NFL Week 6 picks with AI insights for all 15 games
Handing out NFL superlatives after the first month of the season
USA TODAY Sports’ Joe Rivera and Chris Bumbaca hand out their NFL superlatives after the first month of the 2025 season.
For the first time in the 2025 NFL season, Microsoft Copilot AI is coming off a week during which it did not post a winning record with its NFL picks.
Copilot went just 5-9 straight up in a Week 5 that was characterized by upsets. Like many, Copilot did not expect the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs to lose in their prime-time matchups. It also lost a couple of close games Sunday, as the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins let it down by blowing big leads.
As such, it stands to reason that Copilot will be able to rebound in NFL Week 6 as USA TODAY Sports continues its experiment with the AI chatbot.
Per usual, the process of collecting Copilot’s picks was simple. The AI chatbot was prompted to pick a winner and provide a score for all 15 of the NFL’s Week 6 matchups. The basic form of the query used to generate the results was as follows:
This process was then repeated for all of the NFL’s Week 5 matchups, with the appropriate games being swapped in for each additional prompt.
Copilot was usually able to interpret the prompt without issue. However, on occasion, the chatbot occasionally produced outdated or incorrect information, particularly pertaining to injured players around the NFL. That wasn’t overly surprising, as some Large Language Models (LLMs) struggle to keep up with the latest sports news and updates.
When Copilot produced these errors, the chatbot was simply prompted to fix the errors and reassess.
Below is a summation of Copilot’s picks for Week 6, along with a brief, human-crafted analysis of each of the chatbot’s answers.
NFL Week 6 picks: AI predicts scores for every game
- Copilot’s Week 5 results: 5-9
- Copilot’s 2025 season record: 44-33-1
Philadelphia Eagles 27, New York Giants 16
AI’s take: Copilot pointed to the disparity between the team’s red-zone efficiency as the main reason the Eagles will win this one. Philadelphia’s 92.3% TD red-zone rate ranks best in the league while New York’s mark of 31.58% ranks last. It also noted Malik Nabers‘ absence would loom large for an “already struggling” Giants offense.
Our take: On a short week, it’s typically best to back the better team. Despite losing in Week 5, Philadelphia has a major advantage over New York. Expect the Eagles to earn a solid victory and try to get A.J. Brown and Saquon Barkley more involved offensively.
Denver Broncos 27, New York Jets 14
AI’s take: Copilot was critical of Justin Fields, who it says “has padded stats late in games” while struggling throughout most of the Jets’ five losses. The chatbot also highlighted the difference between the scoring defenses, as Denver (16.8 points per game allowed) ranks second-best in the NFL, while New York (31.4 points per game allowed) ranks second-worst.
Our take: Copilot is on the right track here. Fields has a terrible matchup against a Denver defense that has limited opposing quarterbacks to just 15 rushing yards across five games. Unless he can make massive strides as a passer, this London contest could end up being a resounding Broncos win.
Indianapolis Colts 28, Arizona Cardinals 17
AI’s take: Copilot gave Indianapolis the edge on both offense and defense in this matchup. It likes how Daniel Jones is playing and believes he will perform well against a Cardinals team that has allowed the fifth-most passing yards per game thus far in 2025.
Our take: Arizona has lost three consecutive games on walk-off field goals, so maybe this will be closer than Copilot’s projected score. Still, it’s hard to argue with the chatbot’s analysis after watching the Cardinals unravel against the Titans following Emari Demercado’s shocking fumble.
Los Angeles Chargers 24, Miami Dolphins 21
AI’s take: Copilot noted Justin Herbert‘s recent struggles with interceptions as a minor cause for concern but noted Los Angeles has “a more consistent offense” than Miami. It expressed concerns about the Chargers potentially lacking explosiveness with Omarion Hampton out, but it still has Los Angeles emerging with the win.
Our take: Copilot’s analysis seems sensible. A fully healthy Chargers squad would likely hold a significant advantage over the Dolphins, but without Hampton, their sputtering offense – which has averaged 14 points per game over their back-to-back losses – could keep this game close. Still, the Chargers should find a way to win this one over the 1-4 Dolphins.
New England Patriots 24, New Orleans Saints 20
AI’s take: Copilot lauded New England’s “balanced attack” on offense and is encouraged by the “strong chemistry” Drake Maye is showing with Stefon Diggs. The chatbot also noted Spencer Rattler was “improving” but feels the Patriots are the better bet to win in Week 6.
Our take: The Saints are hard to beat at home. The Patriots certainly have the talent needed to win, but will they be fully focused after earning a statement, road win over the Bills on “Sunday Night Football?” The answer to that will likely determine the winner of this game.
Pittsburgh Steelers 24, Cleveland Browns 14
AI’s take: What did Copilot think of Dillon Gabriel‘s debut? It said the rookie “showed flashes but remains inconsistent.” That gives the Steelers the quarterback edge in this “gritty AFC North battle” with Aaron Rodgers.
Our take: The Browns couldn’t beat a significantly banged-up Vikings team in Week 5. Now, Cleveland is poised to be jet-lagged coming home from London against a well-rested Pittsburgh team. That makes the Steelers an easy side to back in Week 6.
