While the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs did not take the field in Week 5, there were plenty of thrills—especially in prime time.
There were a season-high three overtime games, one that settled for a stunning tie, while the other two resulted in victories by the road teams.
This week, there are four teams which won’t take the field, including one of three remaining undefeated clubs, as well as one of the three winless squads.
Football food for thought in Week 6 of the 2026 NFL Season
Off: Cincinnati, Detroit, Miami, Minnesota
Thursday, Oct. 15
Seattle (3-2) at Denver (3-2): A season ago, both the Seahawks and Broncos owned 14-3 marks and were the top seeds in their respective conferences. Barring a tie, one of these clubs will have already lost as many games as they did in 2025. Seattle has turned over the ball eight times in their last three games.
Sunday, Oct. 18
Houston (1-4) vs. Jacksonville (4-1) (London): DeMeco Ryans’s club abused the Titans in Nashville, and face an AFC South rival for the third time in four weeks. The Jaguars are now 12-2 in their last 14 overall games after stunning the Eagles in London. Houston’s Will Anderson Jr. has 7.5 of the team’s 18 sacks.
N.Y. Jets (2-3) at New England (3-2): The Green and White can equal last season’s win total if they can stun the Patriots. That’s easier said than done considering the Jets are 2-18 in their last 20 games in this series. Pats’ quarterback Drake Maye has thrown seven TD passes (1 interception) in his last two games.
Pittsburgh (3-2) at Tampa Bay (1-4): Mike McCarthy’s club has been very Jekyll and Hyde after five weeks. The Steelers are 3-0 at home, 0-2 on the road and haven’t won two games in a row this season. It’s a battle of unsung running backs in Pittsburgh’s Jaylen Warren and Tampa Bay’s Bucky Irving.
Carolina (2-2) at Philadelphia (2-3): The Panthers (off last week) are back in the habit of alternating wins and losses, but come off a prime time victory over the Lions. The Birds’ 2-0 start has turned into three straight losses. It’s the worst start by the team since head coach Nick Sirianni’s debut season in 2021.
Chicago (3-2) at Atlanta (2-3): Ben Johnson’s club hits the road for the second straight week and looks to bounce back from a loss at Lambeau Field. The Falcons let a win slip away Sunday night vs. the Ravens, and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (rib) is hurting. Atlanta has allowed 64 points in two home losses.
Tennessee (0-5) at Indianapolis (2-3): It’s the second end of this AFC South doubleheader as the Titans not only look to snap a seven-game skid, but snap an 11-game losing streak vs. their division rivals. The Colts’ defense had no answers for Steelers’ running back Jaylen Warren last Sunday at Pittsburgh.
New Orleans (1-4) at N.Y. Giants (3-1-1): There was optimism surrounding the Saints after the way they played late in 2025. But Kellen Moore’s club has been porous on defense and quarterback Tyler Shough has committed eight turnovers. The Giants are the lone team in the NFC East with a winning record.
Baltimore (4-1) at Cleveland (3-2): Jesse Minter’s club pulled a Houdini Sunday night at Atlanta and are alone atop the AFC North. Deshaun Watson couldn’t come up with another fourth-quarter comeback as the Browns fell to the Jets. The Ravens are 3-0 on the road and have scored 105 points in those wins.
Arizona (1-4) at L.A. Rams (2-3): The Cards were dealt their fourth straight loss on Sunday and have allowed 31-plus points in each of those setbacks. The Rams’ special teams failed them in overtime on Monday night vs. the Bills. Big Red has dropped eight straight games vs. their NFC West neighbors.
L.A. Chargers (0-5) at Kansas City (4-0): The Bolts have lost their first five games for the first time since 2003. The Chargers have scored nine offensive touchdowns and given up the ball 13 times. Now they face the first-place Chiefs who are not only well-rested but happen to be the lone undefeated team in the AFC.
Buffalo (4-1) at Las Vegas (3-2): Joe Brady’s club survived an overtime shootout at SoFi Stadium vs. the Rams on Monday night. After starting the season with three wins and giving up just 54 points in those games, the Raiders have allowed a combined 75 points in consecutive losses to the Chiefs and Patriots.
Sunday night
Dallas (2-3) at Green Bay (3-2): Brian Schottenheimer’s club was embarrassed in its last outing, a home loss to the then-winless Buccaneers. Now the Cowboys head to Lambeau Field to face a Packers’ team coming off a lopsided over the Bears at Lambeau Field. Dallas has given up 16 offensive TDs in five games.
Monday, Oct. 19
Washington (1-3-1) at San Francisco (5-0): The Commanders squandered a 27-13 fourth-quarter lead against the Giants, then failed miserably in clock management in overtime. The physical Niners forced four turnovers at Seattle, and have now opened up a two-game lead over the ‘Hawks in the NFC West.
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