NFL 2007 Forecast: Week 8

My business travels have landed me in the City of the Winless Ewes.

I'm sitting here on the 4th floor of the office building overlooking Hwy. 40 in St. Louis as the sun is setting and cars are beginning to pile up for the crawl home. I'm guessing that about every third car is being filled with angst and bewilderment, just as it has in my Chevrolet Aveo, from sports talk radio shows on how to deal with the state of affairs.

For those that forgot the Rams are still located here, they are 0-7 which doesn't represent just how bad it really is here.

The offensive line is decimated with injuries and that's making it sound good. I heard that the other day the media was gathered outside the room where the Rams coaching staff was meeting, and offensive line coach Paul Boudreau stepped out and asked if anyone played guard or tackle.

In last week's ghastly performance against the Seahawks, Marc Bulger approached the sidelines after arising from beneath the turf following one of his seven sacks. He yelled something at coach Scott Linehan along the lines of, "Do you plan on having anyone block for me?" Linehan replied that he should have gotten rid of the ball in the midst of the seven behemoths breathing down his neck. Bulger rolled his eyes and looked away and you could just see the cartoon dialogue box above him saying, "Whatever. You're an idiot."

They are ranked 28th in rushing and 30th in total offense while their defense is 24th. Rams QB's have committed 15 turnovers this season, and St. Louis has been outscored 121-33 in the second half.

They are the Miami of the Midwest.

Coach Linehan was also seen at last Thursday's practice before the Seattle game blowing up at his team which confirmed reports from NFL insiders that he's cracking under the pressure. A loss to Cleveland following the shellacking in Seattle could result in his firing during the Rams bye week.

The sun has now disappeared below the horizon much like the Rams season.

• Indianapolis Colts (6-0) at Carolina Panthers (4-2): CBS, 1pm EST - When Panthers QB Vinnie Testaverde played in his first NFL game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987, Peyton Manning was 11. Pops must control the clock with long time-chewing drives to keep The Youngster on the sidelines if Carolina is going to have a prayer to win one of the biggest games in the club's history. EDDIE'S PICK - INDIANAPOLIS
• Cleveland Browns (3-3) at St. Louis Rams (0-7): CBS, 1pm EST - Browns coach Romeo Crenell came to Cleveland as a defensive wizard and Rams coach Scott Linehan was hired from Miami as an offensive guru. Cleveland is 32nd in total defense, and St. Louis is 25th in total offense. EDDIE'S PICK - ST. LOUIS
• Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-4): CBS, 1pm EST - Six straight losses to Pittsburgh at home is not the kind of record that Cincy fans admire when they think of their hated divisional rivals. If things don't start changing in Cincy, they better get used to it. EDDIE'S PICK - PITTSBURGH
• Oakland Raiders (2-4) at Tennessee Titans (4-2): CBS, 1pm EST - A very porous run defense is just what the Titans need as they look to swat Oakland aside to keep up in the AFC South. EDDIE'S PICK - TENNESSEE
• NY Giants (5-2) at Miami Dolphins (0-7) FOX, 1pm EST (IN LONDON, ENGLAND) - Things continued to unravel for the Dolphins as they traded their top receiver, Chris Chambers, to San Diego last week. Now, they must head overseas for the league's first regular-season game on the other side of an ocean and face the red-hot Giants. Cheerio, Miami. EDDIE'S PICK - NY GIANTS
• Philadelphia Eagles (2-4) at Minnesota Vikings (2-4): FOX, 1pm EST - Is it just me or is nine-year Kelly Holcomb a much better option for the Vikes than the enigmatic Tarvaris Jackson right now? EDDIE'S PICK - PHILLY
• Detroit Lions (4-2) at Chicago Bears (2-4): FOX, 1pm EST - Bears QB Brian Griese is playing like his life is on the line and that's a good think when you're trying to stay with Green Bay and Detroit. EDDIE'S PICK - CHICAGO
• Buffalo Bills (2-4) at NY Jets (1-6): CBS, 4:05pm EST - I'd rather watch Wild Hogs. EDDIE'S PICK - BUFFALO
• Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3): CBS, 4:05pm EST - Quinn Gray gets his first NFL start for Jacksonville, and that's really all that you need to know. EDDIE'S PICK - TAMPA BAY
• Houston Texans (3-4) at San Diego Chargers (3-3): CBS, 4:05pm EST - It has just recently been reported that Qualcomm Stadium will be ready to host this game after rumors that the contest might have to be relocated due to the wildfire tragedy in southern California. Now the red-hot Chargers can play in front of their home fans with more than football on their minds and that's just not what the Texans need right now. EDDIE'S PICK - SAN DIEGO
• New Orleans Saints (2-4) at San Francisco 49ers (2-4): FOX, 4:15pm EST - Momentum is on the Saints' side while the Niners are suffering from scoring-anxiety. EDDIE'S PICK - NEW ORLEANS
• Washington Redskins (4-2) at New England Patriots (7-0): FOX, 4:15pm EST - I'm telling you, I have a good feeling about this one, Skins fans. This is by far the best defense that the Patriots have faced yet this year, and Skins QB Jason Campbell is taking his biggest test of his first NFL semester, but he's been a pleasant surprise in hostile environments on the road. I'm also sick with the flu this week. EDDIE'S PICK - NEW ENGLAND
• Green Bay (5-1) at Denver (3-3): ESPN, 8pm EST, MNF: There's a lot to be excited about in Mile High these days with the Rockies in the World Series, and the Broncos coming off a much-needed and emotional win vs. the Steelers last week. They are back on the national stage at home vs. the legendary Favre and Co. Don't be ignorant and just TiVo the baseball game going on across I-25. EDDIE'S PICK - DENVER

BYE: DALLAS, ARIZONA, KANSAS CITY, ATLANTA, SEATTLE, BALTIMORE

STANDINGS
Cris Collinsworth: 8-6, 69-34
Bob Costas: 10-4, 69-34
Eddie Chinn: 10-4, 68-35
Chris Mortensen: 10-4, 66-37
Dan Marino: 10-4, 64-39
Sean Salisbury: 10-4, 63-40