With the clocks going back this weekend in the UK, we have seven games kicking off at 5pm on Sunday. There is also another game in the International Series as the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints face off at the Stade de France in Paris at 1:30pm. Four teams are on a bye this week, with the Buffalo Bills (5-1), Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2), Washington Commanders (1-4-1) and the Los Angeles Chargers (0-6) all taking a rest.
Cincinnati Bengals (3-2) @ Baltimore Ravens (4-2)
This is a huge AFC North game: the Bengals, coming off their bye week, take on the Ravens, who lost to the Browns last weekend.
The Bengals currently sit at 3-2 after their bye week. QB Joe Burrow has completed 135 of 189 passes for 1,361 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. WR Tee Higgins has been the main target, with 27 receptions for 423 yards but only one touchdown, whilst Ja’Marr Chase also has 27 receptions, but for only 289 yards and four touchdowns. RB Chase Brown has 71 carries for 246 yards and one touchdown. The Bengals sit ninth in points scored per game (25.6) and 14th in points allowed per game (21.8), and have no injury concerns at the time of writing.
The Ravens lost 13-10 to the Browns last week to drop to 4-2 with Tyler Huntley under centre due to an ankle injury to Lamar Jackson. Jackson has been listed as limited in practice this week, so it is unknown if he will be available for Sunday. RB Derrick Henry has a league-leading 130 carries for 534 yards and seven touchdowns, with nine receptions for 64 yards and one touchdown. WR Zay Flowers has 32 receptions for 471 yards and two touchdowns.
Prediction – The saying goes ‘one player does not make a team’, but in this instance, the Ravens are a completely different team when Lamar Jackson plays. If he misses the game this week, the Bengals win by five points. If he plays, the Ravens win by five points…
San Francisco 49ers (6-0) @ Atlanta Falcons (2-4)
The undefeated 49ers roll into the Mercedes-Benz Stadium with hopes of maintaining that record against the Atlanta Falcons.
Despite having injuries to key players all season, the 49ers are still 6-0. QB Brock Purdy is having an MVP-type season, completing 119 of 171 passes for 1,460 yards, 14 touchdowns (leading the league) and only two interceptions. RB Christian McCaffrey has 77 carries for 350 yards and seven touchdowns, whilst also having 28 receptions for 190 yards. TE George Kittle has 26 receptions for 337 yards and five touchdowns, with Deebo Samuel with 16 receptions for 206 yards and three touchdowns.
The Falcons have lost their last two games, to the Bears and the Ravens. QB Michael Penix has completed 71 of 110 passes for 944 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. Their main playmaker is RB Bijan Robinson, who has 111 carries for 641 yards and four touchdowns, as well as 20 receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown. His RB counterpart, Brian Robinson Jr has 53 carries for 211 yards and four touchdowns. WR Jahan Dotson has 11 receptions for 236 yards and two touchdowns, whilst TE Kyle Pitts has 15 receptions for 169 yards and three touchdowns.
Prediction – This is an easy one to pick – the 49ers will have way too much for this Falcons team and win by 10 points at least.
Indianapolis Colts (2-4) @ Minnesota Vikings (5-0)
The Vikings come off their bye week and welcome the Colts to U.S Bank Stadium, hoping to maintain their unbeaten record.
The Colts are on a two-game losing streak, having lost to the Steelers and the Titans. QB Daniel Jones has completed 130 of 218 passes for 1,290 yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions. RB Jonathan Taylor has 122 carries for 492 yards and seven touchdowns, as well as 15 receptions for 163 yards. TE Tyler Warren has 30 receptions for 213 yards and two touchdowns, while veteran WR Keenan Allen has 26 receptions for 227 yards and a touchdown.
The Vikings have been a little lucky to remain undefeated. They beat the Bears by six points and the Dolphins by five. Coming off their bye week, there are no new injury concerns. QB Kyler Murray has completed 69 of 101 passes for 662 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. RB Aaron Jones has 97 carries for 410 yards and two touchdowns, while WR Justin Jefferson has 19 receptions for 258 yards and three touchdowns.
Prediction – I can only see the Vikings winning at home against a shaky Colts defence, winning by seven points.
Best of the rest…
Starting in Paris, as the Steelers (4-2) and the Saints (2-4) battle it out in the Stade de France. Steelers to beat the Saints by five points.
The Buccaneers (1-5) travel to Carolina to take on the Panthers (3-2) in an all-NFC South battle. The Buccaneers lost to the Steelers last week, whilst the Panthers had a week off. The Panthers win by five points to take control of the South.
The winless Dolphins (0-5) travel to New Jersey to take on the New York Jets (2-4). I said in my article about winless teams that I thought the Jets are the best chance for the Dolphins to get their first win… The Jets win by three points.
The Giants (3-2-1) travel to Reliant Stadium to take on the Houston Texans (2-4). The Giants lost to the Saints last week, while the Texans are on a two-game winning streak. The Texans win by four points.
The Browns (4-2) also travel south to take on the Tennessee Titans (1-5) at Nissan Stadium. The Browns are coming off of an impressive win over the Ravens, whilst the Titans won their first game of the season against the Colts last week. However, that win won’t help the Titans this week, as the Browns win by seven.
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