Week 6

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4-1) vs. NEW YORK GIANTS (1-4)

Thursday October 9 @ 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime

This is the fifth division rivalry game on Thursday Night Football in six weeks. All of them have come to the wire so the hope is that the Eagles and Giants can continue that trend. Both are in desperate need of a win after self-inflicted defeats. The defending champions have been on a frustrating rollercoaster while New York has fallen back down to Earth as they gave the Saints their first win of the year.

Entering the fourth quarter, the Eagles were ahead 17-3 and then surrendered 18 unanswered points to lose the game by four. The biggest reason? Their offense was incredibly one dimensional. When your best player Saquon Barkley gets one carry in the second half and offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo decides to go pass happy every drive against a strong Denver defense, it is no wonder why Philly did not win the game. The fact that they have one of the most talented offenses in the league, yet they rank near the bottom in almost every statistical category is unacceptable. Their defense does not deserve a pass either because they have not lived up to expectations as well, so this has to be a bounce back week for them as well. New York turned the ball over five times last week at New Orleans and if Philadelphia cannot force a takeaway or two of their own, then this is going to be a game too close to call. This team has nobody else to blame but themselves for being in this situation and now is the time for them to remind everybody why they won the Super Bowl last year.

There is an outside chance that the Giants can pull off an upset, but if they turn the ball over one time, then their hopes will be crushed once again. They have decent pieces on their offense, but this is a game where every single thing needs to go right for them. Once they get in a groove, then their defense will have enough juice to bottle up their former running back and force Jalen Hurts to beat them with his arm. As I said, the way to stay in the game is very simple: hold onto the football! Otherwise, regardless of what the final score will be, Philadelphia is going to have all of the momentum.

FINAL LOCK: Thursday Night Football has given us a lot of close and competitive grudge matches that have been decided in the final minute of play. I have a strong feeling that we will get a similar script, but I believe that Philadelphia has better pieces to make the plays down the stretch needed to win. If they do not get in their own way, then they will be fine.

FINAL SCORE: PHI 20-13

SUNDAY FOOTBALL BEGINS IN LONDON:

DENVER BRONCOS (3-2) vs. NEW YORK JETS (0-5)

Sunday October 12 @ 9:30 a.m. ET on NFL Network

In the first two international games of the season, the Vikings nearly came back from a 24-6 deficit to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Ireland and the Cleveland Browns had a chance to pull off their second upset of the year against Minnesota in London. Could this Sunday morning matchup between the Broncos and Jets give us a similar script? Probably not.

The New Jersey Jets are absolutely pitiful. Their defense has still yet to record a takeaway and they have allowed the second most points in football. Their offense revolves solely around the running game and Garrett Wilson. They have the worst turnover differential at minus eight. Now they have to go up against the second best scoring defense in the league that just also happens to be number one in sacks. If they thought they struggled against a terrible Cowboys defense, what do they think is going to happen against Nik Bonitto and Patrick Surtain II? 

The last time Denver played the Jets, it was not a game to remember. Bo Nix was abysmal in the first half, yet they still won the game 10-9 at MetLife Stadium. Now that this game will be on a neutral field with different pieces on both sides of the ball, the Broncos just simply have to play their game and they will be in good shape. 

FINAL LOCK: I thought New York had a strong chance of winning their first game last week, but I was grossly mistaken. At this point, the only way I can believe that they will end their losing streak is if I see it myself. The Broncos are just so much better on both sides of the football and the minute their defense sets the tone, then the offense gets into a better groove as the game goes on.

FINAL SCORE: DEN 30-13

THE 1:00 SLATE:

ARIZONA CARDINALS (2-3) vs. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (4-1)

One team handled its business at home and demolished a vastly inferior Raiders team 40-6. The other blew a 21-3 lead against the worst team in football and lost on a walkoff field goal in their house. At this point in the season, we both know what to expect from the Colts and the Cardinals. All we have to wonder is what it is going to take for an upset to take place.

