[Preview] Week 5: Buffalo Revenge

After another unspectacular Thursday Night Football, it’s now time for the rest of the NFL. And for the show, we should be served this Sunday. The Bills travel to Kansas City for the remake of a meeting that is still in everyone’s memory. This is THE match not to be missed.

For the rest, the Eagles will look to stay undefeated against a division opponent, while Steve Wilks and Aaron Rodgers are in the news right now (for very different reasons). Here is precisely the program for week 6.

Table of Contents

The match not to be missed

Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Kansas City Chiefs (4-1) – Buffalo Bills (4-1)

It is one of those matches that remain etched in our memories. Anyone who had the chance to see this meeting between the Chiefs and the Bills during the playoffs 2021 emerged marked for a long time. And we are not even talking about the supporters of the two teams. Difficult then not to evoke this meeting with the approach of this remake. Inevitably, the players, and particularly the coaches, try to minimize the effect of this memory. However, we imagine that it will be present in everyone’s mind.

Complicated indeed for the Bills not to think about it when we know that this defeat is the object of their motivation: to win the Super Bowl and never again experience such a disappointment. The Chiefs have stood in the way of the playoffs for two years. This meeting certainly opposes what is currently best in the AFC, even in the NFL. The two attacks are fueled thoroughly. Between the duo Patrick Mahomes – Travis Kelce (4 tutorials last week) and Josh Allen and his targets, impossible to say which squad is the best. That’s good, they will be able to measure themselves from Sunday. A kind of dress rehearsal.

The duel: Jalen Hurts vs. Micah Parsons

Kick-off in the night from Sunday to Monday 02:20
Philadelphia Eagles (5-0) – Dallas Cowboys (4-1)

Since the start of the season, we are still looking for who will be able to stop Philadelphia. Whether it was when the weather was capricious (vs. the Jaguars) or when adversity gave them a hard time (vs. the Cardinals for example), the Eagles have always found a solution. For this Monday Night Football, they face an opponent a cut above defensively. A new test for Jalen Hurts and his family. Against Dallas, they will face one of the best defenses in the championship. It’s simple, only the 49ers and the Bills collect fewer points than them per game (14.4 units/encounter). And if there is a man who symbolizes this defensive solidity, it is the sophomore: Micah Parsons.

After just two years in the league, he is already a defensive star. He has already accumulated 6 of 20 bags Cowboys this season (2nd in NFL), the best total in the league. Jalen Hurts is warned. Even if he too has qualities to show. The pitcher was simply voted NFC Offensive Player of the Month for September. This is to say the good start to the season that he delivers. In the air or on the run, he always finds a solution. In any case, this duel between Jalen Hurts and Micah Parsons, and more generally between the Eagles attack and the Cowboys defense, promises to be exciting. We are already looking forward to it.

The stat: 4

Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Los Angeles Rams (2-3) – Carolina Panthers (1-4)

During his first 17 seasons in existence, the Carolina franchise has only had 2 coaches. Since ? She will chain his 4th in 4 seasons. Steve Wilks is indeed the new master on board at the Panthers. It is not (for the moment) only interim, but he is the Head Coach since the dismissal of Matt Rhule. In just a few days, he will not be able to revolutionize everything. Especially since he should line up PJ Walker as the starting quarterback. Nothing very exciting then.

However, he announced that he wanted his team to be more aggressive, for example with more passing through. What Carolina has hardly done since the start of the season. However, we should not expect an offensive explosion this weekend. Between the Panthers (18.6 points/game, 25th in the league) and the Rams (16 units/game, 28th) now is not the time to attack. Los Angeles also suffers a lot from a lack of points. Between an offensive line in difficulty and too recurrent ball losses, it is not the joy of Sean McVay’s side. The technician also sees his team under the bar of 50% only for the second time since his arrival.

Player: Aaron Rodgers

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Green Bay Packers (3-2) – New York Jets (3-2)

What if it was the last? Rumor has swept the league this week: Aaron Rodgers is considering retirement. Normal you will tell me for a player of his age, but it’s always weird to hear that a multiple MVP could not play again. So each outing of the Packer could then become a capital moment. This weekend, his Packers receive the Jets. After a loss in London (against another team from New York), Rodgers and his teammates must get back on track if they don’t want to fall too far behind the Vikings. On Sunday, they face a team which, on the contrary, is going through a good period. Since the return of Zach Wilson, the Jets continue.

