Week 6 has officially arrived, and things are already going off the script.
The Bills took the throne as the best team in the NFL after pounding the Chiefs. The Chiefs, on the other hand, don’t even look like the best team in their own division after the Chargers downed the Browns in a shootout.
The Cowboys are running away with the NFC East after beating the Giants. The Panthers, Broncos, and Raiders all followed up 3-0 starts with back-to-back losses.
Even kickers were having a rough week, as they have all missed 26 kicks in total in Week 5—13 missed field goals, 13 missed extra points—the most missed kicks in a week since Week 11 of the 1987 season.
Here are the power rankings for Week 6.
#32: Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 5 vs. TEN: L, 19-37 | Record: 0-5
Previous Rank: #32
The post-merger record for most consecutive losses is 26, set by the Buccaneers in their first two years of their existence. The Jaguars are not at those levels yet, but after a blowout loss to the Titans in Week 5, they have now lost 20 straight games. They tried showing more fight against the Titans but there were some questionable calls in key moments by Urban Meyer. Meyer tried to be positive with reporters in the midst of a dismal situation. When he said, “I see a group of warriors. I see a group of players that I love to death. I see a group of players that are spilling it on the field and we’re not getting it. We’re not closing it out,” the problem is that it is not really that accurate. The Jags fumbled on the 3rd play of the game, missed an extra point, dropped an easy interception, and missed a 52-yard field goal. Even good teams could experience that kind of sloppiness. The Jags are light years away from being a good team. This defense is going to continue to hold back the offensive flashes with Trevor Lawrence and James Robinson.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Trevor Lawrence
RB: James Robinson, Tavon Auston (RB/WR)
WR: Marvin Jones Jr., Laviska Shenault Jr.
TE: Dan Arnold
OL: Cam Robinson (LT), Andrew Norwell (LG), Tyler Shatley (C), Ben Bartch (RG), Jawaan Taylor (RT)
DL: Malcom Brown (LDE), DaVon Hamilton (NT), Roy Robertson-Harris (RDE)
EDGE: Josh Allen (WLB), K’Lavon Chaisson (SLB)
ILB: Damien Wilson (LILB), Chapelle Russell (RILB)
CB: Tyson Campbell (LCB), Shaquill Griffin (RCB)
S: Andrew Wingard (SS), Rayshawn Jenkins (FS)
ST: Josh Lambo (K), Logan Cooke (P), Ross Matiscik (LS)
RS: Jamal Agnew
#31: Detroit Lions
Week 5 @ MIN: L, 17-19 | Record: 0-5
Previous Rank: #30
For the 2nd time in three weeks, the Lions fought and scratched their claws to a late lead only to see the game slip in the final seconds on a long field goal. This one is arguably even more painful because the Lions clawed their way back in this game only for Greg Joseph to hit a 54-yard field goal. This may be the theme for the 2021 Lions. It’s not that the Lions aren’t playing yard. But offensively, they haven’t put up more than 17 points in a game since Week 1. Defensively, they came into Week 5 allowing the 10th-most yards per game in the league. And even if they came back, it still was not enough. Dan Campbell is not one to hide his emotions, and he admitted tearfully that it was a painful loss. “You want it for yourself, as an organization and for all of us,” said Campbell. “But you want it for those players. They’re out there busting their ass and … it’s tough.” Lions fans, I am so sorry for you.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
RB: D’Andre Swift
WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kalif Raymond, KhaDarel Hodge
TE: TJ Hockenson
OL: Penei Sewell (LT), Jonah Jenkins (LG), Evan Brown (C), Halapoulivaati Vaitai (RG), Matt Nelson (RT)
DL: Michael Brockers (LDE), Alim McNeill (NT), Nick Williams (RDE)
EDGE: Trey Flowers (WLB), Austin Bryant (SLB)
ILB: Alex Anzalone (LILB), Derrick Barnes (RILB)
CB: Amani Oruwariye (LCB), Bobby Price (RCB)
S: Will Harris (SS), Tracy Walker III (FS)
ST: Austin Seibert (K), Jack Fox (P), Scott Daly (LS)
RS: Kalif Raymond
#30: New York Jets
Week 5 @ ATL: L, 20-27 | Record: 1-4
Previous Rank: #29
In Week 4’s surprising win over the Titans, Zach Wilson and the offense showed signs of life. Those were short-lived. They delivered a deeply lackluster performance in a 27-20 loss to the Falcons at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The jet-lagged offense had just 230 total yards, with 64 on the ground and just 4.4 yards per play. Wilson completed just 19 of 32 passes for 192 yards with one interception, and many of those yards came with the Jets playing catch-up. The defense is also coming empty in clutch moments. Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur need to find ways to get Wilson more comfortable, especially early on. One idea is to get young wide receivers Elijah Moore and Denzel Mims more involved. It’s going to take serious work on both sides of the ball to fix Gang Green.
Week 7 Projected Starters
QB: Zach Wilson
RB: Michael Carter
WR: Corey Davis, Jamison Crowder, Keelan Cole
TE: Tyler Kroft
OL: George Fant (LT), Alijah Vera-Tucker (LG), Connor McGovern (C), Greg Van Roten (RG), Morgan Moses (RT)
DE: John Franklin-Myers (LDE), Bryce Huff (RDE)
DT: Sheldon Rankins (LDT), Quinnen Williams (RDT)
LB: Blake Cashman (WLB), CJ Mosley (MLB), Quincy Williams (SLB)
CB: Brandin Echols (LCB), Bryce Hall (RCB)
S: Ashtyn Davis (SS), Sharrod Neasman (FS)
ST: Matt Ammendola (K), Thomas Morstead (P), Thomas Hennessy (LS)
RS: Braxton Berrios
#29: Houston Texans
Week 5 vs. NE: L, 22-25 | Record: 1-4
Previous Rank: #31
For just two quarters, it appeared that we would watch the coming-out party for Davis Mills. He shredded the Pats defense in the way many expected Tom Brady to do so. He washed away the memory of his four-interception performance, setting career highs in passing yards (312) and touchdown passes (3) in a 25-22 loss. While the Texans didn’t hold on to their 22-9 lead and fell to 1-4, they have something to look forward to. Mills impressed against the Pats, considering Bill Belichick’s mastery over rookie quarterbacks as the Pats head coach. Offensive coordinator Tim Kelly was noncommittal before the game when asked on who will start for the Texans once Tyrod Taylor comes back from IR. “Whatever is going to be best for our team, whatever is going to put us in the best position to win,” answered Kelly. While Mills’ performance in this game is not going to make the decision easier, it should also be noted that Ka’imi Fairbairn missed a field goal and two PATs. Yeesh.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Davis Mills
RB: Mark Ingram
WR: Brandin Cooks, Chris Conley, Danny Amendola
TE: Pharaoh Brown
OL: Geron Christian Sr. (LT), Tytus Howard (LG), Justin Britt (C), Max Scharping (RG), Charlie Heck (RT)
DE: Whitney Mercilus (LDE), Jordan Jenkins (RDE)
DT: Maliek Collins (LDT), DeMarcus Walker (RDT)
LB: Zach Cunningham (WLB), Christian Kirksey (MLB), Joe Thomas (SLB)
CB: Vernon Hargreaves III (LCB), Terrance Mitchell (RCB)
S: Eric Murray (SS), Justin Reid (FS)
ST: Ka’imi Fairbairn (K), Cameron Johnston (P), Jon Weeks (LS)
RS: Andre Roberts
#28: New York Giants
Week 5 @ DAL: L, 20-44 | Record: 1-4
Previous Rank: #25
