It takes time to remember how to be brilliant. DeShaun Watson had played solidly through the first seven weeks of this season, throwing more touchdown passes than interceptions and helping his team to a 4-3 record. But it was not until Thursday night’s demolition of Miami that he finally started to look like the superstar we saw prior to the injury that curtailed his rookie season.

Likewise, our SkyBet Pick Six contestants. A little rust was to be expected after a year away but, still, it was a surprise to reach midseason without anybody producing a clean sweep of correct predictions on any given weekend. That all changed last Sunday. Watson’s five touchdowns are all good and well, but JROSCOW went one better by calling six games out of six in week seven.

So please do join me in a standing ovation for Gridiron’s first-ever six-picker. Those of us who only made it to five out of six can then get back to muttering quiet curses at Justin Tucker as we make our picks for this week’s games.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday 1.30pm GMT)

As a rule of thumb, homefield advantage in the NFL is generally held by bookmakers and bettors to be worth somewhere between two and three points. But what should the number be for the Jaguars when they play at Wembley Stadium? After losing their first two International Series games, they have now won three in a row.

A growing UK supporter base helps to create a partisan atmosphere but, more tangibly, they benefit from having made this trip enough times to fine-tune the logistics and help players to reach gameday in optimum condition. The Eagles, by contrast, will be making their first trip over. Of the 16 teams who have only been to London once, only five returned with a win.

The Jaguars are coming off three ugly losses and, for all the focus on Blake Bortles, the reality is that he was always this mediocre. What has changed is that a defence that was once capable of covering up for his shortcomings has lost its knack for generating turnovers. Against a Philadelphia team making the transatlantic trip for the first time, they must hope to capitalise on a little unfamiliarity and jetlag.

Jaguars win

PAOLO’S PUNT: Jaguars to win, T.J. Yeldon to score a TD, Carson Wentz 1+ INTs….9/2

Washington @ New York Giants (Sunday 5pm GMT)

When a 1-6 team trades away two defensive starters, what message does that send to the rest of their roster? Giants head coach Pat Shurmur insisted he does not ‘buy the narrative’ that his team has given up on the season, but plenty of others will draw that conclusion after seeing them pack nose tackle Damon Harrison off to Detroit and cornerback Eli Apple to New Orleans.

The former might be especially missed on Sunday. Even on the NFL’s 26th-ranked scoring defence, Harrison remained a force against the run. And while Washington do not have a whole heap going for them on offence, Adrian Peterson’s 4.3 yards per carry have been just about the one thing they can rely on.

Washington win

PAOLO’S PUNT: Redskins to win, Alex Smith 250+yds passing, Adrian Peterson to score a TD….11/2

Seattle Seahawks @ Detroit Lions (Sunday 5pm GMT)

If losing Harrison is a blow to the Giants, then how much of a boost will it provide to Detroit defence that ranks 30th in the league against the run – giving up a whopping 5.7 yards per attempt so far in 2018? He is expected to go straight into the line rotation against Seattle, but only time will tell us how quickly he can digest a new scheme and take on a prominent role.

After a slow start, the Seahawks have been productive on the ground for more than a month now, finding success with their committee of Chris Carson, Mike Davis and Rashaad Penney. The offensive line has improved drastically in both its run blocking and the protection offered to Russell Wilson since DJ Fluker stepped into the lineup.

From weeks 3-6, the #Seahawks offensive line ranks first overall in pass-blocking efficiency, allowing only 13 pressures on 106 pass-blocking snaps in that time span.

— PFF SEA Seahawks (@PFF_Seahawks) October 17, 2018

The Lions, though, will provide a stern test of such progress. Their 21 sacks rank joint-fourth in the league, despite the fact they have played one game fewer than most teams. On the other side of the ball, Seattle might also struggle to generate the takeaways that they have thrived on. The Lions have not turned the ball over in three games – one of those against a Dolphins team that led the league in interceptions at the time.

