NFL Week 6 Predictions

The NFL season is beginning to take shape, with big time sides emerging and no-hopers sinking.

Another 9 predicted wins added to my slate brings me up to 42-35 and things seem to be becoming slightly clearer in the muddy waters of the NFL.

But week 5 had more shocks and upset, including the awesome Colts win over Green Bay, dedicated to Chuck Pagano, who is battling leukaemia, and I hope he returns to his office, where his staff have left his light on, very soon. Keep #ChuckStrong.

Here’s how I see week 6 panning out:
[BYES: Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars]

Friday 1:20am

Pittsburgh Steelers 30-23 Tennessee Titans

While the Titans look a poor ball-club right now, I still think there is some upset potential here, the Steelers’ defense is injury hit again, and could be exploited by a Tennessee offense that has considerable talent if it can click together. But however weak the Steelers may be on D, the Titans have much bigger problems on that side of the ball, and with RB Rashard Mendenhall back in the fold, Pittsburgh should have too much for them on the ground, and through the air. If you have Steelers in your fantasy teams, this is the week to play them.

Sunday 6:00

Oakland Raiders 19-41 Atlanta Falcons

Oakland’s defense simply has not shown enough to indicate that it has any chance of stopping the 5-0 Falcons, whose offense is really looking sharp, slick and explosive. Atlanta could put some points on the board at home this week, Matt Ryan could have a field day.

Dallas Cowboys 13-16 Baltimore Ravens

This is an interesting game as while both teams have high-level offenses, it could end up being the talented defenses that may decide things. Baltimore’s defense is well-known as a hard-nosed unit, but the Cowboys, with their two shut-down corners in Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, all-pro pass rusher DeMarcus Ware and line-backer Shaun Lee, have the beginnings of a top 5 defense.

If Rob Ryan can get them firing, it gives Dallas a big chance in any ball game, but if Tony Romo has a day that is anything like his outing in Seattle (5 INT’s), they will get pulverised. It probably won’t be that bad, but I just can’t trust Romo against good defenses, Ravens to sneak another tough win at home.

Cincinnati Bengals 27-20 Cleveland Browns

The return of CB Joe Haden could not have been at a better time for 0-5 Cleveland, as this week they have to deal with AJ Green and the Bengals, a team that are confusing me. I can’t work out whether their offense or defense are good units or not. This game will answer that, if they deal with the Browns away from home convincingly then I will believe the Marvin Lewis hype, but I fear that it could become a bit of a battle in Cleveland, where the Browns trouble the Bengals more than fans would like. I think they get the win, but there will still be questions surrounding the Bengals.

St Louis Rams 9-13 Miami Dolphins

The defensive battle of the week could come in Miami, where the Dolphins welcome the Rams, two teams with surprisingly good defensive units and offenses that are works in progress. There shouldn’t be many points in this one, so it could come down to who runs the ball better, and with the way Reggie Bush has been carrying the rock this year against run defenses better than the Rams’, I’ll side with the home team.

Indianapolis Colts 23-20 New York Jets

Houston struggled at times against the Jets’ banged up, troubled defense, but while the talented roster continues to bend, it is only a matter of time before they break under the weight of an offense that just doesn’t seem to have the talent or capability to win games.

Unless Mark Sanchez improves and they find a way to get Shonn Greene running the ball better, the Jets will struggle against whoever they play. Andrew Luck and the Colts are riding a wave of emotion associated with Chuck Pagano’s battle with Leukaemia, and it could prove the difference in a potentially tight game.

Detroit Lions 20-27 Philadelphia Eagles

For the Lions, the bye week came at a bad time, but the week also ended in a bad way as they have to travel to Philadelphia and play a sleeping giant of the league. The Eagles are loaded with talent and are winning games without playing particularly well, even though they were narrowly beaten by Pittsburgh last week. There will come a point where Philadelphia has to play well across the board, and if they do, watch out. The struggling Lions will hope it’s not this week, especially with Matt Stafford looking a shadow of the QB he was last year, and no real consistent running game or defense to help him out. I’m not sure Philly break out this week, but I think they sneak another win.

Kansas City Chiefs 16-19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I found this game almost impossible to predict. Two franchises with talented rosters, but potential that hasn’t been translated onto the field so far. The Chiefs’ defense was good last week against Baltimore, especially in the redzone, but a totally different gameplan will have to be employed against the Bucs in Tampa. As for the Buccaneers, coming off a bye week will have helped them prepare for this one, and I think that, coupled with home advantage and the impending Brady Quinn start, gives them the win.

Sunday 9:05pm

Buffalo Bills 16-23 Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo are playing some horrible football right now, and the matchups don’t get easier, now they have to deal with Larry Fitzgerald and a nasty Cards D. Despite the problems in Arizona with their offensive line and brittle RB’s, I just can’t see the Bills causing an upset here, and a defensive play or two for the home team could make the difference.

New England Patriots 24-13 Seattle Seahawks

Yes the Seahawks are a defense to contend with anyone at home, and the crowd in Seattle is a real issue for the Pats and Tom Brady, who has never played in Seattle before, but the way that Patriots offense is playing , both running the ball and throwing it, is brilliant. The speed, rhythm and quality of the no-huddle in New England is a sight to behold, and confidence must be flowing among that unit. But this game could be decided by the Pats’ defence, 1st in the AFC for takeaways (14), and Bill Belichick’s well drilled, young unit will be looking to take advantage of Russell Wilson’s inexperience and average QB play to win this game before the offense gets on the field.

Sunday 9:25pm

New York Giants 23-26 San Francisco 49’ers

This is a revenge story for the NFC title game of the 2011/12 season, and while the game could be very close again, I just have a feeling that Kyle Williams will make up for what he did last year, and in the way he does best, by returning a punt all the way to the house, helping the Niners to a win that would put them at 5-1, and leaving the Giants with serious questions about the defense behind their pass-rush.

Minnesota Vikings 27-20 Washington Redskins

So it seems the Vikings are definitely for real, and there is a real buzz in Minnesota around their offensive foundation of QB Christian Ponder, RB Adrian Peterson and WR Percy Harvin. Against this Redskins defense, they could further enhance their reputation as Washington can’t stop the run or the pass at the moment. The situation with RG3’s concussion last week can’t be helping matters either. Vikings to go 5-1 and go top of the NFC North. There’s a sentence I didn’t think I’d be saying in week 6!

Monday 1:20am

Green Bay Packers 16-20 Houston Texans

What is going on in Green Bay? The Packers don’t look like the team that many thought they were going to be, even though they seemed to have added to both their defense and offense in the offseason. Injuries could be playing their part in a 2-3 start, but the problem could be a deeper-lying problem that the offensive line is poor, as is safety play and discipline at times. Against the all-round quality of the Texans, they won’t be able to make any mistakes at all, and I can’t see that being the case, so I’m going for a close Houston win at home.

Tuesday 1:30am

Denver Broncos 27-23 San Diego Chargers

The Chargers’ loss to the Saints last week showed me that they are an average team in a fairly average division, who can look good on their day, but it won’t take too much excellence to put them on the back foot. Peyton Manning and the Broncos however, while they were torched by the Pats, are clearly the best team in the AFC West, and I expect them to cement that place on Monday Night Football. Even though this score looks close, expect a garbage time TD to make things seem closer than they are for the Chargers.