Score predictions and thoughts on every Week 7 NFL game Sunday-Monday.
The Green Bay Packers looked hapless through four games despite a .500 record. The offensive line was a disaster, the run game non-existent, coach Matt LeFleur was climbing the hot seat rankings and even the team’s two wins were more discouraging than encouraging.
Then Jordan Love and Christian Watson treated the rival Chicago Bears like a 7-on-7 opponent last week, chucking the ball all over the field for big gains on the way to a rejuvenating 31-7 win.
Suddenly, there is fresh optimism for the Packers … for now.
Green Bay hosts a desperate 2-3 Dallas Cowboys team on Sunday Night Football in what looks to be the most compelling matchup and pivotal game on the Week 6 Sunday slate.
If the Packers get to 4-2, with running back Josh Jacobs due back next week off the commissioner’s exempt list and star edge rusher Micah Parsons coming back at some point this season, then Green Bay suddenly has a path to the playoffs in the crowded NFC North and all its goals back on the table.
But with a loss in a division led by the 5-0 Minnesota Vikings (bye) and featuring a 3-2 Bears team that gets QB Caleb Williams back this week and a 3-2 Detroit Lions team (bye) with the offensive firepower to make a real run if it finds any answers defensively …
Indeed, this game could shape Green Bay’s season.
Sunday Night Football Matchup Matters To Dallas
The Cowboys need it badly too, though, after dropping a home game last week to the previously winless Buccaneers.
Fortunately for Dallas, the NFC East is imploding with the injury-stricken 2-3 Philadelphia Eagles falling apart by the week and the 1-3-1 Washington Commanders at a season crossroads already. Nobody is truly taking the 3-1-1 New York Giants seriously just yet with backup QB Jameis Winston at the controls the rest of the season (assuming he can hold the job).
So the Cowboys have some margin for error still, but not if they don’t find some answers for their once-again sieve-like defense giving up the second-most yards (395.4/game) and eighth-most points (27.2/game) in the league.
And that’ll be no easy task this week against the aforementioned Love-Watson connection that accounted for 143 yards and 2 TDs (with Love throwing for 367 yards overall) last week.
Let’s get to our predictions for that and all of the other weekend games …
NFL Week 6 Schedule With Predictions
(All game times ET; all point spreads via DraftKings Sportsbook)
Thursday
Denver Broncos 17, Seattle Seahawks 14 in overtime: Despite just 107 passing yards from Bo Nix and getting outgained 353-168 overall, the Broncos outlasted the Seahawks in a sloppy Thursday night tango to improve to 4-2 and drop the reigning Super Bowl champs to 3-3. But both teams came out of that game with substantial questions about their respective offenses.
Sunday 9:30 a.m. (London)
Houston Texans (1-4) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1): In progress …
Sunday 1 p.m.
Chicago Bears (3-2) at Atlanta Falcons (2-3): The best game on the early afternoon slate features the return of Caleb Williams from the hamstring injury that cost him three games. As they showed in that 59-37 Week 1 win over the Panthers, the Ben Johnson-coached Bears with Williams at QB have the potential to be as dynamic as any offense in the NFL. It remains to be seen how compromised Williams remains by the hamstring injury, though. Or whether the Bears defense was exposed in a 31-7 loss to the Packers last week and is now without its top edge rushers in Montez Sweat (suspended) and Dayo Odeyingbo (injured). Because on the other side is another of the most entertaining offenses in the league — as long as Michael Penix Jr. can stay on the field, that is. Bijan Robinson (NFL-leading 580 rushing yards, 152 receiving yards and 5 total TDs) is building a case for NFL Offensive Player of the Year while Drake London (27 catches for 488 yards) is one of the most underrated star WRs in the league. This game has all the makings of a back-and-forth thriller. Chicago is a 1.5-point favorite. Prediction: Falcons 38, Bears 34
