We've made it through 1/3rd of the season, and there's still a lot of questions when it comes to the 32 teams in the NFL. Week 6 treated our pickers much better than Week 5 did, but there were still games out there that caused trouble.
I used both Monday Night Football games to bring me to a 12-3 record, which was equaled by CHRISTINA RUBY of Hudson Falls. And this despite her missing on both games -- she carried a 12-1 record into the Monday Night games.
So she walks away with the $50 Bogie's Pub + Grill gift certificate as we turn the page to Week 7.
WEEK 7 THOUGHTS + PICKS:
15 games on the docket for Week 7, and the final of the London games.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals - Thursday, 8:15pm, Amazon Prime Video
Pittsburgh is looking like a solid team, as Aaron Rodgers is making me eat my words going into the season. With a 10:3 TD/INT rate, it's got Mike Tomlin and company thinking about not just playing football in January, but beyond the first weekend like they did in 2024 when they lost to the Buffalo Bills. Too early to know how Joe Flacco is going to play out in Cincinnati, but he's going to have a rough time with this Steelers defense.
RICK'S PICK: Pittsburgh
Los Angeles Rams vs. Jacksonville Jaguars in London - Sunday, 9:30pm, NFL Network
The last of the London games surely has to be better than this past Sunday's.... right? On paper, it should, with Matthew Stafford tossing a 6:1 touchdown to interception ratio this season, but Trevor Lawrence is playing better for the Jags. However, the Jags had a bit of a tough loss against the Seahawks off a monumental win against the Chiefs the previous week. And the Rams have the uncertainty of whether Puka Nacua is joining the Rams for the London trip with his injury last week. LA is favored, but don't count out the Jags.
RICK'S PICK: Jacksonville
New Orleans Saints vs. Chicago Bears - Sunday, 1:00pm
Time to give Spencer Rattler some respect. 6 touchdowns, 1 interception, which is a lot better than some quarterbacks have been through the first 6 weeks of the season. But as much as New Orleans stays competitive through most of the game, they need to finish. The lone win coming against the New York Giants says something. Chicago is coming off a narrow escape from the Washington Commanders in a game where the Commanders more beat themselves than the Bears did. That being said, the Bears are a wacky Monday Night comeback from being 4-1 in the league thanks to Caleb Williams and his offense.
RICK'S PICK: Chicago
Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns - Sunday, 1:00pm
It's the dysfunction bowl. Tua Tagovailoa's issues on offense has been well documented, with 11 touchdowns and 7 interceptions this season. Cleveland's lone win is starting to be written off as "Any Given Sunday" given the past few weeks since that Green Bay victory. Miami's win, against the New York Jets.
This is a game where the talent level of the Dolphins, if they can keep it together, could result in a win.
RICK'S PICK: Miami
New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans - Sunday, 1:00pm
Drake Maye's growth is scaring those in the AFC East, and the Patriots are in a place they haven't seen since Tom Brady as a result of their win over the Bills and the Bills following that up with a loss to Atlanta on Monday. Stefon Diggs is enjoying scooping up the yards for the Pats. Now if only Rhamondre Stevenson would become a consistent running back. Tennessee hasn't looked good all season and was gifted their lone win of the season.
RICK'S PICK: New England
Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs - Sunday, 1:00pm
Kansas City is getting better, the team is healing up, and now Rasheed Rice returns to the team off his suspension. Patrick Mahomes is not giving teams a lot of opportunities to beat him. But, don't overlook the Raiders, this is a position they've been in before when they've upset the Kansas City Chiefs. They'll have to play perfect to pull it off, however... and I can't see them doing that.
RICK'S PICK: Kansas City
Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings - Sunday, 1:00pm
That was a stunner last week against the Giants. Now ... does that get the Eagles off their hinds and fix the issues that have come to haunt them so far this season, or are they going to try to false start another tush push? The Vikings came from behind to beat the Cleveland Browns before their bye week in a game that could of very well went the other direction, and maybe it should have. Justin Jefferson is the shining spot for the Vikings, but he can't excel without a stable quarterback throwing to him... and I'm not sure either Wentz or McCarthy is it yet.
RICK'S PICK: Philadelphia
Carolina Panthers at New York Jets - Sunday, 1:00pm, WXXA FOX 23
The Carolina Panthers are 0-3 away from home. The New York Jets are 0-4 at Met Life Stadium. Something's got to give here, and I'm more inclined to give the needle in Carolina's favor for what Rico Dowdle did for the Panthers the last two weeks. While Carolina's winning ways may come to an end after this week with games against Buffalo, Green Bay, and both the Rams and 49'ers on the docket before their bye week, they should enjoy having a team not contending for the #1 draft pick after 7 weeks.
The same can't be said for Jets fans.
RICK'S PICK: Carolina
[4PM, SNF, MNF games to come]
