Phoenix Raceway (Avondale, Ariz.) — Now there’s a Chase.

A race that started with no driver within 48 points of the leader and with three sitting 49 to 65 points behind, ended with six drivers within 56 points of leader Kyle Larson.

Tyler Reddick — the driver who is now 56 points back — started the day 114 back. Reddick made his way into Victory Lane, while Larson’s miserable race ended 31 laps early with him in 34th.

Three races remain in the season and Larson is clinging to a five-point lead on Christopher Bell. Ahead are races at Talladega, Martinsville and Homestead with Larson seeking his third Cup title.

“It is what it is,” Larson told me and other reporters after exiting the track medical center. “It’s just part of racing.”

Here are my takeaways:

1. Larson Struggles; Field Tightens

Kyle Larson’s bad day gave other drivers in The Chase more hope.

Before a flat tire resulted in a crash that ended his day, Larson struggled throughout the race at Phoenix. 

The Hendrick driver had finished third or fourth in six of the last seven races at Phoenix, even though he hasn’t always felt that strong.

“I’m not surprised,” Larson said. “I think you guys thought I was lying to you all week when I said we weren’t good here. I didn’t expect to be good, but I didn’t expect to be that bad, either.

“We were just trying to fight as much as we could and just scratch and claw for whatever finish we could get.”

Chase Briscoe (eighth at Phoenix) now sits 24 points behind, Hamlin (28th) is 31 points back, Ryan Blaney (second) is within 40 points, Joey Logano (sixth) is within 44 and then Reddick sits at 56. 

“I figured it would tighten up after today anyways, just based off history,” Larson said. “Obviously, I wanted to finish to get the points we could. … I figured today would not be great and we would have to go next week and execute. So really, the plan hasn’t changed.”

2. Hamlin Squanders Opportunity

After another lackluster finish, Hamlin said that nothing surprises him.

Hamlin had a flat tire that didn’t end his day but put him a lap down as the caution came out just after he pitted. 

He would have gotten the free pass to get back on the lead lap, but he sped entering pit road as he concentrated on just steering the car and not on his speed.

Still seeking his first title in a career where he has 64 Cup wins, Hamlin can only wonder what could have been as his 2026 Chase has not mirrored his regular season, where he topped the standings.

“Some things are meant to be, and some things are not meant to be,” Hamlin told me and other reporters after the race. “There have been so many cards that I’ve been dealt in my career in these playoffs or Chase. Nothing surprises me. I’m not shell-shocked because I’ve been here.”

Hamlin said he did not believe the tire issues were a team-inflicted issue by using low air pressures. 

3. Reddick Finds Victory Lane Again

Tyler Reddick won the day in the desert, putting himself firmly into The Chase conversation.

Tyler Reddick won five of the first nine races of the 2026 season and took a 23-race winless streak into Phoenix.

He snapped that winless streak and put himself back in The Chase mix in one swoop, where he restarted fourth but the first driver with two fresh tires on a restart with 19 laps remaining. It took him less than two laps to snag the lead and hold off the field for the win.

“It’s been a long time,” Reddick said in his post-race news conference, about an hour after he climbed the track catch fence in celebration. “To go six months without getting it done was tough on the [team].

“But it was really cool in the fashion we did it. … It wasn’t really a perfectly-executed day for us again, but we just stayed in the mix, fought our way back up there, as the other drivers and teams had mistakes and miscues.”

4. Bell, Briscoe, Logano, Blaney Still In Mix

Ryan Blaney is hopeful he and his team can keep carving into the lead for The Chase.

Bell, Briscoe, Blaney and Logano all cut at least 40 points into Larson’s lead with their solid days.

It could have been more with the win (Reddick cut 58 points), but they will take what the solid finish gave them in combination with Larson’s struggles.

“[Gained] a lot of points today. Hard to be upset about that,” Blaney said in his USA Sports interview afterward. “[We’ll] try to go the next two weeks and do the same.”

4 ½. What’s Next: Talladega Superspeedway

The highly unpredictable Talladega will be certain to shake up the standings again as drivers try to navigate the draft without getting caught up in the typical crashes.

NASCAR has changed the rear spoiler from four inches to 3.5 inches. This is to give the drivers less rear downforce, potentially giving them the ability to maneuver better because they will have a little bit more room to react to moves by others.

But the drivers will have to depend on teammates — or at least manufacturer brethren — for help in the draft because a push from behind is vital to move forward.

“We’ll do our best to try and populate [with Toyotas] at the front as best we can,” Reddick said.

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Ready or not, Dodge is racing toward a 2027 season that includes competing in NASCAR Cup. But is it too much, too soon?

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Cam Skattebo says he understands why he was kept out of the New York Giants’ backfield, but his head coach, John Harbaugh, said there was no punishment at all.

After a 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, the Giants running back and Harbaugh gave conflicting accounts of why Skattebo never touched the ball, one week after he fumbled in overtime of a 27-27 tie with the Washington Commanders. 

Skattebo played six snaps and finished with zero carries or targets, the first time in his career he was active for a game without a touch. 

When asked whether his limited role was punishment, Skattebo didn’t hesitate.

“Yeah, of course. I didn’t expect to have zero, but I was expecting to not play as much, just like I did,” Skattebo told reporters. “The message was, keep your head down and keep going. They understand the type of player I am, and I just have to continue to do my job and do it to the best of my ability.”

Skattebo also took responsibility for the fumbles.

“Yeah, it’s hard, but I’ve made mistakes, and I have to own up to them,” Skattebo said. “I can’t make mistakes at this level of this game, and when you make mistakes like that, consequences have to be made.”

Harbaugh framed it differently. When he was asked about benching Skattebo, he pointed to a four-man rotation and a game that got away from the Giants.

“We were trying to see who could get a hot hand and earn it,” Harbaugh said. “Second half, we come out, we’re down by a bunch, and after the first series, we go into kind of a no-huddle deal, and that’s where you start using your third-down guys. It wasn’t by design for him not to carry the ball. When he was in there, we didn’t call any runs.”

The Saints scored 34 straight points behind four touchdowns from quarterback Tyler Shough, and the Giants ran for just 84 yards. Tyrone Tracy Jr. had six carries to lead the running backs, and Najee Harris had four for two yards.

Cam Skattebo saw limited playing time a week after he fumbled in overtime of a 27-27 tie with the Washington Commanders. The fumble, his fourth of the season, cost the Giants a shot at a game-winning field goal.(Photo by Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images)

When asked why Skattebo was on the field for only six snaps, Harbaugh said the work was being divided among four backs.

“Do the math,” Harbaugh said. “You can say, ‘Well, I don’t like you divvying up the snaps between four backs.’ I can tell you, I don’t like it either. One of those guys needs to step up. Somebody needs to step up and be the back. And none of those guys have done that yet.”

Harbaugh went on to say he had already answered whether the decision was a byproduct of the fumbling.

“That’s the best answer you could ever get on that in 1,000 years,” Harbaugh said. “If you’re not thrilled with that answer, I got nothing else for you.”

The Giants visit the Houston Texans next Sunday, where Skattebo could get a chance to earn his role back.

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The New York Giants are not a very good football team. Their 34-27 home loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday exposed all of their flaws. They are lucky to be 3-2-1 and in first place in a terrible division.

And if they want to stay there and make a real run at the playoffs, they have to give J.J. McCarthy their starting quarterback job.

McCarthy, the 23-year-old former Vikings bust, replaced Jameis Winston on Sunday with New York in a 34-10 hole and 11:25 left in the game. Then all he did from there was very nearly pull off a Meadowlands miracle. He led three fourth-quarter scoring drives, threw for 243 yards and a touchdown, and almost hit tight end Isaiah Likely with a game-tying touchdown pass with six seconds left in the game.

“I thought he came in there and did a heck of a job given the circumstances,” Giants coach John Harbaugh said. “(It was) kind of desperation time. It’s different than normal football. But (he) made some plays and got us back, gives us a chance to win the game. And we’re throwing the ball in the end zone at the end, so that was good. You’ve got to compliment him on that.”

