Week 6 NFL Picks: Soaring Jets and Bruised Vets

Through five weeks of the 2010 NFL season, no team is able to call itself undefeated.

Teams that were supposed to soar through their respective schedules haven't. 

Of all the teams that were supposed to dominate opponents, the San Fransisco 49ers have disproved all of us, immensely—falling to 0-5 after a less than respectable performance against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday night.

Brett Favre and Randy Moss showed signs of light Monday night, only to find themselves with a 1-3 record coming out of New York. 

Last Week: 7-9

Last week was a rough one, and this week doesn't get any easier. Let's try to predict the "unpredictable"—something that no one is a professional at.

Week 5 brought a boatload of surprises that shocked us all, so what does Week 6 have in store for us?

Detroit at NY Giants

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HOUSTON - OCTOBER 10: Quarterback Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants throws downfield against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Don't look now, but the New York Football Giants have the league's best overall defense.

It's hard to believe just two weeks ago Tom Coughlin's job was in jeopardy, as they now find themselves on a mini-win streak with great momentum after a 34-10 victory over Houston.

The Lions got their first win of the season last week over the Rams, but I don't expect them to be much of a task for the Giants this week.

New York 27, Detroit 15

Seattle at Chicago

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CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 10: Defensive end Julius Peppers #90 of the Chicago Bears salutes the crowd as he leaves the field after the Bears game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Pho

Will Jay Cutler play, or won't he?  That is the question.

Nevertheless, the Bears still have the tenacious defense to get the job done.  Limiting a fragile Jimmy Clausen last week was a walk in the park, and this week should be no different getting to Matt Hasselbeck.

No one is quite sure what the Seattle Seahawks are, and I don't think they will find out this week against the Bears.

Seattle 11, Chicago 21

San Diego at St. Louis

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OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 10: Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers in action against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 10, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The Chargers traditionally have major troubles winning on the road, and a more than capable St. Louis club is ready for the challenge at home.

A 2-3 record seems to be a recurring trend for the Chargers, who lead the NFL in total offense.  Philip Rivers needs to be more concise with his throws—if he can do that, then the Chargers defense should be able to handle Sam Bradford.

Along with the league's best overall defense at hand, the Bolts should handle Steven Jackson and the running game of the Rams.

San Diego 23, St. Louis 17

Upset Alert: New Orleans at Tampa Bay

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CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 10: Earnest Graham #34 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaps over a pile of players on his way to a one-yard touchdown run against the Cincinnati Bengals in the third quarter at Paul Brown Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Cincinnati, O

Upset Alert

The Super Bowl champs are as vulnerable as they ever will be, and a Tampa team coming off a huge win over the Bengals should only add more flame to the fire.

According to Peter King at SI.com, Tampa Bay QB Josh Freeman is on MVP watch, and rightfully so. 

The ninth-ranked pass defense of Tampa Bay should limit an already crippled passing game of the Saints, and put Drew Brees under more pressure—leading to possible turnovers in the secondary.

Without Reggie Bush, New Orleans has no run game, and Tampa should be able to steal a close game at home.

New Orleans 23, Tampa Bay 24

Miami at Green Bay

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MIAMI - OCTOBER 4: Chad Henne #7 of the Miami Dolphins passes against the New England Patriots at Sun Life Field on October 4, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

The Packers are as physically beaten as any team in the NFL thus far in the season.  Aaron Rodgers is questionable for Sunday's matchup with the Fish, and All-Pro TE Jermichael Finley is out three-to-six weeks.

This is the time for the Dolphins to step up and get another key win on the road, and prove they are for real to the rest of the league.

The Packers are at home, a place where magic is bound to happen—no matter who the QB is. 

I expect an excessively tight, back-and-forth type game.

Miami 24, Green Bay 21

Atlanta at Philadelphia

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CLEVELAND - OCTOBER 10: Quarterback Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons throws to tight end Tony Gonzalez #88 against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

Kevin Kolb escaped what would've been a tragic loss to the winless 49ers last Sunday night.  Nevertheless, the Eagles are in fact 3-2 and tied for the division lead.

Atlanta has the league's seventh-best ranked offense, and are at an astounding 4-1 record thus far this season.

Matt Ryan and company will be tested with Philly's eighth-ranked passing defense, and should make for a great battle.

Whoever establishes the run will ultimately win this game.

Baltimore at New England

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BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 10: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens rouses the crowd before a play against the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. Players wore pink in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Baltimore has beaten Pittsburgh and the New York Jets.  Both of whom are considered to be the best teams in the NFL.  So where does Baltimore stand?

Baltimore's second-ranked run defense should take care of anything New England tries to do through the air—along with a Moss-less Tom Brady, the Patriots might have some initial troubles.

