As if there weren’t any more bad news in Atlanta, as one member of their personnel staff had a positive test for COVID-19. As of Thursday, October 15th, the game at Minnesota has not been cancelled, but everyone in the NFL will be keeping an eye out for that game this week. 

Article by Dave Nguyen, AKSM Sports

NEWS:

• Dan Quin Fired: After the Falcons loss to the Panthers last week, the Falcons fired Head Coach Dan Quinn and General Manager Thomas Dimitroff. The Falcons are 0-5 and have blown 15+ point leads in fourth quarters in back-to-back weeks, the first team in NFL History to do so. Quinn, who helped lead the Falcons to Super Bowl 51, he finished with a record of 43-42 in the regular season, and a 3-2 record in the playoffs. Dimitroff took over GM duties in 2008, spending 13 seasons in Atlanta and helped mold the Falcons roster to what it is today with drafting players such as Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Grady Jarrett, and Calvin Ridley. Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris, a former Head Coach of the Buccaneers, takes over the head coaching duties in the interim. 

• COVID Strikes Atlanta Game against Vikings in Jeopardy: As if there weren’t any more bad news in Atlanta, as one member of their personnel staff had a positive test for COVID-19. As of Thursday, October 15th, the game at Minnesota has not been cancelled, but everyone in the NFL will be keeping an eye out for that game this week. 

• Chiefs Suffer 1st Loss to Raiders: For the first time since November 10th, the resining Super Bowl champions suffered a loss to the Las Vegas Raiders 40-32 last week. The Raiders defense was able to keep Patrick Mahomes in check, pressuring him 21 times and forced him to throw his first interception of the season. Derek Carr completed 22 of his 31 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns, including two of 50+ yards to Nelson Aghlor and rookie standout Henry Ruggs III. With those three touchdown passes, Carr tied Hall of Fame Ken Stabler for 20th in Raiders history for most three-TD passing games. 

• Eagles Will Have Fans: For the first time this season, the Eagles will have fans at Lincoln Financial Field for this Sunday’s game against the Ravens. After seeing close to 5,500 fans in Pittsburgh the week before, the Eagles are allowing up to 7,500 socially distant fans to attend this Sunday’s 1:00 matchup. If there are any teams in the NFL that feed off the energy of the crowd, the Eagles are one of those teams who depend on their passionate fans to ignite a spark in them, as they look for their second win of the season. 

• Chase Claypool Breaks Out: In last week’s game against the Eagles, Steelers rookie receiver Chase Claypool had the best game in his young career, and made history in the process. The former Notre Dame standout had seven receptions for 110 yards and four total touchdowns (three receiving, one rushing). He became the first rookie in Steelers history to score a rushing and receiving touchdown since Franco Harris in 1972. Claypool is also the first Steelers rookie to score three touchdowns in a game since former tight end Eric Green in 1990. Claypool also made NFL history last Sunday becoming the fourth rookie with at least two receiving touchdowns and a rushing touchdown in a single game since 1970, joining Kareem Hunt (’17), Joey Galloway(’95), and Lynn Cain (’79). Furthermore, Claypool is only the third rookie receiver to score four touchdowns in a game in NFL History, joining Jerry Butler (’79) and Harlon Hill (’54).   

• Alex Smith Returns: After suffering a leg injury that required 17 surgeries, Alex Smith returned to an NFL huddle, his first action since November 18th, 2018 when he broke his fibula and tibia in high right leg. He replaced Kyle Allen in the first half after Allen suffered a concussion, playing the remainder of the first half and the entire second. Smith completed nine of 17 passes for 37 yards, and is an odds-on favorite to win Comeback Player of the Year.  

WEEK SIX PREDICTIONS:

Sunday at 1 PM

• Texans at Titans: The Titans are coming off a Tuesday night win against the Bills, after not playing for over a week. Derek Henry didn’t have the best game, but the Tennessee defense put Josh Allen in check, and Ryan Tannehill was a great game manager, leading the Titans offense converting six touchdowns on all six trips to the redone. Heading into this week, the titans rank second the NFL in red zone touchdown percentage at 83%. The Texans, after an inspiring victory against the Jaguars, have another tough task at hand against the Titans and their red zone offense. Prediction: Titans 30-21.