Indianapolis has been one of the biggest surprise stories in the league and it all begins with their quarterback Daniel Jones. He is third in passing yards, fifth in completion percentage, and eighth in passer rating. He has only been sacked four times and the best part is that he only has two turnovers! When you have one of the best running backs in Jonathan Taylor to your right hand side, it can open so many things with the offense! Heck, if it were not for Adonai Mitchell fumbling the ball before crossing the goal line against the Rams, this team would be undefeated! Their offense has scored the second most points in the league while the defense has allowed the third fewest, so Arizona is in one for one tricky road game on Sunday afternoon.

After starting the season 2-0, the Cardinals now lost three straight and their most recent was certainly the most humiliating. They were up 21-3 against the Tennessee Titans, dominating on both sides of the ball. Then Emari Demercado fumbled the football before crossing the goal-line in the fourth quarter and all hell broke loose from there. The defense fell apart on the final three drives, the offense went absolutely nowhere, and nobody deserved to lose more than this team. The question is not if they can be competitive against Indianapolis, but what mistake they will make this time. But don’t worry, Arizona is going to scapegoat the head coach by fining him $100,000 for justifiably being angry, so that should solve everything.

FINAL LOCK: This was not too hard of a prediction to make but I am picking Indianapolis to keep their undefeated record at home intact. I don’t think it will be a cakewalk because Arizona still has plenty of talent to make things close for a majority of the ball game, but the Colts have a more consistent offense and that will be the biggest factor. At this point, the Cardinals have reached their ceiling with Kyler Murray but the only difference is that they are not waiting until November to implode. They might as well do it now.

FINAL SCORE: IND 27-17

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (3-2) vs. MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-4)

Another year, another debate about which quarterback is better between Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert. So far, the former is 2-1 against the man picked after him and this will only be the second time that two meet at Hard Rock Stadium. Both the Dolphins and Chargers are currently going through a rough patch so a win for either one of them might be enough to get them out.

After beginning the season 3-0, LA has lost two straight and the biggest reason why is because of their offense. Who knew that losing both your starting tackles would cause this group to hit that massive of a wall? They only scored 18 last week against the Giants and then only scored 10 points in the first quarter against the Commanders before getting shut out the rest of the game. Both of their defenses have not been very good to start the year so there is a strong chance that Miami might be the next in line to do the same. The Chargers just lost their rookie running back Omarion Hampton for a few weeks to an ankle injury and now they will have to rely on Hasaan Haskins and Kimani Vidal to take on the worst rushing defense in the league. Justin Herbert is going to be under more pressure than ever to get his team back in the win column or else another loss might send their season into a stunning free fall.

Tua Tagovailoa is also going to need to have a better performance than he did the week before if the Dolphins have any chance of winning. They held a 17 point lead over the Carolina Panthers and blew it due to a one-dimensional offense and a patchwork defense falling apart at the worst time. The first thing that Miami needs to do is establish the run. De’von Achane only picked up 16 yards on 10 carries, by far the worst game of his professional career. Fortunately, the Chargers defense has not been strong at stopping the run, so this is shaping up to be a bounce back performance for him. However, this is still one of the best scoring units in football and they know how to take advantage of sloppy offenses.

FINAL LOCK: I am going to slightly favor the Chargers to win this game, but it will be a more evenly competitive game than people expect. Tua is not going to have Tyreek Hill, yet Justin Herbert will not have a healthy offensive line or a running game to lean on. In the end, I trust LA’s defense to play more aggressively and I do not trust Miami to hold off Herbert for sixty straight minutes. 

FINAL SCORE: LA 27-21

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-2) vs. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-4)

There are only two words that New England fans are saying right now: “We’re back!” After upsetting Josh Allen in his house on Sunday Night Football, the optimism has returned for the New England Patriots and the belief is that they will easily take care of business on the road against the Saints. However, they just got their first win of the season against the Giants, so this team has the mindset that they are not as bad as people think they will be this year.