He didn’t complete that last pass into the end zone — the ball went through the well-covered Likely’s arms — and McCarthy’s overall performance was far from perfect. He completed only 11 of 21 passes and his first drive ended with an interception. But he gave life to a Giants offense that had stalled and struggled over the previous three-plus weeks with Winston despite not losing a game.

And really, the Giants knew this day would come when they traded a fifth-round pick to Minnesota for McCarthy just a week after losing starting quarterback Jaxson Dart for the season. They knew that McCarthy was going to play at some point.

And even though Harbaugh refused to commit to McCarthy as his starter for Week 7 in Houston, he has to know that’s the only logical choice. And by the time he looks at the film, that will be obvious. Forget all the excuses about “desperation time” and the Saints’ soft and terrible defense. This is about what McCarthy did in that situation. He completed big passes (five for at least 20 yards and two for more than 45 yards). He stayed out of trouble (after getting picked on his fourth pass). And McCarthy did it all under duress, with both of the Giants’ starting tackles sidelined and the pocket crumbling in front of him most of the time.

He did what New York’s brass liked about him when they traded for him back in September — at a time when I wrote Winston was the best of the Giants’ terrible options to replace Dart. McCarthy reminded them of Dart. He moved around the pocket. He spun out of trouble and extended plays. And when the Giants got the ball back with just 57 seconds remaining and 71 yards to go, he kickstarted a potential game-tying drive by stepping away from the pass rush and taking off for a career-long 28-yard run.

Winston, at age 32, has neither that kind of mobility nor playmaking ability. And while he’s got a bigger arm, he’s been the high-wire act everyone figured he’d be since Dart went down, completing just 57% of his passes with seven touchdowns and five interceptions in five games.

Maybe McCarthy will prove to be risky, too. But at the very least, it’s worth exploring whether he can manifest the upside he showed upon being the No. 10 overall pick of the 2024 draft. He’s earned the chance to prove that Sunday’s performance wasn’t a fluke. Besides, it would be a terrible message if, after watching McCarthy’s near miracle, Harbaugh turned back to the quarterback who got him into the original mess.

There’s too much at stake for that. The NFC East is a total mess. The door is wide open. And the Giants already have a lead. What they need are players who propel them forward, not ones who hold them back.

The former is what McCarthy did on Sunday. He gave the Giants’ offense a bolt of energy they haven’t had since Week 1. And they’re going to need more of that because it’s going to be a fight for this flawed team every step of the way. They will need everything that McCarthy gave in those magical 11-plus minutes if they’re going to make a real run at the playoffs.

They need to give McCarthy a shot to see if he can do it again.

Don’t Write Off The Texans

It’s been 34 years since the 1992 San Diego Chargers became the only team in NFL history to start a season 0-4 and reach the playoffs. But the Texans are going to join that exclusive club.

Yes, it was just a few weeks ago that many of us pronounced them dead. But this isn’t just an overreaction to a two-game winning streak and their 34-31 win over the Jaguars in London on Sunday. It’s an acknowledgment that they may have solved their biggest problem: QB C.J. Stroud. He was outstanding on Sunday against a strong Jaguars defense, completing 24 of 34 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns. In fact, over the past three weeks, he’s started to look like he did as a rookie in 2023 — a version the Texans have been waiting for three years to see.

Over these three games, Stroud has averaged 313 passing yards. He’s got five touchdown passes in the past two games, too. But most impressive is how comfortable he looked against a blitz-heavy Jacksonville defense. He has been bludgeoned behind bad offensive lines in his career. (He’d been sacked 14 times through the first five games this season.) But he stood strong in the pocket on Sunday and just kept firing away.

In the end, he was an impressive 10 of 11 for 118 yards and two touchdowns under pressure, according to NextGen stats. And for the first time this season, he wasn’t sacked once. Yes, he threw a costly interception on a lazy pass into the end zone which could’ve given the Texans a 10-point lead with 3:53 remaining. But it was also his first interception of the season, after a franchise-record 216 straight clean passes.

And that was very reminiscent of 2023 when he set an NFL record with 191 straight passes without an interception to start his career.

Stroud has weapons now, too, after the Texans took a flier on former first-round pick Marvin Harrison Jr. (3 catches, 34 yards), who joins go-to target Nico Collins (3-74) and impressive second-year receiver Jaylin Noel (4-107-1). In fact, Stroud had four completions of at least 20 yards on Sunday. That gives him 25 on the season — most in the NFL.

Now, Stroud might not be able to solve all of Houston’s problems. The Texans’ running game was bad even before running back David Montgomery got hurt. And DeMeco Ryans’ defense sure isn’t what it used to be. The Texans have given up 399 or more yards in three of their six games — including 412 to the Jaguars. It’s a mark opponents had reached just once in the previous 38 games.

But Houston’s upcoming schedule is weak, Stroud is playing strong, and that could be enough to get this team back into contention. And that is remarkable, because just two weeks ago, the Texans didn’t have much hope at all.

Caleb Williams Is Back And So Are The Bears’ Super Bowl Dreams

It was never going to be enough for QB Caleb Williams to just return to the field. He was going to have to look like his same old magical self to really give the Chicago Bears the jolt they needed. And that’s what he gave them on his first drive Sunday against the Falcons when he escaped a collapsing pocket, rolled to his right, contorted his body and zipped a pass through two defenders to tight end Colston Loveland for the first touchdown of the game.

Plays like that are what keeps defenses on their heels and will keep the Bears (4-2) in Super Bowl contention all season long, as long as Williams really is fully recovered from the hamstring injury that kept him out the past three games. He looked pretty healthy in the Bears’ 31-23 win in Atlanta, completing 30 of 36 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown in what was a 31-7 rout with 10 minutes to go.

Notably, Williams didn’t run the ball at all — he had just three carries for 2 yards before taking a knee on the last snap. That’s hardly unprecedented for him, but a big change from the 15 carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns he had in the first two games.

Whether that was intentional or not, he used his legs enough to give Ben Johnson’s offense the explosiveness it lacked with Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum. Even without Williams, these Bears are probably a good team. But they have a chance to be a great team if they can keep him on the field.

The ‘Superteam’ Rams Were Always Just A Dream. Their Reality Is Old And Tired

So, how long exactly is jet lag supposed to last?

Because the Rams’ dumb idea to fly 15 hours to Melbourne and play their opening game 24 hours later was a convenient and easy excuse for their slow start to the season. But at this point, it’s Week 6 and their entire season has turned into an awful slog. It’s almost hard to believe that a team this talented could struggle as much as they have, or capable of gaining just 286 yards in a stunning 18-16 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

That’s the 2-4 Cardinals, by the way, who now hold a tiebreaker over the last-place Rams (2-4) in the NFC West: an unfathomable truth even after L.A.’s  Week 1 disaster. But what we all failed to take into account is that the Rams are an old team, with an average age of 27 — one of the oldest in the league, in fact. They are capable of greatness in short bursts, such as their late-game comeback in Philadelphia two weeks ago, their fourth-quarter rally against the Bills last Sunday, and even on their final touchdown drive against the Cardinals.

But sustaining the greatness everyone expected all season against a brutal schedule and an unprecedented travel itinerary was probably always going to take its toll. The Rams always thought they’d have a chance to get things right when they hit the soft spot in their schedule. But that five-week stretch just began with an unthinkable loss this weekend.

That’s not to say the Rams are done. Probably far from it. But it’s probably time everyone considerably lowered their expectations. Because old and tired doesn’t usually improve over time. And these Rams have to face the Seahawks (twice), the 49ers and the Chiefs in December and January. If they don’t get back in the race soon, there’s just no way they’ll survive that.

The Eagles Need A New (Future) QB

The Philadelphia Eagles are going to get a good look at life without Jalen Hurts over the next four weeks, at least. It should be enough to scare them into preparing for life without Hurts in a few years.

Not that they didn’t have enough offensive problems before Hurts got hurt, but it sure isn’t going to get any better under backup Tanner McKee. He’s a fine backup, but he needed 45 passes to throw for 215 yards on Sunday in an ugly 25-14 loss at home to the Carolina Panthers that dropped Philly to 2-4 on the season. With its injury-riddled offense in shambles, McKee’s just not good enough to get much done.

