NFL 1981 Week 7 Preview

There were two key games in the AFC in week 6.  The first pitted the Steelers against the Oilers.  Houston won the Super Bowl in 1979, were the heavy favorites last season losing in the AFC Championship game, and came into this season as the heavy favorites to again win the Central. But the Steelers have surprised everyone this season bouncing back from being the second worst team in the League last year to sitting 4-1 going into this game.  They continued to surprise in week 6 winning a defensive struggle 6-3.  This is a huge win for the Steelers as now people have to assume they are for real.  Pittsburgh fans keep pointing to all of their injuries in 1980 as their downfall and perhaps they are right.  The Steelers jump right into another tough one this week traveling to Green Bay.  If they can pull off a win there then they would not only be the favorites to take the Central, but become a real contender in winning the AFC.  Another surprise in the Central is that Cincinnati has fought their way back to a .500 record.  Their defense is playing a bit better and if they continue this trend they could be a threat for a wild card spot.

The other big game in the AFC was also a division matchup, this one between defending Super Bowl champs Miami and the 5-0 Baltimore Colts.  Miami was hosting this one, but all the pressure was really on Baltimore.  Could they go into Miami and dethrone the defending champs.  The answer was a resounding no.  The Dolphins dominated the 31-7 win with their tenacious defense.  It doesn't get any easier for Baltimore now as they host Kansas City which should be a great offensive shootout.  Miami shut up any of their critics with a superb performance.  Meanwhile the Jets and the Bills are also playing pretty good ball.  At least good enough to have them in the playoff mix at this point of the season.  No one is quite sure how these two will hold up the res of the year, but they have to be watched.

In the AFC West we also had a big divisional matchup between Kansas City and San Diego.  The Chargers are trying to get back to playing the way they did last season making the playoffs, but finding it difficult in 1981.  The Chiefs didn't make it any easier with a solid win over the Chargers.  Everyone has now pretty much written off every other team in the West, but that would be a mistake.  Seattle, San Diego, and Denver all seem to be potential playoff teams.  Oakland's defense is just too bad for them to make the playoffs, but the other teams could all pull it around and get a wild card spot, or even rally to win the Division. 

In the NFC Central Detroit won their big matchup game against the 49ers with ease and with Green Bay losing their second in a row have jumped into the Division lead.  They are looking better each week, while the Packers defense and offense are both suddenly struggling a bit.  No other team in the Central is taken that seriously thogh the Bears are hanging in there at 3-3.

In the East the two top teams slid backwards.  The Redskins were upset by Denver and the Cowboys were thumped by the Cardinals.  Washington is still the team to beat in the East, but mostly because no one else in the East looks very good. 

San Francisco, New Orleans, and Los Angeles are once again fighting it out for the West Division.  The Rams are beginning to play like the best team in the Division.  Their offense and defense are both getting into a solid groove, and they are beginning to look like the defending NFC champs.  For a team that was written off after week 2, they have very quickly bounced back.  The Saints meanwhile have absolutely no offense.  They have got to make some major improvements if they hope to get back to their 1979 form.  Meanwhile it is still the 49ers Division to lose.  Their defense is slipping a bit, and they need to find their footing if they hope to finally win the West. 


Trades
Sea Rookie DE Donnell Thompson for SF 4th year WR Derrick Gaffney
Mia 6th year DT Art Riley for GB 6th year T PhilMcKinnely


Standings
AFC
East: Miami, Baltimore 5-1; New York, Buffalo 3-3; New England 2-4
Central: Pittsburgh 5-1; Houston 4-2; Cincinnati 3-3; Cleveland 1-5
West: Kansas City 5-1; Seattle 3-3; Oakland, Denver, San Diego 2-4

NFC
East: Washington 4-2; Dallas, St. Louis 3-3; Philadelphia 2-4; New York 1-5
Central: Detroit 5-1; Green Bay 4-2; Chicago 3-3; Tampa Bay 2-4; Minnesota 1-5
West: San Francisco 4-2; Los Angeles, New Orleans 3-3; Atlanta 1-5


Statistics
QBs
Det Greg Landry 109.7
Phi John Walton 93.5
LA James Harris 91.3

RBs
Phi Ricky Bell 670yds
Mia Benny Malone 604yds
Bal Billy Sims 562yds

Recs
Det Mel Jacobs 650yds
SD Dwight McDonald 560yds
Phi Charlie Smith 539yds


Key Games of Week 7
Cincinnati 3-3 at Chicago 3-3
     As things sit right now these two teams are on the playoff bubble.  So this could turn out to be an improtant game. 

Pittsburgh 5-1 at Green Bay 4-2
     Will the Packers lose their third in a row?  Can the Steelers pull off another big win?  This should be a fantastic game.

Los Angeles 3-3 at San Francisco 4-2
     The Rams took down the Saints last week and now turn to the stumbling 49ers, a win here would be huge for the Rams.

St. Louis 3-3 at Washington 4-2
     The Cardinals destroyed the Cowboys last week and now face off agains the Division leaders.  A win here and the Cardinals would jump to the top of the Division, but don't hold your breath.

Miami 5-1 at Dallas 3-3
     This is a tough road game for the Dolphins to have following their big win over the Colts.  The key here will be Roger Staubach.  He has been struggling a bit and will have to have a great game against the tough Miami defense if they hope to win this one.

Kansas City 5-1 at Baltimore 5-1
     This game and the Steelers game are the two to watch this week.  Where the Steelers and Packers should slug it out this should be an offensive fans delight.  Look for a lot of points here and either team can win it.