2026 NFL Season ~ Week Six

1 day ago

6 min read

Emmie and Canasta with Bob… offering up the Golden Choices

There used to be a fairly basic, as in really basic and minimal, way of viewing the NFL season to gauge what was going on. Simply put, measure things every four games. Divide the run roughly every month into quarters. Or, as the tides shift and weeks overlap months, look at every four games.

It wasn’t in any way scientific or perfect. But it did accomplish – in some ways if only by offering a no frills overview that got you thinking way too much – two things.

First, it gave an opportunity – especially early in the year when considering the inconsistencies of the first games after training camp, which are often the first games played for some of these players – for some streakiness that might be around to settle down. A sudden loss in week one, followed by Myles Garret heading off to the sidelines for a while with an injury. We weren’t expecting that. Or teams going 4-0 or 3-1, possibly flying under the radar with a quick win or two in games that didn’t gather a ton of attention, now get a bit of attention all because you looked at the records. Measure after one game, results are filled with stunning developments and overreaction. Measure after four games, there’s a bit more depth and information available to attempt sorting out the craziness.

Second, it’s not easy to gain ground once you’ve lost it. Going 2-2 or 3-1 month after month is at least a steady march toward an even record. Great? No. Not necessarily. But if you emerge from the first twelve games at a mark of 7-5 or 6-6, you likely still have playoff opportunities based solely on your own results and not that nasty concept of having to win out and hope for help.

Also, take a look at the Rams. Are they 2-3 and three games behind the 5-0 49ers? Keep in mind, a divisional loss counts twice as much since it also puts you a step behind in head-to-head tie-breakers. That means the Rams – with losses to the 49ers, Broncos, and Bills that I’m not as amazingly concerned by regardless of the hype, since it’s a brutal start to the season – do have work ahead of them in order to get into the playoff picture and be that dangerous team no one wants to play.

Continuing with that second idea in a slightly different way, there’s a nasty side to the business as well. Lose in the opening week, you can win the next and shake it off. People still see the Rams as a legit contender. And they should, losses aren’t hideous for the conference, and they play the 49ers again. Keep losing though, and, well… if you emerge from those first four weeks at 1-3 or even 0-4, not only do you have a ton of issues that likely need to be addressed in-house, there’s a great likelihood that you have a huge deficit to make up in the division as well.

Proof?

The Chargers? They started out 0-4 heading into last week’s contest against the Broncos. Not only a rough game to play, but they were already four games behind the 4-0 Chiefs in the AFC West. Today they have their fifth effort done, with another loss.

So, we have a decent amount of information to use. Might help me. Might not. Emmie and Canasta don’t care. Chances are good, they get the advantages from that scenario.

Fourteen games with four teams on their bye week. Odds drawn from USA Today.

Seattle (-2.5) at Denver

Ok, before we get too excited here.

First, Denver has looked good under Sean Payton. Generally winning every game they should, several you won’t have expected, and playing well consistently since he took over.

Second, yes, they are 3-2 this year with two losses by double-digits. Do you know who those losses came against? That would be San Francisco and Kansas City in road games.

Bob: Denver

Emmie: Denver

Canasta: Denver

Houston at Jacksonville (-2.5)

Couple of big things to consider here.

First up, the defenses. Houston came into the 2026 season expecting to put one of the top units in the league on the field. After four weeks, it hadn’t happened. Bottom third in points allowed. Jacksonville, though, had been downright stingy, as one of the top two teams in the league for points surrendered. Both teams won last week, looking a bit more like what you would expect rather than what we’ve been getting.

Second, welcome to London. Annual home game overseas for the Jaguars. Coming into this season, they had actually gone 7-7 in games played in England. They’re now 8-7, thanks to a gift from the Eagles last week. (And that was a gift.) Be honest, that’s likely better than you thought considering how inconsistent they’ve been over the years.

Tough game. Houston absolutely needs it more. I like the way Jacksonville is playing though.

Bob: Jacksonville

Emmie: Houston

Canasta: Houston

Chicago (-1) at Atlanta

There’s a chance Caleb Williams returns this week as I write this. While I have been impressed by a lot of what Atlanta is doing, I’m still looking at them trailing Carolina in their division, which makes it hard to see them as a lock to accomplish anything.

