- New York Giants Vs. New England Patriots-After getting back to .500 with a Week 4 against the Washington Redskins, the Giants ran into a dialed in Minnesota Vikings team that held them to just 10 points. As for the Patriots, their offense looked a little bit better in last week’s 33-7 win against the aforementioned Redskins. The inspired defensive efforts that the Super Bowl LIII champions received from both the Buffalo Bills and those aforementioned Redskins have me tempted to call upset here. However, I just don’t see Daniel Jones going into Gillette Stadium and leading the Giants to victory in that place. So with that being said, I’ll take the Patriots.
- Carolina Panthers Vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Tottenham Hotspur Stadium hosts an NFL game for the second week in a row, as the streaking Panthers (three wins in a row) take on an unpredictable Buccaneers team. The Buccaneers have given up a lot of points this season, although they did hold the Panthers to 14 points back when these two teams met in Week 2. However, that was with an ineffective Cam Newton, whom hasn’t won a start since Week 9 of last season. Kyle Allen is the starter this week and has yet to lose a start, as he is 4-0 right now. Make it 5-0 because the Panthers will continue to hit their stride and avenge that Week 2 loss against these Buccaneers.
- Seattle Seahawks Vs. Cleveland Browns-Timely defense and Russell Wilson doing Russell Wilson things made the Seahawks 4-1 with last week’s exciting win against the Los Angeles Rams. As for the Browns, they got destroyed on both sides of the ball in a 31-3 loss in primetime against the San Francisco 49ers. The Browns will play much better in this game, but the extra time off for the Seahawks will work to their advantage. So with that being said, I like the Seahawks to make it 5-1.
- Houston Texans Vs. Kansas City Chiefs-The Texans and Chiefs have met five times since Andy Reid has been the head man in Kansas City, with the Chiefs going 4-1 in those games. However, none of those games had Deshaun Watson starting opposite of Patrick Mahomes until now. And what a treat it will be, as both quarterbacks are among two of the most dynamic players in the entire league. However, both their teams are coming off totally opposite outcomes last week, with the Texans slowly yet surely pulling away from the Atlanta Falcons, while the Chiefs laid an egg in primetime against the Indianapolis Colts. The Chiefs haven’t lost consecutive games at Arrowhead Stadium since Weeks 2 through 4 of the 2015 season. However, that feat will happen this Sunday, as I see Watson lighting up Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive unit, along with J.J. Watt & Company neutralizing a somewhat depleted Kansas City offense. Texans to pull off the upset.
- Washington Redskins Vs. Miami Dolphins-This game marks a meeting of winless teams, with the Redskins at 0-5, following last week’s 33-7 loss against the Patriots and the Dolphins, whom have lost each game by 20 points or more. The Redskins did have the lead in three of their five losses, whereas the Dolphins have only led once in such a dubious scenario. The Redskins should play better under interim head coach Bill Callahan. However, I like the Dolphins in this one, as I feel that they will come out fresh following their Week 5 bye week. Miami to give Brian Flores his first victory as a head coach.
- Philadelphia Eagles Vs. Minnesota Vikings-The Eagles return to the venue in which they got their most significant win in franchise history, with that win being Super Bowl LII. And after early season struggles, they have won two in a row to get over .500 for the second time this season. As for the Vikings, they bounced back last week, as they derailed the Daniel Jones hype train with a resounding 28-10 victory against the Giants. Of all the games this week, this might be the most exciting one of the Week 6 slate, as I see a back-and-forth game where each team is giving the other their best shot. And as for who will win it, well I’ll take the Vikings in a 20-17 outcome, as Philadelphia’s weakness at cornerback will be the difference in this one. Expect big games from both Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs.
- New Orleans Saints Vs. Jacksonville Jaguars-The Saints have done more than okay the past three games, as they have won all of them and that’s without their best player in Drew Brees. As for the Jaguars, they could easily be 4-1 right now, as Gardner Minshew II has given them a chance to win in all four of his starts. He’s 2-2 as a starter. However, he faces his biggest test yet against a Saints defense that’s led by Cameron Jordan. The Jaguars slowly but surely resembling the team that they were two years ago has me tempted to pick them in an upset. However, the Saints are the more complete team of the two. Plus, I see Minshew magic disappearing against Cameron Jordan and the Saints defense, along with Jared Cook having a big day against the Jaguars defense, as Todd Wash’s unit doesn’t have the personnel to slow down tight ends. Saints to win their fourth in a row without Brees.
