We are past the midway point of the season, yet the NFL still finds ways to surprise us, from Dez Bryant finding a job through to Nick Mullen’s historically brilliant debut. Will the same hold true for our Pick Six contest? Right now, WEST COAST OFFENSE is running away with it, but could there yet be time for somebody else to make a late run?

You’ll find the full standings at the bottom of this article. But first, here are this week’s games:

Atlanta Falcons @ Cleveland Browns (Sunday, 6pm GMT)

What a rollercoaster this season has been for Cleveland. Two wins, an impressive tie against Pittsburgh (that could have been more with competent kicking) and even those three-point losses to New Orleans and Oakland made it seem as though they were ready to turn a corner. And then they did, only to find that now they were facing directly downwards.

After four straight defeats, some outlets are already asking whether the Browns will win another game all season. Yet the betting market favours Atlanta by less than a touchdown. Baker Mayfield just threw for 297 yards against Kansas City. Is it inconceivable that he might enjoy an even better day against one of the four teams in the league whose pass defence ranks below that of the Chiefs?

Of course not. Then again, would the Browns win even if he did? The injuries continue to pile up in their own secondary, with cornerback EJ Gaines the latest to be sent to injured reserve and the team scrambling to find replacements. Nobody wants to be relying on castoffs from Buffalo and Green Bay in the week that Matt Ryan comes to town.

Falcons win

PAOLO’S PUNT: Falcons to win, Julio Jones 100+ receiving yards & score a TD, Baker Mayfield 1+ interception….4/1

Washington @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday, 6pm GMT)

Are Washington about to unravel? That might sound like an odd question to ask of a team that sits top of its division, with three wins in its past four games, but the last week has set alarm bells ringing. A 24-point defeat at home to the Falcons would be troubling on its own, but the injuries Washington suffered along the way could prove devastating.

Starting guards Shaun Lauvao and Brandon Scherff have both been placed on IR, as has receiver Paul Richardson. Left tackle Trent Williams, who missed the Atlanta game with a thumb injury, was yet to return to practice by Friday. Right tackle Morgan Moses, who hurt his knee against the Falcons, has only participated in a limited capacity.

Washington signed three new linemen this week and might well have to start two immediately. This is a team that relies on winning its battles in the trenches, to pave the way for Adrian Peterson. The Buccaneers are unreliable, but they do have the firepower to score points and put the pressure on what’s left of that Washington offence.

Buccaneers win

PAOLO’S PUNT: Buccaneers to win, 52+ total points, DeSean Jackson & Mike Evans to score….10/1

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts (Sunday, 6pm GMT)

At the start of October, we might have scoffed at the idea that this should even be a competitive game. The Jaguars were 3-1 and had already beaten the Patriots, reminding us how close they had come to upsetting the same team to reach the Super Bowl last season. The Colts were 1-3 despite Andrew Luck’s best efforts.

But Jacksonville have since lost four straight, scoring a total of 46 points, where the Colts piled on 42 in a single afternoon against Oakland. Worse, these Jags are giving off the impression that they are simply not on the same page. Cornerback AJ Bouye told reporters on Wednesday that he would miss this game. When his words were relayed to Doug Marrone, the head coach called it ‘news to me‘.

Indianapolis are still very much a work in progress. They have dragged themselves back to 3-5 by beating the Raiders and Bills: hardly the cream of the league. Yet they are quietly doing some things much better. Luck has not been sacked for three games. He has got one of his favourite weapons back in Jack Doyle. Oh, and he has only lost once in his career coming off a bye.

Colts win

PAOLO’S PUNT: Colts to win, Blake Bortles to throw 2+ interceptions, Andrew Luck to throw 2+ passing touchdowns….4/1

New Orleans Saints @ Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday, 6pm GMT)

Of all the weeks Cincinnati could lose AJ Green to injury, this might be the worst possible one. The Saints arrive on a crest of a wave after beating the Rams to claim first place in the NFC, though we should still stress that they are not a flawless team. Their pass defence ranks 31st in the league, giving up 311.4 yards per game. Tampa Bay have shown that it is possible to outgun them.

