Yes, it is still officially early in the season and pretty much anything can happen, but after five weeks of NFL battles, the identity of this year's NFL season is beginning to take shape. Teams such as New England, Dallas, and Indianapolis appear to have every aspect of their squad in a higher gear than everyone else.
Pittsburgh and Green Bay are playing solid ball and are currently a threat to win their divisions.
The jury is still out on some other 1-loss teams in Tennessee, Jacksonville, and Washington as they still need that one game to announce that they have arrived. The next few weeks are crucial to the teams hovering around .500 if they want to be taken seriously. New Orleans, Miami, St. Louis, Buffalo, NY Jets, and Atlanta are having seasons that are putting them on the fast track to having a top-ten pick in the 2008 draft.
Every now and then, there's a game that comes along that is capable of putting fanatic NFL fans in I.C.U. It's a defining moment that makes you pause and pay tribute to heart and excellence which are critical factors for the success of a NFL franchise and are also important elements of the league's uniqueness.
Dallas and New England are operating on both this season from the coaching staff on down. The Patriots are on a level of superiority that makes it very hard for opponents to expose so Dallas will have their hands full. The Cowboys are coming off one of the wildest comebacks in team history, but they will need to be in the right mindset, mentally acute, and want it more if they intend on dropping their anchor at this elite level.
Enjoy Week 6, football fans...and don't forget your blood pressure medicine.
- St. Louis Rams (0-5) at Baltimore Ravens (3-2): FOX, 1pm EST - Some things never change. The punchless Rams are still looking for their first victory, and Baltimore's offense needs personality. EDDIE'S PICK - BALTIMORE
- Washington Redskins (3-1) at Green Bay Packers (4-1): FOX, 1pm EST - Coach Joe Gibbs has this team believing in themselves and in their new young leader, Jason Campbell. The Skins are coming off a bye week and could really use a win to stay near the top of their division considering who Dallas plays this week. Green Bay lost to Chicago in Lambeau and won't be ready to let that happen twice in a row. EDDIE'S PICK - GREEN BAY
- Minnesota Vikings (1-3) at Chicago Bears (2-3): FOX, 1pm EST - An emotional, come-from-behind victory in Green Bay has Chicago believing that it can salvage its season. Beating teams that they're supposed to beat will certainly help starting this week vs. a Vikings team that must step it up on the road. EDDIE'S PICK - CHICAGO
- Philadelphia Eagles (1-3) at NY Jets (1-4): FOX, 1pm EST - Both teams are struggling this season due to injuries and inconsistency. Philly thrives on creating turnovers, pressuring the QB, and stopping the run. This is not good news for the Jets who just might pull Pennington if he doesn't get off to a good start. The Jets have never beaten Philadelphia. EDDIE'S PICK - PHILLY
- Tennessee Titans (3-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2): CBS, 1pm EST - Just how good are these teams? Vince Young finds ways to win and that Titans defense appears to be for real. Tampa's running game is decimated due to injuries but their defense is regaining its intimidating form. This is a crucial game for Tennessee as they look to stay on the heels of Indianapolis and in the playoff hunt. Tampa QB Jeff Garcia has not thrown an INT this season. EDDIE'S PICK - TENNESSEE
- Cincinnati Bengals (1-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (2-3): CBS, 1pm EST - The league's worst run defense and 29th-ranked overall defense just might be the elixir that KC needs to stay in the thick of things in the tight AFC West. RB Larry Johnson must run buck wild while the Chiefs D mustand keep the Cincy offense out of the red zone where they are 100% in scoring inside the 20. It will be interesting to see how the Bengals respond to coach Marvin Lewis' tirade after last week's blowout in New England. Oh, and another Bengal was suspeneded for violating the league's substance abuse policy. EDDIE'S PICK - KANSAS CITY
