By Darin Hayes Week number six of the 2025 NFL season is officially in the books, paving the way for the gridiron battles of Week 7. As is tradition, I sat down with Ed Kleese for our weekly segment of “Big Bold Predictions,” where we not only reviewed our hits and misses from the past weekend but also dove deep into the unexpected trends defining the season.
Week 6: The Unprepared and the Unstoppable
Ed observed several “heavy trends” emerging from Week 6, starting with the absolutely dreadful performance of the New York Jets in London. Ed humorously compared the Jets’ trip to Great Britain to the disastrous Griswolds’ European vacation, noting the team looked “dreadful and unprepared” in their 13-11 loss to the Broncos. He highlighted that the Jets’ only offensive production came without a first down on two field goal drives and a safety—”That’s not NFL football,” he declared.
Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals’ offense, led by journeyman Jacoby Brissett in Kyler Murray’s absence, surprisingly looked better than it had all year, leading Ed to question whether the end of the road for Kyler Murray in Arizona might be near.
Another observation centered on the arrival of Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye, who played “awesome” in a loss to the Saints. Ed is now cautiously wondering if Maye is special enough to take the team to the playoffs, while I flatly stated, “I think it definitely arrived.” Finally, the Carolina Panthers are now 3-0 at home and three-and-three overall, leading to playoff thought bubbles among their fans, though Ed remains reserved on quarterback Bryce Young.
I, on the other hand, noted a resurgence of the tight end, citing spectacular performances from Brock Bowers (Colts), Travis Kelce (Chiefs), and Darnell Washington (Steelers), suggesting this might be the year of the tight end.
The Scorecard: Week 6 Results
| Pick | Predictor | Result | Status |
| Chiefs beat Lions | Darin & Ed | Chiefs Won | Correct (2 Points Each) |
| Eagles win by 17+ | Darin | Giants Won | Zero |
| Ravens beat Rams, Henry 100+ yards | Darin | Rams Won | Zero |
| Titans beat Raiders | Darin | Raiders Won | Zero |
| 49ers hold Baker Mayfield to 21 or less | Ed | Bucs Won (31-19) | Zero |
| Steelers pummel Dylan Gabriel | Ed | Steelers Won | Correct (2 Points) |
| Chargers win by 7+ / McDaniel fired Seahawks over Jags | Ed Darin | Chargers Won Seattle won | Zero Correct (2 Points) |
| Eagles offense continues to struggle | Ed | Eagles Lost (27-44) | Correct (2 Points) |
| Total Week 6 Points | Darin: 4 | Ed: 6 | |
| Season Total | Darin: 27 | Ed: 28 |
On the Chopping Block
Ed noted he was going easy on the cut list this week but placed two teams on “hot watch”: the Cincinnati Bengals and the Arizona Cardinals. Ed stated that the 2-4 Cardinals are on a “do or die” watch against the Packers—if they lose, they are likely finished in the NFC West.
Week 7: Big Bold Predictions
Week 7 Picks
| Pick Category | Darin Hayes’ Pick | Ed Kleese’s Pick |
| Overseas Game | Jaguars win a close one over the Rams. | Bengals break their losing streak and defeat the Steelers on Thursday Night. |
| Upset Special | Jets get their first win of the season over the Panthers at home. | Losing coach (Stefanski or McDaniel) in the Dolphins/Browns game gets fired on Monday. |
| Scoring | Browns score more than 20 points as they defeat the Dolphins. | Chargers defeat the Colts in Los Angeles. |
| High/Low Score | Lions win over the Buccaneers; teams go OVER 55 points (Spread: 52.5). | Lions win by two or more scores against the Buccaneers. |
| Defense/Total | Seahawks defeat the Texans; game total is LESS THAN 35 points. | Broncos hold the Giants to 17 or fewer points in a decisive victory. |
Want to know how we do with these picks and which of your hosts is doing better? Join us each Wednesday during the NFL season here on Pigskin Dispatch, our YouTube Channel or Podcast at your favorite podcast provider.