2020 Week 6 Predix: NFC West Showdown in San Francisco

Courtesy of Robert Hanashiro

Written by Sam DeCoste

Football season marches on with 14 games and 2 teams on bye. This week I am going to build on my 8-6 record from Week 5. We’ve got some great games on the slate this weekend including a battle of the birds featuring the Ravens and Eagles, an AFC North clash between the Steelers and Browns, the Packers taking on the Bucs, and a showdown between the Bills and Chiefs. Week 6 features decisive games which could have heavy ramifications for the final playoff standings.

Week 6 is here. Let’s get it!

Here are my records from this season:

Week 5 record: 8-6

Regular season record: 51-25-1

Lock of the Week record: 3-2

BYES: Chargers, Raiders, Saints, Seahawks

Browns @ Steelers

Athletes have long memories, and the Steelers will surely remember what happened last season when they visited Cleveland on Thursday Night Football last season. Myles Garrett's miraculous helmet swing towards Mason Rudolph lives long in the memory, and resulted in a flurry of suspensions. 

This time around, the Steelers will not be fielding Mason Rudolph, since Ben Roethlisberger is back and the Steelers offense is humming. Rookie wideout Chase Claypool is emerging as a top weapon in the offense, and will see his targets increase after a 4-touchdown performance against the Eagles. Juju Smith Schuster will be a problem for the Browns secondary as well, and James Washington can stretch the defense as well. If the Steelers can contain Cleveland's production on the ground, and the Steelers offense is efficient, the Steelers will handle their divisional foes just fine. 

The Browns are 1-8-1 against the Steelers since 2015, and they will need a strong running game on the day to stand a chance. Well, the Browns are the league's top ranked rushing offense, which bodes well for their chances. This unit averages 188 yards per game on the ground, and they will surely be leaned on heavily against the Steelers loaded defense. The Browns have the personnel to control the game and take the offensive with a strong performance by Kareem Hunt, and putting Odell Beckham, Jr. and Jarvis Landry in space against Pittsburgh's defense. The Browns skill position players are explosive in the open field, and Cleveland can win if Kevin Stefanski can dial them separation, and if Hunt is controlling the clock.

This is the best Browns squad since 2002, and the team is poised to give Pittsburgh a run for their money on Sunday afternoon. That being said, the Steelers have been the Browns' mean big brother for the past 15 years. The Steelers own this divisional rivalry, and they will continue their undefeated tear this weekend.

Prediction: Browns 20, Steelers 26

Ravens @ Eagles

The Ravens are winning, but they haven't quite kicked into high gear yet. After a humiliating defeat to the Chiefs, the Ravens defeated Washington and Cincinnati with mediocre offensive performances, but strong defensive play. The Ravens allow only 92 yards per game on the ground, including just 70 against the Bengals last week. The Ravens can control the game by stuffing Miles Sanders on the ground, and let Lamar Jackson go to work and regain his mojo. This week presents another opportunity for Marquise Brown to live up to his nickname and start making a considerable impact in the passing game, and continue his development as a sophomore wideout. Darius Slay will keep Brown occupied, but Brown's speed has the ability to open the floodgates for Baltimore, and Mark Andrews will be a consistent third-down threat for Philly.

The Eagles' season will never be over as long as they play in the NFC East, but 2020 has been a season to forget already. The injuries have ravaged their season already, and Carson Wentz is having his worst season as a pro. Wentz has already broken his career high for interceptions in a season, with 9 going into Week 6. Wentz is not the problem, but the absence of weapons and available players week-to-week is beginning to overcome Wentz's play. Doug Pederson will be preaching "NO TURNOVERS" this week to the offense, but that will be easier said than done. Miles Sanders was prolific for fantasy owners in Week 5, but was virtually inept most of the contest against the Steelers. Sanders carried the rock 10 times for 6 yards if you subtract his 74 yard touchdown run. He has the ability to go all the way on any given play as he showed against Pittsburgh, but that is a highly unsustainable method of winning football. 

A battle of the birds is always must-watch television. In these birds' current states, the Ravens defense is poised to overwhelm Carson Wentz and bury the Eagles early. This is my Lock of the Week.

