Game of the week
New York Giants at New Orleans, 1 p.m. ET | 
End Zone: NFC's best
The line: Saints by 2½
The story: I was on a talk-radio show the other day when the host announced he was finished with the Saints; he couldn't trust them anymore because every time he picks them to do wonderful things, they fizzle. So he is off the bandwagon, he said, until the Saints prove they're legit. This is their chance. It's one thing to beat the undefeated Jets at home, but the unbeaten Giants? This New York is the best and most balanced team in football, and overcoming the Giants would go a long way toward helping people take the Saints seriously as a Super Bowl contender -- and putting our disillusioned talk-show host back on the bus.
We all know the Giants are solid. They were last year. They were the year before. There is nothing about this team that doesn't add up, except maybe Brandon Jacobs' complaints that he isn't appreciated. But the Saints ... now there's a team doing all the right things in all the unexpected ways. If the club had a hole entering this season it was its defense, but defense won the past two games. It wasn't Drew Brees throwing for 300 yards. In fact, the past two games he hasn't thrown for 200 yards. And he has no touchdown passes the past nine quarters. Nope, it was the defense, and that's just part of New Orleans' voodoo.
The Saints beat the Bills and Jets with defense and ... get this ... the league's No. 2 rushing attack. You heard me. A year ago, New Orleans couldn't run a fever (28th in rushing offense). Now, only Miami is doing it better. Pierre Thomas, come on down. Stepping in for the injured Mike Bell, he has run for 212 yards the past two games, averaging 6.4 yards a carry. When you run for 166 yards per game you don't need Brees cranking up again and again ... and he hasn't. Where he threw for 669 yards in his first two games, he has 362 in his past two. And the Saints have won all of them.
My point is these guys can do it all. Run. Pass. Block. Tackle. Hey, they even lead the league in takeaways, with Darren Sharper numero uno in interceptions. Still, I want to see them defend the Giants. Of the Saints' first four opponents, three have offenses ranked 21st or below. The Giants are second. Eli Manning leads the NFC in passing. Steve Smith leads the NFL in receiving. Manning doesn't get sacked. The offense commits few turnovers. The defense ranks first against the pass and first overall, and I know what you're thinking: They haven't played anybody. Well, maybe you're right.
But this is something you can't overlook: Nobody is better on the road than Tom Coughlin's Giants. They've won 18 of their past 21 there, not including the Super Bowl upset of New England. If there's anyone cut out to take on New Orleans here, it's the New York Giants.
Something to consider: Manning is 31-9 in his past 40 starts (including playoffs) and 6-1 indoors.
Three games I'd like to see
Baltimore at Minnesota, 1 p.m. ET | SI.com: Game of the week | Preview
The line: Vikings by 2½
The story: So the Ravens lose their second straight ... to Cincinnati, no less ... and now we have to talk disgruntled Baltimore fans in off the ledge. Relax, people. It's early. And your team is resilient. So it got manhandled by Cincinnati. Can you see that happening a second successive week? I can't. Not given the makeup of this team or its head coach.
Going to Minneapolis and beating the Vikings is no small task, but the Ravens have won eight of their past 11 road games, including two in last season's playoffs. So it can be done. The problem, of course, is that it can't be done if Baltimore has a repeat performance of last week. If Cedric Benson can puncture the Ravens for 120 yards, imagine what happens when Adrian Peterson touches the ball. I'm sure the Ravens have, which is why I expect them to load up on the run and dare Brett Favre to beat them.
It's a dangerous gamble, but Favre hasn't faced a defense like this so far. If he has the time, he can find cracks in the secondary. I know because I was at that Cincinnati game, and Carson Palmer found all of them. The Ravens, who surrendered 11 passes of 24 or more yards, must do here what they could not against Palmer -- namely, get to the quarterback. Palmer moved easily and effectively in the pocket; Favre is not as active ... not anymore ... and has been known to dial up the big mistake.
There is no Chad Ochocinco here. Percy Harvin is a load. Bernard Berrian is dangerous. And, unlike the Bengals, there's a tight end -- Visanthe Shiancoe -- who can catch. This is easily the most physical opponent the Vikings have faced in six games. I want to see if they can do what Cincinnati did, which was take a punch, then return it. Trust me, the practice will do them good. Their next two games are at Pittsburgh and Green Bay, and it's time to toughen up, guys.
