NFL Picks Week 6: Lions vs. 49ers and 3 Suprisingly Important Showdowns

Week 6 is here, and we have some surprising division leaders and some even more surprising bottom feeders. The Detroit Lions again headline this week's slate, as they look for their 10th straight regular-season win. 

Personally, I would love to see them get to 12-0 this year, making it 16 straight and forever rectifying the 2008 season. I'm not sure anything could actually make us forget about the first 0-16 regular season, but it wouldn't hurt, would it?

First, they will have to find a way to beat the 4-1 NFC West leaders, the San Francisco 49ers.

San Francisco 49ers at Detroit Lions (-4.5)

The San Francisco 49ers lead the NFC with 14 takeaways, which puts them first in turnover differential as well. They are getting amazingly efficient play out of quarterback Alex Smith, something that even the 49ers couldn't have expected.

They will take their show to Ford Field to try and become the first team to stump Matthew Stafford's red-hot Lions. It will start with slowing Calvin Johnson and his NFL-record nine touchdowns through the first five games.

In an interesting matchup, where both teams have overcome 20-point-or-more second-half deficits, the Lions and 49ers play similar styles—at least they do defensively. They are ranked No. 1 and 2 in turnover differential in the NFC, and both get pressure up front with 12 sacks apiece. They both play good third-down defense as well.

On offense is where you find some separation. They both have explosive running backs who have been shut down at times this year, as well as having only four turnovers all year.

Where you find a difference is that Calvin Johnson character again. He's a game breaker that the 49ers just don't have on offense, and it shows with their No. 29-ranked passing offense.

The x-factor will be Johnson and his ability to stretch the field in a way that the 49ers do not. In the end, when one of the teams needs to make a big play offensively, you have to trust Stafford and his weapons over Alex Smith. While Smith has been efficient, he has not consistently been able to open up the field.

He has found his formula to manage the game and not make mistakes, but that won't win against a Detroit offense that has all the tools. Playing in Detroit won't hurt for the Lions either, as both of these teams are in the bottom four in penalties in the NFL. Chicago had nine false starts Monday night, which could be somewhat of a precursor for what may come for the 49ers.

Prediction: Detroit Lions 20, San Francisco 49ers 13

Philadelphia Eagles (-2) at Washington Redskins

The Philadelphia Eagles have found themselves in quite the predicament early on.  I know all the Eagles fans expected them to be 5-0 right now en route to a Super Bowl, and, well, the Super Bowl isn't completely out of sight just yet.

If they want it to stay in sight, beating the first-place Washington Redskins is a must. Yes, this is a must-win in Week 6. An insurmountable number of mistakes have cost the Eagles winnable games this season. They know they can cut the mistakes, but they have to put it on the field.

This week, Michael Vick will be quick to remember putting up 59 points in Washington last season. The Redskins will be ready for the deep ball to DeSean Jackson on the first play this time, and will show a much better defense all-around than a year before.

Even though they may not score 59 points, the Eagles can certainly beat the Redskins and jump start their ascension in the NFC East standings. They must focus on stopping the run and trust those high-dollar corner backs they have to stick with Santana Moss and Jabar Gaffney, who aren't the most intimidating threats in the first place. 

The Eagles have been gashed on the ground and Mike Shanahan knows that. It won't be any new game plan to run the ball this week for Washington, as they average the most rushing attempts in the league besides Houston.

Still, as the Redskins attempt to pound the ball down their throats, the Eagles need to stay patient and let Rex Grossman make mistakes against their talented corners. Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin will be a handful as always and will get their points. A focused and fired-up Philadelphia squad should be able to come away with an uplifting road win this week.

Prediction: Philadelphia Eagles 30, Washington Redskins 24

Dallas Cowboys at New England Patriots (-7)

The Dallas Cowboys have had a week to prepare for the Patriots and need to win this game to keep pace in the NFC East as well. What's more surprising is how badly the Patriots need this game—they are 4-1, but share first place with the Buffalo Bills, who already beat them this year.

When the Bills were 2-0, or even 3-0, it was a good story. Now that they're 4-1 and forcing turnovers left and right, they must be taken seriously by the Patriots. Over the course of the season, it will be evident how much easier the Bills' schedule is than the Patriots' because of last year's finishes. 

While they will both face the Cowboys this year, the Patriots need to beat this caliber of team, especially when they are at home. They will play a transformed Dallas Cowboys defense led by Rob Ryan, whose Cleveland Brown's defense beat the Patriots last year.

The Cowboys get a good pass rush and stop the run well. They do give up the big play through the air a little too much, and Tom Brady will surely be attempting to exploit that. The Cowboys bring a high-caliber passing game to the table as well, and the Patriots will have to vastly improve their No. 32-ranked pass defense to stop Miles Austin and Dez Bryant this week.

Prediction: Dallas Cowboys 31, New England Patriots 30