The Oakland Raiders will be looking for their first win of the year when they host the Arizona Cardinals for a Week 7 clash. Coming off a heartbreaking 31-28 last-minute loss to the San Diego Chargers, Oakland is still in search of its first win of 2014. Rookie quarterback Derek Carr looks like a candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year, especially after last week's four-touchdown, 282-yard performance against San Diego.
NFL picks and predictions, Cardinals vs. Raiders 2014: Oakland in search of first win
The Raiders look for win No. 1 while the Cardinals seek their fifth win of the season.
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As for the Cardinals, they'll look to veteran Carson Palmer to guide them to their fifth win of the year. Palmer returned from a shoulder injury last week to throw for 250 yards and two scores to help the Cards top Washington, 30-20. Palmer has played in just two of Arizona's five games now, but Drew Stanton did well in his absence. The defense has been the real story, particularly against the run. Arizona currently ranks third in the NFL in run defense.
That's helped them ascend to the top of the NFC West, ahead of the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. Both teams made the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, while Arizona sat at home for the postseason. They don't intend on that being the scenario this year.
The experts at ESPN have the Cards taking home a victory by a 12-2 margin. The CBS Sports crew has Arizona on top convincingly, 9-0. Finally, Yahoo Sports' three-man panel rounds things out by selecting the Cardinals, 3-0.
SB Nation's team rounds out the picks by giving Arizona the edge, 7-0.
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