NFL Week 7 preview

Undefeated and winless. There are two of each remaining as the NFL heads into Week 7 of the 2007 season.

Interestingly enough, one of the two unbeaten teams (the 6-0 Patriots) pays a visit to one of the two winless teams (the 0-6 Dolphins).

The Patriots have the look of one of the league's all-time best teams. Their offense has shredded everyone in sight, and their defense has remained its opportunistic self. Many are predicting they will not lose a game this season, much less this week.

Nothing, meanwhile, has gone right for the Dolphins, who have lost QB Trent Green, possibly for good, because of a concussion, and just traded their best receiver, Chris Chambers. Even the normally reliable Dolphins defense has fallen from its usual perch in the top five of the NFL rankings.

Last season, Miami beat New England at home. That won't happen this time around.

The league's other unbeaten team, the 5-0 Colts, is coming off its bye week to face its toughest in-division competitor, the 4-1 Jaguars, on Monday night. The bye came at a good time for the Colts, who have been banged up.

The keys to the game of the week are:
Can the Indianapolis defense contain Jacksonville's running game and force QB David Garrard into making mistakes? Garrard has yet to throw a pick this season.
Can Jacksonville control the clock and keep Indy's high-octane offense off the field as much as possible?

The Jaguars blew out the Colts down the stretch last season, but this is going to be a close one. I'm giving the Colts the nod because they're rested and at home.

The NFL's other winless team, the 0-6 Rams, pays a visit to Seattle. The Rams, who have been wrecked by injuries, particularly on offense, likely will get QB Marc Bulger back this week, which will help. But without RB Stephen Jackson it's hard to see them winning in Seattle, where the usually dominant Seahawks suddenly have been exposed as vulnerable.

One other game of note is on Sunday night, when Denver plays host to Pittsburgh in a battle of teams coming off byes. The Broncos took an unusual pasting at home from San Diego two weeks ago, and they appear to be at a make or break point in their season because both the Chargers and Chiefs are playing much better right now. The Steelers are winning with their hallmarks - a punishing defense and strong ground game. The difference for them has been the play of QB Ben Roethlisberger, who has cut down his mistakes from a season ago and is making big plays when needed.

There are plenty of clunkers this week, too.

My upset special is Tampa Bay, which I believe is for real, beating Detroit. I think the Lions are a mirage, and against a defense as stout as the Bucs' their careless ways are going to cost them. On the flip side, Bucs QB Jeff Garcia is not making the types of mistakes that the Lions have feasted on in their victories this season.

Upset special season record: 5-1