Prediction: Ravens 30, Eagles 13

Texans @ Titans

So much for no practice. The Titans have the looks of the hottest team in the AFC after a whopping 42-16 win over the unbeaten Bills. Since Week 7 of last season, the Titans are 13-4, including the postseason, and they have been unstoppable. Derrick Henry continues to be the heartbeat of Tennessee, and his epic stiff arm against Josh Norman represents the identity of this football team in a nutshell. The question is which Texans cornerback will suffer the same fate as Norman this week. The Titans ran Henry 19 times against Buffalo, which is shockingly fewer carries than usual. Tennessee will attempt to keep Henry's snaps at a minimum in order to sustain his production over the full season, especially since the Titans bye week is behind the team already with 12 games to go. The statuses of Adam Humphries and Corey Davis will be pivotal for the Titans receiving corps, but going up against the 31st ranked rushing defense of the Texans will have Henry and the running backs room licking their lips this week.

The post-Bill O'Brien era Texans are 1-0 without their former head coach, but their win over the Jaguars was less than convincing. Deshaun Watson turned the ball over twice, and the Jags offense marched up and down the field all day long, snapping the ball 73 times in total. 

David Johnson is clearly becoming a priority in the game planning after carrying the ball 17 times, but 17 is still too low a number for a team without a head coach looking to rack some wins. To keep Derrick Henry on the sidelines, slow Tennessee's offense down, and keep Watson upright, Johnson will need to carry the ball 20 times or more and have a standout performance. Johnson's production opens up the door for Brandin Cooks and Will Fuller, who wreaked havoc in Jacksonville's secondary last week. 

The Titans are hot, the Texans are not. I'm not a rapper, but I am a football analyst. I pick the Titans.

Prediction: Texans 13, Titans 24

Bengals @ Colts

The Colts defense is one of the league's best, but the offense is rather putrid. Philip Rivers is beginning to play like his 38 year old age, and shooting the Colts in the foot with his turnovers. The Colts season thus far has been defined with costly turnovers, and efficient but one-dimensional offense. The likes of T.Y. Hilton, Paris Campbell, and Michael Pittman, Jr. have been non-factors all season. Each of them have the talent and explosiveness to create separation and blow the top off the defense, but Rivers hasn't been able to find them. The Bengals are the 9th ranked passing defense in football, so the matchup does not bode promisingly for Rivers. 

Cincinnati has the most mojo for a 1-3-1 team in recent memory, but they were wiped out by Baltimore last week. The Ravens defense led by Patrick Queen stifled fellow rookie Joe Burrow's offense, and left the Bengals reeling. It will be difficult for Burrow to bounce back against the NFL's top ranked passing defense, but he is developing rapport with Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd and making for a dynamic passing attack. They are one great A.J. Green game away from hitting their stride on offense, but that may never come with Green trade rumors beginning to swirl. 

Rivers will toss an interception or two, and the Bengals will stay in this one. The Bengals could even pull off the upset, but the Colts defense is too good. They will be ready for the rookie quarterback.

Prediction: Bengals 17, Colts 19

Broncos @ Patriots

After a tumultuous few weeks, the Broncos and Patriots return to play. The de facto bye week gives the Patriots an opportunity to bring back their star players on each side of the ball. A team that had the Chiefs on the ropes whilst combatting horrific play from the quarterback position will welcome back Cam Newton, which will undoubtedly elevate the production from the offense. Julian Edelman will need to bounce back for the Pats to get back on track, after maybe the worst game of his career against KC. Edelman's presence in the slot plus the speed of Damiere Byrd, and the explosiveness of N'Keal Harry should be too overwhelming for the Broncos defense to handle. Not to mention Newton can extend plays with his legs and let the rushing attack go to work as well. 

Drew Lock is expected to return under center for Denver this week, hoping to invigorate the troops. Without Melvin Gordon, Lock will need to lean on Philip Lindsay and a young, hindered passing attack. Lock will test the Patriots secondary all game long, especially if Denver falls behind early, which bodes horrificially for the Broncos. The Pats are second in the NFL with 8 takeaways, and the secondary will be ball-hawking all afternoon, especially with Lock sorting out his rust.

The bye week will allow both teams to sort out their rust, which will inevitably show. But the Broncos have the makings of a team already out of contention, while the Pats continue to be competitive despite the considerable adversity they have faced early on in 2020. 

Prediction: Broncos 13, Patriots 21

Bears @ Panthers

Neither the Bears nor the Panthers entered 2020 with considerable playoff expectations, but each squad sits above .500 after 5 games, with the postseason considered in reach this year. 