Something to consider: Favre has at least two touchdown passes in 10 consecutive games at the Metrodome, the longest streak in one stadium since Kurt Warner's 12 games in a row at the Edward Jones Dome from 1999-2000.
Houston at Cincinnati, 1 p.m. ET
The line: Bengals by 4½
The story: Once I wasn't sure about Cincinnati. Then I saw the Bengals beat Baltimore. Now I'm a believer. But now I'm not sure about Houston. Two months ago, I envisioned the Texans as a playoff team, but I don't see it now. They got clobbered by the Jets, clobbered by Jacksonville and handled by Arizona. What gives, guys? I'll be honest: I don't know what or who the Houston Texans are anymore.
What I do know is they're running out of excuses and better start running into something other than brick walls. They have no running game -- one reason Matt Schaub throws for a zillion yards each week -- and, sorry, but that won't cut it. Schaub is 1-2 in games where he throws for 300 yards, which means it's time for Steve Slaton, Chris Brown ... someone, anyone to step forward and do what he's paid to do, which is move the pile.
Maybe this is the place. I know Andre Johnson is one of the game's top receivers, but Cincinnati has the cornerbacks to cover him. I watched the Bengals take away the deep passing game from Baltimore, and I imagine they'll try to do the same here, forcing Schaub to dump everything underneath. He can try. Or he can try to find someone to run the ball. A show of hands would be nice. The Texans are averaging 3 yards a carry, and that won't make anyone stack the box. Cincinnati is good, and the Bengals are beginning to think they're real good. That happens when you put together a string of last-second victories.
If Houston is going to win, it better not let the Bengals hang around. Put them away early and take Cedric Benson -- the league's leading rusher -- out of the equation. Good luck. For one, the Texans have been outscored 78-63 in the first halves of their five games. For another, they don't have a balanced attack to control the clock. Third, their defense is porous. But, most important, they're not physical. If Cincinnati can push Baltimore around -- which it did -- it will push these guys around, too.
Something to consider: Carson Palmer has driven the Bengals 70 yards or more for at least a tie in the final two minutes of regulation in four the Bengals' five games.
Chicago at Atlanta, 8:20 p.m. ET | Preview
The line: Falcons by 2½
The story: The Bears are coming off a bye, so beware. Nobody with the previous weekend off lost last Sunday, and that includes winless Carolina. But there's another factor here: The Bears aren't a great road team. They have lost four of their past six, including the season opener in Green Bay, and they might've lost in Seattle if kicker Olindo Mare hadn't missed two field goals.
Chicago sees itself as a playoff-caliber team, a club capable of winning its division, because it has ... or so it thinks ... the best quarterback in the division. Let's put that one on hold for a moment and concentrate on the Bears as a playoff possibility. If they're legit, if they're as good as their fans hope they can be, they should win a game like this one. A year ago they came close, and the loss was costly. But a year ago, Atlanta WAS a playoff team. And it sure looks like one again this season.
The Falcons can pass, they can run and they can win -- especially at home, where they're 9-1 under coach Mike Smith. I mention last season's defeat of Chicago because the Bears absolutely blew it, leaving Atlanta an opening in the closing seconds. Now they have a mulligan to get things straight, and maybe Jay Cutler makes the difference. Or maybe it's running back Matt Forte, who finally knows what the end zone looks like.
Whatever, this looks like the most intriguing game outside of New York-New Orleans. Both teams can run. Both have young quarterbacks. Both have had byes. And both believe they're playoff worthy. Just a hunch, but this one plays out as last year's game did -- with a field goal winning it.
Something to consider: Cutler has a passer rating of 100 or better in his past three starts, the first Bears' quarterback to achieve that since the statistic was first introduced in 1973. When Cutler has a passer rating of 100 or better, his teams are 13-0.
Monday night lights
Denver at San Diego, 8:30 p.m. ET
The line: Chargers by 3½
The story: Talk about more than a game. This could be the season for San Diego. If the Chargers lose, they drop to 2-3, the Broncos go to 6-0, and the AFC West is over -- with the race on for second. If the Chargers win, they're a game-and-a-half behind and back in the picture. There is a sense of urgency in San Diego, and there should be.
