In any sport you play you have your highs and lows. You can have a stellar week passing or running the ball, and then the football gods strike in the form of an injury or bad play. In the case of Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, two weeks ago would show you how masterful of a quarterback he is, leading a game-winning drive, with Davante Adams catching the game winning touchdown. The week after that win against the Cowboys, the Packers would head into Minneapolis with optimistic heads, they would leave with heads hung low. Aaron Rodgers would suffer a collarbone injury from Anthony Barr of the Minnesota Vikings, a legal hit but its devastating to see a star in Aaron Rodgers go down like that.
The week that was in picks with me and Cardinal Viking would prove to be a same old story, same old song. The week that was would prove to be another odd week for us. Last week's results:
Me:
7-7 (Colts pick screwed me over, and I picked the Falcons who certainly reached a new low last week)
Cardinal Viking:
7-7 (He also picked the falcons, the only real difference is that he picked Carolina over Philadelphia last week, he picked the Titans to beat the Colts)
This week's cool video is truly a cool video. Possibly one of the best songs ever made. Why am I sharing it to you all? BECAUSE ITS FREAKING AFRICA BY TOTO! Enjoy it.
Week 7 features 15 games this week. There are two teams on bye weeks Houston Texans and Detroit Lions. The week starts off in Oakland, California, and ends in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There is a Thursday Night Game, 8 early games (one of them is in Twickenham Stadium, London), 4 late games, a Sunday Night game, and a Monday Night game. CBS will have the early and late game double header this week, while FOX will have the single game this week. Here are the picks:
Kansas City @ Oakland: Chiefs. Both the Chiefs and Raiders come off losses last week to the Steelers and the Chargers respectively. The Raiders will be without star QB Derek Carr for the game and will have to rely on the arm of EJ Manuel, the Raiders have looked off without Carr while the Chiefs have stability at the quarterback position. I like the Chiefs in this game.
Arizona @ LA Rams: Cardinals. The Cardinals got the victory last week against the Buccaneers, while the Rams won on the road against the Jaguars. The game would normally be a Rams pick from me but the fact that Adrian Peterson had a drink off the fountain of youth last week will give Carson Palmer's arm a break (Palmer is 2nd in passing yards so far this season, 1 is Brady). The game will be played in Twickenham Stadium in Southwest London. The game will be pretty good I feel, mad that I won't be able to watch it honestly. Jealousy is a fickle thing.
Baltimore @ Minnesota: Vikings. The Ravens last week came off a loss to the Bears, while the Vikings got a divisional win against the Packers. The difference between the two teams is that the Vikings seem to have a better defense and certainly more weapons on offense. The Vikings got some good news early this week hearing that Teddy Bridgewater could begin to practice again and compete for the starting job over Case Keenum and Sam Bradford. If I were the Vikings I'd go with the hot hand in Keenum.
Carolina @ Chicago: Panthers. The Panthers came off a loss against the Eagles, while the Bears got the victory over the Ravens. I like the Panthers in the matchup based on the stability and experience in the quarterback position in Cam Newton, who has more help than his counterpart Mitch Trubisky. I think the Bears have some future to build around with Trubisky, but that future has to come from help on the offense, or have his wide receivers magically come back from injury.
Jacksonville @ Indianapolis: Jaguars. The two teams both come off losses as the Jaguars lost to the Rams, while the Colts lost to the Titans. The faith I have in the Jaguars is very limited, and I don't trust the Colts enough to throw them. It will come down to which Jaguars team comes to play against their AFC South division rival. The Colts will still be without Andrew Luck, and without Luck there is no luck for the Colts, I know I'm punny.
New Orleans @ Green Bay: Packers. The Packers come off a loss to the Vikings while the Saints won against the Lions. The game itself would be a lock-in for the Packers but unfortunately the loss of Aaron Rodgers for at least 8 games or possibly the whole season. The Packers have some hope in Brett Hundley, the quarterback from UCLA. Hundley played okay in the backup role against the Vikings, but he will need to play stellar to keep up with the Saints offense. If Mike McCarthy has faith in Hundley, then why should I doubt him? #InHundleyWeTrust
NY Jets @ Miami: Jets. The Jets lost to the Patriots last week, while the Dolphins won against the Falcons. The two teams aren't spectacular. I don't have faith in the Dolphins, but I don't either in the Jets. However when it comes to picking the Jets, they haven't in general let me down. The Dolphins rushing defense is 4th in the league, so that may give the Jets some fits. Just watch the Dolphins will destroy the Jets, and prove me wrong. Ah fuck it, give me the J-E-T-S!
