The Chosen: NFL Week Six

Season prediction tally: 55-21

For me personally, forecasting this week's winners is the stiffest challenge yet. By my count, there are seven toss-ups.

Carolina at Tampa Bay

Let the toss-ups begin. Once more, I'd like to stand up for Josh Johnson. Say what you will, in my opinion he has fared no worse than Matthew Stafford in his first two NFL starts. For me it is not hard to see his tremendous upside.

He is the NCAA's all time leader in passer efficiency, so don't give me that line about him being a "great athlete playing QB." That's nonsense. J.J. is a quarterback that happens to be athletically gifted.

Still, as much as I like J.J., I am not sure about his team.

Nor am I sure about Carolina.

I'll take Carolina if for no other reason than I need DeAngelo Williams to start tearing it up for my miserable fantasy squad. Wait, that is not a good enough reason.

The Buccaneers need a win, and this is one of their best chances to get one. How's that? Better than flipping a coin. I think.

Pick: Buccaneers

Detroit at Green Bay

Come on Green Bay. Protect Aaron Rodgers and he can pass for at least three TDs every game. Coming off a bye week, if they can't put it all together and find a way to win this one, they are in trouble.

Luckily for the Packers, an improving Lions team is 27th versus the pass, the Packers' strength.

Pick: Packers

St. Louis at Jacksonville

The Jaguars are a mediocre, inconsistent team.

You can't convince me that Mike Sims-Walker's absence from last weekend's game made that much of a difference in Jacksonville's inability to score. He has talent but he is not a dominating force. The Jags just stunk, period.

This is an opportunity for the Rams to break through. Getting Marc Bulger back healthy should help, but not enough to win. The Rams are dead last in points scored and second to last in points allowed.

Pick: Jaguars

Baltimore at Minnesota

Minnesota is rolling at 5-0, but three of those wins are versus Cleveland, Detroit, and St. Louis. The Ravens are 3-2 with both losses coming from teams with winning records.

I think the Vikings will get a much needed reality check, because the Ravens have dropped two straight and need this win more.

Pick: Ravens

Houston at Cincinnati

I just don't have enough faith in the Texans defense to expect them to shut down the Bengals rushing game. Somehow Cedric Benson has more rushing yards than Adrian Peterson and everyone else this year. Houston is in fact 26th in rushing defense.

Houston has the ability to pass all over the Bengals and take this one, but I'll side with the home team because they have learned how to close out games.

Pick: Bengals

Kansas City at Washington

The Chiefs are winless but have played Baltimore and Dallas tightly, losing in OT versus the 'Boys. The Redskins have won two but against winless teams.

Who is worse?

Statistically it is Kansas City, as the Redskins defense is actually quite good, so they get the home field advantage nod.

Pick: Redskins

N.Y. Giants at New Orleans

Two undefeated squads square off in the game of the week. Both teams are rolling, but the Giants have faced three weak opponents in a row. I think the Saints ride the support of the fanbase to a win.

Pick: Saints

Cleveland at Pittsburgh

Cleveland did not inspire confidence despite getting their first win last weekend in a miserable game in Buffalo.

The Steelers are getting Troy Polamalu back for this game, which is huge for them since they just lost DE Aaron Smith for the season.

Pick: Steelers

Philadelphia at Oakland

The Raiders are horrible, and the Eagles' DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin look like one nasty receiving duo developing in Philly.

Pick: Eagles

Arizona at Seattle

This one has huge divisional implications for both, and is a fierce rivalry to boot. Both teams have been inconsistent so far, so it is hard to predict who will show up for long enough to secure the win.

Arizona is capable of putting together a complete game, but they haven't done it yet. With Matt Hasselbeck back in the fold, it's hard to bank on the Cardinals pulling this one out in a hostile environment.

Pick: Seahawks

Tennessee at New England

It could be that when I finally pick against the Titans, they will find a way to win their first game. This is a test. Only testing here, nothing to see, move along.

Pick: Patriots

Buffalo at N.Y. Jets

Dick Jauron is on his way out and perhaps should have been for years. The T.O. experiment has not gone well. Is it too early to say I told you so ? If not me, maybe Trent Dilfer can sway you.

Either way, the Jets are a playoff caliber team coming off of two straight losses, coming back home.

Pick: Jets

Chicago at Atlanta

Chicago is a good team, but Atlanta is out to prove they are one of the top teams in the NFC.

I made the mistake of picking against Matt Ryan and the Falcons' improved defense last week, and I'm not doing that again after they schooled a good San Francisco team.

Pick: Falcons

Monday Night Football

Denver at San Diego

The come back down to Earth game for the Broncos. They are not as good as their 5-0 record in my not so humble opinion. I think defensive coordinator Mike Nolan is the MVP, but now they have to contain one of the best offenses in the league, coming off of a bye week at home.

Pick: Chargers

Byes: Dallas, Indianapolis, Miami, San Francisco

• Dallas is a mystery team. They have the talent to be one of the best but lack the cohesiveness and the fire to put it all together. You can't tell me there is a team with a better trio of running backs in the league, for starters.

Can they become a playoff team? I have no idea.

• Indianapolis may be the best team in the league, and they haven't had the services of one of their best players yet, Bob Sanders. With one of the best QBs in league history playing some of his best ball, this team has the talent to run the table.

I am enamored with Pierre Garcon, but you can't deny how strong Austin Collie looks. Add Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Donald Brown, and Joseph Addai...this team is scary good.

• Miami is running one of the more entertaining offenses the league has seen in years, with one caveat: I'd like to see them do more from the wildcat. I'd like to see them dare to run more than sweeps, end-arounds, and two or three hole straight runs.

Granted, what do I know? They lead the league in rushing yards, so why mess with success? I say because if they don't, they will slowly lose that grip on best rushing team as opposing D's will learn how to stop them.

Mix it up more, and perhaps they can prevent that from happening.

I can't say enough about how impressive Chad Henne was the other night. If he plays like that consistently, go ahead and reserve a playoff spot for Miami.

• San Francisco is experiencing some growing pains, but I have faith in Mike Singletary's ability to get their minds right and compete for the NFC West title.

This article also appears on Undrafteds.com .