NFL Picks, Week 6: Make It or Break It Time For Vikings, Cowboys
If you had told me before the season started that when the Vikings and Cowboys squared off in Week 6 that they would both be 1-3, I would have called you crazy.
That's the beautiful thing about the NFL though and this season especially—expect the unexpected. With a new season, anything can happen. It's a fresh start for every team.
Brett Favre's age is showing, while the Cowboys are looking like they are overrated once again. Does the winner of this game save their season?
Top QB: Phillip Rivers - 28-38, 387 yards, 3 TDs
Top RB: Frank Gore - 22 carries, 174 yards, TD
Top WR: Hakeem Nicks - 10 catches, 167 yards, TD
Top Kicker: Nate Kaeding
Top Defense: Pittsburgh Steelers
Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles
1 of 14
I'm torn as to who to pick in this game. I'm an Eagles fan, and I always find it hard to pick against them, but I think the Falcons might just be too much for them in this one.
One of the Eagles biggest problems is stopping the run, and the Falcons can pound it on the ground with Michael Turner and Jason Snelling. Turner has returned to his 2008 form, averaging 4.5 yards per carry and is coming off of a 140-yard performance against the Browns.
The Eagles will need Kevin Kolb to play better than he did last week. Kolb did a nice job in managing the game but will need to do more against a Falcons team among the leagues best. As bad as Michael Vick wants to play against his former team, it looks unlikely that he will be able to do so.
For the second week in a row, I'm picking against my Eagles. Last week, me picking against them proved to be the best thing for my team, how about this week?
Fearless Forecast: Falcons 24, Eagles 17
Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans
2 of 14
After last week's disastrous performance against the Giants, you have to wonder if this Texans team is just the same old Texans team. This team was supposed to be different, and consistent, but after laying an egg twice in the past three weeks, this may just be the same team we've seen year in and year out from Houston.
The Chiefs on the other hand have everyone wondering if they're team is for real. After a shocking 3-0 start, the Chiefs were the last remaining unbeaten team before losing to the Colts last week 19-9. Their offense simply never got in a rhythm, but their defense was good enough for the Chiefs to win that game. Romeo Crennel has done an awesome job with that defense.
I'm going with the Texans in this one, but am I confident in my pick? No.
You can never be confident picking the Texans.
Fearless Forecast: Texans 27, Chiefs 23
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
3 of 14
When Ben Roethlisberger was suspended the first four games of the season, I thought the Steelers would struggle, and that it would set the tone for the rest of the season.
How stupid I was to doubt the Steelers. With a great defense and a quarterback who will manage the game, any team will be okay. That is exactly the play the Steelers got out of Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch.
Now, with Roethlisberger back, the Steelers are even scarier. It's always nice to have a two-time Super Bowl champion come back.
Could Colt McCoy ask for a worse matchup in his first career NFL start? Seriously. McCoy has to travel to Pittsburgh playing that scary Steelers defense and duel against Ben Roethlisberger in his return game. That is just a recipe for disaster.
Fearless Forecast: Steelers 31, Browns 6
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Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears
4 of 14
Last week Bears fans got a glimpse of what life would be like without Jay Cutler as Todd Collins posted a stat line of 6-16, 32 yards and four interceptions. The amazing thing is that they didn't just win, they dominated the Panthers, 23-6. Shows you how bad the Panthers are.
Thankfully, Cutler will return this week against a Seahawks team who can't win on the road. In their two road games, the Seahawks have lost 31-14, and 20-3, getting outplayed badly in both games. During their bye week, the Seahawks made some moves, trading for running back Marshawn Lynch from the Bills and shipping Deion Branch back to New England.
I don't see how the Seahawks win this game. It's staggering how poor they play away from Seattle.
Fearless Forecast: Bears 24, Seahawks 10
Detroit Lions at New York Giants
5 of 14
Just three weeks ago, the Giants were 1-2 and had just lost an embarrassing home game to the Titans 29-10 in which they made mistake after mistake. It's amazing what a difference two games can make, because three weeks later, the Giants have transformed as a team and are clicking.
Can they keep it going against the Lions?
Don't overlook the Lions. They have been competitive in every one of their games thus far, and unloaded on the Rams last week, 44-6. Shaun Hill has been a pleasant surprise for the Lions, who threw three touchdowns in the victory.
This is a road game though, and you have to go all the way back to October 28, 2007 for the Lions last road win. That's 22 straight road losses.
The streak won't end here.
Fearless Forecast: Giants 24, Lions 16
Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots
6 of 14
The Patriots wide receivers will find out Sunday what life is like without Randy Moss being double covered. Not having to worry about Moss, it will be much easier for defenses to prepare for the Patriots.
That being said, the Patriots still have a wide receiver corpse that is speedy and dangerous with Wes Welker, Brandon Tate, Julian Edelman and rookie tight end Aaron Hernandez.
The Ravens come into this game playing as well as anybody in the league and need to keep it going in New England. Joe Flacco has bounced back after a shaky first two weeks, and Ray Rice rewarded fantasy owners last week.
The Ravens embarrassed the Patriots in the playoffs last season, and the Patriots want revenge bad.
They won't get it. The Ravens will keep it going.
