2018 Week 6 Predix

Written by Sam DeCoste

The NFL continues to produce incredible upsets, surprising turns, and plenty of photo finishes. Five weeks have passed us by already this NFL season, and I'm just as confused as I was in Week 1. But the season continues, and Week 6 features even more great games to watch and storylines to follow. The Saints and Lions take the week off, and the NFL's International Series begins in London on Sunday, when the Seahawks take on the Raiders overseas.
The Steelers-Bengals rivalry is renewed once again, as the AFC North rivals battle in Cincinnati. The NFL's highest scoring offense, the Chiefs, take on the kings of the conference, the Patriots, in the impenetrable Gillette Stadium on Sunday Night Football. But Week 6 kicks off on Thursday night in East Rutherford, where the New York Giants host the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, who desperately need to get back on track to defend their crown. Week 6 is fast approaching, so let's get right to it!

Here are my season records: 

Lock of the Week record: 3-2

Last week's record: 9-6

Regular season record: 45-31-2

    PHI @ NYG

The loser of this game might just be done. The Giants somehow snatched defeat at the hands of victory once again, in a heartbreaking loss at Carolina, while the Super Bowl champions are still winless on the road this season. These teams both need a win in the worst way, which can only make for a great contest. Sadly, one team has to lose again. That will be the Giants. The Eagles still know how to win in the underdog role, when everyone writes them off, while Odell Beckham has been causing rifts in the locker room. Just throw the ball to him, Eli.

Prediction: PHI 27, NYG 23

 SEA @ OAK

The first game this season to be played overseas is another which both teams have started far worse than they could have imagined. Jon Gruden longed for a sideline return for ten years, but can't maintain a consistent winning formula. Meanwhile, the once Super Bowl winning Seahawks no longer have the defensive edge which made them so great. It's a matchup of has-beens that will ultimately be won by the more talented team.

Prediction: SEA 29, OAK 24

 PIT @ CIN

Bengals fans will say this is a rivalry game. Steelers fans will say it's not a rivalry if one team wins every time. This is the best chance the Bengals have had to vanquish their dreaded rivals in three years. The Bengals have revamped their roster from three years ago with talent and explosiveness which has catapulted them to an impressive 4-1 start. But the Bengals have not beaten the Steelers in Paul Brown Stadium since 2013. This is the type of game in which the Bengals have failed time and time again, a big game, against a big team. But this year, the Steelers defense is struggling, and there has been more friction than ever in Pittsburgh's locker room. There has never been a better chance for Andy Dalton's crew to beat their big brother. But they still won't do it.

Prediction: PIT 24, CIN 23

 CHI @ MIA

The Redskins and Panthers returned from their byes last week and both underwhelmed mightily. The Bears are back after their week off in Miami, where yet another natural disaster is wreaking havoc. Adam Nagy's team was firing on all cylinders in their last game against the Bucs, in which Trubisky threw six touchdowns, and the defense locked down an offense once again. They are big favorites, but, Miami is due for a win after two straight losses. Chicago is about to fall into a mousetrap.

Prediction: CHI 17, MIA 27

 LAC @ CLE

Will the Browns win a game for the third time this year? What a time to be alive. I think they will, simply put. The Chargers still lack a pass rush, and the Browns know how to score points, and shut down opposing offenses. 

Prediction: LAC 20, CLE 28

 CAR @ WSH

The Redskins played the unlucky victim to Drew Brees' passing record extravaganza last week, getting embarrassed on the national stage. However, they will bounce back. Against a Carolina team which relied on their kicker to bail out their coach's terrible last game play calling, and a defense which got exposed against the Giants, I think the Redskins turn it around and bounce back with a nice victory.

Prediction: CAR 17, WSH 20

 BUF @ HOU

Two teams have underestimated the Bills already, and they paid the price. Houston cannot afford to underestimate the Bills, especially considering they have the same record (!!) as them. But the Texans are way too talented to be victimized at the hands of the Bills. Their quarterback is starting to find a rhythm and JJ Watt is making a living in the opponent's backfield once again. Texans win.

