2021 Week 6 Predix: Cowboys Chasing a 5-1 Start

Courtesy of Alan Glanzman/Getty Images

Written by Sam DeCoste

We've reached a point in the regular season where we are closer to Halloween than we were to Week 1. The 2021 regular season is advancing at rapid fire pace, and the contenders and pretenders are starting to reveal themselves to us at last. And for the first time since 2019, the Jaguars are back where they belong, in London. Nature is truly healing. 

While the Jets, Falcons, Saints, and 49ers take the first bye week of the season, Week 6 presents as entertaining a slate of games as any we've seen so far in 2021. The week kicks off with Bucs-Eagles on Thursday night, and continues with a matchup between a pair of 4-1 AFC squads, the Chargers and Ravens, a cross-conference showdown between the Cardinals and Browns, and with the Cowboys taking on the Patriots.

Week 5 was my greatest week of the season to date, in which I accurately predicted 13 of 16 games. I have reached a 68.8 winning percentage thru 6 weeks, after a rocky start to the season. Unfortunately, I have yet to correctly seal a single Lock of the Week. I am 0-5 on Locks of the Week this season, which is unfortunately historic for me. I am dedicated to putting this losing streak to an end this week, and building on the momentum I have generated this October to improve my Predix standings even more. Enjoy my Week 6 picks, and enjoy the football!

Week 5 record: 13-3
Lock of the Week record: 0-5
Regular season record: 55-25

Buccaneers @ Eagles

Tom Brady played one of the absolute greatest games of his career last week against the Dolphins, throwing for 411 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Bucs offense was unstoppable against Miami, and they could be in for another sensational outing against the Eagles. Brady and the receivers are humming on all cylinders, and they could go for another pass-heavy approach to pick the Eagles apart. But Philly's Achilles heel this season on defense this season is on the ground. The Eagles allow 142 rushing yards per game, which ranks 30th in the NFL. The Bucs have the firepower in the backfield to control the game on the ground with Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones. Tampa's secret weapon waiting to be unleashed is Giovani Bernard, a savvy veteran back who can run and catch the ball and control the game with yards after the catch. Bernard could see a designed role against the Eagles, to keep the defense on their toes.

Jalen Hurts and the Eagles offense face a daunting mission this week: to outscore Brady and the Bucs on a short week. They fought and clawed against the Panthers and snatched an impressive road win a week ago, and are carrying some momentum into Thursday. The Bucs defense is vulnerable this season, and teams have been able to take advantage of them so far this season. Hurts can do the same, but has to play a mistake-free game, and break the game open with deep, accurate passing, and chunk plays on the ground. Nick Sirianni must also lean on Miles Sanders. When Sanders is in the zone, the Eagles offense is nearly uncontainable. Sanders averages only 9.6 attempts per game, but could change the game if given more opportunities. If the Bucs jump out to an early lead, the Eagles have to avoid phasing Sanders out, and forcing Hurts to carry the load all himself. 

Eagles fans will create a hostile environment for Brady, and Hurts and the offense should be able to cause the Bucs some problems in the first half. But the Bucs are the far stronger team from top to bottom, and far better coached. No Eagles will be flying after this one's all said and done. 

Prediction: Buccaneers 31, Eagles 20

Dolphins @ Jaguars

Tua Tagovailoa is expected to return this week to face the Jaguars, and give the Dolphins a desperate boost. Since Miami's starter went down with broken ribs in Week 2, the Dolphins have lost 4 straight contests, averaging just 15.5 points in those games. The Dolphins offense ranks 31st in yards per game, worst on the ground, and 31st in scoring. Tagovailoa can expand the offense and bring the most out of the talent available on the outside, but their offense is inherently limited by construction. They are definitively the less explosive offense on the field this weekend, and have to create far more chunk plays on Sunday to buck their losing streak. The offense needs to incorporate Myles Gaskin more efficiently into the gameplan, and stretch the ball downfield to Will Fuller and DeVante Parker. The Dolphins defense is poised to generate takeaways against the most turnover-heavy team in the league, but the offense has to hold up their end of the bargain. 