- Houston Texans (3-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1): CBS, 1pm EST - This is a crucial AFC South match-up for both teams being in the same division as the Colts. J-town continues to improve each week vs. the run and that is dangerous considering they allowed a franchise-low 10 yards last week vs. KC's Larry Johnson. Houston's offense will have a very tough time moving the ball so the key will be for Houston's defense to rattle QB David Gerrard (no INT's this season) and get shorter fields to operate. EDDIE'S PICK - JACKSONVILLE
- Miami Dolphins (0-5) at Cleveland Browns (2-3): CBS, 1pm EST - Highly-touted Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn was passed up by Miami in the 2007 draft who decided to begin the Cam Cameron era with a fragile Trent Green at the helm. Cleveland then drafted the hometown kid to become their future. Quinn is now #2 behind the hot Derek Anderson who should find success vs. this 24th-ranked defense. EDDIE'S PICK - CLEVELAND
- Carolina Panthers (3-2) at Arizona Cardinals (3-2): FOX, 4:05pm EST - Both teams are playing very similar football this year as they are about average on defense and have had struggles keeping consistency at QB. The Cardinals offense has been more productive overall and will start Kurt Warner in place of Matt Leinart who's out with a broken collarbone. David Carr starts for the Panthers who must run the ball effectively and move the chains if they plan on leaving the desert with a win. EDDIE'S PICK - ARIZONA
- Oakland Raiders (2-2) at San Diego Chargers (2-3): CBS, 4:15pm EST - Last week, the Chargers finally tasted victory for the first time in a month by destroying Denver in Mile High and it was very good. They welcome the much-hated Oakland Raiders who should find it hard to establish any rhythm against a defense that is finding its groove back. The winner has the inside edge for leading the AFC West. EDDIE'S PICK - SAN DIEGO
- New England Patriots (5-0) at Dallas Cowboys (5-0): CBS, 4:15pm EST - Where the hell do you start? Brady vs. Romo, T.O. vs. Randy Moss, and Belichick vs. Phillips. Both teams possess great lines in the trenches and are the top two scoring offenses in the league. This was not a colossal game when the NFL schedule first came out, but due to resiliency and talent, both teams are undefeated and are simply playing for NFL superiority through Week 6. This is only the fifth time in NFL history that two undefeated teams with at least 5 wins have faced each other. You can expect a raucous Texas Stadium crowd as they welcome Moss who has scored at least 2 TD's in every game that he's faced Dallas. Expect a close game. New England has never won in Texas Stadium. EDDIE'S PICK - DALLAS
- New Orleans Saints (0-4) at Seattle Seahawks (3-2): NBC, 8:15pm EST - If the Saints want to explode out of their dismal season, then it starts on the road vs. a Seattle team that is still smarting from their shutout loss to Pittsburgh last week. The Seahawks have won the past three meetings by a combined score of 68-27, and coach Mike Holmgren is 5-0 vs. the Saints in his career. EDDIE'S PICK - SEATTLE
- NY Giants (3-2) at Atlanta Falcons (1-4): ESPN, 8:30pm EST MNF - I would imagine that Michael Vick, not Joey Harrington, was the catalyst that drove the league to schedule this game on national TV. Harrington was sent a message last week when he was pulled for Byron Leftwich towards the end of Atlanta's loss to Tennessee. Considering the Giants massive pass rush capability, I expect Falcons fans might see the Leftwich era begin before halftime. NY has not lost in Atlanta since 1978. EDDIE'S PICK - NY GIANTS
BYE: BUFFALO, DENVER, DETROIT, INDIANAPOLIS, PITTSBURGH, SAN FRANCISCO
STANDINGS
Cris Collinsworth: 12-2, 54-22
Eddie Chinn: 11-3, 50-26
Bob Costas: 10-4, 49-27
Chris Mortensen: 12-2, 49-27
Cris Carter: 10-4, 48-28
Dan Marino: 12-2, 48-28
Sean Salisbury: 12-2, 45-31
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