Have your say on all the week's big stories in the NFL, plus take part in our Pick Six predictions game
Welcome back to the NFL Talkboard. Most of you will know the drill by now, but for those who don't, this is a dedicated space where people can talk about American football. Every week I will post the games for our Pick Six predictions competition and if there's time one or two talking points as well. The blog will then stay open over the weekend, allowing everyone ? myself included ? to keep chatting about the games as they happen and afterwards on Sunday and Monday.
Eagles rebound
The Philadelphia Eagles got over last week's defeat to the Chicago Bears with a 34-24 win over the Houston Texans last night, though they didn't have it all their own way. The Texans recovered from 17-3 down to lead 24-20 in the third quarter, but then they let it slip. As Richard Justice writes in the Houston Chronicle: "Stop me if you've heard this before." The Eagles are playing well but Vick took a whole string of big hits again, just as he did against the New York Giants and Chicago Bears. Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Enquirer is worried.
This weekend's games
And now for the Pick Six. Not one person managed to get all six right last season, so you can direct all your applause at stephentheaardvark, who now stands all alone at the top of the overall standings (which I will post, as ever, below the line. Here are this week's games.
Buffalo Bills @ Minnesota Vikings
The Bills keep running good teams close, and were it not for God making Steve Johnson drop touchdown passes, they would have beaten the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. The Vikings have clearly had a bit of a boost from the change at head coach but, unlikely as this may once have sounded, I think Buffalo may be the better team (and before you shout me down, please do note I only said "better", not "more talented").
Bills to win
Cleveland Browns @ Miami Dolphins
Cleveland have quietly become a competitive team, beating the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers in the last four weeks, as well as taking the New York Jets to overtime. Miami, meanwhile, have still won just once in five attempts at home this season. But with Colt McCoy ruled out again this weekend, the balance tilts in Miami's favour.
Dolphins to win
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans
The Titans have been coming apart at the seams, with the head coach Jeff Fisher and the quarterback Vince Young feuding and the injuries mounting up. They haven't scored a touchdown in nine quarters. On the other hand, Kerry Collins should be back at quarterback, replacing the painfully unready rookie Rusty Smith. Collins was under center when the Titans crushed the Jags 30-3 in week six. But still, nine quarters.
Jaguars to win
Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Don't look now, but Tampa Bay are 7-3 in an extremely tight NFC South. They also gave Atlanta a really tough game at the Georgia Dome earlier in week nine, losing 27-21 only after they had been stopped on fourth-and-one at the two-yard line late on. Josh Freeman will find places to go against a Falcons pass defence that is ranked 27th in the league. But in the end I think Atlanta get it done.
Falcons to win
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens
"Margins of victory in past seven Baltimore-Pittsburgh games: 6, 3, 4, 9, 3, 3, 3," points out Sports Illustrated's Peter King in his weekly predictions column. I've gone back and forth with various stat lines for this game, but in the end I'm just going to go with my gut.
Ravens to win
New York Jets @ New England Patriots
Another huge divisional match-up in the AFC. Tom Brady came over all coy when asked if he still hates the Jets this week but both sets of fans certainly hate each other. Anyway, we all know better than to pick against the Patriots by now, right? But does that still hold against a Jets team who have beaten them handily already once this season, whose quarterback Mark Sanchez has saved his best performances for division opponents and who have won a team-record eight road games in a row? In my opinion: yes.
Patriots to win
Yamila Diaz Alicia Keys Tyra Banks Vanessa Hudgens Sarah Michelle Gellar
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