There will be no undefeated team in Week 6. Don't see any future bets in that statement. This is just the logical consequence of the calendar: both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Minnesota Vikings, each victorious in 5 games, are on a bye week.
With the Rams and the Dolphins, that makes for a lot of people on the sidelines. But don't leave too quickly, the program remains attractive. Between the Ravens' crazy schedule which continues against Washington, the NFC poster between the Lions and the Cowboys, and the multiple division shocks, there will be plenty to do.
The match of week 6: end of series in Baltimore
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Baltimore Ravens (3-2) – Washington Commanders (4-1)
The Ravens continue. After the Chiefs, the Raiders, the Cowboys, the Bills, and the Bengals, the Pennsylvania franchise receives a Washington team in full swing on Sunday. The NFC East residents have had four successes and will be far from easy to maneuver, like rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels (QB, Commanders) who never ceases to surprise.
The Ravens also remain on a good run with three victories to date. And if their defense struggles a little, the duo Lamar Jackson (QB) – Derrick Henry (RB) does very badly in attack. So, a series will end on Sunday, but that of the winner will only be more resounding.
The player: Deshaun Watson, it will eventually show
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) – Cleveland Browns (1-4)
If the complaints and shame weren't enough, Deshaun Watson's place on the field could still end up being called into question by his performances. The former Texan is certainly not helped by a porous offensive line which leads him to regularly have to go off on a tangent from the snap, with 26 sacks suffered in five games (league record). But the sentence remains undeniable: Watson is playing very poorly at the start of the season.
With 5 small touchdowns, three interceptions including a ridiculous one last week, and a famished record of 4.8 yards per attempted pass, the quarterback is the symbol of an attack which is stagnating with the 30th record in the league. Obviously, this is not up to his contract which still guarantees him more than 200 million dollars after this season. An amount which undoubtedly explains his untouchable status in Cleveland, while Jameis Winston is available as a replacement. The holder assures that he does not ask the question. But a new performance against the Eagles and their defensive line could still seal their fate a little more.
The duel of week 6: Sean Payton against Jim Harbaugh, who has the toughest (defense)?
Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Denver Broncos (3-2) – Los Angeles Chargers (2-2)
Jim Harbaugh is a well-known defensive coach. For his return to the league, the former 49ers is doing what he knows how to do on the Chargers side with a defense that is already in the top 5 in the league in terms of yards conceded per game. Perhaps more surprisingly, Sean Payton, another old curmudgeon, is not yet the expected offensive guru.
Despite the constant improvement in the performance of Bo Nix (QB), Denver wins thanks to its defense, the 3rd best in the league at the moment. So, between the two old hands and their teams, it should be a hell of a fight, especially at the line level, where Denver will have the tough task of containing a JK Dobbins (RB, Chargers) on fire (6.1 yards per carry) . And Justin Herbert (QB), less highlighted by his coach, is still capable of a decisive kick.
The stat: 20-7
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Dallas Cowboys (3-2) – Detroit Lions (3-1)
The Lions are increasingly feared in the NFL, but if there's one coach who could scare them, it's Mike McCarthy. The Packers head coach is no stranger to his former NFC North rivals, against whom he posted an 18-7 record when he was in Wisconsin.
Certainly, Detroit is no longer the same franchise, and McCarthy no longer has Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers, but Dallas is also an unforgiving universe for the Michigan franchise. The coach is 2-0 against the Lions since he was in Texas, and his quarterback Dak Prescott has always beaten them since entering the league (6-0). For the NFC clash of the week, the numbers aren't going towards Jared Goff & co.
Coach of week 6: Jeff Ulbrich, a complicated first
Kick-off Tuesday at 2:15 a.m.
New York Jets (2-3) – Buffalo Bills (3-2)
It would have been difficult before the season to imagine that Robert Saleh would be the first coach fired. In fact, until the decision was announced this week, the man who led the Jets in 2-3 did not necessarily appear to be in an ejection seat. To the point of wondering if it was justified.
