Before diving into Week 6 of the NFL schedule, it’s hard not to appreciate the wild finishes that made the previous week so memorable. The Pittsburgh Steelers played as poorly as possible on offense for 3.5 quarters before finding lightning in a bottle. Second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett hit George Pickens for a surprising 41-yard touchdown pass that allowed the Steelers to beat the rival Baltimore Ravens.
The Chicago Bears didn’t win a close one. But the Bears winning at all was cause for celebration. After being handed 14 straight defeats, Chicago finally broke through with a dominant 40-20 win over Washington. The game everyone was excited for last weekend proved to be a romp for San Francisco. The 49ers’ momentum will be something everyone is chasing when Week 6 kicks off.
Lions Want to Put Baker to the Test
Many NFL teams have revitalized the careers of veteran quarterbacks by putting them in the right situations. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have found success in that pursuit through four games with former first-round pick Baker Mayfield. Mayfield has led Tampa Bay to a 3-1 start, including a win over the Saints, where he threw for three touchdowns and an interception.
The Buccaneers’ challenge will be keeping the offense moving as defenses adjust around the league. Tampa Bay is coming off a bye week and has a half-game lead over Atlanta and New Orleans. The Lions have quickly transitioned to being one of the most dynamic offensive teams in the league.
Detroit has won three straight games. During the Lions’ past two contests, they have scored a combined 76 points in wins over Green Bay and Carolina. Detroit quarterback Jared Goff has also found being in a new environment refreshing.
Goff started his career with the Rams but was traded to Detroit for Matthew Stafford. Goff has over 1,000 passing yards this season and has thrown for nine touchdowns and three interceptions. Both teams in this game are capable of putting up points. This will be a good test for both sides.
Plucky Jets Ready to Test Eagles
Philadelphia is looking a lot like the team that won the NFC Championship last season. The Eagles aren’t as dominant, having won three of their first five games by five points or less. But what makes the Eagles so dangerous is how well-rounded they are.
Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts helps make the offense dynamic, while the defensive line has done an excellent job of rushing the passer. Other than a Week 2 loss to the Cowboys, the New York Jets haven’t looked outmatched this season despite losing quarterback Aaron Rodgers four plays into the year.
The Jets were able to beat up Denver in Week 5 to stop a three-game losing skid. If New York can beat Philadelphia and enter the bye week at 3-3, the Jets could do some damage moving forward. Quarterback Zach Wilson has looked much more comfortable.
Ravens Need to Find Something to Hold Onto
Baltimore dropped so many passes against Pittsburgh that it was nearly too many to count. The Ravens dropped a pair in the end zone and another that likely would have resulted in a long catch-and-run offense. When Cincinnati started slowly out of the gate, it looked like Baltimore had a chance to get a leg up in the AFC North Division race.
But things have soured. Losses to Pittsburgh and Indianapolis have the Ravens with a 3-2 record and in need of a victory. Tennessee has been a weird team to read. The Titans have a win over the Bengals and still have star running back Derrick Henry.
As a whole, Tennessee has a lot of reasons why things shouldn’t work. But in a weakened AFC South, the Titans can string together wins if they are able to not turn the ball over. Tennessee will have a lot to prove this weekend against old AFC Central Division rival Baltimore.
Texans Not Here to be Pushed Around
Early returns show that rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud has the early lead for top performer out of the 2023 NFL Draft quarterback class. While this will change many times over the course of their careers, Houston has to be happy Stroud has a leg up. Houston hopes he can continue that strong play against New Orleans this weekend.
The Saints have an excellent defense and should feel better on offense after Derek Carr returned under center. New Orleans demonstrated what it is capable of last weekend against the New England Patriots. The Saints tormented Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, forcing him into several turnovers in a 34-0 win.
Stroud has passed every test so far. Against an aggressive Pittsburgh defense, Stroud passed for 306 yards and threw two touchdowns. Stroud has completed 61.3 percent of his passes so far this season and has thrown for 1,461 yards and seven touchdowns.
Bengals and Seahawks Ready for Exciting Battle
Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow seems to have finally figured out how to play through the pain and play at a high level. That’s bad news for the rest of the league. Burrow passed for a season-high 317 yards and threw three touchdowns in a win over Arizona.
Seattle is more than game to challenge the Bengals on the road. The Seahawks have won three straight games since losing their season opener. Seattle has found success in leaning on running back Kenneth Walker III to keep the offense moving. While Seahawks veteran quarterback Geno Smith hasn’t been quite as sharp to start this season, Seattle’s running game should provide him time to find his footing.
The Seahawks own an overtime victory over the Lions. That is Detroit’s only loss of the season thus far. Seattle is also coming off a bye and should be ready to try and slow down the Bengals’ surging offense.