Talk about a literal reversal of fortune.
Per NFL Research, teams that start their seasons with a 4-2 mark make the playoffs 63% of the time. Teams that start 3-3 get to the postseason just 36% of the time. Right now, there are five 4-2 teams — the Ravens, Texans, Chiefs, Vikings and Panthers. Three teams stand at the 3-3 mark, and two of them — the Cowboys and Rams — have lost three straight games to reside in that unfortunate space. The other 3-3 team, the Eagles, started the season 1-2 and stand as one of the league’s most unpredictable teams due to a defense leaking from seemingly every part of their secondary.
What are we to make of these potential playoff entrants? Houston got to 4-2 by beating Kansas City and putting them in that same place — and right now, it’s fair to say you might take Deshaun Watson over Patrick Mahomes for a short space of time. The Vikings are grooving on Kirk Cousins’ two-week stretch of beating weak defenses, with no clear idea as to his long-term consistency. The Ravens are in the same boat with Lamar Jackson, though it’s a stylistically different boat. And the Panthers are riding the efforts of Kyle Allen, leaving a highly interesting decision to be made as Cam Newton begins the process of returning from a foot injury and trying to reverse a nearly season-long slump that is injury-related.
None of these teams have definitive futures. The Rams and Cowboys could reel off five-game winning streaks. Watson’s offensive line could collapse on him. Mahomes may be playing through ankle injuries all season, and on and on. Unless you’re the Patriots or 49ers on one side, or the Dolphins and Bengals on the other, there’s a lot of season left and a whole lot of things to be decided before you can define your franchise’s path in the 2019 season.
But headed into Week 7, here’s where we see all 32 NFL teams:
32. Miami Dolphins
(0-5. Last week: 29)
With six seconds left in their game against the Redskins, the Dolphins actually had an opportunity to do something people were wondering if they’d do all season — win. If quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick could convert a two-point attempt, Miami would upset Washington, 18-17. Of course, running back Kenyan Drake dropped Ryan Fitzpatrick’s quick pass, and the great plan was all for naught. Or perhaps it wasn’t, as the Dolphins remained winless in their alleged plan to tank the season for the first overall pick in next year’s draft. Miami’s Week 16 game against the currently 0-6 Bengals could mean a lot more than you think.
31. Cincinnati Bengals
(0-6. Last week: 30)
It was good for the Bengals that Brandon Wilson took the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown against the Ravens on Sunday. Other than that, there wasn’t much remarkable about Cincinnati’s performance on either side of the ball in a 23-17 loss. A defense that has been a severe liability all season allowed Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson to join Colin Kaepernick as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for more than 200 yards and run for more than 150 yards in the same game. And Cincinnati’s offense, allegedly improved under rookie coach Zac Taylor, wasn’t that at all, though there’s only so much one can do with Andy Dalton under center. More and more, the Bengals look less like a team in need of a few reinforcements and more like a franchise requiring a comprehensive rebuild.
30. Washington Redskins
(1-5. Last week: 32)
In their first game without Jay Gruden as head coach since 2013, the Redskins did a few things right. They played the Dolphins, one of the few teams whose offensive and defensive performances have been less impressive than their own this season. And rookie receiver Terry McLaurin continued his fine season with four catches on seven targets for 100 yards and two touchdown catches. Interim head coach Bill Callahan kept first-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins on the bench for now (probably a good idea) in favor of Case Keenum, who managed just 13 completions in 25 attempts for 166 yards on the day. Washington’s addled defense let Miami back in the game far too often and nearly lost the Ineptitude Bowl on a failed Dolphins two-point conversion near the end of the game, but hey — a win is a win, and at least the Redskins have one this season. What they’ll do against more credible teams — they have the 49ers, Vikings and Bills up next — remains a mystery.
