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Welcome to Week 6 of the 2022 NFL season, wherever nary top-10 team is safe.
The Green Bay Packers' discourtesy was soundless successful a nonaccomplishment to the New York Jets -- conscionable 1 week aft losing to the New York Giants. Speaking of the Giants, they handed Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens their 3rd nonaccomplishment of the season. Even the San Francisco 49ers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered losses astatine the hands of the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively.
Elsewhere, Matt Ryan and the Indianapolis Colts enactment up 15 fourth-quarter points to bushed the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Cincinnati Bengals came from down to unafraid a triumph against the New Orleans Saints, rookie QB Bailey Zappe threw for implicit 300 yards successful a New England Patriots triumph implicit the Cleveland Browns, and the Minnesota Vikings proceed to pad their pb successful the NFC North with a triumph against the Miami Dolphins. On Thursday, the Commanders squeaked retired a 12-7 triumph implicit the Chicago Bears.
Four teams had a bye this week and volition proceed enactment successful Week 7: the Detroit Lions, Las Vegas Raiders, Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans.
Our NFL Nation reporters respond with the biggest takeaways and lingering questions coming retired of this week's matchups and look up to what's next. Let's get to it.
Jump to a matchup:
WSH-CHI | SF-ATL | NE-CLE
NYJ-GB | JAX-IND | MIN-MIA
CIN-NO | BAL-NYG | TB-PIT
Atlanta 28, San Francisco 14
Falcons
What to know: Marcus Mariota showed Sunday why, successful a controlled offense, helium tin inactive beryllium a dynamic performer. Mariota had his champion crippled arsenic an Atlanta Falcon connected Sunday successful beating San Francisco, completing 13 of 14 passes for 129 yards, 2 touchdowns and nary interceptions portion moving six times for 50 yards and a touchdown. He didn't propulsion an incompletion until 10:52 near successful the 4th fourth and ran manager Arthur Smith's discourtesy perfectly against 1 of the amended defenses successful the NFL. It's a wide motion Mariota is starting to summation confidence.
Is Atlanta's defence thing to judge in? Falcons antiaircraft coordinator Dean Pees gave an impassioned code astir however helium wanted his defence to beryllium similar the ones helium ran successful Baltimore and New England. Atlanta is starting to look somewhat similar it. The Falcons forced 3 three-and-outs Sunday, scored a touchdown connected a fumble recovery, pressured 49ers backmost Jimmy Garoppolo and intercepted him once. Of course, determination is immoderate concern, too, arsenic some starting cornerbacks A.J. Terrell (thigh) and Casey Hayward (undisclosed) finished the crippled connected the seat with injuries, which volition beryllium thing to monitor. -- Michael Rothstein
Next game: astatine Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
49ers
What to know: Relentless injuries person made it intolerable for the 49ers' defence to transportation this team, which means it's clip for the discourtesy to propulsion much of the weight. It was lone a fewer weeks agone that Niners backmost Jimmy Garoppolo spoke astir the offense's efforts to find a bushed pursuing a unusual offseason. That was OK erstwhile a steadfast Niners defence was suffocating opponents. But the toll of injuries near the Niners with 4 steadfast starters connected the tract astatine the extremity of Sunday's loss, leaving the discourtesy to marque up the difference. They weren't up to the task.
How atrocious is it going to get connected the wounded front? Every squad successful the league deals with injuries, but the Niners proceed to person much than their share, with 11 of 22 starters connected injured reserve, a pregame inactive oregon a subordinate departing Sunday's crippled due to the fact that of injury. Nobody tin flooded specified attrition. -- Nick Wagoner
Next game: vs. Chiefs (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
0:40
A.J. Terrell tries to instrumentality a fumble for a touchdown, but helium fumbles too, allowing Jaylinn Hawkins to retrieve the shot for a Falcons touchdown.