Two victories in two games and hopes that come back. It’s always more pleasant when you show a positive balance sheet. But if we talk a lot about the pitcher in this meeting, the most important duel could rather be on the ground. Green Bay and New York are never better than when their running game is strong. For this Breece Hall at the Jets and Aaron Jones at Green Bay will be crucial. Both men have shown they are capable of carrying an attack on an encounter. The ability of these two formations to block opposing running backs could be the key to success in this meeting.

Coach: Don “Wink” Martindale

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
New York Giants (4-1) – Baltimore Ravens (3-2)

For once, the coach of the week is a defensive coordinator. It must be said that on the one hand, that the one nicknamed “Wink” is one of the most famous and recognized defensive minds in the league. On the other hand, he is very familiar with these two teams. Martindale was indeed for a long time (10 years) in the Ravens before being fired by John Harbaugh. Since then, he has followed Brian Daboll to New York and is part of those who are restoring their letters of nobility to the Giants. As proof, the franchise had not made such a good start (4-1) since 2009. This meeting will therefore be special for Wink Martindale.

But once again, he could have a central role. How to stop Lamar Jackson? This is the question that all the coordinators have been asking themselves for several seasons. He rubbed shoulders with him much more than the others during his years in Maryland. From there to have the answer? We’ll see it on Sunday. One thing is certain, the 2019 MVP should expect many blitzes. The Giants defense cracked Aaron Rodgers last week and planned to repeat. These two franchises have in any case a common goal: to find the playoffs!

The (other) division duels

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Indianapolis Colts (2-2-1) – Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3)

Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Seattle Seahawks (2-3) – Arizona Cardinals (2-3)

Kick-off in the night from Monday to Tuesday at 02:30
Los Angeles Chargers (3-2) – Denver Broncos (2-3)

Apart from this formidable Cowboys-Eagles which awaits us, there will be three other intra-division meetings. In AFC South first, Jacksonville and the Colts will try to take advantage of the Titans’ Bye Week to put pressure on Tennessee. During “the first leg”, the Jaguars had won. Indianapolis will want to avenge the affront by taking advantage of the few extra days of recovery, those who played during Thursday Night Football last week.

Still in AFC, in the South this time, Denver will again be in prime time. Despite average performance, the Broncos will once again be in the spotlight with this move to the Chargers. Russell Wilson’s teammates must react if they don’t want to let the bandwagon slip away. Finally, in the NFC, Arizona and Seattle want to switch to the right side after a lackluster start to the season. It will be Sunday in the second part of the evening.

The rest

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Atlanta Falcons (3-2) – San Francisco 49ers (3-2)

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Cleveland Browns (2-3) – New England Patriots (2-3)

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Miami Dolphins (3-2) – Minnesota Vikings (4-1)

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
New Orleans Saints (2-3) – Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Pittsburgh Steelers (1-4) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)

All the rest of these meetings will take place at 7 p.m. A series of matches that will give pride of place to AFC North. Cleveland will first receive the Patriots who could find Mac Jones. The two teams are one game under 50% and the objective is clear: to return to balance. The Bengals will play away. A move on the side of New Orleans which will not be easy against a big defense. Finally, Pittsburgh will certainly have the most complicated task with the reception of Tom Brady and the Buccaneers.

At the same time, San Francisco hopes to maintain its good momentum (two consecutive victories) by making life difficult for Marcus Mariota and the Falcons. Finally, another in-form team, Minnesota, moves. My Vikings have an appointment in Florida to face a franchise that has quarterback problems at the moment. The opportunity to chain a fifth victory in six games.

The posters

Kick-off Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Atlanta Falcons (3-2) – San Francisco 49ers (3-2)
Cleveland Browns (2-3) – New England Patriots (2-3)
Green Bay Packers (3-2) – New York Jets (3-2)
Indianapolis Colts (2-2-1) – Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3)
Miami Dolphins (3-2) – Minnesota Vikings (4-1)
New Orleans Saints (2-3) – Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)
New York Giants (4-1) – Baltimore Ravens (3-2)
Pittsburgh Steelers (1-4) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)