• Ravens at Eagles: The Ravens defense shut down Joe Burrow last week, sacking him seven times and totaling 15 hits on the former Heisman Trophy winner in their 27-3 win against the Bengals. John Harbaugh brings a defense into Philly with the top rated defense in terms of points allowed at 15.2 per game. With guys like Marlon Humphrey and Patrick Queen, Carson Wentz will have a tough time in front of fans, for the first time this season, at the Linc this Sunday. A bright spot for the Eagles is receiver Travis Fulgham, who caught 10 balls for 152 yards and a touchdown against Pittsburgh. Prediction: Ravens 28-21. 

• Bengals Colts: Phillip Rivers’ gun-slinging mentality hurt him in Cleveland last week, as he threw no touchdown passes and  two interceptions, one returned to the house, in the Colts’ 32-23 loss in Cleveland. The Bengals are coming off a miserable loss to the Ravens in their 27-3 loss in Baltimore. Joe Burrow was pressured all day, hit 15 times and sacked seven, making it a nightmare day for him. This Sunday doesn’t get easier for Burrow, as the Colts defense is first in the league allowing 266 yards per game, and fourth in completion percentage. 

• Falcons at Vikings: With the recent findings of personnel in Atlanta testing positive for COVID-19, this game will be on watch. Assuming this game holds up, the Falcons are still searching for their first win of the season. Matt Ryan continues to do everything he can to propel the Falcons to a win, as he is fifth in the NFL with 1,472 yards, and has seven touchdown passes. The Vikings are coming off a long trip to Seattle where they were stopped on 4th and 1 on the six yard line with a five point lead at the two-minute warning, and DK Metcalf ended up scoring the game winning touchdown for Seattle. The Vikings will be motivated coming back home, and will most likely be without Dalvin Cook, who has an adductor strain. Prediction: Vikings 27-24.

• Broncos at Patriots: A game that had to get rescheduled from last week will be played in Foxboro this Sunday after the COVID tests from the Patriots the week before. The last time the Broncos played was on October 2nd when they defeated the Jets on Thursday Night Football. Brett Rypien was the quarterback then, making his NFL debut. Since the win, Drew Locke has practiced since his shoulder injury and will find out if he will be the starter before game time. The Patriots are coming off a 26-10 loss to the Chiefs on October 6th. Since then, Cam Newton has been removed from the COVID-19 list and is expected to start this Sunday. It will be interesting to see if both teams will start rusty and may take a while to score points. Prediction: Patriots 28-17. 

• Washington at Giants: The Giants put together a great offensive effort, only to lose by a field goal at Dallas last Sunday. While they search for their first win of the season, the Washington Football Team had the best feel-good story of the season, as Alex Smith returned to playing football since his horrific knee injury from two years ago. In a battle in the NFC (L) East, the Giants may have the best chance to get their first win this Sunday. 

• Browns at Steelers: For the first time since 1994, the Cleveland Browns are 4-1. IN 1996 their Head Coach was Bill Belichick and Nick Saban was their defensive coordinator. While the status of Odell Beckham Jr raises concern after he left practice Thursday with an illness, the Browns have won four straight games heading into Heinz Field. The Steelers are coming off a win against the Eagles, where rookie receiver Chase Claypool made franchise and NFL history with his four total touchdowns. The Steelers have yet to play a team with a winning record, so this will be a true test at home on Sunday. The matchup to watch will be the Browns offense against the Steelers defense. Cleveland has the best rushing offense in the league, averaging 188.4 yards a game, while the Steelers are third in yards allowed per game (301.5) and are tied for first with sacks (20). Prediction: Steelers 27-24. 

