Alex Frank | Sports Director Zach Fries | Staff Reporter Joe Petrosino | Staff Reporter
Ethan Bastian | Staff Reporter Sean McMahon | Staff Reporter
Last week the NFL was highlighted by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees breaking the league’s all-time record for career passing yards on Monday Night Football.
Before that the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams both remained perfect by raising their respective records to 5-0, and the Minnesota Vikings got revenge from last year’s NFC Championship loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the City of Brotherly Love.
With that, here are the updated standings in the #BattlefortheBoathouse and our week six picks.
1. Alex and Zach: 17-11 Joe: 16-11 4. Sean: 14-14 5. Ethan: 13-15
Thursday
Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants – 8:20 p.m. on FOX and NFL Network (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Kristina Pink)
Alex: Giants 31 Eagles 17 Zach: Eagles 27 Giants 23 Joe: Eagles 27 Giants 24
Ethan: Giants 27 Eagles 24 Sean: Eagles 34 Giants 27
Zach: The Giants are coming off a heartbreaking 33-31 loss at Carolina. At 1-4, they are faced with a must-win versus Philadelphia. The Eagles are coming off a loss. The defending Super Bowl champs not only lost at home to the Vikings, but also lost running back Jay Ajayi to a torn ACL. I expect a competitive game, but Philadelphia will turn their season around with a win.
Joe: I like the Eagles this one. They have struggled the past couple weeks, but I see them getting back to their previous form and getting back to the running game and controlling the clock. Their defense will do their part in closing out a close game. The Eagles will win a close one.
Sunday
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals – 1 p.m. on CBS (Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Evan Washburn)
Alex: Bengals 31 Steelers 28 Zach: Steelers 28 Bengals 23 Joe: Steelers 33 Bengals 24
Ethan: Bengals 38 Steelers 31 Sean: Bengals 28 Steelers 27
Ethan: The Bengals have had a difficult time, to say the least, against their arch-rival. They have lost six straight going back to 2015, and Big Ben has only lost two games at Paul Brown Stadium in his entire career as the Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback. If the Bengals are who they think they are, then they have to win a game this big to not only put the city on the map but to make believers out of Stephen A. Smith and all the national media who don’t believe in this team. So, I expect them to win!
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Dallas Cowboys – 4:25 p.m. on CBS (Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson)
Alex: Cowboys 27 Jaguars 20 Zach: Jaguars 21 Cowboys 13 Joe: Jaguars 27 Cowboys 23
Ethan: Jaguars 27 Cowboys 24 Sean: Jaguars 32 Cowboys 18
Ethan: The Jags and Cowboys will be a close game throughout. With two teams that are relying more on their defenses than their offenses, you have to believe this will be a four-quarter game. Blake Bortles is coming off a terrible performance against the Kansas City Chiefs just a week ago, and with the Eagles finally hitting their stride, the Cowboys have to keep pace to stay afloat in a very week NFC East. I believe the Jags just have more to get it done and I expect them to win it late.
Kansas City Chiefs @ New England Patriots – 8:20 p.m. on NBC (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya)
Alex: Patriots 28 Chiefs 21 Zach: Patriots 30 Chiefs 28 Joe: Patriots 42 Chiefs 33
Ethan: Patriots 30 Chiefs 26 Sean: Chiefs 24 Patriots 21
Alex: America’s Game of the Week for week six features a highly anticipating showdown between two quarterbacks at opposite ends of their respective careers. This match up, to me, also represents a potential changing of the guard in the AFC. If the Chiefs win, this could ultimately put an end to New England’s dominance. To win, though, Patrick Mahomes II will have to become the first rookie quarterback to beat Bill Belichick. The previous 25 have failed to do so, and I see that streak continuing Sunday.
Monday
San Francisco 49ers @ Green Bay Packers – 8:15 p.m. on ESPN (Joe Tessitore, Jason Witten, Booger McFarland, Lisa Salters)
Alex: Packers 31 49ers 20 Zach: Packers 34 49ers 17 Joe: Packers 35 49ers 27
Ethan: Packers 28 49ers 14 Sean: Packers 38 49ers 16
Sean: Green Bay has started off the 2018 season on a couple good notes. Aaron Rodgers is playing top-notch football against some pretty good teams, but this week they face a not so good 49ers team with not much to show. The Packers will win easily.