29. Atlanta Falcons
(1-5. Last week: 26)
The last time the Falcons started a season 1-5 was 2007. In case you don’t remember, that’s the year Michael Vick was suspended and indicted on federal dogfighting charges, Bobby Petrino quit on the team, and Atlanta ranked 28th in Defensive DVOA. Now, the Falcons have a legitimate franchise quarterback in Matt Ryan, head coach Dan Quinn is a quality individual (unlike Petrino), and … well, the 2019 version of Atlanta’s defense might be even worse. Sunday’s 34-33 loss to the Cardinals marked the fourth time in NFL history a quarterback had lost despite having a passer rating over 140.0 and at least four touchdown passes. Tony Romo did it for the Cowboys against the Giants in 2011 and in 2013 against the Broncos, and Ryan did it against the Saints in Week 3 of 2018 and again on Sunday. Not that Ryan is the greatest quarterback of all time, but he deserves better than this, and it can only be a matter of time before Quinn — one of the great defensive coordinators of the past decade — finds his way out of Atlanta. This team is going nowhere, and as the defense is the problem — and Quinn vowed to take a larger role in its execution after the 2018 season — that’s entirely on him. That 2007 Falcons team actually started 1-6, and as Quinn’s team travels to take on a wounded Rams squad, it could easily match that ignoble mark.
28. Los Angeles Chargers
(2-4. Last week: 25)
With less than two minutes left in the game, and after turning a 24-0 third-quarter deficit into a 24-17 contest against the Steelers on Sunday night, the Chargers tried an onside kick in hopes of getting a tying possession. But because of the new restrictive onside kick rules, they had no chance to push their initiative forward, and the unsuccessful attempt became the 16th of the NFL season, with no recoveries this year. The Chargers did get the ball back at their own 1-yard line via punt with 1:03 left, but Philip Rivers threw a prayer of a pass on second down that landed in the hands of Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton, and that was the game.
The improbable rally and Rivers’ desperate heave pretty much sum up the Chargers’ season. Their offensive line and defense are decimated by injuries, the running game has lost all rhythm since holdout Melvin Gordon returned a couple of weeks back, and Rivers is returning to unfortunate tendencies regarding accuracy and ball security. If anything, the Chargers are even more vulnerable, and out of contention, than their 2-4 record would suggest.
27. Cleveland Browns
(2-4. Last week: 24)
Baker Mayfield had things to say about the officiating from Adrian Hill’s crew in Cleveland’s 32-28 loss to the Seahawks on Sunday, which came after the Browns had built a 20-6 first-half lead. While Mayfield may have had valid points, the defeat was also due to turnovers, subpar special teams play and a run defense that continues to struggle against depleted offensive lines and has given up 432 rushing yards in the past calendar week to the 49ers and Seahawks. Mayfield threw three interceptions, bringing his league-leading total to 11. He had just 14 picks in his entire rookie season. The Browns have a bye week coming up, followed by a trip to New England, where their 2019 season easily could unravel entirely.
26. Pittsburgh Steelers
(2-4. Last week: 27)
After Ben Roethlisberger’s season-ending elbow injury and Mason Rudolph’s concussion, the Steelers were left with Devlin Hodges, an undrafted rookie out of Samford, to make his first career start against the Chargers. It’s a testament to the game plan given to him by offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner, and the general ineptitude of the Chargers defense, that Hodges was able to show something in his Sunday night debut. The plan was highly conservative, in that Hodges wasn’t asked to throw deep. Instead, he got the ball out quickly to his playmakers, primarily running back James Conner, and relied on a quality run game (led by Conner and Bennie Snell Jr.) and a defense that picked off Philip Rivers twice and limited the Chargers to 32 rushing yards. The Steelers haven’t really had anything resembling an explosive passing game this season, and they likely won’t even when Rudolph returns. But they saved their season with this win, and the rumblings about Mike Tomlin’s future should start to calm down.
