The Dallas Cowboys will be back in prime-time for the third time in six weeks against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football in Week 6.
Which Cowboys team will we see? Will it be the one who routed the Giants 40-0 in Week 1 or the one who was re-routed by the 49ers 42-10 in Week 5? This is a crossroads game of sorts considering the 3-2 record and how tough Dallas’ schedule is in the second half of the season. Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, quarterback Dak Prescott and owner Jerry Jones will be highly visible, and Dallas does have three more prime-time games. They need a better showing on this stage.
What about the Chargers? Coach Brandon Staley’s decision-making in close games is always under scrutiny, and Justin Herbert continues to be a prolific and efficient quarterback for Los Angeles. Austin Ekeler might return to the offense as well. The Chargers are 2-2 and do not want to slip much further in the AFC standings. Los Angeles also will have a Sunday Night Football game against the Bears in Week 9 and a Monday Night Football game against the Jets in Week 9. This marks the beginning of a key stretch.
There is a long way to Monday, however. The Broncos and Chiefs play on Thursday Night Football, and the Bills host the reeling Giants on Sunday Night Football. Detroit-Tampa Bay might be the best game through the Sunday early windows.
Each week, Sporting News will pick the games straight up and against the spread. Here is a look at our record this season:
- Straight up: 49-29 (6-8 in Week 5)
- ATS: 39-37-2 (6-8 in Week 5)
Here are our straight-up picks for Week 6:
(Lines courtesy of BetMGM, click here to sign up and make your picks)
NFL picks, predictions for Week 6
- Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs (-10.5)
Thursday, 8:20 p.m., Prime Video
The Chiefs are double-digit favorites for the second time this season, and they covered in Week 3 against the Bears. The Broncos are a mess – and they rank last in the league in scoring defense (36.2). That number would still be at 27.8 if you don’t count the 70-point disaster against the Dolphins. The Chiefs can work with that at home. Patrick Mahomes is 11-0 as a starter against the Broncos.
Pick: Chiefs 34, Broncos 17
Result: Chiefs 19, Broncos 8
- Baltimore Ravens (-3) at Tennessee Titans
Sunday, 9:30 a.m., ESPN+
Yet another London game. The Ravens are playing their fourth road game in five weeks, part of a brutal stretch that won’t get easier against Detroit in Week 7. Lamar Jackson and Ryan Tannehill are both taking too many sacks. The Titans have three games where they have scored 16 points or less. Overseas games are tough, and both teams are 0-1 all time in London.
Pick: Ravens 24, Titans 20
- Washington Commanders at Atlanta Falcons (-2.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Falcons are 3-0 at home with two fantastic finishes, and the Commanders are 31st in the league in scoring defense. Sam Howell also has a league-high 29 sacks. That’s a bad recipe on the road, where Atlanta has proven it can grind out victories. Washington did have extra time off after the Thursday Night Football disaster, but we’ll stick with the home team in another close one.
Pick: Falcons 26, Commanders 24
- Minnesota Vikings (-3) at Chicago Bears
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
Justin Jefferson went down with a non-contact injury, and the Vikings’ one-score luck has reversed this season. Kirk Cousins had led Minnesota to victories in his last three starts at Soldier Field, but Justin Fields is a hot quarterback all of a sudden – and has done a good job stopping the run in its last two games. Fields picks up his first career victory against Minnesota. It’s another step in the right direction.
Pick: Bears 30, Vikings 25
POWER RANKINGS: 49ers hold off Eagles; Steelers surge into top 10; Cowboys, Patriots drop for Week 6
- Seattle Seahawks at Cincinnati Bengals (-3)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Bengals got back on track with a simple formula. Joe Burrow fed Ja’Marr Chase 19 targets. Cincinnati is 2-0 S/U when Chase gets 15 or more targets, and Seattle has allowed 280 passing yards per game. The Seahawks are tough against the run (87.6), and the offense has committed one turnover in four games. This isn’t a layup by any means, but we’ll trust that Cincinnati is 14-6 S/U in its last 20 home games.
Pick: Bengals 28, Seahawks 23
- San Francisco 49ers (-4.5) at Cleveland Browns
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
These teams have the two best defenses in the league to this point. Cleveland allows 15.0 points and 196.8 yards per game, and Jim Schwartz will bring the pressure against Brock Purdy. San Francisco, however, has enough options to offset that, and their defense allows 13.6 points and 266.8 yards per game. Deshaun Watson (shoulder) should return here. The Browns have won the last three home meetings against the 49ers, but this team is different.
