NFL Week 6: Biggest questions, takeaways for every game

NFL NationOct 12, 2025, 11:08 PM ET
Close

Week 6 of the 2025 NFL season kicked off with an NFC East showdown between the Eagles and the Giants on Thursday night. The Giants’ rookies dominated their win, as quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Cam Skattebo accounted for five total touchdowns.

Sunday’s action began overseas for the third straight week, with the Broncos holding on in London and the Jets remaining the NFL’s lone winless team. Back in the United States, the Ravens lost their fourth straight game with three turnovers against the Rams. The Panthers won on a time-expiring field goal over the Cowboys, while the Chargers had one of their own against the Dolphins.

In the late window, the Raiders ended a four-game losing streak with a comfortable win over the Titans. The Buccaneers continued their hot start with another victory over an NFC West opponent, beating the 49ers after defeating the Seahawks last week. And the Bengals couldn’t get past the Packers in quarterback Joe Flacco’s Cincinnati debut.

The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up the day’s games with a convincing win over the Detroit Lions.

Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team. Let’s get to it.

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Chiefs

How should the Chiefs feel about their 3-3 start without Rashee Rice? Andy Reid should feel cautiously optimistic. The Chiefs could’ve been 4-2 if not for their last-minute collapse in last week’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but they showed much improvement in their win over the Lions, controlling the tempo throughout. Even without Rice, who returns this week after serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, the Chiefs’ offense appears efficient and potent, especially on late downs.

Most surprising performance: Less than a week ago, the Chiefs’ defense surrendered 31 points to the Jaguars, despite forcing two takeaways. The Lions’ offense, led by quarterback Jared Goff and running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, entered Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday leading the league in points per game, averaging 34.8. With a strong performance from pass rusher Chris Jones — who acknowledged that his lack of pursuit of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on the final touchdown was a “teaching point” — strong tackling from the linebackers and secondary, and timely blitzes from coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, the Chiefs’ defense held the Lions to just 17 points. — Nate Taylor

Next game: vs. Raiders (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Lions

Should the Lions be concerned about the defense not stopping the top offenses? Detroit’s defense has now given up at least 24 points in three of its first six games. In three games against the Packers, Ravens (with Lamar Jackson) and Chiefs, the Lions have allowed 29 points per game and have one takeaway (1-2 record in those games). In three games against the Bears, Browns and Bengals, the Lions have allowed 18.3 points per game and have eight takeaways (3-0 record in those games). Patrick Mahomes picked them apart while throwing for 257 yards with 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. He also rushed for a TD. The 4-2 Lions will get another chance to stop a hot offense next Monday night when they face Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

What to make of the QB performance: Goff has a passing touchdown in 12 straight games, which is the longest streak of his career, per ESPN Research. Goff went 22-for-25 with 194 yards and 2 touchdowns, but the offense couldn’t find a groove in the second half. — Eric Woodyard

Next game: vs. Buccaneers (Monday, 7 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Packers

Did the Packers show enough to think their running game is back? Barely squeaking out a win when you’re a two-touchdown favorite isn’t a great look, but at least the Packers finally showed they can run the ball again. Running back Josh Jacobs said last week that he has always felt like it takes three or four games to get the running game going. On Sunday, that’s exactly what happened. While it was far from a dominating performance, Jacobs & Co. piled up 153 yards on the ground. It included a season-high 93 yards by Jacobs, who had a pair of rushing touchdowns for his fifth game with multiple rushing scores since the beginning of last season. Jacobs averaged 5.2 yards per carry after he came in averaging just 3.3 yards.

Trend to watch: Another game without a takeaway for the Packers’ defense. It has just two so far this season, and one of those was an end-of-half interception on a Hail Mary in Week 3 against the Browns. Last season, the Packers forced 31 turnovers (17 interceptions and 14 fumble recoveries); and they spent much of the offseason talking about taking the ball away even more. Instead, they’ve gone the other way. — Rob Demovsky

Next game: at Cardinals (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Tucker Kraft dives into the end zone to pad Packers’ lead

Tucker Kraft fights off a pair of defenders as he dives across the goal line to extend the Packers’ lead.

