The Forecaster

Week # 7

This feature is the sole opinion of Chris Smith and it may not correspond to the rankings / projections of the Footballguys.com website.

2002 Forecaster record to date: 48 wins against 40 losses.

****If a player is not listed you should not consider playing him this week. ****

SUNDAY, October 20th On Bye “Cincinnati, New England, N.Y. Giants, Tennessee”

Jacksonville Jaguars 3-2 at Baltimore Ravens 2-3

Game Forecast

Both of these football teams have been better than expected. The Jaguars lost last week in Tennessee when Mark Brunell went down to injury but they have looked very strong with him under the helm. Led by a renewed passion from Fred Taylor who is finally healthy (knock on wood, Taylor owners) and a solid passing attack led by Brunell and Jimmy Smith, the Jaguars have been playing way over their heads. Fred Taylor is averaging almost 90 yards per game and the only disappointment for owners who took a chance on him is that the Jaguars bring Stacey Mack into the game when the team is near the endzone. The Jaguar defense has only given up 19 points a game which is surprising considering the player turnover that has taken place over the last two seasons because of salary cap difficulties.

The Ravens almost knocked off the Colts in Indianapolis last week despite having their leader, Ray Lewis sidelined with injury. The Ravens are beginning to move the ball on offense and the defense which was given up for dead appears to be roaring back to life. In the weak AFC North division, it is the Ravens who are currently in first place despite the poor 2-3 record to date. Jamal Lewis is running like he is possessed after a slow start to begin the season. The knee injury looks to be completely healed and he is running with both power and quickness. Chris Redman hasn't set the world on fire as a first year starting quarterback but he has thrown more touchdowns than interceptions (5 - 3), which is encouraging in a young quarterback.

- Ravens beat the Jaguars each of the past two seasons in Baltimore
- The Ravens are 13-5 at home over the past 18 games.

Must Starts - Fred Taylor, Jamal Lewis, Jimmy Smith

Possible Starts - Mark Brunell?, Chris Redman, Todd Heap?

Only in a Pinch - Brendon Stokley?, Travis Taylor, Stacey Mack, Kyle Brady, Patrick Johnson, Bobby Shaw

Final Thoughts: The Jaguars chance for victory in this game depends on how healthy Mark Brunell can get this week. They have zero chance of victory with rookie David Garrard at the helm who isn't ready to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. The Ravens are beginning to believe on both sides of the ball and they'll even their record at 3-3 in this game. Look for another solid rushing performance from Jamal Lewis.

Predicted Score:Jacksonville Jaguars 16 at Baltimore Ravens 24

Carolina Panthers 3-3 at Atlanta Falcons 2-3

Game Forecast

The Panthers have come back down to earth after an improbable start to the season. Rodney Peete has been knocked out of the lineup and Chris Weinke is back in as the starting quarterback. Lamar Smith has cooled off after a great start and the Panthers find themselves back even at 3 wins and 3 losses. The Panthers defense has been stellar so far in 2002 led by great play from budding superstars such as Dan Morgan, Julius Peppers and Deon Grant. Giving up only 12.5 points per contest will keep them in every game they play this season but they'll have to do it this weekend without Morgan who is out this week with a groin injury.

The Atlanta Falcons season has been up and down like a yo-yo. They have played every game tough and with a break or two could easily be 4-1 on the season. Going into New York and knocking off the Giants without Michael Vick at quarterback was a huge confidence builder for this team. Doug Johnson proved his worth as a backup quarterback and the running back duo of Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett are running the ball well. Duckett is emerging as the go-to back on the team and he now has more carries on the season than Dunn. Dunn continues to catch a lot of passes for the team though. The Falcons are also getting great play from their defense and are giving up only 16.8 points per contest. Linebacker Keith Brooking is a tackling machine with 42 solo tackles in 5 games.

- Atlanta Falcons have won the past 4 games at home against the Panthers.

