NFL Picks Week 6: Last-Minute Predictions for Sunday's Hottest Games

Sunday morning is the highlight of any NFL fan's week. 

With a full slate of games on the schedule that lasts from mid-day until well past sunset, the fanatic in all of us can't wait for the day to begin. 

Heading into Week 6, there are a few humdingers you won't want to miss. Here's a preview of Sunday's hottest games, along with predictions for every game on the schedule. 

Green Bay Packers vs. Baltimore Ravens

After both teams lost in Week 1, not many would have predicted Baltimore to be the team atop its division heading into Week 6. The way Baltimore was dismantled in Week 1 suggested a systemic collapse in the wake of the offseason's losses to key players. 

But a sudden surge of dominant defense has led to a 3-2 record, and the Ravens are tied with the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals for the AFC North lead. 

Meanwhile, Green Bay finds itself behind the Chicago Bears by two games in the win column, and a loss in Baltimore would put the Packers behind the eight ball early in the season. 

Baltimore's home-field advantage is strong. The team's fans are smart and loud and understand how to rally their team when it needs help the most.

Baltimore's pass-rushers will completely overwhelm Green Bay's offensive tackles, taking advantage of the noise. Aaron Rodgers will have to have one of his all-time great games to overcome the incredible pressure he'll face all afternoon. 

On the other side, Green Bay's linebacking corps is decimated by injuries right now, as both Clay Matthews and Brad Jones are out with injuries, as noted by the team's official injury report.

Ray Rice will have a field day against this depleted unit, and his ability to gash Green Bay's defense will open up big plays on the perimeter for Joe Flacco and Torrey Smith.

Final Score: Ravens win 27-20 

New Orleans Saints vs. New England Patriots

The Saints are as hot as any team in the league with a perfect 5-0 record, while the Patriots are reeling from an ugly loss in Cincinnati. 

New England is going to have a hell of a time trying to shut down the potent combination of Jimmy Graham and Darren Sproles. Graham is on an incredible four-game run in which he's caught 33 passes for 548 yards and five touchdowns. 

He does such an effective job stretching defenses downfield that it opens up huge lanes for Sproles underneath as a receiver out of the backfield. He's totaled 411 yards and two touchdowns this year, running and receiving, and teams must pick their poison regarding which player to double-team. 

But New England's defense has been incredibly stout this year, allowing just 14 points per game, which is the second-best in the league. 

Aqib Talib, in particular, has been stellar for the Patriots. Since joining the team in the middle of the season last year, he's helped New England's defense become one of the league's best at creating turnovers. 

Unfortunately, New England isn't the only franchise featuring an elite defense these days. The Saints are revitalized under new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, allowing just 19 points per game this year after sporting the league's worst defense a year ago. 

Final Score: Saints win 31-28

Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys

The San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos recently feasted on the porous defensive secondary of the Dallas Cowboys. Philip Rivers and Peyton Manning combined to throw for 815 yards and seven touchdowns the past two weekends. 

Suddenly, after it looked so promising the first two weeks of the season, Monte Kiffin's defense can't stop a nose bleed. For the season, only the Broncos have allowed more passing yards per game (326.4 yards per game), and no team has allowed more touchdowns (14).

But Dallas' defense isn't the only one that has been atrocious this year. 

Even counting the game in Week 4 against the Terrelle Pryor-less Oakland Raiders, Washington has allowed more total yards and the second-most rushing yards per game than any team in the league. 

Needless to say, offensive fireworks could be the norm on Sunday night when these two teams take the field. 

Dallas should win this game at home, but it won't. 

Robert Griffin III will make his first big statement of the 2013 season by leading the Redskins to victory on the road in Dallas in front of a national audience.

Final Score: Redskins win 34-28

Other Week 6 Picks

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