NFL Week 6 Predictions and Picks

Overall season record: 41-35

I'm a stand up guy. Last week I stunk the joint up with a dismal 5-9 record. Not what I had in mind when I made my picks last week. Bur don't worry I haven't lost confidence in my ability to predict the outcome of these games. You shouldn't lose confidence in me either.

After five weeks of football, there's no clear-cut favorite. And who would have thought that special teams would play such a huge part in the outcome of games this season.

I believe they will be one of the most watched teams as the season progresses will be the New England Patriots. Everybody wants to know how they will respond without Randy Moss? I personally think they will be okay. The Patriots will go back to what worked for them before on offense. Getting the football to the open guy will be the name of the game for New England.

Sunday Games @ 10pm ET

Miami Dolphins (2-2) @ Green Bay Packers (3-2): The Dolphins have been great on the road this year. They beat the Bills 15-10 in week one, followed by an impressive 14-10 win in Minnesota in week two. If Chad Henne can stay away the costly interception, Miami will have a chance to pull the upset. The Packers are coming off a tough loss against the Redskins where quarterback Aaron Rodgers sustained a concussion. It's a toss up whether Rodgers plays this Sunday but if he does, it will give the Packers a shot in the arm. Green Bay's inability to sustain a decent game is a major reason why the Packers can't put teams away in the fourth quarter this year. Dolphins win

Baltimore Ravens (4-1) @ New England Patriots (3-1): I wouldn't be surprised to see the Patriots win this game at home because the Patriots haven't loss a regular season after a bye week under Belichick since 2002. The Patriots will miss Randy Moss' big play ability, but the Patriots are used to winning important games without marquee name receivers. Joe Flacco has a great opportunity to shred the Patriots 28^th ranked pass defense. Ravens win

San Diego Chargers (2-3) @ St. Louis Rams (2-3): If the Chargers can't get a road win against the Rams, they don't deserve to make the playoffs this year. If the Chargers can stay away from the petty turnovers and special team blunders, they could end this game by halftime. If I were the Rams, I would hand the football off to Steven Jackson at least 25 times this game to keep Phillip Rivers and the high-powered offense off the field. Chargers win

Kansas City Chiefs (3-1) @ Houston Texans (3-2): Both surprising teams will look to get back in gear after defeats last week. The Chiefs are a team that runs the ball and stops the run, which is normally a recipe for a lot of wins during the season, however they're not a good passing team nor do they stop the pass. The Chiefs will need to score 25 points in this game to have a chance. When you think of the Texans, you normally associate them as a high flying passing team. This year's team is predicated on the run with Arian Foster. When he plays well they win. When he plays poorly, they lose. Matt Schaub should be able to expose the Chiefs 25^th ranked secondary. Texans win

Cleveland Browns (1-3)@ Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1): Browns rookie quarterback Colt McCoy will get bloody and battered by the Pittsburgh defense. This game will not be close at all. Oh yeah, the Steelers also get Big B fresh off his four game suspension. The Steelers are the best team in the NFL because they can run the ball with consistency, have a great defense, great coach and now have a two-time Super Bowl champion at quarterback. Now all the Steelers need to do is get Big B ready for the rest of the season and playoffs. I'm expecting a 34-10 victory for Pittsburgh. Steelers win

New Orleans Saints (3-2) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1): The Super Bowl champions are not playing great football right now. They are not forcing turnovers like last year and they are not generating big plays in the passing game. The Buccaneers have played above expectations with a 3-1 record. Both teams are struggling to run the football. I can't see the Drew Brees and Saints playing two bad games in a row, however if they expect the Buccaneers to roll over for them they have another thing coming. Saints win

Seattle Seahawks (2-2) @ Chicago Bears (4-1): The Seahawks suck on the road this year and guess what? They are on the road this Sunday. No analysis needed here. Bears win

Detroit Lions @ New York Giants (3-2): The good times for the Lions come to an end this Sunday against Giants. The only good thing the Lions do well is pass the football. In order to pass the ball the quarterback must drop back in the pocket and scan the field. This is where the Giants defense is at its best, getting after the quarterback. I expect a lot of sacks for the Giants defense on Sunday. The Lions aren't very good on defense either.

