NFL WEEK 6 CAPSULES
SUNDAY’S GAMES
Kansas City (0-5) at Washington (2-3)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Redskins -6½ Total: 37
TV: None
Weather: Temperatures in mid-40s, 60 percent chance of rain
Facts: “Pretty pitiful” was Troy Aikman’s assessment of K.C.’s offense last week against Dallas. Washington’s isn’t much better, scoring TDs at Carolina last week on only 10- and 1-yard possessions. ... The Chiefs “held” the Giants’ No. 2-rated offense to 27 points and the Cowboys’ No. 1 unit to 20 points in regulation the past two weeks. Now comes No. 23. ... Thanks to the Redskins, there are only four winless teams. Washington lost to Detroit (1-4) and Carolina (1-3).
Analysis: Although Washington’s defense ranks fifth, maybe it should be higher considering it has played four straight offenses ranked in the bottom 12. Plus, the Redskins’ offensive line is getting battered and twisted (five sacks of Jason Campbell last week) like a bunch of pipe cleaners.
Forecast: Chiefs 16, Redskins 10
Houston (2-3) at Cincinnati (4-1)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Bengals -5½ Total: 46
TV: None
Weather: Low 50s, 10 percent chance of rain
Facts: Cincinnati RB Cedric Benson leads the NFL with 487 yards rushing, and this week he gets to face the NFL’s lowest-rated run defense. The Texans allow 5.2 yards per rush. ... Houston rallied from a 21-0 third-period deficit to tie Arizona last week before losing 28-21. ... Bengals DE Antwan Odom had seven sacks through two games, but one in his past three while receiving extra attention. On the other side, standout Houston DE Mario Williams (shoulder, probable) is ailing.
Analysis: This could be a big day for Cincinnati CB Leon Hall, who already has shut out WR Greg Jennings (Green Bay), Braylon Edwards (then of Cleveland) and Derrick Mason (Baltimore). Up next is Andre Johnson, who doesn’t make a habit of fighting for off-target throws.
Forecast: Bengals 27, Texans 17
Cleveland (1-4) at Pittsburgh (3-2)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Steelers -14 Total: 38
TV: None
Weather: Mid-40s, 50 percent chance of rain
Facts: Cleveland’s Derek Anderson, under QB coach Carl Smith, had a subterranean passer rating of 15.1 last week in a 6-3 victory at Buffalo. ... Former Steelers backup RB Rashard Mendenhall has run for 287 yards, 128 more than starter Willie Parker on fewer carries. ... The anchor of the Steelers’ front wall, DE Aaron Smith, is out for the year (rotator cuff).
Analysis: Cleveland seems to be more interested in shopping offensive talent and stockpiling draft choices than improving its offense. Maybe next year the Browns will stay close to Pittsburgh.
Forecast: Steelers 24, Browns 6
Baltimore (3-2) at Minnesota (5-0)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Vikings -3 Total: 44
TV: CBS (8)
Facts: Brett Favre, the league’s fourth-rated passer, hasn’t faced a defense ranked in the top 15. Baltimore’s is 10th. ... Favre’s most recent outing against the Ravens was a 48-3 loss in 2005. His Packers were 3-10 then. ... The last RB to rush for 100 yards against Minnesota was Green Bay’s Ryan Grant in Week 10 of 2007. The Vikings have gone a league-best 28 straight games without allowing another RB to do the same. ... Bad news for Minnesota: The past two years, teams coming off a game against St. Louis are 5-14-1 against the line.
Analysis: Even shaky Rams QB Kyle Boller was able to march St. Louis 90 yards on a drive against the Vikings last week. Imagine the trouble Ravens QB Joe Flacco will cause leading his fifth-rated attack.
Forecast: Ravens 31, Vikings 27
St. Louis (0-5) at Jacksonville (2-3)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Jaguars -9½ Total: 43
TV: None
Weather: High 60s, 10 percent chance of rain
Facts: Until Jacksonville’s 41-0 loss at Seattle, it had never lost by more than 25 points during coach Jack Del Rio’s seven-year stint. The past two times the Jaguars lost by 20-plus points and played the next week, they rebounded to win as an underdog. ... In three of St. Louis’ five losses, it had a turnover differential of minus-3. Teams are 0-14 (straight up and against the line) with that margin in 2009. ... Marc Bulger (shoulder) should start at QB for the Rams.
