NFL Week 6 bold predictions: Bears find first win streak since 2021 season; Kyle Pitts finally hits 100 yards

Week 6 of the 2023 NFL season is underway, and there used to be with regards to not anything unexpected concerning the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs’ 19-8 win over the Broncos, instead of the NFL’s worst scoring protection conserving the champs below 20 issues. Kansas City has now gained 16 video games in a row towards their AFC West rival, tied for the third-longest profitable streak towards a unmarried opponent in league historical past.

Since the rest can occur in relation to the NFL — outdoor of the Broncos beating the Chiefs — what is subsequent, you ask? Well, listed here are 5 bold predictions for this weekend’s Week 6 slate.        

Bears defeat Vikings for first profitable streak since 2021 season, snap 10-game NFC North dropping streak  

(*6*)

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Saying a workforce can cross on a profitable streak, that means merely profitable two video games in a row, would not generally fall into the class of “bold.” It is for those Chicago Bears, who have not gained consecutive video games since Weeks 16 and 17 of the 2021 season. They have long gone a season and 1 / 4 with no profitable streak. That’s loopy. An even spicier component to this take is they’ll create this streak through beating an NFC North rival within the Minnesota Vikings. Chicago is lately on a 10-game dropping streak towards NFC North fighters. 

However, issues are having a look up within the Windy City. Quarterback Justin Fields has tied his single-game, career-high in passing touchdowns (4) in each and every of the closing two video games. 

Justin Fields’ stats this season

* Career-high 4 move TD in consecutive video games

Also, the Bears’ new most sensible receiver D.J. Moore has performed like Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss via his first 5 video games in Chicago. After totaling 230 receiving yards and 3 receiving touchdowns in Week 5 towards Washington, Moore now has 531 receiving yards, the fifth-most within the NFL, and 5 receiving touchdowns, tied for probably the most within the NFL, on 27 catches in 2023. That manufacturing makes Moore certainly one of best 3 gamers within the Super Bowl Era (since 1966) with 500 or extra receiving yards and 5 or extra receiving touchdowns in his first 5 video games with a brand new workforce, becoming a member of five-time Pro Bowler Andre Rison’s 1990 season with the Falcons and Moss’ 2007 season with the Patriots, during which he set the NFL document for receiving touchdowns (23). 

Their protection has additionally come to existence, matching the quantity of takeaways that they had within the first 4 weeks of the season (two) of their 40-20 win over the Commanders on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 5 (additionally two). They additionally had extra sacks (5) than that they had of their first 4 weeks of the season (two). Meanwhile, the Vikings are 1-4 with 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Justin Jefferson, on injured reserve, and their protection is permitting 24.4 issues in keeping with recreation this season, twenty third within the league. Chicago, your profitable streak is incoming. 

Lamar Jackson throws 3+ passing TDs for first time in additional than a yr as Ravens win in London

Lamar Jackson is balling out at the moment. He is lately finishing 69.9% of his passes, a career-high and the fifth-best within the league. However, the Ravens quarterback has but to throw 3 passing touchdowns in a recreation since Week 3 of the 2022 season towards the Patriots. That’s a very long time for a former NFL MVP. His drought will result in Week 6 towards a Titans workforce that has surrendered 14 performs of 25 yards or extra, tied for the 0.33 maximum within the league.

Jackson’s Pro Bowl tight finish Mark Andrews has 4 or extra catches in all 4 of his video games performed this season, 3 receiving touchdowns (tied for probably the most amongst tight ends) and 4 drops this season (probably the most amongst tight ends). Baltimore as a workforce dropped 5 passes of their 17-10 loss on the Steelers in Week 5, probably the most through any NFL team in a recreation this season. There isn’t any method that occurs once more. Positive regression and a vulnerable Titans protection result in a large day for Jackson.

Kyle Pitts is going for over 100 receiving yards for first time since rookie yr in 2021

The Falcons made Kyle Pitts the highest-drafted tight finish within the Common Draft Era (since 1967), and he burst directly to the NFL scene as a rookie, reputedly validating that variety early. He totaled 1,026 receiving yards on 68 catches, making him certainly one of best two tight ends ever to have a season with 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie, becoming a member of Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (1961 season). However, he hasn’t come with reference to that stage of manufacturing since, coping with a rotating door at quarterback and a knee damage that lower his 2022 marketing campaign quick through seven video games. 

Kyle Pitts’ profession stats

However towards the Texans in Week 5, Pitts had certainly one of his maximum concerned soccer video games in very long time. He totaled 87 receiving yards and 7 catches on 11 objectives within the Falcons’ 21-19 victory. The 11 objectives had been his maximum since the 2020 SEC Championship Game towards Alabama when he used to be on the University of Florida. The 87 receiving yards had been his maximum since Week 3 of the 2022 season and his seven catches had been his maximum since Week 7 of the 2021 season. 

Pitts hasn’t damaged the century mark in receiving since his rookie yr, making this prediction bold, however towards a Commanders protection that allowed D.J. Moore to general 230 yards in Week 5, the rest is conceivable. The Commanders have additionally allowed 33 or extra issues in 4 consecutive video games, one recreation clear of tying the longest single-season streak in NFL historical past. Plenty of probabilities for Pitts to move off. 

Lions ranking 20+ issues in 15 consecutive video games to increase franchise document in spite of dealing with stingy Bucs ‘D’

The 2023 season is one the Lions and their enthusiasts were ravenous for. The franchise is 4-1 and in first position within the NFC North, sitting 3 or extra video games above. 500 for the first time since 2016, snapping the longest energetic drought within the league. Dating again to closing season, Detroit has scored 20 or extra issues in 14 consecutive video games, a franchise document, as quarterback Jared Goff has performed the most productive soccer of his profession. 

Across his closing 15 begins, the Lions are 12-3. Goff has thrown 26 touchdowns and best 4 interceptions with a 67.4% finishing touch proportion. In that span, Goff ranks 0.33 within the league in passer score (104.) and is tied for fourth in passing touchdowns and passing yards (3,799). This season, Goff’s Lions are averaging 29.6 issues in keeping with recreation, the fourth-most within the NFL. 

However, the NFC South’s first-place workforce, the Buccaneers (3-1), have held their fighters to 17 or fewer issues in 3 in their 4 video games this season (17.0 issues in keeping with recreation allowed, eighth-best in NFL). Something has to present in Week 6, and it is the Buccaneers protection. The Lions, due to Goff’s arm and working again David Montgomery’s legs — his six speeding touchdowns are tied for probably the most via 5 video games to start out a season in workforce historical past in conjunction with Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders (1991) and Jamaal Williams (2022) — Detroit wins the struggle towards the immovable object to attain over 20 issues for the fifteenth time in a row. 

C.J. Stroud throws first profession interception vs. Saints

The superb rookie quarterback within the NFL this season has been second-overall select C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans. He has seven landing passes and no interceptions on 186 profession makes an attempt, probably the most with out an interception in league historical past. His 1,461 passing yards are probably the most through any rookie in any 5 recreation span since no less than 1950. 

However, towards a Saints protection this is permitting the fourth-fewest issues in keeping with recreation within the NFL this season (15.2) and that has hauled in seven interceptions, tied for the third-most within the NFL, Stroud’s interception-free streak, the most productive in NFL historical past, will come to an finish.