NFL Schedule - Team vs. Team - Week 7
Arizona Cardinals vs Minnesota Vikings
The Arizona Cardinals will need to break a seven game losing streak at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome if they are going to beat the Minnesota Vikings in week 7. This will be an interesting game between two sides that have improved significantly in 2012. The Cardinals have been strong on both sides of the football and Kevin Kolb has finally secured the starting quarterback position and is playing well. The Minnesota Vikings caused one of the upsets of the season in week 3 and are an outside chance to make a surprise playoff appearance. Christian Ponder is improving as a quarterback every week and is developing into a strong leader. The best gambling play for this game is to bet on the team available at longer odds at Online Sportsbooks.
Baltimore Ravens vs Houston Texans
This is a massive game that could be a preview of the 2012 AFC Conference Championship Game. The Houston Texans have never beaten the Baltimore Ravens in six meetings. However, this is the strongest Texans side in the history of the franchise and they are a strong chance to defeat the Ravens this year. The Texans have been the top AFC team in 2012, thus far, and have looked exceptional on both sides of the football. The Ravens have improved on offense and their defense is still as strong as ever. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco will have to play well as the Texans defense will take advantage of any missed throws. The Texans are the best bet in this game and should be available at good odds.
Cleveland Browns vs Indianapolis Colts
Both these teams have struggled in 2012. The Browns lost their first three games of the season and are staring down the barrel of another losing season. Running back Trent Richardson has added some strength to the Browns offense but Brandon Weeden has not been as effective as the Browns would have liked at quarterback. The Colts are a much better team than they were in 2012 but they still need to improve significantly if they are going to have a winning season. Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck has thrown for good yardage but has thrown far too many interceptions. However, he is clearly a better quarterback than Weeden and should be able to lead the Colts to victory over the Browns.
Dallas Cowboys vs Carolina Panthers
The Dallas Cowboys have an excellent record against the Carolina Panthers. The Cowboys have won eight of their past eleven meetings including the last four. Dallas started the season with a bang against the New York Giants but has failed to replicate that form in subsequent weeks. The team relies heavily on quarterback Tony Romo and he needs to be at his best if the Cowboys are going to win this game. The Panthers rely heavily on their quarterback Cam Newton and he has been very inconsistent in 2012. He is throwing far too many interceptions and not enough touchdown passes. The Panthers defense is still a struggling unit and Romo should be able to take advantage of this. The Cowboys are the best bet in this game and should be available at good odds to beat the spread.
Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears have an excellent record in their long-running rivalry with the Detroit Lions. The Bears have a particularly strong record, against the Lions, at Soldier Field winning over 70% of matches played at the historic venue. This game should be a high-scoring affair between two star studded offenses. The Lions offense has been strong in 2012 but their defense has let them down. The defense must improve if they are going to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders. The Bears much-hyped offense has fizzled in 2012 and quarterback Jay Cutler has produced some very poor performances. Their defense has carried them in the season thus far but if they are going to be legitimate playoff contenders the Bears offense will need to start performing. The best gambling play for this game is to bet on the team available at longer odds at Online Sportsbooks.
Green Bay Packers vs St Louis Rams
The top offense from 2011 takes on the worst when the St Louis Rams host the Green Bay Packers. The Packers offense hasn't been able to reproduce their outstanding form from 2011. They have still managed to win games but they aren't looking unbeatable like they did last season. In contrast, the Rams offense has generally been much better in 2012. Quarterback Sam Bradford seems to have gotten over his sophomore year slump and is back to being his team's leader like he was in his rookie season. However, it is difficult to see the Rams offense being able to keep pace with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense. The Packers should win this game easily.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Oakland Raiders
The Jacksonville Jaguars will be looking to maintain their strong record against the Oakland Raiders when these teams meet in week 7. The Jaguars have won four of the five meetings between these sides and have done so by some large margins. Jacksonville has been one of the big improvers in 2012. Their squad is now far more balanced as Blaine Gabbert has improved his passing and can complement Maurice Jones-Drew nicely. Oakland has not shown much improvement in 2012 and is at extremely long odds to break their playoff drought. Carson Palmer and Darren McFadden have played well at times but haven't been able to produce victories. Jacksonville should win this game and will likely be available at good odds at online sportsbooks.
New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The New Orleans Saints are now at long odds to qualify for the playoffs. The Saints lost their first three games of the season and if they can qualify for the playoffs will become the first team do so after starting the season 0-3 since the San Diego Chargers in 1999. The franchise is obviously missing suspended head coach Sean Payton. If they want to qualify for the playoffs this game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is must-win. The Buccaneers defense has improved significantly in 2012 but they still have a great deal of work to do on offense. Quarterback Josh Freeman continues to struggle and is not the same played as he was in his rookie season. The Saints should win this game as they attempt to get their season but on track.
New York Jets vs New England Patriots
The New York Jets and New England Patriots face off in week 7 to continue one of the most intense rivalries in the NFL. The Jets have been aiming for several years to stop the Patriots domination of the AFC East but have fallen just short. Based on their form in 2012 it is difficult to see them beating the Patriots this year. The Jets just don't look like a playoff contender and have been unable to string together consistent performances. The Patriots haven't been at their best in 2012 but are slowly finding form. If the Patriots offensive line can keeping Tom Brady standing upright they should have no problem beating the Jets and should be available at good odds in spread betting markets at Online Sportsbooks.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals
The Pittsburgh Steelers have an excellent record against divisional rivals the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers have won eight of the last ten meetings between the sides, including the last four. However, the Bengals are a good chance to snap that losing streak in 2012. The Steelers have struggled this season and appear to have finally dropped out of the elite group of NFL teams. Ben Roethlisberger has basically been forced to carry the team on his back and is getting no help from his offensive line. The Bengals have been consistent in 2012 and should finish with a similar record to last season. Andy Dalton and AJ Green are still a strong quarterback-receiver combination and should be able to lead the Bengals to an upset victory over the Steelers.
Seattle Seahawks vs San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers will be looking to extend their three game winning streak against the Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers are expected to easily claim the NFC West in 2012 and would love to finish the season 6-0 against their divisional rivals. This will be a tough low-scoring game as both of these teams have elite defensive units. The Seahawks offense will likely use running back Marshawn Lynch heavily as the 49ers defense will be able to take advantage of any poor throws from Russell Wilson. 49ers quarterback Alex Smith will play a game management role and try to limit any offensive mistakes. The under option in Over/Under betting market looks like an excellent bet in this game.
Tennessee Titans vs Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills will be desperate to snap a four game losing streak against the Tennessee Titans when they meet in Week 7. The Buffalo Bills started the season poorly but are now in good form and are a well and truly in the AFC Wildcard race. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is playing well and running back CJ Spiller is extremely difficult for defenses to handle. The Titans stunned the Detroit Lions in week 3, with young quarterback Jake Locker throwing for two touchdowns and 378 yards. This should be an entertaining and high scoring game. The best gambling play in this game is likely to be betting on the side that is available at longer odds at Online Sportsbooks.
Washington Redskins vs New York Giants
The rivalry between the Washington Redskins and New York Giants is one of the most intense in the NFC. Although the Giants have had the supremacy in the rivalry the games have always been close and very intense. Giants quarterback Eli Manning has an excellent record against the Washington Redskins but lost both games to the side last season. He will be desperate not to extend that losing streak to three in 2012. The Redskins have looked like a much better team with Robert Griffin III as starting quarterback but need to start winning more games if they are going to be playoff contenders. The Giants should win this game but the Redskins might be a good betting option to beat the spread.
