Ok, a disclaimer first. I am going to make some picks in the post but contrary to my week 1 record in the ESPN pick'em they should be taken with a grain of salt. I started hot, off the charts hot, and since have recovered my senses and couldn't pick my nose if I was hungry. We call that "reversion to the mean".

We are at a fun part of the season. Nobody is really out yet but some are starting to fall. Not only that but some teams we expected to make the playoffs are not unless they make an epic run, ie. the dirty birds from Hotlanta. If you look closely there are a few teams with their back up against the wall. Let's discuss.

The interesting games for week 6

Out with the Old, In with the New

Let's start with the best first and that is the last one on my list. KC is going to New England. Everybody seems to think this is 2011 or something. Jacksonville beat NE and lost to KC. I know that doesn't work in football but it should inform the decision. KC's defense is not as bad as advertised. They got a lot of pressure last week and will bring it again this week. On the other hand the Pats are back with a full complement of receivers and Michel and White are hitting their stride. These are the best two teams in the AFC (Jags #3) and this might be for homefield advantage in Jan. I am taking the Chefs and I am not a Brady hater, just a Mahomes fan. This could be the epic handoff of the best that ever was to the best that's going to be. It should be fun to watch.

Cheer for the Home Team

In my case that's the Jags. I get excited before games like this one. Jalen likes to be a star so he plays well against glamorous opponents. Maybe he will play better against the Chefs when we see them in the playoffs. Plus he just got embarrassed. The D is going to come to play and with any luck so will Bortles. We signed Jamal Charles but he won't have much of an impact this game. If you have Moncrief, Westbrook or Yeldon on your fantasy team put them in. They are going to be used this week. When they play poorly they usually come back like gang busters the next week. So I am taking the Jags and all the gratuitous shots of the Cowgirls I can get.

Curse the Home Team's Opponent

In this case I am not talking about Dallas but Tennessee. That's the Jags divisional rival. Although neither team looked good last week the Titans are right in the thick of it. I am not a big Ravens fan. I want to see Cleveland win that division. But this week I am all about the Ravens. Should be a good game. Both teams are wantabes and if you want to be a good wantabe you have to beat the other wantabees. This game might go a long way to showing us who the pretender is. No, it's not McGregor; it's the Titans.

Monsters Invade South Beach

I have become a midling Bears fan and have long been a midling Doefins fan. That just means I try to find reasons to root for them but sometimes I root against them. I loved Don Shula and Dan Marino so it's impossible to watch the Doefins without getting nostalgic. This week when the tears well up in the corner of my eye I will be rooting for the Bears. I love good defense. They drafted the Butkis Award-winning middle linebacker from the Georgia Bulldawgs, Roquan Smith and then...then...picked up Kahlil Mack. This defense might be special for several years. Those guys are young and fierce. I am taking the D and the Bears in this one.

Almost Must Wins Early in the Season

Where's Joey Porter When You Need Him

I will never be able to watch these teams play each other without remembering the chaotic scene in the playoffs with Joey Porter on the field, Pacman Jones getting a stupid penalty, the refs totally losing control and giving the game to the Steelers in a crazy last second comeback. This week is almost a must win for the Steelers if they want to win the division. If they lose this one they will be 2 games back (really 3) just six games in. There is a lot of time left but that's a lot of ground to make up unless the Bangles just fall apart. All I can say is Joey Porter won't save them this time. Go Bangles.

Chargers Charge and Browns Lose

Most people think this game is a gimmee. Not me. The Browns have been respectable and Mayfield is getting more experience. Bad news for the Mexico City Chargers. If they were to slip up and lose this and KC beat NE the SuperChargers would be 3 back and chasing the best team in the AFC. They are in Cleveland. They better come ready to play or they will be working out wild card scenarios before October is over.

Lambo Leep or Lambo Screwed

Green Bay is heavily favored and I probably shouldn't have included this game. I don't even know who is playing QB for SF and I think their running back is dinged up. File this one under "anything could happen and if it does it's going to suck". The NFC North is clearly one of the best, if not the best division in football. A GB loss coupled with a Chicago win will put them 2 back but the next 5 games coming out of a week 7 bye are @Rams,@New England, Miami, @Seattle and @Minnesota. And then they still have a trip to Soldiers Field later in the year. So I am taking GB in the game but just be aware if they lose this one they just may have to bend over and kiss their cheese-head playoff hopes good-bye.

Marshawn's Last Laugh

Right now I am taking Seattle in this one but life's a beach and the stars are aligning to give Marshawn the last laugh. Let me explain. Seattle (2-3) happens to play in the same division as the Rams (5-0). Marshawn Lynch has been waiting a couple of years to do what he could do this weekend. A loss and the Seahawks go down 4 games. Most people gave them a real shot to make the playoffs at the beginning of the year. It's not happening if Lynch gets 200 yards and 4 touchdowns Sunday. You want to bet against him go ahead. I just changed my mind, I am taking the Raiders in this game.

Chefnutz99

Somebody is going to have to change their handle after this week. The Broncos lost to the Jets last week, have the Rams this week and the whole time they are chasing the undefeated Chefs. 2-4 if they lose to the Rams, and I am taking the Rams. That's not going to get them close enough to smell the playoffs. So the Broncs are rooting for the Patriots this week! As my wise old uncle Morgan used to say, "Strange fellows make strange bed-fellows."

FYI, the asterisk means I am taking the Broncos against the spread. It's going to be a great game.