NFL 2007 Forecast: Week 7

You hear fans and media argue and debate all the time just exactly who is, and what makes, the greatest RB in NFL history. They compare Super Bowl titles, total rushing yardage, number of TD's, being a great receiver, tackle-breaking ability, average yards per carry, and how many sponsors they endorsed.

The list typically always includes Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson, and Marshall Faulk. The reason that these players are among the greats of all-time is because they possessed the one element that I personally believe is one of the most important ingredients in determining a great runner.

They made you hold your breath every time they touched the ball.

It didn't matter where these athletes played. Fans rose to their feet when these running backs were handed or thrown the pigskin. If you were watching the game at home, you sacrificed a few more seconds of thirst before going to get your beer, you made the pizza guy wait at the door even after the fifth doorbell chime, and you crossed your legs and bit you lip if you had to go to the bathroom.

Over the last few years, the NFL has had a few running backs that have that same effect when they have the ball in LaDainian Tomlinson, Reggie Bush, and Larry Johnson. I have one more to add and his name is Adrian Peterson.

Just how good is A.P.?

The standard for rookie RB's to measure themselves against is Eric Dickerson's rookie year in 1983 when he rushed for 1,808 yards on 390 carries and 18 TD's while sporting a 4.6 average yards per carry. Peterson is on pace to finish the 2007 season with 1,942 yards on 307 carries for 13 TD's and a 6.3 average. He introduced himself to the NFL as a bonafide threat last week when he torched the Bears defense for 361 total purpose yards! The Monsters of the Midway are no more.

This Palestine, TX native is 6'1" and 217 lbs. and does have the speed of Eric Dickerson and can shift gears with pure precision like Gale Sayers. Whether he hits the gap, goes around the end, or catches a screen, this running back will put on a show that just might rival Barry Sanders. He reminds me of Marshall Faulk but much bigger.

I simply felt the need to pause and give tribute to this player after the kind of week he had last week as it was one for the ages.

What will happen this week? Stay tuned...

• Baltimore Ravens (4-2) at Buffalo Bills (1-4): CBS, 1pm EST - This is a homecoming for Ravens RB Willis McGahee who spent the first four years of his career in Buffalo and it will be an ugly one. Speaking of ugly, Buffalo is starting rookie QB Trent Edwards in place of J.P. Losman vs. this stingy Ravens D. EDDIE'S PICK - BALTIMORE
• New England Patriots (6-0) at Miami Dolphins (0-6): CBS, 1pm EST - If you removed the fish from the helmet, you'd swear these Fins were an expansion team. The rancidity will be suffocating by the first quarter. EDDIE'S PICK - NEW ENGLAND
• Tennessee Titans (3-2) at Houston Texans (3-3): CBS, 1pm EST - Vince Young is from Houston and was passed up by the Texans in the 2006 draft who went on to take DE Mario Williams #1 overall. V.Y. is nursing a strained quadricep but something tells me he'll wake up feeling ready to play. The Titans have won four straight vs. the Texans. EDDIE'S PICK - TENNESSEE
• Atlanta Falcons (1-5) at New Orleans Saints (1-4): FOX, 1pm EST - The Saints sense the urgency to save their season and last week's victory in Seattle will give them the momentum to face Atlanta who apparently are grasping for straws as they have now turned over the season to Byron Leftwich. EDDIE'S PICK - NEW ORLEANS
• Arizona Cardinals (3-3) at Washington Redskins (3-2): FOX, 1pm EST - It's like blood leaking into an ocean of sharks as Arizona just might have to go with fragile 3rd-string QB Tim Rattay replacing a battered Kurt Warner (I know, surprising, huh?) The Redskins defense is going to have a field day. EDDIE'S PICK - WASHINGTON
• San Francisco 49ers (2-3) at NY Giants (4-2): FOX, 1pm EST - While I still think it's going to take a playoff berth or a playoff win to still save Couglin's job, the Giants are becoming a remarkable story as they started the year 0-2 and are now showcasing a suffocating defense. The Niners enter the Meadowlands at the wrong time. EDDIE'S PICK - NY GIANTS
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2) at Detroit Lions (3-2): FOX, 1pm EST - This Tampa defense is not the type of unit you want to face if you lead the NFL with being sacked 25 times. QB Jon Kitna and his O-line must do all they can to create time to get the ball to their weapons or they will continue to lose traction in the NFC North. EDDIE'S PICK - TAMPA BAY
• Kansas City Chiefs (3-3) at Oakland Raiders (2-3): CBS, 4:05pm EST - Chiefs RB Larry Johnson has been a cancer to Oakland the past six games amassing 634 yards and nine TD's. I don't see Culpepper and Co. being able to control the ball and keep L.J. off the field as he faces the league's 28th-ranked rush defense. EDDIE'S PICK - K.C.
• NY Jets (1-5) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-4): CBS, 4:05pm EST - I think I'm going to throw up. EDDIE'S PICK - CINCINNATI
• St. Louis Rams (0-6) at Seattle Seahawks (3-3): FOX, 4:15pm EST - Marc Bulger announced last week that he is ready to come back. My question is...to what? EDDIE'S PICK - SEATTLE
• Chicago Bears (2-4) at Philadelphia Eagles (2-3): FOX, 4:15pm EST - Philly's remote chances of getting into the NFC East race depends on how they handle a Bears team whose defense is dismantling and their offense is providing turnovers. QB Donovan McNabb has never lost to Chicago. EDDIE'S PICK - PHILADELPHIA
• Minnesota Vikings (2-3) at Dallas Cowboys (5-1): FOX, 4:15pm EST - There's one explosive weapon on the Vikings team and that's rookie RB Adrian Peterson who had a monster game vs. Chicago last week. Expect the Dallas defense to stack the box and force QB Tarvaris Jackson to try and beat their porous secondary with even a worse receiving corps. Minnesota has the worse pass coverage in the NFL. EDDIE'S PICK - DALLAS
• Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) at Denver Broncos (2-3): NBC, 8:15pm EST - Both QB's will have a difficult time putting up big numbers so the focus will be on stopping the ground attacks. Denver ranks last in run defense but 8th in rushing while Pittsburgh is 4th in run defense and 2nd in rushing. Mile High has not provided the home-field advantage that it once did. EDDIE'S PICK - PITTSBURGH
• Indianapolis Colts (5-0) at Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1): ESPN, 8:30pm EST - Make sure your seat belt is fastened as this is going to be a ride! A Jag defense that is allowing a 11.6 points per game vs. a Colts offense that speaks for itself, and QB David Garrard (with no INT's this season) vs. a Colts secondary ranked #2 will be very entertaining to watch. EDDIE'S PICK - INDIANAPOLIS

BYE: CAROLINA, CLEVELAND, GREEN BAY, SAN DIEGO

STANDINGS

Cris Collinsworth: 7-6, 61-28
Bob Costas: 10-3, 59-30
Eddie Chinn: 8-5, 58-31
Chris Mortensen: 7-6, 56-33
Dan Marino: 6-7, 54-35
Sean Salisbury: 8-5, 53-36