NFL Picks Week 6: Latest Odds and Predictions for Prime-Time Games

The NFL has delivered some entertaining prime-time games through five weeks this season. From a thrilling last-second Dallas Cowboys rally against the New York Giants in Week 1 to Kam Chancellor's game-saving defensive play for the Seattle Seahawks in Week 4 against the Detroit Lions to Le'Veon Bell's touchdown at the gun for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 5 against the San Diego Chargers, prime-time football has provided plenty of drama for fans.

Week 6 promises to be action-packed as well with a rematch of the 2015 AFC Championship Game between the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots and an important divisional clash between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Giants.

Here's a look at the odds and in-depth predictions for both games.

Patriots Will Remain Undefeated with Week 6 Win

Date	Time (ET)	Watch	Line
Sunday, Oct. 18	8:30 p.m.	NBC	Patriots (-7)

The NFL has plenty of action on the field, but there has been drama off the field, too. Two weeks prior to the Patriots' Super Bowl victory over the Seahawks last season, Deflategate was born when the Patriots defeated Sunday night's opponent in the AFC Championship Game.

New England quarterback Tom Brady was alleged to be involved in team officials deflating footballs for an easier grip after torching the Colts for 226 yards and three touchdowns in the game. With all eyes on Brady at the Super Bowl, the four-time champion tossed four touchdowns with properly inflated footballs.

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Now, Indianapolis will welcome the Patriots to Lucas Oil Stadium for an intriguing matchup that heavily favors New England by a full touchdown, according to Odds Shark.

Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has missed the past two games after suffering a shoulder injury and has not been cleared to start. However, according to ESPN.com's Mike Wells, Colts owner Jim Irsay said, unless the signal-caller suffers a setback, fans should expect to see Luck on the field.

Even Luck may not be enough for a 3-2 Colts team to take down the undefeated Patriots, who have outscored their opponents 81-23 over the last two weeks and averaged 43.3 points in the past three meetings of this series, according to Sports Illustrated's Peter King. 

However, King said he doesn't see the Patriots blowing out the Colts or running all over their improved rush defense:

"

But I question if they'll be able to embarrass the Colts the way they did last winter. Not that the Indy offense is reliable; New England's relentless pass rush should give Andrew Luck (or Matt Hasselbeck, if Luck's shoulder isn't healthy enough to go) a four-quarter headache. The Patriots are on pace for 64 sacks, which would be a Belichick-era high. And with the news that sturdy New England left tackle Nate Solder is gone for the year with a torn biceps, it'll be interesting to see if the Colts can take advantage of stout but not particularly quick left tackle sub Marcus Cannon.

"

All that may be true, but it seems that when Brady and the Patriots play with a chip on their shoulders, they play well. Since Deflategate, Brady has been playing like an All-Pro. In addition to his four touchdowns in the Super Bowl, he has been dominating opponents this year as well.

Brady's performance has given the Patriots the top passing offense in the NFL this year, and despite a rushing attack that ranks 23rd in the league, New England has the top overall offense at 423.8 yards per game.

The Colts, on the other hand, rank 28th in both passing and total defense. Even with the improved run defense King referenced, it won't matter once Brady gets into a groove.

Prediction: Patriots win 41-28.

Eagles Will Climb Out of NFC East Basement with Win over Rival Giants

Date	Time (ET)	Watch	Line
Monday, Oct.17	8:30 p.m.	ESPN	Eagles (-3.5)

No one is going to confuse the NFC East with the best division in football, but that doesn't make divisional matchups any less significant. Right now, one game separates the first-place Giants (3-2) and the last-place (or tied for second) Eagles (2-3).

Every divisional outcome is a two-game swing, and a loss here would drop the Eagles to 0-3 in the NFC East and improve the Giants to 2-1. That is a stark contrast from both teams being 1-2, should the Eagles win.

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Despite trailing the Giants in the standings, the Eagles are 3.5-point favorites, according to Odds Shark. Their starting running back, DeMarco Murray, has yet to break 200 yards, and head coach Chip Kelly is having to shut down rumors that he is considering a return to the college ranks, according to ESPN.com's Phil Sheridan.

One reason the Giants may not be considered more of a threat is that they could be without star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The second-year man injured his hamstring last week and is questionable heading into Monday night, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ Advance Media. Practicing Sunday would be a big boost for Beckham but, according to head coach Tom Coughlin, not a deal-breaker in terms of his playing status.

"It would be good if we knew in advance so we could at least think a little about that," he said, per Raanan. "It would be good. Does it preclude? No."

Beckham is not the only injured pass-catcher for the Giants right now. Another star wideout, Victor Cruz, has yet to play this season with an injured calf, and he won't suit up Monday, according to NFL.com. Rueben Randle has played this season but is nursing a sore hamstring.

Quarterback Eli Manning has still found a way to be productive, passing for 1,410 yards and 10 touchdowns. In Week 5, Manning brought the Giants back from behind, without Beckham for much of the fourth quarter, and threw a game-winning touchdown to tight end Larry Donnell in a 30-27 victory against the San Francisco 49ers.

The guy throwing the ball for the Eagles has been good lately as well. Sam Bradford had his best game for the Eagles in Week 5, completing 32 of 45 passes for 333 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 39-17 victory against the New Orleans Saints.

After throwing just three touchdowns in the first three games of the season, Bradford has five in his past two and is poised to have a big performance against a Giants team that ranks last in pass defense and is without starting cornerback Prince Amukamara.

Murray's 83 yards on the ground in Week 4 were 36 more than he had in his previous three games. It seems that he is starting to settle in with his new team but will face a challenge against the No. 2-ranked run defense.

Even so, the banged-up Giants won't have enough in the tank to leave Philadelphia with a victory Monday. Bradford will find a way to have his third straight strong performance and make an already-tight division even tighter with a victory.

Prediction: Eagles win 31-21.