Bengals

Did the Bengals show enough offensively to provide confidence for the immediate future? Yes. Granted, the first half looked incredibly underwhelming. Cincinnati failed to score in the opening two quarters for the first time since Week 1 of the 2024 campaign, when starting quarterback Joe Burrow was coming off a wrist injury. But in the third quarter, things finally turned around. In quarterback Joe Flacco’s debut with the team, he led the offense on a 17-play drive that ended with a 2-yard scoring strike to tight end Tanner Hudson on a fourth-and-goal attempt. Cincinnati scored on its first three drives of the second half. That could be a building block as the team tries to find wins in the middle of the season.

What to make of the QB performance: Cincinnati should be encouraged with how Flacco played, particularly in the second half. Flacco did a very good job of playing on time, finding a good rhythm and locating open receivers. When the Bengals traded for Flacco this week, they were hopeful the 40-year-old signal-caller could jump-start a dormant offense. If he continues to play like this, it could be good enough to inject the slightest bit of life into Cincinnati’s season. — Ben Baby

Next game: vs. Steelers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Buccaneers

How could the Bucs survive the potential loss of Emeka Egbuka after his hamstring injury? The Bucs will survive with the same formula that has helped them storm out to a 5-1 record, and that is quarterback Baker Mayfield playing at an MVP level. Mayfield was 17-of-23 for 256 yards and two touchdowns. It’s not certain how bad Egbuka’s injury is, but the Bucs have already been without Mike Evans for three weeks with a hamstring injury, and Chris Godwin Jr. is “week-to-week” with a fibula injury. On top of that, Jalen McMillan won’t be back until after the Week 9 bye. Still, Egbuka has been Mayfield’s top target by a mile and has been getting so much of the offense’s chunk yardage — 446 receiving yards — with Sterling Shepard the next closest at 242. Tez Johnson and Kameron Johnson both hauled in touchdown catches Sunday. But none of those other players are high-volume catchers like Egbuka.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Bucs spent all week talking about stopping running back Christian McCaffrey and San Francisco’s yards after the catch. But their defense struggled to contend with the downfield connection between quarterback Mac Jones and wideout Kendrick Bourne, who recorded five receptions for 142 receiving yards. Still, Tampa Bay made plays when it mattered with two interceptions. — Jenna Laine

Next game: at Lions (Monday, 7 p.m. ET)

49ers

What does Fred Warner’s ankle injury mean for the 49ers’ season? Already without star defensive end Nick Bosa (knee), the Niners will play the rest of the campaign without their two best defensive players. Considering that unit entered the season with just Warner, Bosa and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir as the returning starters from Week 1 of 2024, it’s difficult to envision that defense playing anywhere near as well as it did in the first five weeks. Even with the Nov. 4 trade deadline approaching, it’s simply not possible to replace either Warner or Bosa, let alone both of them. On Sunday, the Bucs scored touchdowns on three of their first four full possessions after Warner departed, offering evidence that the onus for any potential Niners playoff push will fall largely on the offense.

Stat to know: Eddy Pineiro has made his first 15 field goal attempts of the season. That ties him with Robbie Gould (2017), for the most consecutive made field goals by a San Francisco kicker to start a season, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Considering all the other issues, the 49ers finally seem to at least have figured out the kicking situation.

Best quote from the locker room: Wide receiver Jauan Jennings said he had to take nausea medicine after Warner got hurt: “Just losing Fred, he’s one of the guys that I basically look up to. He’s been one of the guys who’s led this team year in and year out and just his words of encouragement before every game, man, and just know how much he loves the game. It just very sad, and it makes me sick to my stomach.” — Nick Wagoner

Next game: vs. Falcons (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Raiders

Can tight end Michael Mayer continue to step up in Brock Bowers’ absence? The Raiders had always believed they had two starting-caliber tight ends in Bowers and Mayer. After Mayer missed two straight games because of a concussion, he stepped up in a big way. The former Notre Dame standout totaled five catches for 50 yards and a touchdown, which was encouraging while Bowers was out with a knee injury. The Raiders will need Mayer to continue being a reliable presence in the passing game.

Turning point: The Titans had a chance to put points on the board at the end of the first half and couldn’t capitalize. Quarterback Cam Ward was pressured by Raiders defensive linemen Tyree Wilson and Jonah Laulu before throwing an interception to linebacker Devin White. — Ryan McFadden

Next game: at Chiefs (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Ashton Jeanty barges in for a Raiders TD

Ashton Jeanty gets into the end zone on a 3-yard rush to put the Raiders up 17-0.

