Week 5 of the 2024 NFL Season is officially in the books, so let's roll out our score predictions and picks for Week 6 games! Through five weeks in the 2024 NFL Season, if nothing else, this league is filled with parity.
But with that said, clubs across the league are really beginning to cement themselves as contenders and pretenders, and at this point, every single team in the NFL has at least one victory. Before Monday Night Football in Week 5, half of the league either has one or two wins.
Week 6 is going to bring a ton of amazing matchups, so let's get started with our picks and predictions for the coming week of NFL action.
2024 NFL picks, score predictions for Week 6 games
Bye Week: Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings
The Kansas City Chiefs will play on Monday Night Football in Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints. I'm assuming that KC wins this game. If so, they'd enter the Week 6 bye at 5-0, which would make them one of two remaining unbeaten teams. The 5-0 Minnesota Vikings happen to also now be on their bye after a dramatic win over the lowly New York Jets in London.
The Miami Dolphins won in Week 5 against the New England Patriots and have stayed afloat in the AFC as they surely await the return of Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa is eligible to return in Week 8, so this bye is crucial for Miami if they hope to save their season. The LA Rams again lost and fall to 1-4 on the 2024 NFL Season.
And it's not like the Rams have any sort of major coaching issue; this team is horribly banged-up, and at this point, LA should be open to selling big-time at the NFL Trade Deadline, perhaps even swinging a trade centered around Matthew Stafford if the right team pops up.
These four teams are in a bye week in Week 6 of the 2024 NFL Season. Let's get into picking and predicting the games!
Thursday Night Football, October 10th, San Francisco 49ers (2-3) @ Seattle Seahawks (3-2)
Both the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks had clunkers in Week 5. The 49ers lost a tight divisional matchup to the Arizona Cardinals, and with the Niners not being nearly as stout on defense this year, they not only feel like an average team, but are also again dealing with injuries.
Can San Francisco make it back to the NFC Championship Game at least? It doesn't appear that way, and with this team clearly still being in a win-now mode, I would not be shocked to see them buying at the 2024 NFL Trade Deadline. They may have no choice, as QB Brock Purdy is still on his rookie deal, so they have to get the most out of that until his huge future extension eventually kicks in a couple of years down the road. This is a crucial game for San Fran.
The Seattle Seahawks lost by nine points to Daniel Jones and the New York Giants, and no matter how you slice it, this was an embarrassing performance from the Seahawks, who many led us to believe were a contending team. They're far from it. With good-not-great QB play from Geno Smith and a rookie head coach, Seattle is again likely headed toward another nine-win season.
However, they did get out to a 3-0 start, so losing two games still has them over .500. This game is at home for the Seahawks, so they have that advantage going for them. This is hard for me to pick. It truly feels like a coin-flip.
But at the end of the day, the San Francisco 49ers have better QB play and a better a more reliable coaching staff. That does not always indicate a winner in the NFL, but for this Week 6 game, it will. Give me the 49ers to get back on track in Week 6 against the reeling Seahawks.
Prediction: 49ers win 31-23
Sunday, October 13th, Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4) @ Chicago Bears (3-2)
The Jacksonville Jaguars finally showed some signs of life in Week 5 at home and got a very impressive win against Joe Flacco and the Indianapolis Colts. Flacco is somehow still balling even at 56 years old, but this is Anthony Richardons' team, so in my opinion, as soon as he's healthy, he'll be back in the lineup.
But back to the Jaguars; their schedule does ease up at all, as they travel to Chicago to face the Bears, who have been lockdown at home and are coming off of Caleb Williams' best NFL performance. The rookie Williams may be arriving before our eyes, and with the Bears' also having a top defense in the NFL, this game could get out of hand quickly.
However, even with the Jaguars being 1-4, I do trust their coaching staff to have the team ready to go in Week 6 even in this hostile environment. You also have to figure that some of these Jaguars' coaches are coaching for their jobs in the coming weeks.
If the Jags can't start stacking some wins, they could be sellers at the 2024 NFL Trade Deadline, so this game may be closer than we think at the moment. I am very interested to see how this Jaguars' offense will play against a stout Bears' defense. If Trevor Lawrence can move the ball on this unit, the Jags may escape with a victory.
But at the end of the day, the Chicago Bears are the better team here and will win.
Prediction: Bears win 27-20
Sunday, October 13th, Arizona Cardinals (2-3) @ Green Bay Packers (3-2)
The Arizona Cardinals are indeed better than originally thought, and I'm here to say I told you so. The Cardinals won a crucial NFC West division matchup in Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers but may have a tougher test in Week 6 against the Green Bay Packers.
The Cardinals are still a year away from being a viable playoff-caliber team, so while they will lose this game, they'll keep it close.
