Who plays on Sunday Night Football? Breaking down Week 6 matchup
NBC featured a historic rivalry game in Week 5 of its "Sunday Night Football" schedule. Week 6 won't have the same history, fans will get a chance to see at least one desperate team in action.
The Cincinnati Bengals are fighting to avoid a 1-5 start that would make it extremely difficult for them to challenge for a postseason berth. They are fresh off a disappointing 41-38 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, a game during which Cincinnati led by 10 points in the fourth quarter on two occasions before losing in overtime.
Looking to block the Bengals' path back into AFC contention is the New York Giants. New York was blown out in Week 1 by the Minnesota Vikings but has gone 2-2 in the four weeks since. Their losses were each by a single score while their wins over the Cleveland Browns and Seattle Seahawks were considered upsets.
A Giants win would send shockwaves across the NFL and could push the Bengals into seller territory ahead of the NFL trade deadline. As such, this "SNF" battle could have a ripple effect across the NFL.
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Here's everything to know about the "Sunday Night Football" matchup for Week 6.
Who plays on Sunday Night Football tonight?
Matchup: Cincinnati Bengals at New York Giants
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
The Bengals (1-4) are traveling to New Jersey to take on the Giants (2-3) in a game that is nearing must-win territory for Cincinnati.
The Bengals have gotten off to yet another slow start under Zac Taylor, but this one has lingered beyond the first few weeks of the season. Cincinnati's offense has been great, with Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins shining in Week 4 against the Ravens, but the Bengals' defense has been one of the worst stop units in the NFL.
Lou Anarumo's defense has typically been solid during his tenure, but Cincinnati entered Week 6 allowing the second-most points per game in the NFL (29) and the seventh-most yards per game (365.4). Part of the issue has been the cumulative effect of some key defensive losses in recent seasons (D.J. Reader, Jesse Bates, Chidobe Awuzie). Even so, the Bengals will need to button up against a Giants offense that is coming off a strong showing against the Seahawks.
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The Giants surprised many with their win in Seattle. Many anticipated Daniel Jones would struggle to move the ball without his top receiver, Malik Nabers, available. Instead, Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton turned in quality outings while Tyrone Tracy Jr. racked up 129 rushing yards in place of a banged-up Devin Singletary.
If Jones and Co. can continue to move the ball consistently, New York may be able to keep this contest close. The Giants sport a dominant pass rush led by Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux on the outside and Dexter Lawrence in the interior. Lawrence already has six sacks this season and his stating his case as the NFL's best interior defensive lineman in the post-Aaron Donald era.
As such, it won't be easy for Burrow and the Bengals to improve to 2-4 on the season and try to keep pace in the early days of the AFC wild-card race. And if the Giants can pull off a second consecutive upset, Brian Daboll will suddenly have his squad at .500 and dreaming about potential a playoff berth.
Still, it's worth noting that all of the Bengals' losses in 2024 have come by six points or fewer. At some point, one would expect the tables to turn and Cincinnati to finish games in a way that has eluded them thus far in 2024.
What time is the NFL game tonight?
Date: Sunday, October 13
Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
"Sunday Night Football" will start at 8:20 p.m. ET in Week 6, the typical start time for most of NBC's NFL broadcasts during the 2024 NFL season. Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (color analyst) and Melissa Stark (sideline reporter) will be calling the Giants vs. Bengals game.
NBC will also begin showing its pregame show, "Football Night In America," at 7 p.m. ET. Maria Taylor will host the program alongside NBC talents, including Jason Garrett, Tony Dungy, Devin McCourty and Matthew Berry.
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What channel is Sunday Night Football on tonight?
"Sunday Night Football" will air on NBC in 2024, just as it has since the network bought the rights to the program in 2006.
Cord-cutters can still catch the game using NBC's streaming service, Peacock, or Fubo, which offers a free trial.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who plays on Sunday Night Football? Game, start time for Week 6