Week 6 NFL Picks: Detroit Lions Out To Continue Perfection Two Weeks Before Trip To Denver

It's Week 6 of the 2011 NFL season and three-fourths of the AFC West is on a bye week: Broncos, Chargers and Chiefs. As always, the main stories this week are the undefeateds and the surprise start teams, which aren't mutually exclusive. The Detroit Lions are 5-0 and face the equally surprising San Francisco 49ers. The hot start Buffalo Bills look to continue things against the New York Giants on the road.

Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons (-4) -The Falcons certainly didn't expect to be 2-3 to start the season after being two games away from the Super Bowl last season. But the Panthers are not the Packers, whom the Falcons lost to last Sunday. FALCONS

Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals (-7) - Is this the week the Colts pick up their first victory? Will Curtis Painter continue to improve each week? BENGALS

San Francisco 49ers at Detroit Lions (-4.5) - Both are surprising teams this season, but which one will out on top? The 49ers' offense is weak compared to the power of the Matthew Stafford-Calvin Johnson connection. LIONS

St. Louis Rams at Green Bay Packers (-15.5) - Aaron Rodgers keeps passing and passing. The last time we saw him play a bad team (the Broncos), Rodgers found the end zone six times. PACKERS

Buffalo Bills at New York Giants (-3) - The Giants stay at home this week and are slight favorites there despite their fourth quarter collapse against the Seahawks in the final five minutes of the game. The Bills continue to be one of the hot teams in the league. BILLS

Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers (-13) - After winning AFC offensive player of the week honors for five touchdowns against the Titans, what does Ben Roethlisberger have in store for the Jaguars. STEELERS

Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins (+2) - Something's going to give one of these days for Michael Vick and the Eagles, but this doesn't look like the week. Fresh off a bye week, the Redskins should hand the Eagles their next division loss. REDSKINS

Cleveland Browns at Oakland Raiders (-7) - The Raiders are coming off an emotional victory following the death of owner Al Davis. Will all that emotion carry them through to a winning season? The next test comes against a Browns team which hasn't faced a strong challenge yet. RAIDERS

Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens (-8) - The bye week won't kill the Ravens' momentum. Their offense should keep rolling against the Texans. RAVENS

Dallas Cowboys at New England Patriots (-7) - 1970s America's Team vs. 2000's America's Team. Tom Brady doesn't collapse like Tony Romo is capable of doing. PATRIOTS

New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+4) -The Bucs are feeling sore after that 48-3 whooping the 49ers handed them last week. The Saints aren't going to let up on them either. SAINTS

Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears (-3) - The Vikings have struggled this season, but they did show signs of life by defeating the Cardinals last week. If they can get more three touchdown performances from Adrian Peterson and average play at quarterback from Donovan McNabb, things won't be all that bad. Meanwhile, Chicago can't stop anyone and can't protect quarterback Jay Cutler. Vikings

Miami Dolphins at New York Jets (-7) -The Dolphins are starving for a win and they do get to face a Jets team that is in a bit of disarray. DOLPHINS