Week 5 has been disastrous for the Giants. It’s bad enough that the Cowboys smacked them 44-20, but the Giants were also derailed by injuries. Daniel Jones suffered a nasty-looking concussion. Kenny Golladay hyperextended his knee. And Saquon Barkley suffered a sprained ankle that will likely sideline him multiple games. It was a sobering game for them after a season turnaround against the Saints. Now begins a week of health updates. Golladay and Barkley are expected to miss Week 6, while Jones needs to clear concussion protocol (UPDATE: He did). Kadarius Toney, who had 10 catches for 189 yards before getting ejected for throwing a punch, is also banged up with a lower leg injury, but his injury doesn’t sound too significant. The schedule from here on out looks brutal, and they may be in danger of 2nd half irrelevance.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Daniel Jones
RB: Devontae Booker
WR: Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, Kadarius Toney
TE: Evan Engram
OL: Andrew Thomas (LT), Ben Bredeson (LG), Billy Price (C), Will Hernandez (RG), Nate Solder (RT)
DL: Dexter Lawrence (LDE), Austin Johnson (NT), Leonard Williams (RDE)
EDGE: Lorenzo Carter (WLB), Oshane Ximines (SLB)
ILB: Tae Crowder (LILB), Reggie Ragland (RILB)
CB: James Bradberry (LCB), Adoree’ Jackson (RCB)
S: Jabrill Peppers (SS), Logan Ryan (FS)
ST: Graham Gano (K), Riley Dixon (P), Casey Kreiter (LS)
RS: CJ Board (KR), Jabrill Peppers (PR)
#27: Miami Dolphins
Week 5 @ TB: L, 17-45 | Record: 1-4
Previous Rank: #26
The good news for the Dolphins is that Tua Tagovailoa is expected to be back for the Dolphins’ Week 6 game against the Jaguars in London. The bad news is that it’s likely not going to matter. After getting blown out by the Buccaneers in Week 5, they are 1-4 and are sitting at the bottom of the AFC East with the Jets. The Fins allowed a staggering 558 yards of offense, including 411 passing yards and five touchdowns to Tom Brady, while barely even cracking 300 themselves. They have now dropped four straight games and have scored more than 17 points just once this season. The running game has been nonexistent—39 yards on 9 carries. This shows how one-dimensional the offense has become. The O-line has also been atrocious. The defense has been abysmal. This is a team that could lose to the NFL’s version of the Buffalo Sabres. Now they are wondering on if they are a good team in a bad slump or a bad team in a long season that drastically overachieved last season. Looking at them, it’s most likely the latter. It’s hard to imagine that they won 10 games and almost made the playoffs last season.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Tua Tagovailoa
RB: Myles Gaskin
WR: DeVante Parker, Jaylen Waddle, Albert Wilson
TE: Mike Gesicki
OL: Liam Eichenberg (LT), Austin Jackson (LG), Greg Mancz (C), Robert Hunt (RG), Jesse Davis (RT)
DL: Christian Wilkins (LDL), Emmanuel Ogbah (RDL)
EDGE: Andrew Van Ginkel (WLB), Brennan Scarlett (SLB)
ILB: Elandon Roberts (LILB), Jerome Baker (RILB)
CB: Xavien Howard (LCB), Byron Jones (RCB), Justin Coleman (NB)
S: Eric Rowe (SS), Jason McCourty (FS)
ST: Jason Sanders (K), Michael Palardy (P), Blake Ferguson (LS)
RS: Jaylen Waddle
#26: Washington Football Team
Week 5 vs. NO: L, 22-33 | Record: 2-3
Previous Rank: #20
Has there been a more disappointing defense in the NFL than the Washington Football Team? Before the season began, there were some people that expected Washington’s defense to be one of the best in the league, myself included. Oh, how wrong we were. The exact opposite is happening. Entering Week 5, Washington ranked 29th in yards allowed and dead last in the NFC in points allowed. After giving up 33 to the Saints, they have given up at least 30 points in four straight games. While they may have made progress in pass rushing and takeaways against the Saints, the inability to stop big plays continued to haunt them. They allowed a 72-yard touchdown to Deonte Harris and a Hail Mary touchdown to Marquez Callaway at the end of the 1st half. When speaking to reporters, Ron Rivera admitted he is at a loss as to why the team is struggling badly on defense. “I’m very frustrated. We have too many good football players. Your record tells everybody what you are. We’re a 2-3 football team,” said Rivera. With a desperate Chiefs team next, Washington has to figure out something. And fast. Otherwise, given how good the Cowboys are playing, any chances of Washington defending the NFC East could be gone before Halloween. The burden of winning is starting to overwhelm Taylor Heinicke and the offense.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Taylor Heinicke
RB: Antonio Gibson
WR: Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, Adam Humphries
TE: Ricky Seals-Jones
OL: Charles Leno Jr. (LT), Ereck Flowers (LG), Chase Roullier (C), Brandon Scherff (RG), Sam Cosmi (RT)
DE: Chase Young (LDE), Montez Sweat (RDE)
DT: Da’Ron Payne (LDT), Jonathan Allen (RDT)
LB: Cole Holcomb (WLB), Jamin Davis (MLB), Jared Norris (SLB)
CB: Kendall Fuller (LCB), William Jackson III (RCB)
S: Landon Collins (SS), Kamren Curl (FS)
ST: Dustin Hopkins (K), Tress Way (P), Camaron Cheeseman (LS)
RS: DeAndre Carter
#25: Indianapolis Colts
Week 5 @ BAL: L, 25-31 (OT) | Record: 1-4
Previous Rank: #21
For a moment, it appeared that the Colts would come away with an upset win over the Ravens and held a 25-9 lead in the 4th quarter. Carson Wentz had his best game under center in forever, passing for 402 yards and two touchdowns. They were going to save their season and escape Baltimore with just one win behind the Titans for the AFC South lead. But a beat up and exhausted Colts defense couldn’t slow down the Ravens in the 4th quarter, let alone stop them. The Ravens drove 70+ yards on successive drives in the 4th quarter and capped those drives with two-point conversions to tie things up. The game was over as soon as Wentz got the overtime coin toss wrong. While his play is a good sign for optimism for the Colts, that optimism stops when you look at their record: 1-4. The biggest win of the Colts’ season turned into one of the most crushing defeats in recent franchise history. Such a collapse has many things to look at: The aforementioned exhausted defense offering no resistance against a rampaging Lamar Jackson and many breakdowns on special teams, especially given that Rodrigo Blankenship played through a hip injury during the game. This was a game that the Colts could not afford to lose, and yet they did. Their season is officially on life support.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Carson Wentz
RB: Jonathan Taylor
WR: Michael Pittman Jr., Parris Campbell, Zach Pascal
TE: Jack Doyle
OL: Eric Fisher (LT), Chris Reed (LG), Ryan Kelly (C), Mark Glowinski (RG), Braden Smith (RT)
DE: Kwity Paye (LDE), Al-Quadin Muhammad (RDE)
DT: DeForest Buckner (LDT), Grover Stewart (RDT)
LB: Darius Leonard (LILB), Bobby Okereke (RILB)
CB: Rock Ya-Sin (LCB), Xavier Rhodes (RCB), Kenny Moore II (NB)
S: Khari Willis (SS), Julian Blackmon (FS)
ST: Rodrigo Blankenship (K), Rigoberto Sanchez (P), Luke Rhodes (LS)
RS: Isaiah Rodgers (KR), Nyheim Hines (PR)
#24: Atlanta Falcons
Week 5 vs. NYJ: W, 27-20 | Record: 2-3
Previous Rank: #24
When the Falcons drafted Kyle Pitts 4th overall, the hope was that he would be a difference maker at tight end. All it took was a trip to London for that to happen. With Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage sidelined, it fell to Pitts to carry the Falcons’ passing attack against the Jets. He indeed did that, with 119 receiving yards and his first career touchdown on nine catches. Cordarrelle Patterson continued his breakout season, with 114 total yards on 21 touches as Matt Ryan delivered a vintage Matt Ryan performance, with 342 passing yards. The Falcons aren’t exactly a good team, and beating the Jets isn’t a hard achievement. But after an 0-2 start that included two 20+ point losses, the Falcons have quietly won two of three, and when they travel to face the Dolphins after their bye, they will have a legitimate shot of getting to .500.