N.Y. Jets 27, Green Bay 10
Jets
What to know: Who needs a prima quarterback? The Jets proved again they tin bushed a bully squad without a prolific passing time by QB Zach Wilson, who was held without a touchdown walk for the 2nd consecutive game. The Jets (4-2) upset the Packers with a classical crippled of complementary football. With Wilson struggling, they relied connected the moving crippled (two TDs), a suffocating defence (four sacks) and large plays by the peculiar teams (a blocked punt and tract goal). It took a fewer games, but the Jets person recovered their identity: a smash-mouth discourtesy featuring rookie Breece Hall (116 rushing yards) and a dramatically improved defence led by DT Quinnen Williams.
Is it clip to instrumentality the Jets seriously? Heck, yeah. They're a legit playoff contender. They're successful 2nd spot successful the AFC East, riding their archetypal three-game winning streak since 2019. They bushed the Packers and Dolphins, 2 respectable teams, by a combined people of 67-27. They flipped the publication from past October, erstwhile they got blown retired connected a play basis. They yet bushed an elite quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, controlling him for the amended portion of 60 minutes. This isn't a mirage: The Jets are for real. -- Rich Cimini
Next game: astatine Broncos (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)
Packers
What to know: It was hard to archer who was worse: Rodgers, his violative linemen oregon his skill-position players' hands. Rodgers missed what utilized to beryllium regular throws, and his blocking didn't springiness him overmuch of a accidental to basal successful the pocket. Oh, yeah, and the Packers had six dropped passes -- their astir successful a crippled since 2017. And past determination was the mislaid fumble connected a botched speech betwixt Rodgers and moving backmost AJ Dillon. The Packers can't spell much than 3½ quarters without an violative touchdown similar they did connected Sunday and expect to beryllium a contender. But that's what happened due to the fact that Rodgers was disconnected people and his violative enactment allowed him to get deed 9 times. It each added up to the archetypal clip the Packers person mislaid consecutive games successful Matt LaFleur's 4 seasons arsenic caput coach.
Do the Packers request to bring successful a receiver? The commercialized deadline is simply a small much than 2 weeks away, and if the Packers basal pat, it's hard to ideate however their passing crippled volition get better. Maybe they're counting connected Sammy Watkins, who could instrumentality this week disconnected injured reserve aft spending 4 weeks connected it due to the fact that of a hamstring injury. Watkins was disconnected to a bully commencement earlier helium got wounded successful signifier starring into Week 3. Or possibly they judge rookie Christian Watson, who besides has battled hamstring problems and was inactive connected Sunday, tin adhd immoderate velocity to the lineup erstwhile oregon if helium returns. But if not, determination could beryllium much performances similar this. -- Rob Demovsky
Next game: astatine Commanders (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Cincinnati 30, New Orleans 26
Bengals
What to know: It wasn't a must-win game, but it was 1 the Bengals desperately needed aft a unsmooth commencement to the season. New Orleans was without respective cardinal violative starters, and playoff teams don't suffer 3 games to backup quarterbacks. Bengals QB Joe Burrow and WR Ja'Marr Chase delivered the game-winning touchdown precocious successful the 4th fourth to supply Cincinnati a large midseason boost.
Is Cincinnati's discourtesy back? It's a spot excessively aboriginal to accidental yes. But the Bengals' discourtesy had its champion showing of the season. Burrow had his champion crippled since the extremity of the 2021 regular season. He was elusive, had large tract consciousness and feasted connected abbreviated throws. It resulted successful the astir fluid violative showing for the Bengals this season. If Cincinnati tin replicate that show adjacent week against Atlanta, it's a large motion for a portion that has truly struggled this season. -- Ben Baby
Next game: vs. Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Saints
What to know: Surprisingly, determination was immoderate beingness successful the Saints' discourtesy contempt being abbreviated astatine wideout. New Orleans didn't person Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry, Chris Olave oregon adjacent Deonte Harty and managed to determination the chains with improbable replacements, similar explosive rookie Rashid Shaheed. They besides continued their luck with the tally game, rushing for much than 200 yards arsenic a team. But they kicked excessively galore tract goals, and aft the defence gave up a late-game touchdown, they couldn't bash capable to travel back.
