NFL Week 6 game picks: Expert predictions for every game

Admin October 8, 2024

The 2024 NFL season is starting to take shape now, and as it enters Week 6 the picture seems as jumbled as ever.

There are only two undefeated teams left, one in each conference (Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings). There are four divisions led by teams with 3-2 records and five divisions separated by one game or less. So perhaps the most interesting games this week involve teams that could be teetering on the edge of a disappointing season they didn’t foresee just last month when it began.

The drama starts with a potentially important NFC West game Thursday night, where the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers (2-3) are favorites on the road against the Seattle Seahawks (3-2) despite their injury issues and inconsistent performance thus far. NFL Week 6 action also closes with a couple games featuring raised stakes because of how the teams are playing this season. The Cincinnati Bengals (1-4) are on the road against the New York Giants (2-3) on Sunday night and the New York Jets (2-3) host the Buffalo Bills (3-2) on Monday night in what could be the first game of a new coaching regime.

There’s also the Battle of the Beltway between the Washington Commanders (4-1) and Baltimore Ravens (3-2) as part of Sunday’s early games. Jayden Daniels vs. Lamar Jackson should be a fun watch. The Dallas Cowboys (3-2) host the Detroit Lions (3-1) in a marquee late afternoon kickoff.

It’s a promising slate, and there are already NFL analysts weighing in on what might happen. Here is an early look at picks and predictions for the games that make up the Week 6 schedule:

WHAT WE LEARNED IN NFL WEEK 5: Streaks end, extend in explosive slate of games

NFL Week 6 game predictions, picks

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday morning.

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks

Date: Thursday, October 10
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: Lumen Field, Seattle
TV: None
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
Spread: 49ers (-3.5)

Pro Footba ll Network: 49ers 24, Seahawks 21

“These two teams are something of an enigma to try and decipher. The San Francisco 49ers are 2-3 but rank fifth in net EPA (expected points added) per game this season. Barring two fourth-quarter collapses, this team would be 4-1. The concern is that the 49ers have only beaten the New York Jets and New England Patriots, who are not particularly good teams this season. The Seattle Seahawks might very well have been 3-0 due to a weak schedule to open the season. … Despite everything, the 49ers are still the better team here.”

Sports Betti ng Dime: Ride Seattle at home

“Despite a litany of injuries on both sides of the ball, the 49ers (2-3, 0-2 away) are still being handicapped as the clear NFC favorites, but they haven’t played like it since Week 1. … Geno Smith was playing over his head during (Seattle’s) 3-0 start and the defense is nothing more than mediocre. But the Seahawks still have a big home-field advantage and shouldn’t be catching a full field goal at home to a struggling Niners team.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Chicago Bears

Date: Sunday, October 13
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England
TV: NFL Network
Streaming: NFL+, YouTube TV (NFL Sunday Ticket), Fubo
Spread: Bears (-2.5)

Covers.com: Bet on the Bears

“Chicago played its best two-way game of the year (against Carolina in Week 5), with its disruptive defense making game-changing plays and the offense pouring it on for 424 yards and 36 points. Over the past three weeks, the Bears have stacked 1,083 yards of offense against Carolina, Los Angeles, and Indianapolis. … Week 6 sends another dreadful defense their way.”

Arizona Republic: Bears 27, Jaguars 17

How good is the NFC North? The Bears are 3-2 and tied for last in the division. Caleb Williams and Chicago will be too much for the Jaguars at home.

Washington Commanders at Baltimore Ravens

Date: Sunday, October 13
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
TV: CBS
Streaming: NFL+, Paramount+, YouTube TV (NFL Sunday Ticket), Fubo
Spread: Ravens (-6.5)

Arizona Republic: Ravens 30, Commanders 23

“The Washington Commanders are one of the surprises of the NFL season, but it would surprise us if they beat the Ravens in Baltimore. Lamar Jackson could go off in this game.”

Pro Football Network: Ravens 27, Commanders 24

Baltimore’s offense appears to know that it is the key to their season, and for the last three weeks, they’ve delivered. The Ravens should be able to move the ball at will on the Commanders’ defense … I do not believe that Washington should be underdogs by almost a touchdown, so taking them getting 6.5 is my play.”

Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers

Date: Sunday, October 13
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisc.
TV: FOX
Streaming: NFL+, YouTube TV (NFL Sunday Ticket), Fubo
Spread: Packers (-5)

Pro Football Network: Packers 27, Cardinals 23

“This has the makings of being a high-scoring game, but that is very much baked into the 50-point total. The Packers are the better team, and taking their moneyline as part of a parley is the top play.”

Arizona Republic: Packers 27, Cardinals 23

“Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals impressed in their Week 5 win over the 49ers but winning at Lambeau on the road early in the morning will be too difficult a task.”

Houston Texans at New England Patriots

Date: Sunday, October 13
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
TV: CBS
Streaming: NFL+, Paramount+, YouTube TV (NFL Sunday Ticket), Fubo
Spread: Texans (-7)

BettingPros: Pick the Texans to win

“The New England Patriots have struggled mightily on offense this season and Drake Maye could be the starter in Week 6. However, the problem for New England has been their offensive line. The Texans should be able to get after Maye (or Jacoby Brissett) and force some mistakes.”

Sportin g News: Texans 23, Patriots 17

The Patriots have lost two games by a combined total of eight points. New England is having trouble generating offense, and there is a chance Drake Maye will replace Jacoby Brissett soon. Houston is 1-1 straight up on the road. C.J. Stroud has been better away from home this season, but the Patriots will force a few turnovers to hang around. The Texans are 1-4 against the spread as a road favorite since last season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints

Date: Sunday, October 13
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Caesar’s Superdome, New Orleans
TV: FOX
Streaming: NFL+, YouTube TV (NFL Sunday Ticket), Fubo
Spread: Saints (-2)

Arizona Republic: Bucs 28, Saints 24

“Baker Mayfield and Tampa Bay have been off since Thursday Night Football in NFL Week 5. That rest advantage will work wonders late against the Saints.”

Pro Football Network: Bucs 27, Saints 23

“This has the makings of a fun game in Week 6. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been exciting through the first four weeks and now come off a bye. They will be hoping their defense can provide more support, ranking 25th in EPA per game so far this year. However, Tampa Bay’s offense has largely been very good outside of being shut down by a very good Denver defense. The New Orleans Saints have been a little all over the place at times, and their top ranking in terms of EPA per game is largely due to two blowout wins to open the season. They still have two units ranking in the top 10 in the league but appear to have been figured out a little more in the last two weeks.”

Cleveland Browns at Philadelphia Eagles

Date: Sunday, October 13
Time: 1 p.m.
Location:
TV: FOX
Streaming: NFL+, YouTube TV (NFL Sunday Ticket), Fubo
Spread: Eagles (-8.5)

Pro Football Network: Eagles 24, Browns 17

“Cleveland has a league-average defense and the worst offense in the league across a number of metrics. However, the Eagles’ risk of rustiness, combined with the potential for a fired-up Browns team this week, is a tough pair of intangibles to account for. I believe Philadelphia will win, but covering close to 10 points is too much.”

Arizona Republic: Eagles 31, Browns 14

“It’s going to be a long season in Cleveland, and this game could be a very long game for Deshaun Watson and the Browns. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles will roll.”

Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans

Date: Sunday, October 13
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tenn.
TV: CBS
Streaming: NFL+, Paramount+, YouTube TV (NFL Sunday Ticket), Fubo
Spread: Colts (-1)

Arizona Republic: Colts 23, Titans 20

“Sometimes a game simply comes down to quarterbacks and we feel better about the Colts’ QBs.”

Sporting News: Colts 30, Titans 27

“The Colts are 2-3, and their five games have been decided by a combined total of 19 points. They have been a hard team to gauge as a result. Joe Flacco averages 263.5 passing yards per game with five TDs and no interceptions. Will Indianapolis ride this out even if Anthony Richardson (oblique) is close to returning? The Titans are coming out of the bye week after a rough start that includes a minus-7 turnover ratio through four games. Indianapolis is 4-1 against the spread this season.”