The Jaguars are closing the gap, and playing far more competitive in October than they were in September. Trevor Lawrence has completed 70 percent of his passes over the last 2 games, and James Robinson has accumulated 315 yards and 4 touchdowns in the last 3 games combined. Urban Meyer is finally figuring out how to move the ball downfield, by utilizing Robinson. The Dolphins defense presents a tough matchup, but the offense is talented enough to move the ball. They ought to lean on Robinson and let him control the line of scrimmage, and in turn open up play-action passing for Lawrence. The Jaguars can win the game as long as they are clinical in the red zone, and they protect the football. As a team, the Jaguars have turned the ball over 11 times this season, and Lawrence has been intercepted 8 times in only 5 games. But a turnover-free game could put the Dolphins against the wall. 

Both teams need wins in the worst ways, especially for Miami if they are a serious Wild Card contender this season. For as impotent as the Jaguars have been not only this season but historically, they seem to fare better in London than stateside. Jacksonville's 20 game losing streak will come to an end this Sunday morning. 

Prediction: Dolphins 14, Jaguars 23

Chargers @ Ravens

Justin Herbert was outstanding against the Browns in Week 5, and is following up a superb rookie year with another stellar campaign. Herbert threw for 398 yards and 4 touchdowns a week ago, and faces a crisp matchup against a struggling Ravens defense. More of the same will do just fine for the Chargers, who have scored 105 points in their last 3 games combined. They can control the tempo of the game throughout by continuing to feed Austin Ekeler, who has proven to be the engine of the Chargers offense this season. The Chargers offense should not struggle to move the ball or get on the board in Baltimore, but the defense has to be at their best facing a red-hot Ravens offense. They cannot afford to let Jackson escape the pocket and allow him to use his legs to extend plays or run in the open field. Jackson can be stopped if he is contained in the pocket and forced to use his arm. But after what he did against the Colts a week ago, even Jackson's arm has to be considered a threat to the Chargers defense. Stealing possessions from the Ravens offense and cashing in on red zone drives could decide the contest for the Chargers.

Don't look now, but the Ravens passing attack is coming in hot. Jackson threw for 442 yards in Week 5, completing 86 percent of his passes in a comeback win. He amassed 504 total yards on the night through the air and on the ground, undoubtedly the game of his life. The Chargers defense presents a much stiffer matchup for Jackson, but the offense is evolving and maturing into a multi-dimensional unit capable of coming from behind. The Ravens can keep the Chargers defense on their toes with a thriving ground game, and if Jackson is as accurate as he was last week. Keeping Joey Bosa on the defensive line at bay will be crucial to keeping Jackson upright, and allowing him to frolic around the pocket. But the Ravens are still not built to win shootouts on a weekly basis, especially not against an offense of LA's caliber. The Ravens defense has to generate sacks and takeaways on Herbert to take the pressure off Jackson and the offense. 

The Chargers are the far more balanced team, and closer to the top of the AFC than the Ravens. Herbert will march into Baltimore and lead the Chargers to a gritty away win.

Prediction: Chargers 29, Ravens 23

Vikings @ Panthers

Sam Darnold reverted back to his New York self against the Eagles with 3 back-breaking interceptions in Week 5. In his last 3 games, Darnold has thrown 3 touchdowns to 5 interceptions, posting a rating of 75. Christian McCaffrey's potential return this week may sway the game completely, and decide who wins on Sunday. He would bring a needed boost to the Panthers offense which is stagnating to generate chunk plays, and to reduce the pressure on Darnold. Chuba Hubbard played well in McCaffrey's absence, rushing for 210 yards in 3 games, but McCaffrey adds a new element to the offense entirely. On defense, the Panthers face yet another test measuring their defensive prowess. The Vikings are a high octane offense sprinkled with superstars on the outside, and in the backfield as well if Dalvin Cook is healthy. They fell short of the challenge against the Cowboys to prove their validity as a top defense this season, but the Vikings are another chance to show they can play to the occasion against playoff caliber offenses.

