Thursday
Game: Indianapolis at Houston
Pick: Indianapolis - Just one road team has won on Thursday night this year, but given how well the Colts have been playing lately, I like for them to increase that total to two, in a hard fought inner-division road game against Houston. I'll take the Colts by 4.
Result: Indianapolis 33 Houston 28
Record: 1-0
Sunday
Game: Jacksonville at Tennessee
Pick: Tennessee - Until Jacksonville of Oakland show me they can actually win a game, don't expect me to pick either one. While it's still difficult for me to pick Tennessee, with the game at home, I'll go with the Titans by a touchdown.
Result: Tennessee 16 Jacksonville 14
Record: 2-0
Game: Baltimore at Tampa Bay
Pick: Baltimore - Tampa Bay has definitely played better these past two weeks, in beating Pittsburgh at the last second and falling to New Orleans by a field goal in overtime. Even so, I still like Baltimore to bounce back from a tough road loss against Indianapolis to up their mark to 4-2 on the season with a 10-point win against the Bucs.
Result: Baltimore 48 Tampa Bay 17
Record: 3-0
Game: Denver at NY Jets
Pick: Denver - With how the New York Jets are playing on offense, I'd be hard-pressed to see them even compete for two quarters, let alone four quarters against Peyton Manning and the high-flying Broncos, whom just put up 41 points against the staunch Arizona Cardinals defense. I'll go with Denver by two touchdowns.
Result: Denver 31 NY Jets 17
Record: 4-0
Game: Detroit at Minnesota
Pick: Detroit - The main question going into this game is, "Who will have the healthier offense?" Minnesota has gone without Adrian Peterson for most of the season (and will continue to do so), Matt Cassell, and even Teddy Bridgewater last week. The Detroit Lions, meanwhile, saw both Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush leave the game early on Sunday against Buffalo. So long as one of those two play in this one, however, I give the slight edge to the Lions. I'll go with Detroit by a field goal.
Result: Detroit 17 Minnesota 3
Record: 5-0
Game: New England at Buffalo
Pick: New England - Would the real New England Patriots please stand up? After getting throttled by the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night a week ago, the Pats dominated the then only remaining unbeaten team in the league in Cincinnati on Sunday night. Buffalo, meanwhile, after winning their first two games, lost their next two, before pulling off a come-from-behind last-second victory on the road against the Lions this past Sunday. With the game at home, I like for Buffalo to keep it close, but it's hard to ignore what the Pats did to the Bengals defense - one of the best defenses in all of football. So, based on that, I'll take New England by a touchdown.
Result: New England 37 Buffalo 22
Record: 6-0
Game: Carolina at Cincinnati
Pick: Cincinnati - While Carolina got a big come-from-behind win against Chicago on Sunday, they still don't look like quite as good of a team as they were a year ago. They also struggled against the AFC North's Baltimore Ravens just a couple of weeks ago. With the game at home and coming off an embarrassing loss on Sunday night, I like for the angry Cincinnati Bengals to bounce back with a big win in this one. Cincinnati by two scores.
Result: Cincinnati 37 Carolina 37 OT
Record: 6-0-1
Game: Pittsburgh at Cleveland
Pick: Cleveland - Remember in week 1? Pittsburgh led Cleveland 27-3, before needing a last-second field goal to beat the Browns at home by the final count of 30-27. Since then, Pittsburgh has struggled to go 2-2 and Cleveland is 2-1 and looking to be a bit better than advertised going into the season. While I don't like how Cleveland has had to come back in most games, I at least like how they've finished games and never seem to feel they're out of any contest. On the other side, it just seems as if Pittsburgh has lost their identity, and with that, sense of confidence. Due to all of that, I'll take the Browns at home by 3.
Result: Cleveland 31 Pittsburgh 10
Record: 7-0-1
Game: Green Bay at Miami
Pick: Green Bay - When Aaron Rodgers says relax, he apparently means it. Even since the Super Bowl-winning quarterback uttered that word, the Packers have looked like a completely different team. Expect that trend to continue as Green Bay goes on to with their third straight, defeating the Miami Dolphins by 10.
Result: Green Bay 27 Miami 24
Record: 8-0-1
Game: San Diego at Oakland
Pick: San Diego - I don't care where this game is played, I'm not taking the Raiders. Also, San Diego is one of the hottest teams in football right now. With the way they're playing, they could likely defeat Oakland by playing blind-folded. I'll take San Diego by three scores.
Result: San Diego 31 Oakland 28
Record: 9-0-1
Game: Chicago at Atlanta
Pick: Chicago - This was a tough game for me to pick. Atlanta seems to play much better at home/indoors than on the road/outdoors. However, I have little confidence in their offensive line or defense. The trouble is, I also have very little confidence in the Chicago Bears defense or Jay Cutler in clutch situations. However, I do like how the Bears defense has been opportunistic at times throughout the course of the season when it comes to turnovers. This pick makes me nervous, but I'll give the slight edge to Chicago on the road. I'll take the Bears by 4.
