NFL Week 6 picks: NFL debut for rookie Spencer Rattler... oh, yeah, and Drake Maye

I think I did pretty good in my first foray in publishing my picks last week:

Money line (winner straight up): 9-4

Versus the spread: 8-4-1

Over/under: 6-7

There was a lot more scoring than I expected. Who expected Joe Flacco to pass for 359 yards and the Colts to score 34 points? The Broncos scored 34 points with Bo Nix at quarterback? The first overall pick, quarterback Caleb Williams, is starting to heat up, leading the Bears to 36 points. Not to mention the best of the rookie quarterback crop, Jayden Daniels, continues his early push for MVP leading the Commanders (4-1) to 34 points against a tough Cleveland defense.

The other highly touted rookie quarterback, Drake Maye, is arriving late to the party, but he gets his shot to show what he can do in Week 6 in a brutal matchup against the Houston Texans.

I only threw a couple of scores out there in last week’s article, but, again, I am proud of how close I came. I said Houston would beat Buffalo, 27-20. Houston won 23-20. I said Pitt would beat Dallas, 20-19. OK, I picked the wrong team to win, but I almost nailed the score – 20-17.

Let’s see if I can adjust the antennas a little, and do a little better with my picks this week:

SF vs SEA

Spread: SF -3.5

Points: 48.5

Seattle comes in really banged up on defense. That’s not good news when you are going up against the likes of Purdy, Kittles, Aiyuk, Deebo, and Mason. San Fran cannot fall to 2-4. Seattle continues their slide.

49ers win and cover. Take the under on points. I think SF shuts it down once they get a two score lead.

JAX vs CHI (in London, Sunday morning)

Spread: CHI -1.5

Points: 44.5

The Jaguars barely eked out a must-win victory versus a team they have dominated in recent years, squeezing out a 3-point win against the aforementioned Joe Flacco and the Indianapolis Colts. Something is wrong – is it the quarterback or the head coach? It will be fun to watch both team’s first round picks, Caleb Williams and Jaguars’ wide receiver Brian Thomas, Jr. Thomas has been Jacksonville's one bright spot this year – and it has been very bright.

Chicago wins and covers, improving their record to 4-2. I always like the under in international games.

ARZ vs GB

Spread: -4.5

Points: 47.5

Jordan Love threw a dumb pick-six last week which almost cost me the under. More importantly, he looks healthy. Arizona is giving me sleeper vibes. They're dangerous.

Green Bay wins and covers. Home field advantage is too much for the Cardinals to overcome. It should be a high scoring game, so I will take the over.

IND vs TEN

Spread: TEN -2.5

Points: 43.5

Yuck. You couldn’t pay me to watch this game. Will Levis has, literally, been a joke this year for the Titans. He has replaced Daniel Jones as the quarterback everyone likes to make fun of. He is “fighting like hell” to play on Sunday. Titans’ fans might be hoping he takes some more time off.

I’ll take the Colts to win outright in a low scoring game. Take the under and hope Flacco comes back down to earth.

TB vs Saints

Spread: TB -3.5

Points: 41.5

Drake Maye won’t be the only rookie quarterback making his NFL debut this week. Spencer Rattler will start for the Saints in place of the injured Derek Carr. I think Rattler will surprise people, but it won’t be enough to beat Baker Mayfield and the unpredictable Bucs.

Tampa wins and covers. Even with Rattler in the game, I will take the over in this one. It may be a bit of a shootout.

CLE vs PHIL

Spread: PHIL -10

Total: 42.5

Whoa! That is a big spread. What have the Eagles done this year to deserve that? I know the Browns have been a disappointment this year, but so has Philly.

Yeah, sure, the Eagles will win but not by that much. Take Cleveland to cover. The point total seems low, also. Give me the over.

WASH vs BALT

Spread: BALT -6.5

Points:  51.5

This one should be fun. It will be the definition of a “heat check” for Jayden Daniels and the (4-1) Washington Commanders. Daniels vs Lamar Jackson. This is a promoter’s dream.

Baltimore wins but Washington covers. Lamar Jackson tells the kid, “I’m still boss here.” Derrick Henry may wind up taking the spotlight away from both of them. Give me the under as Henry and Jackson control the clock with the run game.

