Week 7 Predictions: Sunday early/NFC East games.

Since the Cowboys have the week off this week, I don’t have game previews to do, so the predictions are coming a little early this time around. Will that continue? We’ll see.

Anyway, on to the predictions. Instead of doing a preview of the schedule and then the predictions, I decided that I’d combine the two.

N.Y. Giants vs. Miami (London): In the NFL’s most-recent attempt to bring football to a land that already has plenty of it, the hot Giants take on the cold Dolphins at London’s Wembley Stadium. A lot of people are wondering how the travel would affect both teams, but for the Giants, a trip to London is no worse than going cross-country to Seattle. And, for the Dolphins, jetlag can’t be used as an excuse when you’re as bad as they are. Maybe a little trip is what Miami needs, but then again, this isn’t much of a vacation. I’d prefer for the Giants to lose, so they can get off of Dallas’ back in the East, but the Dolphins are going to have to play their best game of the season and then some in order to cool off the Giants, who have taken the heat off of Tom Coughlin - for now.

Score: N.Y. Giants 28, Miami 14

Washington at New England: No one’s giving the Redskins a chance in this one, as the odds makers have Washington as a three-score underdog. Most 4-2 teams would seemingly get a little more respect than that, but the Patriots have annihilated all seven of their opponents thus far, which apparently means there’s no reason to think that they won’t do otherwise to Washington.

The Redskins defense could keep them in it for a while longer than expected, but the offense is going to have to produce more than it has for most of the season in order to really keep up. You’ve got to take the Patriots, but it might turn out to be a lot more interesting than your online bookie thinks.

Score: New England 31, Washington 17

Philadelphia at Minnesota: The Eagles have been overly underwhelming this season, and while many might think Sunday’s loss to Chicago might have been their low point of the season, it could very well get worse before it gets better. They face a trip to Minnesota, where starting QB Tarvaris Jackson might not play due to an broken finger suffered against the Cowboys. That might be a good thing, considering Kelly Holcomb is an upgrade from the still-developing Jackson, and has the arm to take advantage of a pass defense that has been prone to implosions thus far. The run defense has been solid, but Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor are going to put them to the test.

As for the offense, Donovan McNabb is putting up decent numbers, and so is Brian Westbrook, but they’re not translating into anything in terms of opportunities and points.

Believe it or not, I’m going to pick the Vikings right now. But, if the decision is made to start Jackson, that might change my pick.

Score: Minnesota 23, Philadelphia 17

Detroit at Chicago: In Week 5, the Bears, who were 1-3 at the time, knocked off 4-0 Green Bay 27-20 at Lambeau Field. Quite a few ‘experts’ proclaimed that was the turning point for the Bears. Then they turned around and got beaten at home the very next week by Adrian Peterson, Ryan Longwell, and the 1-3 Vikings.

Last week, Da Bears were less than two minutes away from defeat before Brian Griese led the offense 97 yards down the field for a game-winning touchdown to beat Philadelphia, which, in reality, is no big feat.

So, which Bears will show up this week? Will they continue to fool us into thinking that they’re back, or will they continue to baffle us with another inexplicable loss, much like the one that happened the last time they played the Lions. That was Griese’s first start, and that was also a game where the Lions scored an NFL-record 34 points in the fourth quarter to beat the Bears 37-27 in Week 4.

I’ll take Chicago to win, but everyone needs to hold off on the ‘they’re back!’ talk until they’re actually over .500.

Score: Chicago 27, Detroit 24

Indianapolis at Carolina: While everyone is hyping the Indianapolis-New England matchup in Week 9, both teams have business to attend to in Week 8. The Patriots have (what should be a tough one, but could be another cakewalk) the Redskins at home, while the Colts have to visit Carolina. Grandpa Testaverde will start for the Panthers again, after giving the offense a lift in last Sunday’s win over Arizona (20 of 33, 206 yards, TD, no INTs).

This could very well be a dangerous game for the Colts, but Tony Dungy knows better than to let his guys look ahead to next week, even if it is the New England Patriots.

It won’t be an easy one by any means for the Colts, but they’re playing very well on both offense and defense right now, and those are good ingredients for a cup of 7-0 soup.

Score: Indianapolis 28, Carolina 20

Cleveland at St. Louis: Right about now is when the Browns needs to start losing so that the draft pick they give the Cowboys ends up being a high one.

But, Derek Anderson (1,496 yards, 14 TD, 8 INT) is playing himself into Pro Bowl contention (and so is Braylon Edwards - 29 rec., 552 yards, 7 TD), while keeping Brady Quinn on the bench, and the Browns, after being overly dull for the past several seasons, are all of a sudden worth watching.

The Rams are still in search of their first win, and while their injury list continues to grow (starting DE Leonard Little is out), RB Steven Jackson will be in the starting lineup on Sunday after missing the last four games.

A lot of points could be scored in this one, because neither team’s strength is defense, so, if you’ve got any of these team’s offensive players on your fantasy team, start them.

As for who comes out on top, I’ll take St. Louis to get their first win of the season, because Jackson will give them a huge lift. But, one of the X-factors could be Browns receiver Joe Jurevicius (yes, he still plays), who had a huge game the last time he played in St. Louis (with Seattle in 2005, shortly after his infant son died at a hospital in St. Louis). If he has a big game, Anderson could have one of his biggest game of the season.

Score: St. Louis 35, Cleveland 31

Oakland at Tennessee: After their exciting, record-setting, last-second win over Houston last Sunday, the Titans host the Raiders on Sunday, in a game of great importance for both teams.

The Raiders have lost two in a row to fall into last place in the AFC West, and are in need of a win. Daunte Culpepper will start for an injured Josh McCown once again, and he and his teammates need to put in an inspired performance, much like the one against Miami the last time the Raiders won (35-17 at Miami in Week 4 - 2 TD passes, 3 TD runs for Culpepper, 299 rushing yards for Oakland).

The Titans have an excellent opportunity to solidify second in the AFC South (Indy has a two-game lead, and at this point, well, you’d have to think the Jaguars, Titans, and Texans are playing for second) in the next few weeks, as they have three home games against Oakland, Carolina, and Jacksonville. This stretch comes as the Jaguars (also at 4-2) will likely be without starting QB David Garrard during a stretch that sees them play the Saints, Bucs, Titans, and Chargers.

Tennessee will have Vince Young back in action for Sunday, after he missed the Houston game. It was big for the Titans to show they could take care of business (the hard way, apparently) without Young, so that should help their confidence now that he is back in there.

Score: Tennessee 26, Oakland 17