NFL Week 7 Picks October 23 2005

Once again we beat the ESPN experts, going a combined .778 vs their .694. If you went with Trevor’s picks last week (12-2), you probably won your office pool. We’re looking to continue the trend this week. Here are your week 7 picks.

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Week 7 Picks

Locks of the Week

Vegas Vinny: I’m back, baby! And after riding Seattle to a lock last week, I’m going to do it again. As of press time, Julius Jones was still questionable. The Seattle D (even without Hamlin) will make things tough for Bledsoe and whichever RB the Cowboys throw out there. The loss of Flozell “the Hotel” Adams is going to be big. On the other side of the ball, look for Walter Jones to open up huge holes for Shaun Alexander. Gimme Seahawks (-3).

Teri Berg: Yes, the Rams are playing at home, but they’re 1-3 there so far this season. Not good. Especially when Jamie Martin is under center. Maybe St. Louis will rein in their passing game and go with Stephen Jackson and Marshall Faulk on Sunday, since New Orleans is No. 26 versus the run. But my hunch is — they won’t. So instead, the Rams are looking at a surprisingly good pass defense — ranked fifth in the league after having played four big-passing opponents. On offensive for NO, Aaron Brooks is still a backup-type QB, but last week he lit it up against the Falcons. Jim Haslett will be happy if Brooks simply keeps possession of the ball. But the Saints’ running game has been an unexpected boon. Now ranked at No. 9, their backfield of Antowain Smith and Aaron Stecker rushed for 174 yards vs. Atlanta last week. Still, it’ll be close — neither team is a sure thing at this point. But I’m thinking that while New Orleans’s topsy-turvy season is settling down a little, St. Louis is now reeling — too much, I think, to focus on winning. Saints (+3)

BostonMac: As mediocre as the Seahawks looked a few weeks ago, they seem to be hitting on all cylinders (at least offensively) right now, even with their key wideouts banged up. Joe Jurevicius has stepped up nicely, becoming the go-to guy for a suddenly-steady Matt Hasselbeck (the NFL’s fourth-rated passer) when they need a tough completion, especially in the red zone. (Kudos to me for picking him up off the fantasy free agent wire two weeks ago.) Shaun Alexander will be fired up to break Chris Warren’s franchise rushing record and #37 is running the ball lately as well as he has in his career. I don’t think Dallas can win in Seattle, especially with rookie stud linebacker Lofa Tatupu (Plainville, MA/King Philip High School/University of Maine/USC, son of ’85 Patriots legend and AFC Championship game hero Mosi Tatupu) barreling down on Drew Bledsoe and Julius Jones (if he plays, if not Anthony Thomas) all game. I am taking Seattle (-3) at home. Note: With my record in locks, this means bet the mortgage on the ‘Boys, of course.

Trevor F: I think the Chiefs win this game
outright. KC just has too many offensive weapons for Miami. Look for KC
to try and get Tony Gonzalez more involved as he has been invisible the
first five games of the season. Another key factor in choosing KC is
because Gus Frerotte will be appearing on your CBS TV screen not in a
commerical for the Amazing Race (with partner Tim Couch), but in an actual
NFL game for a sixth straight week as a starting quarterback. His numbers
so far are 1,116 yards passing with 7 TD’s and 6 INT’s. That means he is
due for a stinker. Chiefs (+1)