Week 6 of the 2022-23 NFL season brings some key divisional matchups, a high-octane playoff rematch with conference implications for this season on the line, and some fun inter-conference games.

The highlight of the week is a rematch from last year’s AFC playoffs: with Josh Allen and the 4-1 Buffalo Bills looking to avenge a bitter overtime loss to Patrick Mahomes and the 4-1 Kansas City Chiefs. That game takes place in the afternoon slot on Sunday, but will be followed by another highly anticipated matchup: Jalen Hurts and the undefeated 5-0 Philadelphia Eagles putting their record to the test against the 4-1 Dallas Cowboys for first place in the NFC East.

In divisional matchups that will help establish pecking orders, the 2-3 Jacksonville Jaguars and 2-2-1 Indianapolis Colts will play for second place in the AFC South, the 2-3 Arizona Cardinals and 2-3 Seattle Seahawks will fight to stay close behind the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West, and the 2-3 Denver Broncos will take on the 3-2 Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football in an AFC West affair.

In some potentially fun inter-conference games, the New York Jets and Green Bay Packers square off with identical 3-2 records, the upstart 4-1 New York Giants host Lamar Jackson and the 3-2 Baltimore Ravens, and the 2-3 Cincinnati Bengals face the 2-3 New Orleans Saints, potentially facing former quarterback Andy Dalton.

Picks Record

Week 5 Picks: 12-4

Week 1: 7-8-1

Week 2: 8-8

Week 3: 9-7

Week 4: 11-5

Week 5: 12-4

Season Record: 47-32-1 (59%)

I continue to improve, upping my win total for the fifth straight week. Since my loss list is finally short enough to list, I was wrong on: Packers over Giants, Dolphins over Jets, Lions over Patriots, and Rams over Cowboys.

Thursday Night Football

Washington Commanders (1-4) at Chicago Bears (2-3)

Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears improve on their 2-0 home record, while Carson Wentz and the Washington Commanders continue to struggle. Bears win 23-17

Sunday Day Games

Getty Images/Sporting News

Baltimore Ravens (3-2) at New York Giants (4-1)

The New York Giants haven’t faced an offense as prolific as that of Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, and won’t be able to keep up. Ravens win 34-23

New York Jets (3-2) at Green Bay Packers (3-2)

Both teams have the same record, but the New York Jets two-game winning streak ends against Aaron Rodgers and a solid Green Bay Packers defense. Packers win 27-17

San Francisco 49ers (3-2) at Atlanta Falcons (2-3)

Jimmy Garoppolo finds enough points as the San Francisco 49ers defense smothers Marcus Mariota and the Atlanta Falcons. 49ers win 24-16

New England Patriots (2-3) at Cleveland Browns (2-3)

Bailey Zappe and the New England Patriots offense stays hot, going toe-to-toe with Jacoby Brissett and the Cleveland Browns in what will feel like a repeat of last week’s game for the home team. Browns win 30-27

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3) at Indianapolis Colts (2-2-1)

The Jacksonville Jaguars‘ cushy start continues to fall apart as Matt Ryan and the Indianapolis Colts begin putting the pieces together. Colts win 26-18

Minnesota Vikings (4-1) at Miami Dolphins (3-2)

The Minnesota Vikings showed vulnerabilities last week against the Bears, but should still find enough offense to beat a banged-up Miami Dolphins squad. Vikings win 27-20

Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) at New Orleans Saints (2-3)

The New Orleans Saints had a breakout-offensive game last week, but against one of the league’s worst defenses. Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals get a bounce back win on the road: even if they have to grind it out in the fourth quarter. Bengals win 26-23

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (1-4)

Whichever schedule maker made the Pittsburgh Steelers play Buffalo and Tampa Bay in back-to-back weeks is cruel. Tom Brady should have a field day on a defense that gave up 38 points last week, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense should give rookie Kenny Pickett fits. Buccaneers win 37-10

Carolina Panthers (1-4) at Los Angeles Rams (2-3)

The Los Angeles Rams are struggling to start the season, make no doubt. But against a Carolina Panthers team that came in at #32 on last week’s Power Rankings, just fired their head coach, and just lost starting quarterback Baker Mayfield for a few weeks, Matthew Stafford and the Rams should get back in to the win column at home. Former XFL standout P.J. Walker is slated to start for Carolina, with a 1-3 record as a starter in the NFL. Rams win 30-13

Arizona Cardinals (2-3) at Seattle Seahawks (2-3)

Both teams are 2-3, but the Arizona Cardinals are the much better football team in this NFC West matchup. If the Seattle Seahawks offense keeps churning though, this could be a fun one. Cardinals win 31-24

Sak Sports Blog Game of the Week: Buffalo Bills (4-1) at Kansas City Chiefs (4-1)

This Sunday afternoon matchup has Game of the Season written all over it. In a rematch of a playoff game that went to overtime and forever changed the rules of the game as a result, Patrick Mahomes and the 4-1 Kansas City Chiefs will host Josh Allen and the 4-1 Buffalo Bills.

Kansas City has scored an NFL-high 159 points this season; but the Buffalo is right behind them with 152 points. Next, I would typically look to points allowed: the Bills have allowed an NFL-low 61 points, while the Chiefs have allowed 125 points, over twice as many.

Yet, this game has shootout written all over it. Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and company showed the Chiefs can still turn on the burners when necessary, overcoming a 17-0 hole to defeat the Raiders 30-29.

I like Buffalo more overall: I think they will finish with a better record than Kansas City, and go further in the postseason, even if that means having to beat Kansas City in the postseason. But as the Bills are still slightly banged up, and this game is taking pace in the tough environment of Kansas City, I’m inclined to go with Mahomes and the Chiefs in this instance. Chiefs win 33-27

Sunday Night Football

SEE ALSO: Post-Week 5 Power Rankings

Dallas Cowboys (4-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-0)

While it’s not my Game of the Week pick, this Sunday Night Football matchup is right up there with the most anticipated games of the entire season thus far. Featuring to teams with a combined 9-1 record, Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles will put their perfect record to the test against Cooper Rush and the Dallas Cowboys. It should be an exciting game, but without their true quarterback, Dak Prescott, I think the Cowboys fall just short. Eagles win 26-20

Monday Night Football

Denver Broncos (2-3) at Los Angeles Chargers (3-2)

The Denver Broncos hit primetime for the fourth time in six weeks. The results haven’t been pretty, and Russell Wilson’s offense has been both sluggish and losing pieces by the week. Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers should roll to an easy win, if not a lower-scoring one against Denver’s stout defense. Chargers win 27-16

Teams on Bye

Detroit Lions (1-4), Tennessee Titans (3-2), Las Vegas Raiders (1-4), Houston Texans (1-3-1)

SEE ALSO: Ranking the Top 10 Quarterbacks in the NFL Heading In To 2022
SEE ALSO: 2022-23 NFL Predictions: Playoffs and Super Bowl

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Header Photo Credits: DallasCowboys.com/NFL.com

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Posted on 0 By Billy Sakmann NFL Posted in NFL, Sak Sports Blog Tagged #, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Billy Sakmann

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