Ron Glover’s NFL Predictions: Week 7
Ray Lewis is one of my all-time favorite players and the unquestioned leader of the Baltimore Ravens. This week Ray-Ray returns home to Miami to take on the Dolphins featuring Ronnie Brown and the Wildcat Offense.
Other games of note: San Diego at Buffalo, New Orleans at Carolina, Minnesota at Chicago and Indianapolis at Green Bay.
Byes this week: Philadelphia, Atlanta, Arizona and Jacksonville.
Sunday October 19, 2008
Baltimore (2-3) at Miami (2-3) 1pm:
We may see more of the Wildcat offense than we expect just to keep the Ravens honest. The Dolphins have to do something, the Ravens are only giving up a league-leading 220 yards per game.
The Pick: Baltimore 17 – Dolphins 16
San Diego (3-3) at Buffalo (4-1) 1pm:
Both teams are a little nicked up Trent Edwards hopes to return Sunday. The Chargers may be without Chris Chambers who has not practiced due to an ankle injury. The Bills cannot let Rivers pick them apart. L.T. may have a breakout game against the league’s 18th best run defense.
The Pick: Bills 28 - Chargers 24
New Orleans (3-3) at Carolina (4-2) 1pm:
The Panthers 2nd ranked pass rush has to knock Drew Brees out of his rhythm to have a chance. Delhomme should be able to get the ball to Mushin Muhammad and Steve Smith in space.
The Pick: Panthers 27 – Saints 20
Pittsburgh (4-1) at Cincinnati (0-6) 1pm:
The Steelers will be rested and ready to go, except for Willie Parker who is still on the mend with a knee injury. The Bengals have given up 130 ypg. at home to Parker so he will not be missed there. Cincinnati again will be without Carson Palmer.
The Pick: Steelers 27 – Bengals 10
Minnesota (3-3) at Chicago (3-3) 1pm:
The Bears are trying to rebound from last week’s heartbreaker to the Falcons, while the Vikings are just trying to build some consistency.
The Pick: Vikings 20 – Chicago 17
San Francisco (2-4) at New York Giants (4-1) 1pm:
The Niners are running into a buzz saw in the Meadowlands, the Giants were embarrassed Monday night and someone has to pay.
The Pick: Giants 35 – Niners 17
Dallas (4-2) at St. Louis (1-4) 1pm:
Two weeks ago I would’ve predicted a blowout. But the Cowboys may go without Tony Romo, Felix Jones is out and who knows what T.O. is really thinking about newcomer Roy Williams. Meanwhile, the Rams are a different team and will give the ‘Boys a fight.
The Pick: Cowboys 24 – Rams 20
Tennessee (5-0) at Kansas City (1-4) 1pm:
Larry Johnson is out, Tony Gonzalez is trying to explain to his teammates why he wanted to be traded and the fans want Carl Peterson’s head. I thought the midwest fans were mellow people.
The Pick: Titans 24 – Chiefs 10
Detroit (0-5) at Houston (1-4) 4:05pm:
The Lions are without Kitna for the rest of the season, add without hope to the list as well.
The Pick: Texans 27 – Lions 0
New York Jets (3-2) at Oakland (1-4) 4:15pm:
I have a feeling that Jamarcus Russell is going to have a breakout game against the Jets 28th ranked pass defense, but I’ve been wrong about the Jets before.
Upset Special: Oakland 24 – Jets 20
Cleveland (2-3) at Washington (4-2) 4:15pm:
The Browns offense emerged in Monday night’s shocker over the Giants. The Skins are banged up in their secondary, but still are ranked 6th against the run.
The Pick: Redskins 28 – Browns 24
Indianapolis (3-2) at Green Bay (3-3) 4:15pm:
The Packers are hurt along their defensive line and the secondary. After last week’s performance the Colts’ offense is licking their chops.
The Pick: Colts 38 – Packers 20
Seattle (1-4) at Tampa Bay (4-2) 8:15pm:
Seahawks backup QB Seneca Wallace will start on Sunday, expect some reverses and trick plays in this one. It won’t be enough though.
The Pick: Bucs 24 – Seahawks 13
Monday October 20, 2008
Denver (4-2) at New England (3-2) 8:30pm:
It’s possible that New England will have the same record as the Miami Dolphins Tuesday Morning.
The Pick: Broncos 24 – Patriots 13
Last Week 8-6, Season 37-35
Just a quick note about the Bills defense vs. the run. They may be ranked 18th with respect to yards per game, but I believe it may be a misleading statistic. LT could go off, but I wouldn’t expect it.
In Game 1: Julius Jones had 45 yds. Maurice Morris was doing well. He had 6 carries for 31 yds. The Bills knocked him out. Knee injury. He hasn’t been seen since.
Game 2: Fred Taylor. 14 carries, 49 yards. Maurice Jones-Drew? 7 carries, 17 yards. Garrard got off on a couple of scrambles.
Game 3: Michael Bush – 14 carries, 55 yards. Not bad. McFadden – 14 carries, 42 yards. Not good. 28 carries, 97 yards – a little more than 3 a pop.
Game 4: Steven Jackson hit ‘em up for 110 on 24 carries. Nice day. Donnie Avery (WR) ran a trick play for 37 yards.
Game 5: Edgerrin – 21 carries, 57 yards. Hightower scored 2 tds in close, but had 7 carries for 37 yds.
Taken as a whole, I doubt that there are 17 other run defenses in the league as solid as the Bills. I think LT is going to have a tough day getting off in Buffalo. If that cross country flight does what I think it will (remember that trip to Miami not too long ago), the Chargers could really catch a bad one. Maybe 38-17.
We’ll see.
I like the Bears to win big.
I’m not so sure about this Tony Gonzalez angle. Let’s see – the owners decided to rebuild and put a ton of rookies in as starters. Brody Croyle is a glorified senior at Alabama. Tony Richardson – gone. Trent Green – gone. Will Shields – gone. Willie Roaf – gone. Eddie Kennison – gone. Who would Tony Gonzalez actually be explaining himself to? Al Saunders – gone. Dick Vermeil – gone. Priest Holmes – gone. Tony Gonzalez has earned the right to tell everyone in the state of Missouri to get on their knees and hope his aim is bad.
I agree. I was taken aback when I read that he called a team meeting to explain his reason(s) for requesting a trade.
I haven’t read that, but I think that’s a positive thing as well. Knowing Gonzalez (the way I don’t), I imagine he said something along the lines of really having a deep affection for the team, the city, etc…but that he really wanted a chance to win before retiring, and that the decision to rebuild (coupled with the exodus of so many veterans) is not what he wants right now.
The Chiefs are more than a few years away. Remember, it wasn’t so long ago that this team was 13-3 and hosting a playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts. Remember that? They lost that game. It’s been relatively down hill ever since.
I like the Chiefs – if for no other reason than that they give the Steelers a tough time and that they gave Marcus Allen a play – so I’d like to see them on top of their game. I remember Joe Delaney and Derrick Thomas. The franchise has had the potential to do some great things in the league, but it’s always something.
Gonzalez would have been great in New York. He’d have become the new mayor. Maybe he could moonlight for the Knicks.
The Bucs v. Hawks could be a trap game so I think they have to win this one before going to Dallas and a tough one at the halfway point. 5-2 looks great going to Dallas.
Lewis is a mean mofo, the best at his position during his prime, no doubt about that.
On an unrelated note, the NFL is about to suspend the much excoriated Matt Jones:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3651996
LT – 14 carries, 41 yards.
Great week for you Ron Glover. Talk to my bookie!!
Thanks!