Los Angeles Sports

NFL Week 6 Predictions

LOS ANGELES Two NFL teams remain in the running to match the 1972 Dolphins' perfect season (New York Giants and Tennessee Titans), while four are still looking to avoid matching the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers' winless season (St. Louis Rams, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans, and Detroit Lions).

Chicago Bears (3-2) at Atlanta Falcons (3-2) 10 a.m. FOX - The battle between the Falcons' 2nd rated running game (180.6 ypg) and the Bears defense will likely decide this game.  Both teams have been better than expected this year, largely due to effective quarterback play - but neither has been great and neither will rely on the pass to win games.  The way Atlanta runs it, and playing at home, they'll stop the Bears' three game win-streak.

Miami Dolphins (2-2) at Houston Texans (0-4) 10 a.m. CBS - Miami's new single-wing offense has left two AFC favorites scratching their heads, and now they take the show on the road to face the Texans who are winless despite actually playing relatively well.  But it isn't Miami's offense that should have people worried.  Houston rushed for 156 yards in Week 5, the same day that Miami held LaDainian Tomlinson to 35-yards on the ground.  Miami shouldn't be fazed by the return of Matt Schaub at QB.  Dolphins win on the road.

Baltimore Ravens (2-2) at Indianapolis Colts (2-2) 10 a.m. CBS - This should be one of the marquee matchups of the weekend, only the Colts have stunk this season.  The Colts have rushed for an NFL worst 67.8 yards per game and have allowed an NFL worst 188.5 rushing yards per game.  And guess what Baltimore does well: stop the rush on defense and pound the ball on the ground on offense.  It is hard to count Peyton Manning's arm out, but Baltimore has swallowed two consecutive painful losses.  This one won't be close.

Detroit Lions (0-4) at Minnesota Vikings (2-3) 10 a.m. FOX - Minnesota was expected to be among the NFC's favorites down the stretch and still might get there, but their inconsistent play doesn't bode well.  A good team should beat Detroit by two scores at least and the Vikings will do that at home to get help their ship on course.

Oakland Raiders (1-3) vs. New Orleans Saints (2-3) 10 a.m. CBS - The Raiders are a scary team.  They haven't won played well but have lots of talent.  They now have a new coach, everyone is auditioning for his own job again, and they had two weeks to prepare for this one thanks to a bye week.  Both teams have made a habit of blowing late leads, so neither can be relied upon to do so here.  Reggie Bush may have to return four punts for touchdowns, but one way or another, the Saints will hang on this time. 

Cincinnati Bengals (0-5) at NY Jets (2-2) 10 a.m. CBS - They are a decent team when Carson Palmer is at the helm - better than their record would let on.  They played the Giants very tough and also gave the Cowboys a scare in Big D in Week 5.  But Palmer is out and Brett Favre as been icing his arm for two weeks after that 6-touchdown performance in Week 4.  Look for the Jets to open up the playbook now that Favre has had time to learn the offense.  The Jets win this one big.

Carolina Panthers (4-1) vs. Tampa Bay Buccanneers (3-2) 10 a.m. FOX - Carolina is quietly among the best in the league with the return of Jake Delhomme from Tommy John surgery, and the return of Julius Peppers to the right side of the defensive line.  That defense has held Larry Johnson, Michael Turner, Adrian Peterson, Matt Forte and LaDainian Tomlinson each under 100-yards this season.  Tampa won three in-a-row behind Brian Griese, but he was knocked out of the game in Week 5 and coach Jon Gruden has not announced his Week 6 starter (play ominous music here).  Carolina rolls.

St. Louis Rams (0-4) at Washington Redskins (4-1) 10 a.m. FOX -  Washington is a very trendy NFC East favorite pick after beating Dallas and Philly on the road.  St. Louis is winless and at the bottom of of the league in offense and defense.  Nearly every statistical category suggests that this will be a blowout.  It should be ugly but it never seems to work out that way.  'Skins win but I wouldn't take the points. 

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3) at Denver Broncos (4-1) 1:05 p.m. CBS - Denver has gained more yards on offense than any team in the AFC this season and last week their defense finally came alive against Tampa Bay in Week 5.  The Jags have had all five games this season decided by a touchdown or less, but with the Jay Cutler now finally playing as advertised, the Jags won't be able to keep this one close.

Dallas Cowboys (4-1) at Arizona Cardinals (3-2) 1:15 p.m. FOX - I may be the first person in history to write these words without sarcasm: At this point, I don't think anyone wants to go out to Phoenix and play the Cardinals on the road.  Dallas is reeling a bit with yet another Pacman Jones scandal (he's "Pacman" when there's a scandal), T.O. starting to boil over, and a slightly diminished defense.  Arizona is red hot, having just knocked off the undefeated Bills and Kurt Warner and the Cards have the second most prolific scoring offense in the Conference.  Arizona wins in the House of Cards.
 
Philadelphia Eagles (2-3) at San Francisco 49ers (2-3) 1:15 p.m. FOX - The Eagles' record belies how good the are.  Their only losses are to Dallas, Washington and Chicago, so they aren't bad losses.  But they are losses.  The 49ers have been a bit better than expected, with Frank Gore leading the way.  Donovan McNabb called himself and his teammates out after last week's loss, so he is good for about 500 yards passing (since Andy Reid simply does not call running plays), but with brian Westbrook out, this is just not a good team.  49ers win. 

Green Bay Packers (2-3) at Seattle Seahawks (1-3) 1:15 p.m. FOX - With both teams riddled with injuries and woefully under-performing, the most interesting thing about this game is that the Seahawks QB used to play in Green Bay.  Yawn.  The Packers will win because Matt Hasselbeck's knee is gimpier than Aaron Rodgers' shoulder. 

New England Patriots (3-1) at San Diego Chargers (2-3) 5:15 p.m. NBC - No doubt, this one was circled on the schedules of many, many fans (not to mention advertising executives).  Then Handsome Tom went down, Tomlinson got old, and Miami beat both of them.  San Diego cannot stop anyone's run game and the Patriots may have found their offensive stride last weekend, so this one could be ugly for the Bolts if LDT doesn't wake up.  Pats win.

NY Giants (4-0) at Cleveland Browns (0-5) 5:30 p.m. Monday ESPN - What was the NFC doing when they picked this as the Monday Night Game?  Clearly the Patriots and Chargers was the better matchup on paper even before the Browns imploded this season.  Interestingly, the Browns Super Bowl hopes were dashed in the preseason when the Giants scored 200 points in the first half against the Browns on national television.  Will the Browns return the favor this Monday?  No.  Giants - big.

Last Week's Picks: 8-6