Week 6 NFL underdog report: Old faces, new places

The NFL schedule seems awfully familiar this week as these teams look to pull the ‘ol upset. (For the latest odds, go to OddsChecker.)

Dallas Cowboys at L.A. Chargers (+2)

Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore spent four years as the OC for Dallas before being fired in the offseason. Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy was somewhat critical of Moore at the time, telling reporters, “I've been where Kellen has been: Kellen wants to light the scoreboard up, but I want to run the damn ball so I can rest my defense. I don't desire to be the No. 1 offense in the league.

Mission accomplished. The Cowboys 26.8 points per game are eighth-most in the NFL, right behind Moore’s Chargers who average 27.5 points per game. L.A.’s numbers would be higher had running back Austin Ekeler not missed the last three games with an ankle injury.

Ekeler’s been a full participant in practice this week and barring a setback, should get his second start of the season.  The seven-year veteran averaged 7.3 yards per carry and rushed for 117 yards in the season opener and could have a big day against a Cowboys defense allowing 123.4 yards on the ground so far.

Dallas had a bad night against the 49ers last week, losing 42-10 in prime time. This Sunday’s game will be the Cowboy’s second trip to the west coast in as many weeks.  If they turn over the ball like they did in San Francisco (three interceptions and a fumble), Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert will make them pay.

Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars (-4)

The Jaguars took Gardner Minshew in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft and thanks to a sprained AC joint to Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, he’ll get the start against his old team on Sunday.

The Colts have won every game that Minshew has played so far and are 27-18 all-time against their AFC South Rivals. Meanwhile, the Jaguars are 3-6 in games following a trip overseas and have lost four of their last five post-London games.

Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence has put up good numbers this year, but it hasn’t resulted in many points. Jacksonville’s 21 points per game put them in the bottom half of the league. The Colts have been slightly better with 23 points per game, but they’ve been without running back Jonathan Taylor for most of the year.

Taylor returned against the Titans last week but was out-carried 23-6 by Zach Moss who had 165 yards and two scores. Look for Taylor to be more involved in Jacksonville and for the Colts to avenge their Week 1 loss with an upset victory over the Jaguars 

New England Patriots at Las Vegas Raiders (-3)

After being outscored 72-3 in their last two games, New England has almost no chance for a winning season, but don’t expect head coach Bill Belichick to waive the white flag. 

Belichick is 0-2 against former Patriots coordinator (and current Raiders coach) Josh McDaniels, but if he can get by Las Vegas this week, he’ll pull even with a 19-19 record against former players and coordinators.

Statistically, a win against his former protege is entirely possible. Both teams are bottom-three for points scored so far and the Patriots have allowed only 3.4 more points per game than the Raiders.

In 2022, Las Vegas beat New England on an unbelievable final play when Jakobi Meyers fumbled a lateral pass that turned into a pick-six for the Raiders. Ironically, Meyers is with the Raiders now.