Now don’t misunderstand this: Hurts’ time in Philadelphia is far from over, even with him out indefinitely because of a blood clot in his calf. He’s only 28. He’s under contract for two more seasons. And the Eagles couldn’t even think of getting rid of him until after the 2027 season given the cap ramifications.

But now is the time to start planning for that possibility, because the hardest thing to do in pro sports is to transition from one successful franchise quarterback to another. Most teams, aside from the Green Bay Packers, only excel in finding ways to screw that up.

That’s why GM Howie Roseman needs, more than ever, to take advantage of this opportunity, to sell off some players so he has ammunition in the next draft. Then he can select Hurts’ eventually successor, like the Packers did with Jordan Love when Aaron Rodgers was still their quarterback, and like they did with Rodgers when Brett Favre was still there.

Roseman did that once as well, of course, using a second-round pick on Hurts in the 2020 draft when Philly still had then-27-year-old Carson Wentz. The Eagles were still Wentz’s team back then. But they made sure they were ready for when they weren’t anymore. Now they need to do it again.

• Even after three straight losses, the Raiders (3-3) aren’t going to send QB Kirk Cousins to the bench, certainly not after his 313-yard performance in a 33-30 loss to the Bills. But it’s time for them to bench RB Ashton Jeanty, who has never been close to what everyone thought he’d be when he was the sixth pick of last year’s draft. He had just 22 yards on 10 carries on Sunday, giving him just 49 yards on 20 carries over the past two weeks. Meanwhile, Mike Washington Jr., the Raiders’ fourth-round pick, had nine carries for 43 yards against the Bills. And at 4.8 yards per carry, he looks like he’s playing the game at a different speed than Jeanty ever has. So, since Jeanty is nursing foot and ankle injuries anyway, they should let him do that on the sidelines and give Washington a bigger workload, at least for a few weeks. Maybe that might give the Raiders’ terrible ground game the boost it needs to keep their playoff hopes alive.
• The Titans got a gift from the imploding Colts on Sunday, but don’t let that overshadow their growing Cam Ward problem. He was just 11 of 22 for 102 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a game the Titans won 26-20 because of a blocked punt and two Colts turnovers in the second half. It was Ward’s fifth game in six starts with fewer than 200 passing yards, and he’s not contributing much as a runner either (66 yards on the season). The 1-5 Titans are terrible and going nowhere, but now might be a good time to let Ward sit a few weeks and let him watch veteran Mitchell Trubisky start.
• I’m all for accountability, but John Harbaugh’s decision to basically bench Giants RB Cam Skattebo on Sunday was awfully costly. Yes, he’s fumbled four times in five games and basically blew the team’s chances at beating Washington last week with a fumble in overtime. But he’s also the Giants’ best runner — Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary and Najee Harris combined for just 34 yards on 14 carries in Skattebo’s place against a Saints rushing defense that was giving up nearly 150 rushing yards per game. The Giants aren’t good enough to leave their best players on the sidelines.

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Remember when the world was crashing down on the Green Bay Packers? When their offensive line was a disaster? When we’d already started thinking about writing the eulogy on their season? 

Well, now they’re one of the hottest teams in the NFL. 

Green Bay took down the Dallas Cowboys 23-13 at Lambeau Field on Sunday night, its third straight victory — tied for the second-longest active winning streak in the NFL. The Packers (4-2) scored 17 points in the first half, blanking the Cowboys in the first 30 minutes to go with two takeaways. And for the Cowboys (2-4), they’ve now lost three of their last four games. 

Concern continues to mount in Dallas after scoring just 13 points, one week after losing to the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Here are my takeaways from Sunday’s game: 

1.

Cowboys’ Offense Isn’t Good Enough To Overcome Bad Defense

Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ passing attack struggled Sunday night, but we’ve seen it: Prescott and wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens can catch fire in the blink of an eye.

Dallas’ run game, though, remains an Achilles heel for Brian Schottenheimer’s offense. It produced just 48 yards on 15 carries (3.2 yards per rush) in Week 6 — the fifth time in six games that the Cowboys have had 75 or fewer rushing yards. With the Packers doing such a great job covering the back end, Dallas had nothing it could lean on offensively. It makes life much more difficult for Prescott, who had one of his worst games of the season (34 of 54, 258 yards, TD, 2 INTs).

So this is at the crux of the Cowboys’ problems: Dallas’ offense can’t be consistently effective enough to bail out its defense, which continues to struggle. 

The Packers went 11 of 18 on third down, including seven straight conversions on third down to start the game. It was a lot worse for defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s unit than the final score suggests, but missed opportunities by receivers Christian Watson and Matthew Golden helped (more on this below).

2.

Packers’ Offense Is Both Lethal And Limited

When Jordan Love drops back and the Packers’ O-line gives him time to throw, there’s arguably no scarier sight to NFL defenses right now. Between Love’s superb deep ball and WR1-caliber production from both Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, the Packers can be borderline unstoppable in the passing game — even if it didn’t always look that way Sunday night, when Golden dropped two would-be touchdowns and Watson couldn’t secure a pass that touched his hands in the end zone. The threat is there.   

But Green Bay’s run game has been a persistent issue, and it showed up again Sunday night, when the Packers had just 57 rushing yards and couldn’t dominate the time-of-possession battle. And the Cowboys entered this week with the league’s worst run defense. 

So what happens when the passing game is off for the Packers against better defenses? When they have to prove that they can move the chains and get chunk yards on the ground? Green Bay, which has climbed back into NFC contention after a rough start to the year, is not a championship-caliber team as long as it’s one-dimensional offensively. 

3.

Packers Will Have An Elite Defense When Micah Parsons Returns

In back-to-back weeks, the Packers have lost standout linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and veteran defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to season-ending Achilles injuries. That’s on top of the continued absence of All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons (ACL), who’s yet to practice and remains on the physically unable to perform list. 

So Green Bay has been shorted defensively, but that hasn’t seemed to matter. A week after registering its first five-takeaway game in a decade, the Packers’ defense stymied the Cowboys’ explosive offense. Dallas didn’t score until nearly halfway through the third quarter, and its second touchdown practically came in garbage time. 

In the first half, Green Bay picked off Dak Prescott twice — the Cowboys quarterback had just three interceptions through the first five games — and held Dallas scoreless. Veteran safety Evan Williams, who had one of the picks, has been playing at an All-Pro level. 

The Packers have been an effective blitzing team and strong on early downs. Entering this week, they were allowing the third-fewest yards per play (4.3) and third-lowest success rate (38.2%) on first and second downs, according to Next Gen Stats. That can position Parsons to thrive on passing downs when he returns, elevating Green Bay in a huge way in the process. 

3 ½.   What’s Next?

The Cowboys are back in primetime next week, as they’ll travel to Philadelphia to face the division-rival Eagles on Monday Night Football. The Packers will be on the road to face the Detroit Lions in America’s Game of the Week next Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX One and the FOX Sports app). 

 

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Week 6 brought another round of records, led by historic milestones and teams heading in very different directions.

Patrick Mahomes matched Tom Brady with another milestone win, while Travis Hunter made history on both sides of the ball. Puka Nacua and Alvin Kamara joined elite company, Kenneth Walker III continued his remarkable start with the Chiefs, and Caleb Williams and Drake Maye continued to show why they’re among the NFL’s best quarterbacks.

Elsewhere, J.J. McCarthy finally had his moment with his new team, while the Eagles and Rams found themselves on the wrong side of history.

From record-setting performances to struggles that defy expectations, here are the numbers that defined Week 6:

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• Patrick Mahomes earned his 100th career win in his 131st start, tying Tom Brady as the fastest quarterback to reach 100 wins in NFL history.
• Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid joined Bill Belichick/Tom Brady, Tony Dungy/Peyton Manning and Bud Grant/Fran Tarkenton as the only head coach-quarterback duos in NFL history with at least three 5-0 starts.

