National Football League

NFL Week 6: 5 best games on Sunday

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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What are the best games of the NFL’s Week 6 slate? Matt Verderame gives his choices and a little analysis on the side.

It’s already the middle of October, an the NFL season is well on its way to the part where we separate contenders and pretenders. There is a ton of action left to be played, but some teams are facing virtual must-wins if they want to stay in the divisional races.

This weekend, we see a couple of huge contests between rivals. Which ones will get the win and who falls back in a two-game swing? Let’s get into the games.

Sep 18, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) scrambles against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half at FedEx Field. The Dallas Cowboys won 27 – 23. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

5. Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins

This game is one the list because it’s the NFC East, and both of these teams are viable threats to win the division. Nobody thought Philadelphia was any good before the season began, mostly because it was going to start Sam Bradford at quarterback. Well, Bradford is 4-0, but with the Minnesota Vikings. Instead, the Eagles have gotten some stellar play from rookie Carson Wentz, who is easily the best quarterback from that class.

Washington has won three consecutive games and is coming off a 9-7 season that saw a division title, and yet it remains an underdog at home. The Redskins are likely to be without tight end Jordan Reed this weekend, who suffered his fourth professional concussion (two in college, in addition) throughout the week.

Regardless, the winner of this game will be in fine position. The loser isn’t buried by nay stretch, but a division loss is never good. The Redskins especially can’t afford it, already having lost to the Cowboys at home.

Dec 14, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) after catching the ball to score a touchdown during the second half against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots won 41-13. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

4. Cincinnati Bengals at New England Patriots

The Bengals need to win this game, but it probably isn’t going to happen. Still, it is one of the best five games of the weekend because we have a team that is both talented and desperate against the best in the sport.

New England is coming home at 4-1 and will have its fans in full throat thanks to the return of Tom Brady. After having to watch Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett at Gillette Stadium, the New England faithful will get a look at its living legend live and in color.

The Patriots are favored by more than a touchdown in this one, and for good reason. The Bengals have looked terrible against good teams, only managing two wins against the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins. In those wins, Cincinnati needed a last-minute field goal and then another five kicks from Mike Nugent. Not exactly dominant.

If the Bengals fall to 2-4, you can just about kick dirt on them. Cincinnati still has to visit the Houston Texans, along with a home date against the Pittsburgh Steelers and a pair versus the Baltimore Ravens. At best, Cincinnati might be looking at 9-7.

New England is well on its way to another AFC East title and in all likelihood, a first-round bye.

Sep 25, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Eric Berry (29) intercepts a pass intended for New York Jets wide receiver Jalin Marshall (89) during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 24-3. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

3. Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders

This  used to be one of the best rivalries in all of sports. In recent years, one of or both teams have been far too rancid to call this game anything but an eyesore. However, the Raiders are much-improved and Kansas City was expected by some to be a title contender.

This game is going to tell us a ton about both sides. Oakland is 4-1 but has very shaky wins. The Raiders needed a two-point conversion to beat the New Orleans Saints in Week 1 before earning a victory in Tennessee with a goal-line stand in the final seconds. Week 4 brought another one-point win over the Baltimore Ravens, and last Sunday was won on a botched Chargers’ field goal attempt.

All of this is why the Raiders are a 1.5-point underdog in most sports books despite being at home against a 2-2 Chiefs team. Kansas City has ample talent on both sides of the ball, but it has been ugly to this point. The Chiefs are throwing the ball at an almost record pace, with Alex Smith averaging more than 40 pass attempts per game.

On the bright side, Jamaal Charles is expected to come back and be in full force this weekend. Coupled with Kansas City coming off its bye week, the Chiefs should be at their best … and they will need to be.

Sep 25, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers receiver Jordy Nelson celebrates his touchdown with Randall Cobb and Lane Taylor in the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers/The Post-Crescent via USA TODAY Sports

2. Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers

This is going to be a fascinating game. The Cowboys are one of the best teams in the sport, despite being without quarterback Tony Romo. While Romo recovers from a broken vertebrae in his back, rookie fourth-round pick Dak Prescott continues to impress.

Prescott has not been throwing for 400 yards or going deep down the field, but he is mobile, accurate and a winner. The youngster out of Mississippi State is yet to turn the ball over, helping the Cowboys get out to a 4-1 start. Of course, he has plenty of help with the best offensive line in front of him and the league’s leading rusher in Ezekiel Elliott standing seven yards behind him. Elliott has been phenomenal, already posting three 100-yard games.

This week will be the biggest test yet for Dallas, which comes into Lambeau Field to take on the 3-1 Packers. Green Bay is anything but perfect right now, with Aaron Rodgers completing less than 57 percent of his throws. The offense has been bad, but the defense has stepped up behind the play of Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix and Clay Matthews Jr.

Whoever wins this game will have a nice tiebreaker for any NFC playoff stuff down the line.

Oct 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) and quarterback Matt Ryan (2) celebrate the win over the Denver Broncos in the second half at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Falcons defeated the Broncos 23-16. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

1. Atlanta Falcons at Seattle Seahawks

This is going to be a matchup of strength on strength. Atlanta is at a severe disadvantage here for a few reasons, though. The Falcons are coming of a trip all the way to Denver, and now have to fly back across the country for a second straight week to take on a very good Seahawks team at CenturyLink Field.

Second, Seattle is coming off the bye week, giving it a chance to get Russell Wilson healthy. Wilson has been dealing with injuries the entire season, running from ankle to knee. The Seahawks know that to have any chance in this rat race we call the NFC, they need Wilson to be 100 percent both in his arm and legs. While that might be tough to accomplish behind this offensive line, Wilson remains the key to any success they might have.

Atlanta has to find a way to exploit the Legion of Boom, which is going to be keying hard on Julio Jones. The Falcons were able to take down the defending-champion Broncos without hitting Jones for much of the contest, but that will be a tough feat to make happen in two consecutive weeks.

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