Week 6 of the NFL season is upon us, and that means it's time for another round of bold predictions. As always, this week's edition of fearless prognostications includes a macho helping of audaciousness and abandon as we head into Sunday and Monday's contests. Warning: these predictions are not for the faint of heart.
Big Ben, Steelers will dismantle struggling Dolphins' defense
The Pittsburgh Steelers face a Miami Dolphins defense primed to be harpooned. Ben Roethlisberger owns mismatches across the formation. Against one of the worst corner groups in the NFL, Antonio Brown will have his way. Sammie Coates owns deep speed to burn the Dolphins. Miami has given up the sixth-most yards to tight ends. Le'Veon Bell is a ridiculous mismatch with Dolphins linebackers. If Reshad Jones (groin) can't go, Miami's secondary will be without its one playmaker. All these signs point to a huge day for Big Ben. Legendary huge. The Steelers love throwing in the red zone, meaning Roethlisberger will get plenty of chances to toss TDs. He'll match the mark for most in an NFL game: seven.
- -- Kevin Patra*
Todd Gurley will rack up 128 yards against Lions
Todd Gurley already has 288 yards and three touchdowns this year but does not have a single 100-yard game to his name in 2016. That will change on Sunday against the Detroit Lions, where Gurley will break out for 128 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Indianapolis Colts were the only team not to put up at least 100 yards rushing against the Lions this year. Detroit's defense gave up 116 yards to the Philadelphia Eagles a week ago. The game will be a breakthrough of sorts for the Rams who, despite their winning record, have been on a lengthy search to establish their hard-nosed identity. Gurley fantasy owners will rejoice.
- -- Conor Orr*
Kaepernick, Hyde, Kerley combine for 220 rushing yards in loss
Viewers of all ages are bracing for the worst as the Fro from Frisco takes Buffalo. Having not started since Week 9 of 2015, Kaepernick is finally back under center for San Francisco, and while the atmosphere for his return is not ideal -- rainy Orchard Park in October -- something tells us the stars will briefly align in his favor. Chip Kelly's 49ers will push their league-leading pace against the Bills' D, developing a run-to-pass ratio so lopsided that, in envy, Rex Ryan develops hot flashes. Harkening back to the old days/four years ago, QB1 will run halfback options to Hyde on 67 percent of the plays and triple options to Kerley on 14 percent, misdirecting sack artist Lorenzo Alexander and tackle maven Zach Brown. San Fran's time of possession advantage will be canceled out by the Niners' inability to find the end zone, eventually having to rely on Kap's malnourished right arm in the red zone, and the Bills will steal a 13-12 stinker at home.
-- Jeremy Bergman
A myriad of quarterbacks lead Browns to first win
The Browns have had their starting quarterback complete exactly two games healthy -- a 30-24 overtime loss to the Dolphins and a 31-20 loss to the Redskins -- this season, and have had a total of four signal-callers take the field. One of those was among Nashville's most attractive and is also no longer on the roster. Another is dealing with a fractured coracoid bone, which I'd bet 85 percent of the football-watching world didn't know about until Tuesday of Week 2. The point is, stability and Browns quarterbacks are water and oil.
That's what makes this week so intriguing. Cleveland will see Cody Kessler, who couldn't finish last week's blowout loss to the Patriots due to injury, once again take the field as the starter. The Browns recently lost one of their best two linemen in Joel Bitonio, making the unit even more of a sieve than it already was. We're not out to predict health problems, but we will venture to say that not one, not two, but three quarterbacks will take snaps for Cleveland on Sunday. We'll see the usual mix of Kessler and gadget QB Terrelle Pryor, and even get a glimpse of Hollywood Kevin Hogan, recently promoted from the practice squad, because at this rate, it's safer to expect the unexpected with the Browns. But there's good news! The trio of quarterbacks -- dare we say former emergency QB Andrew Hawkins also gets in the mix?! -- leads the Browns to an improbable road win over the Titans in Tennessee, where Cleveland has historically secured wild victories on the backs of Brian Hoyer and Travis Benjamin, and Tim Couch and Dennis Northcutt. This time, it comes on the backs of Kessler, Hogan, Pryor, Hawkins -- heck, even break out Ricardo Louis and Rashard Higgins. Why not give the winning field goal to Cody Parkey, who's due for some redemption? It's going to take a village to finally get the Browns off the schneid.
-- Nick Shook