Do the Saints support going with Andy Dalton? It's wide that Jameis Winston is progressing from his backmost injury, returning to signifier connected a constricted ground and adjacent being dressed and progressive connected crippled day. But the offense, adjacent though it was compromised, seems to person recovered a bushed with Dalton. If Winston is steadfast capable to play adjacent week, the Saints could beryllium wading into a imaginable backmost controversy, unless they consciousness that helium could boost their chances if he's playing astatine 100%. -- Katherine Terrell
Next game: astatine Cardinals (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
0:16
Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase proceed beardown transportation with a 3rd 4th touchdown.
N.Y. Giants 24, Baltimore 20
Giants
What to know: This Giants squad is unflappable. They enactment up 90 yards successful the archetypal half, portion the Ravens had 256. They were down 10 points with nether 10 minutes remaining and their discourtesy couldn't bash overmuch of anything. It doesn't substance with this group. They bent astir and bash conscionable capable -- seemingly each week -- to win. The Giants whitethorn not person been the amended oregon much talented squad Sunday, yet they inactive recovered a mode successful the last minutes. This radical is resilient.
What tin the Giants bash to marque this discourtesy much explosive? The discourtesy is truthful unimposing that Baltimore inactive keyed connected Saquon Barkley and the tally crippled with the Giants down 10 and little than 10 minutes remaining. New York didn't nutrient a 20-plus-yard play successful the contest. But Wan'Dale Robinson returned aft missing 4 games with a genu injury, and the Giants didn't enactment Kadarius Toney (hamstring) and Kenny Golladay (knee) connected injured reserve successful hopes they could instrumentality soon. It's their lone anticipation astatine this point. In the meantime, they're surviving. -- Jordan Raanan
Next game: astatine Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Ravens
What to know: This disfigured nonaccomplishment falls squarely connected Lamar Jackson, and it volition spell down arsenic 1 of his worst performances. With the crippled connected the line, Jackson turned the shot implicit connected the last 2 drives with an interception and a fumble. Not crisp each crippled (17-of-32 for 210 yards), Jackson got intercepted connected 1 of the worst decisions of his career. With 3 minutes near successful the game, Jackson picked up a mediocre drawback and threw a wild, off-balance walk successful the mediate of the tract portion heavy successful his ain territory that was picked disconnected by information Julian Love. The Giants converted that turnover into Saquon Barkley's game-winning touchdown. On the Ravens' adjacent possession, Jackson got stripped with 1:29 left, sealing different late-game illness by Baltimore.
Has Kenyan Drake surpassed J.K. Dobbins arsenic the go-to moving back? It could beryllium by default close now. The biggest affirmative of the crippled was the big-play moving by Drake, who became the archetypal Ravens moving backmost to nutrient 100 yards rushing this year. Dobbins, who acknowledged that it was "super hard" not being the featured backmost precocious successful past week's game, didn't play successful the 2nd half. He wasn't adjacent holding his helmet connected the sideline, which could beryllium a motion that he's dealing with an injury. Drake, who was inactive for 2 games earlier this season, has earned much playing clip going forward. -- Jamison Hensley
Next game: vs. Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Minnesota 24, Miami 16
Vikings
What to know: The Vikings person reached their bye with a 5-1 record, astir a best-case script with a caller coaching unit and wholly caller schemes installed connected some sides of the ball. Their nonaccomplishment came astatine the Eagles, who entered Week 6 arsenic the lone undefeated squad successful the NFL (5-0). Only 1 of the Vikings' 5 wins has been convincing, their Week 1 decision of the Packers, and the disappearance of their discourtesy for agelong stretches successful Miami volition springiness manager Kevin O'Connell plentifulness to study. At 1 point, the Vikings had arsenic galore three-and-outs (seven) arsenic they did archetypal downs.
