We now head into Week 6 of the 2016 NFL Season.
What initially may have seemed like a coincidence, is now feeling more like a trend.
In Week 1, when we saw the Philadelphia Eagles winning, we all just assumed it was a fluke. Now we can see that with their defense and the decision making of Carson Wentz, they could be a solid team.
Back in Week 2, when the Dallas Cowboys knocked off the Washington Redskins, we all just assumed they had gotten lucky under rookie quarterback Dak Prescott. Who knows what will happen when Tony Romo returns, but right now, when the Cowboys run the ball, they are very dangerous.
And when the New York Jets stumbled out of the gate, we thought it may have been an aberration. It wasn’t. It looks like the Jets truly stink.
Of course we know the NFL can change dramatically from week to week, but with what we know this week, let’s go look at making some money!
Here are a few of the games that we think might be worth your time and hard-earned cash, and also one game that you may want to avoid.
Record last week 2-1
Overall: 2-1
My pick: Denver Broncos -3 at San Diego Chargers
Yes, the Broncos stumbled last week at home against the Atlanta Falcons. Rookie quarterback Paxton Lynch was under pressure all day long and looked every bit like a rookie. And even the mighty Broncos defense showed some flaws. They allowed the Falcons to rack up nearly 400 yards of offense and allowed 23 points at home.
Don’t expect it to happen two weeks in a row.
The Broncos should have starting quarterback Trevor Siemian back under center, and while he has not been flashy, he has been getting the job done.
Denver has beaten the Chargers nine of the last 10 times they have met. And they have won those games by an average of nearly nine points per contest.
And this Bronco defense is going to have a chip on their shoulder come Thursday night.
My pick: Oakland Raiders -1 vs Kansas City Chiefs
It seems like the Chiefs always play the Raiders tough, but these Raiders have a different look about them.
The primary difference is that they can really score points. Right now, they are averaging nearly 400 yards, and over 28 points per game. And while the Oakland pass defense is extremely suspect, the Chiefs are struggling to do much on offense, generating just over 300 yards a game.
But the biggest key for the Raiders might be the maturing of their young quarterback Derek Carr, who has thrown 11 touchdowns to just two interceptions.
The Chiefs have a history of living off of opponent’s turnovers, but they may not get any of those from this Raiders offense.
My pick: Dallas Cowboys -4 at Green Bay Packers
The Dallas Cowboys are one of the biggest surprises of the 2016 NFL season so far. After going 4-12 a year ago, they have already matched that win total in early October, and they are doing it by running the football and keeping their defense off the field.
Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott doesn’t have an interception yet, and rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott is on pace to rush for over 1,700 yards. That type of attack could keep quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense from scoring big points, and make for a close game.
The Cowboys may not only cover the four points; they have a legitimate chance to win this game.
Don’t touch: Seattle Seahawks -6 vs Atlanta Falcons
Yes, we all have our doubts about the Atlanta Falcons. We all remember the fast start that they got off to a season ago, beginning 6-1, only to finish the season 8-8.
And the Falcons have not been great against the Seahawks, going just 6-9 against them in franchise history.
We also know how much teams struggle when they travel clear across the continent, as Atlanta will do when they venture up the Great Northwest.
The Seahawks are 3-1, and while their offense has struggled at times, their defense still looks to be one of the best in the league.
But it seems like these Falcons are a little more composed than those of the past few seasons. We just saw what they did in Denver, and they could be a pain for Seattle on Sunday.
And while you might be tempted to take the points and actually bet on Atlanta, just remember: This is the Atlanta Falcons we are talking about …