Must Starts - Lamar Smith

Possible Starts - Michael Vick?, Brian Finneran, Warrick Dunn, T.J. Duckett

Only in a Pinch - Muhsin Muhammad, Steve Smith ?, Chris Weinke, Alge Crumpler, Shawn Jefferson, Wesley Walls ?

Final Thoughts: Should be a hard hitting defensive affair in Atlanta this week between two vastly improved defenses. The difference in this one will be the play of Michael Vick who will lead the Falcons back to a .500 record on the season.

Predicted Score: Carolina Panthers 10 at Atlanta Falcons 14

Chicago Bears 2-3 at Detroit Lions 1-4

Game Forecast

The Bears have been a major disappointment to start the season and are under .500 after the first 5 games. This has become a must win game for the team if they have playoff aspirations this season. The running attack that was so strong in 2001 has been struggling to produce this year. Anthony Thomas has 110 carries but only 333 yards and a paltry 2 touchdowns. Those numbers are way down from last year and both Thomas and his offensive line need to step up and have a good game this week to get the “Train” rolling once again. Jim Miller on the other hand has been solid to start the year with 1217 passing yards and 10 touchdowns after 5 games. He is listed as questionable this weekend so he is somewhat of a risky start. The Bears best receiver once again has been Marty Booker who is on pace for an dazzling 1800 receiving yards this season to go along with 118 receptions. The Bears defense has been a major disappointment. They have gone from breathtaking last year to quite ghastly this campaign and are giving up an embarrassing 26.4 points per contest.

The Lions are beginning to earn dividends already on rookie sensation Joey Harrington. It is very hard for a rookie quarterback to come into the NFL and play at a high level but Harrington has had a pretty nice start. He has been streaky but has displayed a very nice touch on the deep pass and has both poise and coolness in the pocket. He is up to 810 passing yards and has 5 touchdown passes against 6 interceptions while throwing to a very pedestrian receiver group. Give this kid a legitimate NFL talent to throw the ball too and watch out NFL defenses around the league. James Stewart has been a no-show so far in 2002 with no rushing touchdowns. He has only 248 rushing yards in the 4 games he has played in 2002 and will need to do more to help his young quarterback when they begin to play the better teams. The Lions defense is awful. There is no other way to describe it. They need a lot of help in the secondary before the Lions will be ready to compete for a playoff position.

- The Bears have won the last two games in Detroit

Must Starts - Anthony Thomas, Marty Booker

Possible Starts - Joey Harrington, Jim Miller?, James Stewart, A.Z. Hakim, Michael Ricks (?)

Only in a Pinch - Dez White, Marcus Robinson, Bill Schroeder?, John Davis

Final Thoughts: The Lions have been playing better football the last couple of weeks but the Bears are coming off of a bye week and need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. They will beat up on the Lions this weekend. The Bears should score a lot of points so don't hesitate to start any Bear starters you have this week.

Predicted Score:Chicago Bears 31 at Detroit Lions 17

Denver Broncos 4-2 at Kansas City Chiefs 3-3

Game Forecast

Both of these teams have had killer schedules to start the season and emerged in pretty good shape. The Broncos have one of the top defenses in the league this year. They can shut down the opponents rushing attack as good as anyone in football and are also adept at playing pass defense. The linebacking core of the Broncos featuring Ian Gold, John Mobley and Al Wilson is perhaps the best unit in the NFL. On the offensive side of the ball, Clinton Portis has emerged as the go-to running back for the Broncos. His blend of quickness and speed causes the opposition problems and he is looking better each week out. He is averaging over 5 yards a carry so far. Brian Griese is throwing for over 250 yards per game and has a solid 10 touchdowns on the season. The dynamic duo of Ed McCaffrey and Rod Smith continue to impress and put up solid numbers every season. McCaffrey is back up to full speed and playing excellent ball.

