NFL Week 6 matchups: AFC powers meet in Kansas City; 5-0 Eagles host NFC East rival Cowboys
NFL Week 6 is headlined by an AFC matchup between the Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs, and an NFC East showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and undefeated Philadelphia Eagles. All four teams have at least four wins entering Week 6.
The week concludes Monday night when the Denver Broncos travel to Los Angeles to play the Chargers in an AFC West battle.
This is the first week of the regular season that features byes. The Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders and Houston Texans are on a mini vacation this week.
Every team in the NFL has at least one win. It’s just the third time since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger in which every club has at least one victory entering Week 6.
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Here’s USA TODAY Sports’ NFL Week 6 preview:
(1-4) Washington Commanders vs. (2-3) Chicago Bears
Carson Wentz is 6-0 as a starter on Thursday night. Wentz had season-highs in both passing yards (359) and passer rating (102.9) in a Week 5 loss. Justin Fields completed a career-high 71.4 percent of his passes last week in a loss. On defense, Bears linebacker Roquan Smith is tied for the NFL lead with 54 tackles.
Grady Jarrett speaks on roughing the passer call vs. Tom Brady, says he was ‘in disbelief’
(2-3) New England Patriots vs. (2-3) Cleveland Browns
Bill Belichick, who coached the Browns from 1991-1995, has a chance to tie Hall of Famer George Halas for second on the NFL’s all-time wins list. Belichick has compiled a 323-159 career record as a head coach. Nick Chubb’s 593 rushing yards currently tops the NFL.
played the New York Giants in London in Week 5. It’s the second time in Packers history the team has played New York teams in back-to-back weeks.
(2-3) Jacksonville Jaguars vs. (2-2-1) Indianapolis Colts
Trevor Lawrence has thrown four touchdowns and zero interceptions in three career starts versus the Colts. The Jaguars shut out the Colts, 24-0, in Week 2. Colts LB Zaire Franklin is tied for the NFL lead in tackles (54). Indianapolis averages the fewest points per game in the league (13.8).
(4-1) Minnesota Vikings vs. (3-2) Miami Dolphins
Justin Jefferson is the current NFL leader in receiving yards (547). Jefferson leads the NFL in receiving yards (3,563) since the Vikings drafted him in 2020. Dolphins QB Teddy Bridgewater, who was placed in concussion protocol during last week’s loss, was drafted by the Vikings in the first round of the 2014 draft. Miami’s lost two in a row since starting 3-0.
DOLPHINS QB UPDATE:Tua Tagovailoa returns to practice, but won’t play Sunday; Teddy Bridgewater in protocol
MORE:After consecutive losses, Dolphins remove ping pong tables from their locker room
(2-3) Cincinnati Bengals vs. (2-3) New Orleans Saints
Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow make their return to New Orleans. Chase and Burrow won the College Football Playoff national title as LSU teammates the last time they played inside the Saints’ home stadium. Last week, Taysom Hill became the third player in NFL history to have at least 100 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns and a touchdown pass in a single game.
NFL WEEK 5 COACHING GRADES:Eagles, Saints receive passing grades after winning game plans
(3-2) Baltimore Ravens vs. (4-1) New York Giants
Lamar Jackson leads all quarterbacks in rushing yards (374) and tops all players in average yards per rush (7.6). the Giants’ Saquon Barkley ranks No. 1 in the NFL in scrimmage yards (676). The Giants are off to their best start since 2009. The Ravens are 2-0 on the road this year.
(3-2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. (1-4) Pittsburgh Steelers
Tom Brady has 56 career games with 350-plus passing yards, the second most all time. Rookie Kenny Pickett had 34 completions and passed for 327 yards in his first-ever start last week. It was the most completions and passing yards in single game ever by a Steelers rookie.
Tom Brady on roughing the passer: I throw tablets, not flags
(1-4) Carolina Panthers vs. (2-3) Los Angeles Rams
Steve Wilks was named the Panthers interim head coach after Matt Rhule was fired on Monday. Aaron Donald registered two sacks last week bringing his career total to 102. Cooper Kupp has four games with 100-plus receiving yards this season. Both teams are on two-game losing streaks.
OPINION:After firing of Matt Rhule, will Carolina Panthers job attract coaches? Maybe.
(2-3) Arizona Cardinals vs. (2-3) Seattle Seahawks
Geno Smith ranks No. 1 in the NFL is both passer rating (113.2) and completion percentage (75.2). Seattle LB Jordyn Brooks is tied for the NFL lead in tackles (54). The Cardinals are 2-0 on the road entering Week 6. Kyler Murray has a 96.8 passer rating in five starts against the Seahawks.
(4-1) Buffalo Bills vs. (4-1) Kansas City Chiefs
We all remember the playoff overtime thriller these two teams provided last season. This year, the Chiefs (31.8 points per game) and Bills (30.4 points per game) are the top two NFL teams in scoring. The Buffalo defense is tied for first for fewest points allowed per game (12.2). Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen are MVP candidates. Each tossed four touchdowns in Week 5.
NFL’S GREATEST PLAYOFF GAMES:Where does last season’s Bills-Chiefs classic rank?
(4-1) Dallas Cowboys vs. (5-0) Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts produced his seventh career game with multiple rushing touchdowns last week, which is tied for the second most ever by a quarterback. Cowboys QB Cooper Rush became fifth undrafted quarterback to win each of his first five career starts in the Super Bowl era. Philadelphia has an NFL-best plus-9 turnover differential. The Cowboys’ 20 sacks going into Week 6 ranks No. 2 in the NFL.
A second NFC teams joins No. 1 Eagles in Top 5
(2-3) Denver Broncos vs. (3-2) Los Angeles Chargers
This will be the seventh “Monday Night Football” matchup between the Broncos and Chargers. The Chargers have the NFL’s second-ranked passing attack. Justin Herbert’s thrown a touchdown in 26 straight games. Bradley Chubb’s 5.5 sacks is tied for fifth in the NFL. The Broncos average the second fewest points in the NFL (15).
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on Twitter @TheTylerDragon.