• Travis Hunter became the third player since 1970 with a receiving touchdown and an interception in the same game, joining Brian Dawkins (Week 4, 2002) and Roy Green (Week 3, 1981)
• Hunter is the first player with a scrimmage touchdown and an interception in the same game since Dawkins in Week 4, 2002.
• Hunter became the first player in the Super Bowl era with a touchdown catch and an interception on back-to-back drives, in either order.
• Both of Hunter’s career NFL receiving touchdowns have come at Wembley Stadium. He has yet to score a receiving touchdown in the United States.

• Caleb Williams became the third quarterback in NFL history to reach 50 career regular-season touchdown passes before throwing 15 interceptions, joining Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes.
• According to Next Gen Stats, Williams completed all 24 passes from a clean pocket for 248 yards in the Bears’ Week 6 win. His 24 attempts were the most without an incompletion from a clean pocket in a game since at least 2018.
• Williams completed his first 12 passes against the Falcons, setting a career high for consecutive completions to start a game.
• Williams completed 19 of 22 passes for 197 yards in the first half, marking his most first-half completions and fifth-most first-half passing yards.

• Alvin Kamara became the sixth player in NFL history with at least 5,000 career rushing yards and 5,000 career receiving yards, joining Marshall Faulk, Marcus Allen, Tiki Barber, Christian McCaffrey and Lenny Moore

• Drake Maye became the first Patriots quarterback with at least three touchdown passes in three straight games since Tom Brady in 2017.
• On deep passes (20+ air yards) in Weeks 1-3, Maye completed 4 of 12 attempts for 160 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions, with a completion percentage over expected of -8.2% and a passing EPA of -5.0. But on deep passes in Weeks 4-6, Maye completed 8 of 15 attempts for 279 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, with a completion percentage over expected of +13.7% and a passing EPA of +14.7.
• Maye has thrown 10 touchdown passes and one interception over his last three games after throwing one touchdown and six interceptions in his first three.

Free Fall

• The Eagles have lost four straight games for the first time since Weeks 10–13 of the 2020 season.
• This is the first time in franchise history that the Eagles have started 2–0 and then lost their next four games.

• J.J. McCarthy threw for 243 yards in the fourth quarter, a total he had surpassed in an entire game just twice in his career entering today.
• McCarthy’s 243 fourth-quarter passing yards rank third over the last 10 seasons, behind Dak Prescott’s 254 (Week 4, 2020) and Josh Allen’s 251 (Week 1, 2025).
• His 243 passing yards are tied for the ninth-most in a fourth quarter since 1977.

Rodgers Has Weapons

• Germie Bernard’s 11 receptions set a Steelers single-game record for a rookie wide receiver.
• DK Metcalf and Bernard each had 11 catches, becoming the first Steelers wide receiver duo with at least 10 receptions apiece in a game since JuJu Smith-Schuster (13) and Diontae Johnson (11) in the 2020 Wild Card round.

• Kenneth Walker III became the second player since 1970 with multiple touchdowns in four of his first five games of a season, joining Calvin Johnson (2011).
• Walker’s eight scrimmage touchdowns through the Chiefs’ first five games trail only Priest Holmes (10 in 2002) and Abner Haynes (10 in 1962) in franchise history.
• Walker joined Jim Brown (1963) as the only players with at least 600 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns through the first five games of a season.
• Walker became the first player with at least 750 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns through the first five games of a season since Holmes in 2002. The only other players to accomplish the feat since 1950 are Marshall Faulk (2000), Emmitt Smith (1995), Eric Dickerson (1983) and Brown (1958, 1963).
• Walker has two rushing touchdowns of at least 30 yards this season. All other Chiefs players have combined for just one since 2022.

• Puka Nacua surpassed Michael Thomas (346) for the most receptions by any player within their first 50 career games in NFL history, reaching the milestone in just his 48th game
• The Rams are the fifth outright preseason Super Bowl favorite in the past 50 seasons to have a losing record through six games, joining the 2015 Seahawks, 2002 Rams, 1999 Vikings and 1987 Giants. None of the previous four reached a conference championship game.

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Week 6 brought many of the things we’ve grown accustomed to in the young 2026 season. However, Sunday might have given us the biggest surprise far this year.

The Arizona Cardinals pulled off the biggest upset of the season with their 18-16 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Arizona entered Sunday’s game as a 12.5-point underdog, but was in control for much of the day as it picked up its second win at SoFi Stadium. 

As great a story as the victory was for the Cardinals, though, much of the focus will turn to the Rams. Can they dig themselves out of this 2-4 hole, or are they already too far behind? Are the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles set to join the Rams in the land of disappointments as well?

Let’s overreact to Sunday’s Week 6 action. 

The Rams Will Miss The Playoffs

After a bad overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday, the Los Angeles Rams looked even worse in an 18-16 loss to one of the worst teams in the league, the Arizona Cardinals, on Sunday.

Special teams was the culprit once again, as the Rams gave up another big kick return. And to make matters worse, new kicker Blake Grupe suffered a knee injury while attempting to make a tackle on the play and was done for the day. Grupe did make a 44-yard field goal before the injury, though.

But because of the injury, the Rams attempted a two-point conversion after a touchdown reception by Blake Corum in the first half, which led to quarterback Matthew Stafford taking a vicious blindside hit on the play by Arizona edge rusher Josh Sweat. The conversion was no good as a result, keeping the Rams’ streak of failing to convert a two-point conversion since 2023 alive.

However, it wasn’t just the special teams that failed the Rams on Sunday, as the hit Stafford took on the two-point try might have been a microcosm of their day. The Rams turned the ball over at inopportune moments, had head-scratching pre-snap penalties and a defense that still misses injured superstar and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.

Conclusion: Overreaction … for now

You can blame Los Angeles’ struggles on special teams gaffes, but the reality is the Rams do not look like the dangerous, dominant Super Team we expected to see at the start of the year. Facing an Arizona squad led by former Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, the Cardinals didn’t look intimidated or in awe of the Rams.

Even though Sean McVay has had good success against the Cardinals over the years, the Rams struggled to move the ball against a bad Cardinals defense and allowed an offense led by Jacoby Brissett to go up and down the field for six scoring drives.

Los Angeles does have a schedule easy enough for it to get wins in the coming weeks, which could allow it to control its own playoff destiny later in the regular season. But after losing games like they did on Sunday, not every win seems guaranteed for the Rams. 

McVay told his players they have to get back to work to solve their issues, and he’s correct. And while it’s still early, at 2-4, the games are starting to slip away.

Stick A Fork In ‘Em: Major Changes Needed In Dallas

The Cowboys have been doing their best to support new defensive coordinator Christian Parker as he attempts to make the unit a more competitive, connected group. The latest change was hiring former long-time defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, who worked with Parker in Green Bay, as senior defensive assistant.

Joey Porter Jr., who the Cowboys acquired in a trade earlier this month, helped buoy the secondary with his sticky coverage on the perimeter. The Cowboys also made changes to their starting lineup, as edge rusher Malachi Lawrence replaced Donovan Ezeiruaku, Markquese Bell moved to safety and rookie Caleb Downs played nickel defender.

But none of the changes created a significant improvement for the Dallas defense, as the Green Bay Packers raced out to a 17-0 halftime lead and held on for a 23-13 victory that wasn’t as close the score suggested. 

Conclusion: Not an overreaction

Despite major changes to the coaching staff and personnel, the Cowboys still are ineffective on defense. And that’s unfortunate, considering Dallas has one of the most explosive offenses in the league, led by Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. However, even the offense didn’t show up for a second straight week following a lackluster showing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, putting up 303 total yards on Sunday.

Add to that, the Cowboys play in one of the most winnable divisions in the NFL in the NFC East, and they could be competitive if they can just get average production from the defense. Despite the changes, that doesn’t appear to be happening, meaning the pressure will continue to intensify for head coach Brian Schottenheimer to fix the issue — or owner Jerry Jones will have to find a new head coach to fix it at the end of the year.  

Bears Are Team To Beat In NFC North With Caleb Williams Back

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson’s offense looked dangerous again with Caleb Williams back under center after he suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him for three games.

