Week 6 preview

Before we take a look at some of the key games for Week 6 in the NFL, I wanted to point something out: Stanford Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck is having a huge season. Through five games leading the 5-0 Cardinal, Luck has thrown for 1,383 yards, 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Luck also has a quarterback rating of 182.3. More on young Mister Luck later on.

Now, onto this weekend's games:

The Cowboys last stand game

Cowboys-Patriots in New England

Which Dallas Cowboys team is going to show up? The one that was humiliated in their collapse to the Lions or the one that gutted out an overtime win over a good 49ers team?

After Sunday's game against the Patriots, the Cowboys' schedule gets a little easier. A win this week would put Dallas in a position to take a serious run at the NFC East. We know what to expect from the Patriots: a lot of offence and a so-so defence. The combination of Tom Brady and Wes Welker look seemingly unstoppable this year. As if that wasn't enough for the Cowboys to worry about, they still need to account for the Pats' twin tight ends: Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

Bill Belichick likely doesn't lose much sleep over the offence; it's his defence that is the big concern. The Patriots' defence gives up a lot of yards and despite their 4-1 record, the fewest points they've allowed in a game is 19. In other words, Brady and the offence need to score a lot of points for the Patriots.

The best team in New York game

Bills-Giants in the Meadowlands

Yes, I know that the Giants and Jets play in New Jersey, but they are both "New York" teams. Hence, the Bills are the best team right now in the state of New York. Through five games, the 4-1 Bills have scored 164 points. Pro rated over the course of a 16-game season, the Bills are on pace to score 524 points. In 1991, during the zenith of Jim Kelly and the “K-Gun” offence, the Bills scored 458 points. Even more impressive is the fact Ryan Fitzpatrick has only been sacked three times this year.

Two weeks ago, the Giants were lucky to beat the Cardinals. Last week, the Giants’ luck ran out as they were beaten by the Seahawks. The Giants might be the toughest team to figure out in the entire NFL. Not only from game to game, but from quarter to quarter the Giants can either look awesome or awful. If Tom Coughlin could ever find a way to get Eli Manning and the Giants to play with some consistency, they would win a lot of games. The Giants can ill afford to turn the ball over because the Bills lead the NFL with a plus-11 in the turnover ratio.

The "walk the plank" game

Eagles-Redskins in DC

Is Andy Reid a "dead man walking" in Philadelphia? Or can Reid fend off all of the media and fans calling for his head and keep his job? That's what it has come to in Philly.

The Eagles, a prohibitive Super Bowl favourite in the eyes of many, come into this game with a 1-4 record. Peter King of Sports Illustrated, one of the most respected NFL writers in North America, recently declared that the Eagles are "sloppy and dumb.” As you can well imagine, Michael Vick took great exception to King's comments. King is bang on with his "sloppy" comment -- now it’s up to Reid to get the Eagles to stop playing "sloppy" football and to start playing up to their potential.

While all of this is going on in Philly, Mike Shanahan and the Redskins are happily going about their business of playing tough defence and conservative offence. Everybody mocked quarterback Rex Grossman for saying the Redskins would win the NFC East. A few more wins and no one will be laughing at Grossman anymore.

The "six degrees of Michigan separation" game

Lions-49ers in Detroit

Jim Harbaugh deserves to be lauded for the good work he's done with the 49ers, especially for what he's done with Alex Smith. Going into Week 6, Smith has only thrown one interception and has the third-highest quarterback rating in the NFL. Harbaugh should feel right at home Sunday; he played his college ball in Michigan after all.

Niners left tackle Joe Staley went to Central Michigan. The Lions have built the ultimate connection to the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan. The 5-0 Lions are the darlings of the NFL and are coming off a win in their coming out party on Monday Night Football. The 49ers are no easy touch, but unless they can stop Calvin Johnson they won't be able to stop the Lions’ winning streak.

The learning to win isn't easy game

Bucs-Saints in Tampa

This is a tough test for the young and talented Bucs. One week after getting pounded up and down the field by the 49ers, the Bucs have to find a way to stop Drew Brees and the Saints. What the 49ers taught Josh Freeman and the Bucs last week is that learning how to be a winner on a consistent basis in the NFL is not easy. Just ask Brees and the Saints.

The Bucs will be facing a Saints offence that leads the NFC in passing yards and is averaging over 31 points per game. If there is a silver lining for Tampa, it is the fact the Saints’ defence gives up 25 points per game -- the exact same amount as the Bucs’ defence.

The "put up or shut up" game

Jets-Dolphins in the Monday night game

New Yorkers love people who talk a good game … if they can back it up. Rex Ryan's big talk made him the toast of New York when the Jets were winning. Riding a three-game losing streak, Ryan is discovering just how harsh the spotlight in New York can be when you lose.

The Dolphins have joined a select group of teams that are in "Suck for Luck" mode. With Chad Henne injured, the odds of the 0-4 Dolphins turning their season around grow slimmer every week. The only upside to being bad in 2011 is the chance to draft Andrew Luck, a supposed "can't miss" franchise quarterback.

Speaking of franchise quarterbacks, Mark Sanchez hasn't been the main problem during the Jets’ losing streak -- it has been their run defence and their own running game. Ryan admits that the losing is getting to everyone: "Nothing is good when you lose, the food you eat or whatever, I mean nothing. It's trying to get that winning formula and that winning feeling." Ryan also has to know that a few more losses and they will have no shot at winning the AFC East.

The survivor pool tip of the week

Here's a good tip: Don't take the Giants in your survivor pool. I got knocked out last week after the Giants did the unthinkable and lost at home to the Seahawks. If I was still alive in my pool, I would have taken the Packers at home against the Rams or the Steelers at home against the Jaguars.

Jim Lang is co-host of Brady and Lang in the morning on SPORTSNET 590 The FAN and a columnist for sportsnet.ca.