NFL- Week 6 (ROCK-tober 17th & 18th)

OPEN DATES: Cincinnati Bungals (2-3), Carolina Panthers (0-5), Buffalo Bills (0-5), Arizona Cardinals (3-2)

UPSET OF THE WEEK: (TIE): Oakland def. San Diego 35-27 and Arizona def. New Orleans 30-20

COMEBACK OF THE WEEK: Tampa Bay def. Cincinnati 24-21

MILESTONE OF THE WEEK: Brett Favre's 500th, 501st, and 502nd touchdowns in a losing effort to the J-E-T-S, Jets- 29-20.

And now, Week 6 Picks:
GAME OF THE WEEK: Cleveland Browns (1-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) (or Cleveland Clowns at Pittsburgh Stealers)- 1:00PM EDT at Heinz Field (Pittsburgh, PA) on CBS
The band Kansas said this, Carry on My Wayward Son. That is what Browns Head Coach Eric Mangini is thinking as rookie Colt McCoy could be introduced to the NFL world on Sunday at Heinz Field. This is also a homecoming for Ben Roethlisberger, returning from a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy. That shouldn't mean much for the Browns, as last week, the Browns did not lead in the fourth quarter for the first time this year, losing 20-10 to Atlanta. This will be the second week in a row that the Browns will not lead in the fourth quarter as Roethlisberger will have a big day in his return to the Steelers.
Pick: Pittsburgh 27-0 (possibly the first shutout of the season)

SUNDAY AFTERNOON GAMES:
(Fox has the Doubleheader this Weekend)
Miami Dolphins (2-2) at Green Bay Packers (3-2)- 1:00PM EDT at Lambeau Field (Green Bay, WI) on CBS
It's official: The Packers are literally becoming a M*A*S*H unit full of injuries, as last week, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (with a concussion) succumbed to the injury bug that is infecting the Packers starters, having already lost running back Ryan Grant, and possibly, tight end Jermichael Finley for the season. The Dolphins fired their special teams coach after their Monday Night (Special Teams) Meltdown against New England, allowing a blocked field goal and kickoff return for touchdowns, and a blocked punt that set up another touchdown. The Dolphins (fresh off a bye) are looking to clean up their shortcomings against an injury-depleted Packers team, fresh off an overtime loss in our Nation's Capital.
Pick: Miami 21-13

Detroit Lions (1-4) at New York Giants (3-2)- 1:00PM EDT at New Meadowlands Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ) on Fox
Last week, Detroit poured on the points against St. Louis for the Lions' first win of the season. That may prove to be a fluke as the Lions march their way into the New Meadowlands Stadium on Sunday.
Pick: NY Giants 37-7

Seattle Seahawks (2-2) at Chicago Bears (4-1)- 1:00PM EDT at Soldier Field (Chicago, IL) on Fox
On paper, Seattle is screwed due to the fact it is a one o'clock kickoff on the East Coast (or in the case of this game, Noon), and Seattle is a West Coast team. The "Monsters of the Midway" crushed Carolina in DE Julius Peppers' homecoming to Carolina last week. These Monsters of the Midway will have no problem shutting down the Seahawks.
Pick: Chicago 31-3

New Orleans Saints (3-2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)- 1:00PM EDT at Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL) on Fox
Last week, the Bucs proved that the Bengals are the same old Bungles by capitalizing on their mistakes, and Connor Barth kicked the game-winning field goal with five seconds left in a 24-21 Tampa Bay win. Then, the Saints went out to Arizona, and gave the ball away, in fact, Arizona's defense scored three times in a 30-20 win for Arizona. The Bucs can prove they are for real, by knocking off the defending Super Bowl Champs on (Tampa's) home field.
Pick: Tampa Bay 26-21

Atlanta Falcons (4-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (3-2)- 1:00PM EDT at Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA) on Fox
Once upon a time, Michael Vick was the quarterback for the Falcons, and was their big star (until he went to prison). Now, Vick's former team visits his current team. For Atlanta, quarterback Matt Ryan grew up an Eagles fan, so this is a homecoming of sorts for the young quarterback, and he won't disappoint his hometown fans while the Eagles are still playing musical quarterbacks.
Pick: Atlanta 24-14

