Week 6 NFL’s Biggest Winners and Losers

Statement wins from two hall-of-fame quarterbacks to go along with a quarterback change highlight the winners, while three teams continue to fail expectations in 2020.

Winners

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 6 highlighted the third time that Tom Brady would face off against Aaron Rodgers. More importantly, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were looking to make a statement against the undefeated Green Bay Packers, and they made that statement. Tampa Bay won convincingly by a score of 38-10, holding the Packers offense to just 201 yards of offense. Tampa Bay is now 4-2 and alone in first place of the NFC South with a big game against the Las Vegas Raiders coming up. If Tampa Bay can win this game, they would be 5-2 and in a position to really start running away with the division, holding off the Saints. It is still early, but all signs are good right now in Tampa Bay.

Miami Dolphins

Even though they beat the Jets, who are 0-6, the Miami Dolphins are still considered winners this week. Miami is now 3-3 and with the Bills loss to Kansas City, they are just one game out of first place in the AFC East heading into their bye. Despite this, there is a changing of the guard at QB. Head coach Brian Flores announced that rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa will be the starting quarterback for the rest of the season. It came as a surprise to many with the Dolphins still relevant, but Flores has been high on Tua and who knows, maybe it keeps the Dolphins relevant in 2020. The big takeaway is that Miami is 3-3 and ready to see what their future holds right now with their first-round draft pick.

Pittsburgh Steelers

In a big divisional matchup against the Cleveland Browns, the Pittsburgh Steelers sent a message to the entire AFC, imposing their will and winning 38-7. The Steelers are now 5-0 led by their defense. What makes them so scary is that their offense looks like it is just scratching the surface. RB James Conner is having a bounce-back season, while rookie WR Chase Claypool has emerged as the number one receiver to a strong receiving core. Pittsburgh has another big game next week against the Tennessee Titans, who are coming off a comeback victory to improve to 5-0 on the season. The Steelers look like one of the top teams in the AFC and they are only getting better.

Losers

Dallas Cowboys

After a week where they saw their quarterback go down with a gruesome injury, the Cowboys have reached a new low. On Monday Night Football, Dallas got blown out at home against the Arizona Cardinals by a score of 38-10. The entire offensive line is hurt, RB Ezekiel Elliott has gotten off to a slow start, and players are calling out coaches. It is a nightmare situation for Dallas, yet they are in first place at 2-4 due to a weak NFC East. Dallas plays the Washington Football Team this week with a chance to get back on track and get momentum going, but it will be tough will their struggles along with their laundry list of injuries.

Houston Texans

After winning their first game of the season in Week 5, the Texans were well on their way to winning a second straight game as they attempt to crawl back into the playoff mix. Instead, Houston led the Titans march down the field and tie the game, where they eventually won the game in overtime. Houston is now 1-5 and has to deal with the 4-1 Green Bay Packers, who are coming off their first loss of the season. If Houston loses this game, they would fall to 1-6, a nightmare situation for a team that is a regular in the playoffs since QB Deshaun Watson has been around.

Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings had the undefeated Seattle Seahawks on the ropes in Week 5. After blowing that lead and eventually losing the game, the Vikings followed that up by getting blown out by the Atlanta Falcons, who got their first win out of it. Minnesota has failed expectations to this point with a record of 1-5. Whether it is the defense giving up big plays or Kirk Cousins throwing picks, it has been a nightmare for Minnesota. There is still time, but time is running out fast.

Stats from profootballreference.com

Writer

-By: Richie Dordas