Week 7 Projected Starters
QB: Matt Ryan
RB: Mike Davis, Cordarrelle Patterson (RB/WR)
WR: Calvin Ridley, Russell Gage
TE: Kyle Pitts
OL: Jake Matthews (LT), Jalen Mayfield (LG), Matt Hennessy (C), Chris Lindstrom (RG), Kaleb McGary (RT)
DL: Jonathan Bullard (LDE), Tyeler Davison (NT), Grady Jarrett (RDT)
EDGE: Steven Means (WLB), Dante Fowler Jr. (SLB)
ILB: Deion Jones (LILB), Foyesade Oluokun (RILB)
CB: AJ Terrell (LCB), Fabian Moreau (RCB)
S: Duron Harmon (SS), Erik Harris (FS)
ST: Younghoe Koo (K), Dustin Colquitt (P), Josh Harris (LS)
RS: Cordarrelle Patterson (KR), Avery Williams (PR)
#23: Minnesota Vikings
Week 5 vs. DET: W, 19-17 | Record: 2-3
Previous Rank: #22
The Vikings would more than happy to take a win any day of the week where they need one—the win over the Lions included. But looking at the game, there is little reason to be uneasy. Playing against one of the worst defenses in the league, they racked up 384 yards of offense, with Alexander Mattison racking up 113 rushing yards, nicely filling in during the absence of Dalvin Cook. Greg Joseph hit four of five field goals, including the 54-yarder as time expired, which is a nice redemptive moment for him. But for all that they moved the ball, they only scored one touchdown. They also turned the ball over twice, including a late fumble that allowed the Lions to take the lead. This marks the 2nd straight week that the Vikings that has no shortage of skill position talent failed to put up at least 20 points. Getting shut down by the Browns is one thing, but struggling to move the ball against the Lions is another. The offensive issues are not going well for the Vikings moving forward, and they don’t look as put-together as they need to be under Mike Zimmer. They have a brutal stretch on their schedule. Starting with the Panthers in Week 6, the Vikings face five consecutive teams currently with a winning record.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Kirk Cousins
RB: Dalvin Cook
WR: Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, KJ Osborn
TE: Tyler Conklin
OL: Rashod Hill (LT), Ezra Cleveland (LG), Garrett Bradbury (C), Oli Udoh (RG), Brian O’Neill (RT)
DE: Danielle Hunter (LDE), Everson Griffen (RDE)
DT: Michael Pierce (LDT), Dalvin Tomlinson (RDT)
LB: Nick Vigil (WLB), Eric Kendricks (MLB), Anthony Barr (SLB)
CB: Bashaud Breeland (LCB), Patrick Peterson (RCB)
S: Harrison Smith (SS), Xavier Woods (FS)
ST: Greg Joseph (K), Jordan Berry (P), Andrew DePaola (LS)
RS: Ihmir Smith-Marsette (KR), Dede Westbrook (PR)
#22: Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 5 vs. DEN: W, 27-19 | Record: 2-3
Previous Rank: #28
I spoke too soon with the “Steelers are in shambles” statement last week. The Steelers desperately needed a win in Week 5 after losing three straight games in ugly fashion, and they did so here. But beating the Broncos doesn’t fix all of the Steelers’ problems. In fact, new ones were created. JuJu Smith-Schuster is out for the season with a dislocated shoulder and Devin Bush also was injured with a groin injury. But there were good signs as well. The ground game got going, with Najee Harris rumbling for 122 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, showcasing why the Steelers chose him in the 1st round. The O-line showed signs of life, with improvements on the run blocking and the pass blocking. While Ben Roethlisberger may not be what he once was, as long as he is given time to throw, he can still throw—he threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns. The win gives the Steelers some momentum heading into their Sunday Night game against the Seahawks, after which the Steelers get a week off before a huge AFC North game against the Browns. With JuJu out for the year, James Washington will see a larger role, which is huge given that there were trade talks involving him earlier in the season.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Ben Roethlisberger
RB: Najee Harris
WR: Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, James Washington
TE: Pat Freiermuth
OL: Dan Moore Jr. (LT), Kevin Dotson (LG), Kendrick Green (C), Trai Turner (RG), Chukwuma Okorafor (RT)
DL: Chris Wormley (LDE), Isaiah Buggs (NT), Cameron Heyward (RDE)
EDGE: TJ Watt (WLB), Alex Highsmith (SLB)
ILB: Devin Bush Jr. (LILB), Joe Schobert (RILB)
CB: Joe Haden (LCB), Cam Sutton (RCB)
S: Terrell Edmunds (SS), Minkah Fitzpatrick (FS)
ST: Chris Boswell (K), Pressley Harvin III (P), Christian Kuntz (LS)
RS: Ray-Ray McCloud
#21: Chicago Bears
Week 5 @ LV: W, 20-9 | Record: 3-2
Previous Rank: #27
The identity of the Justin Fields Bears is beginning to show: Run the football, ask your young QB to protect the football and make a few lays, then let the defense do the rest. This was the formula for their win against the Raiders. While they didn’t fill the stat sheet yardage-wise, as they had just 252 total yards of offense, they made plays when they needed to, and Fields fought through a hyperextended knee, and the defense clamped down on the Raiders. They proved they can run the ball even without David Montgomery, who sat out with a knee injury, getting 139 combined rushing yards from Damien Williams and Khalil Herbert on 34 rushes. Don’t look now, but the Bears are 3-2 and are one game behind the Packers for the division lead. But will their strategy against the Raiders work against elite teams like the Packers and Buccaneers? While they have a top 10 defense, that question is to be answered in the next two weeks. But Fields is only going to get better, which makes them more dangerous every passing week.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Justin Fields
RB: Khalil Herbert
WR: Allen Robinson II, Darnell Mooney, Marquise Goodwin
TE: Cole Kmet
OL: Jason Peters (LT), Cody Whitehair (LG), Sam Mustipher (C), James Daniels (RG), Elijah Wilkinson (RT)
DL: Akiem Hicks (LDE), Eddie Goldman (NT), Bilal Nichols (RDE)
EDGE: Khalil Mack (WLB), Robert Quinn (SLB)
ILB: Roquan Smith (LILB), Alec Ogletree (RILB)
CB: Jaylon Johnson (LCB), Kindle Vildor (RCB)
S: Tashaun Gipson Sr. (SS), Eddie Jackson FS)
ST: Cairo Santos (K), Pat O’Donnell (P), Patrick Scales (LS)
RS: Khalil Herbert (KR), Jakeem Grant (PR)
#20: Philadelphia Eagles
Week 5 @ CAR: W, 21-18 | Record: 2-3
Previous Rank: #23
For most of their game against the Panthers, it looked as if the Eagles would head towards their 4th straight loss. The offense couldn’t get going against the Panthers’ strong defense. However, the Eagles’ defense kept them in the game. Jalen Hurts found the end zone twice on the ground, and at the end of the day, the Eagles snapped their three-game losing streak. They desperately needed a big play late, and they got one in each phase of the game during the final five minutes. TJ Edwards’ blocked punt, Hurts’ 6-yard touchdown run, and Steven Nelson’s interception turned a five-point deficit into a three-point win that snapped the skid. Nick Sirianni talked about the team’s resiliency when speaking to reporters after the game. “It was the definition of a team win,” said Sirianni. “It’s the definition of what we talk about with ‘Dawg Mentality’ because the offense wasn’t going good for a long time of that game. But when they needed to make plays at the end and it was still tight, they made the plays that we needed to make there.” And he was right. Hurts didn’t look all that good throwing downfield passes and grinding out chunk runs, but he is tough physically and mentally. He did what he needed to do to get the Eagles the win. But getting to .500 isn’t going to be easy. They face the defending Super Bowl champions next on Thursday Night.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Jalen Hurts
RB: Miles Sanders