The biggest reason why New Orleans finally got in the win column was their defense. Sure, their offense had a few decent scoring drives and a big 87 yard play to Rashid Shaheed for a touchdown, but they did next to nothing in the second half. However, the Giants turned the ball over five times and one of them resulted in a scoop-and-score that allowed the Saints to win by double digits. Spencer Rattler might have been able to get his first victory as a starting quarterback, but this Patriots defense is going to be a tougher foe and he will need to play a lot better for his team to potentially pull off another upset.

For the Patriots, the objective is to just play their game. When Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled the football early in the first quarter, it felt like this team was headed for its inevitable doom. However, the defense forced Buffalo to play sloppy and their offense relied on its quarterback to lead them to victory. It took a couple of rough losses at home against the Raiders and Steelers, but New England is starting to figure things out at a good point in the season. As long as they do not get in their own way, this will be a fun game to watch.

FINAL LOCK: Like many games that the Saints will play in this year, they will not be prohibitive favorites. However, over their last two matchups against the Patriots, they won in convincing fashion. There is no question that this will be a closer game than what people think, but I believe New England has a better constructed roster that will give them the ultimate advantage.

FINAL SCORE: NE 26-17

CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-4) vs. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (3-1)

Now that Joe Flacco has officially been traded to the Cincinnati Bengals, the future quarterback for the Browns will be Dillon Gabriel for the time being. He looked decent in his first start against the Vikings in London, but this week will present a bigger challenge as he has to go on the road to play the Pittsburgh Steelers.

If Gabriel can have a clean pocket and stay away from the likes of TJ Watt and Cam Heyward, then this Browns offense can make things interesting. The Steelers defense is… okay. They can still attack the quarterback, yet they allow the third most passing yards in the league per game. However, that does not mean that Cleveland should forget about rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, who has been promising to watch over the last three weeks. They did not turn the ball over in the previous game against Minnesota, yet the offense shut down for most of the second half and the result was another heartbreaking loss. The Browns will need to get off to a strong start and keep their foot on the gas. Otherwise, Aaron Rodgers is not going to make this a fair fight.

Truth be told, the Steelers have a middle-of-the-pack offense. They have the second worst rushing attack and are near the bottom of the league in passing. However, they also have the second best turnover differential, which means that the team will win as long as they do the bare minimum. The one time they could not do that resulted in their first loss in week two against Seattle. The Browns defense has been the biggest strength of this football team with a ton of playmakers on all three levels. However, it is also a group that can let the game get out of hand if they are either on the field too long or if the offense commits a back breaking turnover to swing the momentum around. All Pittsburgh has to do is hold onto the football and put together a few decent drives. Once they accomplish that, the rest will take care of itself.

FINAL LOCK: The Steelers have not lost a home game to the Browns in the regular season since 2003 and I honestly do not see that streak ending any time soon. If this was in Cleveland, I would be leaning more towards the upset, but I do not see Pittsburgh repeating what they did in the second game of the year. 

FINAL SCORE: PIT 24-10

DALLAS COWBOYS (2-2-1) vs. CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-3)

The last two times that Bryce Young played the Cowboys at home, he got demolished by a combined score of 63-24. This time, it can really go either way. Either Dallas picks up where they left off and smothers another vastly inferior opponent or the Panthers decide to make things interesting with a vintage performance from their quarterback.

Young got off to a horrific start against the Dolphins last week with two early turnovers that forced Carolina to fall behind 17-0. However, as the game progressed, he got better with his decision making and he was responsible for incredible plays down the stretch that resulted in the upset win. However, a huge chunk of the credit has to go to running back Rico Dowdle, who ran for over 200 yards in his first start of the season. For the Panthers to get back to 500, their offense needs to be as balanced as possible. The Cowboys defense has allowed the most passing yards in the league and the fourth most points. If Young cannot find a way to have a good game against this defense, then that is inexcusable.

