Things are getting interesting in the New York/New Jersey football market. For the first time in about seven years both the Jets and Giants enter a week in the NFL season with both over .500. And if you started the postseason today (it’s only October, people) both the Jets and Giants would be the five seed in their respective conference.
What a difference a year makes.
And this week both teams will face their stiffest tests to date. The Jets hit the road for Green Bay, Wisconsin to face an angry Packers team coming off a disheartening loss to the Giants last week in London, England.
Gang Green is flying high at 3-2, and a lot of people are jumping on the bandwagon. See here …
"They're real. They have fire power. They [Jets] upset Green Bay."@ColinCowherd's Week 6 Blazin' 5 picks are here pic.twitter.com/O7zceJSD9J
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) October 14, 2022
Yes, the Jets have the fire power. They are young. From Sauce Gardner to Breece Hall; Zach Wilson and Micahel Carter, the Jets have a really good young core. That doesn’t change the fact the Jets are going into a buzz-saw in Green Bay against Aaron Rodgers who is 9-0 after a loss since Matt LaFluer has been the head coach and is 3-0 lifetime against the Jets. The question for the Jets on Sunday is can they remain in the game long enough and withstand the challenge a more experienced team like Green Bay will present? If they do it will be a huge stepping stone in the teams development.
Meanwhile, the Giants (4-1) are also gaining a lot of fan support after their 27-22 upset over Green Bay last week. The Giants find themselves in the mix in the NFC East against the Dak-less Dallas Cowboys and the unbeaten Eagles.
Can the Giants keep it going against LaMar Jackson and the Ravens? The key to this game will be defense and the Giants enter with the advantage on the sideline in former Ravens defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, and the proof — so far — is in the pudding. The Giants are ranked 12th in the league, average 18 points allowed per game. The Ravens are ranked 29th.
If both the Giants and Jets come out of Week 6 unscathed and their winning ways continue, expect the excitement in both teams to only keep getting ratcheted up.
New York Jets (3-2) @ Green Bay (3-2) (-7.5)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 26: Zach Wilson #2 of the New York Jets directs his team during the fourth quarter in the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at MetLife Stadium on December 26, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
As mentioned above, this is going to be a stiff challenge for the Jets. Aaron Rodgers is 9-0 after a loss in the Lafluer era and is 3-0 against Gang Green head-to-head. At some point something has got to give. The key to the game will be Rodgers vs. the Jets defense, which is steadily improving. New York’s secondary has seven picks, and rookie corner Sauce Gardner has been very stingy. Can’t wait to see him match-up against Randall Cobb. If Rodgers avoids the mistakes and focuses on shorter throws it could be a long day for New York. On the flip side it would behoove the Jets to get Breece Hall and Michael Carter the ball as often as possible. The Jets need the running game in this one in order to avoid a track meet with Rodgers.
PICK: PACKERS 31 – JETS 21
Zach Wilson ends up in a track meet and has to air it out as the Jets abandon the running game in the second half. It results in a couple of bad interceptions.Baltimore (3-2) (-5.5) @ NY Giants (4-1)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 27: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens carries the ball in front of outside linebacker David Mayo #55 of the New York Giants in the first half at M&T Bank Stadium on December 27, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Ravens are favored here for a very simple reason: LaMar Jackson can make big plays, and the Ravens have been better away from M&T Bank Stadium so far this year. The Ravens are 2-0 on the road, 1-2 at home. Jackson has carried the Ravens thus far. How the Giants defensive game plan works Jackson is going to be the difference here. Keep in mind, while the Giants are shorthanded offensively, Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley can make big plays too.
PICK:RAVENS 27 – GIANTS 24
The Giants will play well, keep it close, but LaMar Jackson is going to have that one back-breaker drive at the end. The Giants are good, but not great — not yet.Minnesota (4-1) (-3.0) @ Miami (3-2)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 16: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings passes the ball in the third quarter of the game against the Miami Dolphins at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
It feels like things are coming apart for Miami. After a red-hot 3-0 start the Dolphins have lost two in a row, and will once again be without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) and back-up quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. That means third stringer Skylar Thompson gets the start under center. Not good.
The Vikings are not world beaters despite a 4-1 record, but they can take advantage of a reeling team in South Beach. If you are a fantasy owner, make sure you start Dalvin Cooke and Jordan Jefferson this week.
PICK: VIKINGS 24 – DOLPHINS 16
Tampa Bay (3-2) (-9.5) @ Pittsurgh (1-4)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 09: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gives a thumbs-up during warmups before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium on October 09, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
In most cases this is a great spot to take the underdog. The Steelers are nearly a double-digit dog at home against the aging Buccaneers. The only issue is Pittsburgh just doesn’t have the horses to get this done right now, and rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett has looked, well, like a rookie. Tom Brady is 12-3 all time against Pittsburgh. While it won’t be pretty, expect him to notch number 13 on Sunday afternoon.
PICK: BUCCANEERS 23 – STEELERS 17.
Dallas (4-1) @ Philadelphia (5-0) (-6.5)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 08: Ito Smith #43 of the Dallas Cowboys dives into the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 08, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
If it weren’t for Chiefs-Bills, this would easily be THE Game of the Week. First place is on the line as the unbeaten Eagles (5-0) take on the Cowboys. Dallas has won four in a row despite not having Dak Prescott under center. Cooper Rush has done a nice job managing the game, but the key to the Cowboys success this year is defense. Dallas is ranked seventh in the league in total D. They are giving up only 193 yards per game through the air, and 14.4 points per game.
You know who is fourth in total defense? The Eagles. They too have been great at getting after it on the defensive side of the ball, making it easier for Jalen Hurts and company. Keep in mind, however, the Eagles haven’t face a team as talented as Dallas yet on their schedule. Are the Eagles this good, or are they fools gold? We will find out.
PICK:EAGLES 20 – COWBOYS 17
I wouldn’t be shocked if Dallas upsets, but reality is going to come crashing eventually for Cooper Rush. And soon reality will hit the Eagles too, just not this week.Buffalo (4-1) (-2.5) @ Kansas City (4-1)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JANUARY 23: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills walks off the field after being defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 23, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
This is as good as it gets. After last season’s epic divisional playoff clash that saw Kansas City prevail in overtime, everyone has waited to see these two AFC titans clash once again.
Revenge is definitely on the mind of the Bills, who probably still feel they were cheated out of a chance to answer the Chiefs OT touchdown last January. Sometimes vengeance can fuel a team to victory, or sometimes it can be its downfall. The Bills have to channel their energy, compose themselves for a slugfest.
There is no doubt the Bills are better. Buffalo has been blowing people out, while KC struggled last week against 1-4 Las Vegas. Josh Allen has looked like an MVP, but so has Patrick Mahomes.
Can’t wait for this, but I got a feeling Buffalo has a statement in them.
PICK: BILLS 30 – CHIEFS 27.
