New England Patriots (3-2) at Buffalo Bills (3-2)
If I told you before the season that in Week Six, the Pats and Bills would be playing for the division lead, you’d probably have reported me for some sort of treatment.
Yet, that’s the situation this week in Buffalo. Unfortunately for the Bills, the Patriots have owned them in the Brady-Belichick era, and it looks to me like the Patriots will build off of their strong performance last Sunday night.
I think the Bills can make this a close game, mostly due to their pass rush and the weakness of the New England offensive line, but the Pats go to 4-2.
Prediction: New England 24, Buffalo 20
Carolina Panthers (3-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-1)
Did the Panthers win last week? Yes, but in the opening minutes of the game, they hardly looked like a team capable of keeping up with the league’s elite.
Enter the Bengals, a team that got embarrassed in Foxboro, Massachusetts last Sunday. They’re now hungry, motivated, and are ready to maintain their division lead.
They really might have the best defense in the league, and on the road, I don’t trust the Carolina offense to do enough to win this game.
Prediction: Cincinnati 27, Carolina 17
Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) at Cleveland Browns (2-2)
The Steelers beat the Browns at home earlier this season by three points. They defeated the Jaguars last weekend by one touchdown. They’re not exuding much confidence to this point, even though they technically have a winning record.
The Browns are a better team than most expected, and a 25 points comeback win against Tennessee can only push them harder.
At home against the Steelers, I’m taking Cleveland, just like I did last week.
Prediction: Cleveland 27, Pittsburgh 23
Green Bay Packers (3-2) at Miami Dolphins (2-2)
Should this game really even be a contest? As long as Aaron Rodgers does his thing, it shouldn’t be close.
Miami’s offense hasn’t shown much through four games, and I doubt that anything will change in Week Six.
Prediction: Green Bay 37, Miami 20
Detroit Lions (3-2) at Minnesota Vikings (2-3)
Why is it so hard to trust teams as skilled as the Lions on both sides of the ball? Playing the Bills at home, the high powered Lions offense only managed two touchdowns.
This game seems like a major trap for the Lions, and playing the Vikings in outdoor weather isn’t exactly ideal for Detroit either.
Prediction: Minnesota 24, Detroit 20
Denver Broncos (3-1) at New York Jets (1-4)
The Broncos come into East Rutherford off another win, this past one coming at the expense of the Cardinals.
The Jets got throttled in San Diego, and nothing from their game can be described as a positive. This game might get ugly.
Prediction: Denver 30, New York Jets 10
Baltimore Ravens (3-2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-4)
I’ve picked the Bucs to win many of their games through this point in the season, and I wonder sometimes why I chose to do so.
Even with Mike Glennon at quarterback, a signal-caller I think has potential, this team is looking at a top five draft pick this off-season.
I’m not confident in the Ravens either, but at this point, they have to be better than the Bucs, right?
Prediction: Baltimore 20, Tampa Bay 17
Jacksonville Jaguars (0-5) at Tennessee Titans (1-4)
There are very few instances during the season in which I have no commentary on a game. This is one such game.
Prediction: Tennessee 24, Jacksonville 17
San Diego Chargers (4-1) at Oakland Raiders (0-4)
The Chargers are going to be in first place after this week, barring a horribly shocking collapse to the Raiders.
They’ve really been one of the best teams in the league, and Philip Rivers is taking this team to places that they haven’t in the past.
Prediction: San Diego 27, Oakland 13
Washington (1-3) at Arizona Cardinals (4-1)
Even after suffering their first defeat of the season at the hands of the Broncos, the Cards still looked and played like a playoff contender.
On the other hand, Washington isn’t anywhere near a playoff team, and the Cardinals defense might have a field day, especially at home.
Prediction: Arizona 20, Washington 13
Chicago Bears (2-3) at Atlanta Falcons (2-3)
No matter how average the Falcons might be on the road, it is evident that they are a completely different team offensively at the Georgia Dome.
The Bears have been solid heading into Week Six, but 2-4 is entirely possible, and with the Packers and Lions both ahead of them in the standings and playing more winnable games on Sunday, their division hopes might be slipping away.
Prediction: Atlanta 31, Chicago 24
Dallas Cowboys (4-1) at Seattle Seahawks (3-1)
Here’s all I need to pick this game: Seattle is at home. If this game was taking place in Dallas, I’d have to think long and hard about giving the ‘Boys a chance.
But it’s not, and these Seahawks just don’t lose at home. I don’t expect them to this week, and maybe not for the rest of the season.
Prediction: Seattle 27, Dallas 17
New York Giants (3-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)
For as much fun as I’ve poked at Eli Manning, he’s been one of the league’s best quarterbacks since Week Three. Nick Foles has not.
Yet, I’m going to take Philly in this game. They’re playing at home, and the Giants defense isn’t exactly the one that’s going to limit the Eagles offense. This might be the game in which they breakout.
Prediction: Philadelphia 34, New York 27
San Francisco 49ers (3-2) at St. Louis Rams (1-3)
Who picks these primetime games? Either way, this is a game that the Niners can’t afford to lose. They really shouldn’t either, because this Rams team is one of the league’s worst.
Prediction: San Francisco 23, St. Louis 13
Last Week: (13-2)
Season: (47-29)
Best: (13-2)
[Photo courtesy of: dctimes.com]
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
