The Baltimore Ravens are in last place, the Kansas City Chiefs have a losing record through five games, the Jacksonville Jaguars are the toast of the league, Daniel Jones is top three in in passing, neither Saquon Barkley nor Derrick Henry are top 10 in rushing and Joe Flacco has been the starting quarterback for both Ohio teams.
In other words, it’s been a wild start to the NFL season.
Week 6 surely promises more of the same, if the Giants running roughshod over the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles on Thursday night was any indication.
Here’s a breakdown of the top storylines and matchups on the Sunday/Monday slate.
Best Games
Detroit Lions (4-1) and Kansas City Chiefs (2-3)
8:20 p.m. ET Sunday on NBC
The Lions have arguably been the best team in the NFL so far, reeling off four straight wins since a season-opening loss to the Green Bay Packers, averaging 40.25 points over that winning streak.
The Chiefs have been one of the most disappointing teams in the league. Though the offense has picked up since the return of speedy receiver Xavier Worthy, Kansas City’s defense let Jacksonville drive for the decisive touchdown at the end of their Monday Night clash.
That puts a lot of pressure on the Chiefs this week to avoid falling further behind in the loss column while trying to slow down the NFL’s hottest team.
Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid with their backs against the wall against the league’s top-scoring team makes this a worthy primetime matchup indeed.
Kansas City is a 2.5-point favorite.
Seattle Seahawks (3-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1)
1 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX
Jacksonville’s Liam Coen is the early favorite for Coach of the Year honors as the Jaguars have already matched their 2024 season win total in just five games, including wins over the 49ers and Chiefs.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is still up-and-down with his play, though, with 1,066 passing yards (15th in the NFL), 6 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. So the Jaguars have plenty to prove still that their early success is sustainable.
Seattle, meanwhile, looks to be on the rise as well under second-year coach Mike Macdonald. The Seahawks’ two losses have come by a combined 7 points to the 49ers and Buccaneers. Well-traveled veteran quarterback Sam Darnold has settled in nicely in Seattle, passing for 1,246 yards, 9 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.
Seattle is a 1.5-point favorite.
San Francisco 49ers (4-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1)
4:25 p.m. ET Sunday on CBS
Two division leaders go head-to-head while both missing significant pieces on offense.
San Francisco will be without quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) again as Mac Jones makes his second straight and fourth overall start. Jones was exceptional last week in passing for 342 yards and two touchdowns in an overtime road win over the Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers will also be without star tight end George Kittle and wide receivers Ricky Pearsall and Brandon Aiyuk (has been out all season) while Jauan Jennings is a game-time decision.
Tampa Bay, meanwhile, is down wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr. as well as star running back Bucky Irving.
But the Buccaneers have quarterback Baker Mayfield, who has compiled a highlight reel of fourth quarter comebacks this season while putting himself squarely in the NFL MVP conversation. He ranks fourth in the league with 1,283 passing yards to go with 10 touchdowns and one interception.
Tampa Bay is a 3.5-point favorite.
2-Minute Drill
Denver Broncos (3-2) vs. New York Jets (0-5) in London, 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday: The Broncos scored 18 fourth-quarter points to rally for a 21-17 road win over the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles last week. Will that be the turning point that launches Denver’s season? Will the Jets ever win a game? Denver is a 6.5-point favorite.
Arizona Cardinals (2-3) at Indianapolis Colts (4-1), 1 p.m. ET Sunday: QB Kyler Murray is questionable (foot) for Arizona, but he did get in a limited practice Friday. The Cardinals are already down their top two running backs and lost to the previously-winless Titans last week as their season has started to unravel. The Colts are the second-highest-scoring team in the league at 32.6 PPG behind rejuvenated QB Daniel Jones (1,290 passing yards, 6 TDs, 2 INTs) and star running back Jonathan Taylor (NFL-best 480 rushing yards, 6 TDs). Indianapolis is a 6.5-point favorite.
