This Given Sunday: NFC North establishes dominance
In a season that had been characterised by tight, low-scoring affairs, Week 6 of the new NFL campaign brought a barrage of points as a number of teams signposted their status as contenders with statement wins.
The 622 points scored in the 12 completed matches so far, for an average of 51.8 points per game, would be the highest average tally since the final week of the 2020 season (52.4 points per game), and it was a particularly fruitful day for the NFC North, with the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears each earning their fourth win of the season, respectively. Along with the 5-0 Minnesota Vikings, who were on their bye, this is the first time since realignment in 2002 that all four teams in a division have at least four wins through six weeks.
***
The Lions (4-1) solidified their status as the new ‘America’s Team’ by stepping into Jerry World and dismantling a sputtering Dallas Cowboys (3-3) 47-9. As complete a performance as you’re likely to see, the Lions almost doubled the hosts total yardage on the day (492 to 251), while also winning the turnover battle by five-to-nil. Detroit demoralised Dallas in a dominant first half, matching time-consuming methodical drives with explosive trick plays that have long been a part of Dan Campbell’s playbook. Second-year tight end Sam LaPorta rumbled to the end zone on a 52-yard flea flicker, while David Montgomery scored twice in the first half with punishing running between the tackles.
It was another game to remember for Jared Goff. His 18 completions on 25 attempts, for 315 yards and three scores gave him a near perfect passer rating of 153.8. He is the second signal caller in NFL history, along with Drew Brees, to record back-to-back performances with quarterback rating exceeding 150. After he connected on a 37-yard bomb to Jameson Williams early in the third quarter, the game was already over, with the Lions able to stymie a listless Cowboys attack. After Goff connected with star receiver Amon-Ra St.Brown for another touchdown, the starters were pulled from the game with more than ten minutes left on the clock.
Serious questions will again be asked of a Cowboys team that has paid its top stars handsomely, but lacks the necessary depth to push for the upper reaches of the league. The 38-point loss is their most lopsided defeat since 1988. Despite a resounding victory, however, the Lions will lament the loss of star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinsons. The second overall pick suffered a compound fracture to his left tibia, an injury that will end an already-stellar season prematurely after Hutchinson had entered the week as the NFL leader in sacks, QB hits and pressures.
The highest scoring game of the day took place in New Orleans, as the Tampa Buccaneers (4-2) weathered an explosive second quarter by the Saints (2-4) to win 51-27. Both teams did their scoring in bunches, as Tampa quickly built a 17-point lead over their hosts. A four-yard strike to Chris Godwin, a fumble returned to the house by safety Antione Winfield Jr, and a Chase McLaughlin field goal in the first period alone looked to have rookie signal caller Spencer Rattler flustered. However, the Saints turned things around quickly, scoring all 27 of their points in the second quarter. Rashid Shaheed continued his electric start to the 2024 campaign, returning a punt for a 54-yard touchdown, while Rattler would connect on his first touchdown throw to tight end Bub Means. Sean Tucker would re-establish the Bucs’ lead on a 36-yard tote to paydirt, but Rattler again led a scoring drive that was polished off by veteran running back Alvin Kamara.
The Bucs would respond with a 27-point streak of their own in the second half. Godwin again found the end zone, this time on a 55-yard catch and run, before Cade Otton, Bucky Irving and Tucker completed the rout. Tampa Bay are just the fifth team in league history with at least 300 passing yards and 275 rushing yards in a game, and are the first team to eclipse that mark since the Dolphins hung 70 points on the Broncos in Week 3 of last season. Even with such impressive tallies, there is room for improvement, as Mayfield threw three picks on the day.
In ‘The Battle of the Beltway’ the Baltimore Ravens (4-2) claimed bragging rights over their local rivals, outlasting the Washington Commanders (4-2) 30-23. Much of the talk leading into the game had been the Ravens potent rushing attack against Washington’s stellar offense led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and, while the second overall pick still had a fine outing, the pace was set by Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and the Ravens dominant ground game.
The King’s tenure in Baltimore has been a resounding success. Henry’s two rushing touchdowns marked the 25th time he’s run in multiple scores during an NFL game, tying him for fifth all-time. His eight rushing scores this season is the first time since LaDainian Tomlinson’s legendary 2005 season that a player has scored on the ground in their first six games of the season. It’s also the most a back has totalled in their first six games for a new franchise since Eric Dickerson found paydirt 10 times in his first six games in the league.
Henry’s efforts, plus a first touchdown grab of 2024 for star tight end Mark Andrews kept the Commanders at arm’s distance for most of the second half, but Daniels was still able to connect twice with Terry McLaurin during the course of the game. Along with Rattler, Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Bo Nix, 12 passing touchdowns were thrown by rookies in Week 6, the most in a single week in the Super Bowl era.
It was Williams who made the biggest contribution to that tally, connecting on four touchdown throws as he led the Chicago Bears (4-2) to a comfortable 35-16 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Jags opened the scoring in London, sustaining a 10-minute long drive en route to a Cam Little field goal. Williams coughed up the ball on the ensuing possession but, despite early jitters, the first overall pick started to find his stride in the second period connecting on two touchdown strikes to tight end Cole Kmet.
Chicago extended their lead in the opening minutes of the second half, a nine-yard strike from Williams to Keenan Allen compounding the Jags’ misery after an Evan Engram fumble. While Trevor Lawrence was able to twice find Gabe Davis in the end zone, another receiving touchdown from Allen and a plunge to paydirt from D’Andre Swift kept Jacksonville at bay. Williams is the only rookie quarterback selected first overall to record four victories in his first six games, and his 79.4% completion rate is the third highest by a rookie with four passing touchdowns in a game.
