Earlier than we are able to prepare for the Thursday Night time Soccer recreation between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, we’ve got to look again on the fallout from Week Six. With 30 of 32 NFL groups in motion, let’s run down the record of the most well liked takes from Week Six to find out what’s an overreaction and what’s a correct response.
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs will attain the Tremendous Bowl.
Correct response
The Chiefs haven’t been enjoying their finest soccer by way of the primary six weeks of the season, but they discover themselves sitting at 3-3 with a marquee win in primetime over what was broadly thought-about to be the most effective crew within the Nationwide Soccer League. Take note, they received that recreation with out their number-one extensive receiver, Rashee Rice, who returns to the sector this weekend after finishing his six-week suspension. There are even rumors going round that members of the Chiefs organization have had private conversations with reporters stating they feel better about this year’s team than last year’s team. That ought to strike concern all through the NFL as a result of final yr’s squad made all of it the best way to the Tremendous Bowl. They aren’t enjoying each recreation shut. They’re truly displaying dominance over different groups, one thing we didn’t see loads through the 2024-25 marketing campaign. Primarily based on how this group is constructed and the truth that they’ve reached three straight Tremendous Bowls, they’re an apparent risk to make it again to the Large Sport for a fourth consecutive yr.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the most effective crew within the NFL.
Overreaction
We have now been doing this track and dance for just a few weeks now. Two weeks in the past, the Philadelphia Eagles were the best team in the NFL. Final week, the crown was passed along to the Detroit Lions. Now, it’s the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We have now to keep in mind that the NFL is a week-to-week league. A crew that killed any person in Early October can appear like dogsh*t two weeks later. Don’t imagine me? Simply take a look at the Buffalo Payments! Do the Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear like the most effective crew within the league RIGHT NOW? Sure, they do. Will that be the case when the season is over? It’s exhausting to say. Heading into Week Seven, they’re enjoying the most effective soccer of any crew within the NFL. Then once more, they misplaced to the Eagles two weeks in the past. By default, shouldn’t that imply Philly is the most effective crew within the league? However they only misplaced to the Giants. So by that logic, Large Blue is the most effective crew within the NFL. There isn’t one crew that’s the runaway favourite to win the Tremendous Bowl. My cash remains to be on the Lions to have the most effective report within the league as a result of they’re actually good, although they’re nowhere close to full well being. However, for now, Tampa takes the Week Seven title of the league’s finest crew.
Jaxson Dart will win the NFL’s Rookie of the Yr Award.
Correct response
Although this award ought to be going to Tampa Bay Buccaneers extensive receiver Emeka Egbuka, two elements are working in opposition to him. First, he’s at the moment coping with an harm, and if he has to overlook any prolonged time or a number of video games, that shall be an enormous blow to his candidacy. Second, and extra importantly, the NFL and its voters will at all times worth a quarterback over some other place. Since 2019, 4 of the final six winners of the AP Offensive Rookie of the Yr award have been QBs. Followers are much more shallow. For the reason that league partnered with Pepsi and allowed followers to vote for the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Yr award beginning in 2002, 11 of 23 winners have been quarterbacks. Amongst 33 quarterbacks, Dart is seventeenth in QBR. He additionally has a greater passer ranking than long-time starters like Trevor Lawrence, Brock Purdy, Michael Penix Jr., and Geno Smith. Although I don’t imagine wins are a quarterback stat, Dart can simply find yourself being the Rookie of the Yr if the G-Males maintain piling up victories.
The Philadelphia Eagles will miss the postseason.
Overreaction
They could have misplaced two video games, however let’s not act just like the sky is falling. They’re nonetheless main the race for the NFC East with a 4-2 report, have a recreation in hand over the Cowboys, and still have head-to-head wins in opposition to potential playoff groups just like the Buccaneers and the Rams. That’ll assist them loads in the event that they find yourself not profitable their division and competing for a Wild Card spot. They’re schedule isn’t the best, however there are some possible wins on the docket. They need to beat the Vikings, the Giants at house, the Bears at house, and the Raiders at house. That might give them eight wins. From there, they need to have the ability to win the division in the event that they beat the Cowboys once more and break up the season sequence with the Commanders. Actually, their playoff hopes will come all the way down to the ultimate three weeks of the yr once they need to go to Washington, to Buffalo, after which face the Commanders at house. If they’ll win each of their matchups in opposition to Washington, Philly will make the playoffs with out having to fret an excessive amount of. Even when the Commanders win BOTH of these video games, they’ll discover another victories alongside the best way in opposition to perhaps the Packers or the Lions.
The Chicago Bears are a playoff crew.
Correct response
The Chicago Bears are not a foul crew, which is a step in the best route in direction of finally changing into a playoff crew. If we’re being trustworthy, the 2024-25 Bears most likely lose the video games they performed in Weeks 4 and Six of this season. The truth that they really managed to tug out back-to-back wins in matchups the place it felt like the whole lot was going incorrect is an efficient signal for the Windy Metropolis devoted. They need to have the ability to beat the Saints, Bengals, and Browns, which will get them to seven wins. If they’ll steal a recreation in opposition to the Packers, Giants, Vikings, or Eagles, then they’ll be poised to make a run on the playoffs. They’ve already performed fairly nicely with a decimated secondary. As soon as these guys get absolutely wholesome, their protection will look a lot better. Extra importantly, Caleb Williams is displaying significant progress underneath the steering of head coach Ben Johnson. Proper now, they’re a frisky crew that’s most likely on the skin wanting in. However they’ll be an issue if they’ll string collectively two extra victories to increase their win streak to 5 straight video games.
Firing Brian Callahan will proper the ship in Tennessee.
Overreaction
Don’t get me incorrect. Firing Brian Callahan was the best transfer. He was a buffoon of a head coach who harm his crew greater than he helped it. With that being mentioned, this franchise remains to be completely dreadful and makes use of one of many weakest rosters within the NFL. Defensive finish Jeffery Simmons is an efficient participant. Outdoors of him, everyone on the roster is suspect, together with Cam Ward, the number-one general choose within the 2025 NFL Draft. He has been making bone-headed errors for just a few weeks now, and followers ought to begin to fear if this group has stunted his growth or carried out irreversible harm to the child. It’s a miracle he hasn’t mentioned something about seeing ghosts, contemplating he has been sacked greater than 4 instances per recreation this season. The offensive line sucks, two of their high three receivers are harm, and the protection is twenty sixth in factors allowed per recreation. There is no such thing as a righting the ship for this model of the Tennessee Titans. All they’ll do is strap themselves in and maintain on for pricey life as they appear to search out two or three extra wins this season. Callahan or not, it is a bottom-five crew within the NFL.
The Buffalo Payments is not going to win their division.
Correct response
It’s not that the Payments aren’t an excellent crew. It simply appears far more probably that the New England Patriots may have a greater report than the Buffalo Payments when the common season ends. The Pats have the best remaining schedule within the NFL. That’s not simply my opinion; that may be a factually correct assertion primarily based on the mixed profitable percentages of each crew’s future opponents (.308). Buffalo nonetheless has to play New England once more, the Chiefs, the Buccaneers, the Texans, the Steelers, and the Eagles. The Pats may simply win six of their final 11 video games in blowout vogue. They’ll additionally most likely defeat the Falcons, Giants, and Ravens (relying on how wholesome these groups are once they play). Buffalo remains to be going to make the playoffs as a result of they’ve the reigning MVP and are already 4-2, however profitable the division shall be extremely tough, particularly with that early head-to-head loss at house in opposition to the Patriots.