Titans

Is another losing streak looming? The Titans squandered their best chance to get a win over the next few weeks against the Raiders, who were 1-4 before Sunday. Any promise from the previous week’s win over the Cardinals died, and the Titans have still not won consecutive games since 2022. The defense tried to keep them in the game, but the Titans couldn’t overcome another dismal effort from the offense. There could be another losing streak on the horizon with former head coach Mike Vrabel and the Patriots coming to Nashville next week. The Titans then travel to Indianapolis and get the Chargers at home the following week.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Titans’ offense struggled to move the football once again. Tennessee found itself consistently behind the chains because of penalties and sacks allowed. Another issue was its insistence on playing horizontal football, especially with the screen game. Offensive playcaller Bo Hardegree dialed up screen plays on five of their 59 snaps on offense. The Titans gained only eight yards on the screen plays — none of which led to a first down. — Turron Davenport

Next game: vs. Patriots (Monday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Patriots

Are the Patriots putting too much on Drake Maye? The lack of a consistent running game made the Patriots one-dimensional, as the offense relied on Maye’s arm and growing knack for making clutch passing plays when things break down. The silver lining is that the team’s pass protection has improved to a point that airing it out can still be a winning formula, with Maye’s scrambling ability producing unscripted rushing yards. But the glass-half-empty view is that a team playing in the Northeast is likely going to need to run the ball late in the season when the weather turns cold.

Trend to watch: Maye went 3-for-3 for 107 yards and three touchdown passes on throws of 20 or more yards downfield in the first half — one to wide receiver DeMario Douglas and the other two to receiver Kayshon Boutte. All were touchdowns, which tied for the most such plays by any player in a game this season (Giants quarterback Russell Wilson in Week 2 at Cowboys). Maye had hit five straight passing plays thrown 20 or more yards downfield entering the game, giving him a streak of eight in a row.

Best quote from the locker room: Boutte, who grew up in Louisiana, attended LSU and totaled a team-high five receptions for 93 yards and two touchdowns, gushed about his game that he played in front of 40 friends and family members for whom he bought tickets. “It was amazing coming back home, first time playing in the Superdome. A little emotional at first — a full circle moment.” — Mike Reiss

Next game: at Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Saints

Can the Saints fix their inconsistencies in the red zone? The Saints’ red zone offense ranked 29th in the league entering Week 6, scoring a touchdown on 41% of their red zone possessions, according to ESPN Research. Against the Giants in Week 5, the Saints scored only field goals and capitalized on turnovers. Against the Patriots, New Orleans scored just one touchdown. Improving in the red zone is something coach Kellen Moore and the players have identified as something they need to do going forward, and that will be emphasized after Sunday’s loss.

What to make of the QB performance: Spencer Rattler had a solid first half with only two incompletions and was able to make plays with his legs. He finished 20-of-26 for 227 yards and also ran for 20 yards, and he was hindered by some drops (Chris Olave had two) and a fumble from tight end Juwan Johnson. The biggest issue — the Saints couldn’t turn field goals into touchdowns, and Rattler was sacked on third down on the New England 33-yard line — a play that resulted in a field goal instead of a potential six points.

Best quote from the locker room: The Saints have lamented losing so many close games this season, and safety Justin Reid said they can’t take any satisfaction from being in tight games. “We don’t live in a league that we get moral victories for being close. That isn’t what the NFL is,” Reid said. “It’s not about points. It’s about Ws and Ls, right? And we only have one W so far, so it is a bit frustrating. Every man in the building knows what it takes to win, we’ve just got to go out there and execute better.” — Katherine Terrell

Next game: at Bears (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Steelers

Are the Steelers the most complete team in the AFC North? Yes — by their division-leading record, the eye test and maybe even by default with the other three teams falling apart. Playing with a full complement of healthy defensive players for the first time all season, the Steelers swarmed the Browns and rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel with six sacks, 16 quarterback hits and eight passes defensed. Even without a takeaway, it was the kind of complete defensive performance the Steelers have been seeking all season. And on offense, quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ unit finally broke through in the second half of the game with back-to-back touchdown drives after three field goals in the first half.

Turning point: The Steelers’ first drive of the second half was nearly their first three-and-out of the game, until the Browns were whistled for running into punter Corliss Waitman. The penalty gave the Steelers a fresh set of downs and jump-started the offense. The Steelers rattled off five plays of 10-plus yards and just one incompletion en route to their first touchdown on a vintage 12-yard scramble drill toss from Rodgers to tight end Connor Heyward.

