Week 7 NFL picks

Still not very good at this. I'm sure my readership for this particular service has gone down to a quarter of a person. Just bad times. We'll keep grinding though.

Tennessee (-9) at Kansas City
The league's best team against possibly one of the league's worst. When we had this scenario last week, the Rams somehow beat the Redskins. However, the Titans are great on defense and the Chiefs don't have an interim coach yet. I'll go with Tennessee to win a not-so-entertaining one.
Tennessee 23, Kansas City 10

San Diego (+1) at Buffalo
Are the Chargers ready to stop messing around and put together a run of a few wins? Their talent is undeniable, but San Diego doesn't really seem to play until it has to. With Denver struggling a bit now, it doesn't really have to. So expect Buffalo to eke one out, especially with Trent Edwards starting.
Buffalo 24, San Diego 21

Pittsburgh (-9.5) at Cincinnati
The Bengals haven't been that horrible the past two weeks, but at 0-6 and without Carson Palmer, morale isn't exactly high. The Steelers have had injury issues of their own, but their defensive front seven should make life for Cincy QB Ryan Fitzpatrick horrible.
Pittsburgh 27, Cincinnati 10

Baltimore (+3) at Miami
Ravens rookie QB Joe Flacco has one touchdown pass and seven interceptions. Even with as good as the Baltimore defense is, it can't withstand that type of quarterback play. The Ravens' O is a non-factor, so the Dolphins should do just enough to win here.
Miami 17, Baltimore 12

Dallas (-7) at St. Louis
Will Romo play? Will Terrell Owens have a fit if Roy Williams catches the first touchdown pass Sunday? Will Pacman ever play again? The Cowboys seem to be at a crossroads, but St. Louis isn't the team that will test their resolve. At least, it shouldn't be. Then again, the Redskins might beg to differ.
Dallas 28, St. Louis 17

Minnesota (+3) at Chicago
The Vikings are one team I can't figure out. When they are supposed to win, they struggle, like they did against Detroit. When they are supposed to lose, they thrive, like they did at New Orleans. Minnesota should lose this on the road, so I'm going the other way. Whatever.
Minnesota 23, Chicago 16

New Orleans (+3) at Carolina
The Saints are a team I look at and wonder how they could be 3-3. Even with Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey injured, they still have an obnoxious amount of offensive talent. But something's missing with them, which is why I'm picking Carolina at home.
Carolina 28, New Orleans 24

San Francisco (+10.5) at N.Y. Giants
The West Coast team playing the early game on the East Coast is almost always an easy cover. Considering that the Giants are going to be peeved after their Monday night stinker in Cleveland, this cover is basically a lead-pipe lock.
N.Y. Giants 31, San Francisco 13

Detroit (+9.5) at Houston
Dan Orlovsky running out of the back of the end zone while going out for a pass has to be a signature moment in Lions history, especially since the two points given to Minnesota ended up costing Detroit the game. Houston got a hard-earned win last week and will get another one this week, though I think Detroit covers.
Houston 23, Detroit 16

N.Y. Jets (-3) at Oakland
I was joking when I called the 49ers-Giants game a lead-pipe lock. This game is the lead-pipe lock. There's no way the morale-lacking Raiders are staying with Brett Favre and the Jets. No way at all.
N.Y. Jets 30, Oakland 14

Cleveland (+7.5) at Washington
Are the Browns of 2007, namely Derek Anderson and Braylon Edwards, back? Or was Monday a tease. Cleveland picked up an enormous win against the defending champs, but a short week coupled with a perturbed Redskins team isn't exactly the ideal way to follow it up.
Washington 31, Cleveland 20

Indianapolis (-1) at Green Bay
The Colts finally looked like the Colts last week, just obliterating Baltimore. The Packers broke a three-game losing streak as well, but it just seems that Green Bay is a little off, even though Aaron Rodgers isn't playing that bad. The Colts continue to surge.
Indianapolis 25, Green Bay 20

Seattle (+10.5) at Tampa Bay
The Seahawks are bad, dreadfully bad. It's been a pretty sudden fall from grace for a team that won the previous four NFC West titles. Tampa Bay seems to be all right now that Jeff Garcia is back at quarterback and with Seattle stuck with Seneca Wallace at that position, Tampa should roll.
Tampa Bay 26, Seattle 10

Denver (+3) at New England
Kind of a tricky game. The Broncos' offense has slowed down immeasurably since setting the world on fire for the first three weeks, but the Patriots are extremely up and down under Matt Cassel. That and the New England D seems older and more vulnerable. That last fact will give Denver, which traditionally plays well against the Pats, the win.
Denver 24, New England 14

Overall record: 43-45. Against the spread: 40-47-1