Tucker’s Top Five NFL Matchups: Week 6
Credit: New York Jets
By Tucker Harlin
Week 5 of the NFL season featured a Falcons franchise record, a tremendous 1 PM window, several bizarre touchdowns in the 4 PM window, a late start on Sunday night, and a big man interception for the ages.
SAUNDERS WITH HIS FIRST CAREER PICK!!
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 8, 2024
LOOK AT THE BIG MAN GO!!!
(via @Saints)pic.twitter.com/i4TCB0QwH6
I’m going to give myself a 5/5 for my Top 5 last week because while it didn’t end as a one-score game, the Monday Night Football game was at least fun to watch.
Week 6 features several division matchups, a few of which made their way into my Top 5 NFL games this week. Heavy doses of scoring are expected in every one of these games.
5. 49ERS (2-3) @ SEAHAWKS (3-2)- SF -3.5, 8:15 PM PRIME VIDEO, THURSDAY
If Arizona loses in Green Bay this week one of these two teams is going to lead the NFC West.
The 49ers don’t look like their normal selves under Kyle Shanahan this year. They’ve now blown two double digit leads to division rivals in the second half, and the loss to the Cardinals now looks even more concerning with most of the injured offensive skill players returning to the field.
The Seahawks have come back down to earth in the last two weeks. They were unable to stop the Lions on Monday Night Football in Week 4, and the Giants stayed ahead in their 29-20 loss Sunday thanks to a blocked field goal.
The 49ers with a slight edge on the road has me scratching my head. Looking at the defensive play of these teams over the last three weeks, it’s safe to say we can expect some points.
The current total on ESPN is sitting at 49.5, the third highest this week.
4. LIONS (3-1) @ COWBOYS (3-2)- DET -3, 4:25 PM FOX, SUNDAY
This is yet another battle between NFC foes projecting as a shootout.
The Lions are humming along on offense with their tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in the backfield while Jared Goff is two weeks removed from a performance in which he didn’t throw an incompletion. For the Cowboys, the connection from Dak to CeeDee was paramount in their wins over the Giants and Steelers.
The problem on both sides is the defense.
In their home wins, the Lions secondary surrendered over 300 yards passing to both the Seahawks (closer to 400) and the Rams. The Cowboys’ struggles stem more from injuries as Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, and DaRon Bland have all been banged up.
The Lions can’t move into first place in the juggernaut NFC North with the Vikings on bye. The Cowboys can take a share of first place in the NFC East depending on what happens in the DMV.
3. BUCCANEERS (3-2) @ SAINTS (2-3)- TB -3.5, 1 PM FOX, SUNDAY
The NFC South only plays itself this weekend, creating opportunity for movement in the division. Between the two games, the Buccaneers at Saints game piques the interest more because the Panthers just aren’t very good.
The bad-on-bad matchup of Derek Carr against the Tampa Bay secondary could be a deciding factor in the Caesar’s Superdome. The Bucs just surrendered a Falcons franchise record to Kirk Cousins, a quarterback whose career troughs are similar to that of Carr’s.
Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay passing game against the New Orleans secondary should deliver a good-on-good matchup. Maybe we see Mike Evans and Marshon Lattimore get ejected for fighting for the third time in their careers.
The goal for the Saints is to stay in the playoff race with a win while the Bucs are hoping to get back in front of the NFC South with a win.
On top of the win, the Bucs need a Falcons loss in order to reclaim first place.
2. BILLS (3-2) @ JETS (2-3)- BUF -2.5, 8:15 PM ESPN, MONDAY
It was hard for me to not put this game atop my list because of the storylines around it.
For one, the winner takes the reins of the AFC East. The Bills have led the division all season, but all the Jets need to do is take down the Bills for the second year in a row in the Meadowlands on a Monday night to take control.
Secondly, the Jets have parted ways with head coach Robert Saleh. Many of the stories surrounding both Saleh’s hiring and firing in New York are wild ones, some of which are suggestive of dysfunctionality within the organization.
But is Saleh to blame for all of the Jets’ problems? Aaron Rodgers loves both Nathaniel Hackett and Todd Downing, but I’ve witnessed one of those two destroy my Titans’ Super Bowl window while the other lasted a little over 10 games as a head coach in Denver.
The last two weeks are causes for concern in Buffalo. It appears Josh Allen isn’t better off without Stefon Diggs as his lack of a primary target has hindered his production in the air.
I don’t think either one of these teams is among the best in the AFC, but you’re looking at what should be a competitive and entertaining Monday Night Football battle.
1. COMMANDERS (4-1) @ RAVENS (3-2)- BAL -6.5, 1 PM CBS, SUNDAY
These two generally don’t meet within four year periods, but everything about this matchup should result in fireworks at M&T Bank Stadium.
Three Heismans will take the field between the Ravens and Commanders.
For the Ravens, it’s 2023 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the ageless freight train that is Derrick Henry. For the Commanders, it’s Rookie of the Year leader and possible 2024 NFL MVP Jayden Daniels who is on a tear the Commanders haven’t seen in a long time from a quarterback.
A week after the Ravens tightened their grip on defense, Joe Burrow and the Bengals came out and scored 38 against them in Cincinnati. The matchups leading up to the win over Buffalo also featured suspect defense from the Ravens, ceding an average of 26 to their opponents.
The Commanders are one week removed from a 34-13 beatdown of the hapless Cleveland Browns. Aside from the loss to the Buccaneers and win over the Bengals, Dan Quinn’s defense has held its ground while Jayden Daniels has done the rest.
I anticipate an incredible matchup in the first witching hour between these two.