Los Angeles Chargers (3-2) at Miami Dolphins (1-4, 1 p.m. ET Sunday on CBS: Miami’s only win came against the winless Jets in what is shaping up as a lost season for the Dolphins, with star receiver Tyreke Hill sustaining a season-ending injury. The Chargers have lost two straight after opening the season 3-0 and are down their top two running backs while turning to a combination of Hassan Haskins, Kimani Vidal and others. Los Angeles is a 3.5-point favorite.
New England Patriots (3-2) at New Orleans Saints (1-4), 1 p.m. ET Sunday on CBS: The Patriots earned a statement 23-20 road win last week over the previously-unbeaten Buffalo Bills. Second-year QB Drake Maye already looks to be a top-10 QB in the league for New England. The Saints picked up their first win last week over the New York Giants but look more likely to compete for the No. 1 draft pick rather than a division title. New England is a 3.5-point favorite.
Cleveland Browns (1-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1), 1 p.m. ET Sunday on CBS: Rookie Dillon Gabriel makes his second career start for Cleveland after passing for 190 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTS last week. The Steelers are coming off a bye and already hold a two-game lead atop the AFC North Standings. Pittsburgh is a 6.5-point favorite.
Dallas Cowboys (2-2-1) at Carolina Panthers (2-3), 1 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX: Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is second in the league with 1,356 passing yards along with 10 TDs and 3 INTs. Dallas scored 77 points over its last two games, looking potent despite continuing to miss injured WR CeeDee Lamb. Panthers QB Bryce Young has been boom or bust, throwing for 154 yards or less with 2 TDs and 2 INTs in Carolina’s three losses and 526 yards, 5 TDs and 2 INTs in two wins. Dallas is a 2.5-point favorite.
Los Angeles Rams (3-2) at Baltimore Ravens (1-4), 1 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX: The Ravens have been in a freefall since injuries have ravaged the roster, and they’ll be without star QB Lamar Jackson for a second straight game. Backup Cooper Rush struggled mightily last week, passing for 179 yards and 3 INTs. The Rams lost a tough overtime game to the 49ers last week. Matt Stafford leads the NFL in passing with 1,503 yards (11 TDs and 2 INTs) and Puka Nacua leads the league with 52 catches and 588 receiving yards. Los Angeles is a 6.5-point favorite.
Tennessee Titans (1-4) at Las Vegas Raiders (1-4), 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX: There won’t be many TVs tuned to this game outside of the local markets. The Raiders have been one of the most disappointing teams in the league in Pete Carroll’s return to the sidelines while the Titans are in the midst of a major rebuild around rookie QB Cam Ward. Las Vegas is a 3.5-point favorite.
Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) at Green Bay Packers (2-1-1), 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday on CBS: This would have been a marquee matchup when the schedule was made, but since QB Joe Burrow’s toe injury the Bengals have cratered. They traded for QB Joe Flacco from the Browns and he’ll make his first start for the team this week. The Packers are coming off a needed bye week after losing to the Browns and tying the Cowboys. Green Bay is a 13.5-point favorite.
Buffalo Bills (4-1) at Atlanta Falcons (2-2), 7:15 p.m. ET Monday on ESPN: The Bills got humbled last week in a 23-20 home loss to Patriots, but they’re still the Bills. Reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen will look to get Buffalo back on track against an up-and-down Falcons team and still-developing second-year QB Michael Penix Jr. Buffalo is a 5.5-point favorite.
Chicago Bears (2-2) at Washington Commanders (3-2), 8:15 p.m. ET Monday on ABC: The top two picks from 2024 NFL Draft — Bears QB Caleb Williams and Commanders QB Jayden Daniels — go head-to-head. Williams and the Bears have found some momentum under first-year coach Ben Johnson, winning two straight games before their bye last week. The Commanders looked renewed last week in Daniels’ return from injury, rolling past the Chargers 27-10. Washington is a 4.5-point favorite.