NFL Week 6 Predictions

Week 5 Predictions (9-5)
Season Record (49-28)

Winners in BOLD
(Game Times CST)

NYG @ CHI
Thursday 7:25 p.m.

Like I said last week, I'm not picking the Giants until they show me something. Their -100 points differential is second worst in the NFL (only behind the lowly Jaguars). The next closest is St. Louis at -38. It's really a true testament as to how bad the two NFL's 0-5 have been. The Bears on the other hand are coming off two straight losses after starting 3-0. Yes, they've made their fair share of mistakes, but I'm not reading too much into it. I don't know who can beat the Saints right now regardless of where the game is, and many people expected the Lions to give the Bears a game in Detroit. No David Wilson, a terrible offensive line and a turnover prone Eli Manning are all clear signs of a Bears big win on Thursday.

CIN @ BUF
Sunday 12:00 p.m.

Who is Buffalo starting, that guy they just signed off the practice squad Thad Lewis? If the Bills had a healthy E.J. Manuel, I'd give the Bills a fighting chance. The Bengals defense is finally starting to dominate as expected and they became the first team to hold Tom Brady without a TD pass in 52 games last week. Tom Brady > Practice Squad QB's.

DET @ CLE
Sunday 12:00 p.m.

First, I want to say I don't think the Lions are very good (especially on the road). This is an eight win team, if that. After watching the Packers defense give the Lions fits, you have to think how much better the Browns defense is. It's crazy to say that Brian Hoyer being out hurts a team's chances, but it really does. Brandon Weeden stepping in and actually playing solid against the Bills should give him a little confidence going into this one. If Cleveland actually wants a shot to compete in the AFC North, they need this one. Green Bay, Kansas City, Baltimore and Cincinnati are next.

OAK @ KC
Sunday 12:00 p.m.

Good for the Chiefs. Their defense has allowed the fewest points in the NFL. Their +70 point differential is second in the league trailing only Denver. Alex Smith has been everything the Chiefs have asked for and Jamaal Charles has been great as well. Oakland is 0-2 on the road, against two tough teams. Sadly for them, it doesn't get any easier here. Thinking a little bit ahead, with Houston, Cleveland and Buffalo to follow, a 9-0 Kansas City start is not out of the realm of possibility. Who would've thought?

CAR @ MIN
Sunday 12:00 p.m.

Outside of a 38-0 beat down of the Giants (everyone seems to do it), the Panthers have not looked very good. They could very well be 2-2 though if not for an E.J. Manuel TD pass with two seconds left. Not to say Minnesota has been impressive, but they've competed in every game. Carolina is seventh in the NFL in rushing yards per game allowed at 92. This game will be close, but I like the Vikings to edge out Carolina at home.

PIT @ NYJ
Sunday 12:00 p.m.

I'll be honest, I thought there was no chance the Jets would walk out of the Georgia Dome with a win. Have to give them credit, they did it. To say Mike Smith and the Falcons didn't cost themselves the game, that's a whole different story. Luckily, they're on a bye week that they need more than ever. Rex Ryan has his team playing great football and defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson showed on prime time that he is going to be a real star. But, Geno Smith for the first time all year did not turn the ball over. Ryan Clark claims the Steelers, although at 0-4 are not out of it. Wishful thinking, so we'll just have to wait and see. I like the Jets here.

PHI @ TB
Sunday 12:00 p.m.

Nick Foles steps in for the injured Michael Vick for the Eagles. Everyone saw that move coming at one point or another this season. Not that Nick Foles is bad, but he is nothing more than an average QB. Tampa Bay has been terrible this season, but three of their four losses have been by a combined six points. It took the Saints, (yes the now 5-0 Saints) a game winning field goal as time expired to beat them. The Eagles defense has been terrible. Could this finally be Doug Martin's breakout game in 2013?

GB @ BAL
Sunday 12:00 p.m.

Green Bay has had to play two tough road games and have come out 0-2. It doesn't get any easier against the defending champs. No Clay Matthews for the next month is a bigger blow than I think most NFL fans realize. It's usually safe to pick the team with the better QB, even more so when the one who just signed for $100+ million has two TD's and six INT's over the past two weeks. The Ravens have struggled against the pass this year, but I still like Baltimore at home in what could be a high scoring game.

STL @ HOU
Sunday 12:00 p.m.

Nobody wants and needs to play better in this game than Matt Schaub. Texans coach Gary Kubiak had to call it a, "tough decision" to start him. The Rams defense has allowed 11 passing touchdowns (tied for fifth most in the NFL), so if Schaub were to ever have a good game, it'd be here. Arian Foster finally looks healthy and getting involved in the passing game, too. Everyone thought the Rams were this year's sleeper team and I was never really sure why. I didn't think it mattered if they were in the tough NFC West or weak NFC East. They weren't going to contend either way. It's looking like a 2-4 start for St. Louis.

JAC @ DEN
Sunday 3:05 p.m.

I think I'll just try and pick the score, because predicting how the game goes seems to be a little too easy. Just imagine if they weren't going to pull Peyton Manning in the second half. 20 touchdowns, one interception in five games. 45-3 Denver.

TEN @ SEA
Sunday 3:05 p.m.

Ryan Fitzpatrick going on the road to face a 10-0 at home Russell Wilson. Can't imagine this game being close.

NO @ NE
Sunday 3:25 p.m.