25. New York Jets
(1-4. Last week: 31)
It’s not that the Jets are going to be good enough this season for quarterback Sam Darnold to be in the MVP discussion, but there’s absolutely no question as to his value to the Jets. Out since Week 2 with mononucleosis, Darnold returned to the field — and returned to form in a 24-22 win over the reeling Cowboys. Darnold’s 92-yard touchdown pass to Robby Anderson was the NFL’s longest play from scrimmage this season, and he also showed deftness with touch passes and knew how to move in the pocket to extend a play. The Jets’ offense was historically inept without him; with Darnold back in the fold, at least the Jets create opportunities to be competitive.
24. Arizona Cardinals
(2-3-1. Last week: 28)
Don’t look now, but Kliff Kingsbury’s offense is starting to gain a little traction. Of course, that progress has come against the Bengals and Falcons, two of the NFL’s most inept defenses, but Kyler Murray has looked in control, and the offense is revolving around versatile running back David Johnson, as it should. Johnson is the best receiving back I’ve seen since Le’Veon Bell in his prime, and he proved that for the second consecutive week, catching six passes for 68 yards and a touchdown against an Atlanta team that couldn’t wait to leave openings for anything Kingsbury wanted to call. Murray completed 27 of 37 passes for 340 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in Arizona’s 34-33 win, and the Cardinals have another subpar defense next Sunday when they travel to face the Giants. Arizona’s defense (especially its depleted secondary) gets a boost with the return of suspended cornerback Patrick Peterson in Week 7.
23. New York Giants
(2-4. Last week: 23)
Remember when the Giants defense made Kirk Cousins look like Tom Brady in Week 5? Well, James Bettcher’s crew did its best a few days later to make Brady himself look like … well, if not Cousins against a good defense, at least a muted version of the GOAT. New York’s defense was helped by a Foxborough wind that sent many of Brady’s passes sailing, but he completed 31 of 41 passes for 334 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. That was a good growing point, as was Daniel Jones’ throwing a few dimes in between his three picks against a historically good defense. Without a healthy Saquon Barkley, this offense is not equipped to deal with such a foe, but the fact that the Giants could remain competitive without Barkley, backup Wayne Gallman, tight end Evan Engram and wide receiver Sterling Shepard is progress.
22. Tennessee Titans
(2-4. Last week: 21)
Last week, the Titans lost to the Bills because now-released kicker Cairo Santos missed four field goals. Against the Broncos in a 16-0 shutout this Sunday, the issue was a lot closer to the top. Head coach Mike Vrabel benched quarterback Marcus Mariota after the former No. 2 overall pick completed just seven passes in 18 attempts for 63 yards and two interceptions. Backup Ryan Tannehill was at least able to move the offense a bit, though he’s not the ultimate answer, either. At 2-4, the Titans have seen their defense disappoint, and their quarterback situation fall to pieces. Vrabel and general manager Jon Robinson have a lot of decisions to make in the upcoming offseason, and priority one will be to find their future quarterback. This isn’t what anybody expected in 2016 when Mariota threw 26 touchdowns to nine interceptions and looked like a franchise quarterback.
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(2-4. Last week: 20)
The Buccaneers had to go all the way to London to figure out that, after more than four seasons of patience, Jameis Winston might not be their guy. Winston was abysmal in Tampa Bay’s 37-26 loss to the Panthers, throwing five interceptions, losing one of his two fumbles to the opponent, and looking completely blinkered in the pocket. Situational awareness has never been Winston’s strong suit, but that it’s showing up to this degree after 60 NFL starts is pretty damning. Bruce Arians hasn’t run out of patience just yet, but that could have more to do with who’s behind Winston on the depth chart. Winston, playing in the last year of his rookie contract, will have to do some serious development to extend his time under Arians.
