I'll admit it. This hasn't been my best year with NFL picks. Although, that can probably be chalked up to the fact that there have just been so many upsets in the NFL this season. Or, not necessarily upsets, there are just a number of teams we thought would be good that haven't been and a number of teams that have surprised us with how well they've done thru Week 5. I don't know, but it's been a crazy year to say the least.
Dolphins (2-2) at Falcons (3-1): Atlanta-After starting 3-0, the Falcons fell to the Bills in their last game before their bye week. Miami, meanwhile, got a win over the Titans to even their record at 2-2. The Dolphins sit just a half-game out in the suddenly crowded AFC East, while the Falcons know that this is their chance to seize control of the NFC South after the Panthers' loss on Thursday. I haven't really been given any reason to think the Dolphins will be able to put it together in consecutive weeks, so move the Falcons to 4-1.
Packers (4-1) at Vikings (3-2): Green Bay-Ever since that overtime win over Cincinnati, Green Bay has really begun to assert itself. The Packers have put up 35 points in back-to-back weeks and had that late comeback to put away the Cowboys. They're really good. The Vikings, meanwhile, barely beat the Bears on Monday night and only scored seven points against Detroit before that. They won't be able to handle Green Bay.
Lions (3-2) at Saints (2-2): Detroit-Here we have one of the most intriguing matchups of Week 6. New Orleans, especially, intrigues me. The Saints started 0-2, but looked mighty good in their last two games, including a win in Carolina, before their bye week. But I think the Lions are a better team. Keep in mind Detroit's only two losses this season were by a combined seven points to Atlanta and Carolina. Both the Falcons and Panthers are better than New Orleans.
Patriots (3-2) at Jets (3-2): New England-If you'd told me that the New York teams would have a combined three wins and that the Jets would have all of them, I definitely wouldn't have believed you. But here they are, the winners of three straight and tied for first place. Although, I do enjoy the fact that the Patriots are only tied for first place right now. That should change this week. New England continues its division domination.
49ers (0-5) at Redskins (2-2): Washington-San Francisco's getting closer to actually winning. Back-to-back overtime losses. And now they make their way all the way east to conclude a three-game road trip played in three different time zones. Washington is not at all travel weary. The Redskins played a really good game against the Chiefs before their bye. They'll hand the 49ers their third straight overtime loss.
Bears (1-4) at Ravens (3-2): Baltimore-Just when I thought we should start to count the Ravens out, they go and win in Oakland. And now, all of a sudden, they're back in a first-place tie with the suddenly reeling Steelers. Now they head back home for a matchup with the Bears that they should win. I say "should" with some caution, though, because the Ravens often find a way to lose games like this.
Browns (0-5) at Texans (2-3): Houston-Houston has alternated wins and losses so far this season. That should continue against a Browns team that actually is better than last year, even though the record doesn't indicate it. They'll give the Texans a challenge, especially since this is Houston's first game without J.J. Watt. But I think DeShawn Watson will do something spectacular and the Texans will get the victory.
Buccaneers (2-2) at Cardinals (2-3): Arizona-Both of Arizona's wins have come in overtime against teams that aren't really that good. So why do I like the Cardinals this week? Because I'm not really sure how good Tampa Bay is. They needed a last-second field goal to beat the Giants, yet nearly beat New England. I don't get it at all. Arizona's at home. That's the other reason I'm taking them.
Rams (3-2) at Jaguars (3-2): Rams-This is Exhibit A of what I was talking about earlier. FOX has actually been plugging Rams-Jaguars as their national late game. The Rams being 3-2? Not that much of a surprise. But the Jaguars being 3-2 and in first place? That's one of the biggest surprises of the season. And now they face each other in one of the marquee games of the week. Like I said, it's been a crazy year in the NFL. The Jaguars, oddly, haven't won in Jacksonville all season. I don't see that ending.
Steelers (3-2) at Chiefs (5-0): Kansas City-Kansas City's got some big ones coming up, so I don't see the undefeated string lasting much longer. But I do think we'll see it continue for at least one more game. The Steelers looked old, tired and incredibly bad last week, when they got smacked at home by Jacksonville. That team certainly didn't look like one that can win in Kansas City. Although, let's not forget the Steelers went into Arrowhead and won without a touchdown in the playoffs last season. You know the Chiefs haven't forgotten.
Chargers (1-4) at Raiders (2-3): Oakland-Oakland started the season 2-0 and everyone thought this was going to be the same Raiders team that led the AFC West for much of last season. Then they went and lost three straight. Now I'm just not sure. Meanwhile, the Chargers finally got a win, although that came with an asterisk since it was against the Giants. The NFL had its concerns about playing this game because of the wildfires in the Bay Area, but it looks like we're still on as scheduled. And it looks like the Raiders should end their losing streak.
Giants (0-5) at Broncos (3-1): Denver-When the NFL scheduled this as the Sunday night game, it was an intriguing matchup. Now? Not so much. The Giants aren't just reeling. They're flat-out bad. It certainly looks like a lost season, especially a team with no running game just lost both of its starting wide receivers for the year, then suspended a starting cornerback. This current Giants offense is no match for the Denver defense.
Colts (2-3) at Titans (2-3): Tennessee-We've got an AFC South division game on Monday night. The Titans come in having dropped two straight, including a beat down in Houston, but now they return home, where they beat Seattle, for the first time in three weeks. The Colts, meanwhile, have the same record as Tennessee. But their two wins are over two of the worst teams in football, and one of them was in overtime. Look for the Titans to even out their record.
Thursday Night: Carolina (Loss)
This Week: 0-1
Last Week: 7-7
Season: 47-31
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