Result: Chicago 27 Atlanta 13
Record: 10-0-1
Game: Dallas at Seattle
Pick: Seattle - No matter how well Dallas is playing, I have a hard time seeing them win in Seattle. I'll take the Seahawks by a touchdown.
Result: Dallas 30 Seattle 23
Record: 10-1-1
Game: Washington at Arizona
Pick: Washington - The big question in this game is, who's going to play quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals? Carson Palmer has been nursing a shoulder injury in recent weeks. Drew Stanton then went down on Sunday with an apparent concussion. The Cardinals then had to go with rookie Logan Thomas behind center. With the rookie likely starting behind center and the Cardinals defense being as banged up as it is, I like for Washington to snap their cold spell and win a close one in the desert. I'll take the 'Skins on the road by 3.
Result: Arizona 30 Washington 20
Record: 10-2-1
Game: NY Giants at Philadelphia
Pick: NY Giants - It's quite amazing to me that Philadelphia has scored 55 points in their past two games without doing much offensively. Their defense, meanwhile, has allowed 54 points in those two contests, almost allowing St. Louis to come back from being down 34-7, which would have resulted in two straight losses for the Eagles. The Giants, after starting 0-2 and looking awful in the process, have won three straight contests and are looking like a completely different team. For how the two teams are playing, so long as Eli Manning doesn't go turnover-crazy, I like how the Giants match up with the Eagles in this one. I'll take New York by a field goal.
Result: Philadelphia 27 NY Giants 0
Record: 10-3-1
Monday
Game: San Francisco at St. Louis
Pick: San Francisco - Just like last year when the 49ers started off 1-2, it appears as San Francisco is making their move. While the offense's lack of efficiency inside the red zone has me nervous, they've appeared to re-establish their run-first mentality on offense, and has always been the case, have played solid defense. St. Louis should play them tough for a while, but the Niners will likely pull away in the end. I'll go with San Francisco by 10.
Result: San Francisco 31 St. Louis 17
Record: 11-3-1
Week 6 Record: 11-3-1 (.786)
Overall Record: 58-32-1 (.644)
Game: Indianapolis at Houston
Pick: Indianapolis - Just one road team has won on Thursday night this year, but given how well the Colts have been playing lately, I like for them to increase that total to two, in a hard fought inner-division road game against Houston. I'll take the Colts by 4.
Result: Indianapolis 33 Houston 28
Record: 1-0
Sunday
Game: Jacksonville at Tennessee
Pick: Tennessee - Until Jacksonville of Oakland show me they can actually win a game, don't expect me to pick either one. While it's still difficult for me to pick Tennessee, with the game at home, I'll go with the Titans by a touchdown.
Result: Tennessee 16 Jacksonville 14
Record: 2-0
Game: Baltimore at Tampa Bay
Pick: Baltimore - Tampa Bay has definitely played better these past two weeks, in beating Pittsburgh at the last second and falling to New Orleans by a field goal in overtime. Even so, I still like Baltimore to bounce back from a tough road loss against Indianapolis to up their mark to 4-2 on the season with a 10-point win against the Bucs.
Result: Baltimore 48 Tampa Bay 17
Record: 3-0
Game: Denver at NY Jets
Pick: Denver - With how the New York Jets are playing on offense, I'd be hard-pressed to see them even compete for two quarters, let alone four quarters against Peyton Manning and the high-flying Broncos, whom just put up 41 points against the staunch Arizona Cardinals defense. I'll go with Denver by two touchdowns.
Result: Denver 31 NY Jets 17
Record: 4-0
Game: Detroit at Minnesota
Pick: Detroit - The main question going into this game is, "Who will have the healthier offense?" Minnesota has gone without Adrian Peterson for most of the season (and will continue to do so), Matt Cassell, and even Teddy Bridgewater last week. The Detroit Lions, meanwhile, saw both Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush leave the game early on Sunday against Buffalo. So long as one of those two play in this one, however, I give the slight edge to the Lions. I'll go with Detroit by a field goal.
Result: Detroit 17 Minnesota 3
Record: 5-0
Game: New England at Buffalo
Pick: New England - Would the real New England Patriots please stand up? After getting throttled by the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night a week ago, the Pats dominated the then only remaining unbeaten team in the league in Cincinnati on Sunday night. Buffalo, meanwhile, after winning their first two games, lost their next two, before pulling off a come-from-behind last-second victory on the road against the Lions this past Sunday. With the game at home, I like for Buffalo to keep it close, but it's hard to ignore what the Pats did to the Bengals defense - one of the best defenses in all of football. So, based on that, I'll take New England by a touchdown.