This will not be the last time I say this but the only reason why Dallas will be favored to win is because of their offense. Last week, they did not have CeeDee Lamb and four of their starting offensive linemen, yet this team still smothered the Jets at MetLife Stadium. Obviously, a lot of teams in the NFL have done that but the Cowboys avoided a humiliating trap game. The way for them to do the same this week is to not commit the one turnover that can flip the switch for the Panthers. If that is the case, then Dallas is in trouble.

FINAL LOCK: I am expecting and hoping for this to be a high scoring affair. The Panthers offense is starting to get a little healthier, but they might have another week without Chuba Hubbard in the lineup. However, this means that Rico Dowdle is set up for a revenge game against the team that let him walk in free agency. If he picks up where he left off last week, Carolina absolutely has a shot of winning. However, I was foolish in picking Justin Fields over Dak Prescott and I know I would be even more ludicrous if I did the same with Bryce Young.

FINAL SCORE: DAL 37-34 

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (3-2) vs. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-1)

I said that this would be a trap game for the Seahawks at the start of the year and my opinion has not wavered. Sam Darnold has played three games against the Jaguars and has only thrown three touchdowns to six interceptions. Now that both teams are expected to be in the playoff hunt for the majority of the season, this game will simply come down to which team will not screw up at the worst time.

Unfortunately, Darnold did just exactly that last week against the Buccaneers. In a back-and-forth shootout, his costly interception to Lavonte David in the final minute of the fourth quarter allowed Tampa Bay to kick the game winning field goal. Now he is going up against one of the strongest defenses in the league that just happens to be number one in takeaways. Every time that the Jaguars get their hands on the ball, the offense capitalizes on their chances and it allows them to seize momentum. Just ask the 49ers and Chiefs how they somehow lost in their respective matchups. Darnold has more than proven to be a revitalized quarterback, yet there are still flaws to his game that can get exposed. For him to win, the goal is simple: hold onto the football!

If anybody is set up for a strong afternoon, it is Trevor Lawrence. In a Monday night thriller against the Chiefs, his legs propelled Jacksonville to a huge victory, but his arm gave us up-and-down results. There was the sweet touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone to Parker Washington that ended the first half, yet the fumble at the one yard line and interception deep in his own territory were killers. The Seahawks have a decent defense, yet they have a secondary that can get picked on regularly. The Jaguars have the ingredients to be a successful offense and as long as their quarterback is not getting in the way, then they have what it takes to steal their division.

FINAL LOCK: Because the Jaguars are still at home and that the Seahawks have to fly across the country, the home field advantage is going to be the deciding factor. There is no question that both offenses are going to score a lot of points, yet whichever quarterback can minimize the least amount of mistakes will be the one smiling with a win at the end of the day.

FINAL SCORE: JAX 31-28

LOS ANGELES RAMS (3-2) vs. BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-4)

Before the season started, this was viewed as a potential game of the week. Unfortunately, the Ravens have gotten off to one of the worst starts in franchise history, whereas the Rams just lost to a hobbled 49ers team at home on a primetime stage. One team needs a win to make sure they do not fall out of the playoff hunt but the other needs it more to keep their season afloat. 

Because Baltimore has a bye the following week, it is unlikely that John Harbaugh is going to rush Lamar Jackson back from a hamstring injury. That means it will be another week of Cooper Rush, who threw three interceptions in a 44-10 drubbing over the Houston Texans. Another huge reason why they got demolished was because Derrick Henry got shut down for the second time in five weeks, only rushing for 33 yards on 15 carries. Since that fumble against the Bills in week one, he has only totaled 50 rushing yards once in what has been considered a down year for the future Hall of Famer. This has to be the week where the Ravens re-establish their identity and run the ball effectively. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken cannot afford his group to look one dimensional once again and if that is the case, then Matthew Stafford is going to possibly throw five touchdowns against a battered defense.