- Cincinnati Bengals Vs. Baltimore Ravens-The Bengals continue their oddity of alternating close losses with blowout losses, as they lost 26-23 at the buzzer against the Arizona Cardinals. As for the Ravens, they escaped Heinz Field with a 23-20 overtime victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers, thanks mostly to Marlon Humphrey’s recovery of a fumble that he forced against JuJu Smith-Schuster. The hard-fought overtime victory could be something that the Ravens can build off of. And they will because I don’t see the Bengals going into M&T Bank Stadium to pull off the upset. Ravens to go 4-2.
- San Francisco 49ers Vs. Los Angeles Rams-Both Week 5 bookends meet in a game that pits the NFC’s only undefeated team against the team who has won two consecutive NFC West division titles and last season’s NFC championship. The 49ers are coming off a dominant 31-3 win against the Browns, but are minus both starting offensive tackles (Joe Stlaey and Mike McGlinchey) and their all-world fullback in Kyle Juszczyk. As for the Rams, they are coming off a Thursday night game against the Seahawks in which they lost, due to Greg Zuerlein missing a likely game-winning 44-yard field goal. Plus, they are minus one of their best outside pass rushers in Clay Matthews III. Logic says to pick the Rams to bounce back. However, defense and the running game travel, and those two are things that the 49ers have in abundance right now. Look for Matt Breida and the 49ers rushing attack to replicate what they did against the Browns, and look for the Golden Rush defense to beat up on Sean McVay’s offense. 49ers to remain undefeated.
- Atlanta Falcons Vs. Arizona Cardinals-After a big Week 2 primetime win against their kryptonite (Eagles), the Falcons have lost three in a row and have looked worse week after week. As for the Cardinals, they finally got their first victory in the Kliff & Kyler era, as they beat the Bengals, 26-23, at the buzzer. The Falcons have way too much talent on both sides of the ball to be this bad. And with that being said, logic says to pick them to win. However, the Cardinals have the perfect Julio Jones stopper in perennial All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson, and boast a dynamic pass rush duo (Chandler Jones and Terrell Suggs) that will give Atlanta’s offensive line a lot of problems. I’ve picked against the Cardinals all season thus far. But not this week, as I look for them to add to the Falcons’ woes.
- Tennessee Titans Vs. Denver Broncos-The Titans are a puzzling team in the sense that they win games that many expect them to lose and lose games following such wins. As for the Broncos, they finally gave Vic Fangio his first win as a head coach last week, with a 20-13 outcome against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Titans have lost five in a row in the city of Denver. Make it six in a row, as I see the Broncos building off last week’s road victory in Los Angeles. Look for Von Miller to have 2.5 to 3 sacks in this one.
- Dallas Cowboys Vs. New York Jets-After an impressive 3-0 start, the Cowboys have been knocked back down to Earth a bit, first by losing in primetime against the Saints and losing against the Green Bay Packers for the third consecutive time…at home. As for the Jets, they have been outscored 84-23, following their heartbreaking Week 1 loss against the Buffalo Bills. Gang Green’s remaining schedule is filled with likely losses and toss up games, thus the question of where will a win come from? Actually, they will oddly enough get one here, as the Cowboys are a bit vulnerable, following their two-game skid.
- Pittsburgh Steelers Vs. Los Angeles Chargers-Mason Rudolph is questionable following a concussion that he sustained in last week’s loss against the Ravens. As for the Chargers, they lost a game that they should have easily won, as they suffered a 20-13 losing outcome against the Broncos. The Steelers have talent on defense but don’t always play with togetherness. And as for their offense, it’s no longer the vaunted Killer B’s unit. Anthony Lynn was very critical of his team following that loss to Denver and that’s something that will light a fire under them, as I see the Chargers bouncing back this week.
- Detroit Lions Vs. Green Bay Packers-Coming into this game, the Lions should be 4-0 right now. But after blowing a 24-6 lead that resulted in a tie, along with being victimized by Mahomes magic, they are 2-1-1. As for the Packers, they were up by as many as 28 points (31-3), but the Cowboys made the final score look respectable against them. This is the second time in three weeks in which the Packers play a night game. But unlike that first game (a 34-27 loss against the Eagles), they won’t lose this one.
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