NFL Week 7: Games to Watch

Our internet service at home has been down all week, and we just got it restored within the past hour. So this week's preview blog post is going to be less detailed than normal ... (yeah, ha ha, real funny. You can thank me later, smart aleck).

My record in last week's four preview games was 2-2, taking my season record to 17-7 (.708).

Here are this week's four games to watch ... 

CHARGERS (4-1) @ JETS (3-3)

The Jets have been horrible on offense, being saved by their tough defense. And the Chargers haven't really beaten anybody yet. On top of all that, Rex Ryan insulted Norv Turner on the radio this week. Should be interesting.

San Diego 28, New York 17

BEARS (3-3) @ BUCCANEERS (4-2)
The Bears and Bucs travel to London to play the NFL's annual game in the UK. Not sure why the league keeps doing this; it hurts everybody involved, except the NFL's expansion dreams.

Tampa Bay 24, Chicago 16

FALCONS (3-3) @ LIONS (5-1)
Atlanta continues to be confused, and confuse all of us, about who and what they are. A trip to Detroit to take on the ticked-off Lions won't help. 
Detroit 31, Atlanta 27

TEXANS (3-3) @ TITANS (3-2)
Houston has not taken advantage of the Colts' stumble, and Tennessee is better than expected. The winner of this AFC South showdown will have the upper hand on the division title.

Tennessee 24, Houston 21

Missouri Round-up

The Missouri Tigers hosted the No. 4 nationally-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys at Faurot Field in Columbia today. Unfortunately, I was there in person to see the dismantling of the Tigers. Mizzou is now 1-3 in Big XII Conference play, and a down season is well underway. Not sure we are ready for the SEC.

The Rams and Chiefs both go on the road for tough away games this week -- KC @ Oakland and STL @ Dallas. It doesn't look good for either squad. It looks like an 0-3 weekend for Missouri's teams.

Thanks for reading.

Steve

NFL Power Rankings: Week 7

We have now seen enough of the regular season to know where most teams are headed. The top half and the bottom half of teams are clearly delineated with a few muddling in the middle, leaving us still to wonder which team will show up from week to week. Some are clearly very good (Packers, Patriots, Ravens, Saints) and some are clearly very, very bad (Dolphins, Colts, Rams and Vikings).

The NFL Power Rankings are a standing MTSS feature during the season, being updated every other week (odd-numbered weeks) and are based on team results to date. Our rankings are our best (kind-of) educated guess at which team would beat the ones listed below it in the rankings. You get the idea.

The biggest movers since Week 5 are San Francisco (+8) and Washington (-11). For those of you watching the games and paying even a little bit of attention, you know those are the logical choices. And if you dare disagree with me, I swear I will run you down like Jim Schwartz and tell you about it.

(Week 5 rankings are in parenthesis.)

1.  (1) Green Bay (6-0) – The Pack is showing no sign of weakness.
2.  (3) New England (5-1) – They win big. They win ugly. They just win.
3.  (2) Baltimore (4-1) – Old-fashioned smashmouth football. Flacco may be weak link.
4.  (12) San Francisco (5-1) – Two tough road wins at Tampa Bay and at Detroit.
5.  (5) New Orleans (4-2) – The coach and the team got clipped at Tampa last week.
6.  (4) Detroit (5-1) – We’ll see how they respond to their first loss, handshake and all.
7.  (8) San Diego (4-1) – BYE last week; tough test at the Jets this week.
8.  (16) Pittsburgh (4-2) – The running game is showing signs of life again.
9.  (13) Tampa Bay (4-2) – Nice rebound game by young Bucs after SF blowout.
10. (9) New York Giants (4-2) – This team is for real, now the division favorite.

11. (7) Buffalo (4-2) – The Bills are starting to stumble.
12. (17) Oakland (4-2) – Campbell out, Palmer in. Net gain. Headed to playoffs.
13. (10) Tennessee (3-2) – Team is better than advertised, even with CJ2K struggling.
14. (15) Chicago (3-3) – Offensive line continues to struggle; special teams are key.
15. (6) Houston (3-3) – Texans are not taking advantage of Indy’s free-fall.
16. (14) New York Jets (3-3) – The offense doesn’t know who it is.
17. (21) Cincinnati (4-2) – The league’s No. 1 defense. Improving young team.
18. (18) Atlanta (3-3) – The Falcons aren’t sure who they are. Finally running the ball.
19. (20) Philadelphia (2-4) – Win at Washington last week saved the season … for now.
20. (19) Dallas (3-3) – In the middle of the pack in the mediocre NFC East.

21. (11) Washington (3-2) – Grossman implodes. Redskins on the skids.
22. (28) Seattle (2-3) – Tavaris gets hurt and they look better. Makes sense.
23. (22) Cleveland (2-3) – Defense keeping them in games. Offense is punchless.
24. (26) Kansas City (2-3) – Still haven’t beaten a team with a win, but improving.
25. (23) Carolina (1-5) – Panthers are playing everybody tough … and losing.
26. (24) Arizona (1-4) – Jury is still out on Kolb; good thing Beanie is producing.
27. (27) Denver (1-4) – The Tebow era begins. At least it’ll be exciting.
28. (25) Jacksonville (1-5) – Garrard cut. McCown stunk. Now Gabbert gets the call.

29. (31) Minnesota (1-5) – Finally win one. Now Donovan gets the hook.
30. (30) St. Louis (0-5) – Now Bradford is hurt. These poor Lambs can’t get a break.
31. (29) Indianapolis (0-6) – No team has relied on one player as much as these Colts.
32. (32) Miami (0-5) – “Suck for Luck” campaign is in full bloom in South Beach.

So what do you think? Sound off. Let us know where you think we’ve got it right, and for sure where you know we have it wrong. Join the conversation.

Thanks for reading.

Steve