NFL Predictions Week 6: Monday Night Fireworks

After an entertaining Week 5, Week 6 promises to have plenty of intriguing storylines throughout Sunday and Monday. With no Thursday Night Football this week, Week 6 will see 14 games played across the two days. The headline matchups in Week 6 are the Tom Brady-Aaron Rodgers clash on Sunday, followed by an exciting and potentially high scoring Monday double-header. Without further ado, let’s take a whistle-stop tour around all 14 NFL games with our Week 6 predictions, including our projected final scores for each game.

NFL Week 6 Power Rankings and Mock Draft

PFN’s Senior NFL Analyst Matt Williamson (Former NFL Scout and ESPN Analyst) released his NFL Week 6 Power Rankings. Be sure to check it out and see where your favorite team lands.

You can also check out our latest 4-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft. Where does your favorite player land after this weekend of college football games?

NFL Week 6 early Sunday predictions — 1 PM ET kickoff

Houston Texans (1-4) at Tennessee Titans (4-0)

The Titans have once again built their team around their opportunistic defense, with their offense featuring a heavy running game and utilizing their passing game in an efficient manner. That combination was too much for the Bills in Week 4 and should be a good combination against a Texans team that allows 4.7 yards per carry.

The Texans finally seemed to click offensively in Week 5, and in Week 6 they face a Titans team that does not have great numbers defensively (third worse in yards per play allowed) outside of turnovers (nine). The Texans should be able to push the Titans all the way on a short week, but the Titans are the better all-around team and should be able to remain unbeaten this week.

Pick: Tennessee Titans 28-24

Cincinnati Bengals (1-3-1) at Indianapolis Colts (3-2)

There are concerns offensively for both of these teams. The Bengals cannot keep Joe Burrow upright and Philip Rivers has serious question marks surrounding his consistency. The big difference here is that the Colts defense is one of the best in the league, while the Bengals sit closer to the bottom of the league than the top. Look for the Colts to get back to winning ways in Week 6.

Pick: Indianapolis Colts 24-17

Atlanta Falcons (0-5) at Minnesota Vikings (1-4)

A matchup of two underperforming teams in 2020 will see both trying to turn their season around. The Falcons will see that seemingly traditional “new coach boost” that the Texans saw in Week 5, while the Vikings are perhaps fighting for their coach’s job.

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If the Vikings have managed to focus on the positives from last week’s game in Seattle and get their minds off the crushing loss, they should have too much for a Falcons team that looks bereft of confidence.

Pick: Minnesota Vikings 27-24

Denver Broncos (1-3) at New England Patriots (2-2)

After this game was postponed in Week 5, we get to see the clash of two big AFC rivals in Week 6. Both teams are expected to welcome back their starting QBs in this one, which will boost both offenses. We really know what to expect from the Patriots with Cam Newton, and the question is whether Drew Lock can get this Broncos offense to score close to 30 points. That seems unlikely for me against a Bill Belichick defense, so the Patriots are the pick here.

Pick: New England Patriots 24-20

Washington Football Team (1-4) at New York Giants (0-5)

This could be the ugliest game to watch of the entire Week 6 slate of games. Neither of these teams brings a lot to the table offensively and both have reasonably effective defenses. The defense that creates the most havoc is the one that will win this game. For my Week 6 predictions, I am backing the Giants, who I believe has the stronger overall defensive unit, to be able to score enough points to get their first win of the 2020 NFL season.

Pick: New York Giants 20-17

Baltimore Ravens (4-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (1-3-1)

I simply cannot see how this game stays close. The Baltimore Ravens offense has not looked to be clicking on all gears this season, but it is at least healthy, which is more than can be said for the Eagles. Additionally, the Ravens have the better defenses, making this perhaps the easiest selection of my Week 6 predictions, and perhaps one of the easiest of the entire NFL season.

Pick: Baltimore Ravens 28-18

Cleveland Browns (4-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4-0)

This matchup is going to tell us who is likely to be the main challenger to the Ravens this season. Both teams have impressed in the majority this season, but both have had shaky moments. The Browns season has revolved around taking the ball away from their opponent, which has hidden their inconsistencies on offense. However, the Steelers have been one of the more careful teams in the league with the ball this season.

Look for this game to be decided in the trenches as two good defensive lines clash with two solid offensive lines. If Ben Roethlisberger has time in the pocket he should pick the Browns secondary apart on the way to a Steelers win to remain perfect on the season.

Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers 28-24

Chicago Bears (4-1) @ Carolina Panthers (3-2)

This is quietly one of the most intriguing matchups of Week 6 and one of the harder predictions to make in the NFL this week. Both teams have surprised so far in 2020, and both have done it in different ways.

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The deciding factor in this one could be that the Bears offense has found ways to put up points against middling defenses while the Panthers offense has struggled against strong defenses. If that trend holds true, look for the Bears to have enough to come out of this matchup a surprising 5-1.

Pick: Chicago Bears 23-20

Detroit Lions (1-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4)

This game may not seem like one that should be interesting given the records of the two teams, but there is a lot to be intrigued about. Both offenses can put up points when they are clicking, while both defenses have struggled at times. Both head coaches are among the next candidates to be fired, and both franchises do not have their future at the quarterback position set in stone. This should be a high scoring game that could be decided simply on the fact that the Jaguars are more used to the heat and humidity of Florida than the Lions, meaning they should tire less during the game.

Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars 28-24

NFL Week 6 late Sunday game picks and breakdown — 4:05 and 4:25 PM ET kickoff

New York Jets (0-5) at Miami Dolphins (2-3)

Talking of coaches that could be fired soon, next up is the New York Jets. They head into a matchup with a Miami Dolphins team that seems to have gotten rolling recently. While you can never be sure which version of Ryan Fitzpatrick you are going to get, the overall talent level of the Dolphins should be enough for them to get the win in this one.

Pick: Miami Dolphins 31-17

Green Bay Packers (4-0) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)

This game between the Packers and Buccaneers is likely to dominate headlines over the weekend and into next week. Two of the best quarterbacks to play the game going head to head for only the third time ever will tend to have that effect.

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On the field, it is a matchup of strengths in the Packers offense and the Buccaneers defense. While that element will be crucial, it may be the battle of the weaknesses when the Buccaneers offense is on the field that decides this game. Can Tom Brady and the Buccaneers avoid the costly mistakes they have had so far this season? My bet is no and we see the better quarterback in 2020 get an important road win as the Packers remain unbeaten.

Pick: Green Bay Packers 27-24

Sunday Night Football — 8:20 PM ET kickoff

Los Angeles Rams (4-1) at San Francisco 49ers (2-3)

Just five weeks ago the score and outcome of this game would have been one of the toughest predictions to make in Week 6 of the 2020 NFL season, but things have changed drastically. The Rams offense has found its groove while the 49ers look sloppy and are badly hampered by key injuries. Unless the 49ers run game can control this game early, look for the Rams to get a lead and send their fearsome pass rush after a flailing 49ers passing game.

Pick: Los Angeles Rams 31-24

NFL Week 6 early Monday — 5 PM ET kickoff

Kansas City Chiefs (4-1) at Buffalo Bills (4-1)

If one game this week can take the spotlight from the Rodgers-Brady bowl, it will be this Monday clash between the Chiefs and Bills. Both teams are coming off their first loss of the season and looking for an immediate bounce back. The Chiefs will be desperate to show that their offensive struggles in the second half in Week 5 were a one-time thing by getting back to their scoring ways.

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Meanwhile, the Bills were embarrassed in Tennessee and need a good showing here to prove they can be a contender in the AFC this season. Josh Allen will be the deciding factor in this game. Can he go toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes while avoiding costly mistakes? I simply cannot see the Chiefs losing two in a row to key conference rivals and for that reason give me the Chiefs to win an extremely entertaining game.

Pick: Kansas City Chiefs 31-28

Monday Night Football — 8:15 PM ET kickoff

Arizona Cardinals (3-2) at Dallas Cowboys (2-3)

What a matchup this should be to close out Week 6. If Dak Prescott was healthy, this game would be a nice easy way to round out my NFL Week 6 predictions. But with Andy Dalton under center, the task becomes somewhat more difficult with an unknown around the kind of score the Cowboys are capable of registering.

Both teams have had their defensive difficulties at times this season, meaning this should be an entertaining way to round out the week. With the two defenses being somewhat of a wash, I am going to take the more talented overall offense in the Cowboys, despite having the worse quarterback, to get themselves to 3-3 and take a firm grip of their woeful division.

Pick: Dallas Cowboys 38-35