The Chiefs can score with anybody in the NFL. However they also cannot stop anyone. The defense plays with passion but simply does not have the talent to get the job done. They are giving up a leaky 32 points per game on the season. Trent Green is now the 4th rated fantasy quarterback in the NFL this year. He has tossed a league-leading 15 touchdowns on the season so far. Priest Holmes in the fantasy MVP this season and could easily be the NFL MVP as well. He has put up a stellar 962 total yards and an amazing 11 touchdowns on the season. Tony Gonzalez is still his All-Pro self and Marc Boerigter (a star in the CFL) is emerging as a bonfide threat in the offensive attack. If the Chiefs can find a way to improve their defensive play to even a mediocre level, they could be a serious Super Bowl threat. However the good NFL teams will find a way to beat the Chiefs most weeks.

- The K.C. Chiefs have won the last three at home against the Broncos.

Must Starts - All Bronco starters, Trent Green, Priest Holmes, Tony Gonzalez

Possible Starts - Johnnie Morton

Only in a Pinch - Mike Anderson, Eddie Kennison, Tony Richardson, Marc Boerigter?

Final Thoughts: This will be an exceptional football game. The Chiefs and Broncos are both coming off of last minute losses and are going to come out angry and determined. Both offenses have lots of talent and can put up a lot of points. The difference in this contest will be the strong defensive play of the Broncos who will help them go into the intimidating atmosphere in Kansas City and pull off a much needed victory. I bet the Chiefs wish they had left the division to go to the NFC West instead of the Seahawks. Clinton Portis will have a huge game this week. Look for 150 total yards and a touchdown or two. Broncos win.

Predicted Score:Denver Broncos 34 at Kansas City Chiefs 24

Seattle Seahawks 1-4 at St. Louis Rams 1-5

Game Forecast

The Rams finally got the giant monkey off of their backs and won a game. Not only that but they knocked off the undefeated Raiders and the Rams swagger is back (at least to a degree). With Kurt Warner and Jamie Martin hurting, Marc Bulger got his chance to shine and did a very nice job for the team. However it was Marshall Faulk raising the team up on his shoulders and dominating the football game that led the Rams to victory. After walking out on a Bob Costas interview earlier in the week, it was clear that Faulk was not a happy camper. Being the competitor he is, the 0-5 start was killing him and his reaction during the interview showcased that frustration. Instead of pouting or packing it in though, Marshall Faulk responded with his best game of the season. He carried the team last week and appears to be back on track after a very slow start (for him at least). He has a great match up this weekend against a Seahawk defense that has struggled so far this season. Look for him to put up nice numbers for the second straight week.

The Seahawks are struggling this season. With another sluggish start out of the gate, head coach Mike Holmgren may be getting worried about his job security in Seattle. This could be a must win game for both himself and the team. If they go to 1-5, the playoffs will be out of the question yet again for the franchise. The 49ers had their way with the Seahawks defense last week being able to both run and pass on the team. The Seahawks will have to key on Marshall Faulk and do everything in their power to try and slow him down. That means one of the Rams starting receivers, Isaac Bruce or Torry Holt will have a huge game for the Rams. I have a feeling that it will be Torry Holt who will catch a couple of touchdown passes. The Hawks will be looking to get the ball into Shaun Alexander’s hands 25+ times in this game. He is the key to a Hawks victory and they’ll give him every opportunity to showcase his talents.

Must Starts - Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce,

Possible Starts - Jamie Martin, Trent Dilfer, Darrell Jackson?, Ernie Conwell, Itula Mili?, Shaun Alexander ?

Only in a Pinch - Ricky Proehl, Koren Robinson, Bobby Engram

Final Thoughts: The Rams will have too much offense at home for the Seahawks. Look for lots of production from both teams in this contest led by Marshall Faulk and Torry Holt who will have excellent games.

