NFL Week 6 Predictions

Kansas City Chiefs 3-1(1-1 Away) at Houston Texans 3-2(1-2 Away)
1:00 PM Reliant Stadium

In this great AFC showdown, the Kansas City Chiefs travel for a second consecutive week to take on an AFC South opponent. Todd Haley has coached his team to victories in four of the previous five games. The Texans are coming off a dismal performance in which they were manhandled by the New York Giants 34-10 at home. The ground game is crucial in this contest and both teams are ranked in the top five in this category in the league. The Chiefs' Jamaal Charles averages 6.5 yards a carry, and the Texans' Arian Foster is the NFL's leading rusher with 562 yards on the ground. Both teams are also exceptional defending the run, the Chiefs rank 6th and the Texans rank 5th. Mistakes were a big cause of the Texans loss the previous week and the Chiefs' under coach Todd Haley are playing smart this year, only two the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Buccaneers have been penalized fewer times. A difference maker in this match up could be special teams, an area in which Kansas City ranks in the top ten in ten different statistical categories.
My Pick: Kansas City Chiefs
Players to watch: KC Jamaal Charles, Branden Albert, Brandon Flowers, Ron Edwards
                             Hou Mario Williams, Arian Foster, Demeco Ryans, Matt Schaub

New York Jets 4-1(2-0 Away) at Denver Broncos 2-3(1-1 Home)
4:05 PM Invesco Field at Mile High

The Denver Broncos head into Sunday's match up against the Jets after a 31-17 loss to Baltimore the previous week and with a bang up defense that will be missing starters OLB Robert Ayers(broken foot), S Brian Dawkins(knee), CB Andre Goodman(leg), S Darrel McBath(ankle), and LB Wesley Woodyard(hamstring). As if that wasn't enough adversity to overcome, the Jets are riding high after an emotional win on Monday Night against the Minnesota Vikings. The Jets defense are licking their chops at a chance to do Denver starting quarterback Kyle Orton as they did to Brett Farve the previous week, harass and force him into mistakes. Even tho Orton enters Sunday with three consecutive outings in which he has thrown for 300 yards, he has no supporting ground game to keep the Jets defense honest. The Broncos do have the NFL's leading receiver in Brandon Lloyd (30 receptions, 589 yards, 3TDs). The Jets come to town with 31 year old running back LaDainian Tomlinson (5.7 yards per carry), who seems to be rejuvenated and is a known Bronco killer; in 20 career games against Denver, Tomlinson has 18 career touchdowns.
My Pick: New York Jets
Players to watch: NYJ LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Cromartie, Brad Smith, Mark Sanchez
                             DEN Nate Jones, Jason Hunter, Eddie Royal, Kyle Orton

Oakland Raiders 2-3(0-2 Away) at San Francisco 49ers 0-5(0-2 Home)
4:05 PM Candlestick Park

The Niners look to get their first win of the season on Sunday at home when they face Bay Area neighboring Oakland Raiders. Mike Singletary and his squad have their back against the wall and that makes them very dangerous. The Raiders are coming off of an emotional comeback win over the Chargers and are looking to win back to back games for the first time since 2008. The Raiders gain 134.2 yards a game on the ground, but surrender 147.8 yards a game. The Niners are 8-0 when running back Frank Gore gains 172 are more yards  from scrimmage and that could be the difference maker in this year's edition of the Bay Area battle.
My Pick: San Francisco 49ers
Players to watch: SF Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, Travis Laboy,Vernon Davis                             
                             OAK Michael Bush, Zach Miller, Nnamdi Asomugah