The Chargers aren't playing well, the Broncos are, and the sky is falling for America's Finest City. The Bolts can't run. Their offensive line is porous. Their defensive line is ravaged by injuries. They can't stop the run. They struggle against the pass. The vultures are circling.
Whew. The good news: San Diego is coming off a bye it needed desperately. The bad: Its defensive line still has holes the size of Mission Bay. Look for Denver to exploit the Chargers' weaknesses, just as Pittsburgh did two weeks ago. The difference is that the Steelers were a desperate club at home; the Broncos are not. Denver is flying high, thanks to a defense that is allowing just over eight points a game and a steady if unspectacular offense that seldom makes mistakes. Knock Kyle Orton if you want, but the guy is perfect for this club. He makes sure throws, he doesn't commit turnovers and he doesn't take sacks.
But this game is not about the rise of Denver; it's about the potential fall of the struggling Chargers. Their last performance was so dreadful, so embarrassingly poor, it drew the criticism of their own GM. That didn't go over well with linebacker Shawne Merriman, but it's time he and his teammates did something about it -- like stop somebody!
Philip Rivers is carrying this team, but he needs help, and he needs it now. From his offensive line. From the league's last-place rushing attack. And from a defense that has been one of the year's biggest disappointments. The future is now, San Diego. Win or else.
Common sense tells you they won't, they can't, but it's not common sense at work here. It's a desperate team, and when the Chargers absolutely, positively must win, they usually do -- especially in prime time at Qualcomm Stadium. In their past 11 prime-time games at home, the Bolts are 10-1. Plus, they have outscored the Broncos 123-44 in their past three games in San Diego.
Something to consider: In five games against the Broncos, Rivers has 10 touchdown passes, one interception and a passer rating of 129.6. He is also 4-0 on Monday nights.
Crummy game of the week
Kansas City at Washington, 1 p.m. ET | Preview
The line: Redskins by 6½
The story: Poor Washington. The Redskins draw one of the all-time great schedules and can't take advantage. Make Kansas City the sixth consecutive team without a win to face them. Now make the Redskins 2-3 and under siege. The club is a mess. Its offense can't find the end zone with a GPS, and its head coach is under fire -- with speculation focusing on when, not if, he gets fired.
Washington's only two victories are at home, but it had to hold on to beat St. Louis and rally to overcome Tampa Bay. I don't know if the problem is Jim Zorn or Jason Campbell or an offensive line that is having trouble holding its blocks, but Washington hasn't produced more than 17 points in any game. Kansas City isn't much better, but at least the Chiefs took Dallas to overtime last weekend and put up 24 on Baltimore. It might take Washington eight quarters to put up 24.
The Redskins should win this one, but they should've won last weekend, too. They have the talent but they just don't have anything going on offense. Critics already are writing them off, speculating on the next head coach and calling on owner Daniel Snyder to step back from hands-on management of the club.
Let's just make this easy: First one to 17 wins. Both offenses are about as interesting as February in Erie, Pa., only I'll cut Kansas City a little slack. The Chiefs are under new management and a new head coach, so they're feeling their way. The Redskins have no excuses, and you'll discover that the minute they go three-and-out on offense. Are you ready for some booing?
Something to consider: The Chiefs have won six of their past seven against Washington.
Upset of the week
Baltimore (+2½) over Minnesota | Pete's Picks: Week 6 | Inside the NFL
This is the beginning of a three-week grind for Minnesota, which in the first five weeks didn't face an opponent that had a winning record in 2008. But all that changes now. Baltimore is coming off a two-week slide, and the Ravens are angry -- both at themselves and at officials they believe cost them at least one victory. Get over it, guys, and tighten up that defense.
| More Week 6 videos |
|
|
| More Week 6 links |
|
SI.com: Eli's Superdome debut | Ravens-Vikes Holder: Shockey trying to keep lid on Picks: Prisco | Harmon Forecast | All experts |
| Fantasy links |
|
Eisenberg: Week 6 Start 'Em and Sit 'Em Richard: Matchups | Interactive Tracker
|
The Ravens are surrendering more points and more yards than usual, which is why I think they make a stand here. There is a feeling that they're wounded, that they might have been exposed and that, well, they might not be as strong or as tough or as successful as they were a year ago.
