We're already reached the one-third point of the NFL season, and Week 6 brings two matchups that will be among the most-viewed games this season.
Buffalo travels to Kansas City in a rematch of last year's 42-36 AFC divisional playoff game that is on the short list of greatest playoff games ever. These are the two best offenses in the AFC, and quarterbacks Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes II are in the thick of the MVP discussion. This game is at 4:25 p.m. ET window. Why is it not on Sunday Night Football?
Philadelphia is the last remaining unbeaten team, and Dallas is coming to town. That classic NFC East rivalry always does well in prime time, and the Cowboys have quarterback intrigue with Cooper Rush and possibly Dak Prescott. Jalen Hurts also is very much in the MVP discussion at this point in the season.
What is the third best game on the schedule? Baltimore hits the road to face the surprising New York Giants, who are returning from London with a 4-1 record. The NFC East would have three playoff teams as of now. That's always good for business.
Each week, Sporting News will pick all the NFL games straight up and against the spread. A look at our track record this season:
Record: 45-34-1 (9-7 in Week 4)
Here are our straight-up picks for Week 6 (lines courtesy of Caesars):
POWER RANKINGS: Cowboys, Jets, Giants all make big jumps for Week 6
NFL picks, predictions for Week 6
- Washington Commanders at Chicago Bears (Pick 'em)
Thursday, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video
Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit are going to have to sell another ugly game on Amazon Prime here. Washington (16.0) and Chicago (15.2) rank 26th and 27th, respectively, in scoring offense. Can the Commanders get a running game to support Cason Wentz? Justin Fields is coming off his best game of the season; albeit in a loss. With two bad offenses, go with the team with the better turnover differential. Chicago is even. Washington is -8.
Pick: Bears 21, Commanders 19
Result: Commanders 12, Bears 7
- San Francisco 49ers (-6.5) at Atlanta Falcons
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
The Falcons are an improving team, and their five games have been decided by a total of 18 points. The 49ers are coming off back-to-back wins, and Jimmy Garoppolo has completed a modest 59.6% of his passes the last two weeks with three TDs and no interceptions. This is a bit of a trap game for the 49ers with the Chiefs looming in Week 7, but they fight through it in another close game.
Pick: 49ers 27, Falcons 24
- New England Patriots at Cleveland Browns (-3)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
New England beat Cleveland 45-7 in the teams' last meeting on Nov. 14, 2021, and they did it with Mac Jones and Rhamondre Stevenson. Will Jones be back from an ankle injury, or will the Bailey Zappe experience continue? Former Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett will give Cleveland a chance to win against an average New England run defense (128.8 ypg.). The Browns have lost three games by a combined total of six points. Can they finish one at home?
Pick: Browns 26, Patriots 22
- New York Jets at Green Bay Packers (-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
The Packers better not mess around in this one against a Jets' team that is gaining confidence around coach Robert Saleh. The running game is picking up, and the Jets have forced six turnovers the last two weeks. Green Bay's offense is hit-or-miss with Aaron Rodgers right now, and they have to get Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon more involved in the offense. The Packers are 20-10 ATS at home under Matt LaFleur, including a 1-1 ATS record this season.
Pick: Packers 28, Jets 21
- Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts (-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
This game could be a virtual pick ‘em by kickoff. Jacksonville beat the Colts in Week 2, and Jonathan Taylor's status remains questionable. These teams combined for 18 points in Week 5, but Indianapolis emerged as a winner. This time, the Jaguars sweep the Colts for the first time since 2017 with the help of a late TD drive by Trevor Lawrence.
Pick: Jaguars 19, Colts 17
- Minnesota Vikings (-3) at Miami Dolphins
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
It's tough to make a pick not knowing who the Dolphins quarterback will be. If it's Teddy Bridgewater, who was put in the concussion protocol Sunday, then we like their chances. The Vikings have played one true road game this season, and it was a disaster. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle get back on track, and the Dolphins avoid a three-game skid.
