We’ve had a very busy week, including the Kutztown University Homecoming yesterday. Our writer Adam Dobrowolski saw the university honor Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Reed by renaming its football complex “University Field at Andre Reed Stadium.” Because of that, we’re running behind. Therefore, we posted our 1pm predictions on Twitter. Also, we’ll pass on the game-by-game commentary.
Just note that there are several games that we feel could unexpectedly go either way. This includes Seahawks-Rams (re: early start time on the road for Seattle), Browns-Jaguars (re: set up for a classic letdown by a Cleveland team not used to winning), Saints-Lions (re: Sean Payton’s track record after the bye), Chiefs-Chargers (re: Andy Reid’s track record after the bye) and Giants-Cowboys (re: set up for a classic letdown for Dallas). We’d love to stew on these games longer, but with our great record in the Pick’em competition, we have some leeway to go conservatively. As a result, we’re going with the results we originally had in August, save for one change.
Most of the current favorites as the teams we originally had winning, so that formula seems to fit for Week 7. As for the one change, it involves the 49ers-Broncos game. We originally had the 49ers, citing the Broncos’ struggles beating some of the best defenses in the league. However, with Peyton Manning on the precipice of setting the NFL record for career regular season touchdown passes, we think he will use the Sunday night atmosphere and home venue to attack San Francisco early and often. The record WILL be broken, and it will likely happen before the game hits the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Colin Kaepernick won’t be able to keep up.
Remember, using the TABRankings as a basis for determining the quality of each game, the week’s games are divided into three groups:
- Games of the Week (3 points each): Any game with two teams having a combined ranking total of 24 or less. Both teams MUST be within 10 spots of each other. (Thus, the “weakest” match-up will feature the seventh-ranked team and the 17th-ranked team.)
- Non-GOTW Divisional Games (2 points each): Any divisional battle that isn’t in the aforementioned group.
- The Rest (1 point each): Any match-up that is neither a Game of the Week or a divisional battle.
Now to the predictions for Week 7.
Games of the Week (3 points each)
(6) Cincinnati Bengals (3-1-1) at (2) Indianapolis Colts (4-2)
(7) San Francisco 49ers (4-2) at (1) Denver Broncos (4-1)
Non-GOTW Divisional Games (2 points each)
(27) New York Jets (1-5) at (10) New England Patriots (4-2)
(9) Seattle Seahawks (3-2) at (29) St. Louis Rams (1-4)
(18) Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) at (3) San Diego Chargers (5-1)
(16) New York Giants (3-3) at (11) Dallas Cowboys (5-1)
The Rest (1 point each)
(24) Atlanta Ravens (2-4) at (4) Baltimore Ravens (4-2) **Lock of the Week**
(23) Tennessee Titans (2-4) at (28) Washington Redskins (1-5)
(17) Cleveland Browns (3-2) at (32) Jacksonville Jaguars (0-6)
(26) Minnesota Vikings (2-4) at (15) Buffalo Bills (3-3)
(21) Miami Dolphins (2-3) at (19) Chicago Bears (3-3)
(25) New Orleans Saints (2-3) at (8) Detroit Lions (4-2) **Upset of the Week**
(14) Carolina Panthers (3-2-1) at (13) Green Bay Packers (4-2)
(5) Arizona Cardinals (4-1) at (31) Oakland Raiders (0-5)
(20) Houston Texans (3-3) at (22) Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3)