Week 6 NFL Picks

I’m just happy to see… you and me…Back In Stride Again!- Frankie Beverly & Maze

I got cut from the choir in the fourth grade and again in college, but allow me a little latitude to if not sing to quote a line from a classic R&B tune here. After a disappointing week 4, I got back to the 10 win level again. I won’t trifle with the football gods by being too braggadocios though. With only 13 games this week, getting to 10 wins will be a challenge. Submitted for your review and approval are this weeks picks with the odds provided by USA Today Sports Weekly except where noted and are solely for entertainment and comparison.
So don’t mention my name if you bet a bundle on a line, lose and have Vinnie No-Neck and Mumbles McGrew knocking at your door to collect.


NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 6
Note: Buffalo (1-4); Denver (2-3); Detroit (3-2); Indianapolis (5-0); Pittsburgh (4-1) and San Francisco (2-3) have a bye this week

Sunday, October 14

Bengals (1-3) @ Chiefs (2-3)
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite: Bengals by 3
Fast Fact The Bengals have passed on 64% of their plays
The Bengals are in panic mode but seem to have caught a break with playing a Chiefs team that is nowhere as good as their record. The Bengals need to jump on the Chiefs fast and take their rowdy crowd out of the equasion. The Bengals have had too many things fall the wrong way for them so far this season. They are way due for a breakout game and the Chiefs weak offense should be just the tonic.
Pick-Cincinnati

Texans (3-2) @ Jaguars (3-1)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite: Jaguars by 7.5
Fast Fact The Jags are the second consecutive team that the Texans lead in their all meetings. (6-4)
The Texans have gotten to like this being the favorite and winning stuff, though they needed a 57 yard field goal at the gun to help them escape being the sorry Dolphins first victim. They face a Jags team that lives on its defense and an offense that scores just enough to get a lead and hold on. Matt Schaub is rapidly growing into a solid QB, I’m still not sold on David Garrard.
Pick-Houston (Upset Special of the Week)

Dolphins (0-5) @ Browns (2-3)
Browns Stadium, Cleveland 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite: Browns by 4.5
Fast Fact: The teams last meeting was the last time the Browns shutout a team, a 22-0 win in 2005.
The Fins can’t catch a break and after losing a heartbreaker in Houston go to Cleveland who gets the rare role of favorite. They might have caught a small break with the Browns Jamal Lewis slowed by injury and not able to hammer at the Dolphins rapidly aging defensive front. If the Browns get any semblance of a running game this game is very much theirs for the taking This looks to be one of the ugliest games since my ex decided to play change from a blonde to a brunette and then back…
Pick-Cleveland

Vikings (1-3) @ Bears (2-3)
Soldier Field, Chicago 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Bears by 6
Fast Fact Vikings lead the series 48-42-2 but Bears have won the last 4 of the last 5
The Bears may have saved their season with a stunner in Green Bay, while Brian Griese isn’t the long term answer, he is good enough to get some wins. The Vikes are a mess, their offense is punchless and the defense cant keep bailing them out when they are put in compromising situations so often. It pains me to keep picking against my favorite team, but I have to keep it real and honest.
Pick-Chicago

Eagles (1-3) @ Jets (1-4)
The Meadowlands; East Rutherford, NJ 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite: Eagles by 3
Fast Fact: The Eagles during Andy Reid’s tenure are 8-0 after a bye, best in the NFL since the bye weeks were instituted in 1990
Both these teams thought themselves to be a lot better off at this meeting that their record shows. The Jets are coming off a humiliating loss to their Gotham rivals and look like they are fading fast. The Eagles are trying to hold on to some respectability. The inconsistent play of Donovan McNabb has to be a concern but Chad Pennington is the very definition of inconsistent. The Eagles defense has enough to make things hard on Pennington while their offense should be able to get the job done.
Pick-Philadelphia

Rams (0-5) @ Ravens (3-2)
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Ravens by 11
Fast Fact: The Ravens are second in the NFL in Time of Possession having the ball better than 34 minutes a game.
I should have known better than to “trust in Gus.” last week, and I wont get fooled again. The Rams got steamrolled last week by the Cards and face a much better squad in the Ravens who aren’t world beaters on offense. To be honest, their offense sucks. But the Rams are a flat out disaster and with that kind of offense facing the fearsome Ravens defense on the road. Its gonna be a long day at Black Rock for the Rams
Pick-Baltimore (Lock Pick of The Week)

