Week 6 NFL Predix

 By Jacob Sanders

Short blurb here. It’s only Week 6 and NFL teams are feeling the impact of injuries already. From the 49ers, to the Broncos, and most recently, the Cowboys, this year feels almost unfair in how some teams are staying healthy while others are just falling apart. Either way, I just wanted to say that my heart genuinely does go out to those players. Yes, they are making millions and far more than I ever will as a teacher. However, I love my job. And I would be crushed if I were forced to miss time with my students due to a bodily injury or just miss an entire semester of school. That sounds awful. Perspective matters people. There’s more to life than money. Get over yourselves.

Sanders went 9-5 last week putting him to 54-22-1 on the season. There was no TNF game so he is 0-0 going into this week.

DEN Broncos VS NE Patriots

Drew Lock and Cam Newton are both coming back to this week. Don’t get me wrong. I think this game will me much closer than some are predicting. I truly believe in the potential of this Denver team when they are healthy. However, the 2020 season has robbed the Broncos of a healthy season. And for that reason, I’m picking the team with the best head coach in football. Also, the Patriots get Cam Newton back this week. Seems like the right type of game to get the season back on track for New England. Tough, gritty, but very much winnable.

Broncos 17 Patriots 21

HOU Texans vs TEN Titans

I’ve read a few picks this week (yes, I do read other people’s picks. It’s called research.) stating that this match was going to be closer than others are thinking. My question is this: How? All these analysts have stated is that Tennessee will win because the firing of O’Brien masks where Houston is truly terrible which is defense. But isn’t that the exact reason why this game should be a blowout? That Texans defense is bad. Like, really bad. And this Titans team just blew the doors off a tough BUF Bills team. Where in the world is anyone thinking this game is close? Just because? Or maybe it’s an AFC South game? I couldn’t tell you. Titans are a far superior team in the running game, stopping the run, and in pass coverage. They only lack at the QB position in comparison to Watson but that really doesn’t matter this year.

Texans 19 Titans 30

CLE Browns vs PIT Steelers

I understand everyone is super excited for the Bucs vs the Pack. But this right here should be the best game on Sunday. The Browns and Steelers are showing some serious AFC powerhouse potential 5 weeks into the season. Now they get to face off against each other to try and place themselves in first place for the AFC North crown. With both teams humming along, how can you make a solid pick here? While I’ve been on the Browns hype train for quite a while, I gotta tell you that the Steelers are a better team so far. The Browns O-line can neutralize the Steelers pass rush, but that means that Baker’s gotta be precise against that Steelers secondary. If you ask me, Baker really hasn’t improved from last year. The QB is probably the biggest liability this year on the Brown’s offense. And for that reason, I think Big Ben and Co. outperform Baker and Co.

Browns 20 Steelers 28

BAL Ravens vs PHE Eagles

It’s odd to say, but this Ravens offense just isn’t anything special this year. Nothing really changed from last year to this year talent-wise. They just aren’t exploding like they did last year. The scoreboard might say otherwise, but let me tell you the giant score gap has been because the upgrades on defense are panning out. This Baltimore defense has become elite and their games currently are reminiscent of the Joe Flacco days. Mediocre offense with stellar defense. When it comes to facing the Eagles, this is the classic kinda game where the Ravens defense swallows their opponent whole. The Eagles O-line is decimated, Carson Wentz might be the most inconsistent QB of the 2020 season, and this Eagles team probably isn’t stopping the run for Baltimore. This blurb was more about the Ravens than the Eagles, but it’s been that kinda year for the Eagles. Ouch.

Ravens 29 Eagles 23

WAS vs NY Giants

Listen, the Washington team shows signs of life at times. They even showed signs of life against the Rams despite the scoreboard saying they got pummelled. The Giants, meanwhile, lost a shootout against a Dallas team without Dak Prescott. All this just for me to conclude that both teams are terrible and I have to pick one. Really short blurb here, but I don’t have much positive to state about either team. They’re both bad. Both looking towards top 5 picks in the draft next season. That being said, I like the potential upside that Washington has over the Giants.

WAS 20 Giants 17

ATL Falcons vs MIN Vikings

I’m not sure the Dan Quinn firing matters so much because the Falcons must be what their record is telling me they are: a bad team. They appear lifeless at times and Matt Ryan looked incredibly pedestrian last week. The Vikings, on the other hand, lost another heart-breaker in classic Minnesota fashion last week. If there’s anything to be said about these teams that combine for 1 win in total, is that the Vikings look like a legitimate threat to face against and I can’t say the same for the Falcons at this time. Blow it all up and start over Atlanta. You’re already 75% of the way there anyway.

Falcons 24 Vikings 30

DET Lions vs JAX Jaguars

I think I’ve stated several times in a row just how bad the Jaguars actually are. Week 1 feels like a fading memory at this point. The Jaguars lose their games because they lack talent, a competitive culture, and a competent organization. While the Lions also lack in a couple of these categories too, they don’t lack in talent. By that standard, I feel that the Lions are a much better team than they’re showing if their coaching just wouldn’t fail them every Sunday. The Lions are a better team than their 1-3 record says. Maybe not that much better, but better than the Jags. Whether that results in a W for the Lions or not….uhhh remains to be seen.

