Pittsburgh Steelers
Record: (6-0).
Recap: Win Vs. Tennessee Titans, 27-24.
Breakdown: When the things get tough, Pitt gets going as four of the five Steelers dubs have been by 10-points or less and Sunday’s game against the Titans was no different. It was a tale of two halves as the Steelers mauled the Titans putting up 24 first half points up three scores by half. They then would proceed to score three points the second half and thanks to a botched field goal escaped Nashville with a victory but really won this game in the trenches: James Conner dominated totaling 111 all-purpose yards and receive Diontae Johnson had one of his best games this season hauling in nine receptions for 80 yards and two touchdowns. Mike Tomlin’s squad dominated time-of-possession too, holding the ball away from Derrick Henry and Co. for nearly 13 minutes while limiting him to just 75 yards rushing. They will need to mirror this effort next week as Lamar Jackson the rival Ravens welcome Big Ben and the undefeated Steelers in Baltimore this Sunday.
Kansas City Chiefs
Record: (6-1).
Recap: Win Vs. Denver Broncos, 43-16.
Breakdown: How about those Chiefs?! Make that 11 straight wins over the Broncos with their 27-point beatdown in a snowy Mile High and they did it in every fashion imaginable Receiver Byron Pringle recorded the longest play of the season with an 102-yard kick return touchdown, a Daniel-Sorensen returned a pick-six, scored a receiving touchdown, two rushing touchdowns and two field goals. Running Back Le’Veon Bell looked explosive and fresh coming off his wasted year-and-a-half totaling 39 yards off six rushes and Patrick Mahomes (200 passing yards and a score) as well as Tyreek Hill (6 catches for 55 yards and a touchdown) did just enough to get Andy Reid’s squad to their sixth win of the season: up next Sam Darnold and the winless Jets make a trip to Arrowhead.
Green Bay Packers
Record: (5-1).
Recap: Win Vs. Houston Texans, 35-20.
Breakdown: You won’t like him when he’s angry..A-Aron took the Packers to the moon and back as Green Bay reached lift-off in an H-Town beatdown. Rodgers carved the Texans like a Halloween pumpkin with 283 yards and four touchdowns finding his main target Davante Adams early-and-often hauling in 13 receptions for 196 and two back-breaking scores Sunday. Green Bay’s defense held their end of the bargain too, holding the Texans to just 79 yards rushing while forcing a fumble loss leading to a smooth score on the other end. Matt LaFleur’s squad will have an NFC North tilt against Kirk Cousins and the rival Vikings back at home this Sunday.
Seattle Seahawks
Record: (5-1).
Recap: Loss Vs. Arizona Cardinals, 37-34 in Overtime.
Breakdown: A Hawk can’t survive without water and that may be why Seattle struggles so immensely in the Desert. The Seahawks' struggles on the defensive end continued allowing 519 yards of offense including 427 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns off the legs and arm of Kyler Murray and 110 receiving yards off 10 catches to DeAndre Hopkins. But on the offensive end, they played well in spots: receiver Tyler Lockett went OFF hauling in a franchise-record 15 catches with 200 yards and three touchdowns while Russell Wilson tabbed 472 yards and three touchdowns on the night. Turnovers killed the Hawks ultimately with Wilson throwing three back-breaking interceptions including one that led to the go-ahead field goal but the sky isn't falling in the Pacific Northwest nearly being perfect through six contests. The schedule doesn’t let up for Pete Carroll’s group as they take on Jimmy G and the surging 49ers back at home.
Baltimore Ravens
Record: (5-1).
Recap:
Breakdown: Bye Week.
Tampa Bay Bucs
Record: (5-2)
Recap: Win Vs. Las Vegas Raiders, 45-20.
Breakdown: Will the real Tom Brady please stand up? Tom Brady channeled the “2017 version,” of himself torching Jon Gruden’s secondary to the tune of 369 yards and five total touchdowns as the Bucs trounced the Raiders in Vegas Sunday. Despite that incredible performance, Bruce Arians’ defense might have gotten the game ball harassing Derek Car with three sacks forcing an interception and a fumble and limiting Josh Jacobs and a solid ground game to just 76 rushing yards. This team is ascending by the week and has an opportunity to do even more damage heading to New York to take on the Danny Slimes and the one-win Giants in the Big Apple.
Tennessee Titans
Record: (5-1).
Recap: Loss Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-24.