WR: DeVonta Smith, Jalen Reagor, Quez Watkins
TE: Dallas Goedert
OL: Jordan Mailata (LT), Landon Dickerson (LG), Jason Kelce (C), Nate Herbig (RG), Jack Driscoll (RT)
DE: Josh Sweat (LDE), Derek Barnett (RDE)
DT: Javon Hargrave (LDT), Fletcher Cox (RDT)
LB: Alex Singleton (WLB), Eric Wilson (MLB), Genard Avery (SLB)
CB: Darius Slay Jr. (LCB), Steven Nelson (RCB)
S: Rodney McLeod Jr. (SS), Anthony Harris (FS)
ST: Jake Elliott (K), Arryn Siposs (P), Rick Lovato (FS)
RS: Kenneth Gainwell (KR), Jalen Reagor (PR)
#19: New England Patriots
Week 5 @ HOU: W, 25-22 | Record: 2-3
Previous Rank: #19
A scenario that combined a rookie QB making his 5th start and an O-line missing four starters is not ideal. This is where blowout losses come in, and perhaps it would have been the Pats’ fate had they not been playing the Texans. Perhaps not, considering Mac Jones is showing on a weekly basis that he is not your typical rookie QB. Early on, they had quite the hangover from the narrow loss to the Buccaneers. The offense struggled to move the ball, and Davis Mills carved up the defense. The Texans led 22-9. But Jones engineered a pair of 4th quarter scoring drives in this game, including his first game-winning drive, in a 25-22 comeback win. While Jones isn’t as flashy as other rookie QBs, on balance, he has been the most impressive. This speaks well to the Pats’ resilience. That the Pats was in that position to begin with speaks to the issues they have, especially on the defensive side of the ball after giving up 312 passing yards to Mills. Bill Belichick has to get to work on those defensive issues quickly. If Mills can light up the secondary for 312 yards, Dak Prescott is likely going to throw for over 500 yards against them.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Mac Jones
RB: Damien Harris
WR: Jakobi Meyers, Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne
TE: Hunter Henry
OL: Yodny Cajuste (LT), Mike Onwenu (LG), David Andrews (C), Shaq Mason (RG), Trent Brown (RT)
DE: Deatrich Wise Jr. (LDE), Chase Winovich (RDE)
DT: Lawrence Guy (LDT), Davon Godchaux (RDT)
LB: Matt Judon (WLB), Dont’a Hightower (MLB), Kyle Van Noy (SLB)
CB: JC Jackson (LCB), Jalen Mills (RCB)
S: Adrian Phillips (SS), Devin McCourty (FS)
ST: Nick Folk (K), Jake Bailey (P), Joe Cardona (LS)
RS: Gunner Olszewski
#18: Seattle Seahawks
Week 5 vs. LAR: L, 17-26 | Record: 2-3
Previous Rank: #11
The Seahawks have many, many problems. The first is that they are under .500 five games into the season and are two games back of the Rams after losing to them. But they lost more than just a game. They lost Russell Wilson after he suffered two injuries to his finger when it collided with Aaron Donald’s hand. That threw the Seahawks’ offense into chaos. His surgery on his finger requires him to be sidelined for 4 to 8 weeks. Saying that is a massive blow is an understatement. They have problems that are bigger than Wilson’s absence. After giving up 476 yards to the Rams in Week 5, the Seahawks are giving up 450.8 yards per game, the most in the NFL. In fact, they are on pace to allow the most yards in NFL history, and that defense is bound to cost them the playoffs. Pete Carroll likes to run with his ground game and his defense, but the rushing attack is average, and the defense is one of the worst, if not the worst, in the league. And not just one of the worst in the league, they’re historically bad. Even if Wilson is set to miss a few weeks, it will be too late when he comes back to the Seahawks when the NFC West is already loaded with talent.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Geno Smith
RB: Alex Collins
WR: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Freddie Swain
TE: Will Dissly
OL: Duane Brown (LT), Damien Lewis (LG), Kyle Fuller (C), Gabe Jackson (RG), Brandon Shell (RT)
DE: Rasheem Green (LDE), Carlos Dunlap (RDE)
DT: Poona Ford (LDT), Al Woods (RDT)
LB: Jordyn Brooks (WLB), Bobby Wagner (MLB), Benson Mayowa (SLB)
CB: DJ Reed (LCB), Sidney Jones IV (RCB)
S: Jamal Adams (SS), Quandre Diggs (FS)
ST: Jason Myers (K), Michael Dickson (P), Tyler Ott (LS)
RS: DJ Reed (KR), Freddie Swain (PR)
#17: Las Vegas Raiders
Week 5 vs. CHI: L, 9-20 | Record: 3-2
Previous Rank: #12
Now there’s the Raiders we all know and love! Remember when we all thought this team was good? Pepperidge Farm remembers. All jokes aside, the Raiders put up their worst performance of the season against the Bears. They managed just 259 yards of offense, converted just 5 of 14 3rd downs, and committed 10 penalties. Since starting 3-0, they have scored just 23 points back-to-back games. Don’t let their 3-2 record fool you, they are still behind the Chargers and Chiefs in the division. But saying that this team is in trouble is an understatement. Remember when they gave Jon Gruden a 10-year, $100M contract in 2018, in the hopes that he would get the franchise back to the promised land? He resigned just 5 games into Year 4 following reports that he sent numerous emails containing racist, misogynistic, and homophobic language. This is one of the biggest bombshells in franchise history that is leaving the organization in chaos. More than just the head coach, Gruden was the face of the franchise and the driving force behind their construction. Special teams coach Rich Bisaccia has been named their interim coach and is tasked with keeping the 2021 season from falling apart.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Derek Carr
RB: Josh Jacobs
WR: Henry Ruggs III, Bryan Edwards, Hunter Renfrow
TE: Darren Waller
OL: Kolton Miller (LT), John Simpson (LG), Andre James (C), Alex Leatherwood (RG), Brandon Parker (RT)
DE: Maxx Crosby (LDE), Yannick Ngakoue (RDE)
DT: Johnathan Hankins (LDT), Quinton Jefferson (RDT)
LB: Cory Littleton (WLB), Denzel Perryman (MLB), KJ Wright (SLB)
CB: Trayvon Mullen Jr. (LCB), Casey Hayward Jr. (RCB)
S: Johnathan Abram (SS), Tre’von Moehrig (FS)
ST: Daniel Carlson (K), AJ Cole III (P), Trent Sieg (LS)
RS: Kenyan Drake (KR), Hunter Renfrow (PR)
#16: Denver Broncos
Week 5 @ PIT: L, 19-27 | Record: 3-2
Previous Rank: #16
The Broncos pulled off three straight wins to open the 2021 season, but those wins came against teams that are a combined 2-13. In the past two weeks, the Broncos’ level of competition has gone up. And in those games, the Broncos have gone down. The 4th quarter sparked some hope, however. The yardage totals were almost even, and Bridgewater had 288 yards and two touchdowns. But it was the Steelers who made the big plays when it mattered. Inefficiency in the red zone plagued Teddy Bridgewater in his lone season with the Panthers. You can make the case that Bridgewater, not Sam Darnold, would be Matt Rhule’s QB in Carolina had he not made so many mistakes near the goal line. Fast forward to today, and the problem is still there. Down by 8 points, the Broncos failed on four straight tries from inside the Steelers’ 10. The final play was the backbreaker: A poorly thrown ball intercepted by James Pierre with 11 seconds left. He needs to be better in these situations. The Broncos couldn’t slow down Najee Harris and the ground game, either. Their offensive approach in the first three quarters has been very, very questionable. Run-run-pass isn’t how the NFL works today. A lopsided score prompted Pat Shurmur to open the offense. The Broncos are not a bad team, but aren’t a good one either. They can get past the Raiders at home, and they have the talent to compete for a wild card spot, but they are clearly a tier below the Chargers and Chiefs.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Teddy Bridgewater
RB: Melvin Gordon III
WR: Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Kendall Hinton
TE: Noah Fant
