Week 5 of the NFL season is in the book. My picks last week were just average. I picked just 8 of 14 games correctly. That’s above .500, but certainly not the mark that I was hoping for. Nevertheless, another week of gridiron actions provides another opportunity to be better at guessing.
For the season, I’m sitting at 44-34. This week there are only 14 matchups with the bye weeks officially kicking in for the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, and Los Angeles Rams.
Without further ado, here are my Week 6 predictions. Enjoy!
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) October 9, 2024Week 6 #NFLPowerRankings are out!
Full rankings: https://t.co/Q35UWFx36Q (via @Eric_edholm) pic.twitter.com/lpWjfJKqtm
Thursday Night Football – San Francisco 49ers at the Seattle Seahawks
Both of these teams lost last week which wound up as missed picks for me. A Seahawks victory could potentially give them a two-game lead in the NFC West. A 49ers win would bring both teams to 3-3. It’s tough to win in Seattle, but I’ll go with the 49ers this week.
Winner: 49ers
Sunday Football (Early Game) – Jacksonville Jaguars at Chicago Bears
The Jaguars were able to get their first win last week to avoid starting off the season 0-5. The team looks much better with Tank Bigsby getting a majority of the carries and I expect them to lean heavily on his rushing ability in Chicago. Caleb Williams and the Bears offense had their best performance of the season in their victory last week. I’ll take the Bears at home which would get them to 4-2 on the year.
Winner: Bears
Sunday Football (Early Game) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints
This should be a fun matchup between two NFC South rivals, but with Derek Carr scheduled to miss a few games, I’d say the Saints are underdogs. Rookie Spencer Rattler will get the start for the Saints. All things considered, the Buccaneers offense looked pretty darn good last week and has been putting points. I’m going to take Tampa Bay here. but I’m intrigued to see how Rattler performs.
Winner: Buccaneers
Sunday Football (Early Game) – Washington Commanders at Baltimore Ravens
This is the early game I’m most excited to watch. I’d call it my game of the week! Rookie sensation Jayden Daniels heads on the road to take on Lamar Jackson. This is going to be a really fun quarterback battle. I love the way Daniels has played to start the season, but I’ll pick Jackson and the Ravens at home.
Winner: Ravens
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) October 9, 2024Jayden Daniels on the comparisons being drawn between him & Lamar Jackson:
“At the end of the day, I wanna be known as Jayden Daniels and not the next, such & such.” pic.twitter.com/Z860mh59DP
Sunday Football (Early Game) – Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers
The Cardinals are looking for their third win of the season and the Packers are trying to keep up in a super competitive NFC North. Both teams are coming off wins. Will Kyler Murray be able to outduel Jordan Love through the air at Lambeau Field? We’ll just have to wait in see, but I’m taking Green Bay.
Winner: Packers
Sunday Football (Early Game) – Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans
The Colts lost last weekend but they were without Jonathan Taylor and Anthony Richardson. However, they were still able to put up a lot of points with Joe Flacco slinging the rock. The Titans were on their bye week and have had extra time to prepare, though I’m not impressed with how Will Levis has played. I’ll take the Colts even if Taylor and Richardson wind up being out.
Winner: Colts
Sunday Football (Early Game) – Houston Texans at New England Patriots
The Texans were able to pull off an upset win last week against the Buffalo Bills and head into New England will a 4-1 record and a commanding lead in the AFC South. First round pick Drake Maye will be starting for the Patriots who have been absolutely horrendous on offense. He may turn out to be a great quarterback, but I think C.J. Stroud and the Texans’ offense get the job done on the road.
Winner: Texans
Sunday Football (Early Game) – Cleveland Browns at Philadelphia Eagles
The Browns have lost three straight and Deshaun Watson looks worse with every snap he takes. The Commanders embarrassed them last Sunday and I expect the same this weekend with them facing the Eagles. But let’s not pretend the Eagles have been good this season.
Winner: Eagles
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) October 9, 2024When I walk into a huddle as a QB, the group of men looking at me better have BELIEF & be INSPIRED by me.
Deshaun Watson has ZERO equity inside that Browns huddle. How can you continue on with him? pic.twitter.com/0qW3LOUaZT
Sunday Football (Afternoon Game) – Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos
Bo Nix and the Broncos have won three in a row and the Chargers have lost back-to-back games. For me, this game comes down to who wins in the trenches. The Chargers have a great defense, but one of the worst pass blocking lines in all of football. The Broncos are one of the best defenses in the NFL and are getting after the quarterback. I believe the Broncos will win at home and make it four in a row.
Winner: Broncos
Sunday Football (Afternoon Game) – Pittsburgh Steelers at Las Vegas Raiders
This is a game where I’m rooting for neither team to win. It hasn’t been revealed yet whether or not Russell Wilson will start over Justin Fields, but the Raiders are rolling with Aidan O’Connell over Gardner Minshew. Even with the Steelers quarterback situation unknown, I’ll pick them because I hate the Raiders.
Winner: Raiders
Sunday Football (Afternoon Game) – Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers
Kirk Cousins and the Falcons offense looked tremendous last week. The Panthers fell flat and are still probably the worst team in the league. I’ll keep this prediction short and sweet. Falcons by double digits.
Winner: Falcons
Sunday Football (Afternoon Game) – Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys
The two teams that seemingly played in every Thanksgiving Dame of my lifetime square off early in October. Both teams have three wins, but the Lions are coming off a bye and I believe they have a better defense and offense. This should be a fun game to watch, but I’ll take Dan Campbell’s guys to get a big road victory.
Winner: Lions
Sunday Night Football – Cincinnati Bengals at New York Giants
The Bengals have done a great job scoring points this season but rank only ahead of the Panthers in points allowed on defense. That’s why they are 1-4 and one of the most disappointing teams in all of football. The Giants ripped off a victory last weekend. Can they make it two in a row against the Bengals or will the bungle the opportunity? I just can’t see the Bengals going 1-5.
Winner: Bengals
Monday Night Football – Buffalo Bills at New York Jets
The Jets fired Robert Saleh after their loss in London to the Minnesota Vikings. Who saw that coming? Josh Allen and the Bills are under some controversy after he took a vicious hit last week, somehow pass concussion protocol, and went back into the game. Both teams have lost back-to-back games. The winner of this one gets 1st place in the AFC East.
Winner: Bills
