PREVIEW - WEEK SIX

Oakland Raiders @ New Orleans Saints
Line: Saints -7.5
O/U: 47
Linebuster!
It's Oakland's first game with a new coach, they are IN New Orleans, and the Saints are a playoff-caliber team that has fallen on hard times. You do the math.
Saints -7.5. New Orleans cruises 31-13.

Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts
Line: Colts -4.5
O/U: 39
Peyton hasn't been able to get anything going, and now he faces the league's best defense against both the run and the pass. Baltimore is capable of running the ball, and Indy has been terrible against the run this year. I don't want to pick against them, but the Colts have a lot left to prove.
Ravens +4.5. Baltimore wins 16-13.

Cincinnati Bengals @ New York Jets
Line: Jets -6
O/U: 44.5
The Jets have to win this game, especially with the other 3 teams in the AFC east performing pretty well. New England won't run away with the division like everyone thought before the year, but they will be in the hunt with everyone else. The Jets had the offense running on all cylinders against the Cards, but can they keep it going after a bye week? Cincy is in trouble, and badly needs a win, too. They played well in Giants stadium a few weeks ago, and I think that confidence will carry over. Plus they sport more passing than rushing, and the Jets have one of the league's worst pass defenses. Cincy has a good pass D, but no run D, so the Jets will need to rely heavily on Thomas Jones. I don't think he gets it done.
Bengals +6. Cincy finally gets in the win column 23-21.

Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Line: Bucs -1
O/U: 36.5
Linebuster!
Tampa is switching back to Jeff Garcia, and though he will want to re-prove himself, I'm not sure he'll be able to get it done. Carolina has been solid, but is not being touted as highly as they should be. Expect the Panthers to want this one to prove that they're the team to beat in that division.
Panthers +1. Carolina takes out the Bucs 23-16.

Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings
Line: Vikings -13
O/U: 45.5
Minnesota needs a win, and Detroit is terrible. But 13 points is too much to give to a team that has not shown it can do a whole lot on offense. AP may run wild. Frerotte may have a great game. But Detroit played up to the Packers (for a little while), and I expect them to play OK against the Vikings.
Lions +13. Vikings still win 30-20.

Chicago Bears @ Atlanta Falcons
Line: Bears -3
O/U: 43.5
I'm up on the Falcons right now, but Chicago is good enough defensively to pressure young Matt Ryan into mistakes, and to take away the potent Falcons running game. Chicago may not put up many points, though, so go under.
Bears -3. Chicago takes it 20-13.

Miami Dolphins @ Houston Texans
Line: Texans -3
O/U: 44.5
The only reason the Texans are getting point is that they are at home. Miami proved it can play with the big dogs the past two games, and now has to prove that it won't let up against lesser opposition. I think they will.
Dolphins +3. Miami pulls out a squeaker 24-23.

St. Louis Rams @ Washington Redskins
Line: Redskins -13.5
O/U: 44
Nobody expects the Rams to win this game. Neither do I. I just think that giving a team that relies heavily on defense to win games a 13+ point spread is dangerous.
Rams +13.5. Redskins still win easily 27-17.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Denver Broncos
Line: Broncos -3.5
O/U: 43.5
Denver has stumbled the past few weeks, and has shown that a team with a good defense (or in the Chiefs' case, a suddenly better defense) can shut them down. Jacksonville has a good defense, and at 2-3, must win to keep themselves in the playoff hunt.
Jags +3.5. Jacksonville shuts down Cutler again and wins 27-21.

Philadelphia Eagles @ San Francisco 49ers
Line: Eagles -5
O/U: 42.5
Linebuster!
The Eagles have to win this game. Also, Donovan McNabb just challenged himself to play better, and I respect that he will do just that. This is going to be a blowout.
Eagles -5. Philly rolls 31-17.

Dallas Cowboys @ Arizona Cardinals
Line: Cowboys -5
O/U: 50
This will be a shootout, but I think the Cowboys will handle it. Arizona played very well last week against the Bills, and is due to make some mistakes this week. Dallas beat the Bengals, but not by enough to feel comfortable about it. They will redeem themselves and cover the spread.
Cowboys -5. Dallas wins 37-28.

Green Bay Packers @ Seattle Seahawks
Line: Seahawks -2
O/U: 46.5
Linebuster!
I don't get this one. Rodgers is probable, the Packers need a win, Seattle sucks, and Seattle's top two QBs have missed practice this week for various injuries. Just because it's in Seattle doesn't mean they'll win.
Packers +2. Green Bay gets through Seattle 27-14.

New England Patriots @ San Diego Chargers
Line: Chargers -5.5
O/U: 44.5
I hate to go against this line, but New England has a lot to prove, and San Diego has been terrible.
Pats +5.5. I don't think they'll win, but they'll keep it close. Chargers 23-21.

New York Giants @ Cleveland Browns
Line: Giants -9
O/U: 43
Linebuster!
Cleveland has been awful offensively, and the Giants can really execute on both sides of the ball. That means a lot of points for New York, and very few for the Browns.
Giants -9. New York cruises 27-10.

Byes: BUF, TEN, PIT, KC