NFL Week 6 Picks October 16 2005

[These are the 2005 Picks. Get the 2006 Week 6 NFL Picks here.]

Ok folks. We’re sorry. We let you down last week. We were like the Eagles in Dallas. We were like the sequels to the Matrix. We were like last Foo Fighters album. We were like Tim Couch’s entire NFL career. We were like… well, you get the point. If we don’t do better this week, we’ll have monkeys picking the games next week by throwing feces at a board.

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Week 6 Picks

Locks of the Week

Vegas Vinny: Here’s some advice. Take all the locks of the week, parlay them by betting against, and you’ll make a ton of dough. Last year, I was king of the locks. This year, I look at the point spreads and I freeze up like Vern Tessio on the train tracks.

Does the turnaround come this week? I hope so. I’m taking Seattle (-9.5) because Houston looks like a team that has no business being in the NFL. I also like this game because Shaun Alexander loves Sunday Night football. He is a monster in the national spotlight. I expect him to have a huge game against the 26th ranked run defense in the league. On Monday, I’m going to be saying, “I’m back, baby!”

Teri Berg: A hard week for upset picks, but I’m taking the Pats here, given how their offense has performed through injuries and media doubters. I’d sure like to see Belichick working Corey Dillion more rather than relying on Tom Brady to throw for 300+ yards every week — but when you can get that kind of production out of the coolest QB in the league, I guess you take that chance. Football Outsiders actually had Denver move down five spots in their power rankings this week, despite the Broncos’ win over Washington on Sunday. Their rationale? For starters, Denver barely beat the ‘Skins at Mile High — not a good omen against a fairly suspect team. Also, while Shanahan’s RBs make that offense the No. 2 running team, getting 148 yards a game, their passing game pretty much stinks — as usual, Plummer is inconsistent and too easy to pressure into mistakes. FO point out that Denver’s offense is ranked 29th in the league in red-zone efficiency — they can’t pull the trigger, which to my mind just gives a weakened Pats defense more confidence to make the stop. Patriots (+3)

BostonMac: I’ve been vacillating on the Denver-New England game all week, up until about an hour before we did this week’s podcast. I had originally picked Denver to win at home. I was impressed last week (and thankful, for my fantasy team) with the emergence of Tatum Bell as a solid, explosive threat to go along with Mike Anderson, and I thought Denver’s #2 rushing offense was tough enough and balanced enough to wear down the depleted Patriots defense. But then I thought about how I picked against Brady and Belichick last week. I was shamed into submission. Tom Brady is playing the best football of his career right now. You can make a legitimate case for him as the best quarterback in the National Football League this season. Who else would you rather have in a tight game, on the road in a hostile environment, with their backs against the wall after the most brutal early season schedule to start a season? Oh yeah, and he has the best coach and the best clutch kicker in the league on his side, too. Do YOU want to pick against them again? I’ll take NEW ENGLAND getting three points.

Trevor F: Alex Smith looks light years better. Bryant Young continues his renaissance. The San Francisco 49ers do not lose this week. I guarandamntee it……….in all seriousness……..gimme Tom Brady gettin’ three in Denver.
New England looked like the champs last Sunday in Atlanta. Denver is an
extremely tough team and this should be the matchup of the week. However
it’s not that often you can take Brady, Belichick, and Vinatieri and get
points. New England 24 Denver 21.