Make no mistake about it, the NFL brass have visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads. These, after all, are three of the biggest fan bases in the game.  After five weeks, the Eagles, Giants and Cowboys have combined for an impressive 13-2 record. High holiday ratings are now practically assured, but you’d better believe: the NFL will cash in long before that. This weekend, for example, the Cowboys and Eagles square off on Sunday Night Football. Viewership will approach all-time highs.
 
As we near Halloween, wide-eyed football fans are, on a regular basis, having their pants scared off. The Eagles barely survived the mercurial Cardinals last weekend and the Chiefs nearly succumbed to a vicious Raider attack.  On Sunday, the Bucs were just one referee call away from succumbing to a stirring comeback by the Falcons. 
 
The 'new normal' in the NFL is that every single division is locked in a super-tight race — and no team can consider its lead safe — not for a moment, not against any opponent. While the Bills and Chiefs are in good position, even their division crowns are far from assured.
 
Now, we head to Week Six. The Packers need to recover from their European Tragedy — but they must do it facing a newly-energized Jets team. The Jaguars must rebound from their unlikely defensive beating by the Texans — but Sunday, they get none other than those tenacious Colts. The Bengals are hoping to put their heart-breaking loss to the Ravens in the rear-view mirror — but now they must watch out for Tasem Hill and those dangerous Saints.
 
And, in an unexpected drama, the Giants take their hot streak back to New York to challenge the AFC-East leading Ravens. That showdown looms almost as big as the Cowboys-Eagles shootout. But neither match is my Game of the Week — that distinction belongs to that Bills-Chiefs showdown, which could very well be a preview of the AFC Championship!
 
Last week, my picks again were nearly deadlocked at 9-7. Here are all the Week Six games – and my picks.
 
1.     Commanders at Bears            Bears               TNF
2.     49ers at Falcons                      49ers
3.     Patriots at Browns                  Browns
4.     Jets at Packers                        Packers
5.     Jaguars at Colts                       Colts
6.     Vikings at Dolphins                 Vikings
7.     Bengals at Saints                     Saints
8.     Ravens at Giants                     Giants
9.     Bucs at Steelers                      Bucs
10.  Panthers at Rams                    Rams
11.  Cardinals at Seahawks            Seahawks
12.  Bills at Chiefs                           Chiefs
13.  Cowboys at Eagles                  Eagles              SNF
14.  Broncos at Chargers               Chargers          MNF
 
There are only 14 matches this weekend. The Lions, Texans, Raiders and Titans have byes.
 
Take a deep breath, football fans! We’ll get through this.