Week 6 of the NFL season played out much like the weeks that came before it: tons of offense, blown leads everywhere, and learning more and more about each team in the league. Let’s recap what happened in the 14 games this week.
Titans 42-36 Texans 
What a doozy this game was down the stretch in Nashville. This game had everything: big time players making big time plays, incredible individual performances, blown leads, clutch plays, and a walk-off touchdown. Let’s start with the losing side, led by Deshaun Watson, who was masterful. The Texans QB completed 28 of his 37 attempts for 335 yards and 4 TDs, with WR Will Fuller V accounting for 123 of those yards and a score. Even after falling into a 14 point hole, Watson led Houston back on drive after drive to help them claim a lead in the second half. All 4 of his touchdowns went to 4 different receivers, as the Titans defense had no answers. Tennessee’s offense had all the answers, however, as QB Ryan Tannehill and RB Derrick Henry both played a spectacular game once again. Tannehill threw for 364 yards and 4 TDs on 73% completion, and Henry ran for 212 yards and 2 TDs on 22 carries, including a remarkable 94 yard sprint int he 4th quarter. Henry became just the 3rd player in NFL history to run for 200+ yards in 3 games. These teams went back and forth in the 4th quarter, with the Texans taking a 1 point lead on a 53 yard dime to Will Fuller V after the aforementioned Henry touchdown run. After a poor interception thrown by Tannehill, the Texans reached the endzone again with 1:50 left on a Brandin Cooks TD catch. Houston went for 2 to put the game out of reach, but was stopped, making it a 36-29 game. Ryan Tannehill led his team all the way down the field, and threw a perfect ball to WR A.J. Brown in the endzone for the game-tying touchdown with just 4 seconds left. The Titans won the toss in OT, marched the ball all the way down the field, and Derrick Henry ran in the game-winning touchdown from 5 yards out. It was a tough loss for the Texans, who now drop to 1-5 on the year. The loss re-sparked the conversation about the NFL’s overtime rules, and how it only seems fair that both teams should get the ball in the extra period. I don’t disagree at all, but that shouldn’t undermine how impressive the win was for the Titans. They are now one of only 3 undefeated teams left in the NFL at 5-0, and really look like one of the league’s best teams. They play exceptionally well in almost every facet of the game, and they have been putting it to opponents. Derrick Henry is making a case for being the best RB in football, and Ryan Tannehill is playing the best football of his life. This was an amazing game from start to finish, and it’s a shame that one team had to walk away with a loss.
Colts 31-27 Bengals 
Speaking of blown leads, the Cincinnati Bengals played football on Sunday. Cincy came out firing on all cylinders on both sides of the ball, absolutely dominating the Colts for over a quarter to the tune of an early 21-0 lead. QB Joe Burrow was on fire, throwing dime after dime, often connecting with fellow rookie, WR Tee Higgins. Indianapolis finally woke up after falling behind 3 scores, scoring 3 2nd quarter touchdowns, and ended up only down 3 at halftime. It was all Colts from there on out, as their defense stiffened up and locked up the Bengals offense for almost the entire second half. Thanks to an incredible TD grab by TE Jack Doyle, a late field goal, and an insurance INT of Joe Burrow, the Colts walked away with the win. It was a testament to how tough this team is, bouncing back from a bad loss last week and an awful start in the game itself. QB Philip Rivers finished with an impressive statline of 371 yards and 3 touchdowns. Burrow didn’t have a bad game either with 313 yards of his own, but it wasn’t enough. Once again, the #1 overall pick played well, but it wasn’t enough. That’s a trend that we can only hope doesn’t continue for too long in Cincinnati.