Greg Joseph's kicking heroics bailed the Vikings out of a 1-4 start, and a win in Carolina can even Minnesota's record for the first time this season. Cook's status is still up in the air heading into Week 6, but Alexander Mattison's role in the offense has blossomed since he became the next man up. Going against the Panthers, the Vikings have to be far more clinical in the red zone. The Vikings settled for 4 field goals and scored just one touchdown, nearly falling short of the Lions. The 19-17 scoreline from a week ago would look so much different if the Vikings scored touchdowns on half their field goal possessions. Kirk Cousins will have to be at his best as well, facing the NFL's top passing defense. Cousins is bound to be pressured in the pocket and has to get rid of the ball quickly, and let Adam Theilen and Justin Jefferson dominate the game with short receptions and yards after catch. Defensively, the Vikings know they can fluster Darnold and force him into quick decisions and characteristic mistakes. 

It may be October, but this game could prove to be a decisive NFC tiebreaker in the playoff race. The statuses of both McCaffrey and Cook are crucial and could swing the game either way, but the Vikings are the more talented squad. Minnesota's total loss margin this season is just 11 combined points, and Vikings fans should expect yet another 4th quarter nail-biter, and an anxious victory. 

Prediction: Vikings 23, Panthers 21

Chiefs @ Football Team

Entering Week 6, the Chiefs have already lost more games this season than the last. Patrick Mahomes and the offense looked as predictable and stale as they ever have in the 3-plus seasons he has been the starting quarterback. Mahomes turned the ball over 3 times, and the offense completely out of sync. Rebounding against a ferocious Washington defense will be no easy task, especially without Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Darrell Williams is the next man up from the backfield, but the Chiefs will likely roll with another pass-heavy gameplan. They have to scheme ways to find Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman deep downfield to open up the Washington defense, since the offense isn't built to drive the ball methodically on long possessions. The offensive line has to be at their best to protect Mahomes from the Washington pass rush, and keep his jersey as clean as possible. 

Washington will be licking their lips at the prospect of putting Kansas City at 2-4, and will fancy their chances. The offense is talented enough to cause issues for the Chiefs defense, especially on the ground. The Chiefs give up 141 rushing yards per game, and are mismatched to face off against Antonio Gibson and JD McKissic. Washington knows the Chiefs will be unable to contain both of them, but they have to see improvement from Taylor Heinicke to stick around for 4 quarters. Heinicke has thrown 5 interceptions in his last 4 games, and posted just a 47.6 rating a week ago. He needs to spread the ball out across the yard to Washington's receivers, and feed Terry McLaurin early and often. He may be the most talented receiver on the field between the two teams, and could frustrate the Chiefs defense if Heinicke finds him often. But the likes of Adam Humphries, DeAndre Carter, and Ricky Seals-Jones have to create chunk plays as well, to match the high-scoring Chiefs offense.

For as documented as the Chiefs struggles are, their 3 losses have come against the 4-1 Ravens, Chargers, and Bills. A loss to Washington would be substantially more disastrous, and difficult to foresee. The Chiefs will bounce back.

Prediction: Chiefs 33, Football Team 20

Rams @ Giants

Coming off extra rest, the Rams will be flying from coast to coast to take on the Giants, and keep up with the Cardinals in the NFC West. The Rams delivered another impressive performance in Week 5, racking 476 yards of offense and putting the Seahawks away in the second half. Sean McVay will be preaching a quick start against the Giants, after coming out of the gates slow the previous 2 games. The Rams have scored just 16 combined first half points against the Cardinals and Seahawks, and put themselves in holes they needed to dig themselves out of. As long as the Rams start quicker, and the offense balances out the ground to passing game efficiently, they stack up promisingly against the Giants. Aaron Donald the Rams defensive line is staring at a potential breakout game as well, and could cause the Giants backfield a flurry of problems. 

