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Hello, football fans, and welcome to Week 6 of the NFL season. With one coach already fired, the pressure is undeniably cranking up across the league with each passing week.
The Week 6 slate is an interesting one that kicks off with a divisional clash between the Niners and Seahawks on Thursday night and wraps up with a juicy matchup between the Jets and Bills.
Good, bad, and ugly...we'll go through every Week 6 game in this article, offering picks, predictions, and analysis on each and every one. Thanks for joining us here at RotoBaller; let's dive into the slate!
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San Francisco 49ers 24, Seattle Seahawks 20
We kick off the Week 6 NFL slate with a clash between NFC West divisional rivals. Both San Francisco and Seattle limp into this matchup, licking their wounds from shocking home losses to inferior teams in Week 5, as the Niners fell to the Cardinals and the Seahawks were upended by the Giants.
This trio looks to fly high on #TNFonPrime pic.twitter.com/T9PjDOK0Mb
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) October 10, 2024
For the 2-3 Niners - with two of those losses coming within the division - this is suddenly a must-win sort of game.
While traveling to Lumen Field on a Thursday night is no easy task, San Francisco has won five straight over Seattle, and although new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald appears to have the 'Hawks flying in the right direction, they enter Week 6 with a plethora of injuries on the defensive side of the ball. Look for the Niners to level up to .500 in a tight one.
Chicago Bears 21, Jacksonville Jaguars 17 (London)
The NFL's International Series continues with a Week 6 meeting between the Bears and Jaguars in London. Both squads head across the pond after encouraging Week 5 outings. Chicago's offense finally started to click in a 36-10 win over the Panthers, while Jacksonville picked up their first victory of the season in a shootout with the Colts.
While Trevor Lawrence's play last week is cause for tempered optimism, he'll face a very different challenge against a Bears defense that's limiting opposing passers to just 174 yards per game.
On the other side of the ball is rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who looks more comfortable each week and draws a Jags defense that ranks dead last in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game. The Bears should simply be better on both sides of the ball in this one.
Tampa Bay Bucs 24, New Orleans Saints 14
With Saints quarterback Derek Carr now expected to miss multiple weeks with an oblique injury suffered in Monday night's loss to the Chiefs, this always-tough divisional clash should theoretically get easier for the Bucs. As of this writing, it still isn't clear if New Orleans will start Jake Haener or rookie Spencer Rattler under center in Week 6.
The Bucs should be able to handle either, as despite suffering a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Falcons last week, Baker Mayfield and this offense continue to impress. Mayfield has thrown for 1,164 yards and 11 TDs with just two INTs through Tampa Bay's first five.
While New Orleans will likely do everything in their power to slow this game down, look for the Bucs to find enough big plays to outpace whoever New Orleans rolls out at QB.
Green Bay Packers 28, Arizona Cardinals 20
Will the real Arizona Cardinals please stand up? After being destroyed 42-14 by the Commanders two weeks ago, Arizona pulled off a shocking win over the 49ers in Week 5 behind a solid game from Kyler Murray and some timely defensive plays.
The Packers also returned to the win column last week in Jordan Love's second start since returning from an injury that forced him to miss two games. He's developing a nice rapport with wide receiver Jayden Reed and emerging tight end Tucker Kraft.
Tucker Kraft rumbling after tapping the stiff arm button twice is killing me pic.twitter.com/LgESFL8Oup
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) October 10, 2024
Though the Cardinals have proven themselves to be a fairly scrappy bunch, a trip to Lambeau Field isn't an easy task for any squad. Look for Green Bay to continue to feed Josh Jacobs on the ground against an Arizona unit that ranks 28th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game.
Indianapolis Colts 20, Tennessee Titans 17
Ok... I'm just gonna come out and say it: the Colts are a better team with Joe Flacco under center. I understand that Anthony Richardson is the team's future and how much draft capital they have invested, etc., but Flacco does give Indy their best shot at winning games right now.
All that said, it might not matter who is under center for the Colts in Week 6 if the Tennessee Titans can't get their own quarterback issues sorted out. With Tennessee coming off a bye week, Will Levis appears set to return after suffering a shoulder injury in Week 4.
That's not necessarily great news if you're a Titans fan, as Levis has been a turnover machine this season, throwing six interceptions and coughing up three fumbles. Until Levis proves he can take care of the football, this Tennessee team is impossible to trust (or pick), and if they don't show some offensive spark against a putrid Indy defense, it simply might not happen in 2024.
Philadelphia Eagles 21, Cleveland Browns 13
It's nothing Cleveland fans don't already know, but the Deshaun Watson debacle is dragging the Browns down to the bottom of the league. Unfortunately, there's no end in sight with Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski maintaining earlier this week that Watson will remain under center.
The Eagles come in off a Week 5 bye and expect to have multiple stars, including A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, back in the lineup this week. While Philly has been experiencing its own share of issues in a 2-2 start, they should be able to power past the sinking ship that is the Browns.
Houston Texans 20, New England Patriots 10
After rolling with veteran Jacoby Brissett for the first five games of the season, the Patriots will trot out Drake Maye against the Texans in Week 6. It's inarguably a difficult spot for the third overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft to make his first start as a pro, as he'll be surrounded by a horrible offensive line and a group of no-name pass catchers in this Patriots offense.