Williams sizzled, completing 30 of 36 passes (83%) for 305 yards and a touchdown. The Bears scored the most points this season since dropping 59 points in a season-opening win over the Carolina Panthers, hanging on to defeat the Atlanta Falcons 31-23. Williams was perfect from a clean pocket, completing all 24 passes for 248 yards, the most attempts without an incompletion from a clean pocket since 2018, according to Next Gen Stats.

Conclusion: Not an overreaction

Chicago is one of the most dangerous offenses in the league with Williams back, and that was apparent from the jump. The third-year quarterback completed his first 12 passes on Sunday, giving him a new career high for consecutive completions thrown to start a game. That helped Chicago get out to a quick 14-0 lead, as it also showed its balance on offense due to its ability to run the football with D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai when he’s healthy.

Along with that, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen leads an improved defense that held an Atlanta offense that’s been explosive as of late to 257 total yards and sacked Michael Penix Jr. five times. A good portion of those yards came after the Bears took a 31-7 lead, keeping the Falcons at bay for most of the day. 

While the Bears play in the most competitive division in football in the NFC North, Chicago could be the most balanced of the four. That should mean it’s capable of making a deep postseason run, led by the arm and legs of Williams. 

The Eagles Should Trade For A QB With Jalen Hurts Out

Subbing for an ailing Jalen Hurts (out indefinitely with blood clots), backup quarterback Tanner McKee had trouble moving the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense on Sunday. The Eagles managed just 14 points and had six negative plays at home in a 25-14 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

McKee finished 25 of 46 for 217 yards, with a touchdown pass and no interceptions. He was sacked three times, posting a 77.5 passer rating. McKee’s longest pass completion was 19 yards, so the Eagles once again created very few explosive plays in the passing game. And Sunday’s loss marked their fourth in a row as they prepare to play without Hurts for at least three more games due to his injured reserve placement. 

Conclusion: Not an overreaction

Even with the Eagles’ struggles, they still play in a winnable division, which my colleague Ralph Vacchiano aptly labeled the NFC Least last week. So, why not make a move to improve quarterback play and give a talented defense to compete and win the division?

We’ve got a name in mind, too. Even after their upset win on Sunday, the Cardinals should be playing for draft position under first-year coach Mike LaFleur. A quarterback like Cardinals veteran Jacoby Brissett could be the stabilizing and steadying force that the Eagles need, and one they should consider. After Sunday’s win, Brissett has thrown for 1,328 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions this season, ranking in the middle of the pack among quarterbacks in most notable stats. 

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has been willing to take big swings in the past, including signing Saquon Barkley and trading for A.J. Brown. Making a move for a quarterback like Brissett does not compare to those blockbuster deals, but it also shows the locker room that the Eagles have not given up on this season.

In his second NFL season, Hunter is finally emerging as a consistent playmaker for the Jaguars. Hunter played nine snaps on offense, 58 plays on defense and two on special teams in the team’s buzzer-beater loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday, making standout plays on both sides of the ball. 

Offensively, Hunter finished with four receptions for 59 receiving yards on four targets, including a 7-yard catch out of the backfield for a score. He now has two career touchdowns, and, coincidentally, they’ve both happened at Wembley Stadium. Hunter’s first touchdown grab came a year ago in the Jaguars’ blowout loss to the Rams.

Defensively, Hunter had three combined tackles and an interception of a C.J. Stroud pass intended for Xavier Hutchinson that he undercut in the end zone. That interception was pretty clutch, too. Jacksonville needed to keep Houston off the board in order to prevent the Texans from extending their 31-28 lead at the time. 

Conclusion: Overreaction

Hunter became the first player to catch a touchdown pass and notch an interception in a game since Brian Dawkins in 2002, joining rarified air on Sunday. Even though it happened in a losing effort to the Texans, Hunter made the type of impact plays that the Jaguars believe justified their reasoning for giving up significant draft capital to move up in the draft to take the Colorado product with the second overall pick last year.

However, after playing just seven games in his rookie year due to a season-ending knee injury, Hunter still has to show more. Last season, Hunter played mostly on offense, totaling 28 catches for 298 receiving yards and a score. He played in 156 defensive snaps, totaling 15 combined tackles and three pass breakups, leaving most people underwhelmed with his play.

This year, the Jaguars have used Hunter as an every-down cornerback who plays as a part-time receiver. Prior to Sunday, Hunter had played in 79% of the Jaguars’ defensive snaps and just 7% of their offensive snaps, finding some success in utilizing him that way. 

Still, Hunter needs to prove he can maintain the high level of play while staying on the field for the duration of an NFL season before we make any big claims about his stardom. 

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SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California) — Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams compared his team’s latest surprising setback — this one an 18-16 heartbreaker to the Arizona Cardinals — to being stuck in a torrential downpour in sunny Southern California.

“You’re either in the storm, coming out of the storm or going into the storm,” Williams said after the Cardinals stormed SoFi Stadium following Chad Ryland’s game-winning field goal at the buzzer. “Right now, we’re in the middle of a storm. It’s raining. It’s not shining at all. That’s why we’ve got to continue to keep working.”

Yes, it does occasionally rain in Southern California, and the Rams haven’t been able to dodge puddle-sized raindrops since the team’s disastrous, misguided trip to Australia to start the year. 

The heavy favorite to start the year, earning the “Dream Team” moniker because of blockbuster offseason trades for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie (who both did not play on Sunday due to injury), the Rams have embarrassingly stumbled out of the gate to a 2-4 record. 

And the Rams have now joined a list no team with title aspirations wants to be on. Los Angeles is the fifth outright preseason Super Bowl favorite with a losing record through six games in the past 50 seasons, joining the 2015 Seahawks, 2002 Rams, 1999 Vikings and 1987 Giants, per FOX Sports Research.

Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay will try not to do what the 2002 Rams did, which is miss the playoffs after entering the year as the Super Bowl favorite.(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

None of those four previous teams reached a conference championship game, and, of course, the Rams will try not to join them. But for that to happen, the team will have to go through some extensive soul-searching as they prepare to face the Las Vegas Raiders on the road next week.

Rams head coach Sean McVay understood this would be one of the toughest coaching jobs of his career. He’s been adept at leading teams with big personalities in years past, including a Super Bowl winning team that included Von Miller, Odell Beckham Jr., Jalen Ramsey and Eric Weddle.

Like those teams, McVay has had to manage big personalities like Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald this season. But this year, McVay has struggled to put it all together and get those boisterous personalities to play with passion and to their full potential. 

And McVay knows it, too. 

“I have to do a better job and figure out how exactly we settle guys down,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said following Sunday’s loss. “But we’ve had some really critical errors at some really unfortunate times. That’s what our narrative has been this year. And we can’t keep saying that we haven’t done that before, because this year we are doing it. 

“We have to be able to fix it. And it’s my job to do that.” 

This part of the schedule was supposed to be the easy stretch for Los Angeles. After a tough five weeks to open the year, Weeks 6-10 consisted of facing the Cardinals twice to go along with the games against the Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders.

But as it stands, with the Rams stubbing their toe on offense with pre-snap penalties, uncharacteristic, unforced errors and turnovers, they’ll be lucky to beat any of those teams. 

“It’s definitely a reality check,” running back Blake Corum said. “But we know that we’re good. We know we have the guys. We know we have the culture. We know we have the team. But, like Coach [McVay] said, it’s time to get back to work. We have to watch this film and see where things aren’t aligning and then fix those things.” 

The problem is, this team, considered the best in the NFL, is struggling to compete against the bad teams. The Cardinals are playing for draft position and the right to land a franchise quarterback next April. Their only other win this season is against the other team from L.A.: the Chargers, who are one of only two remaining winless teams after Sunday’s games.

New Arizona head coach Mike LaFleur now has more wins at SoFi Stadium (2-0) this season than both teams in Los Angeles (the Rams and Chargers have a combined one win at SoFi Stadium this season). But he and the Cardinals have struggled outside of Southern California. They entered Sunday’s contest with the worst-ranked scoring defense in the league, but held the Rams to 286 total yards and 16 points as Los Angeles also failed to convert on both of its fourth-down tries.