20. Denver Broncos
(2-4. Last week: 22)
After beating a muted Chargers team to avoid their first 0-5 record in franchise history, Vic Fangio’s Broncos turned around and shut out a Titans team in desperate need of a functional quarterback. Fangio’s defense sacked Marcus Mariota and Ryan Tannehill seven times and came away with three interceptions, putting the Broncos much closer to what was expected when Fangio became the head coach. The Broncos are still stuck with Joe Flacco, but running back Phillip Lindsay did enough to get the offense going to a point. Denver will face more formidable challenges from the Chiefs and Colts offenses in their next two games.
19. Los Angeles Rams
(3-3. Last week: 16)
There’s a statistic I’ll call “carb yards,” descriptive of those yards that are essentially empty calories that make an offense chunky as they inflate the box scores. In the Rams’ two games prior to their matchup against the 49ers on Sunday, Jared Goff threw for 912 yards. He also threw just three touchdown passes to four picks, and lost a key fumble in L.A.’s Week 4 loss to the Buccaneers. Then, Goff was the king of carb yards. But after what happened to the Rams’ offense against San Francisco’s rabid defense, we may want to switch the designation from carbs to something gluten-free and inedible. Goff completed 13 of 24 passes for 78 yards, the Rams were 0-for-9 on third down, and Sean McVay’s vaunted offense gained just 157 total yards in a 20-7 thrashing. That would have been even more embarrassing had San Francisco’s quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, been able to do more against a Rams defense that is more of a problem this year than people might care to admit. This game was a definitive answer to the question of what Goff can do against a top defense, and nobody in the Rams organization can be comfortable with the result.
18. Jacksonville Jaguars
(2-4. Last week: 19)
Through the first four weeks of the season, sixth-round rookie Gardner Minshew II had completed 69.4% of his passes for 905 yards, 7.48 yards per attempt, seven touchdowns, one interception and a passer rating of 106.9. Over the past two games, Minshew’s completion rate has dropped to 54.8, his yards per attempt to 7.36, and he’s thrown just two touchdowns to one interception. What does this tell us? He’s still capable of making big-play throws, but against defenses tougher to solve in the Panthers and Saints, things have been more difficult. The Saints made things difficult for Minshew and primary receiver DJ Chark in a 13-6 Sunday loss by using a variety of two-deep coverages, essentially doubling Chark often and forcing Jacksonville’s other playmakers to step up. It didn’t happen. With Chark bracketed by star cornerback Marshon Lattimore and a safety up top, Minshew completed just 14 of 29 passes for 163 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. Now that the Saints have created the blueprint to upset Minshew’s hot streak, it’s up to him, and the Jaguars’ coaching staff, to adjust and present new route possibilities.
17. Oakland Raiders
(3-2, Week 6 Bye. Last week: 18)
When the Raiders returned from London after shocking the Bears defense in a 24-21 Week 5 win, they were rewarded with a bye that will hopefully allow defensive coordinator Paul Guenther the time required to put together his own defensive masterpieces in upcoming road games against the Packers and Texans, two of the NFL’s most interesting offenses. The Raiders have been in the middle of the pack defensively — better than average against the run and trying to catch up against the pass — so this upcoming two-game stretch will go a long way toward deciphering just what Jon Gruden’s team is this season.
16. Philadelphia Eagles
(3-3. Last week: 11)
Bad news for the Eagles: They won’t be able to face Luke Falk every week. After allowing 491 total yards to the Packers in Week 4 and then giving up just 128 total yards to the Falk-led Jets in Week 5, Philly had to take on the newly revitalized Vikings offense with Kirk Cousins at the helm. They allowed 447 total yards, continued their trend of making average quarterbacks look like all-timers, and had coverage busts all over the field. At 3-3 and facing the similarly wounded and confused Cowboys this Sunday night, Doug Pederson’s team — and quite specifically, Jim Schwartz’s defense — had better get things together before the 2019 season turns out like the 2016 campaign. That was Pederson’s first, and the Eagles went 7-9, missing the playoffs.
