This article covers predicted NFL Top 5 Exciting Games Week 6 and top 5 upsets. Thursday Night Football on Fox is right around the corner on 10/14/21 and that means Week 5 is starting. Time to continue with a weekly cadence of highlighting the best games to watch. Also determining the potential upsets lurking below the radar. Hard part about doing this exercise in 2021, is trying to determine if any of the 2020 trends will continue. 2020 was the season of Covid-19 impacts, no fans in the stands and a surprising post season.
2021 Week 5 Picks Recap
2021 All Picks Recap
NFL Top 5 Exciting Games Week 6
5. Tampa Bay vs. Philadelphia
Eagles lead this series 10-9 since 1977, but are still smarting about losing the 2002 NFC Championship Game at home, 27-10. FOX will spend an inordinate amount of time comparing Tom Brady in his second season, to the progress made by Jalen Hurts. Eagles are losing traction in the NFC East due to the hot start of the Dallas Cowboys offense. Buccaneers currently lead a robust NFC South and they need a road win to stay at least one game ahead in their division. Hoping DeVanta Smith can make a few highlight catches before the Buccaneers pull away in the second half.
Prediction: Tampa Bay gets their offensive play calling workout done tonight and win by 10+ points
4. Green Bay vs. Chicago
Old fashioned NFC Norris showdown between the Packers and Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago. Bears have back-to-back victories against Detroit and Las Vegas, so they look like a team that is trending up. Packers have been on a mission after losing to New Orleans in Week #1, and have a modest four game winning streak. Still don’t like the manner that Matt Nagy is managing the QB position for the Bears, and they simply don’t score enough points. This game will be a lot of pitch and catch by the Packers, with the Bears hoping for turnovers.
Prediction: Packers cruise to a 9+ point victory
3. Los Angeles Chargers vs. Baltimore Ravens
Chargers are still in fast-break mode on offense after winning a score fest against the Browns in Week #5. Ravens had a comeback for the ages last Monday night against the Colts and winning in OT. Helped that Lamar Jackson was throwing the football all over the field and the Colts had no secondary due to injuries. Two tired teams playing the early kickoff (12:00 PM EDT) would typically be a defensive struggle. Forget that theory due to the high level both QBs (Justin Herber and Lamar Jackson) are currently playing at. Very entertaining game for 60 minutes and don’t be surprised if the winning team does it in walk-off fashion.
Prediction: Want to pick the Chargers due to the resilience they’ve shown during the young season, but west coast teams always play poorly with the 12:00 PM EDT kickoff slot. Ravens win by 6 points.
2. Arizona vs. Cleveland
Great matchup of two young teams that play football the right way. Kyler Murray vs. Baker Mayfield at QB. Chase Edmonds vs. Nick Chubb at RB. DeAndre Hopkins vs. the entire Browns receiving corps. What could possibly cause this game to take a left hand turn at Albuquerque? A Covid-19 outbreak at the Cardinals practice facility and too many talking heads on the streaming sports channels. This game will feature a ton of points on offense and some momentum swings due to defensive turnovers. Enjoy the viewing ride for the entirety of this NFC vs. AFC showdown.
Prediction: Cleveland has just a little “extraordinary” mojo at home and wins by 4 points
1. Buffalo vs. Tennessee
Bills are currently 5.5 point road favorites at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN. Titans lead this series 29-19 since starting in 1960. Most NFL fans still remember where they were, when the Music City Miracle happened on 1/8/00 during the AFC Wild Card Game. Bills enter this game clicking in all phases after beating the Chiefs 38-20 in Week #5. All of the Bills players seem to be on the same page and moving in the same direction, which is hard to achieve after only five games. Titans are stutter-stepping out of the gate this season, but when they give the football to Derrick Henry and let him run, things fall into place. This will be an interesting game due to the diverse offensive formations run by both teams and playing on Monday night. Too bad the Manning brothers won’t be doing play-by-play until 10/25/21.
Prediction: Time of possession and limiting turnovers game. Bills have the ability to tune out the crowd noise on the road and get a quality 3 point victory.
NFL Top 5 Exciting Games Week 6 for Upsets that might happen
5. Seattle vs. Pittsburgh
For the first time after 149 consecutive games, Russell Wilson won’t be the starting QB for the Seahawks due to rupturing a tendon in his right throwing hand on 10/7/21. Geno Smith gets the call to run the Seahawks at QB and he hasn’t been relevant since playing at West Virginia University (2009-2012). Steelers finally got a win at home last week against a depleted Broncos team, and they haven’t played a 60 minute game yet. Pittsburgh is currently a 5.0 point home favorite, but a fired up Seattle squad will give them trouble into the fourth quarter.
4. Las Vegas vs. Denver
Where to begin? Jon Gruden resigned from his head coaching duties with the Raiders on 10/11/21, due to emails he sent from 2011-2018. Broncos are hoping their QB (Teddy Bridgewater), can use his leadership in the huddle and at the line of scrimmage. Both skills are badly needed right now due to a two game losing streak. This is still an old fashioned AFC West matchup, but times have changed significantly in 2021 and will most likely be discussed on television/radio during the course of this game. Broncos are current 3.5 point home favorites, but the Raiders will be ready to play and move on from this bumpy week. That’s a dangerous combo to face in the NFL these days.
3. Dallas vs. New England
High flying Cowboys enter this matchup with a four game winning streak. Dak Prescott is well on his way to being NFL Comeback Player of the Year for 2021, unless something strange happens. Patriots are 2-3 on the young season, but 0-3 at home in Foxboro, MA. Let that statistic sink in for a minute or two. Mac Jones went toe-to-toe with Tom Brady during Week #4, so he shouldn’t be intimidated by Prescott in this matchup. Hopefully the Patriots defense generate a couple of turnovers to keep this game close. Cowboys are currently 3.5 point road favorites, but this truly feels like a trap game.
2. Miami vs. Jacksonville
On paper this is a horrible matchup (1-4 vs. 0-5). Bragging rights for the best beach parties is up for grabs between these two franchises. How long will the Jaguars losing streak reach until they finally get a victory? Currently sitting at 20 games, they are getting closer to the NFL record of 26 games in a row by the 1976-1978 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Best way to get a much needed win is to travel to London, England and play American football on a English Premier soccer field. Need to keep Urban Meyer out of all pubs before and after the game, due to his lack of good judgement these days. Dolphins are currently 3.0 point favorites, but the Jaguars might create a surprise this week.
1. Cincinnati vs. Detroit
Bengals are quietly keeping pace with Baltimore and Cleveland in the AFC Central at 3-2. Joe Burrow looks like the real deal in his second NFL season as the starting QB. Detroit is off to an 0-5 start with two losses by two points and one loss by eight points. Lions are due to get a victory and the roster is playing hard for first year coach Dan Campbell. The entire NBC Sunday Night Football crew stated last Sunday (10/10/21), that the Lions are playing good football and they have the correct coach. Its just a matter of time for it to click. When Tony Dungy and Drew Brees talk football, I listen. Lions will push the Bengals for 60 full minutes, despite being 3.5 point home underdogs.
Same bat time, same bat channel next week. I’ll review the results of NFL Top 5 Exciting Games Week 6 and try again in Week 7.
Never walk away from the table when you’re on a heater in Vegas! Hope you enjoyed NFL Top 5 Exciting Games Week 6.
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