The odd weeks have been giving me trouble. There were seven upsets this past week with the following teams losing: Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, and the Seattle Seahawks. All seven teams were .500 or better entering Week 5. Regardless…got to press on with more games. Only two divisional games this week. Here is the NFL Week 6 slate and my predictions…
Week 5 picks: 6-8, Cumulative picks: 45-31-1 / (.590)
Week 6 Matchups & Predictions
(Thursday) Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants, 8:15 PM EST
I knew the inefficiency of the Eagles offense would catch up to them. I just thought the defense would be able to hold down the fort against Bo Nix. But, Jalen Hurts was not able to deliver with his arm. Surprise, surprise.
With the Giants losing to the Saints, this should be an easy opportunity for the Eagles to get their angst out against a division rival. Vic Fangio won’t let Jaxson Dart, a rookie QB, get the better of him.
Pick: Eagles win 27-13
Denver Broncos @ New York Jets (Tottenham, England) 9:30 AM EST
Denver’s defense has come a long ways since Weeks 1 & 2. This will likely be a game where the defense and offense thrive against the winless Jets.
Pick: Broncos win 30-9
Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers, 1:00 PM EST
The Cleveland Browns will be starting Dillon Gabriel in Week 6. The revolving door at the quarterback position will likely cause offensive inefficiency, so I’m going with Pittsburgh.
Pick: Steelers win 27-3
Los Angeles Chargers @ Miami Dolphins, 1:00 PM EST
The Chargers have been out of sync for the past two weeks with losses to the New York Giants and Washington Commanders; scoring a combined 28 points. Maybe the Chargers were reading their own press clippings. At 3-2, they will need to right the ship. And on tap are the 1-4 Dolphins. Should be a win.
Pick: Chargers win 27-17
New England Patriots @ New Orleans Saints, 1:00 PM EST
Both of these teams won in Week 5 but when comparing the two, one team has the ability to sustain their win streak and it’s not the home team. The Patriots defense is getting better and better under Mike Vrabel and should deliver enough in key moments to grab a win on the road.
The Patriots could be liable to a trap game because of their emotional win on the road in Buffalo but I think they get the job done in New Orleans.
Pick: Patriots win 30-16
Arizona Cardinals @ Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 PM EST
You can’t make up the ways that Arizona lost that game against the Titans. And of course, it cost me my survivor pool too. Jonathan Gannon and Shane Steichen will square off as former “teammates” on staff with the Eagles. Right now though, Steichen has the better team with the better quarterback and running back. Give me the Danny Dimes-led Colts.
Side note..I think we are beginning to see the end of the Kyler Murray era with the Cardinals.
Pick: Colts win 28-20
Seattle Seahawks @ Jacksonville Jaguars, 1:00 PM EST
This should be a really great game. The Seahawks defense has been exposed in the last 5 quarters, giving up 52 points in that time span. The Jaguars have a real opportunity here to make a bigger name for themselves; having defeated the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football.
Pick: Seahawks win 27-23
Dallas Cowboys @ Carolina Panthers, 1:00 PM EST
If the Cowboys could get their defense to a place where it is just league average, I make the bold statement that they are the best in the NFC East right now and that they would win the division. It’s still possible. They did sack Justin Fields five times but that’s Justin Fields… Only problem is that they got gashed for 144 yards on 22 rushing attempts. Not exactly a depiction of defensive improvement.
Pick: Cowboys win 30-21
Los Angeles Rams @ Baltimore Ravens, 1:00 PM EST
The Rams have 9 days to prepare for whether Lamar Jackson or Cooper Rush is the starting quarterback.
The Rams win this game in a blowout if they fix three things: 1) ST blocking for XPs and FGs, 2) ball security, and 3) secondary.
The offense is the most explosive it has been since the 2021 season. So for anyone that thinks McVay is the problem, look at the above three issues first. Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford have put the team in a spot to be 5-0. Time for the supporting cast to step up.
Pick: Rams win 34-16
Tennessee Titans @ Las Vegas Raiders, 4:05 PM EST
The ball literally had to bounce their way (multiple times) for the Titans to win last week against Arizona. The Raiders need a lot to go right for themselves. This might be the worst game of the week. Give me the home team.
Pick: Raiders win 20-13
San Francisco 49ers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:25 PM EST
I don’t think the 49ers are that great of a football team but I have to respect that they have found ways to win without Brock Purdy, Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, George Kittle, and Nick Bosa. It makes the offense a threat. The defense is not what it can be with Bosa removed.
The Bucs just keep finding ways to win.
Pick: Buccaneers win 30-23
Cincinnati Bengals @ Green Bay Packers, 4:25 PM EST
It doesn’t matter who the quarterback is for the Cincinnati Bengals if the offensive line can’t block for him. Joe Flacco is going to have to step in and face off against Micah Parsons? Woof. Good luck.
Pick: Packers win 28-13
(Sunday Night Football) Detroit Lions @ Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 PM EST
Even though it’s Arrowhead, I think this game leans to the Lions with how they’ve played offensively as of late. Effort levels seem to be a concern with some Chiefs players, something that Dan Campbell demands out of his teams.
Pick: Lions win 28-24
(Monday Night Football) Buffalo Bills @ Atlanta Falcons, 7:15 PM EST
I’m taking the Bills on the road; believing that Josh Allen will be MVP Josh Allen at some point.
Pick: Bills win 26-17
(Monday Night Football) Chicago Bears @ Washington Commanders, 8:15 PM EST
Jayden Daniels is just better than Caleb Williams. Commanders will move to 4-2; putting pressure on the Eagles.
Pick: Commanders win 24-23
Teams on Bye: Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings
If you had to pick ‘em, who are you taking this week?