No McCaffrey, no problem. The Panthers offense has come to life in the absence of Carolina's star franchise player, with Teddy Bridgewater starting his first season as a starter since 2015 in style. Robby Anderson is developing into a number one receiver, and is becoming the focal point of the offense. Mike Davis continues to fill in for McCaffrey with consistent performances week in, week out. The defense is also holding its own, giving up just 16 points to the Chargers, 21 to the Cardinals, and 16 to the Falcons in their past 3 games. Their matchup with Nick Foles' Bears is promising.

As flashy as the Bears comeback win over the Bucs was, the Bears are far worse than the result as well as their 4-1 record suggest. The Bears racked just 243 yards against the Bucs, Nick Foles posted a 47.6 QBR, and the running game was stifled. The Bears will need to slow the game down and involve David Montgomery in the offense to open up play-action for Foles. Allen Robinson will be licking his lips against a young Panthers secondary, but Foles is not the player he was in an Eagles uniform. The Bears do not match up promisingly.

The Panthers feel like the safe bet, playing at home, with more security at the quarterback position than Chicago. Not to mention the Bears are bound for an emotional letdown after an impressive comeback win over the Bucs. Carolina will win their fourth in a row.

Prediction: Bears 13, Panthers 20

Falcons @ Vikings

The Dan Quinn era in Atlanta came to an end last week, with the Falcons already looking towards the 2021 season. Perhaps the appointment of Raheem Morris as interim head coach will invigorate the squad, but the Falcons have the makings of a team in transition more so than one ready to start racking some wins. That being said, they still have as explosive and high octane an offense in football. Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, Hayden Hurst, and Russell Gage pose to be a handful for the Vikings defense on Sunday, but the Falcons defense ranks 31st in passing yards allowed and 30th in points. They will have to keep the Vikings at bay as well.

The Vikings are in an unfamiliar 1-4 position under Mike Zimmer. They were unlucky not to beat the Seahawks in Seattle last week, but their defense unraveled to Russell Wilson in the second half nonetheless. Without Dalvin Cook this week, Alexander Mattison will be thrust into a prominent starting role, which will be a first for the second-year back. Mattison is talented enough to carry the load on his own, after a 20 carry, 112 yard performance in Seattle. Kirk Cousins will need to be on the top of his game to lead the Vikings to a win, and keep up with Matt Ryan. But considering the state of affairs in Atlanta, the Vikings are poised to pull out their second win of the year. Dalvin Cook or no Dalvin Cook, the Vikings are better and more well-coached. The latter reason is mostly because they actually have a coach, but that also speaks to the disparate states of these squads.

Prediction: Falcons 17, Vikings 24

Lions @ Jaguars

The Lions come back from their Week 5 bye week looking to improve on their 1-3 record. The Jaguars present a promising matchup for the Lions to claw back within .500, and for Matt Stafford to bounce back as well. The Lions unraveled against the Saints after a strong start, and failed to generate offense after the third quarter. Going against Jacksonville's 30th ranked defense, the Lions should generate offense from the ground game with Adrian Peterson and D'Andre Swift, and open up the play-action passing game. Kenny Golladay will sustain his strong start to the season and should dominate Jacksonville's young secondary.

The season flashed encouragement in Week 1 for the Jags, but 4 straight defeats have the Jags reeling and desperate for an ounce of momentum. The offense is efficient and moves the chains consistently, but their defense cannot slow anybody down. Against the horrific Texans offensive line last Sunday, the Jaguars registered just one sack. The Jaguars need to generate pass rush on Matt Stafford to put the pressure on and force punts, and maybe steal extra possessions for Gardner Minshew. The offense should continue to be productive and the likes of Shenault Jr. and Keelan Cole will make plays, but they won't have enough to match the Lions punch for punch.

Coming off a bye, the Lions need a win, and they thoroughly outmatch the Jags. The Lions should snatch the dub.

Prediction: Jaguars 16, Lions 29

Football Team @ Giants

The Alex Smith story is one for the ages, and a miracle fairytale for a long road to recovery. But when you subtract the Smith headline, Washington's offense was pathetic against the Rams. The Football Team picked up just 10 first downs and 108 yards of offense, while giving up 8 sacks. No matter who the quarterback is, whether it is Kyle Allen or Alex Smith, they will not survive if they cannot be kept upright. Antonio Gibson becomes the most important offensive player to mitigate the pass rush. Gibson needs more than 11 carries this week, and the offense needs to dial up more than 38 rushing yards. The Football Team may match up ideally with the Giants defense, but the coaching, play calling, and talent on offense has let Washington down all season.