Falcons 40-23 Vikings 
Congratulations to the Atlanta Falcons for getting their first win of 2020 and making the Trevor Lawrence Sweepstakes™ a much, much tighter race. The Falcons continued the trend of winning games after firing a head coach, which has seemingly never failed in recent memory. This was quite the domination by Atlanta, who jumped out to a 23-0 lead and never looked back. How thankful do Falcons fans have to be that they didn’t blow this? It was a very impressive game from two Falcons in particular: QB Matt Ryan and WR Julio Jones. Falcons fans have been waiting for Julio to return to the Julio Jones of old, and he certainly looked like it on Sunday in Minnesota. Ryan and Jones linked up 8 times for 137 yards and 2 TDs on some impressive plays by both of them. Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins got off to a horrid start with 3 first half interceptions en route to a scoreless first 30 minutes. He ended up statpadding his way back to a seemingly respectable statline at the end of the game, but we all know that’s because of the way the Falcons play once getting up big. There is one Viking I don’t want to take away from, and that is rookie WR Justin Jefferson. After a down week last Sunday in Seattle, Jefferson bounced back in a big way with 166 yards and 2 TDs on 9 catches. My fantasy team thanks you, JJets. Both of these teams walked out of US Bank Stadium at 1-5. The Falcons should feel good with the burden of Dan Quinn off their shoulders, but the Vikings have to be asking themselves questions about where to go from here. This is a talented team, but they have refused to step up this season. They can’t get it done in the clutch, and if their games aren’t close, they’re the ones getting blown out. Kirk Cousins now has two 3 interception games this season, and is tied for the lead league in INTs, which is inexcusable. When his contract is up after this year, it’s hard to believe he’ll be back in Minnesota.
Broncos 18-12 Patriots 
This was a snoozefest. There is no other way to put it. Both of these offenses struggled all game long, and we only had one touchdown in 60 minutes of play. The Broncos field goal-ed their way to victory behind 6 FGs from Brandon McManus. The Patriots almost mounted a late comeback behind a touchdown run from QB Cam Newton and a gift interception from Broncos QB Drew Lock, but Newton was picked off by the Denver defense to put the game to bed. And, in the words of Jedi Master Yoda, “not short enough it was.” This game was a complete eye sore, but it did reveal a lot about both teams. Denver finally got their starting QB Drew Lock back, and he led his team to victory in his first start back, despite a plethora of injuries across the board on offense. The Broncos have had quarterback questions, but there’s no doubt that Lock is a solid starter that can lead this team, especially when their healthy. For New England, this was a headscratching performance offensively. The defense did its job, but the offense could not move the ball for almost the whole game. Newton looked lethargic, the run game was stagnant, and the passing game was virtually nonexistent. The team is now 2-3 and struggling on the offensive side of the ball more than ever, even after a week off. They need to figure things out fast if they want to compete against a division that, outside of the Jets, is actually pretty good.
Giants 20-19 Washington 
Sigh. Speaking of snoozefests, we had our first Trevor Lawrence Sweepstakes™ Bowl of 2020 in East Rutherford on Sunday. The Giants got off to a relatively hot start with a 10-0 first quarter lead, including a dime of a touchdown throw to Darius Slayton by QB Daniel Jones. Jones even had a shocking 60 yard run in which he left the Washington defense in the dust with some of that “sneaky athleticism”. It took Washington a much longer time to get going, as they didn’t reach the endzone until there was 13 seconds left in the first half. But, they finally did on a very nice throw from QB Kyle Allen to TE Logan Thomas. For the rest of the game, both offenses struggled to move the ball, plagued by turnovers and poor play. In a 13-13 game with less than 4 minutes to play, Kyle Allen was trying to lead a game-winning drive, but ended up fumbling the ball on a strip sack, leading to a Giants recovery and touchdown return. It was seemingly flattening for Washington, but they didn’t give up just yet. Allen brought his team right back down the field, and with just 22 seconds left, found WR Cam Sims on a great pass into the corner of the endzone for a touchdown. Instead of electing to tie the game with an extra point, HC Ron Rivera told his offense to go for 2 and the win. After running around, searching for an open receiver, Kyle Allen threw an incomplete pass to end the game and secure the first win of the Giants season, and the fifth consecutive Washington loss. Although Kyle Allen looked good at times, it was an overall poor game from the newly appointed starting QB. It didn’t help that the rest of his offense didn’t show up for most of the game. The Giants and QB Daniel Jones were not much better, as they were outgained by almost 100 yards, despite coming out with the win. The Washington defense looked improved, but the Giants will make any defense look good. Washington is now in last place in the division, and is a new emerging contender in the Trevor Lawerence Sweepstakes™. Even with a very easy upcoming schedule, you can only feel like this team is not built to win many games for the rest of the year.