Best quote from the locker room: Cornerback Jalen Ramsey had a day he won’t forget, recording his first sacks with the Steelers. “I’m going to probably tell my kids about this,” he said. “I played in a game with TJ Watt and Myles Garrett, and I had two sacks. That’s crazy.” — Brooke Pryor

Next game: vs. Commanders (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Browns

Should the Browns make trades at the deadline after falling to 1-5? Cleveland made a pair of midweek trades, and although multiple players said the team is committed to winning, perhaps the front office should be more open to accumulating picks in the 2026 NFL draft. The Browns have several veterans on expiring contracts, such as defensive lineman Shelby Harris and tight end David Njoku, who could return the additional picks that Cleveland is going to need to rebuild its foundation.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Not having cornerback Denzel Ward shadow Steelers receiver DK Metcalf in cornerback Tyson Campbell’s team debut. Just days after arriving in Cleveland via trade from the Jaguars, Campbell struggled against Metcalf, giving up three catches (six targets) for 70 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Ward didn’t give up a catch to Metcalf on two targets.

Best quote from the locker room: “Losing the same way is frustrating as hell,” Garrett said after the Browns’ offense failed to eclipse 17 points for the 11th straight game. — Daniel Oyefusi

Next game: at Bengals (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Chargers

Has the Chargers’ offense gotten its groove back? In the first half, the Chargers’ offense was out of sync, having little success doing anything. They went into the half with three field goals, but those struggles dissipated in the second half. Justin Herbert & Co. leaned on their running game to build a lead and help seal the late win. The caveat here is that the Dolphins have the league’s worst run defense, so the Chargers’ success could be the result of taking advantage of a poor unit.

Most surprising performance: Running back Kimani Vidal. After drafting Vidal in the sixth round in 2024, the Chargers released him after this year’s training camp, opting to go with Najee Harris, Omarion Hampton and Hassan Haskins in the backfield. Vidal re-signed on the practice squad and got an opportunity to be the Chargers’ lead back Sunday. He finished with 17 carries for 122 yards and three catches for 14 yards and a touchdown. His performance should make the Chargers feel comfortable about him holding down the backfield with Hampton on injured reserve. — Kris Rhim

Next game: vs. Colts (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Herbert’s magic in pocket sets up winning Chargers FG

Justin Herbert escapes pressure and finds Ladd McConkey, putting the Chargers in range for a Cameron Dicker field goal in the final seconds.

Dolphins

Is there hope for a turnaround for Miami? Coach Mike McDaniel’s teams can be criticized for plenty of things, but players do not quit on him. The Chargers’ win probability hit a peak of 94% at the start of the fourth quarter, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, but the Dolphins kept it within two scores, got a critical stop and had a go-ahead touchdown with 47 seconds remaining. Ahead are road games against the Browns and Falcons, before a home game against the Ravens on a short week. Miami has lost the privilege of a “get right” game, but this three-game stretch is not daunting. However, if its defense continues to falter in critical spots like it did Sunday, things will get scary long before Halloween hits.

Biggest hole in the game plan: There’s feeding your best players, and then there’s what Miami did Sunday. Receiver Jaylen Waddle and running back De’Von Achane accounted for 26 of 42 total touches for the Dolphins’ offensive players. Obviously, it’s not easy to fill the void left by injured wideout Tyreek Hill — but Dolphins players said it would take a group effort to do so. Someone needs to step up to keep defenses from keying heavily on Waddle and Achane. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next game: at Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Colts

Did the Colts allay defensive concerns with their late-game stand? The Cardinals were missing their starting quarterback, multiple running backs and lost their top receiver during the game. And yet, Arizona was able to consistently move the ball against a Colts defense that has raised a few questions in recent games. Only the Rams and quarterback Matthew Stafford compiled more total yardage against the Colts this season than the Cardinals’ 400 yards on Sunday. But the Colts got the final word when they stopped the Cardinals on a fourth down with the game on the line.