On paper, the Giants cashed in on their enticing matchup with the Cowboys leaky defense, but once again fell short. Daniel Jones did not turn the ball over, Devonta Freeman settled in on the ground and is beginning to be featured prominently in the Giants offense, and Darius Slayton balled out. The Giants can carry that momentum on the offensive side of the ball into this week and snatch their first win of the year. Devonta Freeman can become Jones' best friend in the check-down screen game, and he is poised for a strong game on the ground as well. The Football Team secondary is also bound for a long afternoon facing the likes of Slayton, Golden Tate, and Evan Engram.

Here is your weekly reminder that the NFC East reeks. Both teams will leave this Week 6 matchup at 1-5, with the Giants prevailing. 

Prediction: Football Team 17, Giants 28

Jets @ Dolphins

Nobody expected the Dolphins to fly across the country and throttle the NFC Champions in the fashion they did. If they replicate that performance and carry their momentum into this week, nobody will be surprised. The Dolphins are starting to hit their stride on both sides of the ball, especially on defense. Miami allowed just 259 yards of offense to the 49ers, including just 128 through the air. They buried the 49ers early and the offense continued to pour it on, with Ryan Fitzpatrick playing one of the best games of his career. The Dolphins can go on to win their third straight by riding Myles Gaskin and exploiting the Jets 25th ranked passing defense with the likes of Mike Gesicki and Devante Parker. No matter how you slice it, the Dolphins are hot.

The Jets will still be without their starting quarterback in Miami, which bodes horrifically for the veteran Joe Flacco. While Flacco did not implode against the Cardinals, he predictably led a deficient offense starved of playmaking ability. Without Le'Veon Bell in the fold anymore, Frank Gore becomes the number one running back. Gore still has gas left in the tank, but the Dolphins will load the box and the running game will quickly fizzle out. Flacco is in for a long afternoon. 

No Jamal Adams, no Le'Veon Bell, no Sam Darnold. The Jets are a walking dumpster fire, and they will be blown to smithereens by the Dolphins on Sunday. Fins up.

Prediction: Jets 10, Dolphins 27

Packers @ Buccaneers

This is blockbuster. Aaron Rodgers versus Tom Brady for the third time in NFL history. With the Packers 4-0 and the Bucs led by Tom Brady, this is poised to be a standout contest. 

Through 4 games, the Packers have played scary good on offense. The team averages 38 points per game on the season, Aaron Rodgers is ascending back into MVP status, and the team is on a roll. The early bye week may have been the worst thing to happen to Green Bay, considering the break in momentum. But the Packers are built to return from their bye at a high level, with their formula. Aaron Jones is a top 5 back in the NFL, Devante Adams is back, and receivers like Robert Tonyan are stepping up for Green Bay. The Bucs defense will be formidable on the ground, and Jones' production may slow down early on against Tampa, but the Packers have the personnel to wear the Bucs out as the game wears on.

Tom Brady's fourth down gaff is not the only reason the Bucs fell to the Bears. The Bucs defense did blow a 2 score lead, and could not contain Nick Foles and the Bears offense over four quarters when it mattered most. With Aaron Rodgers in town, who knows what could happen. Tom Brady will have to match Rodgers punch for punch, but Brady is still adjusting to life as a Buccaneer, and developing chemistry with his new receivers. Mike Evans has become Brady's favorite red zone target, and he will continue to be an X-factor this week. Ronald Jones will continue to see 15-20 carries, but Jones has had remarkably low-impact carries for weeks, and the running game has grown stale for Tampa. 

Considering how dominant the Packers have been all season without their best wideout, the Packers are in for another scintillating offensive performance. The Bucs are not built to keep up with Green Bay's firepower. The Pack will take this one. 

Prediction: Packers 29, Buccaneers 27

Rams @ 49ers

The first matchup of the Rams and Niners this season, and a matchup of the previous 2 NFC Champions. This game will be pivotal for the NFC West and the broad NFC playoff picture.