I don't know, but I wouldn't try selling that to Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. I think they rally the troops here, the Ravens make the sacks and force the turnovers they must and the club emerges feeling good about itself all over again.
Games within the games
New Orleans TE Jeremy Shockey vs. his former team: There were hard feelings when Shockey left the Giants, basically because he didn't really appreciate coach Tom Coughlin, and Coughlin was tired of him. Shockey said this week he has no vendetta against the Giants and has moved on, but if you believe that, you believe the Raiders are a Super Bowl threat, too.
Minnesota DE Jared Allen vs. Baltimore OT Michael Oher: Oher plays left tackle if Jared Gaither hasn't recovered from a neck injury. Gaither didn't practice this week, so good luck, Michael. Allen is the irresistible force, with 4½ vs. Green Bay and two fumble recoveries -– including one for a touchdown -- a week later.
N.Y. Giants QB Eli Manning vs. the Superdome noise: It's the first pro game for Manning in the Superdome, where he attended Saints games as a kid, and it will be loud. "I have been part of the screaming and yelling and trying to make it hard on other quarterbacks," Manning said this week. "So I know how the fans think and they are going to be loud."
Jacksonville RB Maurice Jones-Drew vs. the Jags' play calling: The Jags' best player called out offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter this week, saying he was tired of being used as "a decoy" and questioning the shuffling of offensive linemen. "I don't like to be embarrassed," Jones-Drew said, "so I do get upset about it."
Baltimore C Matt Birk vs. the Vikings: Birk spent 11 seasons with Minnesota, grew up in St. Paul and was one of the league's top offensive linemen. But the Vikings let him go in free agency. Now Birk goes home to remind them what they lost.
Five guys I'd like to be
Philadelphia CB Asante Samuel: Since 2005, he has an NFL-leading 26 interceptions. He had two last week, and now he gets to pick Oakland's JaMarcus Russell.
Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger: He hasn't lost in nine starts against Cleveland.
Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers: He has 14 touchdown passes, 3 interceptions and a 104.9 rating in eight starts vs. the NFC North. He is also 2-0 against the Lions, with 6 TD passes and no interceptions.
N.Y. Jets CB Darrelle Revis: He shoots for his fourth consecutive game against Buffalo with an interception.
Seattle WR Nate Burleson: He has five touchdowns in his past six home games and aims for his fourth straight against Arizona with at least one score.
Numbers, numbers, numbers
|
1: Touchdown pass needed for Donovan McNabb to reach 200 for his career
11: Consecutive Pittsburgh defeats of Cleveland
29: Drew Brees touchdown passes in his past 10 home games
34: Yards receiving for Torry Holt to reach 13,000 for his career
97: Brett Favre career games with a passer rating of 100 or better
3-0: Philadelphia's record this season in games where it is favored by nine or more points
14-1: Falcons' record under Mike Smith when leading at half
23-8: Record of teams with 300-yard passers, the most wins by 300-yard passers in the first five weeks
Sunday weather watch
• Cincinnati: Sunny, high of 51
• Green Bay, Wis.: Partly cloudy, high of 52
• Jacksonville, Fla.: Partly cloudy, high of 70
• Minneapolis: Dome
• New Orleans: Dome
• Pittsburgh: Rain, snow showers, high of 41
• Tampa, Fla.: Partly cloudy, high of 70
• Landover, Md.: Showers, wind, high of 46
• Oakland, Calif: Partly cloudy, high of 65
• Seattle: Few showers, high of 59
• Foxborough, Mass.: Rain, high of 49
• East Rutherford, N.J.: Rain, wind, high of 48
• Atlanta: Dome
Where we will be
• Pete Prisco will be in New Orleans to pull a Jeremy Shockey at Super Bowl XLII ... you know, sitting in the stands and watching the Giants.
• I'll be in Minneapolis to lead chants of "We're number four! We're number four!"
• Tom Krasovic will be in San Diego to offer CPR to the Chargers.
