NFL Week 7 Preview: Predicting What to Expect From the Four Teams With New Starting Quarterbacks
As Week 7 of the 2011 NFL season quickly approaches, four teams will have to adjust to changes at quarterback and it should be interesting to see which players will actually make an impact for their team on Sunday. The Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins, and Minnesota Vikings all decided it was time for a change, but whether or not this is the right move considering how early it is in the season is still debatable.
Here’s a look at each team’s new starting quarterback for Week 7 followed by a prediction of whether or not the move will pay off in the win column.
Carson Palmer or Kyle Boller
It’s hard to believe at this time last week, nobody would have predicted this move to happen in a million years considering how long he fought for a trade from the Cincinnati Bengals–but it looks like the Raiders will now move forward with Palmer as their quarterback. There’s no question is Palmer is a huge upgrade over Kyle Boller or Terrelle Pryor, but how effective the former No. 1 will be right away is debatable. You have to remember, this was Palmer’s first week of an actual practice after holding out all of training camp and there’s a good chance he may be a little rusty considering he hasn’t had any “in-game” experience since last season–which is why the team is expected to go with Boller for at least this week.
Prediction: Raiders win–whether it’s Palmer or Boller at quarterback
Tim Tebow
Ah yes, the day Broncos fans have been anxiously waiting for all season–the day Tebow gets the chance to start at quarterback over Kyle Orton. Tebow could ask for a better first start of the 2011 season as the Broncos look to pick up their second win of the season against the 0-5 Miami Dolphins. It should be interesting to see which players step it up on offense now that Brandon Lloyd is a member of the St. Louis Rams, but if Denver’s performance in the second half of Week 5′s game against the San Diego Chargers is any indication of what to expect–Tebow should provide another spark for the offense against Miami’s 26th ranked defense.
Prediction: Broncos win
John Beck
Despite the team’s surprising start to the season, it seemed like only a matter of time before the old Rex Grossman came back–and that’s exactly what happened last weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles when he was benched after throwing four interceptions. This may be the 30-year-old Beck’s last chance at a starting job in the NFL, so if has any plans of proving himself as a worthy quarterback–this would be the time. Beck filled in nicely for the Redskins during the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s game against the Eagles by completing 8 of 15 passes for 117 yards and even led the team on an 80-yard scoring drive. He should make out fairly well against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, but whether or not the defense can contain Cam Newton and company is a different story.
Prediction: Redskins lose
Christian Ponder
Unlike Grossman, Ponder wasn’t thrown into the game last weekend due to poor play from Donovan McNabb, but just from the Minnesota Vikings in general. He struggled at times with his passes (9 of 17 for 99 yards) against the Bears, but that should be expected from a rookie with no experience during their first career appearance in the regular season. Leslie Frazier knows it will take time for Ponder to develop and the experience he gains now will be beneficial in the long run–but it’s questionable whether it’s the right move to make this early in the season. Then again, when looking at the Vikings lack of weapons in the passing game–it may not even matter who’s at quarterback against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Prediction: Vikings lose
Dan Parzych is the Lead NFL Content Editor for RantSports.com/NFL, where he writes and edits NFL content for RantSports.com.
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Email Dan: Dan.Parzych@RantSports.com