The state of affairs in San Francisco are ugly. It appears Kyle Shanahan rushed Jimmy Garappolo back too soon, and Garappolo was dispatched by the Dolphins and was even benched. After a week of rest, Garappolo should be healthy and ready to bounce back from his Week 5 performance, completing 7 of 17 passes and posting a 15.7 passer rating. If Garappolo can find George Kittle and Deebo Samuel in space, the 49ers offense can regain their mojo. But their defense will have their hands full with the Rams. 

The Rams are humming on all cylinders. A dramatic last-second defeat to the Bills remains the only blemish on the Rams record this season. The offense is playing as well as it has since 2018, and the defense is playing better every week. After all, the Rams sacked Washington's quarterbacks 8 times last Sunday. The Rams have the means to control the game from kickoff with a strong start, and spreading the ball out to Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, and Tyler Higbee. The 49ers defense is stretched very thin, and if Jared Goff can spread the wealth, the 49ers will be on their heels all night long. 

The tides are turning in the NFC West, and the Rams are reestablishing their dominance in the division. The 49ers will hang around, and Garappolo will be better, but this is LA's game to lose. 

Prediction: Rams 30, 49ers 20

Chiefs @ Bills

In arguably the biggest game of the season thus far, the Chiefs and Bills square off in a potential playoff preview. Both teams are coming off humbling defeats in which they realized they might not be as good as they thought they were.

The champs lost to the Raiders at home for the first time since 2012. The Raiders totaled 490 yards of offense, and scored 16 unanswered fourth quarter points to seal their upset win. The Chiefs offense phased out in the second half as well, playing much more predictably, and making Pat Mahomes look human. They are primed to bounce back against a struggling and banged up Buffalo secondary, especially with the speed of Tyreek Hill. Travis Kelce is also primed for a stellar performance. Kelce can find the soft spot in a Bills defense which cannot stop tight ends this season, and chew the clock up, keeping Josh Allen on the sidelines. 

For Buffalo, the Titans steamrolled the Bills after two weeks of coronavirus hooplah. Josh Allen turned the ball over twice, the running game was completely stuffed, and the defense was rocked in the mouth by Derrick Henry. The Bills are not as bad as the 42-16 scoreline suggests, but the team needs to start fast against Kansas City. The Bills have the firepower to go toe-to-toe with Mahomes and crew, with Stefon Diggs and John Brown on the outside. Allen is still having a prolific MVP-caliber season and he has the talent to keep up with the Super Bowl MVP in a shootout. Plus, if the Bills defense can step up themselves and grab extra possessions for Allen, the job will be much easier. If Matt Milano and Tre'Davious White are back on defense, they will be ready for KC's high octane offense, and be able to handle the playmaking abillity of Hill and Kelce. 

Expect plenty of points on the board by the fourth quarter, and expect an entertaining contest. As talented and exciting as the Bills are this year, the Chiefs are the safe bet. The Bills defense has not played like themselves at all in 2020, while the Chiefs seem poised to knock some rust off in Buffalo. 

Prediction: Chiefs 33, Bills 21

Cardinals @ Cowboys

As Tony Dungy so eloquently put it, the Cowboys should be okay without Dak Prescott. Andy Dalton is a capable quarterback with years of starting experience, and he is surrounded with phenomenal skill position players. CeeDee Lamb is emerging as a prominent young wideout, Amari Cooper is a baller, Michael Gallup made a handful of clutch catches down the stretch last week, and Ezekiel Elliott is having his best season since his rookie year. This offense matches up beautifully against a Cardinals defense starved of its most explosive pass rusher, Chandler Jones, who is out for the season. 

Entering Week 6, nobody really knows what Arizona is. The Cardinals opened the year with an impressive road win over the 49ers, stamping their authority on the NFC West, but losses to the Lions and Panthers have the Cardinals in a state of playoff limbo. A win over Dallas would be a solid signature win for Arizona's playoff hopes, especially if Kyler Murray plays well. Without turnovers, and another standout DeAndre Hopkins performance, the Cardinals stack up well against Dallas. 

It is natural to underestimate a team after their starting quarterback goes down. Because Andy Dalton is so experienced and is capable of capitalizing on the talent around him, Dallas still has a fighting chance on the season, and on Monday night. If their opponent was stronger than the Cardinals, the Cowboys would be in deeper trouble. But the Cards aren't strong enough to grab the win this week.

Prediction: Cardinals 20, Cowboys 27