NFL Picks Week 6: Highlighting Teams That Will Outperform Expectations

Week 5 of the NFL season forced even the most seasoned fans to question what they know about the NFL. Unless, of course, those fans were seasoned enough to know that they know nothing.

I still haven't reached that zenith in NFL fandom, and I'm back for more.

I've got this season figured out and this week's slate of games wired. Take a look at my full predictions and see for yourself. After my predictions, I'll get more in depth on three teams that are going to outperform their expectations.  

All point spreads via FootballLocks.com. 

Cleveland Browns

Week 6 Opponent: Detroit Lions

The Cleveland Browns have been turning in a clinic on exceeding expectations, and they will continue that trend this week when they host the Detroit Lions. 

The Browns enter this game as 2.5-point underdogs. Despite the fact that Cleveland has won three in a row and the Lions are coming off a loss where they put up just nine points against the Green Bay Packers, that is understandable. 

It takes the public awhile to become believers when a team turns things around as rapidly as the Browns have. We all better start believing, however.

What Cleveland has accomplished is no mirage. This team is playing excellent defense. 

The Browns are seventh in passing yards allowed and eighth in rushing yards allowed. Now, they face a Lions team in an offensive funk. The Lions were missing Calvin Johnson last week, and the all-world wideout's status is up in the air for this week: 

Even if Johnson is ready to play, he will not be enough to help the Lions decipher Cleveland's defense. 

Oakland Raiders

Week 6 Opponent: at Kansas City Chiefs

Spreads this large for division rivalries as heated as the Raiders and Chiefs are always dangerous. These games have a weird way of ending up close. 

Besides, in the three games that Terrelle Pryor was under center and Oakland wasn't playing the Denver Broncos, the Raiders are 2-1, with their only loss being a 21-17 affair to the Colts in Indianapolis.

This is a game team that is playing sound football. 

I don't think the Raiders have the muscle in the trenches to win this game, but they will be able to keep it close.

The Chiefs are just 21st in rush defense, and the Raiders are ninth in rush offense. This will allow them to have success on the ground, sustain drives and open things up for some key passes.

The Raiders are dealing with injuries in the backfield, but that didn't stop them from rushing for more than 100 yards last week in a victory over the San Diego Chargers. With Pryor occupying so much of the defense's attention, there will be some lanes for whichever back has the ball.

I see the Chiefs winning, but this should be a fun and close contest. 

Indianapolis Colts

Week 6 Opponent: San Diego Chargers

The Colts are 1.5-point favorites on the road against San Diego. It is always risky siding with a road favorite. However, while San Diego has been looking good on offense, the defense has been terrible. With Andrew Luck already attacking teams with the surgeon-like precision of an elite quarterback, he will ensure the Colts offense controls this game.

San Diego's defense is 24th in rushing and 27th in passing. This will be the first game that running back Trent Richardson shines for the Colts since being traded from the Browns, and Luck will pick up third downs for the offense.

Meanwhile, the Chargers and Philip Rivers have been outstanding in their aerial assault this year, but the Colts have been strong in pass defense at sixth in the league. This game will not be as close as the expectations suggest.