15. Dallas Cowboys
(3-3. Last week: 13)
Dallas’ 24-22 loss to the Jets on Sunday was just the fifth time in franchise history the Cowboys lost to a team with a previous record of 0-4 or worse. And if you want to get really statistically forensic about how weird this loss was, there’s this:
Ouch. So, how did Cowboys players feel after the loss?
Here’s what we know: The Cowboys were once 3-0, and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore was the belle of the ball. Dak Prescott had nine touchdown passes to two interceptions. In the past three games, Dallas is 0-3, the offense looks a lot more like the generic stuff put forth by ex-offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, and Prescott has two touchdowns to four picks. There are upcoming get-better games against the Giants and Eagles — the same formula that made Kirk Cousins look like an MVP candidate. If that doesn’t work, when will the bell toll for Jason Garrett?
14. Chicago Bears
(3-2. Week 6 Bye. Last week: 14)
Word is that Mitchell Trubisky will be back from the shoulder injury that has kept him out since Week 4, just in time to face a Saints defense that’s been as tough to solve as any in the league for advanced quarterbacks, never mind a guy on Trubisky’s learning curve. So if the Bears are to win, it’s probably going to be one of those games where Khalil Mack gets three sacks and 10 pressures, Chicago’s secondary traps Teddy Bridgewater into a few picks, and Trubisky throws for 150 yards and avoids turning the ball over. The extent to which this franchise can stick and stay on this perilous paradigm (excellent defense, fungible quarterback) is certainly a point of order, because historically great defenses don’t tend to stay historically great for very long. The Bears already have beaten the seemingly inevitable regression curve on that side of the ball this season, but their losses to the Packers and Raiders show how it works when the defense slips at all. Trubisky or Chase Daniel — or a quarterback made available before the Oct. 29 trade deadline — must ramp this up on the offensive side if the Bears are ever to take advantage of the things that make them truly great.
13. Baltimore Ravens
(4-2. Last week: 12)
Lamar Jackson threw seven touchdown passes to no interceptions in his first two games, was shut out in both categories against the Chiefs in Week 3, and threw four touchdowns to five interceptions in the two games after that. Against the Bengals’ pliable defense in a 23-17 win, Jackson became the second quarterback to have at least 200 passing yards and at least 150 rushing yards in the same game, joining Colin Kaepernick, who did it in the 2012 playoffs. Jackson is a valuable part of this team, but to say that we know what he is as a quarterback at this point is to project more than it is to know.
12. Detroit Lions
(2-2-1. Last week: 10)
Clete Blakeman’s crew doesn’t just owe Matt Patricia and the Lions an apology after a 23-22 loss to the Packers in which there were several crucial wrong calls from the officiating group. There should be something more after one grievously missed pass interference call on Green Bay, and two weird hands to the face calls on Detroit defensive lineman Trey Flowers that swing the game in Green Bay’s favor. There will no doubt be a boilerplate apology from the league, but that doesn’t help Detroit’s playoff prospects. Now, it wasn’t entirely the fault of Blakeman’s crew – the Lions also blew leads of 13-0 and 22-13 – but at a time where there’s perhaps less confidence in the quality of NFL officiating than ever before, this Monday night meltdown is an extremely bad look for the league.
11. Carolina Panthers
(4-2. Last week: 17)
Speaking of teams with interesting quarterback decisions to make, the Panthers have won four in a row with second-year man Kyle Allen under center. Only Dak Prescott and Tom Brady had a higher number of attempts without an interception to start their careers than Allen’s 153. Allen has a yards-per-attempt average of 7.4 this season, and he’s completed three of 13 passes of 20 or more air yards, so the game plan isn’t entirely conservative. What do the Panthers do with Cam Newton, who’s been a shell of his former self since the second half of the 2018 season, when Newton returns from his foot injury? What’s more, do the Panthers take on the $21.1 million cap hit in the final year of Newton’s contract next season, or do they take the $2 million in dead money that would come with his release, and move on? The more Allen plays credibly, the more interesting that decision becomes.
