Sanders's Week 6 NFL Predictions

By Jacob Sanders

I would like to apologize again that this will be short on quality analysis as I did not start writing Week 6’s column until an hour before the games as I again have been swamped in work, school, homework and testing for school. This doesn’t include my other hobbies as well.

A BIG THANKS TO ALL WHO READ. I wouldn’t continue doing this without you.

Sanders went 6-8 last week putting him to 40-37 on the season.

Philadelphia Eagles VS Carolina Panthers

Hot matchup here and one that potentially can decide the No. 1 seed of the NFC down the road. Picking the Eagles here. They have excited me much more than the Panthers have this season. Also, their only loss is to the Chiefs. The best team in the NFL. Oh, and they almost rallied back to beat the Chiefs at the last minute of the game. Outside of the Packers, the Eagles are the best team in the NFC and the Panthers gotta show up or shut up if they wanna be considered a Super Bowl contender.

Eagles 30 Panthers 27

Miami Dolphins VS Atlanta Falcons

The Dolphins look awful. Cutler threw for all of just under 100 yards. The defense is letting the enemy team score more than their on-paper talent says they should. As for Atlanta, they are fresh off a bye and have been great throughout the season. I expct Ryan and Co. to light up the Dolphins and for the Falcons D to smother Miami in all phases of the game.

Dolphins 7 Falcons 38

Chicago Bears VS Baltimore Ravens

Another tough game for Trubisky to start out his career. The Vikings showed how to beat a Trubisky-led offense which is to take away his first reads and let him try to make plays through free-style. It worked. But, the Ravens are still without Brandon Williams and have one of the worst run defenses because of his absence. Jordan Howard can pave a way to a win just like against the Steelers if Howard can pop off. However, that’s only one phase of the game where the Bears have an advantage. The rest seems to be in Baltimore’s favor, especially if their offense can play complementary football again.

Bears 13 Ravens 23

Cleveland Browns VS Houston Texans

This team deserves a much better fate than losing their a lot of their defensive starters. However, their offense is so good with Watson-leading the way, that there is no doubt in my mind they stay competitive in the AFC South and can still win it. They’re up against the Browns here. A team that is already on life-support. The Texans should light up the scoreboard here and never look back.

Browns 10 Texans 36

Green Bay Packers VS Minnesota Vikings

Fun fact: Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre have failed more often than not when playing against the Vikings in Minnesota. Huge difference here is that the Vikings were never so banged up like they are today. And Aaron Rodgers is playing his best football, as per usual. Would like to pick Minnesota here but they just seem a little off. Defense has to put up a shut-down against Rodgers to win this game. Not sure if that’s possible in Rodgers’s current state.

Packers 28 Vikings 23

UPSET OF THE WEEK!!!!

Detroit Lions VS New Orleans Saints

Pretty sure I am cheating here on my upset of the week as this is a really close matchup but I couldn’t find any other matchup where I think the upset will actually win or if the game could be considered an upset. Anyhoo, the Lions have disappointed me in the last couple weeks. I thought they were looking like a top-tier NFC team but they just seem to be good. Not great, not bad, just good. And that’s how the Saints are right now with one difference. They have figured out an offense for Drew Brees to thrive without turning over the ball, and their defense has stepped up. Sure, the offenses weren’t great, but it’s been a long time since we have since a resemblance of defense from this team. New Orleans win here to show they need to be taken more seriously now.

Lions 24 Saints 34

New England Patriots VS New York Jets

This feels like a “too close for comfort” game for the Patriots. The Jets have a winning formula. Pound the ball, play controlling defense, and protect McCown to make the necessary passing plays. All seems good. Not sure that’s how you beat the Patriots. It’s very possible the Jets can win here. However, their competition in their last 3 wins hasn’t been impressive. Let’s see what they can do here before picking them to beat a top team in the NFL.

Patriots 21 Jets 17

San Francisco 49ers VS Washington Redskins

Well. The 49ers let go of Bowman. And are asking for trades with Carlos Hyde. Have they give up on the season? Who knows. All I know is the Redskins are better than their 2-2 record shows. The 49ers have had a knack for keeping in a few games this season. Not sure if they do here or not but either way, I don’t expect the Skins to let the 49ers just walk into D.C. and come out with a win.

49ers 13 Redskins 20

Tampa Bay Buccaneers VS Arizona Cardinals

This is an awful matchup to predict. Both teams….just really aren’t all that good. The Cardinals have the star-power on paper which would lead me to pick them with Adrian Peterson on their team as well. But…they just look so dysfunctional. The exact same things can be said for the Bucs though. So….I’m gonna take the cop out and pick the home team. Ugh…

Bucs 20 Cardinals 23

Los Angeles Rams VS Jacksonville Jaguars

It’s amazing. This looks like a fantastic game. Who would have thought? Jags and Rams…huh. Anyway. Going with the team that has the better quarterback. Both teams have a similar win-condition in that they want to pound the ball and tire you out with their defense. But, one team has Bortles and the other has Goff. Goff has shown to be the better QB.

Rams 20 Jaguars 17

Pittsburgh Steelers VS Kansas City Chiefs

Much ado about nothing when it comes to Roethlisberger’s comments about his play. Every QB has that type of game at least once in their life. Moving on. The Steelers are playing the best team in football this week…in Arrowhead Stadium. Hell I ain’t even gonna talk about how good the Chiefs, that last sentence alone should convince you the Chiefs are going to win.

Steelers 17 Chiefs 31

Los Angeles Chargers VS Oakland Raiders

With Derek Carr back, you would think the Chargers easily win this game. Not so, however, I can’t convince myself to pick the Chargers either. I feel like Carr will be having his head on a swivel all day with that nasty Chargers pass-rush. Can the Chargers offense do enough to win? You tell me…

Chargers 21 Raiders 27

New York Giants VS Denver Broncnos

Giant’s Coach McAdoo said that “nobody will gave any chance in hell for us to win this game.” You are absolutely right coach. Barring an MVP performance from Manning, you have nobody receivers that are about to playing against one of the most elite secondaries in football. Don’t even forget the fact you don’t have a running game. Good luck coach.

Giants 10 Broncos 23

Indianapolis Colts VS Tennessee Titans

What the hell is with this week’s matchups and being so hard to pick…ugh. Well, I’m gonna pick against the team I thought would win the AFC South and go with the Colts. I’m liking Jacoby Brissett. His play always seems to be just enough to squeak out some wins against lower teams. The Titans are one of those lower teams at the moment.

Colts 16 Titans 10