Another great week of NFL action here as we start to see a little bit of form coming in the divisions.\u00a0 There is still a TON of football to be played, though.\u00a0 With the Bears, Saints, Panthers, and Jags all on the bye, we’ve got 14 games this week.\u00a0 The Packers and Steelers are the lone undefeateds left, while Washington, Indy, and Oakland are all still chasing their first W.<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh (4-0) at TENNESSEE (2-3)<\/span> – Vegas: Steelers -2.5 Oakland (0-4) at ATLANTA (3-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Falcons -6.5 Cincinnati (4-1) at CLEVELAND (1-4)<\/span> – Vegas: Bengals -2.5 St. Louis (3-2) at MIAMI (2-3)<\/span> – Vegas: Dolphins -5.5 Indianapolis (0-4) at N.Y.JETS (2-3)<\/span> – Vegas: Jets -7.5 Detroit (2-2) at PHILADELPHIA (3-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Eagles -4.5 Kansas City (2-3) at TAMPA BAY (2-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Chiefs -1.5 Dallas (2-2) at BALTIMORE (3-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Ravens -4.5 New England (4-1) at SEATTLE (1-4)<\/span> – Vegas: Patriots -6 Buffalo (3-2) at ARIZONA (2-3)<\/span> – Vegas: Cardinals -3 N.Y.Giants (4-1) at SAN FRANCISCO (3-2)<\/span> – Vegas: 49ers -3.5 Minnesota (2-3) at WASHINGTON (0-5)<\/span> – Vegas: Redskins -4.5 Green Bay (5-0) at HOUSTON (4-1)<\/span> – Vegas: Packers -1.5 Denver (1-4) at SAN DIEGO (3-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Chargers -2.5 NFC EAST:<\/span> NFC NORTH:<\/span> NFC SOUTH:<\/span> NFC WEST: AFC EAST:<\/span> AFC NORTH:<\/span> AFC SOUTH:<\/span> AFC WEST: Another great week of NFL action here as we start to see a little bit of form coming in the divisions.\u00a0 There is still a TON of football to be played, though.\u00a0 With the Bears, Saints, Panthers, and Jags all … Continue reading
\nShort weeks favor the home teams.\u00a0 And, this game, for the Steelers is sandwiched in between the Eagles last week and Bengals next week.\u00a0 I’m looking to the upset here.\u00a0 Titans (close)<\/strong><\/p>\nSunday, Early Afternoon<\/h1>\n
\nThe Raiders are coming off of a bye, but the game is at 1:00 on the East Coast, and the Falcons just outclass them.\u00a0 Falcons (easy)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThis is a bit of a trap game for the Bengals, with a showdown with Pittsburgh on Sunday Night coming up next week.\u00a0 Plus, going on the road against a hated rival is never easy.\u00a0 But…I really just don’t believe much in the Browns this year, and I think the Bengals are good enough to take care of business on the road, though this is one of the toughest games of the week to predict.\u00a0 Bengals (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThis not as great of a spot as one might think here for the Dolphins.\u00a0 The Rams have 10 days to prepare, and the ‘Phins are looking ahead to their bye week.\u00a0 That being said, I just don’t trust the Rams enough to go get a game on the road in all but the absolute best conditions.\u00a0 The Dolphins aren’t bad enough for me to pick them to lose to St. Louis at home, though I thought about it.\u00a0 Dolphins (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nShort week for the Jets, coming off a big Monday Nighter against the Texans.\u00a0 Big Week 7 game coming up against the hated Patriots.\u00a0 All signs point to this game being the quintessential trap game.\u00a0 However, good defenses rarely take weeks off, and almost never<\/em> against rookie QBs.\u00a0 This is not a great spot for the Jets, but they should hold on.\u00a0 Jets (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe schedule-makers continue to screw the Eagles, as one week after travelling to Pittsburgh and one week before their bye, they host a Lions team that is coming off of\u00a0their own\u00a0bye week.\u00a0 This is a terrifying game on the schedule for Eagles fans, but the good news is that the Eagles actually match up really well against the Lions.\u00a0 Detroit does not have a running back that would scare the Birds D, which means the D-line can just pin back their ears and go after Stafford.\u00a0 And, if Juan Castillo ever figures it out, then Nnamdi can just stick Calvin Johnson all day.