Bob: Chicago

Emmie: Chicago

Canasta: Chicago

Baltimore (-5) at Cleveland

No matter what you want to tell me about the Browns, they have been outscored 93-112 this season. They lost to the Jets and are not exactly positioned to boast about any of their three wins, regardless of how unexpected any of them may have been.

Bob: Baltimore

Emmie: Baltimore

Canasta: Cleveland

Tennessee at Indianapolis (-7)

58 points scored.

Not even 12 points per game.

There is no way Tennessee could be expected to win this game, nor should anyone think it will be competitive.

Bob: Indianapolis

Emmie: Indianapolis

Canasta: Tennessee

New York (Jets) at New England (-7)

Not sure why, but this game has all the appearances of a huge week for the Patriots. After losing to Jacksonville, in what was a dismantling by the Jaguars, they stormed back to defeat Buffalo on the road and soundly romp Las Vegas.

I trust Mike Vrabel to keep the focus in place. This is a game that has to go in the win column. And, pushing Drake Maye’s confidence upward with a victory will mean keeping the horses running into the later portions of the contest.

Bob: New England

Emmie: New York

Canasta: New England

New Orleans (-1.5) at New York (Giants)

I want to believe the Saints are moving in the right direction. But their defense is allowing more than 30 points per game. Difficult to pick them here, even though I really should.

Bob: New York

Emmie: New Orleans

Canasta: New York

Carolina (-1) at Philadelphia

Another strange game to view.

Philly has looked horrendous this season. Horrendous. After a blindingly awful finish to a brutal effort in London, they come home to play a Carolina team that once again looks playful and fun.

Eventually, playful and fun needs to result in substantial and good, or it’s all just highlight reels to season-ticket marketing. For now though, take a moment to look at how Bryce Young is playing this year. You’ll be stunned. So, I’ll take the ride with the Panthers.

Bob: Carolina

Emmie: Philadelphia

Canasta: Philadelphia

Pittsburgh (-2.5) at Tampa Bay

Somehow, Pittsburgh is going to win enough games that in late November someone is going to try and sell them as a dangerous playoff possibility. It is very important you realize they are barely threatening enough to approach a winning record. Playoffs at all? Hardly.

But this is exactly the type of game the Steelers will win so that those November conversations happen.

Bob: Pittsburgh

Emmie: Pittsburgh

Canasta: Canasta

Arizona at Los Angeles (Rams) (-12.5)

I know. I see it. But there is no chance the Cardinals are winning this game. None.

And, while they may not win the division, the Rams are still a team that – if they get healthy and that roster on the field together – no one will take for granted.

Bob: Los Angeles

Emmie: Los Angeles

Canasta: Los Angeles

Los Angeles (Chargers) at Kansas City (-8)

Anyone like the Chargers right now?

(Not going to even ask a second time.)

Bob: Kansas City

Emmie: Los Angeles

Canasta: Kansas City

Buffalo (-4.5) at Las Vegas

Yeah. Sure. I see the Raiders pulling this one out.

Hey, look, I like what the Raiders are building. I even like some of the parts they’ve assembled to be competitive this year and finish above expectations.

But the Bills in 2026 are a different kind of opponent for a team trying to be solid and a threat in 2027 or 2028.

Bob: Buffalo

Emmie: Las Vegas

Canasta: Buffalo

Dallas at Green Bay (-1.5)

I could not be less interested in this game. Could not. Which, in part is an amazing thing to say about any time the Cowboys and Packers are playing. Even more amazing when you realize I’d rather watch the Panthers and Eagles this week.

Anyone else notice the Packers are having a rough go of it when it comes to scoring this season? Just checking.

Bob: Dallas

Emmie: Dallas

Canasta: Dallas

Washington at San Francisco (-7.5)

Normally, this game would give me hesitations. If San Francisco was on the road, I might be tempted to pick Washington. Big spread. Potential in the Commanders for keeping it close and even delivering some late heroics. But the 49ers are playing at home, are 5-0, and are averaging a score around 30-18 in their victories.

Bob: San Francisco

Emmie: San Francisco

Canasta: Washington

WEEK FIVE RESULTS

Bob: 10-4-1

Emmie: 6-8-1

Canasta: 7-7-1

OVERALL

Bob: 38-38-3

Emmie: 38-38-3

Canasta: 31-45-3