So I’m feeling particularly bruised after Dan picking up another game Thursday night with Brian Hoyer going out injured and we go into today’s games level on a pretty poor forty-one points each, but for the record here’s how things stood at the end of week six.

Gee:      Week 6   7-8                       Overall   41-51
Dan:      Week 6   9-6                       Overall   40-52

Giants @ Rams (+2.5)

This is a game between two teams I don’t really like in a new London venue at Twickenham. The Rams are coming off two straight losses and found a way to lose against a Lions team despite Case Keenum putting in one of his best performances of the year. Meanwhile the Giants made hay whilst the Ravens secondary fell apart with the loss of Jimmy Smith as Odell Beckham continued to grab headlines. I’m really not comfortable picking either side so I’m grabbing the points with the underdog Rams.

Gee’s Pick:          Rams
Dan’s Pick:          Rams

Bills @ Dolphins (+2.5)

The Dolphins played much better against the Steelers, with Jay Ajayi having a breakout two hundred yard running game. This week they welcome a Bills team that are coming off a four game winning streak. The injury worries surrounding LeSean McCoy concern me, but at the end of the day this is a divisional game so I do not expect the Bills to have the kind of let down performance the Steelers put up last week. I’m tempted by the Dolphins in this one, but not enough to pick them.

Gee’s Pick:          Bills
Dan’s Pick:          Dolphins

Browns @ Bengals (-9.5)

I would like to see the Browns win a game, but please don’t let it be this week. I really hope and believe that the Bengals will win this game, but I’m not picking them to beat anyone by ten points, especially when the Browns seem to specialise in close losses this year.

Gee’s Pick:          Browns
Dan’s Pick:          Browns

Washington @ Lions (-1.5)

Washington have dragged themselves back into contention for the playoffs with a four game winning streak, and fresh from beating the Eagles they are off to Detroit to face the Lions. There is a large gap in DVOA rankings between these two teams, and with the Lions having a defence that I can’t trust I am backing Washington to win this one.

Gee’s Pick:          Washington
Dan’s Pick:          Washington

Colts @ Titans (-2.5)

It is a strange world where the Titans are in contention for the AFC South, but no one has run away with the division. However, they have still have a top ten defence by DVOA and their offence comes in ranked ten this week, whilst the Colts have really been struggling and I think this could be another game where they come unstuck asking Andrew Luck to do too much.

Gee’s Pick:          Titans
Dan’s Pick:          Titans

Saints @ Chiefs (-6.5)

I should not have doubted Andy Reid coming out of a bye week, but more importantly my concerns over their defence might have been too large as they fairly easily beat the Raiders. This week they welcome a Saints who can move the ball with Drew Brees, but I doubt their defence can stop the Chiefs. I’m a little worried about the points, but with the Saints on the road I am backing the Chiefs to win big in this one.

Gee’s Pick:          Chiefs
Dan’s Pick:          Chiefs

Raiders @ Jaguars (-0.5)

This game could be a shootout, with the Jaguars seeming to always start slow and the Raiders unable to play defence. The Raiders have done better on the road so far this season, but more importantly I don’t trust the Jaguars fragile 2-4 record whereas the Raiders have lost to two of the better teams in the NFL so I’m backing them to win this pick’em game.

Gee’s Pick:          Raiders
Dan’s Pick:          Jaguars

Vikings @ Eagles (+2.5)

The Eagles have come back to earth after the bye with defensive coaches having some tape on Carson Wentz and the changes on the o-line at right tackle after Lane Johnson’s suspension. The Vikings are on the road after a bye and are the only unbeaten team left in the NFL. You can’t expect them to stay unbeaten all season, but I think they have too much for the Eagles with their defence likely to cause the Eagles all kinds of problems.

Gee’s Pick:          Vikings
Dan’s Pick:          Vikings

Ravens @ Jets (-0.5)

The loss of Jimmy Smith caused all kinds of problems in the secondary for Ravens last season, and this resurfaced last week when he left the game with a concussion. It is unclear whether he will be back for this week’s game, but the Jets were so bad last week that it possibly won’t be a problem. The Jets are rooted to the bottom of the DVOA standings and with neither side of the ball playing well I can’t pick them to beat the Ravens. You watch them do it now…

Gee’s Pick:          Ravens
Dan’s Pick:          Ravens

Chargers @ Falcons (-6.5)

The Falcons really could have won last week in Seattle and I have been impressed not only with their offence, but there are signs that the defence is beginning to develop. The Chargers are one of the better looking teams with a losing record, but after seriously tough road trip I think the Falcons will bounce back from last week’s loss in a big way.

Gee’s Pick:          Falcons
Dan’s Pick:          Chargers

Buccaneers @ 49ers (+1.5)

The Bucs are actually rated worse than the 49ers by DVOA, but having watched the way the 49ers lost to the Bills last week I will need more points before I pick them. I’m not entirely sure what Chip Kelly is meant to do with this rebuilding squad, but I don’t think they have the players to turn things around quickly. I don’t exactly trust the Bucs, but I’m nervously backing them in this one.

Gee’s Pick:          Buccaneers
Dan’s Pick:          Buccaneers

Patriots @ Steelers (+7.5)

The injury to Ben Roethlisberger has robbed us of what should have been one of the best games of the season and will cause the Steelers problems over the next month or so until he returns. They should be able to remain competitive in the division over the coming weeks, but in this game I can only see one winner as the Patriots continue to roll and I think they will cover despite the big swing caused by the Roethlisberger injury.

Gee’s Pick:          Patriots
Dan’s Pick:          Patriots

Seahawks @ Cardinals (-1.5)

The Cardinals may be working on a new formula to get them wins after a slow start, but their offence is facing a Seahawks defence that is looking as good as it ever has and I just have this sneaking feeling that the Seahawks will get the win in what should be a great game.

Gee’s Pick:          Seahawks
Dan’s Pick:          Cardinals

Texans @ Broncos (-7.5)

The Texans stand atop of the AFC South, but they have not been that convincing with Brock Osweiler struggling in an offence that is rooted to the bottom of the DVOA standings. That said, the Broncos have dropped a couple of games, showing some cracks in the defence but mainly struggling on offence. They have to get back to running the ball as the balance of the offence was way off last week, but whilst I see the Broncos winning this game, I don’t see them having the offence to run out huge winners.

Gee’s Pick:          Texans
Dan’s Pick:          Texans