The NFL not has an undefeated workforce because the 1972 Miami Dolphins can pull the plug once more as the one undefeated workforce in NFL historical past. Each the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles suffered their first lack of the season with poor performances on Sunday in Week 6.
Whereas the 49ers and Eagles have losses on their respective data, the Detroit Lions are cruising to a 5-1 begin (tied for one of the best document within the NFL) and the Miami Dolphins overcame a 14-0 deficit to blow out the Carolina Panthers to maneuver to 5-1.
Parity within the league is simply as sturdy on the prime with 5 groups at 5-1. There isn’t any clear favourite for the Tremendous Bowl, so it's an thrilling remainder of the season forward. With the Sunday afternoon video games in Week 6 full, there’s loads of overreaction. What are overreactions and what’s actuality?
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
McCaffrey's damage exhibits how a lot the 49ers have used him this yr. His 110 carries are second within the NFL and his 134 touches lead the league. That's 22.3 touches per sport in six video games. The 49ers are smart to make use of their finest offensive participant based mostly on his ability set, however how a lot is an excessive amount of?
McCaffrey left within the second half with indirect and rib accidents, solely to return earlier than leaving the sport for good. The 49ers have to be cautious of their star working again and maybe cut back the quantity of touches he will get.
That might imply extra reliance on Brock Purdy, who’s unsure how he’ll fare after going 12 of 27 Sunday (55.3 passer ranking). The 49ers must restrict McCaffrey regardless — in the event that they need to make a run on the Tremendous Bowl.
The Lions are one of the best workforce within the NFC
Overreaction or actuality: An overreaction
Detroit definitely seems just like the workforce to beat within the NFC after the Lions took care of enterprise towards Tampa Bay. Detroit's protection held an opponent to twenty or fewer factors for the fourth time this season whereas scoring 20-plus factors for the fifteenth straight sport (a franchise document).
Jared Goff threw for 353 yards towards Buccaneers secondary and didn't throw an interception, marking an offense that survived the lack of David Montgomery. Jameson Williams provides Amon-Ra St. Brown's deep-ball counter, making the passing sport much more harmful.
The protection held Tampa Bay to 2 of 12 on third down and 4.6 yards per sport on the afternoon. The Lions merely obtain full wins, whatever the opponent. They're the most popular workforce within the NFC, however they'll be examined by the Eagles and 49ers (they don't play within the common season) in January.
Make no mistake. Lions are good.
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Ridder threw three unhealthy interceptions that contributed drastically to the Falcons falling to the Chiefs, ending 28 of 47 for 307 yards and a landing for a 66.5 ranking. Ridder continues to throw passes into unavailable lanes as he ought to have extra interceptions than the six he already has.
The 2 interceptions Ridder threw late within the fourth quarter have been brutal, particularly the one within the pink zone in a 24-16 loss to Atlanta. The Falcons outgained the Commanders 402 yards to 193 and had 25 first downs to Washington's 13 — however misplaced due to three Ridder errors.
Ridder is meant to be the sport supervisor, however has issues when the sport is taken away. Possibly the Falcons ought to give Taylor Heinicke an opportunity since they’re nonetheless within the NFC South race at 3-3. They might deal with 2023 by maintaining Ridder in.
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The Bengals are about to run
Overreaction or actuality: An overreaction
Right here come the Bengals, winners of two straight video games with a franchise quarterback who seems to be 100% recovered from a calf damage from the summer time. Burrow wasn't good in Sunday's win (24 of 35, 185 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, 88.4 ranking), however he moved very nicely within the pocket and dominated the offense early.
In fact, the Bengals fell asleep late — and Orlando Brown's damage had lots to do with that — as their protection stepped up and held Seattle offense to 13 factors and 1-of-5 within the pink zone.
Cincinnati seems prefer it once more, however San Francisco and Buffalo are subsequent up after the bye. The Bengals need to show they will maintain their very own towards these groups, the beginning of a brutal stretch that features Houston, Baltimore and Jacksonville in 5 of their subsequent six video games.
The Jets protection can beat any quarterback within the NFL
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
What the Jets did to Jalen Hurts is just the norm for this group. Hurts completed 28 of 45 for 280 yards with a landing and three interceptions (52.5 ranking), struggling all day towards a Jets protection that was capable of generate constant strain within the backfield as soon as Lane Johnson left the sport with an ankle damage.
The Jets have achieved it to different quarterbacks this yr. Josh Allen threw three interceptions in Week 1 towards the Jets, whereas Patrick Mahomes threw a pair of interceptions in Week 4 — all at MetLife Stadium. Hurts, Mahomes and Allen have mixed for 3 touchdowns and eight interceptions towards the Jets protection this yr — and are three of the highest 5 quarterbacks within the league.
Allen, Mahomes and Hurts accomplished 65% of their passes towards the Jets protection — and 70% towards everybody else. Averaged 6.2 yards per try towards the Jets and seven.7 towards everybody else, together with 26 touchdowns on simply 9 interceptions.
The Jets protection simply shuts down nice quarterbacks. Plain and easy.
The Raiders are a playoff workforce
Overreaction or actuality: An overreaction
The Raiders ended up scoring 20 factors within the sport (scoring 21) and gained their second straight sport to maneuver to 3-3. Las Vegas is definitely a thriller because the Raiders have scored simply 16.6 factors per sport and allowed 21.8. Nonetheless, they're at .500 and have the Bears, Giants and Jets in three of their subsequent 4 video games.
Las Vegas is within the playoffs, however the Raiders must get extra factors on offense if they’re to be taken severely. Jimmy Garoppolo's damage can also be a big blow to the offense, maintaining Josh Jacobs out for six video games. They beat unhealthy groups and care for enterprise, however the offense must be higher.