The Giants come limping back to New Jersey this week as they deal with the league's worst injury bug. Saquon Barkley and Kenny Golladay likely will each miss out against the Rams, just as both were gaining their footing in the Giants offense this season. Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton are trending towards returning, and Kadarius Toney shined against the Cowboys a week ago, and may become a more focal point of the offense going forward. Luckily, Daniel Jones is projecting to start after exiting early against the Cowboys with a concussion. The Giants offense will not be at full health, but they will be welcoming back core components of the receiving core as they gear up for a potential high-scoring matchup. Jones will need to match Stafford and the Rams offense punch for punch and spread the ball out for 4 quarters, and hope his defense can generate impact plays on the other side of the ball.

Cross country matchups are always frisky, and the Rams could easily fall asleep at the wheel if they overlook the Giants coming off extra rest. But the Rams are the far more balanced, and healthier team. Rams win. 

Prediction: Rams 27, Giants 13

Packers @ Bears

Packers fans had to sweat it out, but the team pulled off an improbable win over the Bengals despite a nightmare day at the office for kicker Mason Crosby. But in spite of Green Bay's woes in Cincy, the Packers proved they can win ugly. The offense can engineer gritty drives late in games when they need to score, and the offense is just as if not even more volatile than a year ago. Davante Adams is capable of taking over every game from the outside, and has a chance for another breakout box score against the Bears. In 10 career games against the Bears, Adams averages 71 yards per game and has scored 7 touchdowns. Aaron Rodgers will look his way all game long, and force the Bears to make Rodgers go through his progressions and throw somewhere else. Aaron Jones from the backfield is a dominant force in his own right, and can set the tempo for the Packers offense if the Packers opt for a balanced offensive approach.

Justin Fields is 2-1 as the Bears starting quarterback, but faces his stiffest test yet in the NFL. Bears fans are hoping he can put an end to Green Bay's dominance in their head-to-head rivalry, but the odds are stacked against him this week to counterattack the MVP. David Montgomery is on I.R., and Damien Williams landed on the COVID list, leaving rookie Khalil Herbert as the lead man in the backfield for Fields. The ground game will be on life support, and will force even more responsibility on Fields, who averages just 129 passing yards per game in 3 starts. To outscore the Packers, Fields has to engineer consistent scoring drives for 4 quarters and move the ball down Green Bay's throats all afternoon. He can extend plays with his legs, carry the ball more from the pocket, and will have to be much more aggressive downfield. The Bears defense leads the NFL in sacks this season, and the defensive line is more than capable of collapsing the pocket on Rodgers. Generating sacks and takeaways will be paramount, to put Fields and the offense in prime field position and to keep the Packers offense under control.

Fields is still adjusting to the speed of the NFL, and acquainting with his shorthanded supporting cast. The Packers are riding a 4 game winning streak entering Chicago, and are looking for their 5th straight win against the Bears. They will extend their run of dominance over the Bears.

Prediction: Packers 23, Bears 17

Bengals @ Lions

Narrow margins split the Bengals from the Packers in Week 5, but the Bengals proved they can hang with the big boys in their overtime loss to the Packers. The Bengals had the Packers on the ropes, and nearly pulled off a win, if not for a horrific kicking showcase. Joe Burrow came through with big-time throws to bring the Bengals back, and put the ball in positions for Cincy to win. Defensively, the Bengals kept the Packers high octane offense out of the end zone the entire second half, intercepted Aaron Rodgers, and sacked him 3 times. The Bengals can pull off their 4th win of the season if they win the turnover battle. Joe Burrow added 2 interceptions to his season total this season, now at 6. Burrow needs to find consistency from week to week, and begin racking solid performances back to back games. The offense is poised for a breakout game against a mediocre Lions defense, especially in the air. 