Breakdown: Breaking news: the Titans are holding open tryouts for kicker after Stephen Gostkowski botched the game-tying field goal as Tennessee lost a nail-biter in Nashville to the Steelers Sunday. They may have been tired as this was their third game in 13 days and Derrick Henry certainly looked that way only rushing for 75 yards against a vaunted Pittsburgh d-line. Ryan Tannehill tried to right the ship throwing for 220 yards and two touchdowns finding A.J. Brown all afternoon (six catches, 153 yards and a touchdown), but the Steelers defense through two sacks and maintaining the ball (13 minutes longer than the Titans), were able to just enough to escape with the victory. Up next: The Nashville ballers head to Cincinnati to take on Joe Burrow and the Bengals.
New Orleans Saints
Record: (4-2).
Recap: Win Vs. Carolina Panthers, 27-24.
Breakdown: Alvin Kamara is the truth turning the Panthers worst nightmares into reality annihilating them on the ground (rushing for 83 yards off just 14 carries) and through the air (65 yards off eight catches) enabling Drew Brees to have one of his best games overall this year throwing for 287 yards and two touchdowns while their defense limited Mike Davis and Carolina’s high-powered rush game to just 37 yards off 14 carries for just a 2-yard-per-carry average. A Drew Brees fumble kept the game interesting but if Dennis Allen’s defense can replicate this outing while the Saints run game pumbles opponents this team will be hard to beat. Sean Payton will look for a repeat performance next Sunday taking on Nick Foles and the Bears in Chicago.
Los Angeles Rams
Record: (5-2).
Recap: Win Vs. Chicago Bears, 24-10.
Breakdown: Make that 30 straight wins for Sean McVay’s crew when leading at halftime after a thorough whipping of the Bears at home Monday. The Rams owned the ground out-rushing the Bears by 112 while edge Leonard Floyd had a field day against his former team sacking Nick Foles twice while totaling six tackles and three quarterback hits in the evening. The double duo of he and Aaron Donald harassed Nick Foles into throwing two interceptions that led to two easy touchdowns for Jared Goff and Los Angeles. They also have a double duo in the backfield in Darrell Henderson Jr. (64 rush yards) and Malcolm Brown (57 rush yards and a touchdown) making this team when Goff is consistent one of the toughest teams to beat. This Sunday they will head to South Beach to take on Tua T and the Dolphins in Miami.
Arizona Cardinals
Record: (5-2).
Recap: Win Vs. Seattle Seahawks, 37-34 in Overtime.
Breakdown: The Cardinals secured a season-changing win edging out MVP-worthy Russell Wilson and the Seahawks by a go-ahead field goal in a wild Sunday night game. Kyler Murray was simply exceptional totaling 427 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns for Kliff Kingsbury’s unit. In his first game in this wild rivalry, DeAndre Hopkins showed out hauling in 10 catches for 101 yards and a textbook toe-tap touchdown that would make the greats smile. Defensively, Arizona gave up like a zillion yards of offense to the Hawks but forced Wilson into three back-breaking interceptions for eventual scores. One of the interceptions was from rookie Isiaih Simmons who has largely under-performed this season but could certainly be a launching point. ‘Zona will look to make that back-to-back wins when rookie Tua T and the Dolphins come into town.
Buffalo Bills
Record: (5-2).
Recap: Win Vs. New York Jets, 18-10.
Breakdown: “Thankful,” would be the word that comes to mind when talking about the Bills cause Buffalo I’m sure is “thankful,” to not be playing the Jets anymore this season. Both games were decided by five points or less and Sean McDermott’s unit needed a rookie to escape this game. 23-year-old kicker Tyler Bass was the team’s MVP this day knocking in six-of-eight attempts accounting for all the Bills points. A co-MVP would be Buffalo’s defense which finally got after the quarterback sacking Sam Darnold six times while forcing two big interceptions and a fumble. Offensively, the Bills moved the ball but just couldn’t score: receiver Cole Beasley continued another solid outing hauling in 112 yards off 11 catches and rookie running back Zack Moss showed flashes of ability running for 47 yards while catching another 25. Up next for Josh Allen and the Bills Mafia a week eight tilt versus Cam Newton and the Patriots in New England.
Cleveland Browns
Record: (5-2).
Recap: Win Vs. Cincy Bengals, 37-34.
Breakdown: I’m petitioning Baker Mayfield to be on Survivor because just when you think he’s out he pulls a rabbit out of a hat and revives his position and that is precisely what happened Sunday in Cincinnati. After starting 0-5 with an interception, he then proceeded to go perfect throwing 20-for-20 finishing with 297 yards passing and five touchdowns including a game-winning dime to rookie Donovan Peoples-Jones. Down Odell Beckham and his center, Mayfield played exceptionally and had two more than capable running partners in Kareem Hunt (101 all-purpose yards) and Rashard Higgins who hauled in a season-high 110 yards off six catches to help with that. On the defensive end, the Browns surrendered 468 yards off the arm of Joe Burrow and legs of Giovani Bernard but did register four sacks (two of which came from) Myles Garrett who’s revenge tour has been a sight to see as well as forcing three Burrow fumbles eventually leading to Browns points. Kevin Stefanski’s unit faces another interesting matchup when Derek Carr and Raiders will meet them in the Dawg Pound Sunday.
