Week 7 NFL Previews / Best Bets - NFL News, Tips And Picks

Week 7 NFL Previews / Best Bets
By Chris Cluff
Posted: 11:00 am PDT 2006-10-21

Chargers (4-1) at Chiefs (2-3), 1 p.m. ET

WagerWeb.com line: Chargers -5 (40.5)

Storyline: The Chargers are coming off one of the highest-scoring games in team history, a 48-19 win over San Francisco in which LaDainian Tomlinson scored four touchdowns. The Chiefs were on the other end of a blowout, losing 45-7 to Pittsburgh in one of the worst defensive games in Kansas City history. Kansas City is giving up 129 rushing yards per game, while San Diego is the No. 2 rushing team in the NFL (158.2 yards). On offense, the Chiefs are still without quarterback Trent Green (concussion).

Best Bet: The Chargers are 1-3 in Kansas City under Marty Schottenheimer, but the league's top defense should keep that record from falling to 1-4. San Diego, 23-13.

Jaguars (3-2) at Texans (1-4), 1 p.m. ET

WagerWeb.com line: Jaguars -9.5 (40.5)

Storyline: The Jaguars are coming off a bye that followed a 41-0 shellacking of the Jets. The Jags face one of the worst offenses in the league here, but their defense keeps losing top players. Already without DE Reggie Hayward, they lost MLB Mike Peterson for the season against the Jets. The Jags' offense may have to do without QB Byron Leftwich, who is questionable. The Texans, whose run defense is fourth worst in the NFL, suffered a blow as well, losing DT Seth Payne this week.

Best Bet: The Texans have scored just 72 points this season, and they aren't likely to pad that total against the Jags, who should cruise even if they turn to backup QB David Garrard. Leftwich's status has this spread in flux, however. Jacksonville, 28-14.

Patriots (4-1) at Bills (2-4), 1 p.m. ET

WagerWeb.com line: Patriots -5 (37.5)

Storyline: The Patriots beat the Bills 19-17 in the season opener, holding Buffalo to 240 yards. The Patriots, who have the league's No. 6 rushing game, seek to go 4-0 in the AFC East by sweeping Buffalo. The Bills have lost two straight on the road because of poor offensive play.

Best Bet: Quarterback Tom Brady is 10-1 against Buffalo, and the Patriots have won 11 of the past 12 against the Bills. New England, 24-20.

Steelers (2-3) at Falcons (3-2), 1 p.m. ET

WagerWeb.com line: Steelers -2.5 (37.5)

Storyline: Coming off a 45-7 blowout of the Chiefs, the Steelers seek their first road win of the season. Their staunch run defense (78.4 yards per game) will try to shut down the Falcons' top-ranked running game (232). Atlanta blew a 14-3 lead at home against the Giants last week, losing as Michael Vick was sacked seven times. The Falcons' defense is banged up, with DE John Abraham (groin) and DT Roderick Coleman (toe) questionable and DE Patrick Kerney (hamstring) probable. Also, OG Matt Lehr was suspended four games for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. Pittsburgh LB Joey Porter, who missed the Kansas City game, is doubtful for this one.

Best Bet: The Steelers are 0-2 on the road, with just 13 points, and the Falcons will not lose back-to-back home games. Atlanta, 20-13.

Packers (1-4) at Dolphins (1-5), 1 p.m. ET

WagerWeb.com line: Dolphins -5.5 (40)

Storyline: A pair of one-win teams are seeking their second victories when they meet in Miami for the first time in nearly six years. The Dolphins were expected to be a playoff team, but they have not played nearly as well as they did at the end of last season, when they won six straight. Joey Harrington has replaced Daunte Culpepper, who is not fully recovered from knee surgery, but the Miami offense has done no better - Harrington has thrown four interceptions and just one touchdown pass. The Packers, who lost 23-20 to St. Louis before their recent week off, expect to have RB Ahman Green, who missed the past two games with a sore hamstring.

Best Bet: The Dolphins are 9-2 against Green Bay, winning all six games in Miami. Miami, 24-21.

Eagles (4-2) at Buccaneers (1-4), 1 p.m. ET

WagerWeb.com line: Eagles -5.5 (43)

Storyline: The Eagles are coming off their second loss of the season, one in which they blew another late lead. Tampa Bay got its first win last week, beating Cincinnati with a touchdown pass from rookie Bruce Gradkowski in the final minute. The Bucs' offense has run a bit better in the rookie's two starts, averaging 17.5 points vs. the nine points it had averaged in the first three games.

