NFL Week 6: Upset
NFL Week 6: Upset
What a shit show. And there are always shit shows during any NFL season. But Week 6 was a special form of shit show. Two back up QB’s (Hi, Zach Wilson!) beat heavily favored, undefeated teams outright. Sure, the Jets and Browns defense had a lot to do with it, but still. As if those two major upsets weren’t enough wackiness for us NFL fans to digest, several studs got injured (say it ain’t so, CMC!) and may be out anywhere from a week to multiple weeks. And we haven’t even gotten to the Bills yet, who ALSO almost lost to a backup QB, Tyrod Taylor, against a team that already sucked with their primary QB Daniel Jones. “Any Given Sunday” is an understatement. It goes to show, you never overlook anyone. Not even PJ Walker.
It’s like being a Charger fan for the last 20 years (guilty!). It seems like every season we have a stacked roster, an easy schedule, and a million reasons to expect a run to the postseason. Then we play. Teams that we should beat take us down at the last minute with a bad pick or a fumble or a missed field goal. This dates back to the days of Brees, LaDainian, and Gates. The fan in the pic above has been called an “industry plant” in online circles. As if you would need to hire an actor to portray a Charger fan getting their heart broken.
IT HAPPENS EVERY SEASON!
You don’t need to hire an actor to show the charged emotions that this fine young lady showed the world on Monday night. The producers could have nudged any dope with a Charger jersey in the stadium and got the same thing: A fan who expected the best, was strung along for 45 minutes, then let down the dark hole of defeat at the last second. This is not new to us Charger fans, yet we still pay the admission every season. Because the term “Any Given Sunday” cuts both ways. This could always be our year, and it could always not be our year. For the last 20+ seasons it has NOT been our year, though we have gotten mighty close. This brings us back to Week 6. It doesn’t matter how stacked your team is, who you are playing, where you are playing, you can’t overlook anyone. Not the Jets, not the Giants, and yes not even PJ Walker.
Week 6 Observations
*Thursday night was a harbinger of the week to come. KC beat Denver as they should have and even covered the 10.5 point spread, but the final score of 19-8 seemed anemic with a team like KC going against a Denver D that gave up 70 to Miami and 20+ to the Jets offense. Isiah Pacheco continues to roll (6 catches, 98 yards from scrimmage), though his 3 game TD streak ended.
*Kelce caught 9 for 124 but didn’t score. At least not on the football field. Taylor Swift was in attendance once again. What do you think of that, Burgess Meredith?
*Yup, we lost Christian McCaffrey and DeeBo Samuel during the Cleveland upset. Things weren’t going very well with them in either. Brock Purdy barely topped 125 yards passing. Minnesota is next up, so he should get right. Just not with his top two options. Kittle and Aiyuk upgraded for sure. Good luck figuring out if it’s gonna be Eli Mitchell or Jordan Mason filling in for CMC. If you think you know, ask those James Conner owners who blew their fab on Emari Demercado last week, only to be rugged by Keaontay Ingram and Damien Williams.
*Kareem Hunt logged 12 carries for 47 yards and a TD, plus 3 catches for 24. How was this dude on the couch 3 weeks ago?
*I should have went all Miley Cyrus this past draft season and bought myself Flowers. Zay Flowers. He scored his first TD this week and has been one of the most consistent rookies to date, hauling in another 6 for 50 to go along with that score. The receiving tree in BAL is slim. It’s him or Mark Andrews.
*Derrick Henry is getting spelled more than his owners would like, but he is finding his stride. He booked a long run of 60+ and totaled 113 yfs and a TD.
*Jonathan Taylor’s arrow is pointing up and Zack Moss isn’t going anywhere. They can totally co-exist. Not a bad one-two punch. And now that they have an interception machine at QB (#Minshewmagic), they should be handing off plenty.
*Derek Carr is getting stronger as proved by his 353 yards passing, his first 300+ yard game since week 1, including a long TD to Rashid Shaheed. The stronger Carr’s shoulder gets the more you will see Shaheed as he is a little speedster who can get down field. Not a bad add if you need a WR for the Bye-mageddon weeks.
*Desmond Ridder lost the game for the Falcons who had several chances to come back vs. the Commanders. You can’t throw 3 picks and expect a W. But enough with the Taylor Heinicke calls. Ridder is the guy. Let him develop.
*Does Geno Smith really only have 5 TD’s in 5 games this season? Maybe last year was an aberration? It’s having no effect on Kenneth Walker (19-62-1, 3-27-0) who scored his 6th TD of the season.
*Joe Burrow (calf) needs this upcoming bye. He threw for just 185 yards against a beatable Seattle D and continues to drag down Ja’Marr Chase (6-80-0). When they return they get *checks notes* San Francisco?! Yikes.
*Why oh why did I not draft Adam Thielen (11-115-1) anywhere? Dude just logged his 3rd 100+ yard game of the season. Did we all get transported to 2018 and nobody told me?
*Kirk Cousins and his no trade clause threw for just 181 and a score vs. the generous Bears. Sure, there was no JJ, but it’s the Bears. Jordan Addison scored but only caught 3 for 28. I’m surprised TJ Hockenson (6-50-0) wasn’t peppered with 20 targets. You wanna stay in Minnesota, Kirk? Fine, but step it up!
*Justin Fields was one of many injury victims this week. He and his dislocated thumb are “doubtful” for week 7.
*Amazing that the Jets had no Sauce Gardner and still made the Eagles look silly.
*Another injury victim Sunday (it was a brutal Sunday) was Jimmy Garoppolo, who was taken to the hospital with a back injury. As gnarly as that sounds, his coaches refuse to rule him out for week 7.
*Even without Jimmy G for the full 60 minutes the Raiders beat the Patriots because the Patriots are not the Patriots. They are the Mac Jones poop show.
*The Lions keep quietly kicking ass. Amon-Ra St. Brown was back and made it rain in Tampa Bay on Sunday with 12 catches for 124 and a pretty TD. Safe to say he is back to full strength.
*Speaking of back to full strength, Cooper Kupp (7-148-1) posted his second straight 100+ yard game. Puka Nacua (4-26-0) in turn posted his second straight sub-100 yard game. I still think they can co-exist and you are not benching Puka, but Cooper is the alpha Ram when healthy.
*Six teams are off week 7. Get ready for some stinky adds tonight! Starting rosters are going to be lit.
With all the pain felt this week, we need a burst of cheer. Apropos of the Lions roaring to 5-1 with a road victory in Tampa Bay, meet Courtney…
Her nickname is “Court” and she loves traveling, spending time outdoors, and experiencing new things with the ones she loves. Her dream is to host a TED talk. We’ve got a topic for her: The Societal Impact of Middle Aged Men Ogling Cheerleaders Online. We won’t even charge you if you use it, Court!