10. Minnesota Vikings
(4-2. Last week: 15)
If Kirk Cousins wanted to prove that he’s more than the owner of the worst non-Jared Goff contract in the NFL, there isn’t much more he could have done over the past two weeks — except beat a defense that would give him half a fight. Still, against the Giants and Eagles, Cousins made enough big throws that could be isolated as impressive to transcend his weak opposition — to a point. In those two weeks, Cousins has completed 78.6% of his passes with 11.4 yards per attempt, six touchdowns and one interception. Next Sunday’s game against the Lions will go a long way to determine whether Cousins is more than a paper tiger with a few good throws against suboptimal coverages. If he actually is, the Vikings can compete with anybody.
9. Green Bay Packers
(5-1. Last week: 9)
The Lions had this. They really did. They had a 13-0 lead on the Packers in the second quarter. They had a 22-13 lead in the fourth quarter. They overcame several ridiculously bad calls from Clete Blakeman and his crew. And then, Aaron Rodgers did what he’s done throughout his career, but hadn’t done much in the 2019 season – he made some absolutely amazing throws to a depleted receiver corps that dropped several passes and regained his position atop an offense that hadn’t seemed built for him through the first five games. And now, with a 5-1 record, Rodgers and his team stand atop the NFC North. If this is the offense opponents are going to see as Davante Adams returns soon from turf toe, and the defense can hold fast, the Packers are going to the toughest out they’ve been in a long time.
8. Indianapolis Colts
(3-2, Week 6 Bye. Last week: 8)
The Colts impressed just about everybody with a 3-2 start, despite Andrew Luck’s surprise retirement and the loss of several key defensive players. They’ll get linebacker Darius Leonard back for their Sunday go-to against the Texans, and safety Malik Hooker back soon afterward (hopefully). But the question against a super-hot Houston offense is whether Jacoby Brissett has it in him to duel with Deshaun Watson mano-a-mano. If not, will head coach and offensive play-designer Frank Reich work to keep Watson off the field with a body-blow run game? Reich is one of the league’s most adaptable coaches, so prepare for anything.
7. Seattle Seahawks
(5-1. Last week: 7)
The Seahawks have a week-to-week running game and a defense that ebbs and flows from an effectiveness standpoint, but Pete Carroll’s group is tough when it needs to be. Seattle traveled to Cleveland on Sunday, overcame a 20-6 second-quarter deficit, turned Baker Mayfield into a pumpkin (a league-wide conceit these days, it seems), and rode yet another amazing Russell Wilson performance to yet another improbable win. Were it not for a few mistakes in a home loss to the Saints in Week 3, this could be an undefeated team. What does that say about them as the second half of the season nears? Well, they have two games against the 49ers, and their iffy defense also will face the Ravens, Falcons, Vikings, Panthers and Cardinals — all of whom are capable of lighting up the scoreboard. This team will be in every game as long as Wilson, the prohibitive MVP favorite, is on the field, but what that means in a record sense is very much to be determined.
6. Buffalo Bills
(4-1, Week 6 Bye. Last week: 6)
You can pretty much pencil in Buffalo’s fifth win, as they play the Dolphins this Sunday, and there’s no way Miami’s quarterback du jour is going to be able to deal with Sean McDermott’s defense. The question then becomes: How far can this team go? Winning the AFC East is probably out of the question, but this team is a live wire, capable of upsetting the few squads more complete and potentially explosive. They have the Eagles, Redskins and Browns before a second matchup with Miami, so this might be a good time to move quarterback Josh Allen up in your fantasy interests.
