Through five weeks, the Minnesota Vikings are the lone undefeated team in the NFL after Atlanta upset Denver and Philadelphia fell to Detroit. Minnesota is guaranteed to stay unbeaten for at least one more week as they are on a bye in Week 6, as are the Buccaneers.
Prime time games this week:
Thursday Night Football – Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers
Sunday Night Football – Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans
Monday Night Football – New York Jets @ Arizona Cardinals
Here’s what to watch for in Week 6:
Lock of the Week – Pittsburgh covers (-7.5) @ Miami
With the trio of Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh may be the most difficult offense in the league to game plan for. The emergence of WR Sammie Coates gives the Steelers the ability to stretch the field that they thought lost when Martavis Bryant was suspended for the season.
Only three teams are averaging more points per game than Pittsburgh. They will be facing a Miami defense that was just torched by the anemic Tennessee Titans offense. On the other side of the ball, there are rumblings about Ryan Tannehill possibly being benched, but no matter who is under center, the Dolphins will struggle to keep pace with the high-flying Steelers.
Matchup of the Week – Atlanta Falcons @ Seattle Seahawks
In Week 5, the Falcons soared into Mile High and gave the Broncos their first loss of the season. Even-though Atlanta was held to just 23 points after averaging 38 through their first four games. After falling the team with the best defense in the AFC, the Falcons will stay out west to match up with the top defense in the NFC.
While Denver rookie QB Paxton Lynch was unable to exploit the deficient Falcons secondary, Seahawks QB Russell Wilson is among the most efficient passers in the league. With Doug Baldwin picking up where he left off last year, and Jimmy Graham turning into the weapon that Seattle was hoping to get when they signed him in 2015, Atlanta will have to find a way to score more than the 23 points that they put on the scoreboard against the Broncos.
Player to Watch – Brian Hoyer vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
In each of his three starts in place of injured QB Jay Cutler, Bears QB Brian Hoyer has thrown for over 300 yards and two touchdowns. Jacksonville hasn’t allowed a 300-yard passer yet this year, but they do allow one of the highest touchdown rates in the league to opposing quarterbacks. If Hoyer continues to impress, Cutler’s days as the Bears starting QB may be over.
TJ Hernandez is an editor at 4for4.com and the founder of RosterCoach.com. You can follow him on twitter @TJHernandez.
*The blog is for entertainment purposes only therefore in no way should be used in making wagers of any kind.