OL: Garett Bolles (LT), Dalton Risner (LG), Lloyd Cushenberry III (C), Graham Glasgow (RG), Bobby Massie (RT)
DL: Mike Purcell (LDL), Shelby Harris (RDL)
EDGE: Malik Reed (WLB), Von Miller (SLB)
ILB: AJ Johnson (LILB), Justin Strnad (RILB)
CB: Kyle Fuller (LCB), Pat Surtain II (RCB), Bryce Callahan (NB)
S: Kareem Jackson (SS), Justin Simmons (FS)
ST: Brandon McManus (K), Sam Martin (P), Jacob Bobenmoyer (LS)
RS: Diontae Spencer
#15: San Francisco 49ers
Week 5 @ ARZ: L, 10-17 | Record: 2-3
Previous Rank: #15
The 49ers have work to do as they enter their bye week. Like their division rivals up in the Pacific Northwest, the 49ers leave Week 5 one game under .500 and in last place in the NFC West. Also like the Seahawks, the Niners have injury issues under center, with Trey Lance making his first career start in place of Jimmy Garoppolo against the Cardinals. Lance brought much-appreciated excitement to the offense, but points are a different story. While he led the Niners in rushing, with 89 yards on the ground, his passing numbers left something to be desired: 15 completions on 29 attempts for 192 yards and an interception. After the game head coach Kyle Shanahan insisted that getting Garoppolo under center as soon as he is healthy is still the plan. But they have to figure out something quick. They are three games and a head-to-head loss behind the Cardinals in the division, and three of their next four games are against teams with winning records, including a Week 9 rematch against the Cardinals. It doesn’t help that Lance is now dealing with a knee sprain that will be re-evaluated at the end of the week.
Week 7 Projected Starters
QB: Jimmy Garoppolo
RB: Elijah Mitchell
WR: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Mohamed Sanu Sr.
TE: George Kittle
OL: Trent Williams (LT), Laken Tomlinson (LG), Alex Mack (C), Daniel Brunskill (RG), Mike McGlinchey (RT)
DE: Arik Armstead (LDE), Nick Bosa (RDE)
DT: Javon Kinlaw (LDT), DJ Jones (RDT)
LB: Azeez Al-Shaair (LILB), Fred Warner (RILB)
CB: Emmanuel Moseley (LCB), Deommodore Lenoir (RCB), K’Waun Williams (NB)
S: Jaquiski Tartt (SS), Jimmie Ward (FS)
ST: Joey Slye (K), Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Taybor Pepper (LS)
RS: Elijah Mitchell (KR), Brandon Aiyuk (PR)
#14: Carolina Panthers
Week 5 vs. PHI: L, 18-21 | Record: 3-2
Previous Rank: #13
Due largely from the excellent play from Sam Darnold, the Panthers started the 2021 season 3-0. The Darnold we saw in Week 5 looked a lot more like the Darnold who struggled for three seasons with the Jets, and now, the Panthers have dropped two straight. He did not play well against the Eagles. At all. He completed just 21 of 37 passes for 177 yards with just one touchdown and three interceptions, as many as he threw in the first four games combined. Two of those first three picks were by the Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs. In the Panthers’ three wins, Darnold threw three touchdown passes and just one pick. It’s as if there is a correlation. They really need Christian McCaffrey back, too. All of Darnold’s mistakes and the pass protection issues weren’t seen before McCaffrey left in Week 3. This notes that McCaffrey’s importance should not be ignored, as he is essential to both the air and ground games. The Panthers’ next three games are against teams that are a combined 5-10 this season, so there is the chance that they turn things around.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Sam Darnold
RB: Chuba Hubbard
WR: DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, Terrace Marshall Jr.
TE: Ian Thomas
OL: Cam Erving (LT), Dennis Daley (LG), Matt Paradis (C), John Miller (RG), Taylor Moton (RT)
DE: Brian Burns (LDE), Morgan Fox (RDE)
DT: Derrick Brown (LDT), DaQuan Jones (RDT)
LB: Haason Reddick (WLB), Jermaine Carter Jr. (MLB), Shaq Thompson (RILB)
CB: Donte Jackson (LCB), CJ Henderson (RCB)
S: Jeremy Chinn (SS), Sean Chandler (FS)
ST: Zane Gonzalez (K), Joseph Charlton (P), JJ Jansen (LS)
RS: Chuba Hubbard (KR), Alex Erickson (PR)
#13: Tennessee Titans
Week 5 @ JAX: W, 37-19 | Record: 3-2
Previous Rank: #18
After getting embarrassed by the Jets, the Titans badly needed to get back on track in Week 5. Luckily, the Titans faced the Jaguars, and opponent that will fix most of what problems hold you back. As has been the case about every week, Derrick Henry has been dominant, going off for 130 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries. Remember: King Henry is King Henry. Any attempts to overthrow him will result in a reminder that he is not to be disrespected at all. He is on pace to set the NFL record for carries and rushing yards this season, and it’s hard to imagine that an otherwise ordinary Titans team turning away from the one guy who makes them special. He completed the most productive 40-game stretch by a running back in NFL history: His 4,792 yards over that span is ahead of Hall of Famer Jim Brown (4,759). JIM BROWN. Defensively, they sacked Trevor Lawrence twice and forced two turnovers. It was a solid all-around effort by the team that ensures they will remain atop of the AFC South. However, the passing game has struggled to get going. Despite that defensive effort, it still has a lot of question marks. While they are in the worst division in the league, they need to prove they can keep up with the rest of the AFC.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Ryan Tannehill
RB: Derrick Henry
WR: AJ Brown, Julio Jones, Chester Rogers
TE: Anthony Firkser
OL: Taylor Lewan (LT), Rodger Saffold III (LG), Ben Jones (C), Nate Davis (RG), David Quessenberry (RT)
DL: Jeffery Simmons (LDE), Teair Tart (NT), Denico Autry (RDE)
EDGE: Harold Landry (WLB), Bud Dupree (SLB)
ILB: David Long Jr. (LILB), Rashaan Evans (RILB)
CB: Janoris Jenkins (LCB), Kristian Fulton (RCB)
S: Dane Cruikshank (SS), Kevin Byard (FS)
ST: Randy Bullock (K), Brett Kern (P), Morgan Cox (LS)
RS: Cameron Batson (KR), Chester Rogers (PR)
#12: New Orleans Saints
Week 5 @ WSH: W, 33-22 | Record: 3-2
Previous Rank: #17
Once again, I’m going to ask this question: What even are the Saints? Are they a team that can contend for the playoffs? Or are they a team that should be in the middle of the pack? Even with their Week 5 win, this question has still not been answered. Even so, Week 5 has been a fitting description of what their season has been so far. Jameis Winston is the literal embodiment of “Good Cop, Bad Cop.” Early on, the “Bad Cop” side of Jameis was in charge. There was a badly thrown interception on the team’s first drive and a lost fumble on the 3rd one that put the Saints in a 13-7 hole. However, from that point forward, the “Good Cop” side of Jameis took over. While he completed just 50% of his passes, he threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns in a double-digit win over Washington that got the Saints to 3-2. But at what cost? Backup QB and Swiss Army knife Taysom Hill was carted after suffering a concussion on a scary hit. If he misses time, it will have a sizable impact on an offense already short on skill position talent not named Alvin Kamara, but fortunately, they are on their bye week in Week 6 before traveling to Seattle and then hosting the Buccaneers. The latter game is a big one. But there are some signs of relief. Michael Thomas, Tre’Quan Smith, Terron Armstead, Erik McCoy, and Wil Lutz are all eligible to return following the Week 6 bye. David Onyemata is eligible to return from suspension following Week 7’s suspension against the Seahawks. That’s a long list of valuable players, and credit the Saints for managing to get to their well-timed bye above .500. No team can survive the NFL without roster depth. The 2021 Saints proved they have it.