This is the week that Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs could run all over the Lions 26^th run defense. Giants win

Atlanta Falcons (4-1) @ Philadelphia Eagles (3-2): Unfortunately for Michael Vick, he may not get the opportunity to show his old team how much he's improved as a pocket passer. Matt Ryan should relax this week and hand the ball off to Michael Turner and company. Why? Because the Falcons are the second best running team in the NFL and they will be going against the 24^th rushing defense in Philadelphia. The Eagles have to throw in order to win their first home game this season. Falcons win

Sunday Games @ 4:05pm ET

New Orleans Saints (3-2) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1): The Super Bowl champions are not playing great football right now. They are not forcing turnovers like last year and they are not generating big plays in the passing game. The Buccaneers have played above expectations with a 3-1 record. Both teams are struggling to run the football. I can't see the Drew Brees and Saints playing two bad games in a row, however if they expect the Buccaneers to roll over for them they have another thing coming. Saints win

New York Jets (4-1) @ Denver Broncos (2-3): I like the Jets in this matchup of their ability to run the ball between the tackles with Shonn Greene and on the perimeter with LaDainian Tomlinson. Speaking of L.T. does he look fresh and healthy as a Jet? This man was left for dead after being released by the Chargers in the off-season.The Broncos just happen to have the 25^th ranked run defense. On the flip side the Broncos should be able to move the ball down the field on the Jets 23^rd pass defense. Kyle Orton just needs to make sure to get the ball out his hands quickly or it could be a long day. The Jets are on upset alert this week coming off a short week. Jets win

Oakland Raiders (2-3) @ San Francisco 49ers (0-5): I know one person who will be watching this game with a vested interest and that's my good friend Josh Greenberg. He's a die-hard 49ers fan and very disappointed in his team's on the field performance this season. If the 49ers lose this game, he and other 49ers fans may need to get those grocery bags from the Detroit Lions fans from 2008. The 49ers game plan is simple this Sunday: run the ball early and often on the Raiders 31^st ranked run defense. This is a game the Raiders are supposed to win coming off an impressive victory over their hated rivals the Chargers. 49ers win

Sunday Game @ 4:15pm ET

Dallas Cowboys (1-3) @ Minnesota Vikings (1-3): This is the game is also known as the Panic Bowl. The loser faces the reality of a 1-4 start and major uphill climb back to respectability. If you would have told me the Cowboys and Vikings would start the season a combined 2-6, I would have thought you were crazy. Thus far at this point of the season both teams have been the season's biggest disappointments. Brett Favre's elbow is a sore and there's talk about him sitting this game out. Don't believe that non-sense for one second. If Favre can bend his elbow, he will play. The man is a gamer whether you love him or hate him. This matchup is too important for him to miss. If the Cowboys can run the football and take an early lead, that would go a long way towards to keep the Minnesota crowd quiet and Adrian Peterson off the field. Cowboys win

Sunday Night Football on NBC

Indianapolis Colts (3-2) @ Washington Redskins (3-2): Washington has a shaky secondary. The Skins are 30^th against the pass and Peyton Manning is coming to town with the 4^th rated pass offense in the NFL. The Redskins are an average football team overall, however they play well at home. The Skins need to get some heat on Manning because if he gets time and get his feet set, he's very dangerous. Colts win

Monday Night Football on ESPN

Tennessee Titans (3-2) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2): The Titans and Jaguars are going to battle on Monday Night Football for first place in the AFC South division. Say it ain't so? Vince Young and David Garrard are average signal callers at best. Both teams have top notch running backs in Chris Johnson and Maurice Jones Drew. The team that can control the line of scrimmage and stay away from turnovers will win this team. Don't count out special teams playing a major role in the outcome of this game as well. It's been that type of year. Titans win