Five weeks in and we still have two undefeated teams, but only one dominating undefeated team.
The NFL’s winless teams dropped to one after an unexpected Chicago blowout of Washington. Do we believe in Justin Fields again?
The NFL season is still young, but it’s looking like a two horse race in the NFC. Maybe a Detroit or Seattle can join the hunt.
The AFC is a crapshoot right now with plenty of good teams, but none of them looking great. The Chiefs are still the heads of the table until someone knocks them off. And hey, they won a game this week without Taylor Swift in attendance. Miracles happen every day.
San Francisco Pummels Dallas on Sunday Night
The NFL’s best game of the week on paper ended up being one of the weakest, but that was because of the superior greatness of San Francisco. In a game that featured two of the NFC’s best teams, the 49ers dominated the Dallas Cowboys from opening to closing whistle, winning 42-10.
The Niners embarrassed Jerry Jones’ team on national television, forcing four turnovers, including three interceptions of Dak Prescott, and posting 421 totals yards to the Cowboys’ abysmal 197 yards. Prescott only connected on 14 of 24 passes in one of the worst performances of his career.
As poor as the Cowboys offense was, the 49ers showed how many different options they have. Christian McCaffrey has been in the headlines, but it was Greg Kittle’s night as he scored three receiving touchdowns. Brock Purdy may have also entered the MVP conversation with McCaffrey as he threw four touchdowns and is forcing people to believe he is more than just the guy plugged into an amazing offense, but an actual key component of that amazing offense.
San Francisco will now enter a key stretch in which they play three of four games on the road and their one home game against a Cincinnati Bengals team that finally looked similar to the team we’ve seen the past couple of years. Philadelphia is also undefeated, but no team has shown the dominance these Niners have. Barring injuries, San Francisco should be Super Bowl favorites as of now.
Cincinnati Has a Pulse
The Cincinnati Bengals season was truly starting to look lost after last week’s 27-3 loss to Tennessee. It was the second time this season the Bengals once high powered offense was held to three points and blown out by over 20 points. It may have taken playing the Arizona Cardinals, but Cincinnati stopped some of that bleeding in a 34-20 win.
It’s not necessarily the fact that the Bengals won the game, but how they won the game that gives something to build off of. Two of the biggest concerns for Cincinnati was the play of Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. For at least one week, those two were back on the same page and completely in sync. Burrow’s calf injury looked much improved as he passed for 317 yards and three touchdowns. Chase was the receiver on all three of those touchdowns and 192 of the yards just a week after telling reporters he’s “always fucking open”.
Besides the Bengals offense returning to form, the defense also provided three turnovers and held Arizona to just 294 yards. This played a big part in the Bengals absolutely dominating the time of possession, 38:10 to 21:50.
The Bengals’ bleeding may not be completely cauterized, but with upcoming games against Seattle, San Francisco, and Buffalo, they needed to show some form of life. If Burrow can continue to return to form with Chase and if Tee Higgins eventually returns from injury and finds some of that chemistry with the offense, people could be quickly buying back in to Cincy.
Hall’s Big Days Earns Jets Win for Hackett
It’s possible Sean Payton would have not said anything about former Denver coach Nathaniel Hackett’s coaching ability had he seen what his own future held as the coach of that same team. Payton’s team dropped to 1-4 on the season and continues to look like one of the league’s biggest dumpster fires after losing to the New York Jets, 31-21.
Payton’s comments about Hackett’s coaching in Denver provided unnecessary motivation for a New York team that has had struggles of their own this season after Aaron Rodgers season ended just four plays in. In the end, it was Hackett’s offense that put up almost 100 yards more than Payton’s.
The biggest reason for the Jets win was the performance of second year running back, Breece Hall. Hall ran for a whopping 177 yards, including a 72 yard third quarter touchdown run. It was the Jets offense only touchdown of the day as they went 0-5 in the redzone behind the play of Zach Wilson, who came a bit down to Earth after this play against Kansas City last Sunday.
The Broncos had an opportunity to complete a comeback. With under a minute left and down by three points, Russell Wilson was sacked by Quinnen Williams, which caused Wilson to fumble before Bryce Hall picked the ball up and ran it 39 yards to ice the game.
With Denver now 1-4 and a matchup with Kansas City looming, the nails in the Broncos coffin for this season are nearly nailed shut. It appears maybe it wasn’t all a coach Hackett issue in the Mile High City.
