NFL 2011 Week 7 picks

Top Ten Teams
1.  Green Bay Packers (6-0) : The only remaining unbeaten team sits atop the league!
2.  San Francisco 49ers (5-1) : Despite a handshake controversy, you can't deny the improvement this team has experienced under Jim Harbaugh
3.  Detroit Lions (5-1) : Jim Schwartz may be a bit of a sore loser, but his team and the community are enjoying their best start since Barry Sanders was in the backfield
4.  New England Patriots (5-1) : Tom Brady and company are back in command
5.  Baltimore Ravens (4-1)
6.  Buffalo Bills (4-2) : A stumble against the Giants doesn't diminish the awesome offensive performances engineered by Ryan Fitzpatrick this season
7.  New Orleans Saints (5-1) : They may be one-sided, but the Saints offense still rules
8.  Cincinnati Bengals (4-2)
9.  San Diego Chargers (4-1) : The offense is sputtering, but the defense keeps them winning
10. Houston Texans (3-3) : Don't let their record fool you - this defense is still tough as nails

Division Rankings
1.  NFC North:  The Lions may have lost, but they still have two of the Top Three teams.  The Bears are even looking better, and the Vikings could change their fortunes with Christian Ponder.
2.  AFC East:  Despite a loss by the Bills, the division leaped over the AFC North for second place.
3.  NFC East:  Dallas is the only team with a minus point differential, and it's pretty small.  That's a competent division.
4.  AFC North:  With two teams in the Top Ten, and Pittsburgh knocking on the door, Cleveland is the team bringing this division down.
5.  AFC South:  They have only one team with a winning record, but Houston is strong enough to keep this division afloat.
6.  NFC South:  With three teams with negative point differentials, the Saints are the only positive aspect of this division.
7.  AFC West:  San Diego and Oakland are doing fine, and Denver hopes to turn their luck around by putting Tebow under center.
8.  NFC West:  While Seattle occassionally offers some excitement, the 49ers are the only team of interest in this division.

Sunday early games
Atltanta Falcons (3-3) at Detroit Lions (5-1):  The Lions bounce back by administering a whipping against the Falcons.  Matty Ice and the Falcons offense isn't clicking, which opens the door for the Lions offense to establish a strong lead.  LIONS, 31-17

Chicago Bears (3-3) at Tampa Bay Bucs (4-2):  Despite the fact that the Bears have not been impressive for most of the season, I have to go with the upset here.  The Bucs have allowed more points than they've scored, and their offense isn't much more stable than the Bears.  The Bucs' offensive line is better, but the Bears have better players.  I think the Bears have more incentive to win this game, too.  BEARS, 24-17

Denver Broncos (1-4) at Miami Dolphins (0-5):  You have to feel for the winless Dolphins this week.  They host equally hapless Denver, who are now led by an inexperienced quarterback, but the home crowd will be rooting for the opposing quarterback!  Tim Tebow returns home, and Miami is planning a celebration in his honor.  That might anger the Dolphins, and push them to score early, but they will eventually get disallusioned and give up.  Tebow will win his first game as a starter, thanks to a road game celebration.  BRONCOS, 23-16

Houston Texans (3-3) at Tennessee Titans (3-2):  This is a game that really could go either way.  Houston has the better personnel, but the Titans find ways to win, and they're at home.  Still, I'll pick the visiting team, but only just barely.  TEXANS, 23-21

San Diego Chargers (4-1) at New York Jets (3-3):  The Jets defense has lacked the teeth they had the past two years.  The Chargers offense hasn't been as dynamic as usual, letting their defense do the work.  Mark Sanchez has grown into his job, but I think the Chargers' defense will find ways to rattle him.  If the Jets defense doesn't grow claws, the Chargers should win this one.  CHARGERS, 24-20

Seattle Seahawks (2-3) at Cleveland Browns (2-3):  Boy, this one was tough to call.  Seattle can surprise, so they're a threat to win practically any week.  However, I'm going to go with ANOTHER upset this week, and pick McCoy and the Browns to step it up this week.  BROWNS, 20-17

Washington Redskins (3-2) at Carolina Panthers (1-5):  The Redskins defense was hit last week, so they'll toughen up this week.  Grossman was pulled after four interceptions, but I'm not sure it'll matter WHO plays at quarterback; both Rex Grossman and John Beck can beat the pathetic Panthers defense.  REDSKINS, 23-17

Sunday late games
Green Bay Packers (6-0) at Minnesota Vikings (1-5):  The only unbeaten team in the league should continue to roll, thoroughly trouncing the Vikings in Christian Ponder's starting debut.  PACK, 34-17

Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) at Oakland Raiders (4-2):  The Raiders' offense is pretty easy to identify -- just find where Darren McFadden is.  Despite that, he's still hard to bring down.  The Chiefs aren't scoring much, so the Raiders defense will have it pretty easy this week.  RAIDERS, 27-13

Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) at Arizona Cardinals (1-4):  How can the Steelers be only 4 point favorites against the Cardinals?  Granted, their offense hasn't been strong, but they still have a good defense, and the Cards haven't been able to do much offensively this season so far.  Easy win for the Steelers.  STEELERS, 23-13

St Louis Rams (0-5) at Dallas Cowboys (2-3):  The Cowboys defense showed some life last week against the Patriots.  They won't need such a defensive performance against the Rams, who own the worst scoring offense in the league.  COWBOYS, 27-13

Sunday Night:  Indianapolis Colts (0-6) at New Orleans Saints (4-2):  Curtis Painter is starting to show some ability, but he's still learning the system.  The Colts' offense won't be able to keep up with the Saints offense when they get going.  The Colts are happy that the Saints defense isn't too good, so Painter and company get some changes to score, but the Colts' defense won't be too successful at slowing the Saints.  SAINTS, 31-16

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL -- Baltimore Ravens (4-1) at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5):  Like the late Sunday games, this will be another runaway.  It seems like the Sunday early games will be the only close ones.  RAVENS, 21-10