Prediction: Packers win 34-26
Sunday, October 13th, Indianapolis Colts (2-3) @ Tennessee Titans (1-3)
In an underwhelming AFC South game, the 2-3 Indianapolis Colts face off against the 1-3 Tennessee Titans who are coming off of their Week 5 bye. I don’t expect either team to impress very much in this game. The Colts were without Anthony Richardson in Week 5 and did get a stellar performance from Joe Flacco, who is actually playing elite football.
The Colts’ defense has definitely been a huge weakness this season, and it does not feel like Colts’ GM Chris Ballard made enough moves to fix that unit. Second-year QB Anthony Richardson has largely looked awful this year, so the Colts just don’t seem like a very good team in any category. The Titans are among the worst teams in the NFL, and even with them coming off of their bye, I don’t expect much from Tennessee, either.
Will Levis is reckless with the football and has not impressed in the 2024 NFL Season. The Colts are the better team and will earn the victory in Week 6, getting their record back to .500
Prediction: Colts win 23-14
Sunday, October 13th, Houston Texans (4-1) @ New England Patriots (1-4)
Oh boy, this game could get out of hand. The Houston Texans have won high-stakes games in back-to-back weeks against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills. The Texans are 4-1 on the season but have not felt like a dominant team in really much of anything. I’ve picked the Texans to win the Super Bowl this year and would love to see this team just take it to the New England Patriots.
The Texans definitely need a blowout win for the morale if you ask me. Teams aren’t always going to win these close games, and the Patriots are arguably the worst team in the NFL, so Houston has a great chance in front of them to embarrass New England. The Texans don’t need to play their best in this one, but they’re going to demolish the Pats in Week 6.
Prediction: Texans win 38-13
Sunday, October 13th, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2) @ New Orleans Saints (2-3)
The New Orleans Saints play on Monday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs and my guess is that they will enter this Week 6 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 2-3, which would be their third loss in a row. The Saints raced out to a 2-0 start and seemed to be atop the NFL world, but have since returned to earth and have lost two in a row.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost a high-stakes game in Week 5 in overtime against the Atlanta Falcons, and that game truly could have gone the other way, so that wasn’t some embarrassing loss from the Bucs. The Buccaneers are the better team; they have the better QB and better head coach.
The Saints do get this game at home, but I see the Buccaneers bouncing back and taking care of business in Week 6, improving to 4-2 and continuing their case to win the NFC South yet again.
Prediction: Buccaneers win 27-24
Sunday, October 13th, Cleveland Browns (1-4) @ Philadelphia Eagles (2-2)
Oh man, you just have to wonder how much longer the Cleveland Browns can keep this up with Deshaun Watson. It’s not been pretty and I am not sure keeping Watson out there is going to change anything. He’s been atrocious during his Browns’ tenure, and the team seems to be collapsing. I would not be surprised if the Browns did make the move to bench Watson for Jameis Winston, and Watson’s fully guaranteed contract really should not play a factor here.
Watson is unplayable, and if the Browns have any chance of salvaging their season, they must beat the Eagles and must bench Deshaun Watson. Philly is coming off of a much-needed bye week and also have huge questions at the QB position.
Jalen Hurts has been horrible, frankly, since the start of the 2023 NFL Season. He’s been inefficient as a passer, but his head coach, Nick Sirianni, isn’t doing himself any favors. The Eagles may be closer to imploding if they lose to the Browns, but they’ll be able to defend their home turf.
Prediction: Eagles win 30-19
Sunday, October 13th, Washington Commanders (4-1) @ Baltimore Ravens (3-2)
I love what the Washington Commanders have done thus far. They’re 4-1 on the season and are watching their QB Jayden Daniels establish himself already as a rookie. However, they have a huge test in front of them when they travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens, who have won three in a row after starting 0-2.
It’s no secret that the Ravens are more established than the Commanders currently are, so while Washington has had a sensational start to the 2024 NFL Season, they’re going to eat some humble pie in Week 6 and get blown out. That isn’t an indictment on Washington, though, that’s just how this game is shaping up thus far.
Prediction: Ravens win 27-9
Sunday, October 13th, Los Angeles Chargers (2-2) @ Denver Broncos (3-2)
The Los Angeles Chargers had their bye in Week 5 and should come into this game a lot healthier than they were after their Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chargers lost two-straight games in Week 3 and Week 4 after winning two-straight to begin the 2024 NFL Season. Starting QB Justin Herbert hasn’t yet thrown for 200 yards in a game, and LA seems to be hellbent on running the snot out of the football.
They aren’t going to be a threat this year and simply need a ton of roster talent to contend in the AFC. Jim Harbaugh and his coaching staff is probably the right staff to get this franchise back on track, but only time will tell there.
The Denver Broncos come off of three-straight wins and perhaps surprisingly sit at 3-2 with their second home game in a row. They field a top-2 defense and a rookie QB who has had a passer rating approaching 90 over the last three games. Bo Nix seems to be figuring things out as time goes on.
Denver beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets, and Las Vegas Raiders in Weeks 3-5. Can they notch their fourth win a row? Well, Sean Payton has historically won nearly 75% of his October games as a head coach, so Denver is due for yet another win. Give me the Broncos to keep this momentum going.