Chargers vs DEN

Spread: Chargers -3

Points: 35.5

Could the Broncos move to 4-2? What is going on here? The Chargers look lifeless. John Harbaugh is to Justin Herbert what I pray to God that Alex Van Pelt is not to Drake Maye. Herbert is yet to attempt 30 passes in a game.

It pains me for some reason, but I will take Denver to cover and win outright. Advantage Sean Payton over John Harbaugh as well as playing in Mile High. It will be a low scoring game but that number is too low, give me the over. I’ll give my first score prediction: Denver 19, Chargers 17

PITT vs Raiders

Spread: PITT -3

Points: 36.5

Another low point total, but another quarterback change. Remember when Gardner Minshew was everyone’s darling a few years ago when he played for Philadelphia? Those days are long gone. Aidan O’Connell gets another shot at running away with the Raiders’ starting QB job. The shine is coming off Pittsburgh’s Justin Fields as whispers are getting louder for Russell Wilson to regain his starting job.

Pittsburgh wins and covers. I like O’Connell, but the Raiders are a perpetual mess. I hate taking overs this year, but you can’t put anything past those Vegas bookmakers. Give me the over – Pittsburgh 24, Raiders 16.

DET vs DAL

Spread: DET -3

Points: 52.5

Oh, the disrespect! Dallas home underdogs? Jerry Jones must be thrilled with that. Bill Belichick just had one job open up this week with the Jets. May he have another job opening to choose from if McCarthy doesn’t get this ship righted?

I will take Dallas to cover and to win outright. Dak Prescott throws for 400+ yards. Bank on it. CeeDee Lamb will get 150+ receiving yards. It will be a great player prop game. Dan Campbell will make a decision that costs the Lions the game. Give me the over. Make sure you have the popcorn ready.

ATL vs CAR

Spread: ATL -6

Points: 46.5

Kirk Cousins won’t be impressed if Prescott throws for 400+ yards. That’s because he threw for 500+ last week. Where did that come from?? If you have the over for combined age of the starting quarterbacks being 71.5, you win. This will be a battle of 36-year-olds as Cousins goes up against Andy Dalton. Similar to Justin Fields, the shine is coming off of Dalton after a strong opening performance. Sorry, Andy, but you are no Joe Flacco.

Atlanta continues their surge. They win and cover, easily. I will take the under, though. That will be a tricky combo.

CIN vs Giants

Spread: CIN -3.5

Points: 47.5

The Giants who? The Giants have gone forgotten in the New York sports news cycle this week with all the shenanigans going on with the Jets. The Giants did pull off a surprising win in Seattle last week. This point total is way too high, in my opinion. I have always liked Daboll. There is just something about him. Come to think of it, I should be rooting for him to lose, get fired, and take over for Van Pelt as offensive coordinator for the Patriots.

I will take the Giants, however, to cover and upset. Similar to the Jets and the Jaguars, something just isn’t right with Cincinnati this year. Give me the under.

BUF vs Jets

Spread: BUF -2.5

Points: 40.5

Nothing like firing your head coach before a pivotal Monday night matchup against your divisional rival. The Jets are in disarray. Aaron Rodgers is a dink. Enough bad things, football-wise, could not happen to him. Josh Allen is coming off a 9-completion game last week which saw him get his bell rung at the end of the game. Apparently, head coach Sean McDermott must have got his head rung at the end of last week’s loss as well.

Buffalo wins and covers. Give me the over.

HOU vs NE

Spread: HOU -6.5

Total: 37.5

And now for the moment we have all been waiting for. No, I don’t mean everyone is waiting for my prediction (although that is a cool thought). I am talking about the debut of Drake Maye as starting quarterback of the New England Patriots. Awesome!!!! Oh, wait. He is making his debut against the ferocious defense of the Houston Texans. That is like making your boxing debut against Mike Tyson. Just don’t get seriously hurt, please.

Houston wins and covers, easily. There will be many more better days, Drake. This just won’t be one of them. Houston might score 38 points on their own. I’ll take the over, but I do think Maye will have some moments. Houston 27, New England 17.