| We have six teams on a bye this week. And | | | | to go back to Keith Davis at free safety. |
| those drunken freeloaders have considerably | | | | Rookie Pat Watkins got roasted for two long |
| pared down the number of betting options that | | | | TD passes last week, and Houston likes to |
| we have. But don't get flustered, and don't | | | | stretch the field with their passing |
| get desperate. If needs be, cut back your | | | | attack.15. New York Giants (2-2) - The Giants |
| plays this week to account for the fact that | | | | defense has stopped adjusting schemes at the |
| with fewer games to handicap the lines may be | | | | line of scrimmage based on offensive |
| a little stronger heading into week | | | | formations. The simplified approach resulted |
| six.Besides that, I think that this weekend | | | | in a more confident and active unit against |
| is foreboding. Four of the 13 games have | | | | Washington.16. St. Louis (4-1) - Tye Hill |
| double-digit spreads, there are a few trap | | | | struggled in his first start on Sunday, and |
| and sandwich games, teams we haven't seen for | | | | the Rams other three corners (Fakhir Brown, |
| two weeks, teams that haven't won a game yet, | | | | Travis Fisher and Ron Bertell) are all nicked |
| odd totals, and Art Shell. All in all, this | | | | up. But the Rams have a severe revenge factor |
| has the makings of a harrowing - yet | | | | going this weekend.17. Pittsburgh (1-3) - No |
| thoroughly enjoyable - two days of | | | | Bill Cowher team has ever started 1-4. This |
| football.So without further ado, here are my | | | | team isn't this bad, but they also haven't |
| Week 6 NFL Power Rankings:1. Chicago (5-0) - | | | | shown me much.18. Minnesota (3-2) - Of their |
| The starters were still on the field at the | | | | 30 red zone plays this year the Vikings have |
| end of a 40-7 blowout to try to preserve a | | | | thrown only ten passes. Just three of those |
| shutout. That's the type of cold-blooded, | | | | passes have gone into the end zone.19. |
| icy-veined will that Super Bowl champions | | | | Washington (2-3) - In two horrendous road |
| must have. They're outscoring opponents | | | | division losses the Redskins have been |
| 31-7.2. Indianapolis (5-0) - The Colts have | | | | outscored 46-13 and outgained 778-409.20. |
| rushed for more than 150 yards twice in a | | | | Kansas City (2-2) - This team could get |
| row. They only reached that mark three times | | | | exposed - big time - against Pittsburgh. Even |
| in their past 279 games. However, they only | | | | getting a touchdown you have to ask yourself: |
| won these last two games by four total | | | | can they go into Heinz Field and win? The |
| points.3. Philadelphia (4-1) - Against | | | | Chiefs are 2-8-1 ATS versus the Steelers |
| Dallas, Philly scoring drives lasted about as | | | | recently.21. New York Jets (2-3) - For |
| long as a box of Krispy Kremes in front of | | | | whatever reason (mostly because the teams |
| Andy Reid. The Eagles averaged three plays | | | | behind them are awful) I'm not penalizing the |
| and one minute.4. Denver (3-1) - ESPN ran a | | | | Jets for their 41-0 bludgeoning last week.22. |
| stat on Rod Smith that said that he had a | | | | Buffalo (2-3) - FYI, London Fletcher-Baker |
| better winning percentage than Jerry Rice. | | | | didn't hyphenate his name because he recently |
| Smith's teams are 98-48 (.669) and Rice's | | | | was married and is pussy whipped. Baker is a |
| teams went 181-102-1 (.639). Found that | | | | family name and he wanted to honor his |
| interesting.5. Baltimore (4-1) - They'll be | | | | grandfather.23. San Francisco (2-3) - Frank |
| in another dogfight this weekend. Brian | | | | Gore didn't fumble in a game for the first |
| Billick has been a strong bounce back coach, | | | | time this season. He credited Omar Epps in |
| posting a 12-2 ATS mark off a game in which | | | | "The Program" for inspiring him.24. Miami |
| he lost both straight up and against the | | | | (1-4) - Stop me if you've heard this one |
