Thursday Night Football: Eagles @ Giants, 7:15 PM (Prime)
Any momentum the Giants might’ve had came crashing back down to earth after a rough showing in New Orleans, turning the ball over five times while allowing a two-score lead to slip away. With half of the Saints’ 26 points coming off turnovers, I’m not willing to completely bury the Giants’ defense, but the game’s momentum shifted the moment Rashid Shaheed got loose for an 87-yard touchdown. I think Jaxson Dart will eventually be a good quarterback, but simply put, there’s no way he and the offense can turn it over that much and expect to win.
For the Eagles, the second half has been their kryptonite the past two weeks, as they’ve been outscored 37-14 in that span. There’s no reason Saquon Barkley should only get six carries—especially when the Eagles were leading until the final few minutes. Jalen Hurts threw the ball 38 times last week, giving him a 5-7 record in games where he throws 38 or more passes. The answer is simple: run the ball.
The Eagles’ inability to generate offense in the second half is a concern, but I don’t think they’ll lose to a rookie quarterback.
Prediction: 24-17 Eagles
NFL London Game: Broncos vs. Jets, 8:30 AM (NFL Network)
The Broncos were one of six teams last week to erase a two-possession deficit, and their comeback might’ve been the least gimmicky of them all. While it seemed like every other team needed a turnover or a special-teams mistake to rally, Denver simply out-executed the defending Super Bowl champs on the road. From the moment the Eagles took a 17-3 lead early in the third quarter to the final drive, the Broncos’ defense held Jalen Hurts to 5-for-9 passing and just 27 total yards. Bo Nix, despite his early struggles, bounced back in that same stretch by going 14-for-17 for 187 yards and leading three scoring drives.
The Jets are simply the Jets. They’re disorganized, undisciplined, and save all their heroics for when the game is already out of reach. If you only saw the box score, you’d think Justin Fields played well and the defense was the issue. In reality, he was just 12-for-19 for 98 yards when Dallas led 30-3, piling up 185 yards and two touchdowns in garbage time. Fantasy football doesn’t care when the stats come—but real football does.
Simply put, the Broncos are too good to let the Jets steal this one. Their defense is leagues better than Dallas’, and their offense should have no trouble dissecting a leaky New York unit.
Prediction: 27-17 Broncos
Sunday Noon Window
Cardinals @ Colts (FOX)
Of all the two-score leads blown in Week 5, Arizona’s was the worst. First came a 78-yard would-be game-sealing touchdown that turned into a fumble out of the end zone because of an early celebration. Then, after still holding a two-score lead and intercepting their opponent deep in their own territory, they fumbled that play—kicking the ball back into their own end zone to gift a touchdown. To top it off, they let the league’s worst offense rack up 200 yards in the fourth quarter, including a 71-yard game-winning drive. Brutal.
The Colts, meanwhile, dismantled the Raiders 40-6, putting their loss to the Rams firmly behind them. Indy’s offense was opportunistic, taking full advantage of Vegas’ turnovers, while the defense hemmed in the Raiders’ run game and held opponents to 20 or fewer in three of five contests.
In a matchup of former Eagles coordinators, I’m giving the edge to Shane Steichen and the Colts.
Prediction: 27-23 Colts
Chargers @ Dolphins (CBS)
The Chargers’ season continues to spiral. They’ve failed to score more than 20 points in three of their last four games, including last week’s 27-10 loss to Washington. Since Week 2, Justin Herbert has three touchdowns, four picks, and nearly four sacks taken per game. The defense is still solid, but the offense is a full-blown liability.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, blew a 17-0 lead to the Panthers in what was one of the ugliest collapses of the week. Some teams just refuse to win football games, and that’s Miami right now. Talent-wise, they should be in the AFC playoff race, but they’re an absolute mess at 1-4.
Unless the Chargers’ defense melts down, 21 points might be enough to win. With rain in the forecast, expect a sloppy one.
