NFL Predictions Week 6: Last-Minute Picks and Advice for Sunday's Schedule

Although the NFL regular season hasn't hit the midpoint, some Week 6 games have significant playoff-picture implications.

Six matchups between teams with .500 records or better are on the ledger, with the main event occurring Sunday night, when the 5-0 Kansas City Chiefs face the 3-2 New England Patriots.

Week 6 Picks

Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings: Vikings 24, Cardinals 17

Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans: Bills 13, Texans 10

Carolina Panthers at Washington Redskins: Panthers 31, Redskins 17

Chicago Bears at Miami Dolphins: Bears 20, Dolphins 10

Indianapolis Colts at New York Jets: Colts 24, Jets 17

Los Angeles Chargers at Cleveland Browns: Browns 24, Chargers 20

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals: Bengals 24, Steelers 23

Seattle Seahawks vs. Oakland Raiders at Wembley Stadium in London: Raiders 35, Seahawks 34

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons: Falcons 38, Buccaneers 30

Los Angeles Rams at Denver Broncos: Rams 34, Broncos 27

Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans: Titans 16, Ravens 13

Jacksonville Jaguars at Dallas Cowboys: Jaguars 16, Cowboys 10

Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots: Chiefs 38, Patriots 34

San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers: Packers 31, 49ers 17

Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots

The Chiefs lead the AFC and have at least a two-game edge on every conference team not named the Cincinnati Bengals. For that, they can thank a dynamic offense that averages 35 points per game, which ranks second in the league.

Although the defense has not been strong for the most part (25.8 points per game allowed), that unit stepped up in a 30-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5. The Chiefs forced five turnovers and opened up a 20-0 halftime lead before cruising to a win, perhaps foreshadowing better defensive days.

New England struggled to start the year, winning an uninspiring 27-20 matchup with the Houston Texans before dropping games to the Jaguars and previously winless Detroit Lions by a combined 27 points.

However, the Pats have made the Super Bowl three times in the past four seasons, winning twice. They are coming on strong after winning two straight by a combined score of 76-31 and likely aren't going away quietly.

Wideout Julian Edelman's return from a suspension and Josh Gordon's addition have given ageless quarterback Tom Brady two excellent options he didn't have through the team's slow start. Tight end Rob Gronkowski is still one of the best in the business, and the running back tandem of Sony Michel and James White has combined for 411 yards from scrimmage on the recent winning streak.

Not only does this look like a great game on paper, but the potential playoff implications are massive. If the Chiefs win, they would essentially have a three-and-a-half-game lead over the Pats for the AFC's top slot with 10 games to go.

However, if New England wins, they will be just one game back and have the tiebreaker in hand with Kansas City.

As for how the game may play out, Chiefs wideout Tyreek Hill's speed may be the difference-maker. He's a significant problem for the rest of the NFL and should be against a Pats pass defense that ranks a below-average 21st in efficiency, per Football Outsiders.

New England also just allowed 24 points at home against a banged-up Indianapolis Colts team that was missing wideout T.Y. Hilton, tight end Jack Doyle and left tackle Anthony Castonzo, among others.

Hill is also a much better road producer, catching 101 passes for 1,423 yards and 12 touchdowns in 18 away games compared to 62 receptions for 778 yards and four scores in 18 home contests.

Perhaps it's a coincidence, but the wide receiver always seems to bring in it an opposing team's stadium. He did so when he caught seven passes for 133 yards and a touchdown versus the Patriots in a 42-27 season-opening win.

The Chiefs gave the New England defense serious problems that night, and now the team has Patrick Mahomes running the show behind center. The second-year pro has been fantastic, with 14 touchdown passes and just two interceptions through five games.

His rocket arm is also a perfect match with Hill, as the two can connect on deep balls to break games wide open, as they did in a 38-28 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1.

With Mahomes running the show and tossing passes to Hill, wideout Sammy Watkins, tight end Travis Kelce, running back Kareem Hunt and others, the Chiefs could win their first Super Bowl since 1970.

Although the Patriots are at home, take Mahomes, Hill and the Chiefs offense to dominate again in a close, high-scoring game.

Pick: Chiefs 38, Patriots 34