My Steve Smith Blog

The marquee matchup of week 6 will lead off this Sunday's action when the 4-0 New Orleans Saints (-3) emerge from their bye week to host the 5-0 New York football Giants.

Ask any fantasy player who the MVP of their league is and 99 times out of 100 Drew Brees name would come up. The Saints quarterback has single handedly powered New Orleans to contender status throwing for over 1000 yards and 9 touchdowns in their first four games, in which the Saints have won by no less than 14 points. Their latest contest against the NY Jets proved their sprinting out of the gate is no fluke. A team that thrives on its opponent's mistakes, the Saints were able to capitalize on two key turnovers (punctuated by Darren Sharper's 99 yard pick six) by the Jets wunderkind quarterback Mark Sanchez to fuel a 24-10 New Orleans victory. After missing the playoffs the past two seasons based on a mediocre defensive effort, this year's Saints are marching along on pace to run the regular season table with a defense rising to every occasion thrown their way.

Enter the New York Giants. If there is any team in the NFL that could be considered perfect, this team would fit the bill. A smash mouth running game, a shockingly efficient passing game, and a defense ranked number one in total yards allowed to date this season, the Giants are a well oiled machine that appears to be headed to another Super Bowl, only this time sans the underdog status. The most surprising aspect of the Giants this season is the way they have responded to losing former wide receiver, current Rikers Island resident Plaxico Burress, as well as veteran receiver Amani Toomer, two major factors in New York's 2007 Super Bowl success. After a shaky preseason, the remaining wideouts have stepped up in a big way, none bigger than Steve Smith. Not to be confused with the outstanding Panthers receiver of the same name, Steve Smith 2.0 is the real deal. With a league leading 37 receptions this season, Smith is as close to a sure thing as any quarterback could ask for. The Giants will need his productivity to continue in order to come up big in New Orleans.

This is a game that has potential to be one of the best games of the season, and sets up a potential rematch in the upcoming postseason should both teams continue their early success. The only edge I can see either of these teams having is the Saints bye week preparation period. The Giants are not a team that surprises anyone; they lay all their cards on the table week after week and are not a team that will beat themselves. The extra week, coupled with the game being played in the Superdome (one of the last real home field advantages left in sports) may just be the tipping point the Saints need to take down the G-Men. While my heart says New York, my head says New Orleans. Lets go, reverse jinx!

Final: 31-27 New Orleans

Matt Sweet is an up and coming sports journalist who is directly collaborating with http://www.superpredictors.com