The good news when it comes to nailing our NFL picks and predictions for Week 6 is the Dolphins are back on the schedule. The bad news is they are playing the Redskins, arguably the only team in the league that can match Miami's ineptitude. We don't have the benefit of an easy pick against the worst team in the NFL this week.
There are some double-digit point spreads in Week 6, at least, per Sportsbook Review. The Ravens and Cowboys opened as such favorites over the Bengals and Jets, respectively. Those easy picks offset the five toss-up games that opened with point spreads of three or fewer points.
MORE: Get the latest NFL odds at Sportsbook Review
Though the NFL playoff picture is not a factor at this point in the season, Week 6 features a handful of key games that will impact division and wild-card races, particularly in the NFC. Looking at you, Vikings, Eagles, Packers, Lions, Rams and 49ers.
Here are our Week 6 NFL picks and predictions, all the way through the Monday night game in Green Bay.
NFL picks, predictions for Week 6
- New York Giants at New England Patriots (-17 1/2, +100)
Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET, Fox, NFL Network, Amazon Prime Video
This isn't the matchup Daniel Jones needs to reverse his downward trend after his breakout against Tampa Bay a few weeks ago. On the other hand, with the Giants unlikely to contend for anything postseason-related this year, a date with the Patriots — in Foxboro in front of a national audience, no less — is a good chance for the rookie quarterback to learn some valuable early-career lessons. Against New York's defense, Tom Brady will gladly set an example for the youngster.
Prediction: Patriots 34, Giants 13
- Carolina Panthers (-2, -105) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (London)
Monday, 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network
This is the game former Buccaneer Gerald McCoy probably circled on the schedule but was immediately disappointed when he saw it would be played in London and not in Tampa Bay. McCoy, though, is part of a Panthers team that will be looking to avenge their Week 2 loss to the Bucs and further stamp their status as division/playoff contenders despite Cam Newton's absence. Tampa Bay literally kept Christian McCaffrey from beating them last month; it won't have the same success in Round 2.
Prediction: Panthers 30, Buccaneers 24
- Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens (-11, -107)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
NFL's worst rushing defense, meet NFL's best rushing offense. If this game is not as ugly as (or uglier than) expected, we can only chalk it up to the NFL being weird and unpredictable. We've already reached the point of the season when Baltimore fans are contemplating their team's playoff chances, and Cincinnati fans are picturing Tua Tagovailoa in a Bengals uniform.
Prediction: Ravens 38, Bengals 21
- Seattle Seahawks at Cleveland Browns (-1, -123)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
The last time the Browns were embarrassed in front of a national TV audience, they bounced back with a big win over the division-rival Ravens. Unfortunately for Cleveland, the Seahawks are not the Ravens, a team Nick Chubb was able to gash. Seattle boasts the NFL's fourth best rush defense in terms of yards allowed, meaning Baker Mayfield will have the kind of burden to score points that his QB counterpart in this game, Russell Wilson, has no problem carrying.
Prediction: Seahawks 28, Browns 23
- Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs (-5, -101)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Patrick Mahomes looked human enough against the Colts for this spread to drop below a touchdown. Unless weather becomes a factor, expect a lot of points. Neither defense has been great this season, and for the Chiefs, it's something of an Achilles' heel; only five NFL teams have given up more yards than Kansas City's 1,969 though five games, and those teams are a combined 5-19-1. The major mismatch in this game, though, is Mahomes against Houston's secondary.
Prediction: Chiefs 35, Texans 31
- New Orleans Saints at Jacksonville Jaguars (-1 1/2, -105)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
This game opened as a pick 'em and tilted in Jacksonville's favor, which is interesting considering the Saints are undefeated with Teddy Bridgewater as their starter and the Jaguars' once-feared defense doesn't seem so scary anymore. With that said, these teams are virtually dead even in terms of points scored and allowed per game, and they're mirror images of each other with their fill-in QBs and physical rushing attacks. Jacksonville, though, can't stop Alvin Kamara, who will have a Christian McCaffrey-like field day.