Ravens 30-28 Eagles 
The final score of this game should not fool you. The Ravens, despite letting up a bit at the end of the game, dominated this game for most of the way on Sunday. Baltimore’s offense controlled the tempo for all but 7 minutes of the game, with QB Lamar Jackson doing his thing both throwing and running the ball. Jackson had 186 yards passing and 108 yards rushing with 2 total touchdowns. It took Philadelphia a while to get going, as they were scoreless for the first 38 minutes of the game. The Eagles got on the board thanks to a long run by RB Miles Sanders, who fumbled the ball close to the goal line, but it was recovered by WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside for a touchdown. Down 30-14 with less than 4 minutes left, the Eagles reached the endzone twice, but missed the 2nd of two 2-point conversions and fell just short. QB Carson Wentz played well in the comeback effort, throwing for 213 yards and 2 TDs, but the most impressive stat was having 0 interceptions. It was the first game without a pick for Wentz this season, who has been plagued by that this whole year. The Eagles are now 1-4-1, but still just a half game out of first place in the pile of trash that we call the NFC East. This was the 3rd consecutive win for Baltimore who is getting back into their groove. The Ravens are back to looking like one of the league’s best teams, but I’d still like to see them be more productive in the passing game. Until they do that, I’m not sure if I like them to beat the other elite teams in the AFC.
Steelers 38-7 Browns 
If you want the textbook definition of a statement victory, this is it. Yes, the Steelers have historically owned the Browns, but this Cleveland team felt different. They came into this game at 4-1 and feeling great about themselves. The Steelers came in at 4-0, but still being disrespected by the media thanks to their opponents poor records. But after this game, they left nothing up to question anymore. From the jump, this was a Pittsburgh domination. The Steelers jumped out to a 24-0 lead behind a pick 6 of Browns QB Baker Mayfield and back to back impressive second quarter touchdown drives. They never looked back, locking up the Browns offense for the whole game, including another interception, and making their mark in the AFC with a blowout victory. It was a very tough reality check for a Browns team that had looked so impressive in the last month or so. QB Baker Mayfield had an awful game, as he has tended to do so often in his time in Cleveland. I don’t think it’s time to panic at all, but I certainly do not think that Baker Mayfield is the long term answer at QB in Cleveland. Perhaps he can get it done for the time being, but if the Browns keep getting embarrassed like this in big games, and he continues to play poorly in those games, then it will eventually be time to move off of him.
Bears 23-16 Panthers 
Ok, ok, fine. I’ll stop disrespecting the Chicago Bears. If there’s anything we knew about this team, it’s that their defense is fantastic. On Sunday, they reiterated that in a big way. Chicago’s D kept the Panthers in check for most of the game and forced 3 turnovers, including 2 interceptions of Carolina QB Teddy Bridgewater. The offense did what it needed to do, as it has so many times this season, as they scored efficiently and led by as many as 14 points in the 4th quarter. The Panthers tried to make it a game at the end, but the Bears defense simply did not let up. Chicago isn’t the most flashy team, they’re not exciting and won’t make it on SportsCenter Top 10, but all they have done is win. HC Matt Nagy has done a fantastic job with his team, and it seems that the move to start Nick Foles at QB is paying off, as he has led his team to back to back wins against some very good teams. Chicago now sits atop the NFC North thanks to a certain dud performance by the Packers, and look poised as ever to keep on winning. I can’t wait to see what they have in store for the rest of the year.
