I’m definitely not ready for prime time.
For the second week in a row, I breathed all the evening games. All three. Zero for six.
All the more reason not to count on me if you are inclined to take risks (that’s to saylose) your money by betting on games.
If we can just forget about the night games in Week 5, I was a solid 8-3-1. But we can’t. Went 8-6-1 for the fifth week of the season. Which puts me at 45-33-1.
Which is barely acceptable.
This week brings 14 more opportunities to do things right or wrong. The Bengals, Dolphins, Lions and Vikings are gone. Here are my thoughts on the matches involving the other 28 teams.
Seahawks vs. Broncos (Thursday Night)
The top two 2025 seeds are one loss away from matching their 2025 total. Both have issues. There’s just enough of Seattle’s championship DNA left to make a difference.
Seahawks 24, Broncos 21.
Texans vs. Jaguars (London)
The Jaguars are taking advantage of being in London for more than a week. And they won a Week 5 game they should have lost. They can take a big step toward making the AFC South a two-team race.
Jaguars 20, Texans 17.
Bear among the Falcons
The Bears need to erase their Week 5 no-show against the Packers. Getting Caleb Williams back would help. For now, this seems like a real possibility.
Bears 24, Hawks 20.
Ravens at Browns
The old Browns face the new Browns in an important game that will either put the new Browns in a tie for first place or drop them two games behind the old Browns. The former Browns showed they could compete without Lamar Jackson. And the old Browns appear to be the better overall team than the new Browns, at the moment.
Ravens 27, Browns 24.
Titans at Colts
The Colts can’t afford to lose at home to a team that can’t do much on either side of the ball.
Colts 27, Titans 10.
Jets at the Patriots
The Patriots are 3-2, the Jets are 2-3. The current gap between them seems bigger than that, and the Patriots have been a much different (and better) team over the past two weeks.
Patriots 27, Jets 17.
Saints among the giants
The Giants are nearing the end of their winning streak, after Jaxson Dart. They can’t afford to lose or tie any more.
Giants 27, Saints 17.
Panthers vs. Eagles
The injury-riddled Eagles return from a trip to London. The Panthers have just withdrawn. It feels like time is running out for the Eagles. If Philly ever wants to have a chance in 2026, it needs to find a way to win this one.
Eagles 24, Panthers 20.
Steelers at Buccaneers
The Steelers still have enough quality players to win the games they should. And it’s a game they should win, especially if running back Jaylen Warren can play like he did against the Colts — and if Aaron Rodgers can continue to play like a much younger guy than his birth certificate suggests.
Steelers 20, Buccaneers 17.
Cardinals among the Aries
The Rams have five straight winnable games. They must win the first one in such a way as to leave no doubt about their ability to win the next four as well. And it helps that the Cardinals currently appear to be in the same place they’ve been for quite some time.
Rams 41, Cardinals 17.
Chargers among the chiefs
Mike McDaniel once lost a playoff game in Kansas City, while with the Dolphins. A Chargers loss at Arrowhead Stadium could result in McDaniel losing his current job.
Leaders 30, Chargers 17.
Bills at Raiders
The Raiders come back down to earth and the Bills come into their own. They still have a lot of work to do to win several games in January. Now is the time to start doing it.
Bills 30, Raiders 24.
Cowboys at Packers
Nothing will help Green Bay’s slow running game more than facing a team that struggles to stop the run. The Packers can still reconfigure themselves in a way to compete; the Cowboys rearrange the deck chairs on Jerry’s superyacht.
Packers 27, Cowboys 24.
49ers Commanders
Can the Commanders put the Week 5 clock debacle behind them? Not when the clock only gives them eight days to do it, and not when they’re facing a truly elite team.
49ers 38, Commanders 17.
Gn sports
