NFL Week 6 picks

SUNDAY

Carolina Panthers (1-4)

at Atlanta Falcons (2-3)

CAROLINA plus 4

Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton has been able to scrape up those garbage-time points almost at will.

The pick: PANTHERS

Indianapolis Colts (0-5)

at Cincinnati Bengals (3-2)

INDIANAPOLIS plus 7

Following its Week 1 blowout loss, teams appear to be playing down to Indianapolis's level.

The pick: COLTS

San Francisco 49ers (4-1)

at Detroit Lions (5-0)

SAN FRANCISCO plus 5

Both went 6-10 in 2010, both lead their respective divisions in 2011. Should be very close.

The pick: 49ERS

St. Louis Rams (0-4)

at Green Bay Packers (5-0)

ST. LOUIS plus 16

Two teams going the opposite direction in a hurry. No reason not to roll with Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Co.

The pick: PACKERS

Buffalo Bills (4-1)

at New York Giants (3-2)

BUFFALO plus 3

Embarrassed last week at home by Seattle, the Giants face a bigger test with tenacious Buffalo in town.

The pick: BILLS

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4)

at Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)

JACKSONVILLE plus 13

The lowly Jaguars have won their past three games at unfriendly Heinz Field. But in football terms, 2008 was a long time ago ...

The pick: STEELERS

Philadelphia Eagles (1-4)

at Washington Redskins (3-1)

PHILADELPHIA minus 2

The "Dream Team" has been loudly crashing and burning, while division-rival Washington has quietly crept up to be first in the NFC East.

The pick: REDSKINS

Cleveland Browns (2-2)

at Oakland Raiders (3-2)

CLEVELAND plus 7

The Raiders will honour the memory of Hall of Fame owner Al Davis with a ceremony prior to kickoff. Oakland will be fired up.

The pick: RAIDERS

Houston Texans (3-2)

at Baltimore Ravens (3-1)

HOUSTON plus 8

The rested Ravens (coming off the bye week) get the banged-up Texans (minus Andre Johnson, Mario Williams) ...

The pick: RAVENS

Dallas Cowboys (2-2)

at New England Patriots (4-1)

DALLAS plus 7

Until someone shows they can slow down this New England offence, roll with quarterback Tom Brady and Co.

The pick: PATRIOTS

New Orleans Saints (4-1)

at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)

NEW ORLEANS minus 4

The young Bucs may have had their confidence shattered by the 49ers last week, and now Saints quarterback Drew Brees steps up to finish the job.

The pick: SAINTS

Minnesota Vikings (1-4)

at Chicago Bears (2-3)

MINNESOTA plus 3

Vikes running back Adrian Peterson is starting to look like his old self, and the Bears are struggling against the run (giving up 135.6 yards a game).

The pick VIKINGS

MONDAY

Miami Dolphins (0-4)

at New York Jets (2-3)

MIAMI plus 7

After a disastrous three-game, three-loss road trip, the Jets get some home cooking against the always disastrous Dolphins.

The pick: JETS

Bye week: Denver, Tennessee, Kansas City, Arizona, San Diego, Seattle

Last week: 8-4-1

Season: 38-36-3