Lions 34-16 Jaguars 
What a game for the Lions offense. Detroit controlled this game for all 60 minutes on Sunday in Jacksonville thanks to some big performances by some of their stars. WR Kenny Golladay had 4 catches for 105 yards, and rookie RB D’Andre Swift had his fingerprints all over the game with 116 yards rushing and 2 TDs. It was a rough game for the Jaguars, who couldn’t muster much offensively once again. Their leading rusher was RB James Robinson with just 29 yards. WR Keelan Cole had himself a nice game with 143 yards on 6 catches, but that was about it for Jacksonville. They looked lifeless the whole game, just as they have for the last month or so. We can officially stick a fork in this team that looked so promising early in the year. I was a believer in QB Gardner Minshew II, but now I’m not sure if he can get the job done. He does put up numbers, but I’m not entirely sure if he’s a franchise QB. The Jags are on the fringe of the Trevor Lawrence Sweepstakes™, but don’t be surprised if they’re fully in it in a few weeks.
Dolphins 24-0 Jets 
Ah yes, the New York Jets. What a team. What a ride. It took 6 weeks in a season with record-setting offense, but we had our first shutout of 2020. And of course it was the Jets. Led by backup QB Joe Flacco once again, they did absolutely nothing offensively. Literally nothing… to the tune of a goose egg on the scoreboard. The Dolphins, who have looked very impressive in the last couple of weeks, dominated this game and made it look like New York didn’t even belong on the field. If we’re being completely honest, they didn’t. This team is still a mess. Without Sam Darnold, they are impossible to watch. I still don’t know how Adam Gase is employed. But alas, it makes for good content, so I’m here for it. The Dolphins finally got to see their #5 overall pick QB Tua Tagovailoa in action with a couple of minutes left for a couple checkdowns and handoffs, but you could sense that he brought a new level of excitement and energy to an already talented and inspired roster. Apparently, HC Brian Flores liked what he saw so much that he has made the decision to name Tua the starter (more on that tomorrow). It’s an exciting time for the Dolphins. As for the Jets, they are still in the lead in the Trevor Lawrence Sweepstakes™, and with the Giants and Falcons winning on Sunday, they are now the lone winless team in the NFL. I don’t expect that to change any time soon.
Buccaneers 38-10 Packers 
Another resounding, statement victory. Everybody was so excited to see this matchup, and for good reason. Both of these teams are elite contenders led by two of the greatest QBs of all time. But what we got was a coaching and overall team performance virtuoso by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Yes, the Packers jumped out to a 10-0 first quarter lead thanks to some great drives led by QB Aaron Rodgers, including his… questionable hip thrusts. But the Bucs’ second quarter was one of the more dominant periods you’ll ever see from a team. CB Jamel Dean picked off Rodgers and returned it down the sideline for 6, followed by another interception off of a deflection to set up another touchdown, this time for RB Ronald Jones II. Later in the quarter, rookie WR Tyler Johnson caught a short touchdown from QB Tom Brady, and at the end of the quarter, Brady found his old friend, TE Rob Gronkowski for the fourth touchdown of the period. It was Gronk’s first touchdown of the season, and the 91st touchdown he has caught from Tom Brady. From there, the game was never in doubt, as the Packers couldn’t even muster another point. 10 3rd quarter points later, and the game was all but over. With their spectacular defense making life hell for Rodgers, and their offense clicking and firing on all cylinders, the Bucs finished the game scoring 38 unanswered points and completely shutting down Green Bay, handing them their first loss of 2020. I knew that Tampa was good, but I did not expect this at all. The Packers looked like a completely different team than they had been in their previous 4 games, and I’m sure they’re gonna take a long, hard look at themselves this week in preparation for their next game. Perhaps Green Bay is not as formidable as we thought. Or perhaps Tampa Bay is even better than we imagined.
