27.6 points per game. So where does that leave this matchup? In a surefire shootout. you have to wonder how long can the Falcons keep up the scoring before the defense lets opponents catch up. San Diego fans, I’m giving you the win. Philip Rivers has been playing amazing all year. Let he who plays the better football game be the winner.

Chargers 34  Falcons 33

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs San Francisco 49ers

Tough one. Two bad teams = one exciting clown fiesta of a game. This will probably be entertaining but the matchup means nothing for playoff implications. If anything, take in a few beers or shots before watching this one. You might have more fun. As far as the matchup overall, both defenses are awful but the Bucs have the edge at offense with a true difference maker in Mike Evans.

Bucs 23  49ers 20

New England Patriots vs Pittsburgh Steelers

So. Roethlisberger is out and Tom Brady is in. Are we done here? Okay okay. Landry Jones is the QB for the Steelers. Now I’m done here. Okay, okay fine I’ll give you more. You got me. Bell is back for the Steelers and they still have Antonio Brown while Landry Jones is playing QB. The Patriots have Brady, Gronkowski, and Hoga……aw forget you guys. Why am I analyzing this? Patriots win. Why? You tell me. Do you pick Tom Brady or Landry Jones? If you tell me Jones, you are a heathen.

Patriots 27  Steelers 17

UPSET OF THE WEEK!!!!!!!

Seattle Seahawks vs Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals have been straight BALLIN the past two weeks. Now SNAP BACK TO REALITY, OH HERE COMES GRAVITY…..it was against the 49ers and Jets….whoop dee fricken doo. And their other win was against the Buccaneers. So the Cardinals are 3-3 and their only wins are against the worst teams in the NFL who are a combined 4-13 *slow claps*. Call me out if you want for being a Cards hater this year, but the Cardinals haven’t proven jack. I’m going to throw this out of the way before I continue; the Cardinals defense has looked great with their pass rush and Patrick Peterson shutting down everyone in his sight. Now, on to the real issues I have with the Cardinals. Have they looked great against bad teams? Yes. However, take out Larry Fitzgerald and David Johnson, and this offense looks totally wack and you have to wonder if they would have beat the 49ers (Johnson and Fitzgerald were responsible for 28 of the 33 points the Cards scored that day). You would think they would have had better results with the players on offense they have. Now is the time Arizona. Live up to the hype. Prove that your on paper talent can be as good as last year. Seattle on the other hand is 4-1 and has only beaten one true quality opponent in the Falcons. The rest they have beaten have been the 49ers, Jets, and Dolphins. Not a quality schedule for either team so far but this game will show who the real Seahawks and Cardinals are. The Cardinals will be at home and if they can’t pull this off, they can probably kiss their post- season hopes goodbye as a wildcard looks like a daunting task at 3-4 if they lose here (their schedule doesn't get any easier from here). Conventional wisdom says that the Seahawks win and takes full control of the NFC West. However, I’m calling the upset. The #NoFlyZone will show up Sunday night and come in clutch. DJ is going to roll over opponents like normal, and we’ll finally see Palmer spread the ball around better with Michael Floyd and J.J. Nelson picking up the slack behind Fitzgerald.

Seattle 23  Cardinals 24

Houstan Texans vs Denver Broncos

Two weeks ago, this matchup looked like a joke. Now both teams are 4-2. The Denver offense has started to struggle (thanks in part to Kubiak’s and Sieman’s absences) while the Texans have picked up some of the pieces since their shellacking from the Patriots. While many believe this will be a great matchup, I don’t think it will be. The Broncos finally will have Kubiak and Siemian back at the same time. Meanwhile, Osweiler still looks like he is struggling. He did help make a comeback against the Colts last week but I have 4 words to let that backfire on you. Colts Defense. Lamar Miller. Enough said. The Broncos defense won’t let the Texans work any magic this time around. Same old players. Same old story. Osweiler struggles while the Orange crush brings home another win to Mile High.

Texans 16  Broncos 23