Rules number one and two of picking NFL games: Read the injury reports and keep reading the injury reports. A star name like Carson Palmer goes down with an elbow in practice and the week’s efforts start to look lame straight away.

It’s a little harder to work out when players are back to their best after injury and Deuce McAllister popped up against the 49ers, his two reconstructed knees proving stronger than the limb I’d gone out on to predict a New Orleans loss.

Let me know what you think of this week’s picks and also your predictions for the weekend.

Last week 2-4, season so far 16-9.

Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday 1800 BST

If you like your rivalries bitter, your games tough and close and your results unpredictable, look no further than the Eastern division of the National Football Conference this season, where the Cowboys, Giants, Redskins and Eagles all look like they could mount a serious Super Bowl challenge.

New York are defending champions, while Philadelphia have been contenders for much of the last decade and Dallas have been dominant during the last few regular seasons if not in the play-offs but Washington are a different story.

Since Daniel Snyder took over as owner in 1999, the Skins have thrown cash around but been unable to build on the three Super Bowls they won between 1982 and ’91. Five coaches have come and gone, including Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs, unable to repeat his success as architect of the Skins Super Bowl-winning sides.

It says much of the Redskins organisation that Jim Zorn was originally hired as offensive coordinator this year before taking over as head coach but he has been a revelation and, after upsetting Dallas last Sunday, they earned the right to be considered contenders along with the rest of an illustrious division.

Quarterback Jason Campbell – now in his third year - has been criticised as too conservative but his style fits superbly with Zorn’s new offence, as does the catch-and-run play of receivers Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle-El.

Most call the style of short passing “West Coast” but I – in deference to Sid Gillman - still call it “dink and dunk” and pine for the bruising running games that used to dominate the NFC East.

The Redskins defence isn’t as dominant as it has been for many of their lean years but their backfield – especially corner Shawn Springs - was outstanding against the Cowboys’ receiving corps.

Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb started the season in good health for the first time in years. He isn’t now and neither are the rest of his offence. McNabb struggled with a bruised chest and Philly lost Pro Bowl running back Brian Westbrook to an ankle strain as they lost to Chicago last Sunday night.

Receiver Kevin Curtis and tight end LJ Smith continue to man the injury list, although Westbrook seems more confident of playing a role this week.

The Eagles boast the league’s best run defence but they struggle against the pass – as Dallas showed by shelling them for 41 points in week one – and I expect Campbell and the Redskins to profit in week five, with a seven-point cushion.

Other Sunday games

There’s a rare chance to see the Seattle Seahawks as they travel to the east coast to face the Giants. I have a sneaking suspicion they’re better than their 1-2 record but they’re not better than New York.

Arizona got battered by Brett Favre and the Jets last Sunday and lost receiver Anquan Boldin to injury in the process. Rebuilt Buffalo may enjoy their trip to the desert.

Never back a team quarterbacked by Brian Griese. That’s rule three of picking NFL games. Sorry, Brian, I’m going for Jay Cutler over your boy, mainly because the Broncos are unbeaten at Mile High as the Buccaneers roll into town.

Of the Steelers’ method of relying on QB Ben Roethlisberger to make plays under massive pressure, a Yahoo Sports pundit said this week: “It works, but it's dangerous. It's like relying on flashing as your primary method of picking up women.”

Pittsburgh runner Willie Parker is still out, the Steelers are black and blue after their encounter with Baltimore and Jacksonville are running the ball nicely at the moment with Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. Jaguars to win as Sunday turns into Monday.

Monday game

Pick the Saints to lose? Are you mad? Minnesota have all sorts of problems at quarterback as Gus Frerotte hurt his hand two weeks after replacing Tarvaris Jackson., whereas Drew Brees is currently on course to break Dan Marino’s single-season record of 5,084 passing yards.

It matters not, then that Viking Adrian Peterson faces as Saints side whose average 5.2 yards conceded per rush attempt is fourth-worst in the league, while Deuce and Reggie Bush go up against a Minnesota D whose 2.9 is third best. Probably.

Look out for highlights of the NFL game of the week on the BBC website on Monday.