49ers 24-16 Rams 
Sunday night’s NFC West showdown was pretty fun, but I wanna start by saying that the best part of the game was the uni matchup. I’m in the minority that loves the new Rams getups, and the 49ers throwbacks are some of the best unis in football. So when those two are combined, I am very pleased. The game itself was very interesting as well, as San Francisco honestly dominated for almost the whole game. Their defense bounced back in a huge way after an embarrassing performance last Sunday, holding the Rams to just 9 points in the first 56+ minutes of the game. The offense did its job as well, as they played a very efficient first half. QB Jimmy Garoppolo had himself a night with 268 yards and 3 TDs on 70% completion after playing the worst game of his life last week. It was a fairly uneventful second half, but the Niners held off a late comeback attempt by the Rams to hold on and get back to .500. Kyle Shanahan is now 4-0 as a head coach against Sean McVay, who seemingly has no answers against the 49ers. The Rams are now winless this season against non-NFC East teams, but I’m sure they’ll be fine. They lost to a Niners team that was playing with complete and utter urgency, and were simply outplayed. This division just keeps on getting more and more juicy, as all 4 teams are .500 or above. Can they all play each other very week please?
Chiefs 26-17 Bills 
This one was pretty ugly for the most part. Monday afternoon’s game was played in a complete downpour, but it didn’t stop the Chiefs from doing big things through the air. QB Patrick Mahomes played another brilliant, efficient game. They didn’t ask him to make any huge plays because he didn’t need to, but when his number was called, he delivered. Mahomes threw for 225 yards and 2 TDs on a brilliant 81% completion. The real bread and butter in the game for KC was the run game. Rookie RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran for 161 yards on a whopping 26 carries, and he is now 2nd in the league in rushing. The gameplan was very similar to the one the Chiefs had against Houston on opening night: pick the defense apart, throw the ball efficiently, and gash the opposition on the ground. When Kansas City is playing like that, I’m not really sure who can stop them. For Buffalo, it was a slow, sluggish game, and they could never really get going offensively past the second quarter. QB Josh Allen didn’t seem to handle the conditions very well, but still delivered some good throws, including a dime on a touchdown to WR Stefon Diggs. But outside of that, it was a slow day at the office for the Bills. They only racked up 206 yards offensively, and they only scored 7 second half points. Allen finished with 122 yards and a pick, but also threw for 2 TDs. The Bills have now put up complete duds in back to back weeks against 2 of the NFL’s best teams, so I’m not sure what to make of them just yet. Are they a fringe contender that isn’t good enough to beat the best? Or were they tricking us the whole time? We’ll find out soon enough.
Cardinals 38-10 Cowboys 
The Andy Dalton era could not have gotten off to a worse start in Dallas. Both teams got off to a slow start on Monday night, but the second quarter was an offensive explosion by the Cardinals. It helped that Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott could not have held onto the ball even if you paid him to (which they quite literally are). Zeke fumbled the ball twice on consecutive drives, with each turnover leading to a touchdown for Arizona. He now has 3 lost fumbles on the year, which is absolutely inexcusable for somebody being paid $90 million and being asked to shoulder the load offensively for a team that is now without their star QB. On the next drive for Arizona, QB Kyler Murray unloaded an absolute beauty of a deep shot to WR Christian Kirk, who sprinted past every resident in Texas en route to an 80 yard touchdown. In only 8 minutes, the Cards found themselves up 21-0, and they never looked back. They even went up 28-3 in the 3rd, but unlike the other red bird team in the NFL, they continued to dominate. Their defense also showed up big time, led by S Budda Baker, who had his hands all over the game. Baker accounted for one of two interceptions thrown by Cowboys QB Andy Dalton, who struggled from start to finish. Outside of a garbage time touchdown, Dalton was horrendous, missing easy throws and getting absolutely dismantled by the Cardinals defense. It could be the product of his first start in a very long time, facing an elite defense, and not getting any favors from his RB or his porous defense, or it could just be Dalton not being the short term answer at QB that Dallas needs. Next up for them is another good defense in Washington, but if they cannot beat that team, then it is certainly panic time in Dallas. Such a shame for a team that looked like it had such a bright future. Arizona is now 4-2 and sitting nicely at 2nd place in the NFL’s best division, the NFC West. If they can continue stringing together some wins, especially against division opponents, then they can continue gaining some playoff traction. Next up for them is Russell Wilson and the Seahawks. Let’s see what this team is truly made of.
All stats taken from ESPN.
Raza Talks Sports 