The Jets still have a long way to go, especially offensively. Eventually, Zach Wilson will need some level of consistent play to keep this team above water, but if he can even be a game manager this team as the defense to play with the best. It won’t get easier as the undefeated defending NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles are coming to New York next week.
Jags Go 2-0 in Home Away From Home
London treated the Jacksonville Jaguars kindly as they ended their two week stay with a win over the Buffalo Bills, 25-20. Starting their trip with a 1-2 record, the Jags earned their second straight win in London after defeating Atlanta the previous week. With owner Shahid Khan’s interest in the sports market of London, Jacksonville appears pretty comfortable in their home across the pond.
The Buffalo win is more impressive considering the Bills had been on a three game winning streak in which they outscored their opponents a combined 123-33. With playoff hopes, the win also gives the Jaguars some additional confidence beating a perennial playoff team.
The Jacksonville offense was what really won the game for them. Specifically, Trevor Lawrence ability to spread the ball around for 315 yards and a touchdown, and Travis Etienne breaking off 136 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Buffalo’s great defense didn’t have many answers for the multi-faceted offense of Jacksonville who posted 474 yards of total offense and had possession of the ball for nearly 17 minutes longer than the Bills.
Another big eye opener was Jacksonville holding Buffalo to just 29 rushing yards. Part of that had to do with the Bills only attempting to rush the ball 14 times, a rather concerning stat. For as great as Josh Allen can be, it seems like Buffalo would benefit from a bit more dual threat offense.
Jacksonville is clearly the most talented team in the AFC South, but this is a team that aspires to venture farther than their Divisional Round appearance last season. If the Jaguars can continue to string wins, this Buffalo win could be a potential tie breaker in the AFC playoff hunt. After winning their division last season, winning games against teams they should defeat like Indianapolis in week six, but also hanging with the big boys of the league like Buffalo would be a good progression for the franchise.
Week Six Game Watchability Rankings
Teams on Bye: Packers, Steelers
15. Patriots vs Raiders: Will Bill Belichick make the official move from Mac Jones to Bailey Zappe? Jones is broken and if there is anything to redeem about this season, Zappe would be the move. Knowing Belichick, this may all be strategy to tank for another swing at an elite quarterback prospect. This game also provides the Belichick vs Josh McDaniels matchup. Years of coaching together for a modern day dynasty and now they are coaching two of the league’s biggest stinkers.
14. Vikings vs Bears: A couple of 1-4 NFC North teams will be battling it out in The Windy City. Minnesota doesn’t get blown out by teams, but after last season’s late game heroics, they are regressing back to the mean. Chicago will be coming off their highest point of the season in which they blew out Washington on Thursday Night Football. This game will likely provide mistakes by both teams, but it could also be a beautiful mess of a football game.
13. Panthers vs Dolphins: Miami-Carolina is the first of three straight very good teams versus horror movie level bad teams. Carolina is the only remaining winless team and Bryce Young is having much difficult adjusting to the pro level. Miami’s speed is a superpower. Hill, Waddle, Achane, and Mostert just fly all over the field. Dolphins by a million.
12. Broncos vs Chiefs: We all love watching Kansas City play, but this is one of those games where we may ask ourselves “what’s the fun in watching the Chiefs beat up on a really bad Denver team?” On another note, the NFL must be so relieved that Travis Kelce was able to continue to play against the Vikings. What would they do without being able to show Taylor Swift on camera more times than Patrick Mahomes makes passes in a game?
11. Giants vs Bills: This game rounds out the three straight really good versus really bad teams. This is slightly better because Buffalo has been the most beatable compared to Miami and Kansas City. The New York Giants are also just a beautiful disaster. I have nothing against the Giants, but there is something special about watching a team you expected to fall back into the rest of the pack reach a level of bad that has exceeded even your expectations. Consider my expectations exceeded.
10. Commanders vs Falcons: Ron Rivera now has the highest odds to be the first coach fired after that debacle with Chicago. The Washington offense was supposed to be the question mark, but the defense was supposed to be the backbone. That has proven to not be the case. The Atlanta Falcons have to be one of the ugliest above .500 teams in the NFL, but isn’t that the NFC South in general? Respectively, Arthur Smith’s team has battled. I would not waste time betting on this one. It’s a toss up.
9. Cardinals vs Rams: For two teams below .500, Los Angeles and Arizona sure to play teams tough. The Rams are obviously the more legitimate threat to a playoff berth, but Arizona hasn’t exactly rolled over and died this year like many expected. The problem for these teams is that they are in a division with San Francisco and Seattle. The Rams already have a road win over Seattle and if they really believe they are a playoff team they need to beat Arizona twice this year. Fortunately, the Los Angeles offense might be one of the most dynamic in the league with Cooper Kupp looking like he hasn’t lost a step and joining Puka Nacua.