Tom Brady is off to one of the worst starts of his career. Lacking any big name receiver, on top of Gronkowski being out and an abysmal running game, it's tough to put all the blame on him. Drew Brees on the other hand has Jimmy Graham who is poised to break all kinds of tight end records this season. Graham is coming off four straight 100 yard games and it is extremely fair to expect number five here. Everyone probably imagines a shootout in this one and who could blame you for thinking so, but each of these defenses rank in the top five for points against thus far. However, I like Tom Brady bouncing back in a big way after his poor performance on the road versus Cincinnati.

ARI @ SF
Sunday 3:25 p.m. 

Six completions from you quarterback doesn't seem like it would win you many games. But, that's all it took Colin Kaepernick to demolish the Texans 34-3 last week. The 49ers showed their true ground and pound identity and ran the ball 36 times compared to just 15 passes. Arizona ranks third in the NFL in rushing yards against, allowing just 79 yards per game. Kaepernick will need to play better to take some pressure off the defense. I like his chances to do so.

WSH @ DAL
Sunday 7:30 p.m.

Really, who wants to win the NFC East? It may only take eight or nine games to do so. Dallas is coming off an incredible effort against the Denver Broncos in a game they really could have won if not for a late interception by Tony Romo. I don't like Washington's defense, a unit that has been one of the worst in football to stop the explosive Cowboys offense. It's fair to expect another high scoring game here, but I like Dallas winning the shoot-out.

IND @ SD
Monday 7:30 p.m.

Many people expected the Colts to take a minor step back this season and give way to the Houston Texans again. Five weeks into the season, it's looking like just the opposite. Trent Richardson is ready to handle the full workload now that Ahmad Bradshaw is lost for the season. If San Diego is going to be a playoff team, they have to beat bad teams on the road and they looked horrible at Oakland last week. The Colts have turned the ball over just four times this year, good for second in the NFL. Philip Rivers is looking to become the first QB in NFL history to throw for three straight 400+ yard games, but I don't like his chances facing a defense that has only allowed 300+ yards through the air once so far. Colts win and improve to 5-1 while extending their lead in the AFC South.

NFL Week 5 Predictions

Week 4 Predictions (9-6)
Season Record (40-23)

Winners in BOLD
(Game Times CST)

BUF @ CLE
Thursday 7:25 p.m.

So let's get this straight. The Browns are just fooling everyone. After an 0-2 start, starting quarterback Brandon Weeden gets hurt and they trade running back Trent Richardson to the Colts. In steps backup Brian Hoyer as well as a below average running back committee and they rattle off two straight wins. Football really is an interesting game. But, the Cleveland defense is legit. The unit has allowed the fourth fewest yards in the NFL and tight end Jordan Cameron has been better than anyone imagined. I like the Browns and their defense to give rookie QB E.J. Manuel a rough night and get to 3-2.

NO @ CHI
Sunday 12:00 p.m.

It's really hard to pick against the 4-0 Saints who are firing on all cylinders. But, they are coming off a short week and are going to a tough place to play in Chicago. How the Bears try to stop the dynamic combination of Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham though? That'll be the difference.

NE @ CIN
Sunday 12:00 p.m.

The Bengals are coming off a bad home loss to the Browns, while the Patriots are coming off an impressive road win at Atlanta. Andy Dalton has almost seemed to take a step back as he can't find any real consistency. After A.J. Green went off for 162 yards in the opener, he's been held to just 138 in the last three.

DET @ GB
Sunday 12:00 p.m.

Seriously can't believe the Lions have lost the past 19 games at Lambeau Field. The Lions offense is really good, which is why I think this game is going to be really close. But, I like Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers edging them out at home.

KC @ TEN
Sunday 12:00 p.m.


No Locker, no chance. Chiefs move to 5-0.

SEA @ IND
Sunday 12:00 p.m.

Seattle was lucky to escape Houston with a win thanks to a bad interception by Matt Schaub. I like the Colts more, especially now with Trent Richardson getting comfortable learning the playbook.

JAC @ STL
Sunday 12:00 p.m.

This is the Jaguars best chance to get a win for while. Sadly, it's not going to happen for them here.

BAL @ MIA
Sunday 12:00 p.m.

PHI @ NYG
Sunday 12:00 p.m.

The Giants need to show me something before I can actually pick them to win a game. They've been outscored by 62 points over the last two games!

CAR @ ARI
Sunday 3:05 p.m.

DEN @ DAL
Sunday 3:25 p.m.

With 16 touchdowns and zero interceptions, Peyton Manning has been unbelievable. The Broncos defense is number one against the run, but I'll throw that stat out for this one, because it'll be hard to run the ball when you're down 20 early.

HOU @ SF
Sunday 7:30 p.m.

The 49ers are well rested and the Texans are coming off a loss that had to have taken a lot out of them. With a soft schedule coming up, this could end up being a pivotal game to the start of a big streak for San Francisco. Texans offensive coordinator Rick Dennison said Schaub is, "mentally tough." Going into hostile Candlestick Park, he'll need to be for Houston to have a chance.

SD @ OAK
Sunday 10:35 p.m.

NYJ @ ATL
Monday 7:30 p.m.

Atlanta needs this win, badly. Sitting at 1-3 looks bad but like San Francisco, they have a soft schedule for the next few games and need to start a streak here. They've lost their three games by a combined 17 points and have led by 10 or more in two of them. There's really nothing I can see happening that would give the Jets an edge here. Falcons will take out their frustration and get to 2-3 as they try to begin their climb back in the division.