Week 6 NFL Best Bets

There are no more unbeaten teams in the NFL. Week 5 proved to be dangerous for favorites, as the Philadelphia Eagles and the Buffalo Bills suffered their first losses of the season. Additionally, the Los Angeles Rams fell at home as more than a touchdown favorite by the football betting odds on Thursday Night Football, and the Arizona Cardinals suffered one of the most embarrassing losses in recent memory with their fourth-quarter follies against the previously winless Tennessee Titans.

Will favorites continue to stumble in Week 6? 

Thursday Night Football

Philadelphia Eagles -7.5 at New York Giants

The Philadelphia Eagles were one of the many favorites that disappointed in Week 5. The NFL betting odds had Philadelphia favored by 4.5 points at home against the Denver Broncos, and it looked like the Eagles would cover the number after taking a 17-3 lead into the fourth quarter. However, the Broncos dominated the final frame and scored 18 straight points to hand the Eagles their first loss of the season.

Philadelphia should bounce back against its NFC East rival on Thursday Night Football. It is dangerous to lay points on the road on Thursday night given the short week tends to lead to tighter games, but the Eagles have dominated the Giants in recent years. Philly has won seven of its last eight games against Big Blue, and the Giants are a team without an identity.

The Giants followed up their upset win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4 by laying an egg against the previously winless New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Rookie Jaxson Dart is continuing to adjust to the speed of the NFL, and he is largely just dinking and dunking underneath without the presence of Malik Nabers to stretch defenses over the top. Dart is averaging a measly 5.2 YPA in his starts.

If Dart is unable to play due to a hamstring injury that has him listed as questionable, either Russell Wilson or Jameis Winston will get the start for the G Men. Both veteran quarterbacks are pretty limited at this stage in their careers, and we saw Wilson take on the Eagles when he was with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. Pittsburgh could only muster 163 total yards as Philly cruised to a two-touchdown victory.

Baltimore Ravens +7.5 vs. Los Angeles Rams

The bleeding has to stop for Baltimore soon if the Ravens want to return to the postseason. Baltimore has had a nightmare start with a 1-4 record coming into Sunday’s showdown with the Los Angeles Rams.

Lamar Jackson is doubtful to play, but there is an outside shot he takes the field after missing last week’s game against the Houston Texans. Jackson has been fantastic despite Baltimore’s struggles this season with a 10-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. If he can go, this line will move dramatically in Baltimore’s favor, as this number is currently priced as if backup Cooper Rush is guaranteed to start.

Rush shouldn’t be as mistake prone after throwing three interceptions against Houston. Derrick Henry is due for a bounceback performance too after a pair of costly fumbles in losses to Buffalo and Detroit followed by one of the worst performances of his career against the Texans. 

The Los Angeles Rams have had a few extra days to prepare after their loss on Thursday, but four of their five games have been decided by seven points or less. Their only win by more than one score came against the lowly Tennessee Titans, a team that should still be winless. 

Baltimore has had some real issues on defense this year, but the Ravens should be able to get some pressure on Matthew Stafford. The Rams have not been good with their pass protection with right tackle Rob Havenstein dealing with injuries, and that is likely to help a Ravens squad searching for answers on that side of the ball. Stafford is no longer mobile at 37 years old, so it is hard for him to make plays if the pocket collapses.

San Francisco 49ers +3 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield has to be considered one of the favorites to be named the 2025 NFL MVP. Mayfield has been phenomenal in leading Tampa Bay to a 4-1 start with a 3-0 road record despite not having many of his fellow offensive starters for at least a game or two. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft made history in last week’s gritty win over Seattle, becoming the first signal caller ever to throw for over 375 yards while failing to complete less than five passes. 

However, this is a tough situation for the Buccaneers. Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan are still injured, and top running back Bucky Irving is unlikely to play. That has put a ton of pressure on Mayfield as the Bucs have yet to have a player rush for more than 71 yards in a game. Additionally, the once vaunted Buccaneers defense is allowing 26.4 PPG given the struggles in the secondary. Antoine Winfield Jr. is not the same player he was after an injury riddled 2024 campaign, and Jamel Dean missed last week’s game against Seattle due to injury.

Meanwhile, San Francisco has had a few extra days to prepare for this game. The 49ers upset the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football in Week 5, and Kyle Shanahan is deep in his bag with new quarterback Mac Jones. Shanahan has shown once again why he is one of the best coaches when it comes to gameplanning, as Jones has been fantastic with Brock Purdy sidelined. Jones is averaging over 300 YPG with six touchdowns and an interception in three starts after being picked up off the scrap heap following stints with New England and Jacksonville.

None of the 49ers’ games have been decided by more than five points this season, so the points here are a plus. San Francisco shouldn’t have to deal with Florida humidity either as the weather report calls for a relatively mild afternoon for this time of year in Tampa Bay.