Kansas City Chiefs (3-1) at Houston Texans (3-2)- 1:00PM EDT at Reliant Stadium (Houston, TX) on CBS
Expect to see one, if not both of these teams playing an extra weekend (or two) in January. The Chiefs- the last unbeaten team fell in Indy last week, as the Colts forged a four-way tie in the AFC South (all four AFC teams were tied for first...and last in the division). This week, the tie is going to be broken, and the Texans might fall to .500 if they can't stop the dangerously explosive Chiefs.
Pick: Kansas City 20-14

San Diego Chargers (2-3) at St. Louis Rams (2-3)- 1:00PM EDT at Edward Jones Dome (St. Louis, MO) on CBS
The Chargers saw their 13-game stronghold on Oakland evaporate last week, due to a barrage of special teams (two blocked punts = 9 points for Oakland) mistakes and turnovers (including a 64-yard fumble return for a touchdown to seal the win for Oakland). The Chargers have an early start in St. Louis, which is coming off being embarrassed in the Motor City.
Pick: San Diego 19-16

Baltimore Ravens (4-1) at New England Patriots (3-1)- 1:00PM EDT at Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA) on CBS
The last time these two met, the Ravens defense outplayed New England, knocking the Pats out of the playoffs- 33 to 14. Since the Patriots last played two weeks ago, they traded Randy Moss to the Vikings and picked up Super Bowl XXXIX MVP Deion Branch via a trade from Seattle. Look for the Ravens D to dominate the Patriots front five.
Pick: Baltimore 27-17

New York Jets (4-1) at Denver Broncos (2-3)- 4:00PM EDT at Invesco Field @ Mile High (Denver, CO) on CBS
The Jets take their four-game win streak up a mile (literally) as the Jets fly into Denver to play the Broncos. The Jets defense has been real solid all year long, and they will expect to have a top-notch job in stopping Denver's offense from doing anything.
Pick: NY Jets 31-14

Oakland Raiders (2-3) at San Francisco 49ers (0-5)- 4:00PM EDT at Candlestick Park (San Francisco, CA) on CBS- Singletary's Last Stand?
The Battle of the Bay- the last time that Oakland and San Francisco were on edge in October for a sporting event, it was the 1989 World Series. 21 years later, the Raiders and 49ers converge in the place where the famous 1989 Earthquake brought the two sports towns together. Last week, the Raiders used special teams and defense to snap their 13-game skid to the San Diego Chargers. The Raiders could be seeing the light in San Francisco, while the 49ers are slipping into a black hole, in which they won't be able to recover. Is Jim Tressel available to coach the 49ers?
Pick: Oakland 27-17

Dallas Cowboys (1-3) at Minnesota Vikings (1-3)- 4:15PM EDT at Mall of America Field (Minneapolis, MN) on Fox
An interesting fact about this matchup is that wide receiver Randy Moss is 7-0 against the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys, favored to have a deep playoff run, are playing miserably, as their own mistakes have cost them games, while the Vikings may have a quarterback issue of their own, concerning Brett Favre- involving both an injury and allegations that Favre may have broken the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy by allegedly sending questionable texts to a sideline reporter. Favre will meet with an NFL official during the week on that matter. In the meantime, it will be all business on the field
Pick: Minnesota 28-20

SUNDAY NIGHT GAME:
Indianapolis Colts (3-2) at Washington Redskins (3-2)- 8:20PM EDT at FedEx Field (Landover, MD) on NBC
The Colts aren't the same Colts of the past, but as long as Peyton Manning is strong-bodied and healthy, there isn't a reason why the Colts should not win this game.
Pick: Indianapolis 28-21

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Tennessee Titans (3-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2)- 8:30PM EDT at EverBank Field (Jacksonville, FL) on ESPN
Both of these teams are half of the teams in the AFC South that are tied for first place in the AFC South. However, only the winner of this game will still be in first place in the division. Tennessee has the edge, when they are perfect. However, don't be surprised if Jacksonville pulls this one out.
Pick: Tennessee 24-20


SPORTS CORNER TOP EIGHT and BOTTOM FOUR:
1) NY Jets (4-1)
2) Baltimore (4-1)
3) Pittsburgh (3-1)
4) Atlanta (4-1)
5) Tampa Bay (3-1)
6) Kansas City (3-1)
7) Chicago (4-1)
8) New England (3-1)
and
29) Cleveland (1-4)
30) San Francisco (0-5)
31) Buffalo (0-5)
32) Carolina (0-5)