Lions 17 Jaguars 16

CIN Bengals vs IND Colts

So Joe Burrow got a massive wakeup call to elite NFL defenses work by getting sacked multiple times and getting picked off. This week’s matchup? Another elite defense. Whew. The Colts have one of the best teams defense is terms of both yardage allowed and points allowed. The Colts defense has been so stingy, they are the only team to not allow 30 points yet. That’s pretty good if you ask me in a time where NFL offenses are exploding everywhere. So where does the actual analysis come in about the matchup? It doesn’t. Joe Burrow is a rookie QB facing a tough defense. What more do you want to know? About the Colts offense or the Bengals defense? LOL. Not relevant in this column.

Bengals 14 Colts 24

CHI Bears vs CAR Panthers

I will repeat what I said last week: “They can’t keep getting away with this! The Bears are NOT this good! How do they keep doing it?!?!” So yeah. The Bears are 4-1 and they seem to be putting themselves into the conversation for contenders and not pretenders. However, the Panthers have surprisingly done the same thing. In a division where everyone expected the Panthers to be in rebuild mode, they are sitting pretty at 3-2 with a competent offense and a competent defense. The Panthers are currently the definition of a balanced team with no true strengths. If you ask me, this is the reason they beat Chicago here. The Panthers have a team that can win in all 3 phases of the game and I can’t say the same for the Bears.

Bears 17 Panthers 24

NY Jets vs MIA Dolphins

The Jets are coached by Adam Gase still. The Dolphins are coached by Brian Flores. One team has a competent game plan. The other never has a competent game plan. That’s all I’m ever going to say about the Jets and this matchup here. In other news, the Jets let Lev Bell go to sign with the Chiefs. Rich get richer and the poor get poorer. One last thing: Dolphins. Where in the world did that blowout come from? Can that happen again this weekend so Gase can be fired? Thanks.

Jets 10 Dolphins 28

GB Packers vs TB Buccaneers

I think a ton of people are getting caught up in the idea that the Bucs are going to come out and upset the Packers after a tough loss to the Bears. While that’s a great narrative (and I’m a sucker for narratives), it doesn’t fit the billing for this matchup. The Packers greatest weakness is that they still can’t stop the run. The Buccaneers haven’t established themselves as a team who wants to run the ball down your throat. If anything, the Packers pass rush is an excellent answer to the Buccaneers wishes to throw the ball. I imagine this matchup going the exact same way it did with the Bears-Bucs matchup. Except this time, the Packers have a REAL offense with a real quarterback. You know, something the Bears don’t have.

Packers 35 Buccaneers 27

LA Rams vs SF 49ers

The 49ers are hurt. Like, so hurt you get blown out by the Dolphins kinda hurt. Man, what a nightmare for a 49ers team that was looking to lock and reload for another Super Bowl run. They’ll also be without Jimmy G again because of his ankle on Sunday night. All this tells me is that the Rams are primed to announce their official comeback on Sunday Night Football. It’s the perfect game to dismantle a divisional opponent and say “We’re baaaaccckkkk” to the NFL with a 5-1 record. Aaron Donald has been a monster again this season, and the Rams have found a new offensive identity by sprinkling in some West-Coast style offensive plays. It’s not flashy, but it’s clean. And that’s all you can ask for from good teams. Clean wins.

Rams 28 49ers 16

KC Chiefs vs BUF Bills

Both of these teams were dealt an upset last week. The Chiefs lost to a tough divisional opponent while the Bills were blown out in spectacular fashion. One loss was not like the other if you haven’t guessed that already. However, I’d like to say that I think the Bills were caught in a bad predicament because the Titans had so much rest leading up to that game. That being said, I would be picking the Chiefs whether the Bills had won that game or not. Why? This Chiefs offense matches up so well with a Bills defense that has been giving up a ton of points lately. This isn’t the Bills defense we are used to seeing.

Chiefs 38 Bills 30

AZ Cardinals vs DAL Cowboys

I’ve said my peace on Dak’s injury so I won’t mention that more here. What I will mention is that we were robbed of K1 vs Dak on Monday Night Football. I truly believe that was going to be an exciting shootout. Now? I have no idea what the Cowboys game plan is going to be. Will they trust Andy Dalton or will they feed Zeke? Maybe both. Couldn’t tell you for sure. What I can tell you is that it really doesn’t matter what the Cowboys do on offense if they can’t clean up their act on defense. Giving up 34 points to the Giants is straight up embarrassing.  I also really couldn’t tell you what the Cardinals are going to do. Theoretically, the Cardinals should have designed runs for Murray, start Chase Edmonds, and give Hopkins as many looks as possible. But that hasn’t been their offensive gameplan at all this season. This Cardinals offense, if you ask me personally, has been a massive disappointment outside of Hopkins. Yes, the stats say Murray is doing great. But as someone who watches Cardinals games every week because I live in AZ, I can tell you right now the stats are lying. This offense needs to step up and be the frontrunner in scoring points when their defense stops the opponent on 3rd down. A weak Cowboys defense and a Cowboys team without their leader under the primetime lights is a perfect time to get them going. I’m not looking for explosiveness, just efficiency for the eye-test. If they don’t, I may have to re-evaluate how I see this Cardinals team.

Cardinals 24 Cowboys 23