Lions win

PAOLO’S PUNT: Lions to win, Matt Stafford 2+ passing TDs, Kerryon Johnson to score a TD….3/1

Baltimore Ravens @ Carolina Panthers (Sunday 5pm GMT)

The Panthers are getting rather good at digging their way out of a hole. Graham Gano kicked a 63-yard field goal to save them from defeat to the Giants in week five, and Cam Newton put together three consecutive touchdown drives as Carolina recovered from a 17-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat the Eagles in week seven.

We only know this, however, because they are correspondingly good at falling into holes to begin with. In between those two wins, they came up 16 yards short of another great comeback against Washington, after spotting their opponents a 17-0 head-start.

It is hard to imagine them recovering from a similar scenario against the Ravens, and the league’s stingiest defence. Baltimore did come unstuck at the end against New Orleans last weekend but, even then, still only lost on a missed extra point. That defeat, furthermore, might only sharpen the focus of the AFC North team.

Ravens win

PAOLO’S PUNT: Ravens to win, Joe Flacco 2+ passing TDs, Carolina Panthers 2+ sacks….7/2

San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals (Sunday 8.25pm GMT)

Arizona have a new offensive co-ordinator, Byron Leftwich promoted from quarterbacks coach after Mike McCoy was fired. An optimistic take would be to point out that Leftwich has a close relationship with Josh Rosen, as well as experience calling the occasional preseason game under previous head coach Bruce Arians. Realistically, though, such midseason turmoil can hardly be ideal for the development of a rookie quarterback preparing for just his fifth NFL start.

That said, the Cardinals did win in San Francisco earlier this month and, since then, the 49ers have suffered a raft of further injuries. Their top running back, Matt Breida, is yet to practice this week due to an ankle problem, while defensive lineman Solomon Thomas, centre Weston Richburg and cornerback Richard Sherman all sat out on Thursday as well.

Cardinals win

PAOLO’S PUNT: Cardinals to win, David Johnson 100+ scrimmage yards, Matt Breida to score a TD….7/1

New Orleans Saints @ Minnesota Vikings (Tuesday 0.20am GMT)

The Saints will get plenty of reminders of the ‘Minnesota Miracle’ this weekend, but the best method for moving the conversation on would be to avenge January’s playoff defeat. They are playing well enough, improving to 5-1 with their victory over the Ravens, although trouble still lurks in a secondary whose standards have slipped since Marcus Williams’s infamous blown coverage on Stefon Diggs.

New Orleans ranked 15th in the league against the pass last season but this year have fallen to 28th. Kenny Vaccaro’s exit and a sophomore slump for cornerback Marshon Lattimore have contributed. In any case, it bodes badly against a Vikings attack that is more potent now with Kirk Cousins at quarterback.

Then again, will Minnesota be able to adequately protect him? They did a better job over the last two weeks against the Cardinals and Jets, but no quarterback has seen more throws batted at the line than Cousins, and no defensive lineman does a better job of getting a paw on passes than New Orleans’s Cameron Jordan. The Vikings’ offence can ill-afford any hiccups if they are to keep up with Drew Brees and company.

Saints win

PAOLO’S PUNT: Saints to win, Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara to combine for 2+ TDs, Kirk Cousins 300+ pass yards….11/2

Or perhaps you fancy one of these:

Jaguars, Ravens, Lions, Redskins, Cardinals and Saints ALL to win…66/1

5+ of Jaguars, Ravens, Lions, Redskins, Cardinals and Saints to win….8/1

Jaguars, Ravens, Lions, Redskins, Cardinals and Saints scoring 20+ points each….8/1

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

Overall standings

24 – CRAIG LLEWELLYN, WEST COAST OFFENSE
20 – GAZM013, MATTHEW SHERRY, OWEN MARSDEN
19 – K.JACKSON, PAOLO BANDINI
18 – JROSCOW
17 – THOM OWEN
16 – JOHN O’GORMAN, POMPEYDINO
14 – AALIPOUR1, JOSH PEACOCK, TED BOVIS
9 – JAKE BURTON
5 – JAYESH PATEL, 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