“We have to go out there and grind and we’ve got to stop hurting ourselves,” center Coleman Shelton told me. “You can’t go out there and play against two teams every time we play a game. We can’t play against them and against ourselves. We’ve got to be a team, go to work and do our best to put ourselves in the right position.”

“I think it’s a whole host of things,” tight end Colby Parkinson told me when I asked about the unforced errors. “Lack of focus is definitely at the top. But we have to be more clued in, play in and play out, just focusing on the one play. I think as a whole we can all do better at that.” 

Special teams were once again an issue for Los Angeles. New kicker Blake Grupe made a 44-yard field goal to start the game, but on the ensuing kickoff, the Rams gave up another big return and Grupe had to make the tackle, injuring his knee.

Grupe’s leg was in a brace in the locker room afterward, and Los Angeles had to use punter Ethan Evans for field goals and kicks. Backup quarterback Stetson Bennett served as the holder. Because of the injury, McVay went for a two-point conversion after Corum’s 15-yard touchdown catch in the first half, which led to Matthew Stafford absorbing a vicious, blindsided hit by Arizona edge rusher Josh Sweat that caused a fumble.

Speaking of Stafford, he finished 25 of 32 for 222 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Lead running back Kyren Williams, meanwhile, only had 10 carries for 50 yards. Williams did play 71.4% of the offensive snaps, though, but he still suggested he would’ve liked to have been more involved in the offense. 

Asked why his team’s offensive energy was inconsistent, Williams bluntly said: “I can’t tell you. Probably because I’m not out there.” 

Williams’ comment and apparent swipe at his coach quickly gained traction on social media following Sunday’s game, but he’s still bought into turning things around. McVay and the Rams can take solace in the fact that they’ve been here before as well. They started 1-4 in 2024 and finished 10-7, making the playoffs. The year before that, they started 3-6 and finished 10-7, reaching the postseason after going 5-12 in 2022. 

“You use this adversity for moments in the future that’s going to allow us to be who we want to be,” Williams said. “You go through things in life so that it helps you grow. When you’re uncomfortable, that’s where real growth occurs. So, right now, obviously we’re uncomfortable with where we’re at in the standings and losing these games.

“But that’s where we really have to dig down deep, have the faith that we know that we have and continue to work. The work works. And believing in the work.” 

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The top three have become difficult to dethrone in the NFL, but that happens when you’re undefeated. It’s the rest of my top 10 that has seen a lot of movement in recent weeks.

Nos. 4 and 5 have been a back-and-forth between the Jaguars and Bills, who swapped places this week. Just behind those teams are a couple of teams that are finding their rhythm behind stellar quarterback play with the Bo Nix-led Broncos in between.

Here’s where things stand entering Commanders vs. 49ers on Monday night to close NFL Week 6.

Record: 4-2

Previous ranking: N/A ↑

Caleb Williams celebrates after the Bears’ comprehensive win in Atlanta on Sunday. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Super Bowl odds: +1800

Quarterback Caleb Williams’ return helped the offense find its spark in Week 6. The former No. 1 overall pick completed his first 12 passes and looked like the superstar QB that head coach Ben Johnson needs to make his X’s and O’s come to life in the Windy City. 

As a squad that can light up scoreboards via the run or passes, the Bears have the potential to vault into top-five consideration by the end of the season.

Who Stood Out: According to Next Gen Stats, Williams completed all 24 passes from a clean pocket for 248 yards in the Bears’ Week 6 win. His 24 attempts were the most without an incompletion from a clean pocket in a game since at least 2018.

Record: 4-2

Previous ranking: N/A ↑

Kicker Andre Szmyt was the Browns’ hero once again with a game-winning kick against the Ravens that put Cleveland atop the AFC North. (Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Super Bowl odds: +20000

Winning ugly has become the standard in Cleveland under Todd Monken. The scrappy Browns can overcome long stretches of offensive ineptitude to string together drives in the clutch. Quarterback Deshaun Watson is becoming one of the league’s best closers with four game-winning drives this season and a reel of late-game heroics that have skeptics and supporters alike singing his praises. 

With a pair of division wins and a share of the division lead coming out of Week 6, the Browns’ rebuild is ahead of schedule under Monken.

What Stood Out: Despite the 4-2 record, Watson has been sacked an NFL-leading 24 times this season.

Record: 4-2

Previous ranking: 9 ↑

Jordan Love and the Packers’ offense were impressive in the first half against the Cowboys on Sunday night. (Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Super Bowl odds: +3000

After notching their third straight win, and with running back Josh Jacobs’ return on the horizon, the Packers are rounding into form as a playoff contender. Quarterback Jordan Love has found his rhythm with wide receivers Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, giving the offense a big-play dimension that could make the unit unstoppable when the former NFL rushing champion returns to action.

If the defense continues to suffocate opponents as defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon tailors the scheme to his stars’ talents, the Packers will continue to climb the charts as a legitimate contender in the NFC.

Who Stood Out: Watson (538 yards) and Golden (501 yards) lead all teammate duos with 1,039 combined receiving yards.

Record: 4-2

Previous ranking: N/A ↑

Following an uninspiring performance by the QB, Bo Nix was thanking Broncos kicker Will Lutz after last Thursday night’s 17-14 win over the Seahawks. (Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)

Super Bowl odds: +2000

Although head coach Sean Payton hasn’t sparked the offensive revival expected when he took over playcalling duties, the Broncos are scratching out wins while he figures out how to get quarterback Bo Nix & Co. back on track. 

With an ultra-aggressive defense keeping opponents in check, the Broncos could be scary good when the offense catches fire.

Who Stood Out: Nix is averaging just 5.55 yards per pass attempt, ranking last among the 28 NFL quarterbacks with at least 100 attempts this season.

Record: 4-2

Previous ranking: 8 ↑

Drake Maye delivered a third straight impressive performance in the Patriots’ win over the Jets. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

Super Bowl odds: +1800

Don’t look now, but the Patriots are back in business as a dark-horse contender. 

Drake Maye has worked his way out of an early-season slump with his third straight game with at least three touchdown passes. Although Maye must continue to work on his chemistry with wide receiver A.J. Brown, who returned from an ankle sprain after missing four weeks, the Patriots are starting to look like a championship-caliber squad with their QB rediscovering his mojo as a playmaker.

Who Stood Out: Maye became the first Patriots quarterback with at least three touchdown passes in three straight games since Tom Brady in 2017.

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Record: 4-2

Previous ranking: 4 ↓

Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars went 1-1 in London over the past two weeks and now head into their bye. (Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)

Super Bowl odds: +1400

A tough loss to a bitter division rival overshadowed Travis Hunter’s breakout game as a two-way star. The spectacular playmaker snatched a pivotal red-zone interception, while also flashing big-play potential as a pass-catcher from various alignments in the Jaguars’ spread formations. The WR-CB might be the X-factor for a team that needs to clean up its self-inflicted miscues on offense and defense during the bye week.

Who Stood Out: Hunter became the third player since 1970 with a receiving touchdown and an interception in the same game, joining Brian Dawkins (Week 4, 2002) and Roy Green (Week 3, 1981).

Record: 5-1

Previous ranking: 5 ↑

Josh Allen celebrates with fans in Las Vegas after the Bills’ Week 6 win. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Super Bowl odds: +720

Josh Allen is the MVP frontrunner after another dazzling performance that featured several jaw-dropping plays. The 6-foot-5, 237-pound improvisational wizard continues to tease and torment defenders with his impromptu runs and scramble tosses on the perimeter.

Although the Bills’ leaky defense is a major concern, No. 17’s heroics can mask the deficiencies during a Super Bowl run.

Who Stood Out: Allen has rushed for eight touchdowns, tied for the most by a quarterback through the first six games of a season in NFL history.

