ShareThisWeek 7 NFL picks from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's pigskin prognosticator.
All times Eastern.
Minnesota Vikings (6-0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2), 1 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: Brett Favre has not played in Pittsburgh since he was 29, which seems like a long time ago. And NFL rushing leader Adrian Peterson has never played against the Steelers. They might want to introduce themselves to James Harrison.
Prediction: Steelers, 34-24
Green Bay Packers (3-2) at Cleveland Browns (1-5), 1 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: The Packers have not exactly been a stingy defense, yet they still shut out the Lions. If they thought that offense was anemic, wait till they get a load of the Browns, who have a profound aversion for the end zone. Prediction: Packers, 23-16
San Diego Chargers (2-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (1-5), 1 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: The Chargers were 2-3 a year ago and still came back to win the AFC West. But they are in a bigger hole this time after losing to the Broncos. They now probably know how the Chiefs must always feel.
Prediction: Chargers, 30-20
Indianapolis Colts (5-0) at St. Louis Rams (0-6), 1 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: What's the only thing worse than facing Peyton Manning and the Colts with the second-highest scoring defense in the NFC? Facing the Colts, who have won 14 regular-season games in a row, after a week of rest.
Prediction: Colts, 30-3
New England Patriots (4-2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-6), 1 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: Doesn't matter if they play this game in London or Tampa Bay. Tom Brady went all trans-continental on Tennessee with six TD passes. What might he do to the Bucs in Wembley Stadium?
Prediction: Patriots, 37-10
San Francisco 49ers (3-2) at Houston Texans (3-3), 1 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: The 49ers needed a week off for mental therapy and getting hammered at home by the Falcons. The Texans are always in need of psychiatric evaluation because you never know which team will show up.
Prediction: 49ers, 24-23.
Buffalo Bills (2-4) at Carolina Panthers (2-3), 4:05 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: One week after they became the first team this season to be outscored by the most pathetic offense in the NFL, the Bills turned right around and beat the Jets. That's almost as crazy as the Panthers winning three in a row.
Prediction: Panthers, 24-14
Atlanta Falcons (4-1) at Dallas Cowboys (3-2), 4:15 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: All of a sudden, the Falcons are looking very good, no matter where they play. The same cannot be said for the Cowboys, who have managed three victories against teams who were winless at the time.
Prediction: Falcons, 30-27
New York Jets (3-3) at Oakland Raiders (2-4), 4:15 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: All of a sudden, Mark Sanchez is throwing it to the other guys as much as he's throwing it to his guys. The Jets have lost three in a row, proving once again that Super Bowls aren't won in September.
Prediction: Raiders, 14-13
Chicago Bears (3-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-2), 4:15 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: The Bears and Bengals have much in common. They each beat the Steelers in the final seconds. And they each had winning streaks ended last week. Look out, though: Jay Cutler keeps getting better every week.
Prediction: Bears, 24-20
New Orleans Saints (5-0) at Miami Dolphins (2-3), 4:15 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: The Saints are the NFL's highest-scoring team, averaging 38.4 point per game and coming off back-to-back home victories against both teams from New York. Even the rejuvenated Dolphins can't top that.
Prediction: Saints, 31-24
Arizona Cardinals (3-2) at New York Giants (5-1), 8:20 p.m., Sunday
The Skinny: The defending NFC champs have won two in a row and are coming off what Ken Whisenhunt called their most complete game of the season. They will need another against the Giants, who were incomplete against the Saints.
Prediction: Giants, 34-31
Philadelphia Eagles (3-2) at Washington Redskins (2-4), 8:30 p.m., Monday
The Skinny: Which team should be more embarrassed: The Eagles, for losing to the Raiders; or the Redskins; who, after six games, finally face a team that has a victory? You can throw Jim Zorn in there, too.
Prediction: Eagles, 23-13
Gerry Dulac's season record: 58-32 (.644)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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