Gridiron Experts Week 6 Picks (See all picks here)

If you were lucky, you walked away limping from last week’s NFL pick’em disaster of a train wreck with 6 or 7 wins. Who would have thought the Cowboys off a bye lose at home, the Saints lose to the Cardinals with a rookie QB starting, and lets not forget the Raiders who end a long losing skid against the Chargers.

When the odds are stacked against you the best thing to do is simply laugh. Personally I love NFL seasons like this one, it’s a great time to bet on football and gives even the worst fantasy team a glimmer of hope each and every Sunday.

My “Throw it in the Bag” pick for week 6 is The New England Patriots beating the Ravens at Gillette Stadium. Yes, I know the days of the deep ball of Randy Moss from Tom Brady are long gone, but if there is ever a team that knows something that we all don’t, its New England. For years people questioned the moves this franchise has made, and yet the outcome is always the same; success. There are always concerns about the running game or the secondary and yet the coaching staff still finds ways to get it done. Randy Moss himself was a risk that turned golden, as was the acquisition of Wes Welker. My point is there is a plan in place, we just have to wait for it to unfold.

This week the Ravens are eager the prove that last years playoff game wasn’t a fluke. They have added a handful of big name receiving targets to test the Patriots secondary and have a quarterback that is playing very smart football while growing into a leadership role.

The Patriots are always confident when Tom Brady is behind center and with the new additions of a rookie tight end combo, the play calling is more clever than ever. The defense isn’t what it once was but the energy level from its youth has never been stronger.

This week I expect a very tight chess match between two of the best teams in the AFC. The nagging injury to Ray Rice really limits the options for the safety net of the Ravens passing game while the noise from the home crowd should cause some on-the-fly confusion. The question we’re all waiting to have answered is who stretches the field from the loss of Randy Moss. Patriot fans might be concerned, but what some may see as a weakness I see as an element of surprise that may catch the Ravens off guard. I believe there was a plan in place when they traded Moss and to not know what to expect, makes it difficult for the Ravens to prepare. With a cast a speedy Yac-yardage receiving targets and tight end class that is arguable the leagues most diverse, the Patriots get my pick to play spoiler this week (even though they are favored). The Patriots have won seven consecutive games after a bye and home field advantage is deadly when your up against the very best.

Patriots 23-20

See all Gridiron Experts picks here: Week 6 Picks