Two heartbreaking field goals have separated the Lions from a pair of wins already this season, but they are so close to putting an end to their losing streak. The Lions can absolutely engineer an upset win over the Bengals with the right approach. Riding the double-headed monster in the backfield of D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams will help the offense control the tempo from the line of scrimmage, keep Jared Goff upright, and give him time to find his receivers in stride. The Lions are built to generate long, methodical drives down the field, but it has yielded measurable efficiency so far this season. Goff has been impressive at distributing the ball across the yard to multiple receivers, and he will need to be as prolific and efficient going forward. The Lions have proven themselves to be a viably competitive team despite their roster shortcomings, and will be as motivated as ever to finally win a game for Dan Campbell.

An upset is not out of the question this weekend, but the Bengals are being thrust into a potential playoff spotlight. If the Bengals are a playoff team, this is a must-win. No excuses. 

Prediction: Bengals 24, Lions 21

Texans @ Colts

Carson Wentz played his best game yet in the horseshoe helmet against the Ravens in a losing effort. Wentz threw for 402 yards in the air as well as 2 touchdown passes, nearly leading the Colts to an impressive road win over the Ravens. The offense was outstanding, but the defense was horrific. While the Colts mounted 513 yards of offense, they surrendered 523 on the other end, and allowed Lamar Jackson to carve them to shreds for his best career game. The Colts defense has to put up more of a fight against a frisky Texans offense to boost Indy's momentum, and play their part in keeping the team competitive this season. Regularly incorporating Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines as a part of the gameplan can spread the Texans defense out as much as possible, and can elevate the Colts as a truly legitimate offensive threat to the AFC.

In relief for Tyrod Taylor, Davis Mills has registered two wildly disparate and confusing starts. Mills tossed 4 interceptions in a shutout loss to the Bills in Week 4, but dealt the Patriots defense apart with 312 yards and 3 touchdown passes last week. Back-to-back impressive performances would turn even more heads, and could even win Mills the starting job. The Texans offense is capable of frustrating the Colts defense, especially with a strong performance on the ground. Mark Ingram, David Johnson, and Philip Lindsay make up a diverse but versatile backfield all equipped to share touches and wear down the Colts defense. The Texans wideouts have to create the separation and make the impacts they were able to against the Patriots this week, and make life as easy as possible for Mills. 

The Colts won't give up on their playoff hopes even at 1-4, and know this is must-win game. Mills may have something to say about it, but the Colts are huge favorites to steamroll their divisional rivals. 

Prediction: Texans 13, Colts 24

Cardinals @ Browns

Low and behold, the final unbeaten team remaining in the NFL hails from Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals moved to 5-0 in Week 5 and can extend their winning streak with a win over the Browns, another worthy litmus test to measure how outstanding this team actually is. Arizona's offensive line has their toughest matchup of the season facing a Browns defensive line that ranks 4th in sacks this season, and features Myles Garrett on the edge. The Cardinals have to offset Cleveland's ferocious pass rush and keep Kyler Murray as comfortable as possible inside and outside the pocket. Murray can cause damage either way, but the offense shuts down if the offensive line caves into Murray's throwing room. The speed of Arizona's playmakers on the outside is stellar enough to overwhelm Cleveland's secondary, and the Cardinals could burn the Browns defense to shreds if Murray finds room to run and space to step into his passes. 

The Browns come back to Cleveland following a rollercoaster 47-42 defeat on the West Coast to the Chargers, looking to avoid a .500 start to the season after 6 games. Baker Mayfield proved against the Chargers that he is capable of leading the Browns in shootouts, and that this team will take some stopping. They face a Cardinals defense known for bending but not breaking, and a unit that has allowed the 6th fewest points scored this season. The Browns can wear them down with their tried and true approach, by pounding the rock with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, and letting Mayfield do the rest with his arm. On the outside, Mayfield needs the best out of his playmakers, especially Odell Beckham, Jr. and Jarvis Landry if he is able to return by Sunday. The Browns are capable of winning a shootout against the Cardinals, but it will take a complete performance from everyone involved on the offensive side of the ball to pull it off.