Titans (3-1) @ Buccaneers (3-2)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite: Bucs by 3
Fast Fact; Jeff Garcia has started all 5 games for the Bucs this season and has yet to thrown an interception.
One of the more intriguing games of the week. The Bucs got exposed without the stellar running of Cadillac Williams, while the Titans, fresh off their bye week are looking to continue to make their case as an elite team in the NFL, and the way you do that is to win in tough road venues. Vince Young has the tools and the talent to do just that. The Bucs may have problems moving against a Titans defense that is fast gaining a reputation for being stingy and hitting hard.
Pick-Tennessee

Redskins (3-1) @ Packers (4-1)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay 1:00 FOX
Favorite: Packers by 3
Fast Fact Brett Favre passed Dan Marino for most all-time TD passes two weeks ago, he tied George Blanda with all-time interceptions (277) last week.
The Skins have been winning with mirrors, in my humble opinion and they picked the absolute wrong time to catch the Pack. Stung by a fall from ahead loss to a beatable Bears team, on a national stage no less, the Pack will look to take it out on someone. Though the lack of a quality running game will continue to haunt the Pack in future games, I’m not sold on the Skins at all.
Pick-Green Bay

Panthers (3-2) @ Cardinals (3-2)
University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, AZ 4:05 (FOX)
Favorite: Cardinals by 1
Fast Fact: Panthers have won the past three meetings
Battle of the old grizzled QB’s in this game. The Cards will have to bank on Kurt Warner for the rest of the season, while the QB desperate Panthers dug up Vinny Testaverde (Is he still in this league???) who will get the starting nod. The Cards are fast proving that they can win these close matchups and their offense can put the points up. The Panthers can’t just rely on their running game and defense and Vinny won’t win this one for the geriatric set.
Pick-Arizona

Patriots (5-0) @ Cowboys (5-0)
Texas Stadium; Irving, TX 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite: Patriots by 3
Fast Fact: In each of his first five games, Tom Brady has thrown at least 3 touchdown passes.
Easily the weeks biggest and most hyped matchup, the Pats look to continue their high scoring spree in Dallas where the Pokes are still pinching themselves after their improbable win in Buffalo on Monday. Though I have picked the Pokes to win all their games so far this is another team I am not sold on. The Pokes only win that was impressive was a Sunday Night shootout over the Giants on opening weekend. You can bet money with Vinnie No-Neck on this fact. If Tony Romo throws 5 picks to the Patriots, they won’t get let back into the game. I still think the Pats are the team to beat in the NFL…period. The Pokes will get shown how far they have to go to be on their level and I’ll be interested to see how TO reacts after the sheen of invulnerability gets stripped rather nastily this week.
Pick-New England

Raiders (2-2) @ Chargers (2-3)
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite- Chargers by 10.5
Fast Fact-The Raiders have lost their last 7 against the Chargers, four of those losees came at the expense of their current coach Norv Turner when he was coach of the Raiders
The Chargers bounced back from their bad start by hammering the Broncos and return home to battle for the division lead with…the Raid-uhs? Yup, fresh off a bye and riding a rejuvenated Daunte Culpepper to a surprise 2-2 start, but the good times end here. The Chargers will not let another winnable home game get by them. LaDainian Tomlinson loves to see the Raiders on the other side of the line and will have his first big day.
Pick-San Diego

Saints (0-4) @ Seahawks (3-2)
Qwest Field, Seattle 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Seahawks by 7.5
Fast Fact-Shaun Alexander has scored five times in his last two games against the Saints.
I feel bad for the Saints; they try so hard, but cant catch a break. Drew Brees is the same gun slinging QB he was last year, but the passes aren’t being caught. The defense just seems to play just good enough to hang around, but the offense keeps getting them put in compromising positions. Playing at a tough venue like Seattle that isn’t a good combo.
Pick-Seattle


Monday, October 15

Giants (3-2) @ Falcons (1-4)
Georgia Dome, Atlanta 8:30 ESPN
Favorite Giants by 3.5
Fast Fact The Falcons have won their last four times playing on Monday Night at home
Joey Harrington looks lost…that’s a surprise to no one, but Byron Leftwich looked even worse last week against the Titans. They face the rugged pass rush of the G-Men who are fast putting their bad 0-2 start behind them. Brandon Jacobs makes Eli Manning’s job a heckuva lot easier. Hot seat? Coughlin’s not on a hot seat and after this week. He will have the G-Men hot on the Cowboys tail for first place in the NFC East.
Pick-New York Giants


Last Week: 10-4 (Lock Correct, Upset Incorrect)
Overall: 50-26 (4-1 Lock Picks, 3-2 Upset Specials)