Derek Winters:
This should prove to be a very important game for the Rams, traveling to Indy. If the Rams lose and Seattle wins, then the Rams will find themselves in a tough spot to make a comeback for a playoff berth. This is also a good test for Indy. A Monday night game with national exposure could expose the Colts as the league’s new clear-cut number one team. The Colts have to be a no-brainer to win this game with Peyton Manning starting to come into his own. With two deep threats in Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison, and the ground game of Edgerrin James, this makes for the league’s most balanced offensive attack. The Colts’ defensive unit used to be suspect and were often noted as the team’s downfall. However, this season the team’s defense has been outstanding with a 5.8-point against average in their first five games. This game will be closer than expected and the Colts will not cover the inflated 13.5-point spread.
Indianapolis 31, Rams 24
Alex Schwartz:
This week’s premier matchup features the playoff-bound New York Giants against their hated NFC East rival, the Dallas Cowboys. Both teams feature devastating aerial assaults of similar breakout styles. Each team is capable of throwing the long-ball and the short route with equal efficiency. What could make the difference in this game is the injury to Dallas RB Julius Jones. With no legitimate Dallas running threat waiting in the wings to replace Jones, the Giants will be able to drop men into coverage, penetrate the Dallas offensive line with their strong front four and confuse QB Drew Bledsoe with a few different looks. Ultimately, this will lead to some sacks of Bledsoe, as well as a few timely turnovers which should give the Giants enough of an edge to let emerging star QB Eli Manning, Pro Bowl RB Tiki Barber and their crew of talented skill-position players secure a Giant victory and a continued stay at the top of the challenging NFC East.
NY Giants 31, Dallas 24
Scott Kaufman-Ross:
In a game pitting two of the AFC’s best defenses against each other, all eyes will be on Big Ben Roethelisberger and how healthy his knee is. It’s looking like backup Charlie Batch may get the start, which would spell disaster for the Steelers. Batch was once the starting QB for the Lions, but does not have much experience running Bill Cowher’s offense. Without Big Ben to keep the defense honest, the Jaguars front can stack the line and keep the two-headed monster of RBs Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker to minimum production. Don’t expect much production from the Jaguars either, as the struggling offense will again face a tough defensive test with the Steelers at home. Without Big Ben, the Steelers won’t be able to muster much offensively, and perhaps for the first time in a while Steelers fans will miss Tommy Maddox.
Jaguars 17, Steelers 7
Andrew Nackman:
Washington suffered their first loss of the season last week at Denver but proved more in this loss than they had in any of their three victories. Their defense is one of the best in the league, they have a consistent running game led by Clinton Portis and the Mark Brunell-Santana Moss combination has proven to be reliable for a few big plays each game. Any team that can play tough defense and run the ball is for real and is capable of beating any team anywhere. The Chiefs proved two weeks ago in their collapse against the Eagles that they haven’t improved their shortcomings of the past few seasons. Washington will contain the Chiefs’ running game and the Kansas City defense still can’t stop anybody. Look for an upset at Arrowhead.
Washington 23, Kansas City 17
Joe Ciolli:
In the past few days, Vikings cornerback Fred Smoot has recently come under fire for allegedly renting out charter boats that were later used for so-called “sex parties.” Several Vikings players are thought to have attended this party, which was supposedly consumed with drunkenness and public sex. Minnesota coach Mike Tice has voiced concern over this controversy that is tearing the team apart. Come on, Tice-if your players can have sex in front of each other on a boat, they definitely have the chemistry to run a flawless screen pass. Look for the Vikings to “perform” well against the weak Chicago Bears this weekend en route to their second win of the season.
Minnesota 31, Chicago 10
Justin Davidson:
The Houston Texans have proven time and again that they care more about what their cheerleaders look like than about what they can do to protect QB David Carr. The Texans are the biggest joke in the league and the squad can hire as many new offensive coordinators as they want and still not win a game. Look for an old-fashioned shellacking of the Texans this Sunday, with Seattle RB Sean Alexander picking up huge yardage on the lackluster Texan defense and Carr throwing an impressive five interceptions. Just get Houston out of the league already.
Seattle 37, Houston 6