Another upset would be statement stretch for No. 3 Falcons [NFL Picks]

Each Saturday morning during the NFL season, we'll wake up early, take a hearty cut at predicting the unpredictable league, wince at how it went the week before and ponder the definition of insanity.

It's the bye week. With errands to run, 11-year-old soccer tournaments to watch (yeah, they still play when college football is on) and my official, Roger Goodell-autographed NFL Countdown Clock! marching toward Monday morning's mostly-empy locker room access at Winter Park, I gotta go.

Here are my weekly picks. And, yes, last week's picks did give you Atlanta over Denver on the road, and an 8-5 mark versus the spread (which, for me, is like '72 Dolphins-good). Now, if only I had a coin that could pick a president …

WEEK 6 PICKS

Vikings: Bye week

LAST WEEK: Texans plus-6 1/2 at Vikings: The pick: Vikings 24, Texans 9. The Result: Vikings 31, Texans 13. Record: 4-1.

UPSET SPECIAL

Why?: Sheesh. When the Falcons get together to discuss using the old "the-world's-against-us" cliche, they need to give a special mention to the NFL schedule-maker being particularly against them. The Falcons this week are completing a stretch of four road games in five weeks, sandwiched around a home game against the defending conference champion. After playing and winning at defending world champion Denver last week, the Falcons go to an even noisier venue in Seattle this week. But, what the heck, they're 3-0 so far during this stretch. I'll ride with the hottest QB in the league one more week.

LAST WEEK: Falcons plus-4 1/2 at Broncos: The pick: Falcons 24, Broncos 21. The Result: Falcons 23, Broncos 16. Record: 2-2.

Ravens plus-3 1/2 at Giants: Giants by 7

Panthers minus-2 1/2 at Saints: Saints by 3

Bengals plus-8 1/2 at Patriots: Patriots by 10

Jaguars plus-2 1/2 at Bears: Jaguars by 3

Rams plus-3 1/2 at Lions: Rams by 3

Eagles minus-2 1/2 at Redskins: Redskins by 3

Steelers minus-8 1/2 at Dolphins: Steelers by 10

49ers plus-8 1/2 at Bills: Bills by 3

Cowboys plus-3 1/2 at Packers: Packers by 7

Colts plus-2 1/2 at Texans: Texans by 3

Jets plus-7 1/2 at Cardinals: Cardinals by 10

Record (Last week/Season): 8-5/35-23

Vs. spread (Last week/Season): 8-5/26-32

1, Vikings (5-0)

2, Patriots (4-1)

3, Falcons (4-1)

4, Packers (3-1)

5, Steelers (4-1)

7, Raiders (4-1)

8, Seahawks (3-1)

9, Bills (3-2)

10, Redskins (3-2)

11, Chargers (2-4)

13, Lions (2-3)

14, Eagles (3-1)

15, Rams (3-2)

16, Texans (3-2)

17, Ravens (3-2)

19, Bengals (2-3)

20, Cardinals (2-3)

21, Buccaneers (2-3)

22, Panthers (1-4)

23, Giants (2-3)

25, Colts (2-3)

26, Jaguars (1-3)

27, Bears (1-4)

28, Titans (2-3)

29, Jets (1-4)

31, 49ers (1-4)