• Bears at Panthers: After starting the season 0-2, the Panthers have won three straight games, including last week’s road win at the Falcons. Matt Rhule has provided the right culture and mentality to Carolina, and has Teddy Bridgewater playing at a high level, throwing for over 1400 yards, rushing for 73, and totaling seven touchdowns. The Bears are coming off extra rest after defeating Tom Brady and the Bucs at home last Thursday. Bears fans are hoping that the Nick Foles magic can happen again in Charlotte. Prediction: Bears 24-23.

• Lions at Jaguars: Both teams have a combined record of 2-8 heading into this game. The Jaguars have not won a game since Week One, the Lions in Week Three. The Jaguars offense has only scored 30 points once this season, while the Lions have yet to score 30 points this season. In the battle between gun-slinging quarterbacks, give the edge to Matt Stafford over Gardner Minshew II. Prediction: Lions 30-27.

Sunday at 4:05 PM

• Jets at Dolphins: With Le’Veon Bell signing with the Chiefs, it proves that no player is safe on the Jets roster, and that productivity is more important than your name. Joe Flacco, who is 6-0 against Miami in his career, gets the start again for the injured Sam Darnold as the Jets seek their first win as they travel to Miami to face the Dolphins. Ryan Fitzpatrick put on a spectacular performance completing 22 of 28 passes for 350 yards and three touchdowns in a 43-17 romp over the 49ers. In five games, Fitzpatrick has thrown for over 300 yards three times, and continues to build a connection with tight end Mike Gesicki. Heading into Sunday’s matchup, the two have connected 18 times for 281 yards and two touchdowns. Prediction: Dolphins 28-20. 

Sunday at 4:25 PM 

• Packers at Buccaneers: Another quarterback duel of future Hall of Fame quarterbacks meet at Raymond James Stadium at Aaron Rogers takes on Tom Brady. Rodgers and the Packers are well rested coming off a bye week, while Brady is coming off another loss to Nick Foles in primetime. Their record against each other is split at one game a piece, with Brady defeating Rodgers in their most recent matchup in 2018; Rodgers winning against the Patriots in 2014. In those two games, both quarterbacks have combined for seven touchdown passes and zero interceptions. The Packers are looking like Super Bowl contenders and may play that way in the site of this year’s Super Bowl. Prediction Buccaneers 31-25. 

Sunday at 8:20 PM

• Rams at 49ers: A marquee matchup in the NFC west finds both teams trending in opposite directions. The 49ers are on a two-game losing streak, have yet to win a game at home, and pulled starter Jimmy Garoppolo in the first half in their loss to the Dolphins. The Rams are 4-1 with a balanced team. Offensively, the Rams are fourth in the league in total yards per game at 403.6, and defensively they are fourth in yards allowed (304.2). In a competitive division with Russel Wilson playing at an MVP level, the offensive attack of the Cardinals, this game is crucial for both teams. Prediction: Rams 31-26.

Monday at 5 PM 

• Chiefs at Bills: A matchup that has two high powered offenses and two young star quarterbacks. Both teams offensively are in the top five in total yards and rushing yards so far this season. The Bills are coming off a Tuesday night loss at Tennessee while the Chiefs lost their first game since November of last year. It will be a great quarterback battle between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen as they have combined for 3,063 passing yards, 230 rushing yards, and 31 total touchdowns. Any football fan will be excited for this game as the first of a Monday Night double-header. Prediction: Chiefs 31-28. 

Monday at 8:30 PM

• Cardinals at Cowboys: The Cowboys future is now uncertain due to the season ending injury to Dan Prescott last week against the Giants. At one point this season Prescott was predicted to throw for over 6,000 yards this season, holding the top spot in that category right now with 1,856. The biggest question that has yet to be answered in the NFL is if Andy Dalton can lead the Cowboys to the playoffs. On the flip side, Kyler Murray was able to get the Cardinals back on track with a 30-10 win against the Jets last week, and will have momentum against one of the league’s worst defenses in 2020. Prediction: Cardinals 28-24.