Week 6 of the NFL season features great quarterback matchups —and the focus will be on the Tom Brady-Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes-Josh Allen quarterback duelsin the big spotlight games.
Dallas' Andy Dalton also will be making his first start with his new team on "Monday Night Football" against Kyler Murray and the Cardinals.
Five divisional games, however, have our attention. The Titans-Texans matchup is interesting with Tennessee coming off a short week. The Jets are looking for their first win against the Dolphins, and the Giants are looking for their first win against Washington. San Francisco faces pressure heading into a "Sunday Night Football" matchup against the Rams.
The big game, however, is the Browns-Steelers matchup in Pittsburgh. Cleveland has a chance to knock off an unbeaten team, and this AFC North rivalry has a little more meaning now. That’s the best game of the week.
- Last Week:9-5
- Season: 17-10
With that inmind, below are our picks and predictions for Week6of the NFL season.
MORE: Updated NFLpower rankings | Week 6 picks against the spread
Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings (-3.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET,FOX
The Falcons fired Dan Quinn after a 0-5 start, and the Vikings might be without Dalvin Cook (groin).Both defenses give up more than 30 points per game, but the Vikings ride Alexander Mattison to victory herein a close one.
Pick:Vikings 29, Falcons 27
MORE: Can the Falcons lure Dabo Swinney away from Clemson?
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans (-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
We have no idea what to expect from the Titans at this point given the COVID-19 issues surrounding the team.The Texans have lost three of the last four at Tennessee, but it depends on how the Titans respond to a short week.We’re going to take Deshaun Watson in the upset.
Pick: Texans 28, Titans 26
Baltimore Ravens (-7.5) at Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET,CBS
The Ravens'defense has found its footing since the loss to the Chiefs, and they have allowed just 10 points per game in victories against Washington and Cincinnati. The Eagles present a stiffer challenge, but Baltimore’s offense is just too efficient right now.
Pick:Ravens 31, Eagles 17
Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts (-8)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET,FOX
Rookie quarterback Joe Burrow took eight sacks against Philadelphia and seven more in the loss to the Ravens last week. Indianapolis will be coming next,and their defense will be motivated after giving up 32 points to the Browns last week.
Pick:Colts23, Bengals 17
Detroit Lions (-3.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET,FOX
This game appears to have more implications for the 2021 NFL Draft than anything else. The Lions had a bye week to shore up the protection around Matthew Stafford, but Detroit must squeak out another one-score victory on the road.
Pick: Lions 26, Jaguars 21
MORE: Updating theTank for Trevor Lawrence tracker for Week 6
Washington Football Team at New York Giants (-3)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET,FOX
Speaking of the No. 1 pick, this NFC East rivalry features two teams still looking for a superstar quarterback. New York’s offense showed up in the loss to Dallas, but the Redskins make it ugly. Chase Young comes up with a late sack to seal the victory.
Pick:Washington 19, Giants 17
Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers (-3)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET,FOX
The Bears are underdogs for the second straight week, but the offense has changed direction with Nick Foles. Carolina is a hot team with Teddy Bridgewater, who has thrown just one interception and taken two sacks through athree-game win streak. He will be under more heat in this one.
Pick:Bears 26, Panthers 23
Denver Broncos at New England Patriots (TBD)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
The Patriots are another team whose schedule continues to change by the day because of COVID-19, and we have no idea who will be their starting quarterback at this point. We’re sticking to the same prediction as last week.
Pick:Patriots 28, Broncos 19
MORE: How Chiefs' loss to Raiders impacts AFC race
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5)
Sunday,1p.m. ET,CBS
Emotions should be high because this is the first matchup with big implications in this rivalry in a while. The Steelers’ defense showed holes in the secondary last week, and Baker Mayfield will make some big plays in the passing game. Cleveland will leadat halftime, but the Steelers willrallyin the fourth quarter for another big victory at the Browns'expense.
Pick:Steelers 29, Browns 27
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins (-8)
Sunday, 4:05p.m. ET,CBS
The Dolphins have won two of their last three behind Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has a pair of 300-yard games in that stretch.The Jets haven't been able to stop the pass. They will join the Giants in the 0-6 club.
Pick:Dolphins 31, Jets 23
Green Bay Packers (-2.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET,FOX
The marquee showdown features Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. The Packers are coming off the bye week, and the Buccaneers had extra rest after the "Thursday Night Football" loss to the Bears.This is another prove-it game for Brady, and the Buccaneers will lead for three quarters before Rodgers leads a fourth-quarter comeback. You can flip the script and take Tampa Bay if you want. Either way, the game lives up to the hype.
Pick:Packers 33, Buccaneers 31
MORE:49ers' Super Bowl hangover is about to get much worse with brutal schedule ahead
Los Angeles Rams (-3.5) at San Francisco 49ers
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
The Rams and 49ers both have top-five defenses when it comes to yards allowed, and that should lead to a grind-it-out game, and Jimmy Garoppolo faces more pressure than anyone else here.At home, San Francisco delivers.
Pick:49ers 23, Rams 20
Kansas City Chiefs (-3) at Buffalo Bills
Monday,5p.m. ET,FOX
This game got pushed back from its "Thursday Night Football" spotlight, andit’sBuffalo’s chance to shine on the national stage. The Chiefs were upset by the Raiders in Week 5, but they are more accustomed to this prime-time spot. Patrick Mahomesand Josh Allen put on a show, but the Chiefs come out on top.
Pick:Chiefs 33, Bills 24
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Arizona Cardinals (-2.5) at Dallas Cowboys
Monday, 8:15 p.m.,ESPN
Andy Dalton is the nextman up at quarterback for the Cowboys, and the offense can still function with him at quarterback. This is a homecoming of sorts for Kyler Murray, a Texas high-school legend who has the Cardinals in the playoff hunt.Some might want to write Dallas off. We just think this is the next roller-coaster ride.
Pick:Cowboys 34, Cardinals 31