What happened to the Vikings' moving game? It was conscionable waiting for the close moment. Tailback Dalvin Cook had been primed for a large crippled successful his hometown but managed lone 17 yards connected his archetypal 9 carries arsenic the Dolphins' defence presented favorable looks for the passing game. When they needed to carve clip disconnected the timepiece midway done the 4th quarter, the Vikings passed 3 times. But fixed a reprieve, Cook popped done the enactment for a 53-yard touchdown that sealed the game. The moving crippled affected the result successful different way, too: Both of Kirk Cousins' touchdown passes came connected play-action. -- Kevin Seifert
Next game: vs. Cardinals (Sunday, Oct. 30, 1 p.m. ET)
Dolphins
What to know: Regardless of what you consciousness Tua Tagovailoa's semipermanent presumption arsenic the Dolphins' franchise backmost mightiness be, it is abundantly wide that this squad is quantifiably amended with him connected the field. Miami's discourtesy hasn't moved the shot with immoderate benignant of consistency since Tagovailoa went down successful Week 4. Rookie Skylar Thompson was inspiring successful the archetypal fractional (7-of-13, 89 yards) earlier a thumb wounded to his throwing manus knocked him retired of the game. In his stead, Teddy Bridgewater was skittish successful the pocket, precocious connected his throws and perpetually harassed down an violative enactment that gave up 23 pressures -- 19 of which came erstwhile the Vikings weren't blitzing. It's not often you tin accidental 1 subordinate would marque each the difference, but it's tenable to deliberation that Tagovailoa's instrumentality adjacent week against the Steelers should crook things astir for what's been a stagnant Dolphins offense.
Can the Dolphins' defence enactment blistery and find a groove implicit the adjacent period and a fractional earlier a grueling December? Sunday was the Dolphins' champion antiaircraft show of the season, extracurricular of a game-sealing 53-yard touchdown tally by Dalvin Cook precocious successful the 4th fourth and a 47-yard catch-and-run by Justin Jefferson connected the erstwhile series. Those 2 plays accounted for 42% of the Vikings' discourtesy successful what was different an awesome effort from Miami's defense. Ideally, it's the commencement of a inclination of improved antiaircraft play during a still-winnable agelong of the play coming up. If the Dolphins tin support this up against the Steelers, Lions, Bears, Browns and Texans, they should beryllium rolling by the clip a hard December slate comes around. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
Next game: vs. Steelers (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)
Indianapolis 34, Jacksonville 27
Colts
What to know: This didn't fig to beryllium the crippled wherever the Colts discovered a viable violative gameplan, fixed the mode the Jacksonville defence dominated the archetypal meeting, and with moving backs Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines sidelined connected Sunday. But the Colts utilized a caller violative enactment configuration, timely throws connected crossing routes from backmost Matt Ryan and heavy shots to emerging prima Alec Pierce to propulsion disconnected a captious AFC South victory. Pierce (winning TD catch, 2 drawn walk interference penalties) and Michael Pittman Jr. (13 catches, 134 yards) benefited greatly from the much-improved walk protection.
Has Matt Ryan turned things around? There person been monolithic struggles for Ryan this season, particularly successful an earlier shutout nonaccomplishment to Jacksonville. But Ryan possibly showed what helium is susceptible of with improved walk protection. The Colts revamped their enactment for the 2nd consecutive game, and Ryan took advantage, throwing for 389 yards and 3 touchdowns connected 42-of-58 passing. For the archetypal clip this season, Ryan was not sacked successful a game, and his pouch beingness was intelligibly improved arsenic a effect of the protection. This was easy Ryan's astir implicit show of the season. -- Stephen Holder
Next game: astatine Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Jaguars
What to know: The Jaguars had a accidental to instrumentality aboriginal power of the AFC South with back-to-back games against struggling Houston and Indianapolis. They mislaid some -- including Sunday's crippled against the Colts connected a last-second tract extremity -- and are present 1-2 successful the part with nary of the aboriginal momentum they gained with their 2-1 start. It'll beryllium hard to marque up the 2 games successful the part considering they've struggled against the Tennessee Titans (the Jags haven't won successful Nashville since 2013) and person mislaid 9 consecutive games to Houston. The Jags are apt going to beryllium warring to enactment retired of the cellar -- again.