Baltimore Ravens (4-1) at Cleveland Browns (3-2): QB Lamar Jackson will miss a second straight game due to his ankle injury, meaning another start for Tyler Huntley, who led the Ravens to a late rally and overtime win over the Falcons last week. Huntley passed for 201 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs and rushed for a score in that win and has proven over the years to be a capable backup — especially when he has Derrick Henry (476 rushing yards and 7 TDs) to help carry the load. The Browns saw their three-game winning streak snapped last week in a loss to the Jets as Deshaun Watson had his worst game of the season with just 155 passing yards. Cleveland will be without leading rusher Quinshon Judkins due to injury. Baltimore is a 3-point favorite. Prediction: Ravens 24, Browns 16
Tennessee Titans (0-5) at Indianapolis Colts (2-3): There likely won’t be many TVs outside of the respective home markets tuned into this game. The Titans have somehow looked worse than last year despite changing out the coaching staff and investing heavily in free agency and the draft. Cam Ward (896 passing yards, 3 TDs and 3 INTs with 2 rushing TDs) is looking more and more like a bust with each mounting loss. The Colts don’t have much going for them either, but this is a must-win game for Indianapolis with the pressure already on coach Shane Steichen and the front office to get to the playoffs this year. Indianapolis is a 6.5-point favorite. Prediction: Colts 27, Titans 20
New York Jets (2-3) at New England Patriots (3-2): The Jets are better this year — better than the 2025 Jets, that is. But make no mistake, this is still a rebuilding team with a long way to go. The Patriots are rounding back into contender form, meanwhile, with Drake Maye throwing for 643 yards, 7 TDs and 1 INT with 79 rushing yards and a score over the last two games. New England also gets star WR A.J. Brown back this game for the first time since his Week 1 ankle injury. New England is a 7.5-point favorite. Prediction: Patriots 28, Jets 14
New Orleans Saints (1-4) at New York Giants (3-1-1): The Saints have been in a freefall since an encouraging start to the season and an overflowing bandwagon (based largely on unmerited preseason hype). Well, that bandwagon has busted a couple wheels and jettisoned a lot of believers with three straight losses and back-to-back humbling defeats to the Falcons and Vikings. Tyler Shough (1,299 passing yards, 9 TDs and 5 INTs) and Chris Olave (39-537-1) will look to build some fresh momentum after getting totally stifled by Minnesota’s elite defense last week. The Giants, meanwhile, lead the NFC East, but how long can they hold onto it? Jameis Winston has been solid in replacing injured starter Jaxson Dart, throwing for 805 yards, 6 TDs and 3 INTs. New Orleans is a 1.5-point favorite. Prediction: Saints 27, Giants 24
Carolina Panthers (2-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (2-3): In addition to three-fifths of their season-opening offensive line (due to injury, retirement and trade), the Eagles will also be without QB Jalen Hurts (on injured reserve due to a blood clot) and RBs Saquaon Barkley, Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley due to injuries. They do get WR1 DeVonta Smith back from injury, though, to help backup QB Tanner McKee. Carolina, meanwhile, is well-rested from a bye week as Bryce Young looks to build on his strong start to the season (1,268 passing yards, 9 TDs and 2 INTs). Carolina is a 3-point favorite. Prediction: Panthers 29, Eagles 15
Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-4): The Buccaneers are fighting for their season after showing some life last week in a win in Dallas led by undrafted rookie backup QB Jalon Daniels and RB Bucky Irving’s best game in two years (165 rushing yards, 2 total TDs). Daniels (337 passing yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs, 87 rushing yards overall in three games (two starts) will get at least one more start before Baker Mayfield returns from his thumb injury. A win would keep the Bucs very much in the race in the underwhelming NFC South. The Steelers, meanwhile, have alternated wins and losses so far this season. They’re expected to get RB Rico Dowdle back from injury this game, but in his absence Jaylen Warren has seized control of a featured back role with 321 rushing yards, 169 receiving yards and 2 TDs over the last three games. Pittsburgh is a 2.5-point favorite. Prediction: Steelers 24, Buccaneers 21
Sunday 4:05/4:25 p.m.
