October 16, 2008

By Jason and Rob Thompson

Welcome to Week 7 in the NFL where the league's best offense is in San Diego, the league's best defense is in Tennessee and the league's best simulation team is right here on EA Sportworld.  On the season we are an impressive 49-38  So let's get to the sims...





Pittsburgh 23 v. Cincinnati 13

The Bengals are so bad I personally do not believe that a win over this team should count towards playoff eligibility.  Will the Steelers beat Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bungles?  Yes.  Who is Ryan Fitzpatrick?  Some dude the Bengals have sentenced to play QB for them.  Will it be within 10 points?  In the first quarter maybe... but this smells like a beat-down to me.  The Steelers had a bye-week last week which should help Ben Roethlisberger, Willie Parker and Casey Hampton recover from early season injuries.  In my own personal sim the Steelers win 107-0.



PREDICTION:  Baltimore 19 v. Miami 22

Two average teams with 2-3 records.  As bad as the Ravens offense is they are a team going nowhere this year.  Ravens QB Joe Flacco tossed three-interceptions, fumbled twice and was sacked four times last week.  The Ravens' suits should have tried to trade Ray Lewis before the deadline because it is a shame to see Lewis' last few years in the league wasted on such a bad team.   



PREDICTION: San Diego 28 v. Buffalo 23

The only loss on the Bills record was to Arizona - the league's second highest scoring offense.  This week, the Bills fall out of the frying pan and into the fire against the league's highest scoring offense.  If the Bills can put a lid on the turnovers (four turnovers vs. Arizona) they can compete with anyone.  Trent Edwards should return to the starting line-up this week which will be a big improvement over JP Losman.



PREDICTION: New Orleans 26 v. Carolina 23

Drew Brees is the most underrated player in the NFL.  He has 1,993 yards passing and 12 TD's WITHOUT Marquis Colston who may return this week.  Jake Delhomme on the other hand is coming off a pathetic performance against Tampa Bay last week (three interceptions); a 27-3 pummeling that may take the Panthers a month to recover from.  Geaux Saints!



PREDICTION: Minnesota 17 v. Chicago 19

Lost in the haze of .500 records are two running backs that have electric talent.  Adrian Peterson (3rd in the league in rushing with 563 yards) and Matt Forte (5th with 459) are both every-down multi-dimensional backs.  Both teams have had their hearts ripped out in defeat this season.  The Bears last week versus the Falcons had to have been the most painful.  I think the Bears win this game because the have a better quarterback in Kyle Orton.  The Vikings have Gus Whats-his-face who was average when he was young ten years ago.



PREDICTION: SF 49ers 16 v. New York Giants 34

There are more than a few Giants apologists out there saying that last week's loss to the Browns was an aberration;  that the Giants just played a bad game but they are actually a great team and probably better than last year.  That is false.  The Giants feasted on the worst teams in the league to create a flimsy 4-0 record.  They beat the Redskins, Rams, Bengals, and Seahawks.  I am not saying that the 49ers are better.  They are not.  But the Giants are not nearly as good as their 4-1 record would have you believe.



PREDICTION: Dallas 27 v. St. Louis 24

Two teams tending in opposite directions.  The Cowboys are struggling after a huge upset loss, a player suspension, and injuries. (Late word is that Tony Romo wants to play this weekend with a broken pinkie finger on his throwing hand.)  The Rams on the other hand appear to have new life with a new head coach in Jim Haslett.  If Romo does not play, 40 year-old Brad Johnson will get the start and the trends will continue... Rams win, Cowboys lose.



PREDICTION: Tennessee 13 v. Kansas City 20

I could not agree with our sim more here.  I know it looks odd to see the Chiefs handing the Titans their first loss of the year but I believe it will happen.  Like the Giants, the Titans record (5-0) is not that impressive when you consider that four of those wins came against Cincinnati, Houston, Minnesota and Baltimore.  I do not think the Chiefs are that good but they will get Brodie Croyle back this week and the Titans are just not a 6-0 team.



PREDICTION: Detroit 27 v. Houston 13

With the firing of Matt Millen earlier this year and the trading of Roy Williams to the Dallas Cowboys the Lions season is officially done.  The Texans will win this game despite what our sim says because you can not sim emotion.



PREDICTION: NY Jets 34 v. Oakland 12

When is it okay to label a draft pick a bust?  If JaMarcus Russell does what our sim suggests (10-19, 99 yards, 0 TDs, 2INTs) it will be late Sunday afternoon.

 

PREDICTION: Cleveland 20 v. Washington 24

At 10-6 a year ago the Browns needed a win badly last week and they got one against a heavily favored Giants team on Monday Night.  It was the kind of win that could revive the Browns season.  Consider that they racked up 454 yards of offense and never punted.  Unfortunately the Browns will catch the Redskins at home with the league's leading rusher in Clinton Portis in a must win situation for the Redskins who are coming off an embarrassing loss last week.  Whoever loses this game may be ending their season early. 

 

PREDICTION: Indianapolis 30 v. Green Bay 27

Peyton Manning and the Colts appear to have hit their stride just in time for this trip to Lambeau Field.  Manning had a 134.7 QB rating in their 31-3 win over Baltimore last week.  Aaron Rogers is not 100% and has not been practicing very much over the last couple of weeks.  The lack of practice has not however hurt his game-day play.  Our sim has him with 212 yards passing and 3 TDs in a loss.



Sunday Night

PREDICTION: Seattle 23 v. Tampa Bay 27

After watching Tampa Bay erase the Panthers last week I do not see how Seattle will be able to keep this game close.  With Matt Hasselbeck out this week it will be either Seneca Wallace (calf injury) or Charlie Frye starting at QB... and getting flattened by the Buccaneers defense.



Monday Night

PREDICTION: Denver 10 v. New England 24

Something tells me there is a Patriots fan on our sim team that snuck Tom Brady into the line-up here.  As I told you last week it is time for Patriots fans to brace themselves for the 6-8 game losing streak.  If two games makes a streak, the streak begins this week with the Pats second loss in a row.



Bye Week:  Jacksonville, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Arizona

There you have it.  Week 7 of the NFL season as predicted by the Madden NFL 09 and NFL Head Coach 09 teams here at EA SPORTS.  Have a great weekend and we'll be watching with you!

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