8. Saints vs Texans: Houston will be looking to avoid two straight NFC South losses after falling to Atlanta. That will be tough against maybe the most talented team in that division. New Orleans is also coming off kicking the living shit out of the Patriots on the road. C.J. Stroud has been impressive, but the Texans may be dependent on a Saints letdown.
7. Ravens vs Titans: Five weeks in and both Baltimore and Tennessee appear to be the same teams they’ve been for a couple years. The Ravens have avoided endless major injuries, but they still perform as an inconsistent playoff team that can beat anyone one week and then lose to a poor team the next. The Titans are the same mid tier team that can compete in a week division with Derrick Henry and a good defensive line, but really nothing more. That being said, these two teams should make for an interesting regular season matchup.
6. Colts vs Jaguars: Jacksonville returns from London with two wins in hand, including one over the previously white hot Buffalo Bills. It hasn’t been pretty, but confidence is once again building that the Jags are a head above the rest of the division. Indy will have to play without Anthony Richardson for the second time this season after he injured his shoulder. This one will likely keep him out a month. Richardson will need to learn to avoid contact quickly before this becomes a trend for the exciting rookie quarterback. Gardner Minshew will get the start.
5. 49ers vs Browns: San Francisco has shown little to no weaknesses this season, being the most complete team in the NFL. It’s hard to imagine Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland offense accomplishing much against Nick Bosa and the stout Niners defense, but the Browns defense has been very impressive in moments this year. Considering the Cowboys defense was just torched by the Niners, the Browns will have their hands full.
4. Eagles vs Jets: It hasn’t been pretty, but Philadelphia is still unbeaten. Also not the most visually pleasing, but the New York Jets are looking ever so slightly better in the last couple weeks. I still believe this New York team can give any team fits thanks to their defense. Is this just the type of “make a game ugly” team that can deliver the Eagles their first loss?
3. Lions vs Buccaneers: It’s official, Detroit has a good football team. Not that an ass whooping of the winless Carolina Panthers is the confirmation win, but you can just feel this is a different Lions team than we are used to seeing. Dan Campbell’s squad will get a good challenge from the NFC South leading Bucs who have been impressive in their own right. It’s hard to feel quite as confident about Tampa Bay’s team so far, but a win over Detroit might change that.
2. Cowboys vs Chargers: Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore faces his former team and Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s defense. Not only do we get this reunion, but also a matchup between two of the most talented and frustrating rosters in the NFL. Both these teams are playoff teams on paper, but a lot of times they can’t seem to get out of their own way. Whether it’s Brandon Staley going for fourth downs on his own 15 yard line or Dak Prescott seeing ghosts and throwing into triple coverage, this game is a recipe for “anything can happen”.
1. Seahawks vs Bengals: That’s the Cincinnati Bengals team we’ve been waiting to see. It only took playing the lowly Arizona Cardinals. The Joe Burrow-Ja’Marr Chase connection was open for business as well. Now it’s a matter of putting multiple quality games together and against good opponents. Seattle might just be that team for the Bengals. The Seahawks have erased an ugly week one and won three straight games. It’s not a great week of football matchups, but this is the best one.
The Brewball NFL Power Rankings
- San Francisco 49ers (5-0)
- Philadelphia Eagles (5-0)
- Kansas City Chiefs (4-1)
- Miami Dolphins (4-1)
- Detroit Lions (4-1)
- Buffalo Bills (3-2)
- Dallas Cowboys (3-2)
- Seattle Seahawks (3-1)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2)
- Baltimore Ravens (3-2)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)
- New Orleans Saints (3-2)
- Los Angeles Chargers (2-2)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)
- Cleveland Browns (2-2)
- Los Angeles Rams (2-3)
- Atlanta Falcons (3-2)
- Indianapolis Colts (3-2)
- Washington Commanders (2-3)
- Tennessee Titans (2-3)
- Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)
- New York Jets (2-3)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-3)
- Green Bay Packers (2-3)
- Houston Texans (2-3)
- Minnesota Vikings (1-4)
- New York Giants (1-4)
- New England Patriots (1-4)
- Arizona Cardinals (1-4)
- Denver Broncos (1-4)
- Chicago Bears (1-4)
- Carolina Panthers (0-5)