This year’s NFL season has already come with plenty of exciting games and more are on the way. Each week has had standout games ranging from unbelievable blowouts to crazy comebacks. As the season approaches its midway point, each game continues to become more and more important.
Here are five games in week six to pay attention to more than others:
- Tennessee Titans vs. Baltimore Ravens
In what will be the final game hosted in London for the NFL this season, the Baltimore Ravens will have a bone to pick for various reasons. The last time the Ravens played a game in London, they were embarrassed by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017 who beat them 44-7. Coming off a week five loss against the Steelers, the Ravens will also be looking to earn back their position as division leaders against Tennessee on Sunday. Finally, the Titans have beaten the Ravens in their last two matchups, and a loss for Baltimore would hand them an even record this season.
Raven’s Quarterback Lamar Jackson will be looking to put on a show for the people of London in his first game across seas. As for the Titans, the last time they were across the pond was in 2018, where they were just narrowly defeated by the Chargers 20-19. Their quarterback Ryan Tannehill has only tossed two touchdowns to his five interceptions this season. He will be looking for a proper stage to change his ways and maybe London will be the place. The Titans do not want to lose two games in a row, as this would surely put them in some divisional trouble.
Regardless, one team is searching for an even record and the other does not want to fall to one. If the Ravens can grab a win, they will increase their chances of getting back on top of their division. Meanwhile if the win goes to the Titans, they will continue the same loss win pattern they have held this season.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
These two teams currently hold the top spot in the AFC South and will be looking to leapfrog over one another. The Jaguars defeated the Colts back in week one, technically giving them the spot as first in the group. However, each team holds a record of 3-2 and will be looking to secure sole possession of first place.
The Jaguars fell to a losing record back in week three, but have been taking names since. Coming off two wins in a row, they have only allowed 27 points to their 48 shown. Meanwhile, their quarterback Trevor Lawrence has not thrown an interception since their week three loss. The Jaguars will be looking to sweep their season series against Indianapolis, and avoid having a flip flop season. If they can earn three wins straight, they will begin to come to life as a team.
Each team in the AFC South has won the division title at least two times since the Colts claimed it in 2014. They will be looking to stay on top of that race early this season with a win over Jacksonville. Indianapolis has already had two games go to overtime this season, one which they survived, and the other was defeated. They were able to bounce back from that overtime loss this past weekend and defeat the Titans, showing the heart present amongst the team.
The Jaguars are returning from a two week stint in London, perhaps giving the Colts an advantage. The winner of this weekend’s game will become the new leader of the AFC South and gain some well deserved mid season confidence.
3. Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings
In another division rivalry, these two teams will be fighting for the opposite of the last two. Both teams have just one win and are tied for last place in their division. However, one team may be carrying more momentum and reason into Sunday than the other.
The Chicago Bears are coming off their first victory in 347 days, a game they won in convincing fashion. After defeating the Washington Commanders 40-20, and four Justin Fields touchdown passes, they looked unstoppable. Now they will need to prove last week’s performance was not a fluke and that this team is finally ready to do big things. If the Bears have become an organized unit once and for all, they could easily crawl their way to the top of the division. That will all have to start with a win on Sunday.
On the other hand, the Minnesota Vikings have faced a tough schedule this season and possess a quarterback who leads the league in passing touchdowns. They have yet to lose a game by more than a touchdown this season, and have played each of their games down to the wire. However, their star receiver Justin Jefferson was placed on injured reserve after exiting last week’s game with an injured hamstring. If he is unable to return this weekend, it may hurt his team’s chances of victory.
Either way, there’s something about a battle between last place teams that seems to prove more entertaining. Each team will be looking to prove they are not the bottom of the crop in their division, and one will come out on top of the other. That is unless they tie of course.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Detroit Lions
The Lions are having their best season since 2011, as nothing looks to be stopping them. In a team driven by heart and looking to erase its failures of the past, they are headed in the right direction. Although, they will face a fellow division leader who is also looking to ride into a new era with a positive start.
With a win, the Buccaneers can extend their division lead by two games. However, they face a tough schedule ahead of them, as Sunday will be a chance for them to prove their worth. Quarterback Baker Mayfield was a shaky replacement for legend Tom Brady at first, but it has seemed to be paying off. He will want to perform Sunday in order to continue proving his keep on a young Tampa Bay team.
The Lions have not defeated the Buccaneers since 2017 and will be looking for their fourth straight victory this season. A fantastic future can be solidified for the Lions with a win on Sunday. They have not faced a team as challenging since defeating the Chiefs in week one, but they are prepared nonetheless. They also hold more momentum than Tampa Bay, who just had a bye week.
A win over another division leader will prove nothing is in Detroit’s way and prepare them for the tough schedule that remains. Even if they lose they will remain the top team in their division, but it’s all about gaining the confidence to do big things. This will be a matchup against two good teams that could play out either way.
5. Buffalo Bills vs. New York Giants
After facing defeat in week five, the Buffalo Bills will be looking to let off some steam. There’s no better team to do this against right now than the New York Giants. A 3-2 record has yet to show the Bills be a top tier team this season. New York may be in for a rough game this weekend, as they could serve as punching bag for the determined Bills.
After facing defeat in week one, the Bills went on to score 123 points in the next three weeks while only conceding 33. They do not seem to handle losing well, and may contrive an offensive flurry against an easy target. On top of reclaiming divisional status they will want to prove to the world how lethal they can be on prime time television. Their division is currently led by the Miami Dolphins, a team who scored 70 points in week three. They may have the same goal on Sunday, as they want to show who is really number one in not only the division, but the league.
As for the Giants, their season has been a constant struggle, conceding 153 points to just 62 scored. Meanwhile, quarterback Daniel Jones has only tossed two touchdowns this season to his six interceptions thrown. They showed heart in week two, completing a 21 point comeback over the Cardinals, but have been lackluster since. They have already faced top contenders like the Eagles and 49ers, and will get another tough game against the Bills. What makes this game worth watching is the slight chance that they could come out on top. If this were the case, they could gain some crazy momentum on top of climbing a rung in their division.
The Bills are the clear favorites, and may put up video game stats after gaining some emotional fuel from their week five loss. However, if the Giants win, not only will the Bills fall to an unexpected even record, New York will take control in the all time series. Each team has seven wins over the other and their 15th game against each other this Sunday will mark a new series leader.
