Nat & Neil’s NFL Sunday Picks
The NFL season is here, and with it comes another year of big plays, huge upsets & plenty of hot takes!
Each week, we’ll be putting our NFL experts Nat Coombs & Neil Reynolds head-to-head as they make their picks for the weekend’s biggest games. Who’s going to come out on top?
Week 5 Recap
Week 5 brought another weekend of big calls, unexpected results and plenty of NFL drama as Nat & Neil continued their prediction battle.
Who got what right?
Nat's big call: Backing the Green Bay Packers to upset the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field proved a smart move, with Green Bay cruising to a 31–7 victory. Neil had backed Chicago, handing Nat a crucial point.
Neil's big call: Neil backed the Jacksonville Jaguars to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in London, and he got that one right. Jacksonville snatched a dramatic 19–17 win with a last-second field goal. Nat was on the Jags too, so both picked up the point.
Plenty of shared picks: The pair also agreed on the Raiders and Seahawks, but neither call paid off. New England demolished Las Vegas 45–17, while San Francisco edged Seattle 32–29. Both missed out on those points.
The final verdict: Nat takes the Week 5 win! He finished with three correct picks from the five featured games, while Neil managed just one. Nat also correctly backed the Baltimore Ravens to beat the Atlanta Falcons 30–23 in overtime, while Neil went for Atlanta.
Scores on the doors
After five weeks of NFL action, we're back to a level playing field!
Week 5: Nat 3 – 1 Neil
Overall: Nat 24 – 24 Neil
Nat has fought back to draw level with Neil after a strong Week 5 performance. The NFL crystal balls are officially neck & neck once again!
Can Neil regain the lead in Week 6, or will Nat pull ahead?
Over to you Neil... Neil’s NFL Picks - Week 6
It’s time to continue my weekly predictions battle with Nat Coombs - encouraged & instigated by our friends at Hickory’s Smokehouse.
Houston Texans vs Jacksonville Jaguars
I might be reading too much into one win over a terrible Tennessee Titans team, but I think Houston are going to present a real challenge to the Jags this weekend. CJ Stroud is playing very well at QB and Jacksonville have played with fire the last two weeks and got away with wins. Their penalty count is a real issue. Is this where Houston wake from their slumber? Neil’s pick… Houston Texans
Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have lost three in a row, they’re bogged down on offense, missing key stars and head coach Nick Sirianni is being questioned for his management of the Jacksonville loss. And now the free-scoring Panthers come to town. But, I think the Eagles get the job done off the back of a very strong defensive showing. Neil’s Pick… Philadelphia Eagles
Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons
Maybe Ben Johnson can’t win with just any old quarterback. The Bears need Caleb Williams back, but they also need to tighten up in the secondary. Michael Penix should return from his rib injury and I think that will be the deciding factor in a home win. Neil’s Pick… Atlanta Falcons
Buffalo Bills at Las Vegas Raiders
The Bills may statistically have one of the worst defenses in the NFL, but they also have a cheat code at quarterback in Josh Allen. He is the best player in the league, without question. The Raiders are still in the early stages of their rebuild and I don’t think they can hang with Buffalo. Neil’s Pick… Buffalo Bills
Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers
The Cowboys will be motivated following an “embarrassing” home loss to previously-winless Tampa Bay. But they head to Lambeau Field with Packers quarterback Jordan Love in red-hot form. And Green Bay are also getting good work out of receivers Christian Watson and Matthew Golden. They could eat up yardage against a struggling Dallas D. Neil’s Pick… Green Bay Packers
For a more complete breakdown of each weeks’ games, make sure you check out my Inside Pro Football Substack blog for my picks column each Thursday. And please subscribe if you like my work… it’s free.
...Nat's Picks are In
Houston Texans vs Jacksonville Jaguars
Houston are already in must win territory this early on in the season, and their record doesn’t do justice to how capable a team they are, particularly defensively. The addition of Marvin Harrison Jr adds intrigue – he’s got a high ceiling, and he could prove to be one of those moves that kickstarts an entire season. Too much on the line for the Texans, and I think they gut it out. Nat's Pick… Houston Texans
Carolina Panthers vs Philadelphia Eagles
99.9 times out of 100, Philly wins last week. Even the freakish timing of the tackle on Ameer Abdbullah, who returned the kick off to put Jacksonville in FG position was wild. One more second, and it’s game over. The fight they showed, given the injuries, was impressive, and testament to the calibre of Nick Sirianni as a coach - who inevitably everyone is slating once again. Carolina look like a sharp pick for the South, but I like Philly to get back in the groove at home. Nat's Pick… Philadelphia Eagles.
Chicago Bears vs Atlanta Falcons
Michael Penix could be the real deal – he’s certainly enhanced his reputation last time out, going out with a rib injury paving the way for fading back up Tua Tagovailoa to blow his shot. Tua’s demise is sad to see – so much promise coming into the league, but situation is so important in the NFL, and he’s been unlucky with injuries. Chicago need Caleb Williams back fast, although why Case Keenum, so impressive a few backs, is being overlooked for Tyson Bagent is starting to jar. Nat's Pick… Atlanta Falcons.
Buffalo Bills vs Las Vegas Raiders
I can’t play the Raiders card again, much as I rate them as underdog sleepers, and despite the emotional wear and tear that MNF will have taken on the Bills, after their sensational, Undertaker-esque win when they looked dead and buried. Keon Coleman is finally emerging as the threat many of us thought he could be in this Bills offense and the multi-dimensional threats they pose will be too much for a Raiders D in development. Nat's Pick… Buffalo Bills.
Dallas Cowboys vs Green Bay Packers
The Packers finally flexed as we know they can but my issue with them, and indeed with Jordan Love is consistency. In the past QB’s with demonstrable talent like Jay Cutler or Sam Bradford had some career days where they looked elite, but consistency is the name of the game. Sure, this is a Dallas D that can be burned, and the homefield advantage adds extra edge, but I like Dak and the Cowboys to reboot, with the law firm of Pickens, Ferguson & Lamb show up in prime time. Nat's Pick… Dallas Cowboys.
For more from me be sure to catch the Nat Coombs Show where this season I'll be joined by an All-Pro crew of expert voices from both sides of the pond, getting you up to speed on all the latest news & key stories from around the league.
...and there we have it. Who’s got it right?
And there we have it - Week 6’s picks are locked in! Nat & Neil have made their calls, and with the NFL season heating up, there’s plenty to play for in our prediction battle.
It’s a week of plenty of agreement, with the pair backing the same team in four of our five featured matchups.
The big head-to-head? Dallas Cowboys vs Green Bay Packers, where Neil is backing Green Bay to build on their strong form at Lambeau Field, while Nat is tipping Dak Prescott & the Cowboys to bounce back.
The pair are united on the Texans, Eagles, Falcons and Bills, but will those shared picks pay off?
So, can Neil’s Packers prove too strong at home, or will Nat’s Cowboys pull off a prime-time upset?
With Week 5 bringing Nat level with Neil, the overall score is tied at 24-24! Will Neil regain the lead in Week 6, or can Nat finally pull ahead? Keep an eye out for the results and see who’s got the better NFL crystal ball!
Fancy watching the NFL with us? Head to your nearest Hickory’s and join us for NFL Sundays, with selected games live on the big screens, plenty of atmosphere and all the action as the season unfolds.
See you back here next week for Nat & Neils' NFL Sunday Picks Week 7!