Week six is already upon us, and the NFL is starting to take shape. It’s looking like we’re going to have a fairly predictable year, unless some teams go on runs in the second half of the season to pull themselves out from the heap of mediocre teams in this league.
Here are our games:
GAME OF THE WEEK – Carolina Panthers (4-0) at Seattle Seahawks (2-3), SEA by 7 – @Messiah will be happy to see the line has actually been increased in this game, haha. Seahawks are playing at home and it’s essentially do or die for them. They need to pick up some wins now If they want to have any hope of staying alive in the playoff race. Carolina’s going to have to drop one sooner or later, and while this game will probably be a knock down drag out like all their matchups in the last few years, it’s hard for me imagine the depleted offense of the Panthers coming in and snagging a victory from a desperate Seahawks team that’s beaten them time and time again these last few years. Seahawks 17, Panthers 10
THURSDAY – Atlanta Falcons (5-0) at New Orleans Saints (1-4), ATL by 3 – It’s still hard to believe how far the Saints have fallen over the last couple years. But in a home matchup against their arch rivals on a short week, I’m going to go against any logic here and say they’ve got what it takes to pull the upset out of their asses. UPSET! – Saints 27, Falcons 24
Denver Broncos (5-0) at Cleveland Browns (2-3), DEN by 4.5 – I think this is going to be a hard-fought contest. The Broncos don’t have a whole lot of offense, but that defense is stifling. If the Browns could consistently play offense like they did against Baltimore I’d be willing to take them here, but I don’t think they have what it takes to get past this defense. Broncos 16, Browns 9
Cincinnati Bengals (5-0) at Buffalo Bills (3-2), CIN by 3.5 – The Bengals have been on a roll so far this season, and look like one of the league’s best teams. But even the best teams lose at least a couple, and the Bills have a pretty solid homefield advantage with a good football team. This is going to be a tough battle, but I’m going to take the Bills to pull out the surprise win at home to give the Bengals their first loss. UPSET! – Bills 30, Bengals 20
Kansas City Chiefs (1-4) at Minnesota Vikings (2-2), MIN by 3.5 – The Chiefs just look completely done, and they’re going on the road against a team with a good defense with a week of rest. What’s more, they lost their best player for the season. It’s over for them. Vikings 23, Chiefs 10
Houston Texans (1-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4), HOU by 1 – Neither of these teams could manage to beat the Colts WITHOUT Andrew Luck. Which one of them will manage to beat the other? It’s a complete toss up, so I’m going with the home team in a divisional matchup. UPSET! – Jaguars 20, Texans 14
Chicago Bears (2-3) at Detroit Lions (0-5), DET by 3 – I get that this is a divisional rivalry and they usually play each other and the Lions are at home, but the Bears have played at least some respectable football the last couple weeks whereas the Lions just look like they’ve completely given up on the season. Hard to imagine this team even winning a game as long as Caldwell and Lombardi are running things. UPSET! – Bears 24, Lions 13
Washington Redskins (2-3) at New York Jets (3-1), NYJ by 6 – The Jets come back off their bye week rested and ready to take on a Redskins team that nearly took down the Falcons. Clearly this is a feistier Washington team than we expected. But playing on the road against a well rested team is too much for them. Jets 20, Redskins 10
Arizona Cardinals (4-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2), ARZ by 3 – You have to think the Steelers’ season would be looking a lot different right now with Ben Roethlisberger under center. Right now, though, despite their come-from-behind MNF win, they’re just fodder for the rest of the teams on their schedule. The Cardinals will feast. Cardinals 35, Steelers 13
Miami Dolphins (1-3) at Tennessee Titans (1-3), TEN by 2.5 – What will the Dolphins look like after a bye with a brand new coach? It’s almost impossible to say, but it’s hard for me to pick any team in its first game with an interim coach. Titans 27, Dolphins 17
San Diego Chargers (2-3) at Green Bay Packers (5-0), GB by 10 – This Packers team is 5-0 for just the second time in the Super Bowl era, the first being in 2011. The major difference between this team and that of four years ago is that this team has a really impressive defense. If the Packers can avoid losing any more major players and keep playing the way they are, they’re in prime position for a Super Bowl run. Packers 34, Chargers 16
Baltimore Ravens (1-4) at San Francisco 49ers (1-4), BAL by 2.5 – How far these two teams have fallen since they met in the Super Bowl several years ago! The Ravens saved their season two weeks ago only to piss it away this last week against the Browns. Now these two teams are basically playing for draft position. I still like the Ravens over the Niners. Ravens 24, 49ers 20
New England Patriots (4-0) at Indianapolis Colts (3-2), NE by 8 – Andrew Luck or no Andrew Luck, the Patriots are going to be out for blood in this game after the Colts started all the Deflate scandal bullshit. This is going to be a laugher. Patriots 37, Colts 13
New York Giants (3-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (2-3), PHI by 3.5 – Philly/Giants games are always blood baths, especially in prime time. The Giants can really take a hold on the division with a win here, but the Eagles might finally be putting something together. I’ll take the home team, but I’m not solid on that pick at all. Eagles 30, Giants 24
BYES: Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