Making his first start in the NFL, Drake Maye showed flashes of the talent that made him a first round pick. However, key mistakes gave a ruthless Houston Texans (5-1) offense too many scoring opportunities as the New England Patriots (1-5) would fall 41-21 against their AFC South foes.
Despite amassing just 391 total yards, Houston was ruthless with short fields. Joe Mixon found paydirt twice on his return to the lineup, while Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell also scored, mitigating the loss of star wideout Nico Collins. Maye’s first NFL touchdown pass, a 40-yard bomb to Kayshon Boutte, travelled another five yards in the air, the longest pass by a Pats QB for almost three years per NFL Next Gen Stats. The North Carolina alum was also able to make plays out of structure, scrambling to his right on a 30-yard touchdown to Hunter Henry. For a team that had struggled behind the play of Jacoby Brissett, there was more than enough for Pats fans to get excited about.
The Cleveland Browns (1-5) offensive woes continued against the Philadelphia Eagles (3-2), with Deshuan Watson unable to move the ball effectively in a 20-16 loss. Cleveland could only amass 144 passing yards against a bottom 10 passing defense through the first five weeks of the season. Their lone touchdown came through a 50-yard blocked field goal return by former Eagle Rodney McLeod Jr.
Philly fans will rejoice at the return of their star receiver duo. A.J. Brown, who’d been out of the lineup since Week 1, bounced back with six grabs for 116 yards and a 22-yard touchdown, while partner-in-crime Devonta Smith capped his comeback from a concussion with a 45-yard catch-and-run to the end zone.
The Green Bay Packers (4-2) showed their offensive prowess in a comprehensive 34-13 victory against the Arizona Cardinals (1-5). Jordan Love spread the ball around his talented receiving corps, finding nine different targets on his 22 completions. His four touchdowns were shared between Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs, with Doubs twice finding paydirt. The Cardinals will rue their mistakes, with three lost fumbles undermining their offensive efforts, while star rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. left the game early after he failed the league’s concussion protocol.
The Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) bested the Las Vegas Raiders (2-4) by a flattering scoreline of 32-13. While both teams struggled to advance the ball, Las Vegas could only average 3.1 yards per carry on the ground, and the Steelers amassed just 110 yards through the air, it was crucial defensive plays by the Steelers that made all the difference. T.J. Watt forced two fumbles, including one by Ameer Abdullah on the Steelers one-yard line, while Donte Jackson also picked off Aiden O’Connell. Despite a poor game through the air, Justin Fields’ two rushing touchdowns, plus a 100-yard effort by Najee Harris, was enough for the Steelers to secure the victory.
When Jim Harbaugh went into the medical tent during the first quarter, long suffering Los Angeles Chargers’ (3-2) fans may have feared the worst, but the Bolts were able to ignore the distractions and, with the support of their coach, were able to overcome division rival Denver 23-16.
In fact the game was well in hand for the majority of the contest, as the Chargers found steady balance on offense scoring the game’s first 23 points. Both Kimani Vidal and J.K. Dobbins looked dangerous out of the backfield, both backs scoring in the first half. A Broncos (3-3) resurgence saw Bo Nix connect on touchdown strikes to Troy Franklin and Courtland Sutton respectively, but it was too little too late. The Broncos would end with a better per play average than their opponents (6.0 yards per play versus 4.7), but the Chargers ability to control the clock was the key difference (37:33 for LA versus 22:37 for Denver).
After the game, Harbaugh explained his momentary absence was down to an atrial flutter, an ongoing heart condition. The coach joked he’s “2-0 with arrhythmias” revealing he’d had a similar episode during Monday Night Football in 2012, when he was coaching the San Francisco 49ers.
The Atlanta Falcons (4-2) rode a well-balanced offensive effort to a 38-20 win over NFC South rival Carolina Panthers (1-5). Tyler Alleiger and Bijan Robinson combined for 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground, while Kirk Cousins connected regularly with both Drake London and Kyle Pitts, in a performance that brought the potential of Atlanta’s offense to life. It wasn’t completely straightforward, as the Panthers were able to move the ball in the first half. Ultimately, two Andy Dalton interceptions proved to be the difference.
Joe Flacco’s renaissance continued as the veteran signal caller connected on two passing touchdowns in a 20-17 win for the Indianapolis Colts (3-3) over the Tennessee Titans (1-4). He is just the fourth quarterback, at the age of 38, to pass for two touchdowns in eight straight games. The second of those touchdown passes, a ten-yard strike to Michael Pittman Jr., gave the Colts the lead halfway through the fourth quarter. Unable to lead a meaningful attack during the fourth quarter, the Titans top brass will continue to field questions about Will Levis’ status as their starting quarterback going forward.
Neither the Cincinnati Bengals (2-4) or New York Giants (2-4) could match the pace set earlier in the day, as Cincy eked out a 17-7 win in prime time. Both defensive coordinators will be proud of their charges, as the Giants’ pass rush routinely made timely plays in the Bengals backfield, ending drives with four sacks on Joe Burrow, while the seven points allowed by the Bengals is the first time Cincinnati has held an opponent to a single-figure scoreline in 75 games. The highlight of the game came in the first quarter, when Joe Burrow read the Giants’ blitz, immediately taking off to show impressive speed on a 50-yard score. Unsurprisingly, it’s the longest run of the signalcaller’s career.