Even in a win to move to 5-0, the Cardinals showed they were running out of steam against the 49ers. The offense is bound for a drop down to earth, especially with Kliff Kingsbury ruled out to coach on the sidelines after testing positive for COVID. It will take all the Browns have, but they will have enough to hand the Cardinals their first defeat of 2021. 

Prediction: Cardinals 28, Browns 30

Cowboys @ Patriots

On paper, the Cowboys are a juggernaut. Their offense ranks 2nd in yards and points, takeaways, and turnover differential, Dak Prescott is playing the best football of his career, and Ezekiel Elliott is playing more like his rookie self again. The Cowboys offense is leading the charge for the team's resurgence, and is poised for a breakout game against a Patriots defense which was dished by Davis Mills last week. They would be wise to stick with the ground game, and allow Elliott and Tony Pollard to dictate the tempo. The Cowboys have no use calling 50 pass plays for Prescott in Foxboro while they have one of the NFL's most complimentary backfield duos. The defense will take the field confident they can slow down Mac Jones and the Patriots offense, and would love for rookie Trevon Diggs to extend his streak of 5 straight games with an interception to 6. 

With a loss, the Patriots would fall to 0-4 at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots desperately have to recuperate, reestablish homefield advantage in Foxboro, and set their season back on track with a win. Despite what the Texans offense orchestrated against this defense, the Patriots proved they can shut down even the best offenses in the league, including Tom Brady and the Bucs. Bill Belichick will look to load the box and force Prescott to carry the Cowboys with his arm, which has boom potential for the Patriots defense. On the other side of the ball, the Patriots have to ground and pound the ball with Damien Harris, and let him tote the rock at least 20 times. Jones will need to air the ball out to keep up with Prescott, and keep Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne factors early and often. Protecting the ball and running the ball with efficiency should be New England's winning formula, and could be enough to pull off a potential upset.

The Cowboys can move to 5-1 for the first time since 2016 with a win, and further cement themselves as a true NFC contender. They could fall into a trap this week, but it would be chaotic if the Cowboys could not find a way to defeat the 2021 Patriots considering the disparate trajectories these squads are trending towards. 

Prediction: Cowboys 27, Patriots 23

Raiders @ Broncos

The last thing on the minds of Raiders players this week is football, but now they have to move on to face the Broncos after their head coach resigned in disgrace. But if the Raiders are to make anything of the 2021 season despite losing their head coach in October, they have to act quickly before their season dwindles away. The Raiders are riding a 2 game losing streak into Denver after starting 3-0, and are coming off a 20-9 loss at home to the Bears. Derek Carr and the offense are starting games slow, and are being forced to play from behind every week. Even in their 3 wins to open the season, the Raiders trailed in each game. A quick start from Carr and the offense could change the narrative for the Raiders, and transform the game script for the team. It bails the defense out of digging the team out of a hole, and takes the pressure off every drive.

The Broncos are riding a 2 game losing streak of their own after starting the season 3-0. Against the Steelers in Week 6, the Broncos ran the ball just 18 times, and abandoned the ground game too quickly. The offense put up a fight at the end, and Teddy Bridgewater played well enough to potentially bring the Broncos back, but Denver's passing game is notably limited. The Broncos are at their best when Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon are galloping in the open field, and Bridgewater is throwing on play-action. Defensively, the Broncos rank 3rd in yards allowed this season, and 2nd in scoring. They are more than capable of locking down a Raiders offense that has scored just 23 combined points in their last 2 games. And if Bridgewater and the offense jump out to an early lead and put Vegas in a familiar trailing position, the Broncos could stroll to a comfortable home win.

Both squads need a win badly to buck their losing streaks and to begin separating themselves from the Chiefs still at the bottom in the AFC West. But the Raiders are still grappling with the aftermath of Jon Gruden's departure, and they do not match up well with this Broncos squad. The Broncos will take it. 

