NFL Week 6 picks and predictions: Jets win, Giants lose key games

Believe it or not the NFL regular season is over a quarter way through. And though there's a lot more football to be played it seems a lot of things have already been figured out.

Currently, the Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans are clearly the top two teams in each conference. However, the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers are not far behind. Meanwhile, there's a slew of teams in the middle of the pack.

All of this makes picking games really hard. For the second time in three weeks I suffered a losing record against the spread going 6-8-0 with my NFL picks and predictions. My current overall record is 34-40-3 and I need a big week to get back on track.

Without further delay, here's my picks.

(All point spreads provided by Oddshark.com and Bovada.)

Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) at Tennessee Titans (1-4), Thurs., 8:20 p.m. ET on NFL Network

Point spread: Steelers 4 1/2-point favorites.
Pick: Steelers 20, Titans 10
Prediction: Pittsburgh is coming off a much-needed victory over the Eagles and will ride that momentum to a second straight victory.

Oakland Raiders (1-3) at Atlanta Falcons (5-0), 1 p.m. on CBS

Point spread: Falcons 7 1/2-point favorites.
Pick: Falcons 30, Raiders 17
Prediction: Atlanta is currently one of the best teams in the NFL and should be able to take care of Oakland pretty easily at home.

Cincinnati Bengals (3-2) at Cleveland Browns (0-5), 1 p.m. on CBS

Point spread: Bengals 3-point favorites.
Pick: Bengals 21, Browns 17
Prediction: In the battle of Ohio its the battle of the better quarterbacks that decides this one.

St. Louis Rams (3-2) at Miami Dolphins (2-3), 1 p.m. on FOX

Point spread: Dolphins 2 1/2-point favorites.
Pick: Dolphins 24, Rams 21
Prediction: Miami has been playing well lately and I think the Rams suffer a let down coming into this one.

Indianapolis Colts (2-2) at New York Jets (2-3), 1 p.m. on CBS

Point spread: Jets 2-point favorites.
Pick: Jets 21, Colts 13
Prediction: For New York to want to contend for the playoffs it will need to beat teams like Indy. But its hard not to like a team that grinded out a victory against the Packers.

Detroit Lions (1-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (3-2), 1 p.m. on FOX

Point spread: Eagles 5-point favorites.
Pick: Eagles 24, Lions 21
Prediction: If Michael Vick can hang onto the ball Philadelphia should win this home game. However, the Eagles have been known to disappoint before.

Kansas City Chiefs (1-4) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3), 1 p.m. on CBS

Point spread: Buccaneers 3-point favorites.
Pick: Chiefs 26, Buccaneers 21
Prediction: With Matt Cassell gone Brady Quinn comes to the rescue, right?

Dallas Cowboys (2-2) at Baltimore Ravens (4-1), 1 p.m. on FOX

Point spread: Ravens 4 1/2-point favorites.
Pick: Cowboys 20, Ravens 17
Prediction: This is a game that Dallas wins just to rebuild hopes in cowboy country.

Buffalo Bills (2-3) at Arizona Cardinals (4-1), 4:05 p.m. on CBS

Point spread: Cardinals 3 1/2-point favorites.
Pick: Bills 24, Cardinals 17
Prediction: If the Bills want to contend for the playoffs they will to have this game. I believe they will respond after getting blown out the past few weeks.

New England Patriots (3-2) at Seattle Seahawks (3-2), 4:05 p.m. on CBS

Point spread: Patriots 3-point favorites.
Pick: Patriots 42, Seahawks 24
Prediction: New England's offense is rolling and when they have that going on not even the Seattle defense can stop them.

New York Giants (3-2) at San Francisco 49ers (4-1), 4:25 p.m. on FOX

Point spread: 49ers 3-point favorites.
Pick: 49ers 27, Giants 17
Prediction: This isn't the playoffs, so San Francisco is going to win this one while covering the spread.

Minnesota Vikings (4-1) at Washington Redskins (2-3), 4:25 p.m. on FOX

Point spread: Redskins 1 1/2-point favorites.
Pick: Vikings 23, Redskins 21
Prediction: Almost every week I've picked RGIII to lead the Redskins to victory and the Vikings to lose. I've been wrong pretty much every week. So, I'll be wrong again this week.

Green Bay Packers (2-3) at Houston Texans (5-0), 8:20 p.m. on NBC

Point spread: Texans 3-point favorites.
Pick: Packers 33, Texans 28
Prediction: Green Bay has been on the wrong side of a lot of thrilling games. Just have a feeling they will find a way to pull this one out.

Denver Broncos (2-3) at San Diego Chargers (3-2), 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Point spread: Chargers 1 1/2-point favorites.
Pick: Broncos 28, Chargers 21
Prediction: Peyton Manning vs. Phillip Rivers. No contest.

Last week's record: 6-8-0. Season record: 34-40-3.