It’s been a pretty quiet NFL season overall. So far, the best games have mostly been defensive affairs and a few shootouts that actually mattered, but controversy, especially of the last-second, game-altering variety just hasn’t been there.
NFL scores and more, Week 6: What happened on Sunday
The Falcons and Seahawks finally gave us a really fun game, maybe the first one of the entire season!
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We just needed a Seahawks game.
The cosmos must have known that the Falcons were due for another fast start, but this time fate wrote a script that included some tougher opponents early on than last year’s cakewalk. After rattling off wins against both Super Bowl teams from last season, the Falcons were in Seattle this week for yet another test. They damn near passed it, too.
Atlanta fans have every right to be mad about Richard Sherman putting Julio Jones’ arm in a vice on a last-ditch, fourth-down chance to get them in range for a game-winning field goal. The refs missed the call.
But at least we had some excitement! And if that’s not comforting enough for Falcons fans, take some solace in the fact that your team went into Seattle and came within two points of beating the Seahawks.
There can be no debate: The Falcons have joined the upper echelon of the NFC.
Kap will continue the fight, on and off the field
Even if Colin Kaepernick had not decided to protest racial discrimination, he’d still be the story for the 49ers. The former starting quarterback, far from his hey day from the 2012 and 2013 seasons, he was leaps and bounds better than Blaine Gabbert has been, if for no other reason than he limited the mistakes.
It’s a low bar, but there’s no bar low enough for the rest of the 49ers team. They’re terrible. LeSean McCoy ran for 140 yards and three scores and the entire Bills offense put up 312 yards on the ground.
As for Kaepernick, head coach Chip Kelly didn’t commit to a starter for their next game. Kaepernick’s role may have changed, but his message didn’t.
What are the Steelers going to do now?
People have been trying to jam the Steelers into the class of the AFC all season. It’s understandable. When they’re on their game, they can dunk on just about anyone ... and then they’ll go off and have some inexplicable loss to a team they should probably beat. First, it was the Eagles. This week, it was the Dolphins.
The Steelers are going to have to do better in the weeks ahead to convince people that they still belong among the AFC’s best teams, and they’re going to have to do it without Ben Roethlisberger who has a torn meniscus in his left knee.
Roethlisberger missed four games last season with a sprained MCL, and the Steelers still managed to finish 10-6 and a get a wild card berth to the playoffs.
They’ll have to find a way to tread water while he’s out. The schedule isn’t doing them any favors either. Next week, it’s the Patriots, followed by a bye, then a trip to Baltimore, and back home against the Cowboys.
How about those Cowboys, indeed.
I guess you could make a big deal about the Packers suddenly turning to poop this year, but I think the better story here is just how good the Cowboys are this season, getting a big road win in Green Bay. (Though let’s not totally overlook just how poop the Packers are).
They’re 5-1 now, and they’ve gotten to that point without Tony Romo and mostly without Dez Bryant. In fact, I think they have a more electric pairing with Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott.
Elliott had 157 rushing yards and is on pace for more than 1,800 this season. I wouldn’t bet against him getting there at this rate either.
Let’s talk about Prescott vs. Romo. I think it comes down to a pretty simple question: What has Prescott done that merits putting him back on the bench when Romo returns? Just try to answer that question. Then, put yourself in Jason Garrett’s or Jerry Jones’ shoes and try to answer it.
Cam Newton is good again
Newton’s heroics made him an easy choice for MVP last season. He struggled to start the season this year, but finally broke out with a big game against the Saints this week. Best of all, he was doing the kind of things that helped push the Panthers to 15-1 last year, most of them in the second half.
It wasn’t enough. After Newton tied the game with a 2-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion, the Saints sliced through the Carolina defense like butter to kick what would stand as the game-winning field goal.
The Saints are the second-best team in the NFC South, which isn’t saying much. If they were in the AFC South, they might be in first place.
Speaking of the AFC South ... no, let’s just skip them.