Should Travis Etienne Jr. beryllium the Jaguars' diagnostic back? Etienne has outperformed James Robinson successful back-to-back weeks, rushing for 157 yards connected 20 carries and catching 5 passes for 63 yards, portion Robinson rushed for 81 yards connected 22 carries and caught 3 passes for 13 yards. Etienne had a 48-yard tally against the Colts and is flashing the big-play imaginable helium was drafted to provide. He started connected Sunday, and it whitethorn beryllium clip to marque that permanent. -- Mike DiRocco
Next game: vs. Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
New England 38, Cleveland 15
Patriots
What to know: Rookie backmost Bailey Zappe, the fourth-round draught prime from Western Kentucky playing successful spot of injured Mac Jones, finished 24-of-34 for 309 yards and 2 touchdowns with zero interceptions. While galore of the throws were shorter and allowed his pass-catchers to bash the rest, Zappe erstwhile again played with poise and stayed wrong himself to complement a stingy Patriots defence (which constricted the Browns' No. 1 rushing attack). Zappe smiled past week erstwhile asked if he'd heard of "Zappe fever" -- a playful taxable that has been discussed connected section sports-talk vigor -- and helium gave Patriots fans a crushed to grin Sunday with different coagulated performance.
Will Mac Jones instrumentality for a Monday Night Football matchup against Justin Fields and the Bears? Jones made the travel to Cleveland, which was a reflection that helium was hoping to play but wasn't definite helium was rather determination yet. That bought the Patriots much clip until 90 minutes earlier kickoff. But Jones didn't adjacent spell done a pregame warm-up, and erstwhile helium came retired to the field, helium was inactive walking with a limp of sorts. Over the past 3 weeks, Jones has progressed from retired to doubtful to questionable connected the wounded report. If helium takes the adjacent step, he'd beryllium going up against chap 2021 first-round draught prime Justin Fields with the Bears coming to municipality connected Monday night. -- Mike Reiss
Next game: vs. Bears (Monday, Oct. 24, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Browns
What to know: New England took distant NFL starring rusher Nick Chubb and the Browns' vaunted moving game, and Cleveland had nary answer. Chubb finished with conscionable 56 yards, arsenic manager Bill Belichick forced QB Jacoby Brissett to bushed the Patriots instead. Brissett couldn't consistently marque New England pay, throwing 2 interceptions successful a crippled the Pats controlled from the opening kickoff.
Is Cleveland's play already connected the brink? The play isn't over. But the Browns are 2-4 aft facing QBs Baker Mayfield, Joe Flacco, Mitchell Trubisky, Marcus Mariota and rookie Bailey Zappe, who cooked Cleveland for much than 300 yards done the air. The Browns are getting acceptable to look Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Josh Allen and Tom Brady. The play mightiness not beryllium over, but the mode the Browns person played, particularly defensively, the play could decidedly statesman to spiral. -- Jake Trotter
Next game: astatine Ravens (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
0:27
Myles Garrett's portion sack successful the archetypal 4th gives him 62.5 vocation sacks, mounting the Browns franchise record.
Pittsburgh 20, Tampa Bay 18
Steelers
What to know: Maybe it was elder antiaircraft adjunct and linebackers manager Brian Flores' penetration into Tom Brady's psyche. Maybe it was the defence yet figuring retired however to get unit without injured antiaircraft extremity T.J. Watt. Whatever it was, the Steelers' defence kept Brady and the Buccaneers successful check, applying dependable unit and keeping the discourtesy retired of sync. Cam Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi perpetually made Brady uncomfortable, and the patchwork secondary that included James Pierre and erstwhile signifier squad country Josh Jackson mostly kept Tampa Bay's weapons from exploiting a endowment mismatch. The Steelers got to Brady by seldom bringing a blitz, doing truthful lone once.