What to make of the QB performance: Daniel Jones didn’t have a gaudy stat line — 22-of-30, 212 yards, two touchdowns and an interception — but he was diligent in not forcing balls into the teeth of a very good Arizona defense. And Jones gets credit for a fourth-quarter game-winning drive when he helped engineer a nine-play, 66-yard drive that ended with the decisive touchdown with 4:32 remaining. — Stephen Holder

Next game: at Chargers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Cardinals

Should the Cardinals start Jacoby Brissett next week? Unless Kyler Murray is completely, undoubtedly, 100% healthy from his foot injury, then yes. The Cardinals should let Murray rest for another week and into the bye. Brissett played an efficient, relatively clean game and had the Cardinals’ offense moving in all four quarters, so playing him isn’t a high-risk decision. Even for a team that has lost four in a row, the Cardinals looked as composed offensively as they have all season.

What to make of the QB performance: What Brissett did Sunday afternoon was nothing short of impressive, even if it wasn’t enough to win. He started his first game in 371 days and put together a solid, efficient performance running a scheme that he was familiar with from spending the 2022 season with the Browns, who had Arizona’s offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork on staff. Even more impressive it that Brissett threw for 320 yards on 27-of-44 passing without receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who left the game in the second quarter with a concussion. — Josh Weinfuss

Next game: vs. Packers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Seahawks

Why are the Seahawks so much better away from Lumen Field? Their win pushes their road record to 3-0 this year and 10-1 in two-plus seasons under Mike Macdonald, who became only the fourth coach in NFL history to win 10 of his first 11 away games. In that same span, they’re 4-8 at Lumen Field, where they used to own one of the NFL’s best home-field advantages. This latest road win at 10 a.m. PT didn’t come easy. They needed a huge day from wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and seven sacks from their pass rush, which came alive after a poor showing a week earlier.

Trend to watch: The Seahawks could use help at cornerback. With Devon Witherspoon (knee) playing in only two games this year and Riq Woolen (who missed this game with a concussion) often plagued by costly mistakes, Josh Jobe has been their most consistent cornerback. But Jobe struggled Sunday, with one of his several miscalculations resulting in a Jaguars touchdown. Cornerback feels like a position the Seahawks will look to upgrade before the Nov. 4 trade deadline.

Best quote from the locker room: Smith-Njigba caught eight passes for 162 yards and a touchdown, marking the fourth time in six games this season he’s topped 100 receiving yards. He now leads the NFL with 696. Is it time to start talking about him as one of the NFL’s truly elite receivers? “Absolutely,” safety Coby Bryant said. “He does it every week. He doesn’t say too much. He goes out, [he’s] consistent in who he is. He’s definitely the best, in my opinion.” — Brady Henderson

Next game: vs. Texans (Monday, 10 p.m. ET)

Sam Darnold finds AJ Barner deep for 61-yard gain

Sam Darnold launches a 61-yard strike to AJ Barner, who powers through before finally being taken down.

Jaguars

How can the Jaguars generate more sacks? The Jaguars entered Sunday fifth in the NFL in pressures (69) but 27th in sacks (seven), so they’ve had trouble finishing all season. It didn’t help that defensive lineman Travon Walker missed last week’s game with a wrist injury or that defensive end Josh Hines-Allen has managed just a half-sack (he entered the season needing 2.5 to set the franchise career record). The one sack they got against Seattle came on a jailbreak blitz, and blitzing more might be what they should do. They entered Sunday 21st in the NFL in blitz percentage at 25.7%.

Stat to know: Before the Jaguars’ next-to-last drive, quarterback Trevor Lawrence had been pressured on 25 of his 47 dropbacks (53%). The 25 pressures are the most any quarterback has faced in a game this season, per ESPN Research, and he was later sacked on third down on that drive. The Seahawks sacked him seven times, which was as many times as he had been sacked in the first five games.

Best quote from the locker room: Jaguars coach Liam Coen acknowledged that his team played sloppy. “It’s on me. It’s an undisciplined operation at the moment, and it’s on me. It’s got to get fixed. It’s a great opportunity this week to get it fixed, right? We’re going on the road. We’re flying to another country. Being together as a group, looking ourselves in the mirror and try to figure out from an operation and habit standpoint what is standing in our way. Because right now, it’s us.” — Mike DiRocco

Next game: vs. Rams in London (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Panthers

Are the Panthers legitimate contenders in the NFC South? Maybe. They’re .500 (3-3) for the first time since 2021 and playing well with two straight wins. The Bucs got off to a fast start, but Carolina still gets to play them twice. The emergence of running back Rico Dowdle as a star, smashing Christian McCaffrey’s (416) two-game team record for scrimmage yards (473), has made play-action a factor for quarterback Bryce Young. He is taking advantage. The Panthers have a chance to get to three straight wins against the 0-6 Jets.