BettingPros: Take the Colts

Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos

Date: Sunday, October 13
Time: 4:05 p.m.
Location: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver
TV: CBS
Streaming: NFL+, Paramount+, YouTube TV (NFL Sunday Ticket), Fubo
Spread: Chargers (-3)

Action Network: Take the under (37)

The Chargers and Broncos have the worst weapons in the league. … Defensively, each entered the weekend in the top five in defensive DVOA … With both teams’ aptitudes for a low-scoring game, the under seems like a real possibility. Thirty seven is the last key number for this game. Since November 2019, anytime a game was listed at 37 or below, the under hit 73% of the time (38-14-1, including 4-2 this season).

Arizona Republic: Broncos 21, Chargers 17

“The Broncos have won three straight games and the Chargers have lost two in a row. Denver’s defense will be the difference in this AFC West game.”

Pittsburgh Steelers at Las Vegas Raiders

Date: Sunday, October 13
Time: 4:05 p.m.
Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
TV: CBS
Streaming: NFL+, Paramount+, YouTube TV (NFL Sunday Ticket), Fubo
Spread: Steelers (-3)

Pro Football Network: Take the Steelers

“This should be a perfect bounce-back spot for the Steelers. Their defense should be able to stifle the Raiders’ offense, and they should be able to move the ball against that defense. Laying three points on the road with Justin Fields isn’t fun, but it’s the only play that would make sense here.”

Arizona Republic: Steelers 20, Raiders 10

“The Steelers’ defense should feast on the Raiders, no matter who plays QB for Las Vegas.”

Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers

Date: Sunday, October 13
Time: 4:25 p.m.
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
TV: FOX
Streaming: NFL+, YouTube TV (NFL Sunday Ticket), Fubo
Spread: Falcons (-6)

Bett ingPros: Take the Falcons to win

“Kirk Cousins seems to be back to 100% after his Achilles injury as Atlanta’s offense is firing on all cylinders. The Panthers’ defense has been a major issue as Carolina is allowing 371.2 yards per game and 33 points per game, the worst in the NFL. Atlanta should be able to carve up the Panthers.”

Sporting News: Falcons 31, Panthers 21

“The Panthers’ four losses are by an average of 24 points per game. Even in the past two weeks, that number is at 18 points per game. That makes Carolina an easy underdog to pick on, especially against Atlanta.”

Detroit Lions at D allas Cowboys

Date: Sunday, October 13
Time: 4:25 p.m.
Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
TV: FOX
Streaming: NFL+, YouTube TV (NFL Sunday Ticket), Fubo
Spread: Lions (-3)

Arizona Republic: Lions 31, Cowboys 20

“The Lions were off in Week 5, giving them an extra week to prepare for Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. Bad news for Dallas.”

Sporting News: Lions 30, Cowboys 20

“The Cowboys are dealing with injuries and have not averaged more than 4.0 yards per carry in a game since Week 1. That lack of a running game will lead to more sacks for Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson. Detroit’s balanced offense will be the difference, and Dan Campbell will have a few wrinkles coming out of the bye week.”

Cincinnati Bengals at New York Giants

Date: Sunday, October 13
Time: 8:20 p.m.
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
TV: NBC
Streaming: Peacock, Fubo
Spread: Bengals (-3.5)

BettingPros: Bengals get a much-needed win

“The Giants picked up a massive upset road win over Seattle while Cincinnati lost in overtime to Baltimore. However, the Bengals’ offense is starting to click. … The Seahawks started to take over the game late and exposed the Giants’ defense. Joe Burrow should be able to go up and down the field.”

Action Network: Bengals

“The Giants have one of the worst secondaries in the league. With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on fire right now, I can see the Bengals lighting up the scoreboard.”

Buffalo Bills at New York Jets

Date: Monday, October 14
Time: 8:15 p.m.
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
TV: ESPN, ESPN2
Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo
Spread: Bills (-2.5)

Pro Football Network: Bills 17, Jets 13

“Buffalo is the better team here, and nearly every metric tells you that. Yes, the Jets are slightly better on defense, but the difference is relatively small.”

Arizona Republic: Bills 30, Jets 27

“Both teams have lost two in a row and can’t afford a third straight defeat. We expect a shootout on Monday night, with Josh Allen making a key play late to secure the win for Buffalo.”