Week 6 AFC predictions: Expect struggles for Bills’ Josh Allen and this rookie QB

Some quarterbacks are soaring (Denver’s Bo Nix), while others are struggling (Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson, both Raiders QBs).

How will they perform in Week 6? Ahead of this week’s schedule, Yardbarker NFL writers offer a prediction for every AFC team:

AFC East

BUFFALO BILLS (3-2) | QB Josh Allen’s turnover issues resurface | Since his debut in 2018, Allen has a league-leading 104 turnovers, but he has taken better care of the ball this season, only fumbling twice through five games and not tossing an interception. But Allen has 18 turnovers against the Jets — his most against a single team — and those struggles should persist during Monday’s road matchup. Expect the two-time Pro Bowler to toss two interceptions.

MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-3) | No game, bye week

NEW YORK JETS (2-3) | Offense enjoys season-high scoring outburst | After former HC Robert Saleh took the fall for the underperforming offense and was fired Tuesday, the pressure is on for the Aaron Rodgers-led unit to turn the corner at home Monday against Buffalo. Although OC Nathaniel Hackett could still be the team’s play-caller, expect the offense to play with a new level of intensity, scoring a season-high 28 points, with RB Breece Hall rushing for more than 100 yards and two touchdowns.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-4) | QB Drake Maye has a rough first career start | Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, is set to make his first career start during Sunday’s home clash with Houston. Will he spark an offense that ranks 31st in scoring? Maye is an upgrade over former starter Jacoby Brissett, but the rookie will have trouble producing against the Texans, whose imposing defense allows the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (173.4) and has the eighth-most sacks in the league (15). — Colum Dell

AFC West

DENVER BRONCOS (3-2) | Rookie quarterback Bo Nix finishes with two-plus passing TDs | Nix has seemingly found his groove during a three-game win streak, completing 63.6 percent of his passes for 482 yards, three TDs and no interceptions. Nix and Co. will keep rolling in Sunday’s home game vs. the Chargers, who have lost five straight in Denver.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (5-0) | No game, bye week

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-3) | Defense allows 20 points or more for second consecutive game | Per NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins will be placed on injured reserve after undergoing foot surgery Tuesday, a costly blow for a defense that’s 28th in the league in points allowed (26.2). Wilkins is second on the team in sacks (two) through five games. His absence will exacerbate the unit’s problems in Sunday’s home matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2).

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (2-2) | QB Justin Herbert throws one or more interceptions | Through his first four starts, Herbert has only one interception, but don’t be surprised if he tosses one or more in Sunday’s road game against the Broncos. Denver’s secondary features star cornerback Patrick Surtain II, who had two interceptions in a 34-18 Week 5 win over the Raiders, including a 100-yard pick-six. — Clark Dalton

AFC North

BALTIMORE RAVENS (3-2) | RB Derrick Henry continues TD streak | Henry has scored at least one touchdown in every game this season, and he’ll have a good chance to continue that streak at home against the Commanders. Washington ranks 22nd in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (130). Henry had the chance to close out the overtime win in Week 5 over the Bengals and could get the same opportunity in a Week 6 matchup that could be a shootout.

CINCINNATI BENGALS (1-4) | Defense has another game to forget | The defense is allowing the second-most points per game (29) and seventh-most total yards per game (365.4), and things might only get worse after losing first-round safety Dax Hill to a torn ACL. Cincinnati has a favorable road matchup against the 2-3 Giants on “Sunday Night Football,” but this defense might make New York look good for paying quarterback Daniel Jones $40M per year. Once again, it will likely be up to QB Joe Burrow and the offense to deliver a win.

CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-4) | Deshaun Watson has first 200+ passing yard game of season | Following a third straight loss, head coach Kevin Stefanski said the Browns are “not changing quarterbacks.” It wasn’t the news many Browns fans wanted to hear after Watson became the first QB this season to have multiple games with a single-digit QBR, but it seems he’ll get the opportunity to bounce back against the Eagles’ eighth-worst passing defense (237 yards per game). Watson has yet to throw for 200-plus yards in a game this season, but that should change on the road Sunday.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (3-2) | Face both Raiders QBs | On Monday, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said “he’s still evaluating” who will be the team’s starting quarterback in Week 6.  Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell played in Week 5 and the same could happen this week with a tough home game against the Steelers, who are allowing the second-fewest points per game (14.6) and eighth-fewest total yards per game (298). Pittsburgh could use a dominant performance after two straight losses, and Las Vegas’ quarterback situation sets it up to have exactly that. — Aaron Becker

AFC South

HOUSTON TEXANS (4-1) | Defensive line will feast on another rookie QB | With veteran Jacoby Brissett benched, No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye will make his first NFL start for the Patriots (1-4) in Week 6, providing a mouthwatering matchup for Houston’s defensive line. New England’s offensive line ranks last in pressures allowed per snap (31.4 percent), while Houston owns the seventh-best pressure rate in the league (27.0 percent). In Week 2, the unit sacked No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams of the Bears seven times, a feat it might repeat Sunday on the road.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (2-3) | Colts defense will snap dubious streak | The Colts enter Week 6 with the NFL’s worst defense, allowing 419 yards per game. Meanwhile, they’re only the 11th team in the league’s history to allow 383 yards or more over the first five games of a season. However, Indianapolis will break that streak at Tennessee on Sunday, taking on an offense that ranks 30th overall and 30th in yards per game at home (268.5) this season.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (0-4) | Hopeless pass defense will get burned again | Opposing aerial attacks have tormented the Jaguars, who’ve allowed the league’s second-most yards (1,494) and touchdowns (10) to QBs this season. In Week 5, 39-year-old Joe Flacco torched Jacksonville for 359 yards and three TD passes. On Sunday at the Chicago Bears (3-2), they’ll have a challenging task in stopping No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, who, after early struggles, has completed 67.3 percent of his passes for 827 yards, five touchdowns and only two interceptions since Week 3.

TENNESSEE TITANS (1-3) | Chigoziem Okonkwo will keep TE scoring streak alive against Colts | The 2022 fourth-round pick has yet to find his footing this season, recording eight receptions (10 targets) for 51 yards and a touchdown. But Okonkwo will have his breakout game of the 2024 campaign Sunday at home against the Colts (2-3). Indianapolis has allowed scores to tight ends in three straight games. Only two teams in the NFL have given up more receptions (31) to the position this season. — Mike Santa Barbara