Arizona Cardinals (1-4) at Los Angeles Rams (2-3): One of the biggest surprises of the season so far is seeing the Rams — the overwhelming preseason Super Bowl favorites — with a losing record through five games. Already three games back in the loaded NFC West, the pressure is on the Rams the rest of the way to battle for at least a wildcard spot and avoid what would be one of the biggest letdowns in recent NFL history. So Los Angeles certainly won’t be taking this matchup with a rebuilding and reeling Cardinals team lightly. This could be a total blowout if Matthew Stafford (1,572 passing yards, 9 TDs, and 6 INTs) and Puka Nacua (31-337-1 in just three games) get in sync early against a Cardinals team giving up the most points in the league (32.4 PPG). Los Angeles is a 12.5-point favorite. Prediction: Rams 36, Cardinals 17
Los Angeles Chargers (0-5) at Kansas City Chiefs (4-0): The most disappointing team in the league vs. a resurgent Chiefs team coming off a bye — as much as the NFL continually reminds everyone never to assume anything, it would be a mighty shocking to see the hapless Chargers suddenly get right on the road in Kansas City. Especially considering Chiefs coach Andy Reid is 22-5 all-time coming off a bye (expect to see that graphic 11 times during the broadcast Sunday in between rotating shots of Taylor Swift and Madison Beer, if they’re in attendance). The bigger factor is the Chiefs are rested and overall rejuvenated with the impact of new running back Kenneth Walker III (537 rushing yards, 6 total TDs) while the Chargers look totally lost and beaten down with QB Justin Herbert throwing for just 937 yards, 5 TDs and 7 INTs through five games while taking 17 sacks already. Kansas City is a 7.5-point favorite. Prediction: Chiefs 27, Chargers 17
Buffalo Bills (4-1) at Las Vegas Raiders (3-2): This is back-to-back West Coast games for the Bills and they’re coming off the momentous high of beating the Rams in overtime last week, so there is prime let-down potential here. But there is also Josh Allen working on a potential MVP season with 1,249 passing yards, 7 TDs and 4 INTs and 239 rushing yards with 8 TDs. WR D.J. Moore (shoulder) is questionable after missing the last game and being in and out of the lineup all season, but that hasn’t seemed to matter too much for Allen and the Bills, who still generate their identity from a rushing attack led by James Cook III (532 yards and 5 TDs) and Allen. After a surprising 3-0 start, the Raiders have come back down to reality just a bit after back-to-back losses, including a 45-17 defeat to the Patriots last week. But they’ve shown enough to be taken seriously as a threat in any game, especially with TE Brock Bowers (24-312-3 in three games) rolling. Buffalo is a 5.5-point favorite. Prediction: Bills 27, Raiders 24
Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. on NBC)
Dallas Cowboys (2-3) at Green Bay Packers (3-2): The best game of the week appropriately gets a primetime spotlight. One week rarely has much to do with the next in the NFL, but the Cowboys and Packers had much different experiences in Week 5 with Dallas getting humbled at home in a loss to the previously winless Buccaneers while Green Bay played its best game of the season in a 31-7 domination of the rival Bears. In fact, it was the first time this year that the Packers remotely resembled a contender as Jordan Love completed 25 of 31 passes for 367 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs. Green Bay still has major questions along the offensive line, but running back Josh Jacobs is coming off the commissioner’s exempt list and expected to be eligible to play next week and star edge rusher Micah Parsons will be back for the second half of the season, so there’s still hope here if the Packers can build some momentum. And if ever there was a defense to build momentum against … Dallas has had a week and a half to try to find answers for its woeful defense that despite substantial investment via trades, free agency and the draft ranks second-to-last in the league while giving up 395.4 YPG. This has the look of a classic shootout game with the onus on Dak Prescott (1,381 passing yards, 9 TDs and 3 INTs), CeeDee Lamb (39-507-4), George Pickens (27-355-1) and Co. to carry the load. Green Bay is a 1.5-point favorite. Prediction: Cowboys 33, Packers 31
Monday Night Football (8:15 p.m. on ABC/ESPN)
Washington Commanders (1-3-1) at San Francisco 49ers (5-0): It sure seems like Commanders coach Dan Quinn could be coaching for his job this week, coming off the overtime debacle in the tie with the Giants a week ago and with Washington heading into a bye after this game. That adds some extra intrigue to see how the Commanders respond to a week of self-created turmoil, how they rally around their coach and quarterback Jayden Daniels, who certainly shares in the blame for running the clock out and missing the chance to kick a short field goal for the win. Before that incomprehensible ending, though, Daniels had given the Commanders some spark in his return from his latest left elbow setback, rushing for 103 yards and 2 TDs to go with 199 passing yards. San Francisco, meanwhile, is playing like a team of destiny so far this season with Brock Purdy looking like a top MVP candidate (1,196 passing yards, 13 TDs and 2 INTs). WR Mike Evans has been a big part of all of that, though, and his status for this game looks to be in doubt as he deals with a ribs injury and now also Achilles soreness. San Francisco is a 7.5-point favorite. Prediction: 49ers 28, Commanders 24
Editor's Pick
NFL Week 6 Power Rankings: 49ers Move Up To No. 1