NFL WEEK 6: Our official predictions for who wins this weekend

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As you’ve probably heard by now, NFL ratings are way down this season. Just this past week, Monday Night Football was down 24% from last year. Afternoon games on both Fox and CBS are down by double figures, too.

Earlier this week The Atlantic’s Derek Thompson pointed to four reasons to explain the decline: the election (obviously); an increase in cord-cutting; what he calls the “technological explanation” (basically that platforms like Twitter, fantasy football, and the RedZone channel make the traditional viewing experience less entertaining); and that football is simply getting worse.

The first two explanations are virtually inarguable, and I’m inclined to agree with Thompson re: the technological explanation, even if – as he notes — it’s hard to really quantify how much something like Twitter chips into TV ratings. It’s that fourth explanation that is the really concerning one.

Take a look at the schedule of games this week: there are two, maybe three games that are really worth tuning into if you aren’t a diehard fan of a particular team. The Falcons at the Seahawks is one, and the Cowboys at the Packers is another. Maybe you can toss the Bengals at the Patriots in there, though the Bengals are 2-3. The three night games (Broncos at Chargers; Colts at Texans; Jets at Cardinals) are all duds.

If you haven’t heard, we’re in Peak TV (we’re also in peak “Peak TV”), and there’s too much other stuff to watch that’s flat-out better than these games.

And the problem is even greater than scheduling. According to FiveThirtyEight, there are only four teams with a 10% or greater chance to make the Super Bowl: the Vikings (15%), the Broncos (14%), the Steelers (12%), and the Seahawks (10%). The Patriots make the AFC Championship basically every year and yet they have just an 8% chance to make the Super Bowl.

It feels as though we know earlier than ever that most teams are going to be fine, but not especially exciting. That’s worrisome. Too much parity inevitably means too many boring games. And that’s something that’s not going away when the election is over.

Anyway, I had my best week of the year last week!

All lines, as always, courtesy of Vegas Insider.

Last week: 9-5

Season: 41-37-1