Analysis: The Jaguars showed an alarming lack of heart while getting toasted last week, allowing Seattle to kill the final 11:53 by running up the middle. The fiery Del Rio won’t stand for that again. And, there’s little chance WR Mike Sims-Walker will miss another curfew and being deactivated.
Forecast: Jaguars 35, Rams 20
New York Giants (5-0) at New Orleans (4-0)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Saints -3 Total: 47½
TV: Fox (5) RADIO: KWWN-AM (1100)
Facts: The Giants’ top-rated defense has allowed a total of 403 yards the past three weeks against NFL dregs Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Oakland. The Saints, coming off a bye, are averaging 414.3 per game. ... For the second straight home game, the Saints will attempt to knock off an unbeaten New York squad. Two weeks ago New Orleans thumped the Jets 24-10. ... New Orleans’ Reggie Bush had three punt returns for scores in the first five weeks last season. He hasn’t had one since and is averaging 4.7 yards on 10 returns this year.
Analysis: Since 2002, teams playing home after a bye are 62-45-1 (.578) against the line. Also, the Giants are playing their fourth road game in five weeks and have a gimpy QB, Eli Manning (foot, probable), who played only half a game last week.
Forecast: Saints 27, Giants 21
Carolina (1-3) at Tampa Bay (0-5)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Panthers -3½ Total: 39
TV: None
Weather: High 60s, 10 percent chance of rain
Facts: Carolina has an NFL-high 14 giveaways in only four games. ... The Bucs have started seven seasons 0-5 since entering the league in 1976, second most for any team in that span. Cincinnati has eight. ... Carolina was 12-4 last season in winning the NFC South. This year’s maligned squad is allowing 10 fewer yards per game. ... This will be a showdown between QBs rated No. 33 (Carolina’s Jake Delhomme) and No. 34 (Tampa Bay’s Josh Johnson).
Analysis: In a game that could come down to special teams, the Bucs can’t be too excited to have the league’s most ineffective kicker (Mike Nugent, 2-for-6 on field goals).
Forecast: Panthers 23, Buccaneers 14
Detroit (1-4) at Green Bay (2-2)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Packers -13½ Total: 47½
TV: None
Weather: Mid-40s, 20 percent chance of rain
Facts: Green Bay returned six interceptions for TDs in its first nine games last season, but has only one in its past 11. ... In the Packers’ last game, they gave up a league-worst eight sacks in a 30-23 loss at Minnesota. Detroit QB Daunte Culpepper went down seven times last week against Pittsburgh, and it looks as if he’ll start again. ... Double-digit underdogs are 2-9 against the line this season, including Detroit’s 1-3. In the previous three seasons, 10-plus underdogs were 65-38.
Analysis: The Packers are coming off a coveted bye to face a Lions team that probably will be without questionable QB Matthew Stafford (knee) and WR Calvin Johnson (knee). Unless Detroit trades for DE Jared Allen in the next few hours, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers should have a big day.
Forecast: Packers 38, Lions 17
Philadelphia (3-1) at Oakland (1-4)
Time: 1:05 p.m. Line: Eagles -14 Total: 40½
TV: None
Weather: Low 60s, 20 percent chance of rain
Facts: It’s bad enough that Oakland’s offense ranks last in the league, but three of the Raiders’ five opponents rank in the bottom 10. Philadelphia’s is No. 3. ... The Eagles’ three victories are against teams with a cumulative mark of 1-14. ... There are only 32 NFL teams, but this will be the third game this year the Eagles will have faced a passer rated 33rd or worse (JaMarcus Russell, 35th).
Analysis: During his down time, Raiders coach Tom Cable probably has been punching holes in the wall trying to awaken his team. Not only is the offensive line ravaged, but according to TV experts, the blocking schemes make no sense. May the rout begin.
Forecast: Eagles 40, Raiders 8
Arizona (2-2) at Seattle (2-3)
Time: 1:05 p.m. Line: Seahawks -3½ Total: 47
TV: None RADIO: KWWN-AM (1100)
Weather: High 50s, 60 percent chance of rain
Facts: Third-year Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt vowed early on he wanted his Cardinals to mirror the success of his previous Steelers team, especially on the ground. So, why is Arizona on a pace to average a league-record-low of 18.25 rushes per game? ... Seattle has won both of its home starts behind QB Matt Hasselbeck, shutting out both opponents.