Predicted Score: Seattle Seahawks 21 at St. Louis Rams 34

Buffalo Bills 3-3 at Miami Dolphins 5-1

Game Forecast

The Bills and the Dolphins meet up for another battle. These two teams have had some epic games over the past decade including a couple playoff tilts along the way. There is no love lost between these teams and both will be ready to play in this game. The Bills continue to roll on offense with Drew Bledsoe on pace to break some of Dan Marino’s single season records. Bledsoe is on pace for 5376 passing yards on the season to go along with 37 touchdown passes. With Bledsoe’s fine play is the production from both Eric Moulds and Peerless Price who are two of the top three fantasy producers at receiver this year. Together they have combined for an outstanding 1195 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. Travis Henry continues to rack up rushing yardage as well with 499 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns on the season. He continues to have problems with fumbling but his production every week will ensure he continues to start each week. The Bills defense is as poor as the offense is good. They have serious issues on that side of the ball and are giving up a brutal 34 points per game. They cannot stop the run and that means Ricky Williams will destroy them this week.

The Dolphins have survived a tough stretch of games and are an impressive 5-1 on the season that has myself and all the other Dolphin fans excited about the team’s prospects this season. Every year it seems like the Dolphins start strong and fade fast but with a dominant rushing attack and relentless defensive play so far, it appears as though the team is finally legitimate Super Bowl contenders instead of pretenders. The injury (broken thumb) to quarterback Jay Fiedler hurts the team but not as much as many folks believe. Ray Lucas is a similar player to Fiedler with more athletic prowess. He should be able to step in and do an outstanding job in relieve. It was this past off-season that many Dolphins fans were calling for him to get the nod as the starting quarterback over Fiedler anyways so there is some confidence he can get the job done. Besides, with the rushing attack going so well, the position of quarterback on the Dolphins can be considered a caretaker of sorts as Lucas will be asked to simply keep the mistakes to a minimum. Another worry is the health of Chris Chambers after the wicked shot he took last week against the Broncos. He is still suffering from the hit and his concussion could easily keep him out of this weeks action as well.

On a personal note, I would like to thank the Dolphins for stepping up the past two weeks and taking care of business. The past two weeks, I have had a bet with two different buddies at work (one a Patriots fanatic, the other a Broncos fanatic) regarding the Dolphins. It was a “Jersey for Jersey” bet where the loser would have to where the winning teams jersey for that entire week. I must say that both the Patriot and Bronco buddies looked stunning in the teal of the Miami Dolphins. It has been an entertaining two weeks. I happen to have a Bills buddy at work as well but unfortunately he appears to be too chicken to step up to the plate <grin>. Perhaps I will persuade him yet.

Must Starts - Ricky Williams, Randy McMichael, Drew Bledsoe, Eric Moulds, Peerless Price

Possible Starts - Travis Henry, Jay Riemersma, James McKnight, Ray Lucas

Only in a Pinch - James McKnight, Josh Reed, Dedric Ward, Desmond Clark, Oronde Gadsden?, Chris Chambers?

Final Thoughts: Even with the injuries to Jay Fiedler and Chris Chambers, the Dolphins have too much on both sides of the ball for the Bills to handle. Expect a monster game from Ricky Williams to the tune of 200 total yards and at leat 2 touchdowns and one of the Dolphins receivers (perhaps James McKnight or Dedric Ward) will emerge with a nice game. Also expect huge things from Randy McMichael this weekend. The Bills offense will score points but it won't be enough.

Predicted Score: Buffalo Bills 21 at Miami Dolphins 31

San Francisco 49ers 4-1 at New Orleans Saints 5-1

Game Forecast

My horrid streak of forecasting Saints games continues. The 49ers are 4-1 despite the offense starting somewhat slowly this season. Once the offense finds their groove, the 49ers will be very tough to beat. The 49ers defense has been very solid this year. They are hard to run and pass against and will soon be known as one of the best NFL defenses of this season. The 49ers are only giving up 16 points per game and seem to be getting stronger as the season goes on. Jeff Garcia has started very slow this season but you gotta figure that he'll turn it around soon and what better place than an important tilt against the Saints who have a below average secondary. Look for a big game from Garcia in this one as he hooks up with Terrell Owens for at least 100 yards and a touchdown.