Record: 5-0

Previous ranking: 3

Kyler Murray and the Vikings will come out of the bye undefeated and atop the NFC North. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Super Bowl odds: +1800

Given a bye week to spend more time concocting exotic pressures and mind-boggling pre-snap disguises, defensive coordinator Brian Flores could make the league’s most disruptive unit even scarier down the stretch. If head coach Kevin O’Connell gets the offense going with QB Kyler Murray at the helm, the Vikings could emerge as the team to beat in the NFC.

Who Stands Out: Linebacker Dallas Turner’s 5.5 sacks through five games are tied with Doug Martin (1982) for the most by a second-year player through the Vikings’ first five games of a season.

Record: 5-0

Previous ranking: 2

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ great start to the season continued with a blowout win over the Chargers. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Super Bowl odds: +850

Kenneth Walker III has added a dimension to the Chiefs’ offense as a dynamic runner with big-play potential. The NFL’s rushing leader topped the 100-yard mark for the fourth time in five games, exhibiting the explosiveness out of the backfield that’s been missing since the Jamaal Charles era. 

With a more balanced offense, head coach Andy Reid has the Chiefs leaning into a complementary football approach that makes them a more formidable playoff foe.

Who Stood Out: Patrick Mahomes earned his 100th career win in his 131st start, tying Tom Brady as the fastest quarterback to reach 100 wins in NFL history.

Record: 5-0

Previous ranking: 1

Brock Purdy enters Monday night’s game against the Commanders as a legitimate MVP candidate. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

Super Bowl odds: +580

The 49ers enter their Monday-night matchup against the Commanders sitting pretty at the top of my rankings. Staying healthy will be key for San Francisco, with Deebo Samuel out multiple weeks and fellow receiver Mike Evans already dealing with nagging injuries.

Who Stands Out: Purdy enters the game against Washington leading all NFL quarterbacks with at least 100 pass attempts in passer rating (119.3), adjusted net yards per attempt (9.32), adjusted yards per attempt (9.62) and touchdown percentage (9.2%), while posting the lowest sack rate (2.1%).

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Sean McVay seems to be at a loss. Of course, he and the Los Angeles Rams literally lost to the Arizona Cardinals, 18-16, on Sunday. But McVay — the man who seemed to know everything about football — doesn’t have any answers right now.

Not for the team’s offensive issues. Not for the postgame questions. Not for the Cardinals’ offense.

It’s a rare state of alarm for McVay and L.A. Their loss was the biggest storyline and biggest surprise from Sunday’s slate of games. So let’s hit that. Let’s also look at one statistic from Caleb Williams that Bears coach Ben Johnson is going to love. Let’s highlight an incredible play design, a QB who’s making himself a lot of money and a head coach who’s made himself impossible to fire.

Welcome to Sound Smart, where I take you beyond what’s obvious. Let’s go below the surface. Let’s spin it forward, dive deeper, think outside the box and read between the lines. If I do my job, you’ll be fluent in the NFL’s Week 6 action.

1.

What Stood Out To Me Most On Sunday: Myles Garrett’s Return Won’t Fix The Rams’ Widespread Dysfunction.

There’s one thing that must be most discouraging for the Rams after their upset loss to the Cardinals: Myles Garrett’s return won’t fix this team. 

The star edge rusher is due back from knee surgery within the next couple of weeks. But that alone won’t turn this team around. Cornerback Trent McDuffie’s return won’t fix this. Rams legend Aaron Donald’s return didn’t fix this. And the return of star receiver Puka Nacua didn’t fix this.

That has been the team’s refrain this season: Just wait until X, Y, Z gets back on the field.

But sitting at the bottom of the NFC West with a 2-4 record, the Rams have bigger issues — namely their offense, along with their special teams. Garrett isn’t going to make those units better. Neither will McDuffie. That’s all on coach Sean McVay and his quarterback, Matthew Stafford.

Whatever Sean McVay is telling QB Matthew Stafford these days, it’s not working for the Rams. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Stafford finished Sunday’s game with a season-low 4.8 air yards per attempt. That’s his third-worst number as a Ram. And it’s especially meaningful because … it was against the Cardinals, who were giving up 236.8 passing yards per game going into this week — eighth-worst in the NFL. 

This game should’ve been an easy win for the Rams. They didn’t just make it look hard. They did that — and lost. 

It was a bad enough game that running back Kyren Williams called out the coaches for not playing him more. He was asked why the Rams’ offense lacked energy from drive to drive.

“Can’t tell you, bro,” Williams said, via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop. “Probably because I’m not out there.”

You don’t hear Rams players calling out the coaching staff like that over playing time.

It speaks to bigger issues. The extent of the Rams’ dysfunction is widespread. It’s on offense. It’s on special teams. It’s in the locker room.

“There’s nothing I can say about today,” McVay told reporters after the game. “We have to be able to not beat ourselves, let alone figure out how to come away with some results.”

This is a common refrain for an uncommon set of problems for the Rams. They look complacent. They sometimes look checked out. And strangest of all, when Stafford finally gets the offense moving, they flash their potential. And that flash of production leaves everyone wondering: Why can’t they play like that all the time?

The Rams are obviously not a Super Team. They’re not even meeting the standards they set for themselves in years past. They’re mired in dysfunction — and perhaps the frustration of failing to meet expectations. And they’re spiraling, seeing their playoff odds slip to 43%, per Next Gen Stats.

I think that’s actually generous. It’s hard to spot the eight teams the Rams can beat to fight their way into the playoffs. McVay needs to figure out how to ignite this team and turn around his season. Because he’s running out of time.

2.

I Can’t Shake This One Thought: There’s One Caleb Williams Stat From Sunday That Ben Johnson No Doubt Loves The Most.

Caleb Williams completed 83.3% of his passes against the Falcons’ defense on Sunday.

And this wasn’t a small-volume approach. Johnson let the Bears QB throw early and often in his return from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for three weeks.

Williams was 30-of-36 for 305 passing yards and a touchdown. His +12.4 completion percentage over expected was the second-highest of his career. No, Atlanta’s defense isn’t good, so it’s not like it was hard to imagine Williams having success. 

But at this level of efficiency?

Well, it should stop you in your tracks, given he completed only 58.1% of his passes last season — and Johnson has spent the past two years talking about how badly he wants his QB above 65%. Though it’s still a small sample size, Williams now leads the NFL with a 72.5% completion percentage.

He has always had a careful approach with the football. He doesn’t throw interceptions and, last year, he avoided sacks at a clip that was outstanding.

But he wasn’t a game manager. 

He spent most of last season coming from behind — and often securing victory. It was unfamiliar territory for Williams and the Bears on Sunday as they took the lead early and had to protect that lead against an Atlanta offense that came roaring back, particularly when Chicago’s defense opened the door.

It feels like Williams is learning to settle into that title: “game manager.” He doesn’t have to be “Iceman” or “Cardiac Caleb” all the time. 

The Bears didn’t ask Williams to do much in the fourth quarter, throwing the ball just two times for two completions and 24 yards — and then carrying the ball for a few short runs. But his overall efficiency throughout the game ultimately made the Bears’ lead insurmountable.

3.

Smartest Play Of The Day: Ravens OC Declan Doyle Drew Up Something Special To Help QB Tyler Huntley.

Every week, Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle brings something to life that is unlike anything I’ve seen before. And this week, there were two plays that really seemed to give opposing defenses a swirlie. (Here’s the other one.)

The smartest play of the week came on first-and-10 in the Ravens’ loss to the Browns when QB Tyler Huntley — filling in for the injured Lamar Jackson — connected with Jake Cuevas for a 29-yard pickup. If Huntley had hit the tight end in stride, he would’ve gone for a massive play. But Huntley threw it too far in front of Cuevas, who stumbled and fell.

Regardless, the beauty of the play came before the snap, with Cuevas lining up in the area where a left guard would normally be. He set up off the line, and therefore was an eligible receiver. 

The only time I’ve seen anything remotely similar was when the Patriots first started tinkering with eligibility in a comeback win over the Ravens in the 2014 playoffs. New England lined up an ineligible player, Shane Vereen, in the slot and put tight end Michael Hoomanawanui at tackle, where he was eligible — and quite productive running uncovered through the Baltimore defense. That was when the NFL changed the rules. 