5. Kansas City Chiefs
(4-2. Last week: 4)
There have been two ways to slow down Patrick Mahomes through his brief NFL tenure: Keep him off the field (strategies used by the Patriots and Texans) or throw a ton of man-and-match coverage against him (strategies used by the Pats, Lions and Colts). A third way may be a more recent one, and it had to do with the ankle injury Mahomes first suffered in the Chiefs’ Week 1 win over the Jaguars, and aggravated in weeks 5 and 6. Before those injuries, as ESPN’s Bill Barnwell points out, Mahomes was completing 69.1% of his passes with a yards-per-attempt average of 12.3, five touchdowns and no interceptions. After these issues limited Mahomes’ ability to make spectacular plays both in and out of the pocket? He completed 57.1% of his passes with a yards-per-attempt mark of 6.0, two touchdowns and one interception. Would it be wise to sit Mahomes against the Broncos this Thursday, or soon after if these splits continue? It’s certainly worth considering.
4. New Orleans Saints
(5-1. Last week: 3)
For the second consecutive week, the Saints tested their opposing defense with vertical shots downfield from Teddy Bridgewater. And while that didn’t work as well against the Jaguars as it did against the Buccaneers the week before, it’s really Dennis Allen’s defense that should be getting all the headlines in the Crescent City. It was that defense that shut down Gardner Minshew and DJ Chark with two-high coverage concepts, and it’s that defense that’s keeping a potential Super Bowl spot warm for Drew Brees, whenever he returns. If it all comes together down the stretch, it’s feasible that Brees could get his second ring, and Sean Payton will have his own problem — replacing Allen, who will be a head coach elsewhere.
3. Houston Texans
(4-2. Last week: 5)
Here’s the thing about Houston’s 31-24 win over the Chiefs — the Texans earned it. The go-ahead drive lasted 12 plays and racked up 103 yards, with seven first downs, ending with a Deshaun Watson 1-yard rushing touchdown. It didn’t quite match the 116-yard drive the Chiefs went on to open up the scoring, but as they say, it’s not how you start — it’s how you finish. In the fourth quarter against the Falcons and Chiefs over the past two weeks, Watson is 14-of-15 passing with two touchdowns, no interceptions, a perfect passer rating of 158.3 and no sacks. Two of his three career games with no sacks have come in those games. Houston’s offense also kept Patrick Mahomes off the field for nearly 40 minutes, which is the best (and possibly only) way to beat Mahomes consistently. If Watson isn’t moving up on your NFL MVP list, you’re not paying attention.
2. San Francisco 49ers
(5-0. Last week: 2)
The 49ers defense would be the story of the NFL were it not for a Patriots defense that is starting to look like one of the best ever. San Francisco limited the Rams offense to 157 total net yards and 78 passing yards on Sunday. This has become the norm for a defense allowing 12.8 points per game, and as Kyle Shanahan has transitioned his offense through key injuries and Jimmy Garoppolo’s questionable play from week to week, the 49ers have become that most dangerous of teams — a squad that can beat you any way it likes. The undefeated record is no fluke, and it’s time to call the 49ers what they are — the best team in the NFC, and on an neutral field, perhaps the best team in the NFL.
1. New England Patriots
(6-0. Last week: 1)
As usual, there’s not much to worry about in Bill Belichick’s world. His team has the best record in football, one of the best defenses in NFL history and a relatively easy schedule of interesting but flawed teams. The Patriots play the Jets, Browns, Ravens and Eagles in their next four games. The only thing that might stop this team from putting up its second undefeated regular season is a receiver group that isn’t exactly favorable to Tom Brady. Julian Edelman is the only wideout on the current roster equipped to frighten defenses on a week-to-week basis, and though first-round pick N’Keal Harry is coming off the injured reserve list with an ankle issue and is eligible to return in Week 9, it will be up to that defense to keep things upright. Not that we’re doubting Brady’s transcendent ability, but it’s something to watch on another inevitable New England run to the Super Bowl.
Touchdown Wire editor Doug Farrar has also covered football for Yahoo! Sports, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, the Washington Post, and Football Outsiders. His first book, “The Genius of Desperation,” a schematic history of professional football, was published by Triumph Books in 2018-.