Week 7 Projected Starters
QB: Jameis Winston
RB: Alvin Kamara
WR: Marquez Callaway, Deonte Harris, Kenny Stills
TE: Adam Trautman
OL: Terron Armstead (LT), Andrus Peat (LG), Erik McCoy (C), Cesar Ruiz (RG), Ryan Ramczyk (RT)
DE: Cameron Jordan (LDE), Tanoh Kpassagnon (RDE)
DT: Albert Huggins (LDT), Shy Tuttle (RDT)
LB: Pete Werner (LILB), Demario Davis (RILB)
CB: Paulson Adebo (LCB), Marshon Lattimore (RCB), Bradley Roby (NB)
S: Malcolm Jenkins (SS), Marcus Williams (FS)
ST: Wil Lutz (K), Blake Gillikin (P), Zach Wood (LS)
RS: Deonte Harris
#11: Cincinnati Bengals
Week 5 vs. GB: L, 22-25 (OT) | Record: 3-2
Previous Rank: #14
That the Bengals blew an opportunity for a statement win against the Packers was very disappointing. Evan McPherson’s NFL career is off to a promising start, as noted by his 53-yard game-winning field goal against the Vikings in Week 1. But he will have to do more to escape from being remembered as The Kicker who Celebrated Too Soon. His overtime field goal attempt against the Packers started straight before it veered left and made contact with the orange flag blowing atop the left upright. He thought he converted his 3rd game-winning kick in 5 games, but instead, it ended up being a miss. McPherson later said that the officials were “playing a game” with him. To be honest, that would be a mean-spirited prank. But not long after the game, something terrifying happened. Joe Burrow, who passed for 281 yards and two touchdowns, was transported to a Cincinnati hospital after the game to receive treatment for a possible throat contusion. He was sacked three times and got hit 8 other times. That they came into this game 3-1 is encouraging. So is them going neck-and-neck against the Packers. But none of that will matter if Burrow goes down, and as was the case last season, the O-line isn’t good enough to protect him.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Joe Burrow
RB: Joe Mixon
WR: Tyler Boyd, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins
TE: CJ Uzomah
OL: Jonah Williams (LT), Quinton Spain (LG), Trey Hopkins (C), D’Ante Smith (RG), Riley Reiff (RT)
DE: Sam Hubbard (LDE), Trey Hendrickson (RDE)
DT: DJ Reader (LDT), Larry Ogunjobi (RDT)
LB: Logan Wilson (LILB), Germaine Pratt (RILB)
CB: Eli Apple (LCB), Chidobe Awuzie (RCB), Mike Hilton (NB)
S: Vonn Bell (SS), Jessie Bates III (FS)
ST: Evan McPherson (K), Kevin Huber (P), Clark Harris (LS)
RS: Brandon Wilson (KR), Darius Phillips (PR)
#10: Kansas City Chiefs
Week 5 vs. BUF: L, 20-38 | Record: 2-3
Previous Rank: #9
The Chiefs’ problems on defense have continued, but now the problems have expanded to the offense. It feels weird to say this, but the 2021 Chiefs are not the team that started 2019 4-0 on the way to a Super Bowl LIV win or the 2020 team that lost just three games last season if you include the loss to the Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV. No, these Chiefs are under .500 five games into the season after a pounding at home against the Bills. The back-to-back defending AFC champions that were supposed to be the best team in the AFC are no longer the best team in the AFC West. And given their home loss to the Chargers in Week 3, they are three games back in the division and sit alone in the AFC West basement. The defense is horrifically bad—they are dead last in scoring. The receivers have problems with drops leading to interceptions. Lastly, Patrick Mahomes is getting cocky with the ball. The Chiefs are still playoff contenders but are no longer a Super Bowl challenger as of now.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Patrick Mahomes II
RB: Darrel Williams
WR: Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson
TE: Travis Kelce
OL: Orlando Brown Jr. (LT), Joe Thuney (LG), Creed Humphrey (C), Trey Smith (RG), Lucas Niang (RT)
DE: Chris Jones (LDE), Frank Clark (RDE)
DT: Jarran Reed (LDT), Derrick Nnadi (RDT)
LB: Nick Bolton (LILB), Anthony Hitchens (RILB)
CB: Charvarius Ward (LCB), L’Jarius Sneed (RCB), Mike Hughes (NB)
S: Tyrann Mathieu (SS), Daniel Sorensen (FS)
ST: Harrison Butker (K), Tommy Townsend (P), James Winchester (LS)
RS: Mecole Hardman
#9: Cleveland Browns
Week 5 @ LAC: L, 42-47 | Record: 3-2
Previous Rank: #7
May I have your attention, please? Will the real Browns defense please stand up? I repeat, will the real Browns defense please stand up? We’re going to have a problem here, aren’t we? Through the first two weeks, the Browns struggled to make stops against the Chiefs and Texans, especially on 3rd down. Then they completely shut down the Bears and Vikings, giving up a combined 13 points. They gave up twice as many points n the 4th quarter during the loss to the Chargers, giving up four touchdowns in as many drives. Injuries played a role in those struggles; the Browns’ secondary, in particular, is all kinds of banged up. But they offered no resistance to Justin Herbert and the Chargers, giving up 47 points and 493 total yards. Disappointing outcome aside, that beat-up defense should recover, with a bounce-back performance from Baker Mayfield and the offense was promising. If the Browns can get both sides of the ball going, they will be tough to stop. If not, it will be the same old story in Cleveland: A season that starts with promise ending in bitter disappointment.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Baker Mayfield
RB: Kareem Hunt
WR: Odell Beckham Jr., Donovan Peoples-Jones, Rashard Higgins
TE: Austin Hooper
OL: Jedrick Wills Jr. (LT), Joel Bitonio (LG), JC Tretter (C), Wyatt Teller (RG), Jack Conklin (RT)
DE: Myles Garrett (LDE), Jadeveon Clowney (RDE)
DT: Malik Jackson (LDT), Malik McDowell (RDT)
LB: Mack Wilson (WLB), Anthony Walker Jr. (MLB), Sione Takitaki (SLB)
CB: Denzel Ward (LCB), Greg Newsome II (RCB)
S: Ronnie Harrison Jr. (SS), John Johnson III (FS)
ST: Chase McLaughlin (K), Jamie Gillan (P), Charley Hughlett (LS)
RS: Anthony Schwartz (KR), Demetric Felton (PR)
#8: Green Bay Packers
Week 5 @ CIN: W, 25-22 (OT) | Record: 4-1
Previous Rank: #5
There wasn’t a wilder game in Week 5 than the overtime fiasco between the Packers and Bengals. It was a back-and-forth match that featured five missed field goals after the start of the 4th quarter. Three of those misses came from Mason Crosby, who ended the game with 1:55 left in overtime. The Packers love him. He has been a reliable kicker for years, and has weathered storms of inconsistency that have stuck with kickers not named Justin Tucker. Bad kicking aside, Aaron Rodgers and the offense impressed once again. Rodgers threw for 344 yards and two touchdowns, moving into 5th all-time in touchdown passes. Aaron Jones rushed for 103 yards and averaged 7.4 yards per carry. Davante Adams had a monster game, with 206 yards on 11 receptions and a touchdown. Ever since the Week 1 disaster, the Packers pulled off four straight wins and established themselves as the clear top team in the NFC North. Defensively, the issues are starting to be an issue, especially now that Jaire Alexander joins Za’Darius Smith on the IR. Rodgers will need to remain on point with the defense without Alexander.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Aaron Rodgers
RB: Aaron Jones
