2017 NFL Week 6 Preview

I did okay with my NFL Week 5 picks. I ended up going 8 and 6 against the spread. That brings my record in against the spread NFL Picks to 39 and 38. Hey, it’s a winning record, right?

I try to keep it going with my 2017 NFL week 6 preview and picks. Keep reading for the picks!

2017 NFL Week 6 Preview

Philadelphia Eagles +3 at Carolina Panthers -3

Both of these teams have exciting offenses. The one thing to note is that Philadelphia’s offense is better suited to tear down Carolina’s defense than Carolina’s offense is suited to tear down Philly’s D. I have more faith in QB Carson Wentz than I do in the Panthers’ Cam Newton. I like Cam. It’s just he’s been brilliant in 2 straight. Eventually, he’ll cool off. I’ll take the points.

Pick: Eagles +3

Chicago Bears +7 at Baltimore Ravens -7

I’m not in love with either one of these teams. It’s awfully difficult to think that the Chicago Bears might stick with the Baltimore Ravens. This is especially true because QB Mitch Trubisky will only play in his second NFL game. Then again, Baltimore’s not exactly the best 3 and 2 team in the NFL.

I actually believe Trubisky has a much easier time against Baltimore’s defense than he did versus Minnesota’s. I’m not sold on the Ravens’ defense stopping both of Chicago’s running backs:  Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen. Speaking of Cohen, I’m not sure why the Bears have gone away from throwing the football to their great pass catching rookie RB. I’m still taking the points.

Pick: Bears +7

Green Bay Packers -3.5 at Minnesota Vikings +3.5

QB Aaron Rodgers’ provided major heroics in Green Bay’s 35 to 31 win over the Dallas Cowboys in NFL Week 5. Things won’t get easier for Green Bay versus Minnesota. The Vikings are likely to start QB Case Keenum right away. Also, Minnesota RB Jerrick McKinnon was great in the Vikings 20 to 17 road win over the Bears. I think Green Bay’s due for a letdown game. I see Minnesota winning this one straight up.

Pick: Vikings +3.5

Miami Dolphins +11 at Atlanta Falcons -11

The Falcons took Week 5 off. Hopefully, Atlanta discovered how to be more efficient on offense. Unless Miami starts QB Matt Moore over Jay Cutler, there’s no way the Fins stick with the Falcons on the scoreboard in this.

Miami’s offense is absolutely dreadful. 11 points feels like a lot. But, I don’t see the Fins coming close to the Falcons’ because I doubt Miami makes a QB change after handing Cutler $10 million to play a single season. Coach Adam Gase vouched for Cutlers. How can he bench him?

Pick: Falcons -11

Detroit Lions +4 at New Orleans Saints -4

The Lions sport one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in Matthew Stafford. Saints’ QB Drew Brees is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. This game should come down to which defense steps it up. I know it sounds nuts, but I like New Orleans’ D more than I like Detroit’s D. I think the Saints’ D holds the Lions to around 14 to 17 points while the Saints’ offense gets it going for 24 to 30 points.

Pick: Saints -4

Cleveland Browns +10 at Houston Texans -10

Sure, Houston’s offense should score some points against Cleveland’s defense. I believe Cleveland’s offense, with Kevin Hogan at QB, scores a few points against Houston’s defense. This is more true now than it would have been if Texans’ DE J.J. Watt hadn’t gotten hurt. Cleveland’s got a decent shot to win it’s first game of the season on Sunday. Taking the 10 points is a no-brainer.

Best Pick: Browns +10

New England Patriots -9.5 at New York Jets +9.5

If the Jets can find someone to rush the football, watch out. NYJ matches up well with the New England Patriots on both offense and defense. The Jets’ starting safeties, Marcus Maye and Jamal Adams, can keep Patriot wide receivers from getting loose. The Pats aren’t a great rushing team as it is while I’m still not sold on New England’s secondary. This should be a tight, entertaining, tough football game for both teams. In tough games, I always take the points.