Prediction: BUF 6, HOU 26

 IND @ NYJ

I thought the Jets would have a better record than 2-3 at this point after their incredible Week 1 performance in Detroit. But Sam Darnold turned the ball over too much, and the Jets crumbled for three weeks. The Colts, on the other hand, I am surprised they won a game at all this this point. That is pretty impressive. But the Colts lack talent, and they aren't good enough to beat a pesky Jets team on the road.

Prediction: IND 17, NYJ 26

 TB @ ATL

In case you forgot, the Bucs benched Ryan Fitzpatrick after their blowout loss in Chicago, and they will start Jameis Winston in this game. Meanwhile, the injury-riddled Falcons return home, starting 1-4, desperately needing a win. Despite the injuries, I still trust Atlanta, because their coaching staff has proven they can still win when they are up against the wall, while Dirk Koetter insisted he should have been fired two weeks ago. This is my Lock of the Week.

Prediction: TB 27, ATL 31

 ARZ @ MIN

Don't count out Minnesota just yet. They got the revenge they waited seven months to get, finally beating the Eagles in the Linc last week, and they are at 2-2-1. Now they get the Cardinals, who finally managed to win, led by Josh Rosen. But a rookie quarterback against the Vikings defense? No thank you. Josh Allen somehow managed to posterize this defense, but there is no way Mike Zimmer lets his team underestimate another rookie quarterback named Josh.

Prediction: ARZ 10, MIN 24

 LAR @ DEN

The Rams actually looked vulnerable last week in a tough game in Seattle, but they managed to grind out the victory. They should face a similar test in Denver, in the mile high altitude, against 80,000 screaming fans, and against a pretty good football team. Case Keenum has been carving defenses so far, but just comes up short when it matters most. Now you know this game matters to Keenum, as he faces one of his former teams. I do think, however, he will come up short, against the best team in the NFL.

Prediction: LAR 34, DEN 24

 JAX @ DAL

The Jaguars are too inconsistent. Blake Bortles torches defenses one week, and gets exposed the next. Their defense is still great, but they need help from their offense to get over the line. They have to get back on track against Dallas, considering the Cowboys can't find a way to move the ball downfield, and the Jags defense is still lockdown. But Jalen Ramsey seriously needs to stop trash talking. If you're gonna talk the talk, you have to walk the walk, and he got shown up by Tyreek Hill.

Prediction: JAX 20, DAL 9

 BAL @ TEN

This turned out to be a critical AFC tiebreaker last season, which contributed to the Ravens getting left out of the postseason party at the end of the year. It should be important again, considering both teams are 3-2 at Week 6. Both teams are coming off embarrassing losses, to the Bills and Browns respectively. They cannot afford to slip this game away. But it will ultimately be won by the Titans. They can run the ball against this Ravens front, and the Ravens are struggling once again to score points.

Prediction: BAL 16, TEN 20

 KC @ NE

If last week wasn't a big enough test, the Patriots will prove to be Patrick Mahomes' biggest yet in his NFL career. There may not be a harder place to win than New England, especially when the offense is clicking. And the Patriots have their swagger back, with Gronk making plays, James White creating mismatches, Josh Gordon up to speed, and the long awaited return of Julian Edelman. But the Chiefs have brushed aside all of their opponents to this point. But don't forget that Bill Belichick hasn't lost to a rookie quarterback since Mark Sanchez. But he hasn't seen an offense like this since Super Bowl LI. And the Chiefs managed to win here last year on opening night with Alex Smith. I think the Chiefs prevail.

Prediction: KC 38, NE 31

 SF @ GB

The Packers are winless on the road this season, and they tied the Vikings. They need a win, and two weeks to get Aaron Rodgers refreshed and ready to go before a huge showdown against the Rams in the Coliseum. They should do so, against possibly the weakest team in the NFL, due to devastating injuries.

Prediction: SF 16, GB 27

Works Cited
Chester, Simon. “Steelers Open as 3-Point Underdogs versus Bengals in Week 6.” Behind the Steel Curtain, Behind the Steel Curtain, 8 Oct. 2018, www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2018/10/8/17949814/pittsburgh-steelers-open-as-3-point-underdogs-versus-bengals-in-week-6-nfl-odds-betting-news-picks.