WR: Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb
TE: Robert Tonyan
OL: Elgton Jenkins (LT), Jon Runyan (LG), Josh Myers (C), Royce Newman (RG), Billy Turner (RT)
DL: Dean Lowry (LDE), Kenny Clark (NT), Kingsley Keke (RDE)
EDGE: Preston Smith (WLB), Rashan Gary (SLB)
ILB: De’Vondre Campbell (LILB), Jaylon Smith (RILB)
CB: Eric Stokes (LCB), Kevin King (RCB)
S: Adrian Amos (SS), Darnell Savage Jr. (FS)
ST: Mason Crosby (K), Corey Bojorquez (P), Hunter Bradley (LS)
RS: Kylin Hill (KR), Amari Rodgers (PR)
#7: Baltimore Ravens
Week 5 vs. IND: W, 31-25 (OT) | Record: 4-1
Previous Rank: #10
For the majority of the game, the Ravens looked like they will be handed a defeat at the hands of the team that used to call Baltimore home. Then Lamar Jackson reminded the NFL world that he is a top 5 QB. He carved up the Colts for 442 yards and four touchdowns in a win where they fell behind by 19 points and down 25-9 entering the 4th, including two Mark Andrews touchdowns and two Andrews two-point conversions. When the Ravens won the overtime coin toss, the game was already over. He torched an already exhausted Colts defense for 68 yards on 10 plays, with a game-winning touchdown pass to Hollywood Brown. He showed that he can take over games with his legs and with his arm. This was a brilliant comeback that may have been his best performance. There are issues, though. They allowed 513 yards of offense to a Colts team that hasn’t been living up to expectations. The run game has also been pedestrian. But good teams find ways to win, and the Ravens a good team. And once again, they are the favorites to win the AFC North.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Lamar Jackson
RB: Latavius Murray
WR: Marquise Brown, Sammy Watkins, Devin Duvernay
TE: Mark Andrews
OL: Ronnie Stanley (LT), Ben Powers (LG), Bradley Bozeman (C), Kevin Zeitler (RG), Patrick Mekari (RT)
DL: Justin Madubuike (LDE), Brandon Williams (NT), Calais Campbell (RDE)
EDGE: Tyus Bowser (WLB), Justin Houston (SLB)
ILB: Malik Harrison (LILB), Patrick Queen (RILB)
CB: Anthony Averett (LCB), Marlon Humphrey (RCB)
S: Chuck Clark (SS), DeShon Elliott (FS)
ST: Justin Tucker (K), Sam Koch (P), Nick Moore (LS)
RS: Devin Duvernay
#6: Dallas Cowboys
Week 5 vs. NYG: W, 44-20 | Record: 4-1
Previous Rank: #8
The Cowboys are on a roll. They swept their three-game homestand against the Eagles, Panthers, and Giants by a combined score of 121-69, which speaks to their offense being a force to be reckoned with. Granted, beating the Giants isn’t the tallest of tasks, especially with them being down Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, and Kenny Golladay. But they are rolling on both sides of the ball. They racked up 515 yards of total offense on a banged up Giants team that, like the Eagles and Washington, knows the best case scenario is catching up to the wild card race come December. Defensively, the Cowboys held the Giants to just four 3rd down conversions on 13 attempts. The Cowboys have gone from NFC East favorites to maybe being a legitimate Super Bowl contender. They have a top three candidate for Defensive Player of the Year in Trevon Diggs and the favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year in Micah Parsons. With just one game against a team with a winning record over October, they have a real chance of running away with the division by Thanksgiving.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Dak Prescott
RB: Ezekiel Elliott
WR: Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Cedrick Wilson
TE: Dalton Schultz
OL: Tyron Smith (LT), Connor Williams (LG), Tyler Biadasz (C), Zack Martin (RG), Terence Steele (RT)
DE: Randy Gregory (LDE), Micah Parsons (RDE)
DT: Osa Odighizuwa (LDT), Carlos Watkins (RDT)
LB: Leighton Vander Esch (WLB), Keanu Neal (MLB), Jabril Cox (SLB)
CB: Anthony Brown (LCB), Trevon Diggs (RCB)
S: Donovan Wilson (SS), Damontae Kazee (FS)
ST: Greg Zuerlein (K), Bryan Anger (P), Jake McQuaide (LS)
RS: Tony Pollard (KR), CeeDee Lamb (PR)
#5: Los Angeles Chargers
Week 5 vs. CLE: W, 47-42 | Record: 4-1
Previous Rank: #6
The wildest shootout of Week 5 took place in Los Angeles, where the Browns and Chargers exchanged touchdowns in a game featuring 52 first downs and over 1,000 yards of offense. It was the Chargers that got the win, with Justin Herbert getting five total touchdowns and 398 yards. The Bolts’ usually reliable defense stumbled in its worst performance of the season, but Herbert picked up the slack with his group of playmakers. Their 26 points in the final quarter was the most by a team in a 4th quarter in 8 years. After the game, head coach Brandon Staley praised his 2nd-year signal caller. “To win a game like this, one that turns into a track meet, you have to have a superstar quarterback to win it. That’s what he is,” he told reporters. The Chargers now look like the frontrunners for the AFC West. They would be undefeated had it not been for a 56-yard Greg Zuerlein field goal in Week 2. While the run defense needs to show improvement, it’s going to be exciting seeing the Chargers play against the Ravens in Week 6.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Justin Herbert
RB: Austin Ekeler
WR: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Jalen Guyton
TE: Jared Cook
OL: Rashawn Slater (LT), Matt Feiler (LG), Corey Linsley (C), Michael Schofield III (RG), Storm Norton (RT)
DL: Jerry Tillery (LDL), Christian Covington (RDL)
EDGE: Joey Bosa (WLB), Uchenna Nwosu (SLB)
ILB: Drue Tranquill (LILB), Kyzir White (RILB)
CB: Chris Harris Jr. (LCB), Michael Davis (RCB), Asante Samuel Jr. (NB)
S: Derwin James Jr. (SS), Nasir Adderley (FS)
ST: Tristan Vizcaino (K), Ty Long (P), Matt Overton (LS)
RS: Nasir Adderley (KR), KJ Hill (PR)
#4: Los Angeles Rams
Week 5 @ SEA: W, 26-17 | Record: 4-1
Previous Rank: #2
It might be a little foolish to call a Week 5 game for a one-loss team a must-win game, but after suffering their first loss against the high-flying Cardinals, the stakes were high for Matt Stafford and the Rams. Lose to the Seahawks, and the team could be looking at a two-game gap in the division. The Rams responded, riding big games from Stafford, Robert Woods, and Cooper Kupp to a nine-point win. Woods is one of the Rams’ top receiving options, but forming a connection with Stafford was harder than expected during the first four weeks of the season. That changed during the Thursday Night game, when Woods hauled in 12 catches for 150 yards. The passing attack is imposing when Kupp, DeSean Jackson, and Tyler Higbee are on the field at the same time. Add Woods to the mix, and this is a lethal pass attack. Stafford, like his Seattle counterpart, suffered a finger injury, and Sean McVay praised his quarterback’s toughness. “Matthew continued to battle through,” said McVay. “He’s so tough, he won’t tell you what’s going on. He just says ‘I’m fine.’” There’s no news indicating Stafford’s injury is a concern for the Rams, and with three straight games against teams with losing records, the Rams are in a good position to keep the momentum going in the NFL’s toughest division.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Matt Stafford
RB: Darrell Henderson Jr.