The Ravens will be without Marlon Humphrey and Roquan Smith for a second consecutive game, meaning that this defense will be on shaky ground once again. This group only has six sacks and two interceptions to begin the year, but ball security has not exactly been the biggest strength for the Rams, so that will be a huge factor in this game. However, Matthew Stafford is leading the league in passing yards and is also second in touchdown passes, while Baltimore’s secondary has given up a score 13 times with one interception. If CJ Stroud can throw four touchdowns against this defense, I don’t see how Stafford cannot do the same with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams as his top two targets.

FINAL LOCK: Ever since the Ravens blew a 15 point lead in the final four minutes of the game against the Buffalo Bills, they have been on one of the most shocking downward spirals we have seen from a championship contender. Without their MVP quarterback or any semblance of a defense, it is going to be hard for them to beat a respected Rams team just a week after letting the Houston Texans enter their house and score 44 points.

FINAL SCORE: LA 34-19

THE 4:05/4:25 SLATE:

TENNESSEE TITANS (1-4) vs. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-4)

Who could have expected that both teams would be 1-4 at this point in the season? It makes more sense for the Titans because they are one year removed from clinching the first overall pick but it is more shocking that the Raiders are in this situation. Even more mind boggling is that Tennessee is coming off a win and the other team is not. Therefore, this will be an interesting game to watch.

The biggest reason why Las Vegas is 1-4 is because of their quarterback Geno Smith. He is leading the league in interceptions with nine and only has six touchdown passes, which is just outright awful. It did not help that he did not have his favorite target Brock Bowers last week, but it has nothing to do with the decision making. Smith has also been sacked the third most times behind Cam Ward and Drake Maye, yet the Titans do not exactly have the strongest pass rush. The only disruptor they have on the defensive line is Jeffery Simmons, so as long as he does not take over the game, the Raiders make sure that they do not give the opponent chances to win like the Cardinals did the week before.

Before the fourth quarter started, the Titans looked predictably lifeless and awful as they fell behind 21-6. Then the fumble from Emari Demercado happened and all of a sudden, it was the spark they needed to pull off a stunning comeback. One factor that could help Tennessee this week is the turnover battle. They currently have eight takeaways, while the Raiders have the second worst turnover differential in football. If the Titans defense can play with the same intensity they did in the second half last week, then there is no question that the offense can feed off of that energy and put Las Vegas on its heels in their house.

FINAL LOCK: This is a tough game to predict because the Raiders might be in serious trouble if they do not have Bowers for a second consecutive week. Although Ashton Jeanty is a stud, he is one player that can only do so much, even against this Titans defense. I expect this to be a fair fight but I have Tennessee pulling off the upset.

FINAL SCORE: TEN 24-19

CINCINNATI BENGALS (2-3) vs. GREEN BAY PACKERS (2-1-1)

For the second time this year, Joe Flacco will be starting against the Green Bay Packers. That is right. In a rare intra-division trade, the former Cleveland Browns quarterback will make his Bengals debut in a must-win game. However, Flacco will not be in the comforts of his home, but in Lambeau Field. Either way, this is going to give Packers fans a right to be extra nervous.

Coming off a bye week, the Packers have to establish what their identity is going to be for the rest of the year. In their loss to Cleveland, the offense let them down in the fourth quarter. When they tied against the Cowboys the following week, their defense was getting picked apart left and right. If there is any chance for this team to bounce back, it has to be against a Bengals team that has been outright crushed in their last three games. This does not solely fall on the shoulders of Jordan Love and Micah Parsons. Everybody needs to step up in all three phases or else the panic button needs to be hit several times.

There are not too many teams in a more desperate situation than the Bengals. In the last three games, they have been outright crushed and decimated on both sides of the ball. We thought Jake Browning would be a decent backup while Joe Burrow was out, but now he is second in interceptions with eight. Zac Taylor knew that a change needed to be made, yet it is crazy to think that Flacco is the next guy going to be in line. There is hope that he can channel the magic he had in 2023. When you have Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins as the top two receiving options, it is not impossible. However, Flacco is 40 years old and is not exactly Tom Brady, so this will be a week-by-week approach. 