But the ax fell, and former defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich found himself with the difficult task of leading his team against the Bills for his first game in this position. Todd Downing, the former quarterbacks coach, was promoted to coordinator of an attack where Aaron Rodgers (QB) is skating severely.
The division: NFC South
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
New Orleans Saints (2-3) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Carolina Panthers (1-4) – Atlanta Falcons (3-2)
In an NFL as usual full of surprises, the NFC South has been a real agent of chaos in these first weeks. Little expected, the teams in the division won prestigious victories, to the point of seeing the Buccaneers or the Saints temporarily become outsiders in the NFC, before quickly falling back to earth. If the Panthers remain in difficulty despite Andy Dalton (QB), the Falcons are now the team to watch, especially after dominating the Buccaneers last week.
In short, the weekend's matches should make things a little clearer, even if it would not be surprising to once again see everyone's expectations turned upside down.
Other divisional duels
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Tennessee Titans (1-3) – Indianapolis Colts (2-3)
On paper, it's difficult to see the favorite Titans. But Indianapolis has just lost to the Jaguars, despite a stellar Joe Flacco (QB), and Tennessee won against the Dolphins… Still, for the Colts, they absolutely have to win.
The other matches of week 6
Kick-off Sunday at 3:30 p.m. (London)
Chicago Bears (3-2) – Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4) To follow live for free on M6+
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Green Bay Packers (3-2) – Arizona Cardinals (2-3)
New England Patriots (1-4) – Houston Texans (4-1)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Las Vegas Raiders (2-3) – Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)
Kick-off Monday at 2:20 a.m.
New York Giants (2-3) – Cincinnati Bengals (1-4)
Houston seems largely favorite against the Patriots even if the big news is the tenure of Drake Maye (QB). The number 3 of the 2024 draft will make his debut and they are highly anticipated.
For its part, Jacksonville moves to London for the first of its two games, and that is not necessarily bad news for the Jaguars. Regulars of the place, the Floridians have played no less than 11 matches there since 2013 for a record of six victories and five defeats, a much better ratio than the 56 victories and 110 defeats over the period in the regular season. It will also be an opportunity for the European public to discover Caleb Williams (QB, Bears).
The duel between the Cardinals and the Packers will be an opportunity to find out if Jordan Love (QB, Packers) can recover after complicated performances. Opposite, Arizona, which has just knocked down San Francisco, wants to take advantage of the clash between the Seahawks and the 49ers to position itself in the NFC West.
Finally, a rebound is expected from both the Steelers (3-2, two defeats in a row) and the Bengals (1-4). But it will be difficult against the unpredictable Raiders and the Giants respectively, whose defensive line led by Dexter Lawrence (NT) could do very badly. On the Cincinnati side, the lack of control and confidence is palpable: what if New York took advantage?
Week 6 matches
Kick-off Sunday at 3:30 p.m. (London)
Chicago Bears (3-2) – Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4) To follow live for free on M6+
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
New Orleans Saints (2-3) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)
Baltimore Ravens (3-2) – Washington Commanders (4-1)
Green Bay Packers (3-2) – Arizona Cardinals (2-3)
Tennessee Titans (1-3) – Indianapolis Colts (2-3)
New England Patriots (1-4) – Houston Texans (4-1)
Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) – Cleveland Browns (1-4)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Denver Broncos (3-2) – Los Angeles Chargers (2-2)
Las Vegas Raiders (2-3) – Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Carolina Panthers (1-4) – Atlanta Falcons (3-2)
Dallas Cowboys (3-2) – Detroit Lions (3-1)
Kick-off Monday at 2:20 a.m.
New York Giants (2-3) – Cincinnati Bengals (1-4)
Kick-off Tuesday at 2:15 a.m.
New York Jets (2-3) – Buffalo Bills (3-2)
