The NFL Roundup 2018: Week 6

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

If there’s one thing I’ve noticed when it comes to this time of year in the NFL, it’s that the focus of fans everywhere shifts to the teams that are struggling. Because everyone loves an underdog story, the kind of tale where someone rises to the occasion and makes wonders happen before our very eyes and that’s why we focus on the teams that aren’t faring so well during the season. Because we are dying to know as to whether or not they too will rise to the occasion and wow us with heroics on the field and that’s mostly what we are going to focus upon today, those teams that need to pull it together before their season slips away…
 
Can the New York Giants put aside their differences and work together as a team at last?
Make no mistake about it, the Giants 2018 season has been one of the weirdest campaigns that I’ve ever seen and not because of the losses, because those happen, but because of all the bizarre drama surrounding the team. I mean, I’ve just never seen a rapper having beef with a quarterback before but…here we are. But the big question of the hour, is whether or not this team can overcome this kind of silly and petty drama to play as a team for a change because that’s really their biggest issue. There’s no unity on this squad and without it, this strange drama and their losing ways will continue and honestly, at this point, I’m not sure how they overcome this kind of problem because everyone on this team seems more interested in looking out for themselves.
 
Will the Atlanta Falcons finally win a game, again?
I honestly feel bad for the Falcons this year. After all, they’re a team loaded to the gills with talented and dynamic players, and they’ve proven time and time again that they can hang with the best teams on the scoreboard, but they simply cannot finish games. They falter in the final moments and it’s led to some heartbreaking losses this season and a record that does not reflect their talent. So, one has to wonder, is this the week where the Falcons finally pull it all together and win a game once again? Well the answer to that one is a big fat, maybe. On the plus side, they’re facing off against Tampa Bay, a blasé team in its own right. But the key to this game is the Falcons defense. They have to tighten up and get off the field on third down and if they lock down the Tampa Bay offense, then they have a good chance of walking away from this one with the win. But if they go their usual route and let the Buccaneers score and score often, then it’s business as usual and they’ll fall to 1-5.
 
Can the Oakland Raiders finally put it all together and win another game as well?
Speaking of talented teams that have not lived up to expectations, let’s take a moment and talk about the Oakland Raiders. Because this team, also 1-4, has been an outright disappointment. While they know how to score and how to play decent defense, they simply collapse when teams stand up to them and they also suffer from the same problem as the Falcons, in that, they cannot close out a game to save their lives, so, with that in mind, can they pull off a win against a mediocre Seahawks squad? Well, that answer to that question is another maybe, unfortunately. Because the biggest problem when it comes to this team is that they let other teams get into their heads and are shell shocked when their opponent takes the lead so honestly, I think at this point a win is up to Head Coach Jon Gruden, who needs to keep this team level headed and focused and if he can do that, then they have a shot, but if the camera continually cuts to Chucky face and Coach Gruden ripping into his QB once again, expect more of the same. 

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The Most Fascinating Games to Watch This Weekend 

Los Angeles Rams at Denver Broncos
Broncos Stadium at Mile High – Denver, CO
4:05 p.m. EST – FOX 

This game fascinates me for one reason and one reason alone, the Denver Broncos. Because we already know the Rams are an elite squad, but this revamped Broncos roster and coaching staff, one that was designed to improve the toughness of the team and their performance on the field, has been a disappointment thus far. QB Case Keenum is erratic, the defense is no longer stout and the coaches, seem confused. Which means that this game is a referendum for Head Coach Vance Joseph and his squad and while I expect Denver to fall to Los Angeles in this game, simply because the Rams are an unstoppable force right now. If the Broncos fold and play like they did last week against the Jets, then expect the dysfunction in the locker room to grow, and the calls for Vance Joseph’s job to intensify. 

Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans
Nissan Stadium – Nashville, TN
4:25 p.m. EST – CBS

I said earlier that I was going to focus on teams that are struggling to rise to the occasion and at first glance, a matchup featuring two teams over .500 doesn’t quite seem like a game that meets that criteria, but there is team with a lot to prove here, and that’s Tennessee. Because they have been flying under the radar this season, putting together quite the magnificent season and a win over the mighty and tough Baltimore Ravens is a perfect way to get everyone’s attention in the football world, and make it known that they’re for real, and if they play their game like normal, wherein Marcus Mariota plays smart football and gets his team into the end zone and lets the defense handle the rest, then expect this team to walk away with one hell of a win, the kind that gets everyone talking about just how far they might go in the playoffs. 

Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots
Gillette Stadium – Foxboro, NE
Sunday Night Football – 8:20 p.m. EST – NBC 

​Normally when we talk about a particular team squaring off against the Patriots, they’re the ones with something to prove and beating the Pats would be a momentous occasion for that struggling team. But this time around, it’s New England with something to prove, because right now, they’re a mediocre team at best. Their defense is nothing special and the offense has been suspect all season long. Which means this is a big one for Tom Brady and his boys and they’re squaring off against an incredibly tough Kansas City squad that is fearless in their play. Which means we need to see the Pats of old if they expect to have a shot at winning this game and don’t be shocked, if New England falls to 3-3 in this one because the Chiefs are just that good.