The Saints continue to win in a variety of different ways. Last week it was the defense and the special team units that came up with all the big plays. Lady Luck seems to be on the Saints side this season and it will be interesting to see if they can keep this up all season. The offensive unit for the Saints is superb. Led by the talented Aaron Brooks, the offense has been rolling all season long. Deuce McAllister is a great talent at running back while the receiving core is also very talented. The Saints defense has been decent but can be exploited down the field by a talented quarterback.

Must Starts - Jeff Garcia, Terrell Owens, Aaron Brooks, Deuce McAllister, Joe Horn

Possible Starts - Garrison Hearst, Kevan Barlow, Jerome Pathon, Eric Johnson

Only in a Pinch - Tai Streets, Dante Stallworth (doubtful), J.J. Stokes ?

Final Thoughts: Really this game is too close to call. Both teams are on a roll and both have lots of talent. I believe the key to this game is Jeff Garcia and the passing attack against the Saints secondary which hasn't been great this season. However with my past track record in predicting the Saints this year, I could be completely off the mark once again.

Predicted Score: San Francisco 49ers 27 at New Orleans Saints 24

Minnesota Vikings 1-4 at New York Jets 1-4

Game Forecast

Two teams with serious defensive shortcomings hook up in New York this week. Simply put, expect both teams to put up a lot of points against defenses that simply are not that good. This is a good opportunity for Chad Pennington to show what he can do at the NFL level and Curtis Martin should have a great week. The Vikings will also be able to move the ball and Randy Moss should finally have a top tier week that so many fantasy owners have been waiting for.

Must Starts - Daunte Culpepper, Michael Bennett, Randy Moss, Curtis Martin, Laveranues Coles

Possible Starts - Anthony Becht, Santana Moss, Moe Williams, Chad Pennington

Only in a Pinch - Jim Kleinsasser, Derrick Alexander, Lamont Jordan, Wayne Chrebet ?

Final Thoughts: Expect a lot of points from both teams. Neither of these teams is capable of reaching the playoffs but whoever wins this game can at least continue the dream for another week or two. The loser of this game will already be looking ahead to the 2003 NFL Draft.

Predicted Score: Minnesota Vikings 28 at N.Y. Jets 30

Tampa Bay Bucs 5-1 at Philadelphia Eagles 3-2

Game Forecast

This is an outstanding defensive contest in Philly this weekend between two serious Super Bowl contenders. The Buccaneers have been dominant on defense this season and have given up less than 10 points per game. Heck the defense has almost scored that many points themselves over the first 6 games. The offense isn't flashy but Brad Johnson has been solid and the team doesn't need to score many points to win each week. Michael Pittman has been a huge disappointment so far but Mike Alstott looked great last week, running for over 100 yards. Keyshawn Johnson hasn't been terrific but he is another solid member of a very good football team.

The Eagles are led by MVP candidate Donovan McNabb, who runs and passes his team to victory each week. He has put up sensational numbers this season and is the driving force behind the Eagles success. The rushing attack has been decent but will likely be shut down in a big way against the terrifying Buccaneers rush defense. That will mean McNabb will have to play a great game to pull out a victory for the team. Look for Antonio Freeman to find some open space this weekend with the Buccaneers trying to shut down leading receiver James Thrash.

Must Starts - Donovan McNabb, Keyshawn Johnson, Chad Lewis

Possible Starts - Brad Johnson, James Thrash, Antonio Freeman, Duce Staley, Michael Pittman

Only in a Pinch - Mike Alstott, Dorsey Levens, Todd Pinkston, Keenan McCardell, Ricky Dudley

Final Thoughts: The Eagles are a solid team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. However, they have already lost two football games to start the season and a third could be troubling for the team. Expect the Eagles to pull out a hard fought victory against a very good Buccaneers squad.

