Can Philadelphia and Pittsburgh bounce back from tough losses? Will Miami and St. Louis continue to put up a goose egg in the win column? Here’s a look at this week’s games. All times are Pacific.
Last week: 9-5
Season record: 65-38
domingo, 28 de octubre
Indianapolis 6-0
at Carolina 4-2, 10 a.m.
Last Meeting: Panthers won 23-20 in OT at Indianapolis in 2003.
Stats & Stuff: Colts are third team in history to start 6-0 in three consecutive seasons. Carolina is 0-2 at home.
Game Day: Indianapolis can’t get caught looking ahead to Nov. 4 matchup with Patriots.
Pick: Colts 24, Panthers 20
Detroit 4-2
at Chicago 3-4, 10 a.m.
Last Meeting: Lions won 37-27 at home on Sept. 30.
Stats & Stuff: Detroit is off to its best start since 2004, also 4-2. Bears QB Brian Griese is averaging 300.8 passing yards per game through four starts.
Game Day: Griese threw three interceptions in his first start for the Bears last month against Detroit, but has cut down with only three INTs in the last three games.
Pick: Bears 30, Lions 20
Pittsburgh 4-2
at Cincinnati 2-4, 10 a.m.
Last Meeting: Steelers won 23-17 in OT at Cincinnati last December.
Stats & Stuff: Pittsburgh RB Willie Parker is fifth in league rushing with 600 yards. Bengals’ run defense is 27th, allowing 135.5 yards per game.
Game Day: Steelers hope to take advantage of Cincinnati’s poor run, and pass, defense.
Pick: Steelers 27, Bengals 23
N.Y. Giants 5-2
vs. Miami 0-7 (in London), 10 a.m.
Last Meeting: Dolphins won 23-10 at New York in 2003.
Stats & Stuff: Giants lead the NFL with 27 sacks. Miami’s defense allows a league-worst 33 points per game.
Game Day: The Giants shouldn’t have any trouble winning their sixth straight game, unless they suffer prolonged jet lag. The game will be played at Wembley Stadium, the first NFL regular-season game to be played outside of North America.
Pick: Giants 23, Dolphins 17
Philadelphia 2-4
at Minnesota 2-4, 10 a.m.
Last Meeting: Eagles won 27-14 at home in 2004 divisional playoff game.
Stats & Stuff: Eagles have won six of last seven meetings with Minnesota. Vikings give up 282.5 passing yards per game, worst in the NFL.
Game Day: Philadelphia has a tendency to bounce back, and should if Donovan McNabb exploits Vikings weak secondary.
Pick: Eagles 24, Vikings 21
Cleveland 3-3
at St. Louis 0-7, 10 a.m.
Last Meeting: Rams won 26-20 at Cleveland in 2003.
Stats & Stuff: Browns are 0-2 on the road. St. Louis is off to its worst start in team history.
Game Day: If St. Louis wants to avoid getting shut out in the first half, they’ll have to win this one.
Pick: Rams 24, Browns 23
Oakland 2-4
at Tennessee 4-2, 10 a.m.
Last Meeting: Raiders won 34-25 at Tennessee in 2005.
Stats & Stuff: Oakland averaged more than 25 points per game in first four, but is averaging just 12 points in the last two. Titans’ kicker Rob Bironas set NFL record with eight field goals in win over Houston.
Game Day: Raiders are sliding backwards while Tennessee tries to start off three-game homestand on the right foot.
Pick: Titans 25, Raiders 13
Buffalo 2-4
at N.Y. Jets 1-6, 1:05 p.m.
Last Meeting: Bills won 17-14 at home on Sept. 30.
Stats & Stuff: Buffalo RB Marshawn Lynch has four of five TDs scored by the offense. Jets have the league’s 29th-ranked offense and 28th-ranked defense.
Game Day: QB Trent Edwards made his NFL starting debut for Bills in win over Jets last month, throwing for 234 yards, TD, and has started ever since.
Pick: Jets 19, Bills 14
Houston 3-4
at San Diego 3-3, 1:05 p.m.
Last Meeting: Chargers won 27-20 at Houston in 2004.
Stats & Stuff: Texans’ backup QB Sage Rosenfels tied NFL record with four TD passes in fourth quarter in loss to Titans in Week 7. San Diego has outscored opponents 69-17 in two straight wins.
Game Day: Chargers’ offense appears to have overcome early-season woes.
Pick: Chargers 34, Texans 23
Jacksonville 4-2
at Tampa Bay 4-3, 1:05 p.m.
Last Meeting: Jaguars won 17-10 at home in 2003.
Stats & Stuff: Jacksonville’s defense ranks 13th in the NFL. Buccaneers’ defense ranks 12th.
Game Day: It’s an all-Florida battle featuring two halfway decent defenses.
Pick: Jaguars 16, Buccaneers 14
Washington 4-2
at New England 7-0, 1:15 p.m.
Last Meeting: Redskins won 20-17 at home in 2003.
Stats & Stuff: Redskins are 6-1 in series vs. New England, last losing in 1972. Patriots’ QB Tom Brady is on pace for 61 TD passes, which would be a record.
Game Day: Patriots are making everyone else look like bad recreational league teams. They’ll tune-up for showdown at Indianapolis in Week 9.
Pick: Patriots 31, Redskins 19
New Orleans 2-4
at San Francisco 2-4, 1:15 p.m.
Last Meeting: Saints won 34-10 at home last Dec.
Stats & Stuff: New Orleans has won two in a row after 0-4 start. 49ers have lost four straight after starting 2-0.
Game Day: The Saints are improving and should make it three straight wins.
Pick: Saints 31, 49ers 12
lunes, 29 de octubre
Green Bay 5-1
at Denver 3-3, 5 p.m.
Last Meeting: Packers won 31-3 at home in 2003.
Stats & Stuff: Green Bay is 2-0 on the road. Broncos’ kicker Jason Elam has game-winning kick in all three wins this season.
Game Day: Brett Favre and the Packers are well rested after bye week, but Denver bounced back nicely after drubbing against Chargers.
Pick: Broncos 28, Packers 27
Bye week: Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Kansas City, Seattle.