Steve Silverman

The only sure thing about predicting what will happen in the NFL is that those predictions are sure to go wrong. At least the majority of them.

As the Patriots go rampaging through the league with an undefeated record as they hit their bye week, there have been a number of “expert” predictions that have had all the staying power of a Pam Anderson marriage.

But some have gone right as well, including a return to form of Ben Roethlisberger, who has much more freedom since Bill Cowher opted to leave Pittsburgh.

No matter how poorly the predictions go, we are never dissuaded from climbing right back on that old creaky limb again.

Oh boy, did these stink …

1. The Giants will struggle and it’s just a matter of time before they fire Tom Coughlin.

Instead of falling apart because they were saddled with the despotic Coughlin and the inconsistent Eli Manning, the Giants have reeled off six straight wins and the team is playing relaxed and loose football. Coughlin finally looked himself in the mirror and has backed off in the way he approaches his team. New York started the season with losses to Dallas and Green Bay, but instead of spiraling out of control the Giants rallied in a second-half comeback win of the Redskins and have played like studs ever since.

2.  The Saints would supplant the Bears as the No. 1 team in the NFC

The losing team in the Super Bowl regularly falls on its sword the following season and the Saints appeared poised to inherit the crown from the Bears this season. Led by their outstanding skill position players like Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, Deuce McAllister and Marques Colston the Saints were expected roll. Instead, they got off to an 0-4 start. Those same experts then wrote all the “What’s wrong with the Saints” pieces, predicting more doom and gloom. Then the Saints reeled off 4 straight wins. (We are not writing off the Saints — see second half predictions)

3. With Richard Seymour (offseason knee surgery) out and Rodney Harrison serving an early-season suspension as a result of testing positive for performance-enhancing substances, the Patriots would struggle on the defensive end.

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The prediction seemed to have validity because Seymour may be the team’s best all-around defensive player and Harrison is the sheriff in the secondary. Instead, the Patriots are tied for the league lead in takeaway (20) with Tennessee, No. 1 in 3^rd-down defense and in the top 5 in a number of significant defensive categories. Oh, yes, they are 9-0 and threatening to go undefeated this season.

4. The pain will continue for Brett Favre as the Packers continue to struggle.

After the writing had been put on the wall in big, bold letters, Favre has defied the experts by having a renaissance season. Favre has led the Packers to first place in the NFC North with a 7-1 record and he has avoided the interceptions that have plagued him in previous seasons. Favre is completing 66.6 percent of his passes and has a 13-8 interception percentage. Favre has gotten with head coach Mike McCarthy’s program and has taken far fewer chances than he had done previously.

NFL games to watch Must-see TV Cowboys-Packers, Pats-Steelers just a few ’07 schedule highlights Getty Images

5. Lions team president would have his bags packed as offensive coordinator Mike Martz climbed over head coach Rod Marinelli’s back and the Lions fell apart once again.

Detroit has shocked the football world with a 6-2 getaway. Millen’s recent draft picks have been very instrumental in the great start and 2007 first-round pick Calvin Johnson is a stud at wide receiver and 2006 top choice Ernie Sims plays linebacker as if he were shot out of a cannon. He makes game-changing hits on a regular basis. Oh, by the way, QB Jon Kitna has completed 67.2 percent of his passes and has played a key leadership role.

6. The Chargers would erase last year’s playoff debacle and dominate the AFC.

Instead of taking last year’s home playoff loss to the Patriots and using it as fuel, the Chargers have played disjointed and at time dispirited football in starting the season with a 4-4 record. Head coach Norv Turner has a chance to rescue the season, but the team has not responded to his easy-going style the same way they did to former head coach Marty Schottenheimer.

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