Dallas Cowboys 31, Carolina Panthers 21
AI’s take: Copilot was impressed by the Cowboys’ “dominant” win over the Jets in Week 5 and expressed confidence Javonte Williams and Dak Prescott – who it said is playing at an MVP-caliber level – will continue to play well in Week 6.
Our take: Bryce Young, Rico Dowdle and the Panthers offense have shown signs of life in recent weeks, so they could have a solid day against Dallas’ porous defense. Still, it’s hard not to back the Cowboys in this matchup considering how explosive their offense has been.
Seattle Seahawks 24, Jacksonville Jaguars 20
AI’s take: Before you ask, Copilot isn’t discounting the Jaguars‘ Week 5 win over the Chiefs. The chatbot simply views this contest as “one of the most evenly matched games of Week 6,” as it has been impressed by Sam Darnold and a Seattle run defense it called “elite.” It believes those two factors could ultimately swing the game in the Seahawks’ favor.
Our take: Copilot is right, this is an evenly matched game. But man, it’s hard to recommend picking against the Jaguars at home after their last-minute win over the Chiefs. Trevor Lawrence looked great in that matchup, and Liam Coen may finally be unlocking the former No. 1 overall pick’s skill set.
Los Angeles Rams 31, Baltimore Ravens 17
AI’s take: Copilot referred to the Ravens as having suffered a “defensive collapse” during the 2025 NFL season. Baltimore ranks last in the league in scoring defense, so the chatbot doesn’t believe the Ravens will be able to effectively contain a Rams offense that has been getting excellent production from Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua.
Our take: Add in Lamar Jackson‘s unknown status and the plethora of defensive injuries with which the Ravens are dealing and this seems like another bad spot for Baltimore. The team’s Week 7 bye can’t get here soon enough.
Las Vegas Raiders 23, Tennessee Titans 20
AI’s take: Copilot didn’t seem overly excited about this battle between 1-4 teams. It noted that both the Titans and Raiders have “struggling offenses and porous defenses.” However, the chatbot believes Ashton Jeanty is best suited to take advantage of a Titans defense that allows 146.8 rushing yards per game.
Our take: The Titans have the sixth-worst defensive EPA per play this season, so Copilot’s assessment seems fair. Jeanty and the Raiders will likely have a slight advantage in this matchup.
Green Bay Packers 27, Cincinnati Bengals 20
AI’s take: The Bengals traded for Joe Flacco on Tuesday. If he can start Sunday, Copilot believes Cincinnati will be able to keep the game within striking distance. The chatbot likes Flacco’s “Super Bowl pedigree” and thinks he will be able to better take advantage of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins than Jake Browning.
Our take: Copilot’s take on Flacco may be overly optimistic, as he completed just 58.1% of his passes for 815 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions in four starts with the Browns. As such, the Packers should have a chance to win this one by double digits against a weak Bengals defense.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27, San Francisco 49ers 23
AI’s take: Copilot is a big fan of Baker Mayfield, praising him for his “clutch performances” in several of Tampa Bay’s close wins. It also expressed that the Buccaneers’ depth has “held up better” than the 49ers’ in the wake of injuries to key offensive contributors for both teams.
Our take: Perhaps Copilot is discounting San Francisco’s “Thursday Night Football” victory over the Rams in Week 5. The 49ers could end up winning this one coming off the mini-bye, especially if some of their injured pass-catching weapons – Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall and George Kittle – can come back in Week 6.
Detroit Lions 31, Kansas City Chiefs 27
AI’s take: Could the Chiefs really fall to 2-4 to open the 2025 NFL season? Copilot thinks so. The AI chatbot opined the Lions might be “the most complete team in the NFL right now,” so it’s happy to back them in this “potential Super Bowl preview.”
Our take: Detroit has averaged 40.25 points per game during its four-game winning streak. The Lions have the offensive firepower needed to go toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes, though beating the two-time MVP at Arrowhead Stadium will be no easy task.
Buffalo Bills 27, Atlanta Falcons 21
AI’s take: Copilot thinks this game “could be closer than expected.” Why? It noted the Falcons’ top-rated passing defense and Bijan Robinson‘s matchup against a bottom-five Bills run defense as reasons Atlanta could find a path to victory. Still, the chatbot likes Josh Allen to bounce back after a prime-time loss to the Patriots.
Our take: Michael Penix Jr. hasn’t been consistent this season, so it’s hard to recommend backing the Falcons, even if they profile as a tougher-than-expected matchup for the Bills.
Washington Commanders 27, Chicago Bears 22
AI’s take: Copilot does not believe the Bears will get vengeance against Jayden Daniels after his unbelievable Hail Mary last season. It expects a high-scoring game between the two teams but thinks Daniels’ dual-threat ability and the emerging Bill Croskey-Merritt will keep Washington in front.
Our take: Daniels’ presence in Week 5 opened up Washington’s running game, so the Commanders should maintain an edge over Caleb Williams and Co.
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