Best Bet: Behind Donovan McNabb, the Eagles have one of the best offenses in the league, and they will score against a weakening Bucs defense. Philadelphia, 31-17.

Lions (1-5) at Jets (3-3), 1 p.m. ET

WagerWeb.com line: Jets -3.5 (43)

Storyline: The Lions last week recorded their first win of the season and will try to take advantage of the league's 30^th-ranked defense in this game. The Jets are just 1-2 at home this season and have not won consecutive home games since December 2004. Of course, the Lions are 0-3 on the road this season. Their chances weren't helped when they lost their best defender, DT Shaun Rogers, to a four-game league suspension this week.

Best Bet: The Lions have many injuries and likely will fall short on the road again. New York, 24-17.

Panthers (4-2) at Bengals (3-2), 1 p.m. ET

WagerWeb.com line: Bengals -3 (44.5)

Storyline: The Panthers, 4-0 since Steve Smith returned to the lineup, are looking to win their fifth straight against an underachieving Cincinnati team that lost to Tampa Bay last week. The Bengals are surrendering over 140 rushing yards per game while gaining an average of just 97.4. The offense won't be helped by the absence of LT Levi Jones, who is out several weeks with a knee injury.

Best Bet: With Smith back, the NFC preseason favorite Panthers are on a roll. Carolina, 34-24.

Broncos (4-1) at Browns (1-4), 4:05 p.m. ET

WagerWeb.com line: Broncos -4.5 (32)

Storyline: The Broncos are 4-1 on the strength of their overpowering defense, which has allowed a league-low 37 points and just one touchdown. The offense has scored just 62 points - tied for second-fewest in the league. Four Denver D-linemen return to Cleveland, where they once played together. The Browns are coming off a bye, which followed a 20-12 loss to Carolina on Oct. 8.

Best Bet: The Browns have exceeded 20 points only once this season, not a good sign against the Broncos. Denver, 23-10.

Redskins (2-4) at Colts (5-0), 4:15 p.m. ET

WagerWeb.com line: Colts -8 (48.5)

Storyline: The Colts will try to open 6-0 for the second straight season, something just eight teams have done in NFL history. But they will have to do a better job stopping the run; they are giving up a league-high 166.8 yards per game. To that end, the Colts acquired DT Anthony McFarland from Tampa Bay this week. He is expected to step into the spot vacated by the injured Corey Simon. Meanwhile, the offensively challenged Redskins will ride Clinton Portis, who has six rushing touchdowns.

Best Bet: The Colts have won 18 of their past 21 home games and are averaging 27 points this season. Indianapolis, 28-17.

Vikings (3-2) at Seahawks (4-1), 4:15 p.m. ET

WagerWeb.com line: Seahawks -6.5 (41)

Storyline: Dubbed the Poison Pill Bowl, this one pits ex-Seahawk Steve Hutchinson and the Vikings against ex-Viking Nate Burleson and the Seahawks. The Seahawks are coming off a big win in St. Louis, while the Vikings have had two weeks to prepare for Hutchinson's trip back to Seattle. The Seahawks will be without RB Shaun Alexander for a third straight week and WR Bobby Engram for a second game, but TE Jerramy Stevens is expected to make his season debut.

Best Bet: The Seahawks have won 12 straight at home. Seattle, 27-17.

Cardinals (1-5) at Raiders (0-5), 4:15 p.m. ET

WagerWeb.com line: Cardinals -3 (39.5)

Storyline: The Cardinals are coming off one of the oddest collapses in recent history, allowing the Bears to come back from 20-0 to win with no offensive touchdowns. Arizona has now lost five straight games -- three of them in agonizing fashion. Rookie QB Matt Leinart has played very well in his first two starts, throwing two TD passes in the first quarter of each game. The Raiders, who lost to Denver 13-3 last week, are 0-5 for the first time since 1964, and they have lost 11 straight dating to last season.

Best Bet: The Cardinals have not run the ball well (69.7 yards per game), but the Raiders can't stop the run (149). Arizona, 30-13.

Giants (3-2) at Cowboys (3-2), 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

WagerWeb.com line: Cowboys -3 (45)

Storyline: This big divisional matchup pits two surging NFC East teams. Both have won two straight games and are angling to keep pace with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Giants came from behind to win in Atlanta last week, sacking Michael Vick seven times. The running games will be key in this one as both teams rank third in the league in that category; the Giants could have the tougher time because the Cowboys have the top run defense (67 yards per game).

Best Bet: The Cowboys have outscored opponents 61-16 in two home wins this season. Dallas, 27-20.

LAST WEEK: 7-6

SEASON: 60-27

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