FINAL LOCK: Coming off two weeks rest at home, I have the Packers winning and I am scared we might get another blowout. Cincinnati has been terrible on the road all year long with the exception of a week one victory, ironically against Joe Flacco and the Cleveland Browns. Even then, it took a missed extra point and a shanked chip shot field goal just for the Bengals to hang on. Green Bay has a way better defense and their offense is more consistent, so as long as they do not get in their own way like they did in week three, that should be enough to get the win.

FINAL SCORE: GB 34-20

SAN FRANCISCO 49ers (4-1) vs. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (4-1)

Not only are both teams 4-1 coming off impressive victories, but they are both dealing with key injuries on the offense and they are still leading their respective divisions. This is going to be an exciting grudge match that will come down to the wire and the one that takes advantage of their opportunities the most will come through with the victory.

The 49ers went into So-Fi Stadium and outlasted the Los Angeles Rams in overtime with Mac Jones as their starting quarterback and Kendrick Bourne as the top receiver. The Rams were heavily favored to win that game and were expected to have a strong defense, so if Jones makes his fourth start of the year, then it would not be impossible if he had another promising performance against a subpar Bucs defense. Todd Bowles is going to do what it takes to shut down Christian McCaffrey and make Jones win the game by himself. If San Francisco’s quarterback can withstand the pressure and deliver in the clutch once again, then we might have a controversy on our hands.

Baker Mayfield has been playing like an MVP candidate, yet he has yet to beat the 49ers in his career. However, he does not have to worry about Nick Bosa on the other side of the football, so this might be a chance for him to get his first win. Even then, the 49ers defense coached by Robert Saleh is not one to underestimate. They are a top ten scoring unit and when you need it the most, they find a way to deliver. The only way that Tampa can lose this game is if they turn the ball over, but that has not been a problem for Mayfield as he only has one interception. This will be a hard game to win without several key pieces, but knowing how he played on the road against Seattle last week, I don’t want to be the one that doubts that he can do it again.

FINAL LOCK: This is going to be a pure defensive battle, but the quarterbacks will be the ones to decide the outcome. Both teams have been impressive all season long, yet if I had to make a guess on which quarterback is going to deliver in the clutch, it is the one that led four game winning drives in the first five weeks. I believe Tampa Bay will hang on at home and Mayfield will get his first win against San Francisco.

FINAL SCORE: TB 20-17

SNF AND TWO MNF GAMES:

DETROIT LIONS (4-1) vs. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (2-3)

Sunday October 12 @ 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC

It feels like just yesterday when these two teams kicked off the 2023 season. The Detroit Lions ended up pulling off a big upset over the defending Super Bowl champions 21-20 at Arrowhead Stadium but both sides look different a couple years later.

For starters, the Chiefs will have Travis Kelce and Chris Jones on the field, two players that did not play in the first go-around. They also do not have to worry about Kadarius Toney dropping every single pass that went his way. However, Kansas City has already lost as many games as they did the season before, so this is a huge must win for them. This is not a team where you can just look at one player and say “this is why they are struggling.” Collectively, they look lost and out of sorts. Their defense is not connected on all cylinders, the offense lulls out with self-inflicted penalties and turnovers, and even the special teams unit has taken a dip in performance. Now they have to welcome the best team in football that have looked unstoppable since their only loss to the Packers in week one. If Detroit can beat Lamar Jackson on the road, then it is not impossible for them to do the same against Patrick Mahomes.