Predicted Score: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13 at Philadelphia Eagles 14

San Diego Chargers 5-1 at Oakland Raiders 4-1

Game Forecast

The Chargers travel into Oakland to try and claim the top spot in the ultra-competitive AFC West featuring four strong football teams. The Chargers have surprised so far in 2002 by playing solid football despite an average passing attack. Second year running back Ladainian Tomlinson has been super for the team, running with both power and elusiveness. He is the catalyst for the Chargers offensive attack and he seems to thrive on getting more than 20 touches a game. Curtis Conway has officially put his injury plagued days with the Chicago Bears of years past behind him. First he had a good year in 2001 and now he is putting up the kind of numbers that he was expected to many seasons ago when the Bears took him in the draft. With no other legitimate professional receiver to take pressure off of him, Conway continues to put up very nice numbers. The Chargers defense is the strength of the team and they are solid against both the run and the pass. It may be surprising to some that the Chargers are off to such a great start but it shouldn’t be because they are for real. A team with a strong rushing attack and good defense will always be competitive.

The Raiders were in need of a wake up call after four games against lesser competition and boy did the Rams supply them with one. The Raiders have played great football so far but their opponents are a combined 6-23 on the season so far. The Chargers have almost won that many games themselves. The Raiders were humiliated in St. Louis last week and should be determined this week to put it behind them. The Chargers give up a lot of fantasy points to receivers and that should play right into the Raiders strength. Look for big numbers from Tim Brown for sure and both Jerry Rice and Jerry Porter will get touches as well. Rich Gannon will have a good game in leading the Raiders to a win.

Must Starts - Rich Gannon, Charlie Garner, Ladainian Tomlinson, Tim Brown, Jerry Rice, Curtis Conway

Possible Starts - Jerry Porter, Roland Williams, Drew Brees

Only in a Pinch - Tim Dwight, Terry Kirby

Final Thoughts: I am a little surprised that it is the San Diego Chargers currently planted in first week in the deadly AFC West division but this is the week that will change. The Raiders were stunned in St. Louis last weekend (who called that game by the way) but are a better team than they looked against the Rams. The Raiders have the talent, experience and heart to go a long way this year and they will be out to show the rest of the AFC West just who the front-runners really are. Raiders win!

Predicted Score: San Diego Chargers 17 at Oakland Raiders 28

Houston Texans 1-5 at Cleveland Browns 2-4

Game Forecast

Before the season started, the Browns and their fans believed this would be the year they fought their way into the post-season for the first time since returning to the NFL. The defense looked strong, the running game improved and the passing attack solid. However they are now sitting at 2-4 and the only thing keeping them in the playoff race is the overall ineffectiveness of the AFC North with none of the teams at .500 or better. William Green was drafted in round one to be a savior to the rushing game but he is barely averaging over two yards per carry and looks like a bust. On the other hand, Jamal White continues to improve and is by far the best option out of the backfield. He has 484 yards and a touchdown. It is a good thing for Tim Couch that Kelly Holcombe is injured because he would likely have been replaced after his last two starts. His 4 touchdowns against 6 interceptions is not going to get the job done.

The Texans are fighting hard each and every week but don’t have the talent to win on most weeks. They will be hard pressed to win more than two games in 2002 but have some pieces in place to be competitive in another season or two. The Texans will find the going tough against a Browns team focused on righting a sinking ship. David Carr is gaining valuable experience and his statistics are not awful for a first year quarterback. He and Joey Harrington will be compared for the rest of their careers but unlike the Peyton Manning / Ryan Leaf comparisons of a few seasons back, both of these players look ready to excel in the pros.

