There's something missing in this NFL season and it's not just Tom Brady.

It needs a jolt of drama.

Call the screenwriters. Cue the cold weather. Someone pass the hot sauce, please.

Even John Madden is taking a week off. What does that tell you?

Maybe it's the election. Maybe it's the markets. Maybe it's me.

Quick, which is the best team in the NFL?

Anyone… anyone … Bueller?

Dallas?

No, just the most notorious.

Tennessee?

Let's hope not.

The New York Giants?

Let's ask the Cleveland Browns.

On second thought, let's see what happens in Week7:

NEW ORLEANS at CAROLINA: Have you noticed that every team in the NFC South is at .500 or better? If that keeps up, the division might need to hire a marketing guru to get the word out. Panthers 27, Saints 17.

DALLAS at ST. LOUIS: Jerry Jones didn't suspend Pacman Jones. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell did. What does that tell you?

Cowboys 26, Rams 24.

MINNESOTA at CHICAGO: This game is appealing in a meatball-sandwich kind of way.

Bears 24, Vikings 14.

TENNESSEE at KANSAS CITY: The Titans are the NFL's lone remaining unbeaten team and will remain that way for at least another week. The Chiefs, meanwhile, remain the fourth-best team in the Big 12 Conference. Titans 24, Chiefs 14.

SAN DIEGO at BUFFALO: Three things that don't get enough credit for how good they are:

‘Boston Legal'

Musician Robert Earl Keen

The Buffalo Bills

And to prove it:

Bills 28, Chargers 24.

SAN FRANCISCO at NEW YORK GIANTS: Pay no attention to what happened in Cleveland on Monday night.

Giants 33, 49ers 14.

DETROIT at HOUSTON: The who cares game of the week.

Texans 31, Lions 20.

PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI: In an effort to encourage support of the once-again winless Bengals, the mayor of Cincinnati has announced he will tailgate with fans prior to this game. He knows what he's doing. Most folks tend to lose their appetite after watching the Bengals.

Steelers 33, Cincinnati 20.

BALTIMORE at MIAMI: The Dolphins are getting a lot of credit for making the single-wing offense popular again. That's fine. Just don't bring back Ban-Lon, black and white television and pull-top beer cans. Dolphins 23, Ravens 20.

NEW YORK JETS at OAKLAND: The Raiders insist on living by Gertrude Stein's famous line about the city they call home – there is no there there.

Jets 32, Raiders 21.

CLEVELAND at WASHINGTON: Question: Where did all the Redskins fans go after the loss to Aint Louis last Sunday? It got mighty quiet around here in a hurry.

And, for what it's worth, I like it when Cleveland wears its brown jerseys with white pants. I'm just saying …

Redskins 28, Browns 17.

INDIANAPOLIS at GREEN BAY: There's a chill in the air around Lambeau Field these days and it's not just because it's autumn. Colts 37, Packers 17.

SEATTLE at TAMPA BAY: Rays fever. Catch it. Sorry, wrong sport. Bucs 17, Seahawks 13.

DENVER at NEW ENGLAND: Okay, losing Tom Brady was a bad break but the Patriots became very ordinary very quickly. Like chewing gum that loses its flavor faster than it should. Patriots 30, Broncos 20.

LAST WEEK: 8-6

SEASON: 48-39