What to make of the QB performance: Young might finally have arrived. After a rough start to the season, he has five touchdown passes over the past two games, something he has done only one other time. He has been in control of Carolina’s offense, as coach Dave Canales has preached. Now, he is getting results.

Best quote from the locker room: Long-snapper JJ Jansen is one of the few players on the roster who was around the last time the Panthers (3-3) were .500, back when they were 5-5 after Week 10 of the 2021 season. Here’s his perspective on the .500 mark: “It’s a good little checkpoint for us. It would be really good for us to go take the show on the road [to the Jets], win a game a game on the road, and now you feel like you’re consistently week-in and week-out playing really good football.” — David Newton

Next game: vs. Texans (Monday, 10 p.m. ET)

Fitzgerald’s 33-yard FG gives Panthers the win

Ryan Fitzgerald hits a 33-yard field goal as time expires to seal the win for the Panthers over the Cowboys.

Cowboys

Is it time to make drastic changes on defense? Is it time to make a trade for a legit pass rusher? A linebacker? Is it out of the realm of possibility they do something the Cowboys have not done before: make an in-season coordinator change? The Cowboys had no answers for Dowdle, the ex-Cowboy. They did not put any sustained pressure on Young. They gave up too many big plays again. And with 6:07 to play, the Panthers ran down the clock for the game-winning field goal. These problems have been consistent from the opening week of the season. When it goes poorly, the Cowboys don’t have a playmaker, like edge rusher Micah Parsons, to get them out of a funk. The trade deadline is in less than a month.

Trend to watch: The Cowboys were not pleased with their running game last week against the Jets, despite 180 yards on 29 carries. They are certainly less pleased after Sunday. The Cowboys finished with 31 yards on 19 carries and did not have a run longer than six yards. Take away the 66-yard run by running back Javonte Williams in the second quarter against the Jets, and the run game has not had the consistency the Cowboys need. With a defense that is scuffling (to be kind), that’s even more pressure on quarterback Dak Prescott to deliver every time. — Todd Archer

Next game: at Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Rams

What does wide receiver Puka Nacua’s injury mean for the Rams? Nacua appeared to be in a lot of pain after injuring his foot in the second quarter but came back into the game early in the third quarter, although he did not have another target. Nacua entered the game leading the NFL in receptions and receiving yards, and the Rams will miss him if he is not able to play or is limited because of the foot injury. They have struggled in first halves this season — averaging 9.8 first-half points per game — and did not score a first-half touchdown against a Ravens defense that has been among the worst in the league this season.

Stat to know: Rams tight end Tyler Higbee had 8.6 yards of separation when the ball arrived on his 8-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. That’s the most open a player has been on a touchdown allowed by the Ravens this season, and the second most on a touchdown allowed by the Ravens over the past three seasons. — Sarah Barshop

Best quote from the locker room: The Rams’ defense allowed just three points to the Ravens, which was their fewest in a road game since 2014, according to ESPN Research. “They carried us all day,” wide receiver Davante Adams said. — Sarah Barshop

Next game: vs. Jaguars in London (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET)

Stafford’s 4th-and-3 completion sets up Rams TD

Matthew Stafford makes an amazing throw to Kyren Williams, who comes down with the ball then he rushes in for a touchdown on the next play.

Ravens

Did the Ravens’ playoff hopes end Sunday? Recent history says yes. Since the 14-team playoff format started in 2020, only one team — Washington in 2020 — started 1-5 and made the playoffs. A preseason Super Bowl favorite, the Ravens have now lost four in a row for the first time in four seasons. They’ve been outscored 98-33 the past three weeks. The only glimmer of hope is quarterback Lamar Jackson could return from his hamstring injury after the Week 7 bye, when Baltimore’s schedule becomes much easier. Over the next six games, the Ravens play one team with a winning record (Vikings). But Baltimore will likely need some of Jackson’s heroics to bring them back from this formidable hole.

Stat to know: Under coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens are 8-26 (.235) when they turn the ball over three or more times. On Sunday, Baltimore committed three turnovers, including an interception and fumble by quarterback Cooper Rush, who was benched in the fourth quarter for Tyler Huntley. The Ravens’ three points are their fewest at home since 2002, when they were shut out by the Buccaneers 25-0. Baltimore has lost its past six games without Jackson and has failed to score more than 17 points each time.