Off to a 4-1 start, Houston will be without star wide receiver Nico Collins, who was recently placed on IR. Running back Joe Mixon, who has yet to practice this week, also looks doubtful for this tilt with the Pats. The Texans could probably be short a few more stars and still be favored in this one, as a DeMeco Ryans' defense that's allowing just 154 passing yards per game will likely wreak havoc on the rookie Maye.
Baltimore Ravens 31, Washington Commanders 27
Sunday's marquee matchup features two of the NFL's most exciting quarterbacks, Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels. Jackson comes in off a spectacular overtime win over the Bengals in which he threw for 348 yards and four TDs.
Daniels has been the league's most impressive rookie while displaying accuracy, deep-ball touch, and elite rushing ability en route to leading the long-dormant Commanders to a 4-1 start.
Jayden Daniels on facing the Ravens and being compared to Lamar Jackson: "At the end of the day, I want to be known as Jayden Daniels, not the next such-and-such." pic.twitter.com/BErfJLAjlw
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 10, 2024
It's safe to expect offensive fireworks in this one, as these two talented QBs square off against defenses that are each allowing over 23 points per game in 2024. While Daniels will undoubtedly make multiple splash plays, look for the more experienced Jackson - with some help from Derrick Henry - to top the rising star this week.
Denver Broncos 16, Los Angeles Chargers 13
Denver rides what is perhaps the NFL's most surprising three-game win streak into this home clash with the Chargers. The Broncos have been content to win with defense and rookie quarterback Bo Nix playing ultra-conservatively. Patrick Surtain II and company haven't allowed more than 18 points to an opponent since Week 1.
Jim Harbaugh's squad comes in off a much-needed bye week, as the Bolts have multiple stars such as Justin Herbert, Joe Alt, Rashawn Slater, and Joey Bosa nursing assorted injuries. Look for a tightly contested and low-scoring battle between these defensive-minded division rivals, but don't be shocked if the Broncos come out on top in Mile High, where they've won five straight over the Chargers.
Pittsburgh Steelers 20, Las Vegas Raiders 13
Yet another Week 6 matchup between two teams who seem allergic to offensive success. The Steelers dropped a Sunday night heartbreaker to the Cowboys in Week 5, while the Raiders were suffocated by the Broncos defense at Mile High.
Las Vegas will square off against a Pittsburgh defense that's allowing just 14.6 points per game while dealing with a quarterback job that neither Gardner Minshew nor Aidan O'Connell appears capable of winning, as well as the absence of star wide receiver Davante Adams. It's not a good combination when facing the Steelers.
Atlanta Falcons 35, Carolina Panthers 17
Well rested off an exciting Week 5 overtime win over the Bucs on Thursday Night Football, the Falcons will look to keep the hammer down against the lowly Panthers this week.
High-priced offseason acquisition Kirk Cousins looked worth every penny while throwing for a career-high 509 yards and four TDs against Tampa Bay last week. There's little reason to believe he'll slow down against a putrid Carolina defense that's allowing the most points per game in the NFL.
Detroit Lions 28, Dallas Cowboys 27
After a last-second win over the Steelers on Sunday Night Football, the Cowboys won't get to relax for long, as they host Dan Campbell's 3-1 Lions squad in Week 6. Detroit dismantled the Seattle Seahawks ahead of their Week 5 bye and will look to stay hot against a Dallas defense that's allowing just over 24 points per game.
THE DALLAS COWBOYS!! Dak to Tolbert for 6️⃣!
📺: #DALvsPIT on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Jg7btATnJO— NFL (@NFL) October 7, 2024
The Lions have their own issues on the defensive side of the ball, as an offseason retooling of the secondary has yet to pay dividends. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb should find success. Jared Goff and Detroit's rushing attack should find success. The bottom line...there will be plenty of points scored by these offenses, but the Lions will edge the 'Boys in a shootout.
Cincinnati Bengals 27, New York Giants 21
The Sunday night primetime matchup features two squads with a combined record of 3-7. Despite the win/loss totals, this could be a fun one, as we'll see two of the NFL's best wide receivers in Ja'Marr Chase and Malik Nabers.
Week 5's 41-38 overtime loss to the Ravens reinforced what we already knew about the Bengals - great offense, zero defense. Joe Burrow and company head into Week 6, averaging 28 points per game, yet this team is fighting to save its season.
The Giants were able to pull off a shocker in Seattle last week to pull to 2-3, but it still feels as though Brian Daboll is holding this thing together with duct tape and popsicle sticks.
Buffalo Bills 20, New York Jets 17
In a somewhat surprising move, the Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh earlier this week following the team's 2-3 start and Week 5 loss to the Vikings in London. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has been named New York's interim head coach.
Statement from Robert Saleh:
“To the Jets Organization, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with so many incredible people. I will always be appreciative of the love and support from everyone at 1 Jets Drive.
To all of the players, I truly love and appreciate… pic.twitter.com/I4n9zYhKFd
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 9, 2024
While it's understandable that the Jets ownership and front office want to try to salvage the season, will Saleh's removal matter all that much as long as Nathaniel Hackett is still calling the plays for the Jets' sputtering offense?
It wouldn't be surprising to see New York playing with a high-energy level in front of a home crowd on Monday night, but Josh Allen and the Bills won't be a pushover opponent.
The losers of two straight, Buffalo badly needs to right its own ship this week, and while the Bills offense hasn't been firing on all cylinders in the last couple of weeks, it feels closer to "good" than what Aaron Rodgers and the Jets have shown so far.
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