We’re nearly a third of the way through the NFL season already. The first five weeks of the season have gone by in a flash, and we’re starting to see the contenders and pretenders show their colors. The Chiefs and Vikings remain undefeated heading into Week 6, and it seems Juju-Smith Schuster might be the #1 option in Kansas City for the near future.
Here’s a summary of what happened in Week 5 with a few things to look forward to in Week 6, followed by our Week 6 best bets.
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Week 5 Takeaways
When Week 5 began with a shootout between Baker Mayfield and Kirk Cousins on Thursday Night Football, we knew we were in for a good week. Sunday was filled with action, and it started with the Vikings remaining undefeated against the Jets in London. There’s a lot to digest from Sunday and Monday Night Football, so here are a few of the biggest headlines from Week 5.
Chiefs Remain Undefeated Even With Injury Plague
No Isiah Pacheco or Rashee Rice, but no problem for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Kansas City remained undefeated after their 26-13 win over the Saints on Monday Night Football. Juju-Smith Schuster stepped into the role of the WR1, and Kareem Hunt became the #1 option in the backfield and ran for over 100 yards and a touchdown. Mahomes put on an impressive offensive display even without his main offensive weapons and showcased why he’s the best quarterback in football.
Jaguars Finally Pick Up Their First Win
It took five weeks, but the Jaguars finally picked up their first win. It was a rough start to the season for the Jags as they lost several close games (I won’t mention the Bills game to be nice), and Trevor Lawrence didn’t look as sharp as normal. They got a fortunate matchup against the Colts in Week 5, who were missing Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor. Jacksonville won the game, but only by 3 points, and they let up 24 points in the 4th quarter alone, so how good does that win really feel?
Are The Commanders A Legitimate Contender?
Jayden Daniels and the Commanders improved to 4-1 with their thrashing of the Browns in Week 5. Washington won 34-13, and Daniels solidified himself as an early MVP candidate, but he’s not the only impressive part of the offense. Brian Robinson Jr. has been fantastic in the backfield, and Terry McLaurin has become a true WR1. The rookie made the elite Browns defense look subpar… and that’s not easy.
Week 6 Storylines
There’s a lot to look forward to in Week 6, and it starts with football over breakfast as the Jaguars and Bears are in London this weekend. After that, there are plenty of exciting matchups throughout Sunday, and it ends with the Bengals and Giants on Sunday Night Football. Here are just a few of the main headlines in Week 6.
It’s A New Era For The Jets
Robert Saleh became the first head coach of the season to be fired. It was a slightly surprising move since the Jets were only 2-3 and nearly beat the Vikings in Week 5, but the front office decided it was time for a change in New York. Aaron Rodgers denies any involvement in getting his coach fired too. So, what does the post-Saleh era look like in New York? We’ll find out on Monday Night Football when the Jets take on the Bills.
Jayden Daniels Vs Lamar Jackson
Two of the most dynamic quarterbacks face off on Sunday afternoon in Baltimore. Lamar Jackson has led the Ravens to a 3-2 record heading into Week 6, and he will take on Jayden Daniels and the surging Commanders. Both quarterbacks will be looking to make plays with their feet, and the Ravens are a 6.5-point favorite. Is that too many points to give Daniels? Some sure think so.
Is A High-Scoring Affair Ahead In Dallas?
The Lions return from their early bye week with a matchup against the Cowboys in Dallas. Detroit went into their bye week after scoring 42 points in their win over the Seahawks, as they finally looked like the team from last year. Next up for them is the Cowboys, who completed the upset over the Steelers in Week 5. There will be a lot of star power on the field in Dallas including David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, CeeDee Lamb, and Amon-Ra St. Brown. And to little surprise, oddsmakers have this game listed as the highest total of Week 6.
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Week 6 Best Bets
It’s never too early to look at this weekend’s slate and lock in some bets before the lines move. Here are a pair of our expert’s best bets for Week 6.
Giants +3.5 (-110)
The Giants pulled off arguably the biggest upset in Week 5. New York was without Malik Nabers and Devin Singletary, but they still beat the Seahawks 29-20. They sealed the game by blocking the potential game-tying field goal by the Seahawks late in the 4th quarter. It was impressive to see the Giants perform so well, even without their two best playmakers.
New York had several players step up in their place as Tyrone Tracy Jr. ran for 129 yards on just 18 carries, and Darius Slayton caught 8 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown. Fortunately for the Giants, both Nabers and Singletary are expected to return to practice this week and could play this weekend. If Daniel Jones gets those two offensive weapons back, I like New York’s chances of covering a field goal spread.
Bills -2.5 (-110)
There are a lot of uncertainties around the Jets right now. Robert Saleh was relieved of his duties this week, leaving a big question surrounding who the head coach will be on Monday night. Plus, the Jets played in London last week and weren’t lucky enough to get a bye week like the Vikings did.
This becomes a good buy-low spot for the Bills, who dominated the first few weeks of the season but have lost to the Ravens and Texans in back-to-back weeks. The Bills hope to get Khalil Shakir back this week, which would be a huge boost to the Buffalo offense. I’m taking Buffalo at a reasonable price on Monday Night Football.