Prediction: Broncos win 23-21
Sunday, October 13th, Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) @ Las Vegas Raiders (2-3)
Both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Las Vegas Raiders are sub-par football teams primarily because of their quarterbacks. Justin Fields is doing his best “2022 Daniel Jones” impression for the Steelers, but some of the same issues that plagued Fields during his time in Chicago are still with him.
The Steelers are not a legitimate team with Fields under center, and that would remain the same with Russell Wilson under center as well. As of now, it’s not clear if Gardner Minshew or Aidan O’Connell will start for the Raiders, but no matter who starts, Pittsburgh is just too suffocating on the defensive side of the ball and are going to run away with this victory. Unless this is just a typical upset, I don’t see how Vegas wins this one.
Prediction: Steelers win 26-13
Sunday, October 13th, Detroit Lions (3-1) @ Dallas Cowboys (3-2)
The Detroit Lions are 3-1 and were on their bye week in Week 5. Their first game off the bye is against the Dallas Cowboys in Dallas in Week 6. This may end up being one of the highest-scoring games of the weekend. I definitely trust the Lions coming out of the bye; they’ll be healthier and are a well-coached team overall with stability at the QB position.
The Cowboys come off of a huge Week 5 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a Sunday Night Game in Pittsburgh that spilled into Monday because of weather delays. From top to bottom, the Detroit Lions are a better football team if you ask me.
Coming out of the bye week, I expect the Detroit Lions to earn a solid win over the Dallas Cowboys, which would improve them to 4-1 and drop the Cowboys to 3-3, where more questions would then arise about Dallas.
Even though Dallas earned that huge win in Week 5, that does not make them immune from losing yet another game at home.
Prediction: Lions win 31-28
Sunday, October 13th, Atlanta Falcons (3-2) @ Carolina Panthers (1-4)
The Atlanta Falcons are coming off of quite the dramatic overtime win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and now sit at 3-2 on the season. The defense could definitely be playing better, especially with some of the names they have on that side, but Kirk Cousins and the offense are beginning to piece things together. Whoever Cousins plays for, he produces. He’s not going to lead any team on some sort of deep playoff run, but the Falcons winning a modest 10 games in 2024 and perhaps winning the NFC South is not out of the realm of possibility.
They play the Carolina Panthers who have been staring Andy Dalton the past few weeks. Bryce Young was benched after just two games, and it’s hard to see how the Panthers continue on with the Young era. He may end up getting a few more starts near the end of the season, but he’s not even good enough for the new coaching staff to get a gauge on what players they want to keep around.
Even with Andy Dalton starting, the Panthers just are not as good as the Falcons.
Prediction: Falcons win 35-20
Sunday, October 13th, Cincinnati Bengals (1-4) @ New York Giants (2-3)
The Cincinnati Bengals are not a good football team; let’s not overthink this. Their defense cannot stop a nosebleed and has this team at 1-4. Joe Burrow and the offense are actually playing some of their most efficient football they ever have. Well, the frisky New York Giants are coming off of a crucial Week win over the Seattle Seahawks.
The G-Men may not be as much of a disaster as some thought they would be entering the 2024 NFL Season. This game is also at home for the Giants, and with them having the chance to get to .500 and earn their second-straight win, I would not be shocked if the Giants won this game. Could the Bengals seriously drop to 1-5 on the 2024 NFL Season?
Prediction: Giants win 30-27
Monday Night Football, October 14th, Buffalo Bills (3-2) @ New York Jets (2-3)
What a week to forget for the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets, two teams that are both riding two-game losing streaks and who look empty. The Bills were getting routed by the Houston Texans in Week 5 but did manage to fight back and tie the game. Some late-game mismanagement gave the Texans one last shot in regulation, and they took care of business.
Buffalo does this a few times a year; they'll look like a weak, spineless, sloppy football team a few times a year. And in typical Bills fashion, they rally the troops and usually win convincingly the next week. Josh Allen played horribly in Week 5 and the entire Bills' team surely has to be besides themselves now after two-straight ugly, awful losses.
These types of performances we see in the Josh Allen/Sean McDermott era prove why this team is never going to win a Super Bowl unless something major changes, and I am not sure McDermott is going to keep his job for much longer if Buffalo keeps choking when the playoffs arrive,
The New York Jets lost against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5 and are probably now going to make an even bigger push for Davante Adams. Who knows, by the time this article goes up, the Jets may have already pulled the trade off. Getting Adams does not fix their poor head coach performances and poor coaching from Nathaniel Hackett.
I'd also take it a step further and say that Aaron Rodgers does seem declined a bit, so with some question marks at coach and QB, the Jets are a weak team to say the least. They do get this game at home, but Buffalo is more talented and better coached from top to bottom.
It would shock me to see Buffalo lose three-straight games, and even with the Jets hosting this on, the Bills will end up victorious.