Fearless Forecast: Ravens 20, Patriots 16
San Diego Chargers at St. Louis Rams
7 of 14
Last week I wrote about how Chargers fans shouldn't panic just yet. The Chargers historically always get off to slow starts and are doing it again this year.
I said it last week, and I'll say it again; it's not time to hit the panic button quite yet, the Chargers will be okay. They better beat the Rams though.
The Chargers main problem this year has been their terrible play on the road as they are 0-3. The Rams have been somewhat of a surprise in 2010 but got rocked in Detroit last week 44-6. It's going to be ugly again this week.
The Chargers will bounce back and win their first game on the road in 2010.
Fearless Forecast: Chargers 34, Rams 17
Miami Dolphins at Green Bay Packers
8 of 14
After many pegged the Packers as Super Bowl favorites in 2010, they have been disappointing so far, and injuries are just killing them. The injury bug started for them in Week 1 when they lost Ryan Grant for the season, and in their loss against the Redskins, they didn't just lose the game, but Nick Barnett and Jermichael Finley for the season, and finally, just to top it all off, Aaron Rodgers to a concussion.
Thankfully Rodgers appears to be okay, and will get the start for the Packers. The Dolphins have dropped two straight home games, and both to division opponents. The skid continues.
Fearless Forecast: Packers 23, Dolphins 17
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9 of 14
Call me crazy, but I'm picking the Buccaneers in this one in an upset. Is it that crazy of a pick though?
The Saints look far removed from their Super Bowl title, and look like they are still in Disney World. How do you lose to the Cardinals when they fail to score a rushing or receiving touchdown? I don't get it.
Meanwhile, Josh Freeman has been a pleasant surprise this season and has the Bucs playing hard. They are coming off of a huge win in Cincinnati where the defense stepped up big time.
The Bucs took down the Saints last season in New Orleans, remember that game? They will beat the Saints for the second straight time and improve to 4-1.
Fearless Forecast: Buccaneers 24, Saints 21
New York Jets at Denver Broncos
10 of 14
Need anymore proof that Kyle Orton is the real deal? The Broncos lost at Baltimore, but Orton once again racked up the yards, throwing for 314 yards and two touchdowns. Pretty impressive.
Now, he has a similarly tough task against the tough Jets defense. The Jets, after a forgettable first week have won four straight games and Mark Sanchez has yet to commit a turnover. That is what they need out of him, not to make mistakes, and right now he's playing the role perfectly.
The Jets are going to be surprised in this one, the Broncos are not a bad team. I like the Broncos to pull the upset.
Fearless Forecast: Broncos 23, Jets 20
Oakland Raiders at San Francisco 49ers
11 of 14
I still cannot believe that 49ers fans were chanting for David Carr to come in the game. Yes, you're reading this correctly. After Alex Smith fumbled, leading to an Eagles touchdown, 49ers fans proceeded to chant "We Want Carr! We Want Carr!" Really? David Carr? The other former number one pick who is on his fourth team in his eighth season? That's exactly what the Niners fans wanted.
Alex Smith did a little to shut up the crowd, nearly leading the Niners all the way back from a 14 point deficit in the fourth quarter. Can the Niners carry that momentum into Week 6 and get their first win of the season?
The Raiders, who are coming off a comeback win against the Chargers, won't be easy though. Jason Campbell got a chance to show the world what he can do as he led the Raiders all the way back. The Raiders should be 3-2 had it not been for Sebastian Janikowski's missed field goal in Arizona.
The Niners will pick up their first win of the season.
Fearless Forecast: 49ers 27, Raiders 10
Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings
12 of 14
Last season these two teams squared off in the divisional playoff round with the Vikings dominating the Cowboys, 34-3.
Now, a fresh season, and both of these teams are 1-3, and in dire need of a win.
The Cowboys came out of their bye week losing to the Titans 34-27, making stupid mistakes late in the game. The Vikings also came out of their bye week flat in the first half, before nearly coming back. But you know how the story goes, Brett Favre threw a costly pick 6 late in the game that sealed the deal.
The Vikings looked good in the second half of the Jets and I think they will carry that into this one. The Cowboys will drop to 1-4. Let the Wade Phillips watch begin.
Fearless Forecast: Vikings 27, Cowboys 20
Indianapolis Colts at Washington Redskins
13 of 14
In a league full of mediocrity, you'd think that one of the few teams that would be soaring above everyone else would be the Colts. However, that's not the case this season, as the Colts are off to a slow start at 3-2. Something just doesn't look right with them.
The Redskins on the other hand are almost at their win total from a season ago, and Donovan McNabb was a perfect addition to them. Can their defense contain Peyton Manning enough to win this game?
I think so. The Redskins will keep it rolling along.
Fearless Forecast: Redskins 26, Colts 20
Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars
14 of 14
On Monday Night Football this week, we will see the Titans and the Jags square off in an important AFC South battle. With both teams 3-2, they are both in the hunt for the division crown.
Both of these teams are kind of unpredictable and can lose to anybody on any given Sunday. The Titans got a huge win last week over the Cowboys while the Jags took down the Bills on the road.
These teams always play close games, and this one is bound to come down to the wire.
I like the Titans to improve to 4-2.
Fearless Forecast: Titans 20, Jaguars 17
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