Week 6 highlights
The Jaguars weren’t even close to spelling Prince Amukamara’s name correctly.
Brandin Cooks’ bow-and-arrow celebration has been neutered to avoid a fine from the NFL.
Colin Kaepernick made his first start of the season and found Torrey Smith for a 53-yard strike, Kaepernick’s first touchdown pass in 364 days.
Eli Manning became just the eighth quarterback in NFL history to throw for 300 touchdowns.
Vernon Davis scored his first touchdown in two years, but found out the hard way that his favorite celebration is now illegal.
If the Raiders move to Vegas, they should build a stadium that doesn’t fill with water.
Losing to the Dolphins left at least one Steelers player literally sick.
The Browns and Eagles found a way around the NFL’s ban on GIFs.
Panthers punter Andy Lee introduced the slide tackle to the NFL.
Things got pretty heated between Gronk and Vontaze Burfict.
Congratulations to Odell Beckham Jr., who is now engaged to the kicking net. Those two have come so far!
It was clear that Fun OBJ was back, and he practically beat the Ravens all by himself with a 222-yard game.
Golden Tate celebrated a touchdown by becoming a Lions cheerleader.
The Rams tried to blow up the Lions’ victory formation.
Kaepernick was back under center and he wasn’t the savior for the 49ers. No one expected him to be anyway.
Cam Newton played like Superman, and it wasn’t enough to stop the Panthers from falling to 1-5.
Dak Prescott owns the record for most passes without an interception to start an NFL career. He passed Tom Brady in the record books.
Dontari Poe is the Chiefs’ FAT GUY TOUCHDOWN secret weapon.
Jalen Ramsey has backed up his trash talking with his play on the field, including sealing the Jaguars’ win against the Bears.
The Seahawks got so excited after a touchback that they attacked their own mascot. Poor Blitz.
Ooh boy, Richard Sherman got REAL MAD when the Julio Jones scored a touchdown against Seattle’s blown coverage. Then later, Dan Quinn got REAL MADDER when Sherman wasn’t called for pass interference at the end of the game.
Frank Gore became the Colts’ first 100-yard rusher in four years on Sunday night, and liked it so much he did it twice. Wait, what?
Week 6 injuries
Ben Roethlisberger injured his left knee against the Dolphins and even though he came back into the game after halftime, he will have surgery for a torn meniscus on Monday. There is currently no timetable for his return.
The Bills got a scare when LeSean McCoy went down with an injury, but he later returned.
Odell Beckham Jr. headed to the locker room with a hip injury but came back in and had a huge game.
Ravens CB Jimmy Smith is out after sustaining a concussion against the Giants.
Browns safety Jordan Poyer was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with a lacerated kidney.
49ers CB Rashard Robinson was ruled out with a concussion.
Falcons WR Taylor Gabriel left the game against the Seahawks after suffering a concussion.
Mo Claiborne left in the third quarter against the Packers due to a concussion.
Seahawks DE Michael Bennett limped off with a knee injury and did not return, though Pete Carroll expects him to be fine.
Davante Adams exited against the Cowboys to get evaluated for a concussion.
The Packers lost CB Damarious Randall for the remainder of the game after he left with a groin injury.
Colts tight end Dwayne Allen left early against the Texans and was ruled out for the rest of the game.
Terrell Suggs will undergo tests on Monday to determine if he has a torn bicep.
Complete scores
San Diego Chargers 21, Denver Broncos 13
Buffalo Bills 45, San Francisco 49ers 16
Detroit Lions 31, Los Angeles Rams 28
New England Patriots 35, Cincinnati Bengals 17
New York Giants 27, Baltimore Ravens 23
Tennessee Titans 28, Cleveland Browns 26
Washington 27, Philadelphia Eagles 20
Dallas Cowboys 30, Green Bay Packers 16
Seattle Seahawks 26, Atlanta Falcons 24
Houston Texans 26, Indianapolis Colts 23 (OT)
New York Jets at Arizona Cardinals, 8:30 p.m. ET Monday, ESPN
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