Best Pick: Jets +9.5

San Francisco 49’ers +10 at Washington Redskins -10

Washington’s defense plays too hard early on in games. Playing too hard against the San Francisco 49’ers early in this battle could lead to disaster because SF can wear you out with RB Carlos Hyde. The Niners have a great shot of beating Washington straight up in Week 6. I think SF +10 is a major best pick.

Best Pick: 49’ers +10

Tampa Bay Buccaneers -2.5 at Arizona Cardinals +2.5

I’m not in love with either the Bucs or the Cards in this NFL Week 6 matchup. Arizona should play much better at home than they have on the road. Still, it’s difficult for me to back AZ against the spread in any game after watching the ridiculousness that was the Cardinals’ 7 to 34 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5.

Tampa Bay had a real shot of beating New England straight up. If then kicker Nick Foles had made just 2 of his 3 missed field goals, the Bucs might have beaten the Patriots 20 to 19. Arizona isn’t nearly as good as the New England Patriots. Tampa covers.

Pick: Buccaneers -2.5

L.A. Rams +2.5 at Jacksonville Jaguars -2.5

The Rams’ defense should have a tough time stopping Jaguars’ RB Leonard Fournette. The Jaguars’ defense picked off Steelers’ QB Big Ben Roethlisberger 5 times in Week 5. Jacksonville is trending up while the Rams are trending down. It’s hard for me to go against LAR because I’m so impressed with the job Sean McVay has done. But, I must. Jacksonville’s defense has gotten better while the Rams’ offense can’t get any better than it already is.

Pick: Jaguars -2.5

Pittsburgh Steelers +4 at Kansas City Chiefs -4

Yep, Big Ben threw 5 picks in the Steelers Week 5 loss to Jacksonville. Ben doesn’t play defense. How does anyone account for Leonard Fournette rushing for over 180 yards versus the Steelers’ D? The thing about KC is that if you try and bottle up RB Kareem Hunt, Alex Smith burns you with passes to any number of skill players. Hunt then eventually gets on track. KC -4 is a Best Pick.

Best Pick:  Chiefs -4

Los Angeles Chargers Off at Oakland Raiders Off

The line is off. I’m not sure it matters. The L.A. Chargers are better than Oakland at this point in the season. The Raiders have lost 3 games in a row. It hasn’t been close:  10 to 27 versus Washington, 10 to 16 versus Denver, and 17 to 30 versus Baltimore. The Chargers should get their second straight win.

Pick: Chargers ATS 

New York Giants +11.5 at Denver Broncos -11.5

The New York Giants might not win a game this season. Somehow, the Giants must replace WR Odell Beckham Jr.’s production. Somehow, the Giants’ must find a rushing attack. Somehow, the Giants’ defense must play strong.

With all that being written, I can’t lay 11.5 points. Eli, by himself, is good enough to keep this game within 6 to 7 points.

Pick: Giants +11.5

Indianapolis Colts Off at Tennessee Titans Off

I wonder, did the folks that create the NFL Monday Night Football Schedule go out of their way to have the Indianapolis Colts battle the Tennessee Titans? I’m confused. To be fair, nobody knew that both Colts’ QB Andrew Luck and Titans’ QB Marcus Mariota were going to miss this matchup.

Still, it’s hard to imagine a worse Monday Night Football Game. Let’s not forget that Week 5’s Monday Night Game had Minnesota traveling to Chicago. That’s 2 straight Monday Night Games in a row where 4 of the worst offenses in the NFL have taken the field. Not a good way to drub up interest on Monday nights, NFL and ESPN.

In any case, I’d be a fool not to take the Colts in this. Unless Mariota plays, I doubt he will, the Titans have no shot. The Colts can pick apart Tennessee’s ridiculously bad secondary. Colts rock it.

Pick: Indianapolis ATS