TAMPA, Fla. — It’s Week 6 in the National Football League and this season, that means five potentially great football games.
If you have Sunday Ticket, lock on to Baltimore at Minnesota – there will be about 5,000 Winnipeggers in Minnie for this one – the Giants at the New Orleans Saints, Chicago at Atlanta, Arizona at Seattle and Monday night’s 5-0 Denver at 2-2 San Diego. Oh, it’s going to be a great week.
This week, the Coach will be live in Tampa for a matchup of titans — and yes, these teams are as bad as the Titans — as the 1-3 Carolina Panthers take on the 0-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sorry, it didn’t look all that when I was planning a trip through the NFL.
This has been a season in which the good teams have separated themselves from the bad ones and the concept of parity is a thing of the past. There are currently five undefeated teams — the Giants, Vikings, Saints, Broncos and Colts — and four winless teams — the Titans, Chiefs, Buccaneers and Rams. By the way, Congratulations to the Cleveland Browns who left the Winless Club with that stirring 6-3 win over Buffalo (which plays like a winless team).
So, as we said last week, with all this undefeated good news comes all that winless bad news as well, as the good teams separate themselves from the really, really awful ones. (Remember, the Cowboys, Colts, Dolphins and 49ers have the byes).
How many zeroes in the standings at the end of this week? Let’s take a closer look at Week 6…
Houston Texans 2-3 at Cincinnati Bengals 4-1 (-4.5)
The Bengals are obviously the better team, but Dr. Sports really loves Houston this week (I know, I don’t get it either). Cincinnati is coming off an emotional victory in Baltimore and according to the Good Doctor “will probably be flat as a favourite over an inferior Texans squad.”
Dr. Sports: Bengals to win but not to cover.
The Coach: Bengals to win and cover.
Detroit Lions 1-4 at Green Bay Packers 2-2 (-13.5)
Detroit really has been more competitive lately. The team lost by eight to the Steelers and had a legitimate shot at tying the game late in the fourth quarter. A week earlier, the Lions and Bears were tied at halftime. And a week before that, Detroit knocked off the Redskins.
Dr. Sports: Packers to win but not to cover.
The Coach: Packers to win but not to cover.
St. Louis Rams 0-5 at Jacksonville Jaguars 2-3 (-9.5)
The Rams will start Marc Bulger at quarterback, which should help a very inconsistent offense. However, they are on the road against a team that was embarrassed last week. That’s never good. Look for the Jaguars to bounce back.
Dr. Sports: Jags to win and cover.
The Coach: Jags to win and cover.
Baltimore Ravens 3-2 at Minnesota Vikings 5-0 (-2.5)
Despite their records, these teams are pretty much even. The difference is the strength of schedule (Baltimore’s has been much tougher) and that’s why Minnesota is only a 2 ½ point favourite.
Dr. Sports: Vikings to win and cover.
The Coach: Vikings to win and cover.
N.Y. Giants 5-0 at New Orleans Saints 4-0 (-2.5)
Wow, this is the game of the week! It’s evenly matched game and it should go right down to the wire. The Giants are a solid team that plays well on the road, but right now, nobody is better than Drew Brees. That’s right, not even Brett Favre.
Dr. Sports: Giants to win.
The Coach: Saints to win and cover.
Cleveland Browns 1-4 at Pittsburgh Steelers 3-2 (-13.5)
The Browns won a game 6-3 over Buffalo last week by completing only two passes. What do they get this week? Three?
Dr. Sports: Steelers to win and cover.
The Coach: Steelers to win and cover.
Carolina Panthers 1-3 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0-5 (+3.5)
Carolina won for the first time last week. Tampa Bay hasn’t won yet and with all the controversy down here this week, it’s hard to imagine they’ll get the job done. Still, this is a matchup of two bad teams and the Buccaneers are at home.
Dr. Sports: Tampa Bay to win
The Coach: Carolina to win and cover.
Kansas City Chiefs 0-5 at Washington Redskins 2-3 (-6.5)
It’s tough to lay 6.5 points with the Redskins because they have trouble scoring but while Kansas City put everything it had into beating an inconsistent Cowboys outfit last week, they couldn’t close the deal.
Dr. Sports: Redskins to win and cover.
The Coach: Redskins win and cover.
Philadelphia Eagles at Oakland Raiders (+13.5)
The Raiders have lost their last three games by a combined score of 96-16. This isn’t because they’re just that bad (which they are), it also has a lot to do with the fact that head coach Tom Cable will be in jail soon. Sure, the spread is large, but the Raiders are one giant disconnect right now. Worse yet, Andy Reid has a history of winning on the West Coast; he’s 9-3 against the spread when flying the across the country.
Dr. Sports: Eagles to win and cover.
The Coach: Eagles to win and cover.
Arizona Cardinals 2-2 at Seattle Seaawks 2-3 (-2.5)
Hard not to like the Seahawks at home this week. With Matt Hasselbeck back, they’re playing with fire and out to prove that they’re a contender again.
Dr. Sports: Seattle to win and cover.
The Coach: Seattle to win and cover.
Tennessee 0-5 at New England 3-2 (-9.5)
Please do not allow children under the age of 12 to watch this massacre. Sure, this was a great matchup before the season started, but it ain’t much now. Tennessee is already done. and they have to go to New England and play a team that is still angry after last week’s overtime loss. Tom Brady will carve up that Tennessee secondary.
Dr. Sports: Patriots to win and cover.
The Coach: Patriots to win and cover.
Buffalo Bills 1-4 at N.Y. Jets 3-2 (-9.5)
Call 9-1-1! Call 9-1-1! The Bills lost 6-3 at home to Cleveland last week. Surprised Dick Jauron is still working.
Dr. Sports: Jets to win and cover.
The Coach: Jets to win and cover.
SUNDAY NIGHT
Chicago Bears 3-1 at Atlanta Falcons 3-1 (-2.5)
If the Giants-Saints or Ravens-Vikings are the two best games this week, this is No. 3. Interestingly, Lovie Smith is just 1-4 against the spread coming off a bye. The Falcons are really dominant at home; Matt Ryan has only lost one game at the Georgia Dome, which was a last-second defeat against the undefeated Denver Broncos.
Dr. Sports: Falcons to win and cover.
The Coach: Falcons to win and cover.
MONDAY NIGHT
Denver Broncos 5-0 at San Diego 2-2 (-3.5)
On paper, the Broncos should win this game, but football is a game of emotion and talent — and homefield advantage. San Diego has all of the upside and none of the down.
Dr. Sports: Chargers to win and cover.
The Coach: Chargers to win and cover
Doctor Sports is 53-23 on the season and 44-32 against the spread while The Coach is 54-22 straight up and 42-34 against the spread.