Must Starts - Tim Couch, Kevin Johnson

Possible Starts - Jamal White, Dennis Northcutt, Quincy Morgan, Corey Bradford

Only in a Pinch - Andre Davis, David Carr, Jonathon Wells, James Allen, William Green

Final Thoughts: The Browns will be focused on getting a much-needed victory. They will shut down the Texans and get a few touchdowns. Tim Couch will have his best game in awhile.

Predicted Score: Houston Texans 10 at Cleveland Browns 21

Washington Redskins 2-3 at Green Bay Packers 5-1

Game Forecast

The Redskins are up and down one week to the next. They looked awesome against the Titans two weeks ago yet stunk up the joint at home against the Saints last week and if it wasn’t for the defense, may have lost by 40 points. Patrick Ramsey looked like a future hall of famer in his first week of action and like a potential bust last week. His long-term outlook is probably somewhere in the middle of those two performances. He’ll be better this week but the Redskins are in tough against the solid Packers who have reeled off 5 wins in a row. Look for some production from Stephen Davis in the loss as the Packers give up some decent numbers to opposing backs. Coach Steve Spurrier continues to change the pecking order of his receiving core. This week it is Derrius Thompson and Chris Doering in as starters with Kevin Lockett and Rod Gardner (yes that is right) demoted to the third and fourth receivers this week. His frequent changes are not going to help his young quarterback get better in a hurry.

The Packers continue to win impressively despite having injury concerns on both sides of the ball. Ahman Green is beginning to wake up after a slow start that had fantasy owners jumping off his bandwagon after a few miserable weeks. Brett Favre is playing as well in 2002 as he ever has and is on pace for 4312 passing yards and a solid 37 touchdowns against 8 interceptions. He is getting better with age, which has to scare the crap out of opposing defenses in the NFL. Donald Driver has become a legitimate NFL threat at receiver and Terry Glenn has survived bad migraine headaches to rack up 386 receiving yards on the season.

Must Starts - Stephen Davis, Brett Favre, Donald Driver, Ahman Green, Bubba Franks

Possible Starts - Rod Gardner, Terry Glenn

Only in a Pinch - Patrick Ramsey, Kevin Lockett, Robert Ferguson, Derrius Thompson

Final Thoughts: The Packers have too much talent and experience on both sides of the ball for the Redskins to handle. With Brett Favre playing his best football in years, the Packers will continue to roll this weekend to improve to a league leading 6-1

Predicted Score: Washington Redskins 13 at Green Bay Packers 27

Dallas Cowboys 3-3 at Arizona Cardinals 3-2

Game Forecast

Two teams playing over their heads hook up in Arizona this week. The Cowboys have evened their record to 3-3 on the season led by a strong defense and timely scores by the offense. Despite being erratic game-to-game, Quincy Carter is beginning to put up decent fantasy numbers including 6 touchdowns against only 4 interceptions. Rookie receiver Antonio Bryant is showcasing the talent and ability he had during his junior season in school and is becoming a true threat from the wide-out slot. On the other side, Joey Galloway and his speed is the perfect compliment to Bryant. Both are having productive seasons. Emmitt Smith is not the same player he was a couple of seasons ago but he is moving the chains and getting closer to the rushing yardage record help by the immortal Walter Payton. Smith is up to 365 yards on the season but only has one touchdown.

I cannot figure out how the Cardinals are winning football games. Jake Plummer has been erratic to start the season, David Boston has been a huge disappointment with only 305 receiving yards and a touchdown to start the year and both running backs for the team have been playing hurt. The Cardinals defense has been much better than anticipated and have carried the team to a decent start. Nobody expected the Cardinals to be over .500 at this point in the season. If Thomas Jones is healthy enough to play all game, he will help the team and the Cowboys can be passed on which means David Boston should break out of his funk.