Pick: 49ers 24, Browns 16
- Carolina Panthers at Miami Dolphins (-14)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Dolphins are the most-exciting offense in the NFL with coach Mike McDaniel, one where Tua Tagovailoa is conducting with the help of three players who have scored at least five touchdowns in Raheem Mostert, De’Von Achane and Tyreek Hill. Carolina has a future with Bryce Young, but this team is not ready for this challenge quite yet. The Panthers are 0-5 ATS this season, too. Get this line before they add a hook.
Pick: Dolphins 38, Panthers 17
- Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars (-4.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Colts are playing their fourth division game in six weeks, and Gardner Minshew has been efficient. Zach Moss and Jonathan Taylor give Indianapolis a little more run support, and Jacksonville returns home after a two-week stay in London. The Jaguars pulled away from the Colts in the second half last time. This one will be a little tighter in the fourth quarter.
Pick: Jaguars 28, Colts 26
- New Orleans Saints (-2.5) at Houston Texans
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Saints have been unpredictable the last two weeks, but the 34-0 victory against New England improved the team to 2-1 S/U on the road. Houston offers another opportunity, though C.J. Stroud has yet to throw an interception and hasn’t taken a sack in the last three games. Derek Carr hasn’t put up gaudy numbers, but he hasn’t thrown an interception the last three weeks.
Pick: Saints 23, Texans 20
- New England Patriots at Las Vegas Raiders (-3)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS
Go figure that the Bill Belichick-Josh McDaniels matchup is the toughest game to pick this week. Jakobi Meyers – who threw the ill-fated lateral in New England’s 30-24 loss to Las Vegas last season – plays for the Raiders now. That is one subplot, but the bottom line is New England has scored three points in the last two games. If Mac Jones can’t win here, then it might be time to go to Bailey Zappe full time. Will Jimmy Garoppollo haunt Belichick here? Good spot for a light upset.
Pick: Patriots 20, Raiders 18
- Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams (-6)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., Fox
The Cardinals have been competitive with Joshua Dobbs, but James Conner’s shoulder injury and offense and the team’s struggles in pass defense are hard to overcome on the road. The Rams got Cooper Kupp back with Matthew Stafford, but they’re struggling to run the ball, too. The Cardinals have won two of the last three matchups at Los Angeles.
Pick: Rams 27, Cardinals 24
- Philadelphia Eagles (-6.5) at New York Jets
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., Fox
The Eagles have been road warriors to this point with three covers in three road games. The offense is generating 404.6 yards per game with Jalen Hurts, D’Andre Swift averages 5.7 yards per carry and A.J. Brown ranks fourth in the NFL with 541 receiving yards. There are too many options for the Jets to defend, and that will be apparent in the second half. Zach Wilson – who has completed 72.3% of his passes the last two weeks – will keep it competitive.
Pick: Eagles 27, Jets 19
- Detroit Lions (-3) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., Fox
This is one of those spots for Detroit. Dan Campbell has built a NFC contender that has been ruthless on the offensive and defensive lines. Tampa Bay had a bye week, and Baker Mayfield has been kept clean in the pocket. The Buccaneers are coming off a bye week and will be wearing the creamsicle throwback jerseys, too. Detroit has won three straight games by 14 points or more. The Lions win here, too, but it’s a close call.
Pick: Lions 31, Buccaneers 27
- New York Giants at Buffalo Bills (-14.5)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC
Here is the largest spread of the week. The Giants can’t protect Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley’s status continues to be in doubt, and it has been a disaster from the start for one of last year’s surprise teams. The scary part is New York forced three turnovers and still allowed 524 yards against Miami. Buffalo won its first two home games by 28 points, and another Sunday Night Football is entirely possible here. That’s just too many points to leave.
Pick: Bills 35, Giants 21
- Dallas Cowboys (-2) at Los Angeles Chargers
Monday, 8:15 p.m., ESPN
The Cowboys have been objectively terrible on the road in West Coast losses to Arizona and San Francisco. Dak Prescott has a 69.9% completion with two TDs and four interceptions in those losses. Now, they head to face the Chargers – who are coming off a bye week and have played four games decided by seven points or less. Dallas is 3-0 ATS when favored by single digits this season, and look for Micah Parsons and the defense to get back on track. This is bound to be a field-goal game either way.
Pick: Cowboys 31, Chargers 28