\u00a0 In a really tough one, I think the Birds can eek one out.\u00a0 Eagles (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe Bucs have two weeks to prepare for the KC team at home.\u00a0 I think the Chiefs are the better team, but not by all that wide of a margin.\u00a0 I’ll take the home team with the extra week’s rest.\u00a0 Bucs (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nAs bad as the schedule-makers were to the Eagles in 2012, they were probably even worse to the Ravens – and here is yet another example.\u00a0 The Ravens have this tough NFC game right in between road trips to KC and Houston.\u00a0 And, to make matters worse, the Cowboys had a bye in Week 5, so they have two weeks to prepare for this game.\u00a0 Yet another example of why looking at the schedule can lead to conclusions that otherwise might sound crazy.\u00a0 Cowboys (close)<\/strong><\/p>\nSunday, Late Afternoon<\/h1>\n
\nSeattle’s a tough place to play, but the Patriots are just that good.\u00a0 Patriots (moderate)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThis is the Bills second straight game on the West Coast (whether they stay out there all week or make multiple cross-country flights, it’s tough on the body).\u00a0 Add to that is that the fact that the Cardinals have 10 days to prepare for this one, and it all points to a third straight loss for the Bills after taking the AFC East lead.\u00a0 Cardinals (moderate)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nSecond straight home game for the Niners, so that defense should be keyed up and ready to go.\u00a0 And, I still think San Fran is the better team on a neutral field.\u00a0 49ers (moderate)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWell, the winless streak for Bob Griffin shouldn’t go past 5 games, as a home game with the Vikings should be just what the doctor orders for the rookie QB.\u00a0 Redskins (moderate)<\/strong><\/p>\nSunday Night<\/h1>\n
\nThe Packers are favored, on the road, against the formidable Texans.\u00a0 Does that say something about Green Bay, Houston, or Vegas?\u00a0 I am honestly not sure if the Texans can hang with the Pack in a shootout.\u00a0 So, the question is – can the defense step up and stop Mr. Rodgers and Company?\u00a0 With only 6 days to prepare after a Monday Night game in the Meadowlands, I’m going to say no.\u00a0 Packers (close)<\/strong><\/p>\nMonday Night<\/h1>\n
\nRemember how good Peyton Manning used to be in prime time games?\u00a0 Well, in the pristine conditions of San Diego, after 5 games with his new team, he should be ready to be that good again.\u00a0 I’ll take #18 to bring back the magic, if only for a night.\u00a0 Broncos (close)<\/strong><\/p>\nStandings After Week Six<\/h1>\n
\nEveryone wins except the Giants, as this division gets a lot closer<\/em>
\n4-2 Giants
\n4-2 Eagles
\n3-2 Cowboys
\n1-5 Redskins<\/p>\n
\nThe Pack continues to look like the best team in the NFC, if not the NFL
\n<\/em>6-0 Packers
\n2-3 Bears
\n2-3 Lions
\n2-4 Vikings<\/p>\n
\nThe Falcons and surprising Bucs both pick up ground on the idle Saints
\n<\/em>4-1 Saints
\n4-2 Falcons
\n3-2 Bucs
\n2-3 Panthers<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>The Seahawks are fading quickly, but the Rams and Cards are hanging right in there with the overwhelming favorites in San Fran
\n<\/em>4-2 49ers
\n3-3 Rams
\n3-3 Cardinals
\n1-5 Seahawks<\/p>\n
\nJust when it looked like it would be a two-team race between NE and Buf, it now looks to be either a 1-team or 4-team race
\n<\/em>5-1 Patriots
\n3-3 Bills
\n3-3 Dolphins
\n3-3 Jets<\/p>\n
\nThe Steelers fall from the ranks of the unbeaten and from the ranks of #1 in the AFC North – what were those Bengals division title odds again?
\n<\/em>5-1 Bengals
\n4-1 Steelers
\n3-3 Ravens
\n1-5 Browns<\/p>\n
\nDid we jump the gun on calling the fight in the AFC South?\u00a0 Do the Titans have the firepower to stay in this race?
\n<\/em>4-2 Texans
\n3-3 Titans
\n2-3 Jaguars
\n0-5 Colts<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>The Chargers keep blowing chances to put some distance on the field, and now they have a race on their hands
\n<\/em>3-3 Chargers
\n2-4 Chiefs
\n2-4 Broncos
\n0-5 Raiders<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"