NFL Week 6 - Late & Night Games

The Sunday night game features a pair of young QBs while the Monday Nighter provides us an AFC West shootout.

Philadelphia (3-1) @ Oakland (0-5)

Eagles: QB Donovan McNabb returned from his rib injury and ripped though the Tampa Bay Bucs defense for 263 yards and 3 TD. This week he'll look across the line of scrimmage and see the silver and black...and grin. McNabb could very well repaeat his performance of a week ago. Or RB Brian Westbrook, who's not on the injury report, can sift throught the 31st ranked run defense of the Raiders. The latter would be preferred as Westbrook needs to get on track. Philly is second in scoring. And the D is the 3rd best. Most would've thought with the departure of S Brain Dawkins and the passing of DC Jim Johnson that this Eagles D wouldn't be up for the season. Not true.

Raiders: More Raider headlines...head coach Tom Cable could be facing cri...nevermind. Sometimes, it just gets to the point where you actually get tired of laughing at this organization. And that's happening as we speak. The offense is dead last and the defense is next to last. The Raiders can't score (9.8 points a game) and give up too many (26.0 points a game) to win. Come to think of it, the Raiders are another team the Chiefs almost beat. One piece of good news. S Michael Huff leads the AFC in INT (3). Done.

Arizona (2-2) @ Seattle (2-3)

Cardinals: Almost coughed one up last week against the Texans. That's OK. They got a win. That's all that matters. But the offense still lacks a running game and down the line QB Kurt Warner will pay for that. He has a tendency to produce a turnover or two (a -2 in turnover ratio). Warner may want to look the way of WR Anquan Boldin. While most opponents despise the crowd at Qwest Field, Boldin silenced the 12th Man last year to the tune of 13 catches for 186 yards. Warner, Boldin and his fellow receiver Larry Fitzgerald are the Cards' offense. And the defense? The best...at stopping the run. The worst at defending the pass. The Seahawks don't run that much.

Seahawks: The Seahawks nailed the Jags for 41 points last week and they may repeat this week. QB Matthew Hasselbeck returned from a rib issue and sliced the Jags for 4 TD and he did get sacked once. That was what he needed...to prove that he could take a hit with that rib. And Seattle will need to throw the ball as the Cards can and will stop the run. But the game will be determined by the Seahawks' defense. Will they be able stop Warner and the Aeriel Express? It's been the same story in playing the Cards for years, stop the pass andyou'll win. This week is no difference for Seattle.

Tennessee (0-5) @ New England (3-2)

Titans: I'm a little mystified. We don't hear as much about the Titans being winless as the other winless teams. All we've really heard is that it's a surprise...and a disappointment. A little Vince Young chatter. Coming off of last season, the Titans are the biggest disappointment in the league. The Titans won 13 games last year, but haven't won a game since week 16 of last season. And the offense is not the culprit. The defense is. Many feared the Titans D, but now, not so much. Add CB Cortland Finnegan to the injured not playing this week. Both starting corners are our for this game. Tennessee can't stop the pass anyway, ranking 31st. I think we know where the difference.

Patriots: QB Tom Brady and the Pats offense melted in the second half against the Broncos last week. Losing T Matt Light didn't help, but Light may still play, officially listed as doubtful. The Pats O line needs him. Everyone knows the Pats prefer to throw, but losing RB Fred Taylor has produced a void that the offense has yet to fill. Trying to run on the Titans is futile. But hey are excessively vulnerable to the pass. That's where Brady's Bunch makes its living. Tennessee will attempt to establish the run, and New England will have to stuff it. Make the Titans throw, get pressure on QB Kerry Collins. Collins has only been sacked 6 times, but he;s thrown 7 INT.

Buffalo (1-4) @ New York Jets (3-2)

Bills: WR Terrell Owens is staying put. Not that Bills fans were particularly worried about that. They just want some points. If the Bills are going to have a shot, the RB duo of Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson must find their way through the Jets defense. That means T.O. might hav to throw a block or two. If the run can be established, the passing attack, or lack thereof, may be able to succeed. It's the same on defense for Buffalo. They are weak against the run. The Jets like to run. I think we know how this game will be decided.

Jets: After a 3-0 start, the Jets have taken two losses in a row. It's a learning expreience for QB Mark Sanchez, and he must pass this test. A dismal opponent (that managed only 3 points last week against the Browns) with a Swiss cheese run defense. A lt of RB Thomas Jones and Leon Washington to watch here. But look to see if the Jets D can stop Buffalo's run. If the Jets are capable of that, it should be a win. Next week...the Raiders.

Sunday Night

Chicago (3-1) @ Atlanta (3-1)

Bears: Remember in week 1 when QB Jay Cutler threw 4 INT? He's only thrown 1 INT since. That's why the Bears have run off 3 straight wins. And Cutler has had help form his receivers. WRs Earl Bennett, Cutler's teammate at Vanderbilt, rookie Johnny Knoz, and a constantly progressing Devin Hester are collectively making up for RB Matt Forte's slow start. Forte lead the Bears in receptions and rushing a year ago. The rushing aspect still hold true, but Forte's not been the same back fron '08. If you haven't got to watch the Bears improved O, tonight is a must...or bust like at Lambeau. When the Bears are on D, they must get to QB Matt Ryan on passing situations because the Bears are forever improving against the run. 14 sacks in 4 games. Pretty impressive.

Falcons: QB Matt Ryan has only been sacked twice in the team's 4 games. The Bears D is one of the better teams at putting pressure on QBs. Nice matchup there. Time for the Falcons to re-establish RB Michael Turner. Although he's 7th in rush yards a game (80.8), we've not really seen the Michael Turner from last season. The natinal spotlight and a good running defense (the Bears are 9th) are a great test for Turner. Another nice matchup. But if this game is to go the way of Atlanta, the defense will have to emerge. They are constantly showing a "bend, but don't break" mentality that will eventually catch up to them. They will give up yards, just not points (15.8 points a game, 4th in the NFL).

Monday Night

Denver (5-0) @ San Diego (2-2)

Broncos: Still getting no respect. The Broncos are once again the underdog. Oh, well. This is the most important game of the season to date. A Broncos win will put the Chargers 3 1/2 games behind them. But what's the big difference in the Mile High city? Besides the roster, it's the mentality that head coach Josh McDaniels rought from New England. All you have to do is recollect his reaction after last weeks win over the Pats. The Broncos, man for man (yes, even Brandon Marshall), are the sme way. No stats to pour out here. Wait, Denver is #6 offensively and #2 defensively. Much different than last year.

Chargers: Who's dead last in the NFL in rushing? The Chargers. Seriously? Yep. Could you have even imagined a team with LT and Darren Sproles would be last in rushing? That's a major signal that QB Philip Rivers, TE Antonio Gates, and WR Vincent Jackson are now supplying most of San Diego's offensive punch. And teh NFL's stingiest scoring defense is coming to town. I believe you my hear crowing about head coach Norv Turner's job if the Bolts go down to defeat. And the Chargers have been porous on D, yielding 25.5 points a game and ranked only 27th against the run. So, how are the Chargers favored?