NFL: Best Matchups in Week 6

It's Week 6 of the NFL season and things haven't gone the way we might expect. The Green Bay Packers, who lost one game all of last year, are 2-3. The Saints didn't win their first game until last Sunday. The Jets are having some quarterback issues.

OK, so maybe we could've predicted that last one. 

But unexpected results have led to some unexpectedly interesting matchups for Week 6. Here's a list of five of the best games this week.

Green Bay Packers @ Houston Texans

The Packers (2-3) head to Houston this weekend to take on the undefeated Texans (5-0). 

The Texans’ defense has only allowed an average of 14.6 points a game, and it doesn’t help that Green Bay won’t have its leading rusher, Cedric Benson, who’s out with a foot injury. 

This will be the first real challenge for the Texans. Green Bay should be 3-2, but lost to the Seahawks on a controversial touchdown call in Week 3. Aaron Rodgers has been questioned on his ability to lead the Pack, but he’s still completing nearly 70 percent of his passes and has 10 TDs this season.

This game will be a test for both teams. We’ll find out if it’s the Texans or their schedule that’s kept them undefeated, and whether Green Bay can bounce back from a rough start.

Dallas Cowboys @ Baltimore Ravens

The Dallas Cowboys are 2-2 thus far, but their record alone doesn’t reflect how poorly they’ve played this season.

Tony Romo, who’s passer rating has dropped from 130 in Week 1 to 60, had another poor performance last week against the Bears.

Romo threw one touchdown and the Bears forced five interceptions in the ‘Boys’ 34-18 loss to Chicago. 

The Ravens, on the other hand, are 4-1 and undefeated at home.  

Baltimore’s defense hasn’t looked as good as last season, though it’s only allowing 17 PPG.  

This week’s game will be a chance for the Ravens to display a stronger defense, or a chance for Romo to bounce back and lead his slumping team to victory.

New York Giants @ San Francisco 49ers

The Giants (3-2) got back some confidence last week, beating Cleveland 41-27 after a Week 4 loss to the Eagles. Victor Cruz scored three touchdowns and Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 200 yards.  

The Giants’ defense forced three turnovers and got an easy win at home to get them back above .500.

The 49ers (4-1) have been one of the most dominant teams in the NFL this season.  They beat the Buffalo Bills 45-3 last week and handed the Jets a 34-0 shutout loss in Week 4.

Both offenses look good. Alex Smith has a 68 percent completion percentage, eight TDs and just one interception.

Eli Manning is throwing at 65 percent with 10 TDs and five interceptions.

Both teams have momentum coming off of Week 5 wins, but Eli will have to work hard to beat the 49er defense and a team that hasn’t lost at home yet.

Indianapolis Colts @ New York Jets

Andrew Luck and Mark Sanchez face off this week in Luck’s first NFL trip to the Big Apple. 

The Jets (3-2) are coming off of two consecutive losses, the first a 34-0 shutout loss to the 49ers. In last week’s loss to Houston, Sanchez threw for 230 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

Those turnovers didn’t help to put to rest conversations about Sanchez being an inadequate starter for the Jets. Sanchez is completing less than 50 percent of his passes and has as many touchdowns as interceptions this season…six.

New York will be without its leading receiver Santonio Holmes for the rest of the year because of a foot injury, leaving the Jets with even more problems offensively. 

The Colts are 2-2 and are no doubt feeling good after their three-point win against Green Bay last week.

Luck isn’t throwing that much better than Sanchez, with seven TDs, five interceptions and a 56.4 completion percentage.

Both teams allow about 27 PPG, so it should be a pretty even matchup.

As an added bonus, Pac-12 fans will get to watch an old USC-Stanford rivalry in the big leagues. 

Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers

The two powers of the AFC West go at it Monday night as Denver (2-3) tries to even things up with the Chargers (3-2).

Denver is coming off a 31-21 loss to New England, despite a rally by Peyton Manning and the Broncos at the end of the third quarter to come back from a 31-7 deficit.

San Diego gave the Saints their first win of the season last week, despite having a 10-point lead in the third quarter. Phillip Rivers threw for 354 yards, but turned the ball over a couple times late.

The Chargers also allowed the Saints’ poorly ranked defense to sack Rivers five times. 

Denver has more momentum going into the game from its late-game rally against the Patriots. But the Chargers are at home and know they have to win to stay alone at the top of their division.