Week Six is in the books and there is a very small semblance of shape taking form here to this NFL season. Hopefully, Week Seven here will give us more answers than questions, but you never know in the dog days of October.
BYES: Detroit (1-5), Houston (4-2), Indianapolis (6-0), N.Y. Jets (3-3)
Sunday, October 24:
1:00 – Cincinnati (4-1) at ATLANTA (4-2)
This is, by far, the hardest game of the week to try and predict. In fact, this may have been the hardest game I’ve had to pick all year thus far. I like the Falcons and think that they’re a very good team, especially at home, which is why I picked them. But, what gave me pause is that the Bengals are coming off of a bye, and the Falcons are coming off a really tough game in Philly. But, in the end, I went with the Falcons here because I believe in Mike Smith’s ability to get the most out of his team, coming off a loss and heading into their bye week.
1:00 – Pittsburgh (2-3) at MIAMI (2-3)
This is a gigantic game for both teams that really need a win at this point in the season. The Steelers were 1-3 without their QB, so they dug themselves a hole here. The Dolphins have had some tough sledding, but might be able to right the ship here and get a BIG win. The Steelers might be looking ahead to next week’s game in New Orleans. Either way, this game is huge for both teams.
1:00 – Buffalo (1-4) at BALTIMORE (3-3)
Coming off of a really tough game in New England and heading into their bye week, this is pretty much exactly what the Ravens need at this point in their schedule–a home game against a really bad team. Easy win for the Birdies here.
1:00 – Jacksonville (1-5) at KANSAS CITY (1-4)
And, the vultures are officially circling the Jags, as I think they will go into KC and get yet another loss. Stick a fork in Del Rio and company–give me the Chiefs here.
1:00 – Cleveland (2-4) at NEW ORLEANS (6-0)
Remember when the Browns were 2-0 and all alone atop the AFC North? That seems like ages ago, as they have another brutal game–on the road–against the defending champs. New Orleans, who started 13-0 last year, is off to another great start.
1:00 – Washington (2-4) at CHICAGO (3-3)
Donovan McNabb returns home coming off three straight games against the Eagles, Packers, and Colts. The Bears, who had an easy win over Seattle at home last week, will pick up another win here, heading into their bye week.
1:00 – San Francisco (3-3) at CAROLINA (2-3)
The dream of the NFC West having a team with a winning record will have to wait a couple more weeks, at least, as the Panthers should get an easy win here against a West Coast team at 1:00.
1:00 – St. Louis (1-5) at TAMPA BAY (0-5)
Not sure who I’d pick on a neutral field, but I’m pretty sure I won’t pick either of these teams to win a road game all year, no matter who they’re facing.
1:00 – PHILADELPHIA (4-2) at Tennessee (4-2)
The Eagles catch a break here, as they get a Titans team that is coming off a tough divisional game on Monday night last week. And, this is just about the point in the season where the Eagles hit their stride under Coach Reid.
4:05 – Arizona (1-4) at SEATTLE (0-5)
Another team gets off the season schneid here, as the Seahawks should be able to take care of a Cardinals team that might be in shambles by Week Seven. Yes, the Cards are coming off of a bye, and the Seahawks are coming off of a tough game in Chicago, but I like Pete Carroll to get his first win here against a pretty bad Cardinals team.
4:15 – New England (4-1) at SAN DIEGO (5-1)
In what could turn out to be a very important game for playoff positioning down the road, I like the Chargers to knock off the Patriots in a big game here in late October. The Chargers are coming off of an easy game in St. Louis, while the Pats just had a war with Baltimore seven days ago. All the way in the opposite corner of the country, I like the Bolts here.
4:15 – OAKLAND (4-2) at Denver (2-4)
I didn’t want to pick the Raiders here. In fact, I even wrote up a whole paragraph on why the Broncos would win this game. But, I changed my mind. All signs point to Oakland here. I think the Raiders are the better team, but not enough to overcome the Denver homefield advantage. But, in looking deeper, we find that the Broncos are coming off of a really physical game with the Jets, and that their next game–next week–is in London. All that being said, I think that the Raiders can go into Denver and steal one.
8:20 – Minnesota (3-2) at GREEN BAY (4-2)
At home, in prime time, and I honestly think that the Packers have the better football team. Plus, the Vikings are coming off of a tough game with Dallas. Both teams have really tough road games next week (Green Bay is at the Jets, while Minnesota goes to New England), but I can just about guarantee that no one is “looking ahead” past this game. Give me the better team, at home–though I’m not that confident.
Monday, October 25:
8:30 – N.Y. Giants (4-2) at DALLAS (4-1)
Just like the Sunday night game, two rivals are facing off, and you have to go with the better team at home. Dallas is coming off of a nice win at Minnesota, but I don’t think they’ll have much trouble getting up for a Monday night showdown with the hated G-Men.
STANDINGS AFTER WEEK 7
NFC EAST
5-1 Dallas
5-2 Philadelphia
4-3 N.Y. Giants
2-5 Washington
A big win for the Cowboys on Monday night, and they continue to rule the NFC Beast. The Eagles have back-to-back nice wins heading into their bye and are nipping at Dallas’s toes.
NFC NORTH
5-2 Green Bay
4-3 Chicago
3-3 Minnesota
1-5 Detroit
The Packers flex their muscles with a nice home win over Minnesota. The Vikings fall to a tough 3-3, behind Chicago in this division.
NFC SOUTH
7-0 New Orleans
5-2 Atlanta
3-3 Carolina
1-5 Tampa Bay
4-0 for the NFC South this week. The Falcons pick up the most impressive win, knocking of Cincy, who was coming off of their bye.
NFC WEST
3-4 San Francisco
1-5 Arizona
1-5 Seattle
1-6 St. Louis
Back to a whole division of losing teams, but the Niners, at 3-4, somehow continue to hold more than a full game lead here.
AFC EAST
4-2 New England
3-3 Miami
3-3 N.Y. Jets
1-5 Buffalo
This division just got a lot tighter, as the Pats lose in San Diego, while the Dolphins beat Pittsburgh.
AFC NORTH
4-2 Cincinnati
4-3 Baltimore
2-4 Pittsburgh
2-5 Cleveland
A Cincy loss and a Baltimore win draws the Ravens to within a half-game of the top of the North. A tough loss for Pittsburgh at Miami, and Cleveland is just about done.
AFC SOUTH
6-0 Indianapolis
4-2 Houston
4-3 Tennessee
1-6 Jacksonville
The Colts and Texans were on byes, while Tennessee and Jacksonville lost. This is still the Indy division.
AFC WEST
6-1 San Diego
5-2 Oakland
2-4 Kansas City
2-5 Denver
The Raiders keep pace with the Chargers, while Denver drops to last with another loss at home.
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