By Darin Hayes Picking Up Steam: Ed Kleese and Darin Hayes Narrow the Gap with NFL Week 6 Bold Predictions
The 2025 NFL season is heating up, and so is the competition between Pigskin Dispatch‘s football experts, Darin Hayes and Ed Clees. Week 5 delivered a series of landmark results that are starting to define the season, and the prognosticators are finally hitting their stride. After a chaotic week of upsets that saw the last of the undefeated teams fall, Darin and Ed analyzed the turning points—from the 49ers’ gritty, injury-riddled win over the Rams to the “pure and utter comedy” of the Cardinals-Titans collapse [08:30].
The defining theme of Week 5, according to Ed, was the shift away from the “new preseason” feel of the early games. This was the first week where the results felt like season-defining moments that will be recalled in Week 18. This included the Broncos’ impressive 10-point fourth-quarter comeback against the Eagles [06:25] and the Patriots’ statement win in Buffalo [07:59], both of which dramatically altered the early playoff picture.
Week 5 Results and Standings Update
The prognosticators delivered their strongest combined week of the season, resulting in a dramatic tightening of their year-long competition.
| Expert | Week 5 Points | Season Total |
| Darin Hayes | 7 points | 23 points |
| Ed Clees | 6 points | 22 points |
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Darin edged out Ed by a single point, but Ed has closed the overall gap to just one point, setting the stage for a tense Week 6.
| Prediction | Outcome | Darin’s Result | Ed’s Result |
| Broncos beat Eagles | Nailed it | 2 points [18:13] | 2 points [18:13] |
| Saints beat Giants | Nailed it | 2 points [18:19] | 2 points [18:19] |
| Colts-Raiders Shootout | Missed entirely | 0 points [18:54] | 0 points [18:54] |
| Commanders beat Chargers | Darin Nailed it / Ed Missed | 2 points [19:59] | 0 points [19:59] |
| Drake Mayne’s Big Day | Darin (Close/Loss) / Ed (Win) | 1 point [20:21] | 2 points [20:21] |
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The Cuts: Who’s Out of Contention?
Before making his Week 6 picks, Ed Clees updated his list of teams he believes are out of playoff contention. Already having cut the Titans, Saints, and the struggling Jets (“or the propellers,” as he suggests [13:50]), Ed added three more teams to the list:
- Cleveland Browns: (1-4) Cut due to the unprepared rookie quarterback situation (Gabriel and Sanders) and the lack of veteran support following the Flacco trade. [14:33]
- Las Vegas Raiders: (2-3) Cut due to poor performance on both sides of the ball and an overall lack of “fire.” [15:53]
- Miami Dolphins: (2-3) Cut after taking a 17-point lead against the Panthers and still losing, leaving coach Mike McDaniel looking distraught. [16:36]
Week 6 Bold Predictions
The hosts ended the segment by laying out their five bold predictions for the pivotal sixth week of the NFL season. The final pick, the Sunday Night Football matchup, saw a rare agreement.
| Matchup | Darin Hayes’ Bold Prediction | Ed Clees’ Bold Prediction |
| Eagles @ Giants | The Eagles are “pissed” and will win by 17 or more points on the road. [23:17] | The struggling Eagles offense will continue to sputter on Thursday night, resulting in persistent questions about their scheme and personnel. [22:06] |
| Steelers @ Browns | Darin did not pick this game. | The Steelers will destroy the Browns, winning by two or more scores on the strength of a dominating defensive performance. [24:30] |
| Rams @ Ravens | The Ravens are too good and too well-coached to fall to 1-5; they will rebound at home, with Derrick Henry going over 100 yards and scoring 2 touchdowns. [27:12] | Ed did not pick this game. |
| 49ers @ Buccaneers | Darin did not pick this game. | The 49ers defense will hold MVP-candidate Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers offense to 21 or fewer points in a tough road win. [30:26] |
| Seahawks @ Jaguars | The Seahawks will travel to Jacksonville and knock off the high-flying Jags in a close one, relying on their strong defense. [32:42] | Ed did not pick this game. |
| Chargers @ Dolphins | Darin did not pick this game. | The Chargers will win by seven or more points; this loss will be the final straw that costs Mike McDaniel his job by Monday. [34:03] |
| Titans @ Raiders | The Titans’ “bunch of miracles” from last week will provide the momentum needed for them to secure their second win over the “no excitement” Raiders. [36:41] | Ed did not pick this game. |
| Lions @ Chiefs (SNF) | The “wounded animal” Chiefs are too feisty and too well-coached; they will find a way to outscore and win a close one over the Lions. [40:11] | The Chiefs will find a way to gut it out and win by the skin of their teeth, breathing a sigh of relief as they avoid a disastrous 2-4 start. [39:13] |
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