NFL Game Picks: Week 6

With another exciting week of NFL action coming up, let’s take a look at some of our picks for the week 6 slate.

Declan’s picks:

Denver Broncos (1-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (4-1) Thursday 8:15 p.m.

It’s an AFC West showdown on Thursday Night Football. Kansas City has looked as impressive as ever and will look to continue that dominance in their first divisional matchup of the season. The Chiefs have won 15 consecutive games against Denver, and it’s difficult to imagine Andy Reid letting that streak end at home.

The biggest question for Denver is how they’re going to stop Patrick Mahomes with a defense that’s allowing the most points per game in the NFL.

My Pick: Chiefs 38, Broncos 17

Washington Commanders (2-3) @ Atlanta Falcons (3-2) 1 p.m.

Atlanta is back in the winning column after a last-second victory against Houston. Desmond Ridder showed veteran poise on the drive to set up Younghoe Koo’s game-winning field goal. It looks like the Falcon’s surplus of offensive talent is finding its rhythm.

After a 2-0 start to the season, the Commanders have dropped three straight games. They allowed over 30 points in each loss, and have allowed the second most points all season. Giving up 40 points last week to a then-winless Bears team doesn’t inspire much confidence that Washington will turn it around.

My Pick: Falcons 30, Commanders 14

Minnesota Vikings (1-4) @ Chicago Bears (1-4) 1 p.m.

The start of the season has been a nightmare for a Vikings team that won the NFC North last season. Despite sitting at 1-4, they haven’t lost a game by more than seven points all season. Now that Justin Jefferson is on IR, it’ll be tough for Minnesota to reestablish itself before it’s too late.

Chicago hasn’t won a game against a division rival since the 2021 season, but Justin Fields has come alive as of late, throwing eight touchdowns in his past two games. Coming off a Thursday night win against Washington, the Bears will be well-rested as they hope to secure their first home win in over a year.

My Pick: Bears 24, Vikings 20

Will D’s picks:

New Orleans Saints (3-2) at Houston Texans (2-3) 1 p.m.

Fresh off a 34-0 win at New England, New Orleans plays another road game this week. In his second game of the season, Saints running back Alvin Kamara rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown in the victory.

However, the Texans have quarterback C.J. Stroud (seven passing touchdowns) and wide receiver Nico Collins (who leads the team in receiving yards). Ultimately, the Texans win in a close game.

My Pick: Texans 23, Saints 21

New England Patriots (1-4) at Las Vegas Raiders (2-3) 4:05 p.m.

New England has lost its last two by wide margins and this week faces a Las Vegas team fresh off a win.

Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (who has a combined 260 passing yards in his past two games) will be chased by Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (five sacks).

If the New England offense plays well after scoring three points in the past two games, look for the Patriots to pull off the road upset.

My Pick: Patriots 21, Raiders 17

Detroit Lions (4-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) 4:25 p.m.

Detroit quarterback Jared Goff (nine passing touchdowns) has led his team to a 4-1 start.

However, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (882 passing yards and seven touchdowns) has shined as well. Each team also has a notable playmaker for their respective quarterback:

Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (who caught two touchdowns last week) and Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans (337 receiving yards). In a close game, the Lions get their fifth win of the season.

My Pick: Buccaneers 34, Lions 31

Will J’s picks:

Seattle Seahawks (3-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) 1 p.m.

Joe Burrow and the Bengals have gotten off to an unexpectedly slow start, but after a 34-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals, one in which Burrow showed flashes of his ability from a season ago, the Bengals are building momentum in the right direction.

They continue that moment into this game, but it can only go as far as their defense allows them. Playing against Kenneth Walker, Geno Smith and the trio of great wide receivers.

The Seahawks’ offense keeps rolling in this one, though it will be a rather high-scoring game. I like Seattle in this one.

My Pick: Seahawks 34, Bengals 31

Baltimore Ravens (3-2) at Tennessee Titans (2-3) (London Game)

Both the Ravens and Titans are coming off a frustrating loss to a division rival and will be looking to come back from the devastation of losing a game in the division.

Both teams have a great running game, the Ravens and Lamar Jackson as well as the Titans and Derrick Henry. The X-factor in this game is which team will have the better air attack in this one.

I like the weapons Baltimore has in the passing game significantly better. That will prove to be the difference maker in this game.

