The Dallas Cowboys will be back in prime-time for the third time in six weeks against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football in Week 6.
Which Cowboys team will we see? Will it be the one who routed the Giants 40-0 in Week 1 or the one who was re-routed by the 49ers 42-10 in Week 5? This is a crossroads game of sorts considering the 3-2 record and how tough Dallas’ schedule is in the second half of the season. Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, quarterback Dak Prescott and owner Jerry Jones will be highly visible, and Dallas does have three more prime-time games. They need a better showing on this stage.
What about the Chargers? Coach Brandon Staley’s decision-making in close games is always under scrutiny, and Justin Herbert continues to be a prolific and efficient quarterback for Los Angeles. Austin Ekeler might return to the offense as well. The Chargers are 2-2 and do not want to slip much further in the AFC standings. Los Angeles also will have a Sunday Night Football game against the Bears in Week 9 and a Monday Night Football game against the Jets in Week 9. This marks the beginning of a key stretch.
There is a long way to Monday, however. The Broncos and Chiefs play on Thursday Night Football, and the Bills host the reeling Giants on Sunday Night Football. Detroit-Tampa Bay might be the best game through the Sunday early windows.
Each week, Sporting News will pick the games straight up and against the spread. Here is a look at our record this season:
- Straight up: 49-28 (6-7 in Week 5)
- ATS: 39-36-2 (6-7 in Week 5)
Here are our straight-up picks for Week 6 (lines courtesy of BetMGM):
NFL picks, predictions for Week 6
- Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs (-10.5)
Thursday, 8:20 p.m., Prime Video
The Chiefs are double-digit favorites for the second time this season, and they covered in Week 3 against the Bears. The Broncos are a mess – and they rank last in the league in scoring defense (36.2). That number would still be at 27.8 if you don’t count the 70-point disaster against the Dolphins. The Chiefs can work with that at home. Patrick Mahomes is 11-0 as a starter against the Broncos.
Pick: Chiefs 34, Broncos 17
- Baltimore Ravens (-3) at Tennessee