And the Ravens will have to be careful about flirting with rule-breaking here.

“You have to line up either clearly on or off the line of scrimmage. To me, he’s not clearly in the backfield and the formation is illegal,” FOX Sports rules analyst Dean Blandino told me.

The more Doyle does quirky things like this, the more teams will have to prepare for them. And that’ll slow down opposing defenses, which is useful for the Ravens’ offense, especially while they try to eke out wins with backup QB Huntley.

4.

Quarterback Corner: C.J. Stroud Has Left The Texans No Choice But To Extend Him.

C.J. Stroud is going to get paid. 

It remains to be seen if the Texans are going to make the playoffs. But Stroud has already made it impossible for Houston to do anything other than extend his contract. The exact figures — average annual value and guaranteed dollars — are TBD. That’s what will be determined over the next 10 games (or more). But if you were like me in thinking maybe the Texans might consider moving on from Stroud in 2027, then you can completely put that out of your mind. I certainly have.

Because with a quarterback like Stroud, it’s usually fair to get apprehensive about how he handles pressure. (On a macro level: playoff pressure and/or contract pressure. And on a micro level: a pass-rusher bearing down on him.) On Sunday against the Jaguars, Stroud was about as good as he’s ever been.

He was 24-of-34 for 312 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Against pressure (and the blitz), he had answers, knowing where to put the ball — and quick enough that he neutered the blitzes. He completed 10 of 11 passes under pressure (90.9%) for 118 yards and two touchdowns, per Next Gen Stats. His 90.9% completion rate was the highest he’s ever had under pressure in a game. And the Jaguars blitzed him on 37.1% of dropbacks, the highest rate he’s faced in a game this season.

Despite the Texans’ slow start, C.J. Stroud is playing like a quarterback who’s due for a big extension. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Even as the Texans slipped to 0-4, there was so much to like about how Stroud was playing. He was efficient and doing what he could to carry his ailing defense. In two of Houston’s three one-possession losses, he got the Texans ahead with 2:20 and 1:40 left on the clock. The defense responded by allowing touchdowns. 

That doesn’t excuse Stroud for the things he did to lead the Texans into a hole, which included two brutal sacks and a fumble to lose the game against the Bills. But hopefully, it contextualized why I feel there was plenty to like from the Texans’ 0-4 start.

But now they’re 2-4. And with this win over the Jaguars (who I think can still be the AFC’s No. 1 seed), the Texans could win their next four games: vs. Giants, @ Chargers, @ Browns and vs. Colts. That would have the Texans going into their Week 12 matchup against the Ravens with a 6-4 record. 

And at that point, Stroud could be a dark-horse MVP candidate. Because he could do what only one NFL team has ever done: make the playoffs after starting 0-4.

5.

What Everyone’s Afraid To Say: Todd Monken Has Already Made It Impossible For The Browns To Fire Him.

There is an unusual and downright unsettling competence in Cleveland. And I think that’s linked to the fact that there is something unusual and downright enjoyable about watching Browns coach Todd Monken.

It’s honestly a stunner that Monken has worked out for Cleveland. He’s the guy who missed the coach’s photo at the owners’ meetings — in order to get a haircut for the coach’s photo. He’s the guy who got ousted in Baltimore along with John Harbaugh, and was reportedly the sticking point that got Harbaugh fired. (Lamar Jackson apparently wanted Monken out as OC while Harbaugh wanted him to stay). 

Monken was hired as the Browns’ head coach in part because no one else wanted the gig. Candidates Mike McDaniel, Jesse Minter, Grant Udinski and Chris Shula declined to interview with Cleveland. (It was a little embarrassing for the Browns.)

I’ll admit that I thought Monken, a first-time head coach at age 60, was essentially a sacrificial hire — a guy set up to fail and last just one year. The Browns looked like a team that would tank in 2026, replace Monken and take a quarterback at the top of the 2027 NFL Draft. And finally, they’d be rid of Deshaun Watson, who was the centerpiece of the worst trade in NFL history. And who remains the most difficult player to watch on this team, because of his underwhelming on-field play and because of the off-field allegations. 

That plan feels downright impossible now, with the Browns sitting at 4-2 and the No. 1 spot in the AFC North. They have a 38% shot at the playoffs, per Next Gen Stats. It’s lower than those of the Ravens (57%) and Steelers (54%), but it’s a heck of a lot better than anyone could’ve guessed.

Cleveland’s defense looks elite, including edge Jared Verse, who arrived from the Rams when the team traded Myles Garrett. The young group of offensive playmakers — from tight Harold Fannin to receivers Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion to running back Quinshon Judkins — is impressive. When the Browns do move on from Watson this offseason, they’ll be a dangerous team.

And that’ll be because of the way Monken is building a culture. He’s winning ugly now. But with a better quarterback? The Browns might someday be fun to watch. Someday soon.

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Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh vowed to look at every aspect of his operation — including new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel — after a 22-6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday that sent Los Angeles winless into its bye.

The only other team without a victory this season is Miami, which was on its own bye this week.

“We’re in a position of needing to look forward and evaluate every part of what we’re doing,” Harbaugh said. “The job I’m doing, the job the coaches are doing, the way we’re playing, the way we’re executing on offense. I mean, all those things we need to evaluate.”

None of them have been very good.

The Chargers couldn’t stop the Chiefs, but Kansas City had no such struggle against Los Angeles. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

After back-to-back 11-win seasons, the Chargers (0-6) are off to their worst start since 2000, when they matched the 1975 team by dropping their first 11 games. Three of their losses have been by more than one possession, and only once have they eclipsed 17 points: a 30-23 loss to Seattle in which the Chargers trailed 30-13 in the fourth quarter.

Much of the criticism has landed at the feet of McDaniel, the former Dolphins coach, who many considered an upgrade over former offensive coordinator Greg Roman. But the Chargers continued to struggle in Kansas City on Sunday, with Justin Herbert throwing his league-leading eighth interception and the offense managing 259 yards of total offense.

“We’re going to look at everything,” Harbaugh said. “I mean, the job I’m doing — it starts with me. The plan is to watch this again with our offensive coaches. I see the effort. I see the work being put into the meetings, on the practice field, and you know, to get that to translate to the field is what’s necessary.”

Harbaugh refused to use injuries as an excuse, though nobody would think any less of him if he did.

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The Chargers already have offensive linemen Rashawn Slater, Tyler Biadasz and Trey Pipkins on injured reserve, along with tight end David Njoku and linebacker Denzel Perryman. Right tackle Joe Alt (neck) and left guard Kayode Awosika (fibula), wide receiver Tre’ Harris (hamstring), cornerback Donte Jackson (hamstring) and safety Derwin James (hamstring) also were inactive Sunday.

Wide receiver Ladd McConkey, who had just returned from a foot injury, was lost in the first half to a concussion. Backup defensive back Deane Leonard joined him in the concussion protocol during the second half.

“That’s a tough thing they’re going through,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “That injury list is about as long of a list as I’ve seen.”

“There’s no justification. There’s nothing I would say that wouldn’t sound like an excuse. I’m opposed to that to the core, and pointing fingers,” Harbaugh said. “But I believe this is a team game. … We need to look at it all. Everything we’re doing, how we’re doing it.”

Herbert was just 22 of 37 for 204 yards with an inexplicable interception thrown directly into the hands of Chiefs linebacker Jack Cochrane, who nearly returned it for a touchdown. But in a stat that just might underscore the wide-ranging nature of the Chargers’ offensive woes, their quarterback also was their leading rusher, scrambling five times for 26 yards.

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Kimani Vidal ran seven times for 21 yards. Omarion Hampton carried seven times for 18.

Asked whether he could have foreseen such a dismal start, Herbert replied: “I’m not much for hypotheticals.”

“The situation is what it is now, and we have to move forward and understand where we are, what we have to do, and do our best to get out of it,” he said. “We’ve got a bye week next week, and do everything we can, like I said earlier, and then whoever we play next after that, we’ll focus on them and do our best to to win that game. That’s all you can ask for.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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