My Pick: Ravens 27, Titans 14

Indianapolis Colts (3-2) at Jaxonsville Jaguars (3-2) 1 p.m.

This game is all about revenge. No, I am not talking about Jonothan Taylor proving everyone wrong. I am talking about Gardner Minshew.

Colts rookie starter Anthony Richardson went down with an apparent shoulder injury during last Sunday’s win against the Titans.

In his first start against his former team, Minshew will show Duval County a bit of that Minshew magic they once loved.

Let’s not forget that the Jaguars have spent the last two weeks in London, so they may still be a bit sluggish and jet-lagged from the trip back to the States.

Luke’s picks:

New York Giants (1-4) at Buffalo Bills (3-2) 8:15 p.m.

The New York Giants go into Buffalo on Sunday against a very good Buffalo Bills team.

Although they took a loss last week, the Bills are still looking like Super Bowl contenders, especially if their offense really starts to get hot. With an elite quarterback to receiver in Josh Allen to Stefon Diggs, not many defenses can stop the attack.

The Giants’ defense is not strong enough to stop the air or run attack, and the offense is becoming a complete laughing stock in the NFL. The Bills are going to have a field day and are more than likely going to run up the score on an already-wounded New York Giants team

My Pick: Bills 42, Giants 10

Philadelphia Eagles (5-0) at New York Jets (2-3) 4:25 p.m.

This is going to be a rough week for New York football teams other than the Bills. The New York Jets are going up against an undefeated Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles.

At the beginning of the season, the Jets looked young and ready with a veteran at the QB in Aaron Rodgers. Once He went down, it was the end of the season for the Jets. Nothing has been much of a positive for them other than their fight against the Chiefs

The Eagles are finally starting to look like they did last year and are looking to continue this hot streak they are on.

My Pick: Eagles 28, Jets 7

San Francisco 49ers (5-0) at Cleveland Browns (2-2) 1 p.m.

Another 5-0 team against a rather laughable team.

The 49ers have come out of the gate just as we expected, absolutely dominating the league. Currently, no one in the league looks good enough to beat this team behind Christian McCaffrey.

The Browns have had a rough start to the season, but let’s be honest did we expect anything else? The 49ers should have a high-scoring day and are going to run all over the Browns.

My Pick: 49ers 48, Browns 6

Christian’s picks:

Dallas Cowboys (3-2) at Los Angeles Chargers (2-2) Monday 8:15 p.m.

The Los Angeles Chargers are coming off their bye week and they look to stay hot versus a very talented Dallas Cowboys team. The Cowboys are coming off an embarrassing 42-10 loss against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football.

Micah Parsons for the Cowboys and Joey Bosa for the Chargers will be the key players to look out for in this matchup. The Chargers have often played down to their competition and can't afford to do that versus a dynamic Cowboys team.

My Pick: Cowboys 27, Chargers 24

Carolina Panthers (0-5) @ Miami Dolphins (4-1) 1 p.m.

This is a game that most Panthers fans are terrified to watch as they have to go against one of the best teams in the AFC, maybe even in the league.

The Miami Dolphins have a very dynamic offense as we saw them put up 70 points vs. the Denver Broncos a couple of weeks ago, however, their defense has not been very impressive and can allow the Panthers to score some points in this matchup.

My Pick: Dolphins 42, Panthers 21

Arizona Cardinals (1-4) @ Los Angeles Rams (2-3) 4:25 p.m.

The Los Angeles Rams are coming off a tough defeat at home last week to the Philadelphia Eagles, but look to get back on track this week against a struggling Arizona Cardinals team.

The Rams got back their star receiver last week and it seemed like he didn't miss a beat. Cooper Kupp will definitely be a key factor going fourth the rest of the season for the Rams as well as their talented rookie receiver Puka Nacua.

It’s going to be tough for the Cardinal's defense to keep up with both Kupp and Nacua throughout the entire game.

My Pick: Rams 32, Cardinals 17

Declan Stablow is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email djs7159@psu.edu

William James is a fourth-year print/digital journalism student. To contact him, email wmj5101@psu.edu.

Christian Holtzapple a fourth-year student majoring in journalism, To contact him email cmh7064@psu.edu

Will Duerksen is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email wdd5066@psu.edu.

Luke Panzer is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email lzp5281@psu.edu