NFL Predictions Week 6: Packers, Redskins and Division Leaders That Will Triumph

It's good to be the king, especially in the NFL, wherein the difference between the penthouse and the basement is so precariously slim from season to season.

Need proof? Check the current standings and you'll find that none of last year's division winners are still atop their perches. The Patriots are the closest, but if the playoffs started today, they'd be looking up at the Bills by virtue of a tie break.

Of course, this state of affairs isn't likely to last the rest of the season, but for some teams, like these three, the good times will roll on for at least one week longer.

Green Bay Packers

If you're bookie's in town, be sure to give him/her a call and tell him/her to plunk down your life's savings on the Packers blowing out the Rams this weekend.

Bold, I know, but what else do you think is going to happen when a winless St. Louis team waltzes into Lambeau Field to take on Aaron Rodgers and company, who've gone five-for-five this season, with double-digit victories in each of their last three outings?

Unless Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce, Torrey Holt and Marshall Faulk circa 2000 come marching through that tunnel, the Rams don't have even half a chance in hell of getting anything but whooped on Sunday. Their only chance, at this point, is to hope that Steve Spagnuolo's pass rush will slice through Green Bay's banged-up offensive line and disrupt Rodgers' rhythm.

Then again, Rodgers might be better throwing on the run than he is in the pocket.

Can you say "check mate?"

Washington Redskins

I really don't want to talk about the sad-sack Eagles anymore, so I'll try to accentuate the positive with the Redskins instead.

Ah heck, who am I kidding? Philly's porous defense, which currently ranks 30th in the NFL against the run, is about to get bowled over by Mike Shanahan's zone blocking scheme and whoever's available to scamper for 100 yards and a touchdown or two.

Meanwhile, Michael Vick will be too busy not getting any protection from his absentee offensive line to complete much of anything while Washington's revamped pass rush is chasing after him.

Throw in a few head-scratching play calls by Andy Reid, a shoulder shrug by offensive-line-coach-turned-defensive-coordinator Juan Castillo and a few spooky warnings from the ghost of Jim Johnson, and the Eagles will limp into their bye week at 1-5, knowing full well that heads will roll.

Oh, and the 'Skins will move to 4-1, leaving the rest of the NFC East wondering "Really?" and having only themselves to blame for it.

Baltimore Ravens

I'm not sure the Ravens could've asked for a much better situation coming out of their bye week. They're 3-1, in first place in the tough AFC North and have a downtrodden Texans team on tap for Sunday afternoon in Baltimore.

Forget about what Houston's defense may or may not be able to accomplish without Mario Williams and against Joe Flacco, Ray Rice and the Ravens' up-and-down offense. The real question here is, how in the world is Houston going to score points? Is Arian Foster going to find running room against the second-stingiest rush defense in the league? Is Matt Schaub suddenly going to realize that life can and does go on without Andre Johnson?

Frankly, the Texans might just be better off punting the ball on first down, lest they allow the Ravens' high-scoring offense to run it up on 'em.