Result: New England 37 Buffalo 22
Record: 6-0
Game: Carolina at Cincinnati
Pick: Cincinnati - While Carolina got a big come-from-behind win against Chicago on Sunday, they still don't look like quite as good of a team as they were a year ago. They also struggled against the AFC North's Baltimore Ravens just a couple of weeks ago. With the game at home and coming off an embarrassing loss on Sunday night, I like for the angry Cincinnati Bengals to bounce back with a big win in this one. Cincinnati by two scores.
Result: Cincinnati 37 Carolina 37 OT
Record: 6-0-1
Game: Pittsburgh at Cleveland
Pick: Cleveland - Remember in week 1? Pittsburgh led Cleveland 27-3, before needing a last-second field goal to beat the Browns at home by the final count of 30-27. Since then, Pittsburgh has struggled to go 2-2 and Cleveland is 2-1 and looking to be a bit better than advertised going into the season. While I don't like how Cleveland has had to come back in most games, I at least like how they've finished games and never seem to feel they're out of any contest. On the other side, it just seems as if Pittsburgh has lost their identity, and with that, sense of confidence. Due to all of that, I'll take the Browns at home by 3.
Result: Cleveland 31 Pittsburgh 10
Record: 7-0-1
Game: Green Bay at Miami
Pick: Green Bay - When Aaron Rodgers says relax, he apparently means it. Even since the Super Bowl-winning quarterback uttered that word, the Packers have looked like a completely different team. Expect that trend to continue as Green Bay goes on to with their third straight, defeating the Miami Dolphins by 10.
Result: Green Bay 27 Miami 24
Record: 8-0-1
Game: San Diego at Oakland
Pick: San Diego - I don't care where this game is played, I'm not taking the Raiders. Also, San Diego is one of the hottest teams in football right now. With the way they're playing, they could likely defeat Oakland by playing blind-folded. I'll take San Diego by three scores.
Result: San Diego 31 Oakland 28
Record: 9-0-1
Game: Chicago at Atlanta
Pick: Chicago - This was a tough game for me to pick. Atlanta seems to play much better at home/indoors than on the road/outdoors. However, I have little confidence in their offensive line or defense. The trouble is, I also have very little confidence in the Chicago Bears defense or Jay Cutler in clutch situations. However, I do like how the Bears defense has been opportunistic at times throughout the course of the season when it comes to turnovers. This pick makes me nervous, but I'll give the slight edge to Chicago on the road. I'll take the Bears by 4.
Result: Chicago 27 Atlanta 13
Record: 10-0-1
Game: Dallas at Seattle
Pick: Seattle - No matter how well Dallas is playing, I have a hard time seeing them win in Seattle. I'll take the Seahawks by a touchdown.
Result: Dallas 30 Seattle 23
Record: 10-1-1
Game: Washington at Arizona
Pick: Washington - The big question in this game is, who's going to play quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals? Carson Palmer has been nursing a shoulder injury in recent weeks. Drew Stanton then went down on Sunday with an apparent concussion. The Cardinals then had to go with rookie Logan Thomas behind center. With the rookie likely starting behind center and the Cardinals defense being as banged up as it is, I like for Washington to snap their cold spell and win a close one in the desert. I'll take the 'Skins on the road by 3.
Result: Arizona 30 Washington 20
Record: 10-2-1
Game: NY Giants at Philadelphia
Pick: NY Giants - It's quite amazing to me that Philadelphia has scored 55 points in their past two games without doing much offensively. Their defense, meanwhile, has allowed 54 points in those two contests, almost allowing St. Louis to come back from being down 34-7, which would have resulted in two straight losses for the Eagles. The Giants, after starting 0-2 and looking awful in the process, have won three straight contests and are looking like a completely different team. For how the two teams are playing, so long as Eli Manning doesn't go turnover-crazy, I like how the Giants match up with the Eagles in this one. I'll take New York by a field goal.
Result: Philadelphia 27 NY Giants 0
Record: 10-3-1
Monday
Game: San Francisco at St. Louis
Pick: San Francisco - Just like last year when the 49ers started off 1-2, it appears as San Francisco is making their move. While the offense's lack of efficiency inside the red zone has me nervous, they've appeared to re-establish their run-first mentality on offense, and has always been the case, have played solid defense. St. Louis should play them tough for a while, but the Niners will likely pull away in the end. I'll go with San Francisco by 10.
Result: San Francisco 31 St. Louis 17
Record: 11-3-1
Week 6 Record: 11-3-1 (.786)
Overall Record: 58-32-1 (.644)
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