Joe Flacco and Ray Rice are rolling right now and I don't see that ending anytime soon.

Baltimore 29, New England 21

Cleveland at Pittsburgh

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PITTSBURGH - OCTOBER 03: Antwaan Randle El #82 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates a fourth quater first down catch while playing the Baltimore Ravens on October 3, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Baltimore won the game 17-14. (Photo b

Cleveland will start rookie QB Colt McCoy on Sunday against arguably the league's most tenacious defense.  Troy Polamalu isn't going anywhere, and neither is the NFL's best run defense.

Big Ben is returning and with a team that is already on a roll, the Steelers will put up big numbers Sunday.

Cleveland 10, Pittsburgh 28

Dallas at Minnesota

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 11: Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings looks to pass against the New York Jets at New Meadowlands Stadium on October 11, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

Battle of desperation in Minnesota this Sunday—that's for sure.

Favre and Moss showed sparks at the end of the Jets game, but in the end it was ultimately a loss.

Maybe it's just me, but there is a possibility that both of these teams are just plain bad. Along with the immense hype both teams received, there isn't much to cheer for either of these teams.

In the end, I think Minnesota comes out on top solely because of the home-field advantage.

Dallas 26, Minnesota 31

Indianapolis at Washington

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 10: Austin Collie #17 of the Indianapolis Colts runs with the football against the Kansas City Chiefs at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts defeated the Chiefs 19-9. (Photo by Scott Boehm/G

Peyton's Colts managed to derail the previously undefeated Chiefs on Sunday, and this week should be no different.

As one-dimensional as the Colts might be, Peyton Manning is still Peyton Manning.  The passing offense of the Colts should have no problem with Washington's 30th-ranked pass defense.

Donovan McNabb and company are coming off a huge win against the Packers at home, and they will have to utilize RB Ryan Torain against the league's 29th-ranked rush defense of the Colts.

The Colts shouldn't be too worried.

Indianapolis 31, Washington 21

Marquee Matchup: Kansas City @ Houston

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HOUSTON - OCTOBER 10: Mario Williams #90 of the Houston Texans in action during the game against the New York Giants at Reliant Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Marquee Matchup

Houston's less than impressive performance against the Giants last Sunday has really showed their offensive and defensive weaknesses.  Matt Schaub threw for only 196 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, and was also sacked three times.

Against Kansas City's sixth-ranked rush defense, the Texans will have to rely on the passing game for the most part.

Kansas City's rushing game is third-best in the league, while Houston's defense against the run is fifth-best in the NFL.

The key to this matchup will be how each team can adjust their gameplans to the other's strengths.  I like Houston at home, but Kansas City is no fluke, people.

Kansas City 18, Houston 21

Oakland at San Francisco

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OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 10: Michael Bush #29 of the Oakland Raiders runs with the ball against the San Diego Chargers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 10, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Tough game to break down, here.

Oakland can be spectacular at times, as we witnessed last week in their victory over San Diego.  The Raiders are hard to figure, ranking in the middle of the pack in terms of total offense and defense.  If Jason Campbell find TE Zach Miller numerous times, along with 20 carries from RB Michael Bush, the Raiders will come out with a victory.

Everyone is saying how San Fran will come out (eventually) to win the NFC West—well I'm not buying into it.  Too many mistakes late in games have cost the 49ers their season.

Oakland 24, San Fransisco 23

NY Jets at Denver

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 11: Santonio Holmes #10 of the New York Jets gestures after he made a first down reception in the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at New Meadowlands Stadium on October 11, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (

With the Jets coming off a Monday Night victory over the underachieving Vikings, they look to continue their successes against the Broncos.

Santonio Holmes had immediate impact for Mark Sanchez and the Jets passing game, although LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene were the complete difference in the final score Monday night.

The Broncos come into Sunday's matchup with the league's second-ranked passing offense, and fourth-best running game.  The Jets defense will need to step it up in place of Darrelle Revis' tweaked hamstring.

I don't see Kyle Orton having too much success Sunday, so they will have to run the ball if a victory is in their future.

NY Jets 29, Denver 24

Tennessee at Jacksonville

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 10: Wide receiver Kenny Britt #18 of the Tennessee Titans celebrates after the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Titans won 34-27. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Ah, Monday Night Football.  Nothing quite like it.

Tennessee coming off a big victory over the Cowboys last week will carry into Monday's matchup against the Jags.

Expect Vince Young to rack up big numbers against the league's 30th-ranked overall defense, along with Chris Johnson—of course.

The Jaguars are a great story so far  this season, but come Monday night, Tennessee will show us all they're an elite team to be reckoned with.

Tennessee 33, Jacksonville 21