WR: Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Robert Woods
TE: Tyler Higbee
OL: Andrew Whitworth (LT), David Edwards (LG), Brian Allen (C), Austin Corbett (RG), Rob Havenstein (RT)
DL: A’Shawn Robinson (LDE), Sebastian Joseph-Day (NT), Aaron Donald (RDE)
EDGE: Terrell Lewis (WLB), Leonard Floyd (SLB)
ILB: Kenny Young (LILB), Troy Reeder (RILB)
CB: Robert Rochell (LCB), Jalen Ramsey (RCB)
S: Jordan Fuller (SS), Taylor Rapp (FS)
ST: Matt Gay (K), Johnny Hekker (P), Matt Orzech (LS)
RS: Tutu Atwell (KR), Cooper Kupp (PR)
#3: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 5 vs. MIA: W, 45-17 | Record: 4-1
Previous Rank: #4
The GOAT keeps doing GOAT things. He put on a show against the Dolphins, passing for 411 yards and five touchdowns with a passer rating of 144.4 in the blowout win. This was the first time that he passed for more than 400 yards and five touchdowns, which feels impossible, given his unmatched résumé over 22 seasons, but it’s true. About every Buc got into the act, with Antonio Brown scoring two touchdowns and racking up 124 receiving yards. Mike Evans also topped 100 yards and scored twice. Leonard Fournette had 110 total yards and had a touchdown of his own. It’s quite the offensive onslaught. But not everything went to plan. A Bucs team that was already blasted by penalties suffered another major blow when Lavonte David suffered an ankle injury. If he is sidelined, even for any length, it’s an absence that will be felt by a defense already held together with duct tape.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Tom Brady
RB: Leonard Fournette
WR: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown
TE: Cameron Brate
OL: Donovan Smith (LT), Ali Marpet (LG), Ryan Jensen (C), Alex Cappa (RG), Tristan Wirfs (RT)
DL: Ndamukong Suh (LDE), Vita Vea (NT), William Gholston (RDE)
EDGE: Jason Pierre-Paul (WLB), Shaquil Barrett (SLB)
ILB: Devin White (LILB), Kevin Minter (RILB)
CB: Jamel Dean (LCB), Richard Sherman (RCB)
S: Andrew Adams (SS), Jordan Whitehead (FS)
ST: Ryan Succop (K), Bradley Pinion (P), Zach Triner (LS)
RS: Jaydon Mickens
#2: Arizona Cardinals
Week 5 vs. SF: W, 17-10 | Record: 5-0
Previous Rank: #1
Sometimes, teams have to get a win when they aren’t playing at their best. This was the case with the Cardinals. One week after drilling the Rams, the Cardinals weren’t as sharp at home against the 49ers. The rushing game was held to just 94 yards on 27 carries. They converted just three of 10 3rd downs and were outgained by Trey Lance and the Niners in total yards. The most dramatic came in the 2nd quarter, when Lance scrambled towards the right pylon before running into Tanner Vallejo and Isaiah Simmons. While the offense got a lot of the headlines, it was the defense that carried the Cards to 5-0. They held the Niners to 10 points and stopped them on four of five 4th down attempts. Kliff Kingsbury didn’t make apologies for a win short on style points. “I take them any way we can get them,” said Kingsbury. “Especially division wins. [San Francisco’s] a great team, a great culture, they play so hard and play together and have great energy. So if you can beat them, that’s a great Sunday.” While they are the last undefeated team in the NFL, they slip down the rankings by one spot because of a certain team up in Western New York.
Projected Week 6 Starters
QB: Kyler Murray
RB: Chase Edmonds
WR: DeAndre Hopkins, AJ Green, Christian Kirk
TE: Maxx Williams
OL: DJ Humphries (LT), Justin Pugh (LG), Max Garcia (C), Josh Jones (RG), Kelvin Beachum (RT)
DL: Zach Allen (LDE), Rashard Lawrence (NT), JJ Watt (RDE)
EDGE: Dennis Gardeck (WLB), Markus Golden (SLB)
ILB: Jordan Hicks (LILB), Isaiah Simmons (RILB)
CB: Byron Murphy Jr. (LCB), Robert Alford (RCB)
S: Jalen Thompson (SS), Budda Baker (FS)
ST: Matt Prater (K), Andy Lee (P), Aaron Brewer (LS)
RS: Eno Benjamin (KR), Christian Kirk (PR)
#1: Buffalo Bills
Week 5 @ KC: W, 38-20 | Record: 4-1
Previous Rank: #3
The Steelers didn’t just beat the Bills in Week 1. They woke up a sleeping giant. Beating the Chiefs in October and beating them in January are two different beasts, but that doesn’t mean that the Bills’ 38-20 stomping of the two-time defending AFC champions isn’t important. It was an affirmation of what they believe in: With Josh Allen leading the charge, they can beat anyone. That’s what happened at Arrowhead Stadium, where Patrick Mahomes struggled to get any rhythm going against a Bills defense that knows what they are doing. While the term “statement win” gets thrown around a lot, the Bills earned one here. Allen scorched the Chiefs defense for 315 yards and three touchdowns and led them with 59 yards and a score on the ground. The defense picked off Mahomes twice and returned one for a pick six. Even if the Cardinals are the last undefeated team, the Bills are now the best team in the NFL. Following their Week 1 letdown against the Steelers, they won their next four games by a combined score of 156-41. This performance against the Chiefs shows they can do it against anyone.
Week 6 Projected Starters
QB: Josh Allen
RB: Devin Singletary
WR: Emmanuel Sanders, Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley
TE: Dawson Knox
OL: Dion Dawkins (LT), Jon Feliciano (LG), Mitch Morse (C), Daryl Williams (RG), Spencer Brown (RT)
DE: Gregory Rousseau (LDE), Jerry Hughes (RDE)
DT: Star Lotulelei (LDT), Ed Oliver (RDT)
LB: Matt Milano (LILB), Tremaine Edmunds (RILB)
CB: Tre’Davious White (LCB), Levi Wallace (RCB), Taron Johnson (NB)
S: Jordan Poyer (SS), Micah Hyde (FS)
ST: Tyler Bass (K), Matt Haack (P), Reid Ferguson (LS)
RS: Isaiah McKenzie
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