Pick: Dolphins 27, Vikings 23
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- Cincinnati Bengals (-1) at New Orleans Saints
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
This is a must-win game for the Bengals, who have slipped to 2-3 and now face former Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton for the third time. Dalton beat the Bengals with the Cowboys and Bears since leaving. New Orleans broke a three-game streak with a victory against Seattle, and the Caesars Superdome is a tough place to play. One problem: There will be a lot of LSU jerseys with Joe Burrow's name on them in the building, too. Burrow delivers a much-needed victory.
Pick: Bengals 30, Saints 20
- Baltimore Ravens (-5.5) at New York Giants
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Giants are winning in the image of first-year coach Brian Daboll, who has instilled a tough approach around Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley, who averages 23 offensive touches per game. It's also a chance for former Ravens defensive coordinator Wink Martindale to go against his former team. The Giants will dial up the pressure on Lamar Jackson, but the Ravens are used to these types of games. Jackson makes the plays, and as last week proved again, Justin Tucker will make the clutch kicks.
Pick: Ravens 28, Giants 24
NFL MOCK DRAFT:Panthers, Lions, Texans take QBs; Commanders, Eagles go defense in top 10
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-8) at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Steelers hit rock bottom with a 38-3 loss to Buffalo, and it won't get better with Tom Brady coming to town. Brady is 12-3 against Pittsburgh (including playoffs), and he is coming off back-to-back 300-yard games on 52 pass attempts the last two week. Kenny Pickett also had a 300-yard game on 52 pass attempts, but that was in catch-up mode. This will be more of the same.
Pick: Buccaneers 28, Steelers 18
- Carolina Panthers at Los Angeles Rams (-10)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m., FOX
The Rams also are in a must-win spot of sorts after back-to-back losses to the 49ers and Cowboys. Carolina fired Matt Rhule this week, so there will be the emotional bump that comes with playing under interim coach Steve Wilks. P.J. Walker will make a few splash plays against the Rams' defense. But this is a get-right-game for Matthew Stafford against a Panthers' defense that allows 137.8 rushing yards per game. Los Angeles gets back in the win column.
Pick: Rams 28, Panthers 17
- Arizona Cardinals (-2.5) at Seattle Seahawks
Sunday, 4:05 p.m., FOX
The Cardinals' odd season continues. They are 0-3 S/U at home, but they have managed two road victories. Geno Smith leads the NFL in quarterback rating (113.1), so this won't be easy. The teams have split their NFC West series each of the last three years, and Arizona has won two of the last three in Seattle. Kyler Murray delivers.
Pick: Cardinals 24, Seahawks 22
- Buffalo Bills (-2) at Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS
It's a fantastic matchup, and most of that centers on Allen and Mahomes. It's a battle of two 30-points-per-game offenses, and there is a good chance it comes down to the last possession. The Chiefs are 3-3 ATS and S/U as a home underdog under Andy Reid. It doesn't happen often. We'll stick with the home team in an AFC championship game preview.
Pick: Chiefs 31, Bills 26
- Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles (-5)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC
Dallas has two major injury questions starting with Prescott (thumb). Will he return in place of Rush, who hasn't lost as the starter? Micah Parsons also is dealing with a groin injury but should be able to play. Both teams get after the quarterback. Dallas has 20 sacks, but Philadelphia isn't that far behind with 17. Hurts makes the game-changing plays in the second half, and the Eagles end Dallas' winning streak at four games.
Pick: Eagles 31, Cowboys 24
- Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers (-5.5)
Monday, 8:15 p.m., Monday
The Broncos had a long week to absorb their Thursday Night Football loss to the Colts, and Russell Wilson still is searching for that break-through performance with his new team. This is Denver's fourth of five prime-time games this season, and the Chargers will not be hospitable at home. Los Angeles picks up a third straight victory.
Pick: Chargers 29, Broncos 20