Jared Goff is 2-0 against the Chiefs and has outplayed Mahomes both times in the process. In their last matchup in 2023, the Lions offense only scored 14 points with the other seven coming off a pick six from Brian Branch. This is not going to be an easy night for Detroit on either side of the football and Dan Campbell knows that, so the message is to stay locked in and controlled. If they can handle the blitz and force a few stops along the way, then they will build enough momentum to close the deal down the stretch. This game is going to require all hands on deck and one little slip up might be the one that Kansas City needs to get back in the win column.

FINAL LOCK: We all know that both Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes are going to do everything in their power to win this game. However, I like the Lions better in this matchup. I like how their offense has performed since the opening game of the season and more importantly, defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard is starting to figure out what has been working with his guys. They are second in sacks, fourth in takeaways, and third in turnover differential. The only way to win is beat the Chiefs at their own game and the Lions have the pieces to do just that.

FINAL SCORE: DET 30-27

BUFFALO BILLS (4-1) vs. ATLANTA FALCONS (2-2)

Monday October 13 @ 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPN

For the Buffalo Bills, this is normally viewed as the “get right” game after a loss. Atlanta, on the other hand, is coming off a bye week and will be at home on a primetime stage. This will be an interesting matchup to watch. We all know what Josh Allen is capable of on a nightly basis, but this is a chance to see what type of team the Falcons will be for the rest of the year.

The biggest reason why the Bills lost to the Patriots at home was simply because they were playing over their heads. They turned the ball over three times, committed 11 penalties and New England took advantage of those mistakes. The only way for Buffalo to bounce back is simply to get out of their own way. Regardless of what the final score is, they should be the better team. They have a better quarterback, a better coach, a more reliable defense, and a more consistent offense. However, the Falcons are not a team to completely sleep on either.

Two weeks ago against the Washington Commanders, we saw what type of team Atlanta could have. Their quarterback was slicing and dicing the secondary, they ran the ball extremely well, and the defense never let up the lead. Right now, the Falcons defense is letting up the fewest total yards and passing yards in the league. However, they are middle-of-the-pack against the run. This is not going to be a walk in the park by any means necessary, but there will be a couple of X factors that will determine the outcome.

FINAL LOCK: This game is going to be won and lost in the trenches. Fortunately, each team has two stellar backs to lean on: James Cook and Bijan Robinson. However, what if both defenses decide to sell out against the run and not divert all their attention towards the pass? If that is the case, give me Josh Allen over Michael Penix Jr.

FINAL SCORE: BUF 28-16

CHICAGO BEARS (2-2) vs. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (3-2)

Monday October 13 @ 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC

We are back at the scene where everything fell apart for the Chicago Bears. The place where a Hail Mary pass sent their season into a free fall. Now that both teams are back in Landover for a Monday night showdown, this is simply a contest of will: who wants it more and who wants to avoid further humiliation?

From a general perspective, nobody should be going for the win more than the Chicago Bears, especially Caleb Williams. They might have taken the lead with little time to spare last year, but there were a couple of drives where they left a few more points off the board that could have saved the Bears from their ultimate doom. Tyrique Stevenson is another player that needs to have a huge game. Not only was he the guy that tipped the ball in the air that Noah Brown caught with ease, but before the play occurred, he was taunting the fans and putting himself over the team. Yet there is still one guy that we have not talked about yet.

Last week, Jayden Daniels made his return from a knee sprain and beat the Chargers 27-10 on the road. Yet, he was not even the biggest star of the afternoon. The honors went to rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who ran for 111 yards on just 14 touches. The Bears know that the rushing attack is going to be the bread and butter for the Commanders offense, but Chicago is the second worst run defense in the league. It is why they have allowed the fifth most points out of any other team, while Washington has surged all the way to 10. This is not exactly going to be an even fight and the only way for the script to flip is every single thing goes right in the other direction.

FINAL LOCK: As much as Chicagoans would love to see the Bears get their ultimate revenge against the team that ruined their season, the Commanders are just stronger on both sides of the ball and I do not believe it is going to take a Hail Mary for them to win this one.

FINAL SCORE: WAS 31-17