Week 5 delivered plenty of drama, with unpredictable finishes and several matchups that came down to the wire.
Now, the focus shifts to Week 6, with some teams looking to put embarrassing losses behind them while others try to keep their perfect records intact. With the pressure mounting, every game presents another opportunity to build momentum — or risk falling further behind.
There are also a few teams reaching an important point in their seasons, with Week 6 offering a chance to get back into the playoff conversation.
Morassutti's record (4-10-1)
Thursday, Oct. 15
Seattle Seahawks @ Denver Broncos: 8:15 p.m. ET
The Seahawks are coming off a frustrating loss to San Francisco, but their defence did a better job than the final score might suggest. The 49ers repeatedly started drives with favourable field position, and Seattle still managed to keep the game competitive before San Francisco pulled away late.
Denver will need to be more efficient offensively, particularly against a Seattle defence that can make it difficult to sustain long drives. The Broncos could also have problems containing Jaxon Smith-Njigba if cornerback Patrick Surtain remains sidelined.
Seattle has shown enough to suggest it can win this game, and I like its chances of bouncing back on a short week. The Broncos have been finding ways to win, but I am not convinced their record tells the full story.
(Pick: Seahawks -2.5)
Sunday, Oct. 18
Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars: 9:30 a.m. ET
Jacksonville continues its London slate after picking up an improbable victory over Philadelphia in Week 5. The Jaguars have started the season 4-1 and have looked like a team capable of competing in the AFC, particularly with a defence that has made life difficult for opposing offences.
Houston has had a much rougher start at 1-4. The Texans need more consistent production but have been more dangerous when Nico Collins is available. C.J. Stroud has shown he can take advantage of favourable matchups. Also add the fact that Marvin Harrison Jr. is expected to make his debut, but how much he plays given the short turnaround will be something to watch.
Playing overseas can introduce some unpredictability, but Jacksonville has been the more dependable team through five games. Houston should find a way to keep this competitive with their defence.
(Pick: Houston +2.5)
Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns: 1 p.m. ET
Baltimore enters this divisional matchup with a 4-1 record and plenty of reason to feel confident. The Ravens have the offensive firepower to put pressure on opposing defences, and their ability to create explosive plays makes them a difficult team to contain for four quarters.
Cleveland has been competitive, but the Browns have struggled to consistently stop the run against stronger opponents. If Baltimore can establish itself early, it could force Cleveland to play from behind and put more pressure on its offence.
The divisional rivalry should keep Cleveland motivated, but Baltimore has the more established offensive ceiling. The challenge is whether the Ravens can win comfortably enough to cover on the road.
(Pick: Ravens -4.5)
Carolina Panthers @ Philadelphia Eagles: 1 p.m. ET
Carolina has an opportunity to make a statement against an Eagles team that has struggled to find consistency. Philadelphia is 2-3 after losing to Jacksonville in Week 5, and its recent performances have raised questions about whether the team can get back to the level expected of it.
The Panthers are 2-2 and have shown flashes of being a dangerous opponent. Their ability to move the ball and create problems for opposing defences gives them a chance to exploit Philadelphia's uneven start.
(Pick: Panthers +1.5)
Chicago Bears @ Atlanta Falcons: 1 p.m. ET
Chicago heads to Atlanta with a 3-2 record and an opportunity to build on a solid opening stretch. The Bears have shown enough to suggest they can compete in the NFC, but this road matchup will test their ability to maintain consistency against a Falcons team looking to get its season back on track.
Atlanta is 2-3 and needs to make better use of its offensive opportunities. The Falcons have the personnel to generate points, but they cannot afford to let Chicago dictate the pace of the game or turn this into a contest decided by turnovers.
The Bears have been the more convincing team so far, and their defensive performance gives them an edge. Atlanta could make things interesting at home, but Chicago looks capable of doing enough to win by more than a field goal.
(Pick: Bears -3)
New Orleans Saints @ New York Giants: 1 p.m. ET
New Orleans has had a difficult start to the season, sitting at 1-4 after struggling to find consistency on both sides of the ball. The Saints need to turn their performances into wins, but a trip to New York presents a challenge against a Giants team that has been one of the more surprising stories early in the season.
The Giants are 3-1-1 and have been competitive despite facing their share of difficult situations. Their ability to keep games close has been important, and they should have an opportunity to take advantage of a Saints team that has struggled to put everything together.
(Pick: Giants +1.5)
New York Jets @ New England Patriots: 1 p.m. ET
The Patriots have been the more consistent team and will have an opportunity to take another step forward against a divisional opponent that has struggled to establish itself.
