Article:Week 5 Summary and Week 6 picks

Week 5 definitely was an interesting one. Returns of 2 starting quarterbacks, led to big victories for both teams. QBs Matt Hasselbeck and Donovan McNabb both returned from multi-week rib injuries and looked unimpaired in their respective games, with Seattle pounding Jacksonville into Submission 41-0, and the Eagles soaring past the Bucs 33-14. Tennessee and Kansas City have yet to taste victory and the Raiders would be if they hadn't already won one with the way they're playing, while Indianapolis, Denver, Minnesota, and the New York Giants remain undefeated another week. Going into week 6, it's still anybody's season, with plenty of time to make mice into men.

Lets start my picks with the Minnesota Vikings against the Baltimore Ravens. This game is a tough one, with the Vikings offense looking as good as ever with QB Brett Favre at the helm. This talented offense invites in one of the NFL's stingiest, hard hitting defenses, led by MLB Ray Lewis. Last week the Ravens were humbled by a surprisingly tough Bengals team, and I know this "D" would love to take their frustrations out on Favre, Peterson and company. Expect Favre to have a decent game, trust he doesn't take too many chances in Ed Reed's direction. Peterson is talented enough to break 100 yrds but don't expect too much more. He'll have to earn every yard of that against a Ravens defense that has allowed one RB to reach the century mark in 40 games (the cherry on top of the sting sundae from last week). On the other side of the ball the Vikings defense had been playing some good ball, while the Ravens offense led by QB Joe Flacco can look a bit stagnant and unremarkable. For this pick, I'm going to go with the more complete team, and will take the Vikings in a low scoring slug fest. Final Score:  Vikings 17   Ravens 7

Next one is another tough one, in a battle of undefeateds with the New Orleans Saints take on the red hot New York Giants. The Saints, coming off a bye week, are still the top team in the NFL in regards to points scored and are beating their opponents by an average in excess of 20 points. The Giants, essentially having a bye week, put on a pain clinic in Oakland, looking to keep their blemish free for another week. This game is going to come down to who can slow down eachother's high flying offense. Saints QB Brew Brees has never hesitated to throw the deep ball and expect him to challenge the Giant secondary early and often. He'll be hungry for a TD pass considering he hasnt had one in 2 games, which is extemely rare. Reciever Marquis Colston isn't the only threat for the Giants to worry about, recieving only 3 of Brees' 9 touchdown passes. Brees will use use every weapon he has, and will need to. For the Giants, Eli Manning is on track for a Pro Bowl Season. He doesnt seem to be heavily affected by a plantar fascia injury. The only indication I saw of it was his limited playing time in Oakland. Expect to see WR Steve Smith at least once in this game. RB Ahman Bradshaw could also prove to be a problem especially if Manning can get a pass game going. The Giants on defense had better stay on Brees' heels all game though or he'll bomb them out. Look to see more than a few blitzes. All in all don't expect to see a hugely lopsided score for either team, but remarkable offensive numbers regardless. I see this game going to the Saints though, the Giants falling in their first major challenge of the season. Final Score : Saints 27   Giants 21

Last one I'll take into detail will be the Houston Texans taking on the Cincinatti Bengals. The Bengals are playing their best football in years, led on offense by QB Carson Palmer, WR Chad Ochocinco, and RB Cedric Benson. The defense needs some work in the coming weeks to stay atop the AFC North, because it'll be their fall if they have to rely on the offense to win games. Especially with rematches agains Pittsburg, Baltimore, and a late season tangle in Minnesoata. THe Texans on the other handare playing better ball than their record would state, with rays of a potential powerhouse clouded by inconsistency. They have a lot of talent. but need to key things up to play to their potential. QB Matt Shaub will need to ask everything of recievers Andre Johnson and Andre Davis, while RBs Steve Slatton ad Chris Brown will need to punch and slice up a shakey Bengals D to keep things even going into week 7. The Texans secondary will bew in trouble if DT Aobi Okoye and DE Mario Williams cant get palmer pressured, and if the front 7 cant stop Cedric Benson, because what the Bengals do bring is synched recieving talent if Palmer has time ( and if Ochocinco remembers how manyt points of pressure to put on a ball. I see this one going to the Bengals, though. Their offense's ability to synch  up will surpass the Texans ability to. Final Score:  Bengals 17   Texans 14

And this is how I See the rest of the league going.

'''St. Louis won't get on track this week, as Jacksonville will take their brow-beating frustration by Seattle, out on them. Jaguars: 23  Rams: 10'''

'''Tampa Bay Will finally untagle their own feet agaist Carolina, proving Jake Delhomme may not be thir answer. Bucs: 10  Panthers: 3'''

'''Poor Detroit's woes will continue until their line can protect its quaterbacks consistently. The Pack will bring the pain. Packers: 21   Lions: 10'''

'''Clevelands win streak will end at one. Pittsburg will prove too tough for them even on a good day. Steelers: 28   Browns: 13'''

'''Kansas City will break their downward spiral, while Washington will continue on theirs. Jason Cambell will pt up a good fight though. Chiefs: 17  Redskins: 14'''

'''Seattle won't look back at the 3 weeks before Jacksonville. They will hit a good stride of Hasselbeck is protected. Seahawks: 24   Cardinals: 10'''

'''Philadelphia will continue to demonstrate why Al Davis needs to step back or step down. Oakland needs some serious football viaga to give this flacid team even a dismal season. Eagles: 38   Raiders: 9'''

'''The Jets will regain their stride against Buffalo. The Bills can't seem to catch a break. Jets: 17   Bills: 10'''

'''New England may not be what it was expected to be, but it'll still be good enough to keep the Titans winless. Let Vince play. Patriots: 23   Titans: 17'''

'''Atlanta will show it's legitimacy, Jay Cutler will fight hard and the Bears D will be a tough one, but fall to Atlantas running game in a close one. Falcons: 10   Bears: 7'''

Denver contiues on it's "I Believe" campaign, as The Chargers have a case of the Mondays. Orton is as consisent as ever for the Broncos, while Sproles won't get an easy yard for the Chargers. Broncos: 21   Chargers: 14