Chicago Bears
Record: (5-2).
Recap: Loss Vs. LA Rams, 24-10.
Breakdown: Monday I could “bearly,” afford to watch Chicago as the Bears struggled in every facet in their beatdown in Inglewood. The offensive line was ugly allowing Rams defenders to run rampant sacking Foles four times, hitting him another eight times and forcing two back-breaking interceptions. The line struggles hinted to why Matt Nagy’s squad couldn’t run the ball rushing for just 49 yards off 17 attempts for a 2-yard-per-carry average and an excellent defense got a bunch of bogus penalties called on them while Nagy put them in lose-lose situations getting out-grounded by 112. Fortunately, Chuck Pagano’s squad forced a key fumble that enabled Foles’ unit to score and make it look interesting but this was a beatdown and it’s a little tiring I’m sure for Bears fans to watch Matt Nagy call unimagnitive play calls, under-utilization of key players (Kmet, Graham, Cohen when healthy, Patterson, etc.) and just poor execution in key areas. Drew Brees and the Saints will look to annihilate the Bears in Chicago this Sunday.
Indianapolis Colts
Record: (4-2).
Recap:
Breakdown: Bye Week.
San Francisco 49ers
Record: (4-3).
Recap: Win Vs. New England Pats, 33-6.
Breakdown: Jimmy G’s smile can light up a room or in this case a stadium and the fourth-year starter was smiling ear-to-ear in Foxborough Sunday as the Niners dismantled the Patriots in New England. Kyle Shanahan’s squad absolutely steam-rolled Bill Belichick’s unit, out-rushing the Pats 197 to 94 and four dominant touchdowns. Robert Saleh’s squad was nearly perfect limiting Cam Newton to just 98 yards with four interceptions and two sacks overall. Rookie Brandon Aiyuk continues to improve hauling in a career-high 115 yards off six catches while Jeff Wilson had himself a career day too running all around over and anywhere in between with 112 yards off 17 carries and three bulk-smashing touchdowns. George Kittle’s group will look to make their dub total double next week heading to Seattle to take on Russell Wilson and the Seahawks in an NFC West battle.
Las Vegas Raiders
Record: (3-3).
Recap: Loss Vs. Tampa Bay Bucs, 45-20.
Breakdown: The Las Vegas Raiders are like shapeshifters in that you never know what version of them is going to come to play come gameday. On Sunday, it was a little bit of both. The good was the Raiders defense limited the Bucs to just 85 yards rushing while Derek Carr threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns finding Nelson Agholor early-and-often en route to 107 yards and a touchdown off five catches. The bad was Tom Brady took them apart throwing for 369 yards and five total touchdowns while allowing three sacks off five quarterback hits leading to a back-breaking pick. What will next week hold, not even John Gruden may know but they will look for dub number four against Baker Mayfield and the Brown in Cleveland Sunday.
Miami Dolphins
Record: (3-3).
Recap: Bye Week.
Breakdown:
Detroit Lions
Record: (3-3).
Recap: Win Vs. Atlanta Falcons, 23-22.
Breakdown: Say what you want about the Lions but one thing is certain: Matt Stafford is CLUTCH. Everybody and their mother knew that once the Falcons stupidly rushed for a touchdown instead of running the clock out that Stafford would will his team to victory and he did just that marching down on an eight-play, 75-yard drive ending on a Stafford pass to tight end T.J. Hockenson for the game-tier and Matt Prater made that the game winner on his extra-point attempt. It wasn’t pretty but Matt Patricia’s squad moved to 3-1 on the road Sunday with key wins in Arizona and now Atlanta while their defense limited Todd Gurley and the Falcons run game to just 66 yards rushing while forcing a key turnover and sacking Matt Ryan twice in the dub. The Silver and Blue will look for their fourth win Sunday when another veteran quarterback in Phillip Rivers and the Colts come into town.
Carolina Panthers
Record: (3-4).
Recap: Loss Vs. New Orleans Saints, 27-24.
Breakdown: Despite the Panthers dropping under .500 and losing back-to-back weeks they played well in several areas: Teddy Bridgewater in his return to New Orleans (was a backup there last season) had his way throwing for 254 yards and two touchdowns, receiver D.J. Moore torched Saints defenders hauling in four targets for 93 yards and two touchdowns including a 74-yarder to the house and the Panthers forced Drew Brees into a turnover off a sack. Now the bad: the run game took a turn to reality rushing for just 37 yards off 14 carries while New Orleans totaled 415 yards of offense. There is definite potential in certain areas but they will need more of a defensive mindset next week against Matt Ryan and the Falcons back in Carolina Sunday.