Best quote from the locker room: “Bad football gets you to 1-5. So whatever you put out there, that’s how the football works.” Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on whether he is surprised by the team’s poor record. — Jamison Hensley

Next game: vs. Bears (Oct. 26, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Broncos

How did the Broncos manage to keep this game on a razor’s edge? Let them count the ways on the flight home from London. The Broncos fumbled on their first possession, had a cascade of penalties on offense — including a holding penalty in their own end zone that resulted in a third-quarter safety — and allowed two massive kickoff returns, including a 72-yarder. Add it all up and it almost negated one of the best defensive performances in the league this season that included nine sacks and holding the Jets to minus-11 passing yards. Broncos coach Sean Payton said he believed the offense would find its identity soon, but they certainly didn’t find it in north London.

Trend to watch: The Broncos entered Sunday with the league lead in sacks (21) as well as the individual leader in linebacker Nik Bonitto (seven). They showed no signs of slowing down and consistently harassed Justin Fields with a diabolical variety of four- and five-man pressure looks. With three teams in the next four games who were among the top 12 in the league in sacks allowed heading into Sunday’s games, the Broncos’ pass rush could feast almost until Thanksgiving. — Jeff Legwold

Next game: vs. Giants (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Broncos defense comes up with game-sealing sack

Jonathon Cooper and Brandon Jones get to Justin Fields to seal the game for the Broncos.

Jets

Should the winless Jets consider a quarterback change? It would be a surprise if coach Aaron Glenn pulls the plug, but let’s be honest: Justin Fields struggled mightily against the Broncos. He passed for only 45 yards and took nine sacks. Most of those sacks were on him; he held the ball too long, unable to find his second and third reads when the first was covered. He got no help from offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, whose conservative playcalling reflected no confidence in Fields. That includes a botched two-minute drive at the end of the first half in which they let the last 32 seconds run off the clock without running a play. The Jets also finished with 82 total yards and their minus-10 passing yards was the lowest in team history.

Most surprising performance: The Jets’ defense snapped its historic turnover drought with a fumble recovery on the first series — their first takeaway of the season. The maligned defense, which had a players-only meeting, delivered a winning performance. The Jets blitzed less than usual and held Bo Nix to 174 passing yards. All for naught. — Rich Cimini

Next game: vs. Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Giants

How much have Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo changed the feel of the Giants? The rookie duo showed the difference they can make, being involved in all five of the Giants’ touchdowns. Three rushing for Skattebo; one rushing and passing for Dart. But they’ve also brought a different energy. “I feel it,” Skattebo said. Both Skattebo and Dart rushed for 23 yards over expectation against the Eagles, per NFL Next Gen Stats. That’s indicative of how they play and act. “I think we’re just trying to set a standard of intensity here each and every day,” said Dart, who also noted that beating the defending champions is naturally a statement win. It helps change the perception of them.

Stat to know: Dart became just the third quarterback in the Super Bowl era to rush for at least 50 yards in each of his first three career NFL starts, joining Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts. Elite company. Dart ran for 60 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, which doesn’t even include the handful of sacks he avoided with his mobility. — Jordan Raanan

Next game: at Broncos (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Eagles

How concerning is this loss? This bounce-back opportunity devolved into a lopsided loss that will lead to questions about whether there are foundational cracks. The hope externally was the long meeting between A.J. Brown, Hurts and Saquon Barkley would get everyone on the same page and move the team past some early-season frustrations. The offense looked decent in spots, but Hurts’ first interception of the season — a fourth-quarter crusher in the red zone — highlighted a mistake-riddled performance in all three phases. Philadelphia was outgained in each of its first five games and was outplayed badly by the Giants’ less-talented roster. It will be a long 10 days before the Eagles have another chance to course-correct in Minnesota.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Eagles had to have known that the best way to defend Dart was to bottle him in the pocket, especially after facing QBs with similar styles the past two weeks in Baker Mayfield and Bo Nix. But they lost contain on multiple occasions, and it cost them. Dart ran for a 20-yard touchdown early in the first quarter. Later in the frame, he escaped to his right and found Wan’Dale Robinson, who broke a tackle and raced down the sideline for a 35-yard touchdown. — Tim McManus

Next game: at Vikings (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

news.nvihan.com