The Jets need to find a way to produce more consistently on offence, and given how Drake Maye has performed the past couple of weeks, it will be tough for them to keep up.
Also consider the fact that this Patriots team has been difficult to score against, New York cannot afford to fall behind early and become one-dimensional.
The Patriots' more reliable performances make them the logical side, though the Jets have enough ability to make a backdoor cover possible.
(Pick: Patriots -7.5)
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 1 p.m. ET
Pittsburgh is coming off a win over Indianapolis, but the final score might be a little misleading. The Steelers generated a large portion of their yardage on two explosive plays, and their offence did not consistently sustain drives throughout the game.
That is a concern against a Tampa Bay team that should be better rested after playing last Thursday. The Buccaneers have had their share of problems, but they showed signs of life offensively in their win over Dallas, and their offensive line could help them deal with Pittsburgh's pass rush.
(Pick: Buccaneers +2.5)
Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts: 1 p.m. ET
Tennessee is still searching for its first win of the season, entering Week 6 at 0-5. The Titans have struggled to generate enough offence to remain competitive.
The Colts are 2-3 and have had their own inconsistencies, but they should have an opportunity to take advantage of Tennessee's problems. They will need their defence to step up more, especially against a Titans offence that has scored 20 or fewer points in every game this season.
(Pick: Colts -7)
Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Rams: 4:05 p.m. ET
The Rams have the offensive weapons to put points on the board, and this is a matchup where they should have opportunities to exploit Arizona's defensive weaknesses.
The Cardinals have shown flashes of being able to move the ball, but their inability to keep opponents out of the endzone has been their undoing. Arizona will need to find a way to slow down the Rams' offence and avoid getting into a situation where it has to chase points.
Los Angeles is favoured by 12.5 points, making this one of the biggest spreads of the week. That is a lot to cover, but the Rams have the talent to create separation if they play a clean game. I will back them to win comfortably enough to get the job done.
(Pick: Rams -12.5)
Buffalo Bills @ Las Vegas Raiders: 4:25 p.m. ET
Buffalo enters this matchup at 4-1 and has continued to look like one of the AFC's strongest teams. The Bills have the offensive firepower to put pressure on opposing defences, and their ability to score in bunches makes them a difficult opponent when they are playing efficiently.
The Raiders have been more competitive than many expected, but this is a significant test against a Buffalo team that can punish defensive mistakes. Las Vegas will need to find ways to keep the Bills' offence off the field and make the most of its own possessions.
Buffalo is favoured by 5.5 points, and its ability to run the ball will make life difficult for Vegas, which ranks 28th in the NFL in opponent rushing yards per game. The Raiders also struggled against Maye, who threw for 374 yards and four touchdowns, so you have to think Josh Allen is itching to show what he can do.
(Pick: Bills -5.5)
Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs: 4:25 p.m. ET
Coming off a bye week, Kansas City looks primed to improve on its 4-0 record. The Chiefs have found ways to win while demonstrating the offensive versatility that has made them one of the league's most difficult teams to prepare for.
The Chargers are in a very different position at 0-5. They have struggled to put together complete performances, and facing an undefeated Kansas City team on the road is a difficult assignment for a team still searching for answers.
Los Angeles cannot keep Justin Herbert upright as their offensive line has allowed 17 sacks, second-most in the league, and hasn't gotten much out of the running game. Just the defensive matchup alone is one that the Chargers will struggle with the most.
(Pick: Chiefs -8.5)
Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers: 8:20 p.m. ET
Dallas heads to Green Bay for a Sunday night matchup that could tell us plenty about where both teams stand. The Cowboys have shown they can put points on the board, but their defensive inconsistencies have made it difficult to put together a complete performance.
With no Micah Parsons, as the star pass rusher is still recovering from a torn ACL, Green Bay will have to find other ways to keep the Dallas offence off the field.
The Packers should feel good enough about their own offensive firepower considering their history against the Cowboys. However, Dallas is looking to shed the shock from losing to the Bucs in Week 5, but will need to find some improvements on defence to make this a close game.
(Pick: Cowboys +1.5)
Monday, Oct. 19
Washington Commanders @ San Francisco 49ers: 8:15 p.m. ET
The 49ers have looked like one of the most complete teams in the league, ranking near the top in several key offensive metrics while also doing a good job limiting opposing offences.
Washington, meanwhile, will be looking to put its late-game mistakes against the New York Giants behind it after settling for an embarrassing tie.
Some might think the 49ers are due for a game in which things do not go their way, and Washington could make this interesting if it can keep pace offensively. However, San Francisco has been too consistent.
(Pick: 49ers -7.5)