Prediction: 21-17 Chargers
Patriots @ Saints (CBS)
Last week’s win over Buffalo showed a lot about the Patriots—how they handle adversity, and how they can manage games and beat more talented teams. I meant what I said about them potentially being the AFC’s top seed by Week 9; their upcoming schedule is that favorable.
The Saints finally picked up their first win of the season, and they did it the only way they could: taking care of the ball and capitalizing on mistakes. If they couldn’t find a way to win after forcing five turnovers, I might’ve gone back on my prediction that they’d avoid a winless year. Spencer Rattler continues to play well enough to keep the job—he’s not a long-term solution, but he’s earned a career as a capable journeyman backup.
A letdown is possible for New England, but I have too much faith in Mike Vrabel to let that happen.
Prediction: 27-17 Patriots
Browns @ Steelers (CBS)
For his first NFL start, Dillon Gabriel looked decent against Minnesota, giving Cleveland a shot if its defense could’ve made just one late stop. They couldn’t. The Browns did, however, make a notable move this week, trading Joe Flacco to Cincinnati for a fifth-round pick—officially elevating Shedeur Sanders to QB2. If you thought the TV cutaways were bad last week, buckle up.
Coming off their bye, the Steelers remain one of the few AFC North teams not beating themselves. After some early-season meltdowns, the defense has returned to form, and if it continues its play from Weeks 3 and 4, it should handle a limited Browns squad.
Expect a typical uninspiring Steelers win.
Prediction: 24-20 Steelers
Cowboys @ Panthers (FOX)
This has the makings of a chaotic car crash. Both defenses have been terrible, so points should come easily.
Dallas’ 37-22 win over the Jets was more dominant than the score suggests, with most of New York’s damage coming in garbage time. Carolina, meanwhile, erased a 17-0 deficit to stun Miami 27-24, thanks to Rico Dowdle’s 200-yard day.
I said it last week, and I’ll say it again—I’d rather be a week late on buying back into the Panthers than a week early. As tempting as it is to call for Dowdle to torch Dallas’ porous run D, I just can’t.
Prediction: 30-21 Cowboys
Seahawks @ Jaguars (FOX)
The Jaguars are on cloud nine after rallying past the Chiefs on Monday night, but that win says more about Kansas City’s incompetence than Jacksonville’s greatness. Two touchdown drives were extended by penalties, another score came from a special teams blunder, and they added a pick-six for good measure—yet they still barely won.
Seattle, meanwhile, let one slip away in a shootout with Tampa Bay after a Sam Darnold interception bounced off a lineman’s helmet to set up the game-winning field goal. That one throw overshadowed what was otherwise a four-touchdown, 350-yard day.
If Seattle plays clean, there’s no reason it shouldn’t win. Better quarterback, better defense, better coach—the only real edge Jacksonville has is home field and a lucky streak that has to run out eventually.
Prediction: 31-24 Seahawks
Rams @ Ravens (FOX)
With Lamar Jackson missing his fourth straight practice due to a hamstring injury, it’s safe to call him doubtful. The Rams were one of the few teams not to finish a comeback last week, falling 26-23 in overtime despite Mac Jones leading a heroic drive for the 49ers. Still, they get a Ravens team that looks awful on both sides of the ball.
When you make the Texans look like the 2007 Patriots, something’s wrong. Baltimore’s defense allowed 44 points to a Houston offense that had scored only 64 total in its first four games. That’s catastrophic.
The Ravens being the NFL’s “free win” space wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card, but that’s where we are.
Prediction: 33-13 Rams
Sunday Afternoon Window
Titans @ Raiders (FOX)
I’m starting to think the only reason the Raiders get so many late home kickoffs is because Vegas is too hungover for a 10 a.m. start. The NFL’s popularity is unreal—you can still charge $104 to watch two of the AFC’s worst teams. Geno Smith’s redemption story was nice, but he’s cooked. Nine interceptions in five games says it all.
Now that Tennessee finally got its first win, maybe it can start playing football freely. As much as the Cardinals deserve grief for their collapse, it’s worth noting that the Titans’ fourth-quarter drives averaged over 70 yards apiece—against a defense roughly on par with Vegas’.