| spread.5. Seattle (3-1) - Now that they've | | | | before: Joey Harrington is our savior.25. |
| had three full weeks to get used to the idea | | | | Houston (1-3) - The Texans have the |
| of not having Shaun Alexander, I expect the | | | | third-fewest rushing attempts in the league |
| Seahawks offense to put some points on the | | | | and are averaging just 3.2 yards per carry. |
| board against a banged up St. Louis | | | | Just like Mike Shanahan is strong after a |
| defense.6. Atlanta (3-1) - Atlanta is 1-3 vs. | | | | bye, I believe the Gary Kubiak will have his |
| the total because they've converted just 18 | | | | charges ready to rumble with in-state rival |
| percent of their red zone opportunities into | | | | Dallas.26. Tampa Bay (0-4) - The Tampa Bay |
| touchdowns. In 17 trips to the red zone, | | | | defense has gotten really old, really fast. |
| they've lost yardage on 27 percent of their | | | | They're 28th in sacks, 30th in turnovers |
| plays (13 of 49). They're 4-1 ATS against the | | | | forced and 30th in rush defense. Coach John |
| Giants.7. San Diego (3-1) - I think this | | | | Gruden called out the defensive line - by |
| could be a trap game for San Diego. They're | | | | name - this week so look for a chip on the |
| young and a little too full of themselves, | | | | shoulder.27. Cleveland (1-4) - Maurice |
| and they're facing a team that's scrappy at | | | | Carthon better start carrying a .22. The |
| home.8. New England (4-1) - Pats have a week | | | | much-maligned coordinator called for rookie |
| to get healthy before going to Buffalo. The | | | | fullback Larry Vickers to throw an option |
| best thing that could happen is that the | | | | pass on third-and-inches in Carolina. That's |
| Bills beat Detroit, because that may get this | | | | straight out of the Mularkey Playbook.28. |
| line under a touchdown.10. Cincinnati (3-1) - | | | | Arizona (1-4) - I fear for Leinart's life. At |
| There's no truth to the rumor that the | | | | least he'll have that one magical night with |
| Bengals singed Lawrence Philips during the | | | | Paris to hold onto in the hospital bed. Oh, |
| bye week. There is truth that they will have | | | | and not only is Fitzgerald out, but starting |
| a new starting center this week, as injured | | | | right guard Milford Brown and starting nose |
| ineffective Rich Braham will be out.11. | | | | tackle Kendrick Clancy are as well.29. Green |
| Carolina (3-2) - Last year the Panthers were | | | | Bay (1-4) - The Packers are running the risk |
| sixth in third-down efficiency (42.2 | | | | of wrath from the Football Gods by keeping a |
| percent). This year they're 32nd (18.6 | | | | dope-smoking, drunk-driving, Korey Stringer |
| percent). Steve Smith had six drops and 103 | | | | Good Guy Recipient on their roster. I mean, |
| catches last season, but already has four | | | | Koren The Drunk is just a No. 3.30. Detroit |
| drops with 23 receptions this year.12. New | | | | (0-5) - For the fifth time in six games the |
| Orleans (4-1) - The Saints gave up 16 plays | | | | Lions will have a different starting |
| of more than 10 yards to Tampa Bay, and now | | | | offensive line. This week's version will be |
| they face an Eagles team averaging about | | | | without three of their projected opening game |
| 15-yards per completion. Oh, and they'll be | | | | starters.31. Tennessee (0-5) - For you |
| doing it without their starting safety.13. | | | | fantasy folk out there, Travis Henry is the |
| Jacksonville (3-2) - The Jags are now without | | | | clear No. 1 back in Tennessee, with LenDale |
| their top sack man (Reggie Hayward) and top | | | | White backing him up. The Titans should be |
| tackler (Mike Peterson) from last year. The | | | | looking to deal Chris Brown before the |
| good news is that they play just one team | | | | trading deadline.32. Oakland (0-4) - Didn't |
| with a winning record in the next five | | | | Randy Moss ever see "Firestorm"? Howie Long |
| weeks.14. Dallas (2-3) - Look for the Cowboys | | | | is a badass!Questions or comments for Robert? |