32 Thoughts Ahead of NFL Week 6
Each Friday throughout the 2024 NFL season, we're performing something of a leaguewide check-in, with quick-hit takes from all 32 squads based on news, fodder, trends and/or results.
Somehow, we've already hit Week 6, and this campaign is on track to be one of the most unpredictable seasons ever.
Let's jump into what's dominating the national football conversation this week.
AFC East
1 of 8
Buffalo Bills: Man, 0-2 in Baltimore and Houston wasn't ideal—but not necessarily shocking. Both are heavyweights on the road. Unfortunately for the Bills, those losses drastically increase their chances of having to win in a place such as Baltimore, Houston or Kansas City come playoff time.
Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins have 14 total third-down conversions this season. In five games. They're still alive and Tua Tagovailoa might still return, but it's hard to believe that will fix this.
New England Patriots: It's getting bad. If Drake Maye doesn't happen to be the answer, this could be a long rebuild in Foxborough.
New York Jets: The Jets have given up a league-low 4.3 yards per play, and the defense ranks fifth in points per game allowed. But yeah, put it on Robert Saleh...
AFC North
2 of 8
Baltimore Ravens: I still have no idea how I locked in Lamar Jackson MVP at +2000 in August. The 2023 winner of the award is surging. I think he's got to be considered the favorite again now.
Cincinnati Bengals: It's kind of wild that Joe Burrow is putting up MVP-caliber numbers and yet the Bengals are 1-4. The defense is just killing them, and the hole might already be too deep. That said, I wouldn't be shocked if they were to win their next four against the Giants, Browns, Eagles and Raiders.
Cleveland Browns: I get the feeling the Browns want to give Deshaun Watson some time to work with Nick Chubb, whose return could be imminent. When the struggling quarterback continues to fail to deliver under those circumstances, the organization's hands will essentially be tied.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Some of the luster has come off Justin Fields, but he still hasn't really had a truly bad game. He's posted a 90-plus rating in all five, but we'll see a soon-to-be healthy Russell Wilson by the time the Steelers make a post-bye trip to Washington next month.
AFC South
3 of 8
Houston Texans: Make that four one-score victories over solid-if-not-great opponents. There's something to this team, and it's still somewhat under the radar. That might remain the case until the Texans play both the Jets and Cowboys in prime-time road games midway through this season.
Indianapolis Colts: If/when Anthony Richardson is healthy, he's got to start. He's too much of an investment, regardless of what Joe Flacco does. You ain't winning anything big with the veteran anyway.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Regardless of what head coach Doug Pederson says, Travis Etienne's starting job is in peril. It's a complete sophomore transformation for Tank Bigsby, who looks at least Etienne's equal.
Tennessee Titans: At this point, I'd like to see them give a shot to Bryce Young or Zach Wilson via trade. Why the heck not?
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.jpg?w=256 "NFL Meetings Football")
AFC West
4 of 8
Denver Broncos: The Broncos take a lot of heat, but it's worth noting they're now a solid 11-8 dating back to Oct. 1, 2023. Sean Payton knows what he's doing. Same with defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. They'll hang around into December at least.
Kansas City Chiefs: It doesn't seem to matter what you do to this team. As long as Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are there, the Chiefs find a way. Looking ahead, they may well be 9-0 when they head to Buffalo in mid-November.
Las Vegas Raiders: Don't get your hopes up for Aidan O'Connell, who is 1-for-6 with an interception and a 2.1 passer rating on deep attempts. We haven't seen the last of Gardner Minshew II in Las Vegas.
Los Angeles Chargers: It's not ideal when you hit Week 6 with your only wins coming over the Raiders and Panthers. They can't afford to go 0-2 in Denver and Arizona coming out of their bye.
NFC East
5 of 8
Dallas Cowboys: Every single week we're seeing more from Rico Dowdle in the backfield. If the Cowboys can truly become balanced offensively, there's room for a big run. I still don't trust them, but the ingredients might be there.
New York Giants: On the road against a solid opponent and without Malik Nabers, that was one of the most impressive wins of the season. But the schedule gets tougher and tougher. At the very least, they'll give a full litmus test to Daniel Jones.
Philadelphia Eagles: Win-loss-win-loss pre-bye. Cleveland at home on a tee with two weeks to prepare. Oddly, this might be a must-win game for the embattled Eagles, who play the Giants and Bengals on the road to close out October.
Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels has completed 16 of 19 passes in the fourth quarter of one-score games. I have a feeling he'll find himself taking several snaps under those circumstances in Baltimore on Sunday.
NFC North
6 of 8
Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams' passer ratings by week since Week 2: 51.0, 80.8, 106.6, 126.2. Don't be so sure Jayden Daniels will run away with Offensive Rookie of the Year...
Detroit Lions: They haven't been quite right, and I don't think they've been challenged enough. That could change in Dallas and Minnesota coming out of their Week 5 bye. This road trip could shape their season.
Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love passed for a total of six yards on six third-down attempts in Week 5. The Packers survived, but the quarterback has to be better than 10-for-25 on the season on third down, or there will be problems.
Minnesota Vikings: Perfect record despite nine turnovers in five games. Not sure how sustainable that is, but they seem to be back to their 2022 ways when it comes to winning one-score games. We'll see what the bye does to their momentum.
NFC South
7 of 8
Atlanta Falcons: All of that offensive production of late and it has so little to do with Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts. The draft is such a crapshoot, but imagine the potential if those guys also starting delivering on a weekly basis.
Carolina Panthers: Knowing this regime, I doubt head coach Dave Canales can survive this unless something good happens soon. And it might already be too late for Bryce Young. That trade-up in the 2023 draft is haunting this franchise.
New Orleans Saints: Spencer Rattler had some dope moments in training camp and preseason. The Saints aren't a major contender, but I do believe they can generally hang in with the rookie starting in place of the injured Derek Carr. At the very least, it could give us a feel for the future in New Orleans.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: It's been a roller coaster, and I don't see that letting up. They get a break against the Carr-less Saints in Week 6, but then it's Baltimore, Atlanta, Kansas City and San Francisco. Brutal.
NFC West
8 of 8
Arizona Cardinals: Nice W in San Francisco, but the schedule just doesn't let up. At the very least, they'll give us some of the most entertaining games of 2024.
Los Angeles Rams: At least the Raiders are on the other side of their Week 6 bye, but they're limping badly. The problem is the schedule might be soft enough to keep them from deciding to sell before the Nov. 5 trade deadline.
San Francisco 49ers: Admittedly, I'm late to the party on Brock Purdy. I'd been convinced it's the system and the support. That helps, but the guy keeps delivering even with an extremely shorthanded supporting cast. Maybe he's the real deal.
Seattle Seahawks: The real Seattle Seahawks have begun to stand up via back-to-back double-digit-points losses. And now it gets tougher, with the Falcons and Bills filling the remainder of the October schedule. I'm not optimistic.
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.jpg?w=480 "NFL Meetings Football")
.jpg?w=480 "Chargers Giants Football")
.jpg?w=600 "NFL Teams Under Most Pressure ♨️")