Prediction: Raiders 17, Broncos 24

Seahawks @ Steelers

For the first time since 2011, Russell Wilson will not be starting for the Seahawks. A finger injury will sideline Wilson for at least 4 weeks, and thrust Geno Smith into the starting lineup. Smith has starting quarterback experience, albeit from a long time ago, and at a mediocre level. But with Wilson out for at least a month, Smith has to hold the fort down so the Seahawks don't fall out of contention in his absence. Cris Carson ought to be Smith's best friend for the next month, and it begins Sunday night. Carson is a bruiser from the backfield, and often under-utilized thanks to makeshift offensive line play and a heavy aerial attack approach to every game. There must be a more even balance between the pass and the run, rather than to expect Smith to drop back the same times Wilson would. The offense also has to morph into an intermediate mode, and rid the ball quickly. The Steelers defense will collapse the pocket on Smith all night long, and he does not have the playmaking abilities to find receivers deep downfield or escape the pocket like Wilson. DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett can still be explosive in space, with yards after catch in shorter pass situations.

The Steelers finally broke their losing streak with a win over the Broncos last week, and can move to .500 with a win against a reeling Seahawks squad. Najee Harris played his best game of the season, breaking out for 122 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers can carry that momentum into Week 6, and let Harris control the tempo. Harris' production transitively limited Ben Roethlisberger's responsibilities, who only threw 25 passes against the Broncos. Going into this weekend, the Seahawks are the NFL's worst defense, allowing over 450 yards per game. If the Steelers can execute the same game plan from a week ago against the Seahawks defense, it will be an easy night for the black and yellow. Harris is poised for another stellar performance, and Roethlisberger can control the game with limited pass attempts. The defense should expect chances at taking the ball away from Smith, especially if they are able to collapse the pocket on Seattle's offensive line all night long.

Wilson going down is devastating for the Seahawks, and could have lethal ramifications on their season. The Steelers sorted out their growing pains a week ago, and are built to handle the Seahawks without batting an eye. This is my Lock of the Week.

Prediction: Seahawks 9, Steelers 21

Bills @ Titans

Since their opening day loss to the Steelers, the Bills have rattled off 4 straight wins, and have been one of the most unstoppable teams in the NFL. The Bills rank first in scoring on both sides of the ball, they lead the league in takeaways and turnover differential, and Josh Allen has thrown for 12 touchdowns to just 2 interceptions so far this season. They registered a monster win last Sunday night against the Chiefs, setting a legitimate path for homefield advantage in the AFC. Going against the Titans, the Bills need to just do more of the same. Allen has been sensational again this year through the air, and his 35 carries this season for 188 yards and 2 touchdowns have added another lethal element to the offense. The role players on the offense are humming as well, including Emmanuel Sanders and Dawson Knox, allowing Stefon Diggs to take a step back and let the surrounding playmakers go to work. The Bills defense faces a volatile matchup against a loaded Titans offense, but can fluster their opponents with strong pass rush. The Titans have struggled in pass protection this season, and the Bills can exploit it and frustrate Ryan Tannehill.

Derrick Henry has picked up right where he left off from a 2,000 yard campaign last season, already at 640 yards this season as well as 7 touchdown runs. The Bills have been stiff against the run this year, but the Titans won't be afraid to run the ball down Buffalo's throat with Henry, who already has 142 carries this season. The ground game may be the only avenue the Titans can compete with the Bills for 4 quarters, especially if Julio Jones is not ready to play. The Bills defensive line can infiltrate the Titans backfield and bother Tannehill in the pocket if the Titans are forced to abandon the run. As long as the Titans can keep the Bills at bay, and allow Henry to remain a focal point of the contest, the Titans will be within reach. But if the Bills jump out to an early lead, and Tannehill is forced to drop back 50 times and win the game with his arm, the Bills will romp them. 

After beating the Chiefs a week ago, the Bills are definitely vulnerable to an emotional letdown against another formidable AFC team. But the Bills are built to dominate this game, and handle whatever Tannehill has to throw at them. 

Prediction: Bills 31, Titans 21