Some teams have stable quarterback situations (Washington with stud rookie Jayden Daniels), while others don’t (New Orleans Saints).
How will these teams perform in Week 6? Ahead of this week’s schedule, Yardbarker NFL writers offer a prediction for every NFC team:
DALLAS COWBOYS (3-2) | A “down” game for WR CeeDee Lamb | Of course, a down game for Lamb against Detroit could still mean well over 100 yards receiving. Thanks to a late-season 227-yard performance in 2023, Lamb is averaging 148.5 yards per game receiving in two games against the Lions, both at home. Detroit is allowing the sixth-most passing yards per game (258.3), but given the attention he’ll receive with teammate Brandin Cooks on injured reserve, Lamb may have to settle for 100 yards in Dallas’ third home game.
NEW YORK GIANTS (2-3) | RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. scores first NFL touchdown | Tracy should get more playing time after averaging 7.2 yards per carry for an NFL-best 129 yards in relief of Devin Singletary in Week 5. The fifth-round rookie hasn’t scored a touchdown, but that will change when the Bengals bring the NFL’s third-worst rushing defense to MetLife Stadium for “Sunday Night Football.”
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (2-2) | Eagles keep Deshaun Watson gainfully employed | Cleveland’s QB has taken a league-high 26 sacks and averages an NFL-worst 4.8 yards per attempt, but he couldn’t ask for a better opponent than the Eagles in Week 6. Philadelphia’s defense has allowed the sixth-most yards per contest (365.8), and with only six sacks in four games, the Eagles don’t have the horses to put Watson on the ground or sideline him at home Sunday.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (4-1) | Jayden Daniels has first 300-yard game of his career | Washington’s rookie QB should fill the stat sheet against Baltimore’s 31st-ranked pass defense but not so much against the league’s top-rated run defense. Even with a 14-for-25 performance against the Browns in Week 5, Daniels is completing a league-best 77.1% of his passes. With the Ravens averaging 405 yards and 30.5 points at home, he’ll need to complete most throws to keep up with Lamar Jackson and the NFL’s most prolific offense.
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS (2-3) | Budda Baker ends his takeaway drought | Baker is Arizona’s best defender, but he has not forced a turnover (interception, forced fumble or fumble recovery) since late in the 2022 season, a stretch of 18 consecutive games. In a close game, he will snap that streak Sunday at Green Bay by forcing a turnover against QB Jordan Love.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (1-4) | No game, bye week
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (2-3) | Brandon Aiyuk finally finds the end zone | After a slow start to the season, Aiyuk has started to become the big-play wide receiver the 49ers need him to be, averaging 19.5 yards per catch the past two weeks. On Thursday, he will be on the road in a huge divisional game at Seattle, and he’ll find the end zone for the first time this season.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (3-2) | Seahawks take control of NFC West | This is a big opportunity for the Seahawks to take a two-game lead over the 49ers in the NFC West, and they will take advantage of that with a Thursday night win. Not only does Seattle benefit from being at home, but San Francisco also has the disadvantage of traveling on a short week and hasn’t resembled a contender this season.
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS (3-2) | Keenan Allen goes over 100 yards (for the season) | Of course, given the exchange rate and the game being played in London, it’s more like 76 yards. Battling a heel injury for most of the season, the 32-year-old wide receiver needs 19 yards to hit the century mark, 55.7 yards below his career game average, and easily attainable against a Jaguars defense, allowing the second-most yards per game.
DETROIT LIONS (3-1) | Aidan Hutchinson has 2.5 sacks | With the league’s second-worst rushing offense, Dallas is no threat to run the ball, even at home, against the Lions’ third-ranked rushing defense, which should allow Hutchinson to add to his league-leading total of 6.5 sacks. Only Seattle’s Geno Smith has attempted more passes than Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, who could be scrambling against Detroit’s Pro Bowl defensive end.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (3-2) | Romeo Doubs gets no love | Although he got eight targets in Week 4 against the Rams, Doubs was so unhappy with his usage that he skipped a team practice and was suspended for the Week 5 game against the Rams. He should be back for the Week 6 home game against the Cardinals, but he’ll get no sympathy (or many targets) from Jordan Love, who waited three years to become Green Bay’s starting QB.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (5-0) | No game, bye week
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS (2-2) | Safety Jessie Bates III forces multiple turnovers | Bates forced two fumbles in Week 5 against Tampa, and the turnover magnet gets a Panthers squad he had three takeaways against last season. With Atlanta’s offense finding its groove, Carolina quarterback Andy Dalton will be forced into passing situations, allowing Bates to add to his turnover total in this road game.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-3) | Defense allowed over 200 rushing yards | Carolina isn’t only bad on offense. The Panthers rank 27th in rushing defense (144.6 yards allowed per game), making Atlanta’s rushing attack, led by backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, a horrible matchup at home.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-2) | QBs Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler play against the Buccaneers | With Derek Carr (oblique) expected to miss multiple weeks, the Saints have an opening at QB. Second-year pro Haener, the No. 2 so far this season, could get the start against Tampa, but first-half struggles will cause head coach Dennis Allen to turn after halftime to rookie Rattler, who completed 20 of 38 passes for 202 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions in the preseason.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (3-1) | WR Mike Evans held without a catch | The Mike Evans-Marshon Lattimore battle might be the NFL’s best individual rivalry. Lattimore has locked down Evans multiple times in their previous 11 games, and he’ll hold the Bucs’ all-time leading receiver without a catch for the first time since Week 5 of the 2019 season.