Analysis: The Seahawks, coming off a surprisingly easy 41-0 victory over Jacksonville, are down to their fourth- or fifth-string offensive left tackle, so it’s only a matter of time before Hasselbeck complains that those boffo painkillers (ribs, probable) just aren’t working anymore.
Forecast: Cardinals 30, Seahawks 17
Buffalo (1-4) at New York Jets (3-2)
Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Jets -9½ Total: 37½
TV: None
Weather: Mid-40s, 90 percent chance of rain
Facts: The Bills were one of three teams to change offensive coordinators during the preseason, along with the Chiefs and Rams. The three are a combined 1-14. ... Jets coach Rex Ryan is still fuming over how Miami scored three TDs against his defense in the fourth quarter Monday. Until then, New York’s unit had yielded four TDs all season. ... Looks like Buffalo coach Dick Jauron’s record-setting streak of three 7-9 seasons is in jeopardy.
Analysis: The Jets’ defensive rage and boisterous home crowd led by Fireman Ed could cause Buffalo to have even more than the nine false starts it had last week against Cleveland.
Forecast: Jets 28, Bills 7
Tennessee (0-5) at New England (3-2)
Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Patriots -9½ Total: 43½
TV: CBS (8)
Weather: Mid-40s, 80 percent chance of rain
Facts: Through five weeks last season, Tennessee’s Cortland Finnegan and Michael Griffin shared the NFL lead with four interceptions apiece. The Titans have a total of four this season. ... The difference between the Titans and the other three teams that opened 0-5 (Chiefs, Rams, Bucs) is that Jeff Fisher is in his 15th full season as coach and the other three have rookie coaches . ... In 2006, the Titans also started 0-5 before QB Vince Young guided them to an 8-3 finish.
Analysis: Four of five QBs to face Tennessee this season have thrown for 300-plus yards, so even in the rain Tom Brady should be able to shred a decimated secondary that also will be without safety Nick Harper (broken arm).
Forecast: Patriots 30, Titans 10
Chicago (3-1) at Atlanta (3-1)
Time: 5:20 p.m. Line: Falcons -3½ Total: 45½
TV: NBC (3) RADIO: KWWN-AM (1100)
Facts: This marks the first of four games in which the Falcons will face a team coming off a bye, tying a league record. Since 2003, they’ve been in this predicament an NFL-high 13 times. ... In the Bears’ 48-24 home win over Detroit prior to their bye, six of QB Jay Cutler’s scoring drives opened in Lions territory. Another TD came on a kickoff return. ... New England (445 yards) and Carolina (440) had their most productive offensive games this season against the Falcons.
Analysis: Putting too much stock in Atlanta’s 45-10 victory at San Francisco could be a mistake, for the Falcons were coming off a bye against an upstart team that was too busy stylin’. Chicago seems solid.
Forecast: Bears 29, Falcons 21
MONDAY’S GAME
Denver (5-0) at San Diego (2-2)
Time: 5:30 p.m. Line: Chargers -3½ Total: 44
TV: ESPN (30) RADIO: KWWN-AM (1100)
Weather: Low 70s, 10 percent chance of rain
Facts: San Diego is averaging only 53.8 rushing yards a game. At that pace they’ll become the first team since the 1963 Jets not to reach 1,000 yards in a full season. ... Denver rallied from 10-point deficits to win the past two weeks, against Dallas and New England. ... The last time an unbeaten team with at least five victories was an underdog to a team with a non-winning record was in 2000, when the Vikings (7-0) played at Tampa Bay (3-4). The Bucs rolled 41-13 as a 3-point favorite.
Analysis: Much has changed since last year’s season finale when QB Philip Rivers and the Chargers thrashed Denver 52-21 to win the AFC West. For starters, the Broncos have allowed a league-low 43 points. But what hasn’t changed is San Diego’s desperation to beat its rival.
Forecast: Chargers 24, Broncos 17
Last week: 10-4 vs. spread; 11-3 straight up
Season total: 36-39-1 vs. spread; 45-31 straight up