It would not be unheard of for a team in their position to have a let-down game at a moment like this, either. This is the Saints third road trip in four weeks. The Bengals are 3-1 at home, and coming off a bye. Even without Green, they still have weapons on offence. Tyler Boyd is enjoying a breakout season and jet-heeled John Ross should be back from injury.

But, yeah, losing your star receiver does hurt when you’re playing quite possibly the best team in the league.

Saints win

PAOLO’S PUNT: Saints to win, Drew Brees 300+ passing yards, Alvin Kamara & Michael Thomas both to score TDs….9/2

New England Patriots @ Tennessee Titans (Sunday, 6pm GMT)

Mike Vrabel has a clearer insight than most into what it is that the Patriots do well. The Titans’ head coach played under Bill Belichick for eight years in New England and has sought him out regularly for advice since the end of his playing career. Vrabel has caught touchdown passes from Tom Brady, and also sacked him. None of which necessarily means he knows how to stop them.

The Patriots offence has rounded into ominous form, putting 31 points on Green Bay last weekend despite the absences of Rob Gronkowski and Sony Michel. Both should be back on Sunday, presenting additional challenges for a Titans team preparing on a short week.

Tennessee have given up the fewest points of any team in the league, and reminded us of their defensive excellence as they restricted Ezekiel Elliott to 61 rushing yards and sacked Dak Prescott five times on Monday night. The overarching theme of this season, though, has been that a great offence will trump a stout D every time.

Patriots win

PAOLO’S PUNT: Patriots -9.5, Tom Brady 3+ passing TDs and 0 interceptions….7/1

New York Giants @ San Francisco 49ers (Tuesday, 1.15am GMT)

Is Nick Mullens the Next Big Thing, or was he just fortunate to launch his NFL career against the Raiders? The undrafted quarterback had not even had the opportunity for a full kitted practice with the 49ers’ starting offence before stepping in to lead his team to victory last Thursday, with the short week restricting him only to walkthroughs.

Will he be even better, then, against the Giants? Not necessarily. I certainly would not preclude a strong showing against a 1-7 team that recently traded away a starting cornerback, but the Raiders are especially awful right now. And, while Mullens should benefit from more time learning the ropes, New York will now have the benefit of some game film to scout him with.

Even if he does regress, though, he still gives his team a better chance to win than CJ Beathard. In the midst of a dismal season, a sense of novelty and optimism can go a long way.

49ers win

PAOLO’S PUNT: 49ers to win, Nick Mullens 250+ passing yards and 2+ passing TDs, Saquon Barkley to score a TD….13/2

Or perhaps you fancy one of these:

Falcons, Buccaneers, Colts, Saints, Patriots and 49ers ALL to win…11/1

5+ of Falcons, Buccaneers, Colts, Saints, Patriots and 49ers to win….2/1

Think you can pick a winner? How about all six? Why not leave your predictions in the comments section below…

OVERALL STANDINGS

33 – WEST COAST OFFENSE
28 – GAZM013
27 – JROSCOW, THOM OWEN
26 – CRAIG LLEWELLYN, K.JACKSON, OWEN MARSDEN, PAOLO BANDINI
21 – AALIPOUR1, JOHN O’GORMAN, POMPEYDINO
20 – MATTHEW SHERRY
16 – JAKE BURTON
14 – JOSH PEACOCK, TED BOVIS
8 – JAYESH PATEL
7 – SCAMPTON
5 – STEFF HARRIES
4 – ADAMCONOR90, ANDREW COSTANZA, ANDREW HULBERT, HEFIN DAVIES, ITSMILKS, KPERSON, LEEDER, RANDY BULLOCK
3 – ANDYJET88, CHARLESWALFORD, DAN SPENCE, DAVE H, JAMIE FERGUSON, LEE JELF, LEONPERRY, LEWIS, MORN01, PETER MORAN, ROB ALLEN
2 – CHRISTIE PEARSON, DAVID, KATHRYNFRAMP10, LEE C
1 – ROBLAWTON