The Weekly Blitz -- Week 6 NFL Picks Against the Spread (ATS)

Every week, I pick three NFL games against the spread (ATS). Here are my three picks for Week 6:

Ravens +2.5 (over Patriots): The Patriots have won seven consecutive games after a bye. Sounds impressive, doesn't it? And why did I start my argument with a statistic that doesn't support my selection? Well, if you look closer, four of those seven wins came against the Buffalo Bills (2004-2007).

Here's another stat for you: 50 touchdowns in 52 games. That is what the Patriots traded away to Minnesota. While Moss may have been a problem in the locker room (or not, if you go by Bill Belichick's quotes at face value), he's certainly much more talented than the receiver they acquired in a subsequent trade -- Deion Branch.

Through five games, the Ravens rank second in the NFL against the pass (156.6 yards allowed per game). At the other end of the spectrum, the Patriots rank fifth from last in passing defense (272.3 yards allowed per game).

Take the points and watch the Ravens end the seven-game, post-bye winning streak of the Patriots.

Falcons +2.5 (over Eagles): If Michael Vick were healthy enough to play, it would have made for a great storyline -- and likely a different spread. Aside from Vick, the Eagles have several key players with injuries including left tackle Jason Peters, cornerback Asante Samuel and defensive tackle Broderick Bunkley.

Meanwhile, the Falcons are an overtime road loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers away a perfect record through five games. The Falcons rank in the top ten in total offense (seventh) and total defense (tenth). The Falcons have limited the opposition to 14 points per game, which is the second lowest in the NFL, and lead the league in interceptions (ten).

In addition, the Falcons are tied for second in the NFL in rushing, which has contributed to them leading the NFL in time of possession at nearly 35 minutes per game.

If Falcons don't win this one outright, expect them to keep it close.

Colts -3 (over Redskins): The Colts rank fourth in the NFL in passing offense (321.8 yards per game) and no team has thrown more passing touchdowns (11). Meanwhile the Redskins rank dead last in total defense (allowing 410.2 yards per game). Their run defense isn't that bad, but the Redskins rank third from last in passing defense (298 yards allowed per game).

The Colts will be without running back Donald Brown, but Joseph Addai was a full participant on Friday. On the season, the Colts have been as one-dimensional as any team that plays outside of Colorado. Only one out of five yards of Colts' offense is derived from the ground game.

And speaking of Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said, "You're not going to go out and try to disguise. He's seen it all, he's done it all. We got to hope that he's having a bad day and we're having a good day and things click for us, and try to slow him down if you can."

For picks by our two other "handicappers," check out TheWeeklyBlitz.com. For fantasy football information and rankings, check out TheTipDrill.com.

Also, the Week 6 thread of our free fantasy football contest is open. New entries are welcome and encouraged.