Prediction: Saints 27, Jaguars 23
- Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings (-2 1/2, -120)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
The Eagles' struggling pass defense looked against the Jets (as it should), and the Vikings' struggling pass offense looked good against the Giants (as it should). The key to this game, though, will be whether Minnesota can generate space for Dalvin Cook against the NFL's best rush defense in terms of yards allowed. The Vikings failed a similar test against the Bears a couple weeks ago, but that was before they rediscovered their passing groove. Kirk Cousins, Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs and Co. will earn just enough attention for Cook to keep Minnesota's offense balanced.
Prediction: Vikings 26, Eagles 24
- Washington Redskins (-3 1/2, -108) at Miami Dolphins
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
Yes, this game is still scheduled to be shown on Fox; it has not been flexed to Cartoon Network. The Redskins being fired up in the wake of Jay Gruden's firing will be a bigger factor than the Dolphins being fresh off a bye week. Regardless of who plays quarterback, Washington has the better roster. In Miami, that isn't saying much, but it's enough.
Prediction: Redskins 20, Dolphins 13
- San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams (-5, -110)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox
Yes, the 49ers are legit, but this game is by far their biggest test yet, especially after the Browns game snowballed into an easy win. If not for a missed field-goal attempt, the Rams would have beaten the Seahawks last week on the strength of a couple impressive fourth-quarter drives engineered by Jared Goff. The bunch design of Los Angeles' offense can neutralize San Francisco's nasty pass rush to an extent, but the Rams will need to get a little creative to hang enough points on the NFL's fourth best scoring defense. Given the benefit of an extra long week, Sean McVay will do just that.
Prediction: Rams 24, 49ers 20
- Atlanta Falcons (-2 1/2, -105) at Arizona Cardinals
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox
We believe Falcons owner Arthur Blank when he says he is not considering a coaching change as Dan Quinn's seat becomes warmer. Then again, we didn't think the Packers would fire Mike McCarthy during the season last year, but they did just that after a loss to the Cardinals. So, yeah, Quinn probably needs to beat the Cardinals. Atlanta has run out of excuses for its atrocious defense and hardly existent running game. Arizona will take advantage and make some plays, but it's still without Patrick Peterson on defense. Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Co. will quiet the Quinn chatter for at least a week.
Prediction: Falcons 31, Cardinals 21
- Dallas Cowboys (-10, +110) at New York Jets
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
The Jets' chances against the Cowboys rest entirely on Sam Darnold's availability, and he was cleared to play. With the QB back in the lineup, running back Le'Veon Bell will find some space, and the Jets have a strong enough defense to keep the game close. But Dak Prescott will make just enough plays in the passing game for Dallas to seal the game — just a little later than expected.
Prediction: Cowboys 24, Jets 14
- Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos (-2 1/2, -108)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
This is such an annoying game to pick between two unpredictable teams. Even though the Broncos' defense finally showed up last week with some big plays, we think — think being the key word as always with this team — the Titans still have the better overall unit. Denver won't have as many answers for Derrick Henry as Tennessee will have for Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman.
Prediction: Titans 26, Broncos 21
- Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Chargers (-6 1/2, -115)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Speaking of teams that are unpredictable, what are we supposed to make of the 2-3 Chargers? All three of their losses have come in one-score games, and if they let the Steelers hang around long enough Sunday night, Pittsburgh is coached well enough to make them pay. Both teams will find rushing room, but the Steelers are dealing with youth and health issues at quarterback, giving the Chargers more freedom to focus on stopping the run.
Prediction: Chargers 23, Steelers 13
- Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers (-4 1/2, -105)
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
Keep in mind what the Lions proved before last week's bye: Detroit is a factor this season. Newfound balance in its offense has resulted in a top-10 unit in terms of yards per game, and the Lions now have health on their side after the long break. What they don't have, however, are answers for Aaron Rodgers should the Packers decide to let their QB loose. With Aaron Jones vs. Kerryon Johnson being a wash in the running game, that QB play will be the difference.
Prediction: Packers 31, Lions 23