In the Red Zone: Week 7 down, 10 to go Published Oct. 28, 2010 By Bryan Swink Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The verdict is in. The Vikings and Cowboys are not making the playoffs. Both quarterbacks, Brett Favre and Tony Romo, are injured and likely to miss a significant amount of time. Without those leaders on the field, both team's hopes of a Super Bowl in 2010 are just about crushed. It's a shame to see so much talent wasted. On a positive note, the blowout the Oakland Raiders showed in Denver was quite amazing. Running back Darren McFadden had 196 total yards and four touchdowns on only 18 touches. All I have to say is, "Wow!" On to Week 8. Miami at Cincinnati Miami has lost three of their last four games and the schedule doesn't get much easier for them. They are playing a Bengals team that is on a three-game skid and desperately needs a win to stay within eyesight of the division leaders. Who am I kidding? They are done. Miami is undefeated this year on the road with wins against Minnesota, Buffalo and Green Bay. I smell another road win for this inconsistent Miami team. Swink's prediction: Dolphins win on the road Jacksonville at Dallas So much for my prediction of Dallas making the Super Bowl. Tony Romo is most likely finished for the remainder of the season and there is no way possible for the Cowboys to make the playoffs with John Kitna under center. The Jaguars have a great chance to beat Dallas on the road. If they can run the ball like the Giants did last week, it will be a long day for the Cowboys defense. Dallas now looks like one of the worst teams in the NFL with some extremely talented position players. Swink's prediction: Jaguars win on the road Washington at Detroit Detroit is coming off a much-needed bye week and has had plenty of time to game plan against Washington. The Redskins have won three of their last four games and want to win their last game before their bye week kicks in. If Matthew Stafford is under center, it gives the Lions a much better opportunity to win at home. They need to get Jahvid Best involved early in not only the running game, but in the passing attack as well. Swink's prediction: Lions win at home Buffalo at Kansas City I wouldn't be surprised to see the Chiefs rush for over 225 yards in this game. They average over 175 yards per game on the ground and playing a Buffalo defense that ranks dead last in the league at stopping the rush. It looks like the Bills, even though they gave Baltimore a run for their money last week, is going to stay winless in the season. Swink's prediction: Chiefs win at home Carolina at St. Louis The Panthers finally won their first game last week against San Francisco and look to continue their progress against a streaky St. Louis team. Unfortunately for them, it won't happen. Even though the Rams aren't a premiere team, they are better than the Panthers and should have no problem running all over them with Steven Jackson. Swink's prediction: Rams win at home Green Bay at NY Jets I'm looking forward to seeing how the Jets' pass defense will matchup against the Packers' 8th-ranked passing game. The Jets haven't lost a game since a Week 1 one-point loss to the Ravens. I believe it will be hard for the inconsistent Packers team to steal a win in the Meadowlands. It's going to be hard for the Green Bay defense to stop running backs LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene. Swink's prediction: Jets win at home Denver at San Francisco If the Broncos come out and play like they did last week, it should be a cakewalk for the 49ers. I don't think that will happen, but San Francisco running back Frank Gore could have a huge game against the 30th-ranked run defense. The Broncos need to control the ball and let quarterback Kyle Orton throw the ball. They average close to 300 yards a game in the air. Swink's prediction: Broncos win on the road Tennessee at San Diego I can't figure out how the No. 1 ranked offense and defense has a 2-5 record. The Chargers are the AFC equivalent of the Dallas Cowboys. They have a tremendous amount of talent but can't seem to win. Tennessee has looked dominant as of late, reeling off three straight wins. It will be interesting to see how the Chargers defense will try to contain running back Chris Johnson. Swink's prediction: Titans win on the road Tampa Bay at Arizona Arizona has alternated wins and losses since the beginning of the season and if that pattern continues this week, they will beat the Bucs. I don't see that happening. Even though Tampa Bay doesn't post great numbers, they have a good chemistry as a team and find ways to win the ball game. I see them doing it again on the road against a poor Cardinal team. Swink's prediction: Buccaneers win on the road Minnesota at New England If Brett Favre doesn't play, the Vikings have no chance at winning this game. I know he's an iron man, but I don't see him playing with two broken bones in his left ankle. This should be a walk in the park for the Patriots, who have won four games in a row. The one aspect that will be interesting is to see how former Patriot, and now Vikings receiver, Randy Moss is greeted and how he performs in New England. Swink's prediction: Patriots win at home Seattle at Oakland I may not be sold on the Raiders as a team, but I am sold on Darren McFadden as a stud running back. It will be a great matchup to see how he performs against the Seahawks defense that ranks second in the league against the run. He performed out of his mind last week against the Broncos and he wasn't even fully healthy. I don't know if he will be enough to beat Seattle, but he will give them a run for their money. Swink's prediction: Raiders win at home Pittsburgh at New Orleans This is going to be an interesting game to watch on Sunday night. The Saints just barely squeaked out a win last week against the Dolphins, even though Drew Brees threw four interceptions. If they want a chance to win this week, they can't give the ball away to this defense. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has seemed to get better over the last two weeks and it doesn't look like he will be slowing down any time soon. Swink's prediction: Steelers win on the road Houston at Indianapolis Indianapolis was embarrassed in Week 1 in Houston when the Texans clearly looked like the better team. Even though tight end Dallas Clark is out for the Colts, quarterback Peyton Manning will be on a mission to pick apart this poor Texans pass defense. Houston ranks last in the league in that department and has been exploited all season by solid passing teams. A big concern for the Colts will be to contain Texans running back Arian Foster, who ran all over Indy in the first game. Swink's prediction: Colts win at home If you want to argue a prediction or point I made, please e-mail me at bryan.swink-02@mcguire.af.mil. Give a detailed explanation of why you disagree and some responses will be posted in next week's column with, of course, my explanation of why you are wrong.