Week 7 Picks

Thursday Night
Seattle @ (-7.5) San Francisco
Joe: SEA. Weird things have happened so far on Thursday night - Cowboys opening night win in New York, Packers 7 sacks & 4 interceptions vs Bears, Browns covering at Baltimore, Rams dominating Arizona by 14, and last week the Titans knock off the Steelers. I like Seattle continuing the trend because their defense will travel and show up against a shaky Alex Smith-lead offense. I don't know if Pete Carroll can pull out another lucky win but this feels like a one possession game in the 4th quarter even with the 49ers coming off an embarrassing loss 4 days earlier. 
Mike: SF. Last week, Alex Smith was picked three times and the 49ers only put a field goal on the board. That was a once-a-season anomaly. The two weeks prior, San Francisco outscored their opponents 79-3. SEVENTY-NINE TO THREE! Now, I will give the Seahawks credit for beating the Packers and Patriots this year but those two wins were by a combined three points and included some bizarre finishes. If there's been an example of an overachieving team, it's been Seattle.
Final: SF by 7. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Harbaugh declines the safety and takes points off the board?!?! These are my picks we're talkin' about here! You damn idiot Harbaugh! (This is one of the great picks of my lifetime. Now I turn things around and finish the season well above .500.) (J)

Sunday
Cleveland @ (-3.5) Indianapolis
Joe: CLE. That's right, the Browns are STREAKING!!! The path to 11-5 and a division title continue with a shootout win over Indy.
Mike: IND. The Browns have a good chance of winning and there's no way the Colts will cover more than a field goal spread. All good things start at the top -- new new ownership can only be a positive for the new new Browns.
Final: IND by 4.  I totally jinxed Cleveland and screwed up my pick. My bad. This pick makes up for the Thursday night job. (M)

Tennessee @ (-3.5) Buffalo 
Joe: TEN. This is a crap-fest.
Mike: BUF. I have no idea why I keep picking Buffalo. 
Final: TEN by 1.(J)

Green Bay @ (+5.5) St. Louis
Joe: GB. Rodgers won't throw 6 TDs again but he'll lead the Packers to more than enough points against the offensively challenged Rams.
Mike: GB. Ever since the Packers were robbed against the Seahawks, they've had a renewed mission.
Final: Packers by 10. (JM)

Arizona @ (-5.5) Minnesota
Joe: ARI. Ponder has been very average the last few weeks and facing an above average Cardinals D will keep this game close throughout.
Mike: MIN. I always like the Vikings at home.
Final: MIN by 7.(M)

Washington @ (-6.5) New York Giants
Joe: WAS. The legend of RGIII continues to grow but the lack of a clutch kicker will ruin the day for the 'Skins.
Mike: NYG. Redskins will be a team to beat in the future but I'm afraid the Giants are going to completely blow them out.
Final: NYG by 4. (J)

New Orleans @ (+2.5) Tampa Bay
Joe: NO. Not really sure how this line came to be but if the Saints add the Bucs to their loss column then they'll be lucky to see 4 wins this season.
Mike: NO. Just like I keep picking Buffalo, I keep picking New Orleans. This was the wrong year to do that. I already regret this choice.
Final: NO by 7.(JM)

Dallas @ (+2.5) Carolina
Joe: DAL. Surely the 'good' Cowboys have to show up at some point.
Mike: CAR. Cowboys and Tony Romo are overrated. Going with the upstart Panthers.
Final: DAL by 5. And don't call me Surely. (J)

Baltimore @ (-6.5) Houston
Joe: HOU. Fat Suggs won't help a banged up Ravens D against an angry vegan named Foster.
Mike: HOU. Every week is an opportunity for even more Ravens to go on IR. Goooo Injuries!
Final: HOU in a RayLewisesque slaughter. (JM)

Jacksonville @ (-4.5) Oakland
Joe: OAK. The late crap-fest.
Mike: JAX. Agreed. Going with Jacksonville to make it interesting.
Final: OAK by 3 in OT. Would have been pretty cool to see Janikowski hit that 64-yarder. (M)

New York Jets @ (-10.5) New England
Joe: NE. Will the Browns ever be favored by double digits in our lifetime?
Mike: NYJ. In our lifetime? Maybe. It will happen when the NFL expands to 48 teams and the Browns host the expansion Louisville Sluggers in the Corkdome.
Final: NE by 3 in OT. (M)

Pittsburgh @ (+2.5) Cincinnati 
Joe: CIN. Any Pittsburgh fail is a friend of mine.
Mike: PIT. Any friend of Joe's is a failure.
Final: PIT by a touchdown. I fell asleep. (M)

Monday Night
Detroit @ (-5.5) Chicago
Joe: DET. Upset of the week. Lions 34-31.
Mike: CHI. Not on the road. Not against Jay Cutler. Bears 38-31.
Final: CHI by 6. Weak. At least we were close on the total scores! (M)


Joe 7-6
Mike 9-4