Tampa @ Buffalo: The Buccaneers. The Buccaneers come off a loss to the Cardinals while the Bills were on a bye week. The Buccaneers have one of the better passing attacks in the league with such weapons like Mike Evans, DeShaun Jackson, and Adam Humphries. Not also to mention Doug Martin at running back. The Bills are 21st in the league in pass defense, which means possibly a great day for Jameis Winston & Company. I like the Bucs.
Tennessee @ Cleveland: Titans. The Titans come off a win last week against the Colts while the Browns lost to the Texans. The return of Marcus Mariota sparked the Titans offense to victory. The Browns are still looking for their first win of the season, and some of their troubles may come down to the quarterback position, but then again their pass defense isn't that stellar. The shining light for the Browns is their ability to stop the run, in fact the Browns are 8th in the league in rush defense. However the shining light for the Titans is their rush offense is 6th in the league with 132 yards per game. Something is going to give for the two, but I feel the Titans are better off.
Dallas @ San Francisco: Cowboys. The Cowboys come off a bye week, while the 49ers lost to the Redskins. The marquee game of the late games will be on FOX. The ongoing court battles with Ezekiel Elliot continues. Personally Elliot is digging himself a bigger grave the longer he drags this on. If he took the suspension in week 1, he could've been playing next week. For the 49ers there is hope in their quarterback C.J. Beathard who came off the bench over the struggling Brian Hoyer last week. The game will be a rivalry feel to it but I feel the Boys will get the win, though the last time I picked the Cowboys, they lost to the Rams, I feel safe... maybe.
Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh: Steelers. The Bengals came off a bye week last week while the Steelers won against the Chiefs. The Steelers rebounded last week after a horrible performance at home against the Jaguars the week before. As long as Big Ben is still the quarterback for the Steelers, I'd say they have the win locked up, they have too many weapons. For the Bengals they have weapons too, but I can't trust them enough to win on the road against the Steelers. Wave those terrible towels well Pittsburgh!
Denver @ LA Chargers: Chargers. For the Broncos they lost to the Giants at home, while the Chargers picked up their 2nd win of the season against the Raiders. Trevor Siemian didn't look good at home against the Giants, and his road record is less stellar. The Chargers certainly have momentum on their side while seeking their 3rd straight victory. The game smells like a trap game for the Broncos. Here's a fact: the Chargers are 4th in the league in pass offense and defense. For an offense like the Broncos which relies on passing the ball a large amount, the Broncos pass offense is 14th. Give me the Bolts!
Seattle @ NY Giants: Giants. The Seahawks come off a bye week last week, while the Giants got their first win of the season against the Broncos. Both teams were preseason playoff favorites and the two haven't lived up to the hype. For the Seahawks the pass defense is up to par while the rest of their team isn't as great. For the Giants the offense got back to form against the Broncos, the rush offense was great with Orleans Darkwa carrying the ball for 117 yards with 21 rushes. The game doesn't look spectacular but someone has to win right?
Atlanta @ New England: Patriots. The Patriots got the win against the Jets while the Falcons lost to the Dolphins. The rematch of last year's Super Bowl shows two very different teams than what we saw this past February. The two teams haven't been great. Tom Brady has been the one carrying his team while his pass defense is dead last in the league (32nd in fact). The Falcons look to have Julio Jones back to play while Mohammad Sanu was limited in practice this week and may very well be questionable to play in the game. The game may come down to which defense has more stops as this will be a shootout.
Washington @ Philadelphia: Eagles. Both teams came off wins last week with the Redskins beating the 49ers and the Eagles beating the Panthers. The Monday night game to finish the week should be an entertaining one with the Carson Wentz-led Eagles will be at home against the Kirk Cousins-led Redskins. The game will come down to which defense shows up for the two teams as both teams have spectacular offenses. Could come down to a shootout. Certainly the experience will be in favor of Kirk Cousins but the Eagles have been exciting to watch, especially on the offense. The Eagles are 20th in the league in total defense, the Redskins 12th. Fly Eagles Fly.
Local TV schedule (subject to change):
FOX Single:
New Orleans @ Green Bay
Kenny Albert, Charles Davis
CBS Early:
Baltimore @ MinnesotaGreg Gumbel, Trent Green
CBS Late:
Denver @ LA Chargers
Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon
For more information on which games will be playing in your TV market go to NFL Maps, Week 7
Record*:
Week 1: 10-5
Week 1: 10-5
Week 2: 10-6
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 11-5
Week 5: 7-7
Week 6: 7-7
Overall: 53-38
Cardinal Viking, my roommates record:
Week 1: 7-8
Week 1: 7-8
Week 2: 13-3
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 11-5
Week 5: 4-10
Week 6: 7-7
Overall: 50-41
* Math could be off, will make corrections if needed.
See you guys next week!
-Tom