What's Kenny Pickett's presumption going forward? The rookie quarterback's archetypal location commencement was dampened erstwhile helium exited with little than 8 minutes near successful the 3rd 4th aft sustaining a concussion connected a hard deed by Buccaneers linebacker Devin White. Veteran Mitch Trubisky replaced Pickett, and helium completed 9 of 12 attempts for 144 yards and led the Steelers connected a touchdown thrust successful the 4th quarter. Pickett, who completed 11 of 18 passes for 67 yards and a touchdown, is inactive much than apt the Steelers' starter erstwhile helium returns. Pickett indispensable wide concussion protocol, and there's nary factual timeline for that. -- Brooke Pryor
Next game: astatine Dolphins (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)
Buccaneers
What to know: The Bucs' reddish portion scoring woes continue. Errors and costly penalties person attributed to that. Even Tom Brady's patent QB sneak connected third-and-1 successful the 4th fourth didn't work. They made it to the Steelers' 17-, 1- and 4-yard lines but couldn't find the extremity portion until determination was 4:45 to spell (an 11-yard touchdown walk to moving backmost Leonard Fournette), and past botched the 2-point conversion. Bottom line: For a squad with Super Bowl aspirations, they person astir surely underachieved.
Why does the Bucs' discourtesy look truthful retired of sync? There are a batch of reasons for this. First, the violative enactment is struggling. Rookie near defender Luke Goedeke erstwhile again looked lost. The Bucs can't tally the shot efficaciously with Fournette getting clobbered successful the backfield. And past Brady had a hard day. He's seldom off-target, and heading into Sunday's game, his off-target percent was 16.2%. But against Pittsburgh, it was 28%. His struggles astir notably came erstwhile targeting wide receiver Chris Godwin. Bucs officials said it wasn't a large woody that Brady missed Saturday's walk-through to be New England Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft's wedding, but with an discourtesy already struggling, it astir apt didn't help. -- Jenna Laine
Next game: astatine Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Thursday
Washington 12, Chicago 7
Commanders
What to know: Washington has a agelong mode to go. The Commanders won the game, but manager Ron Rivera was fired up aft the crippled astir assorted mistakes that could person outgo them -- the aforesaid ones that person outgo them different games. They've committed 27 penalties successful 3 games. They springiness up large plays and their discourtesy struggles. A existent turnaround indispensable besides see smarter, much disciplined play.
Can the tally crippled spur a turnaround? Washington ran the shot overmuch amended successful the 2nd half, albeit against a defence that struggles against the run. But immoderate turnaround indispensable commencement with moving the shot consistently. They tin premix Brian Robinson's powerfulness runs with Antonio Gibson's quality to get astir the corner. A accordant tally crippled would beryllium Step 1 for an violative turnaround. But until they lick their extortion issues, determination volition inactive beryllium struggles, particularly with an immobile quarterback. He needs assistance up front; if helium gets it, they could beryllium efficient. -- John Keim
Next game: vs. Packers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Bears
What to know: The Bears took 11 snaps wrong the Commanders' 6-yard enactment and couldn't punch successful a touchdown. Chicago went 0-for-3 wrong the reddish portion for the 2nd clip successful 3 games, and the offense's inefficiencies were showcased successful a litany of ways, starting with an interception thrown by Justin Fields astatine Washington's 5-yard line, a missed propulsion to choky extremity Ryan Griffin that Fields stressed helium has to marque and wide receiver Darnell Mooney's imaginable game-tying drawback ruled down astatine the 1-yard line.
How tin Justin Fields amended successful spite of what's astir him? The Bears request to re-evaluate their violative strategy and what's being asked of Fields. Chicago's shortcomings are hindering his development. But however tin Fields amended erstwhile he's being pressured connected 46% of his dropbacks and his receivers can't consistently marque catches oregon make separation? This is the presumption Chicago enactment itself successful during the offseason erstwhile it did not code the endowment deficiencies astir Fields, and if the Bears privation to get a clearer representation astir Fields' improvement implicit the adjacent 11 games, a fig of adjustments request to beryllium made. -- Courtney Cronin
Next game: astatine Patriots (Monday, Oct. 24, 8:15 p.m. ET)
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