NFL: Week Six Predictions

Hard to believe a quarter of the season is already in the books! Should be a good week of good football.


Philadelphia vs. Oakland: Best to get the bad ones out of the way early, so that we may forget them as we move towards some of the better Week Six match-ups. This game will be an easy Eagles win. The Raiders are terrible. That charge is led by JaMarcus Russell. Look, people have started comparing JaMarcus to Ryan Leaf, another epic draft bust. That isn't right. It's NOT right! Comparing JaMarcus Russell to Ryan Leaf isn't even fair anymore. It's downright insulting to Leaf. Russell's ineptitude is truly in a class of it's own. The Eagles offense will roll here and the defense will have a field day. Birds by 31.

St Louis vs. Jacksonville: Another ho-hum affair between two teams who don't deserve anything more than what they've got this weekend - the commentary team that always gets the crappy games. The Rams have no offensive output. They're worse with Boller than they were with Marc Bulger. Although it's not all that much of a prediction, I believe they'll go through the season winless. They need to draft a good QB with their #1 pick. Sorry, Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy, you can't return to college to avoid a bad team this time around! Jacksonville by a field goal. Wouldn't be surprised if it was 3-0.

Kansas City vs. Washington: The Chiefs did everything they could to try and lose last week, including have a field-goal blocked. Then they gave up two huge plays to the Cowboys, who forced OT and won it. Scary to think that the inept effort of last week was KC's best of the year. Mike Shanahan will be watching this game closely, wondering what on earth he's going to inherit if the rumours are true. Two words, Mike: Colt Brennan. Redskins in a lacklustre game by maybe a TD.

Houston vs. Cincinnati: This could be a letdown game for the Bengals. Matt Schaub has been known to operate on a good week–bad week rotational basis, and he's due to have a corker. The Bengals will want to be careful. It's a trap game possibility. I'll still say the Bengals on the back of Palmer, Benson and an inspired defense, probably by ten.

Baltimore vs. Minnesota: Two weeks ago, Baltimore looked like the class of the AFC and had a pretty good defense, too. Now they're looking decidedly wobbly, and need to stiffen up against Brett Favre and the Vikings. The threat of Favre throwing and Peterson running has given good teams heart murmurs this year. If they can stack the box and stop AP, they'll dare Favre to beat them through the air. It's the only way I can see the Ravens winning. Vikings by 7.

Detroit vs. Green Bay: Aaron Rodgers has a QB rating of over 120, plus more than 500 yards through the air (with 6 TDs and no INTs) in two games against the Lions. But this isn't the same Lions team that we saw last year. They'll put up a fight, but no sane man can expect that they'll beat the Pack in Lambeau. Green Bay by 14.

Pittsburgh vs. Cleveland: Last week's Bills-Browns game was the worst I've ever had to sit through. You don't enjoy games like that. You endure them. The Steelers have their problems, especially finishing off teams on the offensive side of the football. But a game against the woeful Browns usually heals all wrongs. Big Ben to go wild. Steelers by 24.

Carolina vs. Tampa Bay: The Bucs are as bad as St Louis, Cleveland and Oakland. Carolina looked good coming back against Washington last week. They should win this one, because Tampa Bay are worse than the 'Skins. Panthers by 21.

New York Giants vs. New Orleans: Could be the match of the season thus far. Certainly, the Saints defense has been the story of the season thus far. Two undefeated teams who're impressive on both sides of the ball. Something's gotta give. I think it might be the Saints defense if Manning plays a full game. The Giants have the advantage in the running game, too. They win by a field goal. Game on One HD at 8.20am Monday morning.

Arizona vs. Seattle: The FOX Sports game at 7.00am on Monday morning. The Seahawks shut out Jacksonville 41-0 with Matt Hasselbeck back and firing. Apparently he inspired the defense to great things, as well. They match up well with the Cardinals. Their defense can bring pressure and hassle Kurt Warner. They might be the dark horse selection of the weekend. I say they win, by maybe a TD.

Buffalo vs. New York Jets: Buffalo, the other half of the worst NFL game ever, face Mark Sanchez and the Jets in New York. If they couldn't beat Cleveland, they won't beat the J-E-T-S Jets. Not a chance. Sanchez needs a good, easy game to get the mojo back. Or will it be back after he watches USC pound Notre Dame on Saturday? Both of Sanchez's teams win this weekend. Jets by plenty.

Tennessee vs. New England: If the Saints are the surprise of the 2009 season, the Titans are the major disappointment. New England come in after a loss to Denver in the Master vs. Apprentice game last week in the Mile High City. They rebound here and exploit the poor Titans D who're missing Jim Schwartz a heck of a lot! How long til Vince Young gets in the game? Pats by 14. Titans fall to 0-6.

Chicago vs. Atlanta: Another big game. Matty Ice was hugely impressive against the 49ers last week. I thought he'd struggle, but he didn't. Roddy White had 200 yards receiving and Turner got things going nicely on the ground. They meet a good Chicago team, whose offensive output has been pretty good. Jay Cutler looks at home. The big question is whether or not the depleted Bears D can stop Ryan and the Falcons offense.

Denver vs. San Diego: Finally, something we haven't had in years: a good battle for supremacy in the AFC West. It's been the domain of Rivers, LT and the Chargers for a while, but there's a new contender in town. Hopefully the Broncos won't wear their terrible poo-brown uniforms ever again. I'm all for celebrating heritage and all, but not when heritage is as ugly as it was up there in Denver. I think the Broncos will be celebrating a win on Monday. They will be too strong for the Chargers by about 14.