So, through 5 weeks, scoring was way up.  In fact, the first 5 weeks of the season were the most points scored in any 5 consecutive weeks in NFL history.  Well, Week 6 continued that trend with an average of 50 points scored per game.

Week 6 Review:

  • Passing of the Torch? The game of the week was the Sunday Night game.  The 5-0 Chiefs visited the 3-2 Patriots.  QB Patrick Mahomes has been working over opposing defenses all year, but the Patriots confused him enough to hold them to only 9 first half points.  The Patriots were all over that bad Chiefs’ defense with 24 for the big 24-9 lead at the half.  However, in the 2nd half, Mahomes found his best weapon over and over – Tyreke Hill scored on plays of 14, 1 and 75 yards (not to mention a 67 yarder to Kareem Hunt).  Still, the Pats were able to work the ball down the field and kick a FG with time expiring to win the game 43-40.  TB12 finished with 340 yards passing, 1 TD and 0 INTs, while Patrick Mahomes threw for 352 yards, 4 TDs and 2 INTs.  Brady sprinted across the field to congratulate Mahomes on a great performance.  Even the GOAT can see the future.  Let’s hope this game happens again in January.
  • Steelers On the Move:  After an atrocious start, the Steelers are now taking care of business.  The Bengals came in 4-1 and leading the division, but after playing a tough game, Big Ben hit Antonio Brown on a pick play (not penalty called) to score the go ahead TD with 10 seconds to go winning 28-21.  The Steelers are now 3-2-1 still looking up at the Ravens and Bengals at 4-2, yet the defense and running game are getting better every week.
  • Bears Wilt in Miami:  The Bears boasted the 2nd or 3rd best defense in the league based on most metrics.  After a bye and with Brock Osweiler starting in place of the last minute injured, Ryan Tannehill, the Bears should have won easily.  Instead, the 101 degree heat index and the quick passing game plus over 100 yards from the ancient one, Frank Gore, pushed this game to the limit.  The Bears trailed at the half 7-0 after a costly Jordan Howard fumble at the Miami 1 yard line, but they roared back scoring 21 straight points.  However, the Bears couldn’t catch Albert Wilson at WR for Miami who scored on 2 short passes (one for 43 and another for 75 yards).  In OT, the Dolphins pounded the tired Bears, but a fumble by Kenyan Drake at the Bears’ 1 yard line gave them hope only to have them miss a 53 yard FG.  Miami moved into position and hit the game winning FG to send the Bears packing and Miami to 4-2, 31-28.
  • Ravens Flex Muscles:  The Ravens are the best defense in the league, and they showed it against the Titans with 11 SACKS!!  That is insane.  In fact, the Ravens sacked Marcus Mariota more times than his completions (10).  The Ravens when healthy have destroyed their opponents and still have not allowed a 2nd half TD this season.  Ravens move to 4-2 with 21-0 road win.
  • Blueprint to Beat Jags:  The Chiefs lit up the Jags’ defense in Week 5, and the Dallas Cowboys studied that tape.  Dallas completely destroyed the Jags at home with WR Cole Beasley catching 9 passes for 101 yards and 2 TDs in the short zone.  RB Zeke Elliott also went over 100 yards.  The Jags are not right, and they now have a -9 Turnover Differential.  Jacksonville was +10 in 2017.  Dallas moves to 3-3 with the 40-7 win, while Jags drop to 3-3 with their 2nd straight loss.
  • Rams Can Do It All:  QB Jared Goff was leading the NFL in passing through 5 weeks, but they didn’t need him as RB Todd Gurley rushed for 208 yards and 2 TDs.  Still the Rams allowed the Broncos back in the game, and had to sweat out an onside kick at the end of the game to win the game 23-20.  Still the Rams are the only undefeated team left in the NFL.
  • Chargers Are Darkhorse:  The Chargers traditionally have not been able to come East and win early games.  However, they have done so twice now with wins at the Bills and now crushing the upstart Browns 38-14.  RB Melvin Gordon continues to score at will with 3 more TDs for 9 on the season (he’s 2nd to Gurley’s 11).  The Chargers have 2 losses to the Chiefs and Rams, so they are a force to be reckoned with.  Watch out for them going forward.

Week 7 Preview – Big Games of Note:

  • Patriots at Bears:  New England comes off of big win over the Chiefs to take on the Bears in Soldier Field.  The Bears will be licking their wounds after getting lit up in the 2nd half.  I’m curious to see this one, as a Bears fan, but the Patriots defense can be had.  Plus, the Nagy offense mimics the Chiefs’ offense that just scored 40 on them.  Probably a tough game for Trubisky, but the Bears should play much better at home in the 40 degree weather.
  • Texans at Jags:  Both teams are 3-3, and the Texans are on a 3 game win streak, while the Jags have dropped 2 in a row.  This could be a watershed game for both teams.  I think the loser misses the playoffs, so a high leverage game in the AFC South.  The Jags need to overcome a slew of injuries otherwise the Texans will continue that scoring barrage on that offense.
  • Saints at Ravens:  An unstoppable force meets an immovable object.  The Saints are 1st in Scoring and 3rd in Total Yards facing off against the Ravens’ defense which is 1st in Scoring Defense and 1st in Yards Against.  I love to see these match ups, and can the Saints break the Ravens’ no TD in the 2nd half streak?
  • Bengals at Chiefs:  The Chiefs get back to back prime time games on Sunday Night Football.  The Bengals need to bounce back in a hurry, and at Arrowhead?  Well, if the Bengals want a playoff spot, then a game like this really goes a long way.  QB Mahomes never gets a break with this schedule, but being at home in prime time should get that crowd going wild.

Byes:  Packers, Raiders, Seahawks and Steelers

Wegs Pool Index – Week 7

NFL Index Week 7

Top 5 Teams:

  1. LA Rams – Clearly the best team in the NFL, but injury to WR Cooper Kupp could cost them long term.
  2. Ravens – That defense is unreal, and the offense is moving the ball, too.  Let’s see how they play against the Saints.
  3. Bears – Yes, they are still up there, but that loss to the Dolphins will sting.  I expect the Pats to follow the same formula.
  4. LA Chargers – The Bolts are playing great football, and Rivers is putting in an MVP like effort this year along with Gordon.  Imagine when they get DE Joey Bosa back.
  5. Green Bay – The offense has really carried this squad, and with the last second win on MNF, they stay relevant in the playoff picture.  The defense has to get better though.

Bottom 5 Teams:

   28.  49ers – Really should have won on MNF, but their 32nd in TO Differential at -11, plus they are giving up almost 30 Points Per Game.

   29.  Bucs – #2 in Yards Gained, but 31st in Yards Against and 32nd in Points Against got DC Mike Smith fired.  Not good.

   30.  Cardinals – Cards can’t score, as they are only putting up 13.7 PPG.  Going to be like this all year.

   31.  Giants – After some bigger yardage outputs, you would think they would rise, but the Giants are 27th in Scoring and -4 in Turnover Differential.  A recipe for their 1-5 record.

   32.  Raiders – The Raiders didn’t show up in London, and they are quickly becoming the NFL’s worst team.  They are 26th or worse in PPG, Yards Against, Points Against and Turnover Differential.

Alright, enjoy Week 7.

Wegs

 

About the author

I'm a 49 year old, twice divorced guy with a 20 year old. The blog has morphed a bit lately. Not just sports or dating, social commentary and now some stories from my past experience.