I have no clue who wins this. Both teams are mistake-prone enough to hand it away. But if Geno wants to stay the starter, this is one he can’t afford to lose.
Prediction: 23-21 Raiders
Bengals @ Packers (CBS)
If any team needed a bye week, it was Green Bay. After a hot start, they became the butt of jokes following that Monday Night tie with Dallas. Fortunately, they get a reeling Cincinnati squad that just traded for Joe Flacco—yes, really.
Putting a stationary Joe Flacco behind that offensive line borders on cruelty. It’s hard to see him lasting more than a few weeks.
If the Packers somehow lose, panic mode is on. But I don’t see it. Jordan Love should shred this defense, and the Bengals’ offense won’t keep up.
Prediction: 30-17 Packers
49ers @ Buccaneers (CBS)
Kyle Shanahan truly can win with anyone. Mac Jones, essentially on one leg, threw for nearly 350 yards and two scores, including an overtime go-ahead drive in a 26-23 win. The question now: how far can they go with Jones at the helm? I remember asking that about Brock Purdy once, and he got them to the NFC title game.
Tampa Bay keeps surviving close calls—all five games have been one-score affairs, and they’ve won four. Emeka Egbuka remains a puzzle: not elite at creating separation, but averaging nearly 90 yards per game with five touchdowns. Sometimes, players just defy logic.
Both teams have something to prove. San Francisco wants to show it can still contend with anyone at QB, while Tampa Bay wants to cement itself among the NFC’s elite.
Prediction: 28-24 Buccaneers
Sunday Night Football: Lions @ Chiefs (NBC, 7:20 PM)
To quote Stand by Me: “Do you guys want to see a dead body?” Because that’s what we’re watching with Kansas City. The Chiefs are dead in the water. Their defense has fallen apart, and they’ve wasted another prime Patrick Mahomes year. Only two turnovers all season—both goal-line picks—and still they lose. It’s remarkable incompetence.
Detroit, on the other hand, has the best offense in football and a good-enough defense to match. They dominated the Bengals last week despite the cosmetic final score. Run down the checklist—outside of quarterback, they’re better across the board, and arguably better coached too.
The Chiefs quit last week in Jacksonville. They’ll quit again once this one gets out of hand.
Prediction: 44-27 Lions
Monday Night Football
Bills @ Falcons (ESPN, 6:15 PM)
This is a mental test for Buffalo. Coming off a deflating loss to New England, the Bills need a rebound to reassert themselves atop the AFC. The offense remains solid behind Josh Allen, but the defense continues to fade late in seasons—just like the Buffalo winter.
Atlanta’s win over Washington was one of the most impressive of Week 5 and helped erase the stink of that loss to Carolina. Michael Penix Jr. currently sits somewhere between the 15th and 20th best QBs in football. How far the Falcons go depends on whether he can inch closer to the middle tier.
The Bills have a habit of dropping back-to-back games once a year, and Atlanta’s a tough place to win when the fans are into it. Still, I’ll trust Buffalo to bounce back.
Prediction: 28-23 Bills
Bears @ Commanders (ABC, 7:15 PM)
The last time these two met, it was an instant classic—Jayden Daniels hit a Hail Mary as time expired to steal the win. Now Washington’s seen as one of the NFC’s most exciting teams, while Chicago remains a bundle of potential waiting to pop.
The Bears need this win to build belief. They have the coach and quarterback tandem to be a factor, but no signature wins yet. They’re 2-2 with victories over the Cowboys and Raiders—neither inspiring much confidence. Beating a contender could finally snap them out of mediocrity.
The Commanders, meanwhile, have a brutal stretch ahead: Seahawks, Chiefs, Lions. If they don’t bank wins now, they’ll be treading water by midseason. Their mix of elite offense and solid defense is playoff-caliber, but they need to show consistency.
Prediction: 27-24 Commanders
Overall Record: 45-32-1 (Last Week: 6-8)