NFL Power Rankings: Week 6

Chris Sitek·
SportsSports Articles

Week six was highlighted by huge passing games and clutch performances.

Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers led the league in passing with 503 yards and two touchdowns against the Packers. Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer passed for 421 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers. These quarterbacks were just two of 10 that passed for 300 yards or more in week six.

The Detroit Lions picked up their first win of the season against the Chicago Bears, while the Atlanta Falcons lost their first game of the year against the Saints on Thursday Night Football. The Seahawks were downed by the Panthers and suffered their first home loss since October 12, 2014.

Sunday Night Football had one of the strangest plays in recent memory. The Patriots were in a close game against the Colts in Indianapolis when late in the third quarter the Colts came upon a fourth and three on their own 38-yard-line. From the snap, the entire line shifted to right, leaving only two players to hike the ball. The Patriots, clearly not fooled, bombarded the ball carrier immediately after the snap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTaqiO_53NQ&ab_channel=JackSyke

Five teams remain undefeated: The Patriots, Bengals, Packers, Broncos and Panthers.

  1. New England Patriots (6-0): Running back LeGarrette Blount has killed the Colts having rushed for eight touchdowns in four career games against them. Sunday night was no different: 16 carries, 93 yards and a touchdown in the Pats victory.
  2. Green Bay Packers (6-0): Running back James Starks had himself a day. Ten carries, 112 rushing yards and a touchdown as the Packers held off the Chargers, 27-20.
  3. Carolina Panthers (6-0): Relentless. If you didn’t think the Panthers are legit, you should now. Quarterback Cam Newton had two total touchdowns as the Panthers came back to beat the Seahawks, 27-23.
  4. Cincinnati Bengals (6-0): Who Dey! Time to consider Andy Dalton for MVP. The quaterback passed for 243 yards and three scores as the Bengals downed the Bills 34-21. It may also be time to consider the Cincinnati a Super Bowl contender.
  5. Denver Broncos (5-0): Denver’s defense and special teams has scored 69 of the team’s total points. The offense? 63. Offense or defense, it doesn’t matter. Denver is still undefeated.
  6. Atlanta Falcons (5-1): To many mental errors and penalties will lose you games and it did for the Falcons as they lost to their NFC South rival on Thursday Night Football. Atlanta had a punt blocked by New Orleans for a touchdown, committed seven penalties, and gave away three fumbles in the 31-21 loss.
  7. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2): Wide Receiver Martavis Bryant came back with bang hauling in six receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns as the Steelers beat the Cardinals 25-13. Pittsburgh is winning consistently with its third starting quarterback this year. I wonder what they’ll do when their Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger returns?
  8. New York Jets (4-1): The Jets are incredibly balanced as both their offense and defense has been consistently solid. The Jets offense was lead by running back Chris Ivory who had 196 total yards and one touchdown while their defense picked Washington off twice in a 34-20 win.
  9. Arizona Cardinals (4-2): The Cardinals defense has been M.I.A. in both of its losses. This time they gave up 310 yards in a 25-13 loss to the Steelers. Quarterback Carson Palmer also added salt to the wound by throwing two interceptions.
  10. New York Giants (3-3): Intercepting Eagles Quarterback Sam Bradford was a good start, but allowing 109 rushing yards to Demarco Murray was not. The Giants lost 27-7 to the Eagles.
  11. Minnesota Vikings (3-2): The Vikings defense is ferocious. Minnesota forced a fumble and sacked Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith once as they beat the Chiefs, 16-10.
  12. Indianapolis Colts (3-3): The Colts ran one of the worst fake-punts I’ve seen in my life. It almost makes the butt-fumble look weak. Yes, they lost again, but it was close.
  13. Buffalo Bills (3-3): Money talks, but it doesn’t walk in Buffalo. The Bills’ top three contracts are on the defensive line. This is because of their “ability” to get after the quarterback. They recorded zero combined sacks on Sunday and lost 34-21 to Cincinnati.
  14. San Diego Chargers (2-4): R.I.P. San Diego running backs. How can your starting quarterback throw for 503 yards and still lose? This was an inexplicable loss by the Chargers as Green Bay won 27-20.
  15. Seattle Seahawks (2-4): The Seahawks just can’t finish games. Seattle blew its third straight game when leading. This time it was the Panthers at home as they lost 27-23. Maybe Pete Carroll isn’t the answer at head coach.
  16. Philadelphia Eagles (3-3): Fly, Eagles, Fly! Huge win against their rival New York Giants, 27-7. Running back DeMarco Murray rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown in the win. See, good things happen when you give Murray the ball.
  17. Dallas Cowboys (2-3): Bye-Week
  18. Cleveland Browns (2-4): I guess someone didn’t tell Quarterback Luke McCown to not throw against Denver’s defense, because he did. A pick-six by Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib and the Browns lost a tough one 26-23 in overtime.
  19. St. Louis Rams (2-3): Bye-Week
  20. Oakland Raiders (2-3): Bye-Week
  21. Washington (2-4): Is Kirk Cousins still the starting quarterback? Yes. Is Washington still losing? Yes. Cousins has thrown six picks in six games. It might be RG III time in Washington.
  22. New Orleans Saints (2-4): Who dat? The Saints roasted the Falcons 31-21 behind a huge game from tight end Benjamin Watson. Watson had 127 receiving yards off 10 catches and a score in the win.
  23. Miami Dolphins (2-3): Hello, Lamar Miller! The running back rushed for 113 yards off 19 carries and a score as the Dolphins crushed the Titans, 38-10. Miller had 131 rushing yards all year coming into that game.
  24. San Francisco 49ers (2-4): Quarterback Colin Kaepernick channeled his breakout year past, throwing for 340 yards and two scores in a 25-20 win over the weak Baltimore Ravens.
  25. Chicago Bears (2-4): The Bears’ defense was listed as inactive this game. Chicago gave up 546 total yards in a 37-34 overtime loss to the Lions. Losing this close one despite Alshon Jeffery’s breakout game: eight receptions, 147 yards and a score.
  26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-3): Bye-Week
  27. Kansas City Chiefs (1-5): Not to be offensive, but the Chiefs offense needs work. Just look at the running game: 18 carries for just 57 yards. Kansas City lost a close one, 16-10 to the Vikings.
  28. Baltimore Ravens (1-5): The Ravens defense gave up 340 passing yards from Colin Kaepernick, are you kidding me? Baltimore falls 25-20 to the 49ers.
  29. Tennessee Titans (1-5): Growing up sucks, especially for Rookie quarterback Marcus Mariotta who had two interceptions, including a pick-six. The Titans got pounded 38-10 by the Dolphins.
  30. Houston Texans (2-4): Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was superhuman against the Jaguars, hauling in 10 receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Houston outlasted the Jaguars, 31-20.
  31. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5): Reason-To-Hope: Quarterback Blake Bortles passed for 331 yards and three touchdowns. Reason-To-Mope: He also had three interceptions. Jacksonville loses to Houston, 31-20.
  32. Detroit Lions (1-5): What an offensive explosion for the Lions! Quarterback Matthew Stafford passed for 401 yards and four touchdowns. His main target? Wide Receiver Calvin Johnson, who hauled in six receptions for 166 yards and a score in a 37-34 overtime win over the Bears.