Must Starts - David Boston, Freddie Jones, Joey Galloway

Possible Starts - Jake Plummer, Quincy Carter, Antonio Bryant, Thomas Jones?, Emmitt Smith

Only in a Pinch - Martay Jenkins, Frank Sanders, Tony McGee

Final Thoughts: Do the Cowboys shock the football world by going over .500 after 7 games or will it be the Cardinals who will be the surprise by leaping out to a 4-2 record. Very even teams on both sides of the ball so I will take the Cardinals due to the bye last week and playing at home.

Predicted Score: Dallas Cowboys 14 at Arizona Cardinals 16

Bye Week at Cincinnati Bengals 0-6

Game Forecast

The Bengals look like they finally have a week where they may not lose. Going head-to-head against the Bye Week this week should enable this mockery of a team to end their embarrassing losing streak to start the season. However, the Bengals are so truly awful this season that I wouldn't put money on them to end the streak this week as they likely can find a way to lose even during the bye. Jon "Shitna" Kitna continues his error-laden play every week but he feels like he is doing a good job and who could blame him. After all, the team did get a touchdown on the board this week. Good work Bengals! It is teams like yours that make us fans appreciate the great football teams that much more. The Bengals are likely looking for a quarterback during this week so if you have any skills at all you should get yourself down to Cincinnati and get a try-out.

Must Starts - none, it is the Bengals

Possible Starts - none, it is the Bengals

Only in a Pinch - none, it is the Bengals

Final Thoughts: Take heart Bengal fans. At least the team cannot lose this week. My suggestion is you gather all your buddies Sunday night and party hard as if the Bengals really didn't lose this weekend. May be your only chance all season.

Predicted Score: Bye Week 0 at Cincinnati Bengals 2

Monday Night Football

Indianapolis Colts 4-1 at Pittsburgh Steelers 2-3

Game Forecast

The Steelers are 11-0 at home on Monday Night Football with Bill Cowher as head coach. That is an impressive streak and they have an decent shot to match it this week against the talented offensive team, the Colts who are not clicking on all cylinders despite a solid 4-1 start. Peyton Manning has been terrific as usual and continues to drive the team forward with his poise and talent. He wants to win every week and that drive is the force behind the Colts great start. Edgerrin James doesn't look like the same running back as he was before the knee injury last year but it is important to remember that he came back earlier than expected to a full work load. He will likely improve as the season wears on. He is averaging less than 4 yards per carry and has scored only once this season.

The Steelers are beginning to rebound after a horrible beginning to the season. Tommy Maddox has come in and been terrific the past two games and it is unlikely that he will be replaced by Kordell Stewart this season unless Maddox gets injured. Comparing Maddox (76 attempts, 606 passing yards, 5 touchdown passes, 4 interceptions) to Stewart (96 attempts, 586 passing yards, 3 touchdown passes, 5 interceptions) really does show how ineffective Stewart was to start this season. Plaxico Burress was invisible with Stewart in at quarterback because of Stewart's tendency to zone in on one player (Hines Ward). Since the Maddox era began though, Burress has been on fire for the team and is up to 313 yards and 2 touchdowns on the season after next to nothing for the first two games this season. The Steelers finally got the Bus started up and Jerome Bettis looked like he was running downhill last week. His terrific output last weekend put the horrible four four games behind him and he'll likely be solid from this point out. The much-maligned defense continues to have difficulties slowing down the opposition receivers, which could spell big trouble against Marvin Harrison and the Colts.

Must Starts - Jerome Bettis, Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison, Marcus Pollard

Possible Starts - Amos Zereoue, Qadry Ismail, Tommy Maddox, Hines Ward, Plaxico Burress

Only in a Pinch - Antwaan Randle El, Reggie Wayne

Final Thoughts: The Steelers have a tough time stopping the pass and the Colts have difficulties shutting down the rushing attack. Both teams should be able to put points on the board and I'm looking forward to a great Monday Night Football game. The Steelers own Monday Night Football at home under Bill Cowher so I can't go against them this week.

Predicted Score: Indianapolis Colts 27 at Pittsburgh Steelers 31