I went to bed last night, in the middle of the fourth quarter of the Cowboys' pounding of Seattle, sated from turkey consumption and feeling a little guilty at having padded my prediction record with a couple of gimmies.

Detroit may have hosted a Thanksgiving game for the last 74 years but at the moment they don’t deserve to. As Yahoo! columnist Michael Silver wrote before the game, “If you insist upon watching all four quarters, how much do you hate talking to your in-laws?”

Dallas still have some issues, especially against the kind of short-passing game they will have to face from the Giants and the Eagles in potentially vital games down the stretch but Seattle were in no position to exploit it for long.

Shortly after waking up this morning I felt very annoyed about my failure to have the courage of my convictions and a little sorry for my dining companion last night, whose fantasy opponent this weekend had Chris Johnson and Brian Westbrook in his backfield.

Instead of plumping for Philadelphia to play up to their potential, harass Arizona QB Kurt Warner all night and show just how the Cardinals’ supposedly amazing season has been padded by wins over poor opponents, I bottled it. Won’t happen again.

After last night’s 2-1 record, I’m 41-22 for the season.

Of the remaining six games on this weekend’s UK TV schedules, I reckon only one is even close to being a foregone conclusion. Four will have serious implications for deciding division standings come the end of the season.

First to the NFC South, where leaders Tampa Bay host New Orleans, who are bottom in the division but just two games out of the race.

Last week marked the first time all year that the Saints had won back-to-back games and they face a toughie this week, with NFL passing leader Drew Brees facing the team ranked second in defending through the air.

Brees faced few problems in shelling them for 343 yards in the season-opener, though, and Reggie Bush returns from injury to add options on the ground and through the air.

Meanwhile, the Buccs backfield looks like a field hospital, with Warrick Dunn and Cadillac Williams both on the injury report. Saints to win as their surge continues.

Between those two are Carolina and Atlanta, who both face inconsistent but dangerous foes.

The Panthers’ run defence is falling apart just as Ryan Grant and the Green Bay ground attack is finding its feet again, but Carolina are strong on the ground too and DeAngelo Williams and Co should be able to control possession to hand it to the visitors.

Everyone knew Michael Turner had the potential to be one of the league’s best backs during his time with the Chargers. Trouble was he was behind LaDainian Tomlinson on the depth chart so he needed to move to Atlanta to prove he can lead a team.

San Diego’s main defensive weakness this season, though, has been against the pass, which will allow Falcons rookie QB Matt Ryan to shine. His opposite number Phillip Rivers has been particularly interception-prone in the last few weeks so Atlanta will take this one.

The New York Jets could win a sixth successive game for the first time in a decade and suggestions of an All-Apple Super Bowl are starting to surface already. Denver will light things up on offence but ultimately subside at the Meadowlands, and the only result I have any confidence in this weekend.

Then it’s time for another key divisional match-up, which pits Chris Forte’s Bears against Adrian Peterson’s Vikings at the Metrodome.

Minnesota will have watched hours of Packer back Ryan Grant running off left tackle against the Bears two weeks ago and, even if Chicago have plugged that hole, there will be others in a defence that just ain’t what it used to be.

The Vikes D allows an average of 70.4 yards per game – second in the league – which will mitigate a mediocre passing offence and take Minnesota top of the NFC North.

Jacksonville visit Houston on Monday night and I can’t wait to hear ESPN’s efforts to convince viewers this one is worth watching. Expect lots of speculation as to the futures of Jack Del Rio and Gary Kubiak as the Jags over-run the Texans.

Are these predictions even close? Could I be wrong on five of these? Could I be wrong on all six? I’ll give you five but you’ll have to argue the Jets one hard.