Los Angeles Chargers
Record: (2-4).
Recap: Win Vs. Jacksonville Jags, 39-29.
Breakdown: Are you not entertained?! Rookie phenom Justin Herbert is a stud and brought the electricity for the Bolts Sunday lighting up the Jags defense: through the air? No problem he Fed-Ex’d 347 yards and three touchdowns, how about UPS ground? He covered that too rushing for 66 yards and another score. The former Oregon Duck can do it throwing dimes all over the lot and his favorite target: for Sunday, that’d be Keenan Allen who housed 10 receptions for 125 yards owning any and everyone in the veteran’s path. As for the defense, Gus Bradley’s unit had their way too sacking Gardner Minshew five times while forcing a key fumble. Anthony Lynn’s run defense and offense has its issues but their first win in the new Inglewood Stadium has to feel good. The Chargers will look for win number three in Denver taking on Drew Lock and the Broncos this Sunday.
Philadelphia Eagles
Record: (2-4-1).
Recap: Win Vs. New York Giants, 22-21.
Breakdown: If there’s anything I learned from Rocky Balboa, it’s that if you are from Philly, you gotta have heart and they demonstrated that Thursday particularly from the arm of Carson Wentz. The fifth-year starter wasn’t great but when the Eagles needed him most he came through throwing for 359 yards and two touchdowns including the game-winner to Boston Scott with forty ticks left. Speaking of Scott, he had himself a day totaling 92 all-purpose yards providing the perfect balance to an Eagles defense that made life hell of Daniel Jones limiting him to just 165 passing yards, two fumbles, three sacks and a key interception.
New England Patriots
Record: (2-4).
Recap: Loss Vs. San Francisco 49ers, 33-6.
Breakdown: The sorrows of sadness are ringing from the bells of the greater New England area as their offensive woes continue in another beatdown, this one at the hands of the Niners at home. Three straight losses for the first time since 2002 has a bad ring to it: it’s very rare that Bill Belichick-led teams get outplayed in every category but that is precisely what happened. The Patriots were out-thrown by 123, out-rushed by 103 and obviously out-scored by 27.
Washington Football Team
Record: (2-5).
Recap: Win Vs. Dallas Cowboys, 25-3.
Breakdown: This one’s for you coach: Ron Rivera was released from the hospital completing his cancer treatments Monday and his team played valiantly for him Sunday playing a Rivera-like game. Through rookie Antonio Gibson, the football team rushed for 208 yards and a touchdown as a unit while the former Memphis Tiger shined rushing for 128 yards and score. Washington also played excellent defense limiting the Cowboys to just 83 yards rushing while forcing three fumbles to pair with six sacks. Rivera may have found his quarterback as Kyle Allen did just enough (194 yards and two scores) finding stud receiver Terry McLaurin (90 receiving yards and score) and tight end Logan Thomas (60 yards and a touchdown) in the victory. Lastly: suspend Jon Bostic two games for the unbelievably morbidly wrong late dirty hit he laid on Andy Dalton. The Nation’s Capitol football team is on a bye week this coming week.
Denver Broncos
Record: (2-4).
Recap: Loss Vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 43-16.
Breakdown: If the Denver Broncos were Superman, their kryptonite certainly would the Chiefs as they have now dropped ten straight to Kansas City after the Sunday blungening. Drew “Not,” struggled in his second start against the Chiefs throwing two interceptions, completing just six-yards-a-pass and being sacked thrice. The defense showed flashes of promise getting after Patrick Mahomes sacking him four times and forcing a fumble but it was all for not as turnovers by Melvin Gordon (two fumbles), poor special teams play (102 kick return for a score to go with two field goals) and lack of discipline (five penalties) ultimately resulted in an “L.” The one silver lining was the Orange Crush rushed for 179 yards (79 from Lindsay and 68 from Gordon) with two touchdowns. Vic Fangio’s squad will look to rebound this Sunday against rookie phenom Justin Herbert and the Chargers in Inglewood.
Dallas Cowboys
Record: (2-5).
Recap: Loss Vs. Washington Football Team, 25-3.
Breakdown: Disgusting, effortless and just plain wrong. No I am not describing, I am talking about America’s team, the Cowboys.
Minnesota Vikings
Record: (1-5).
Recap: Bye Week.
Breakdown:
Cincinnati Bengals
Record: (1-5-1).
Recap: Loss Vs. Cleveland Browns, 37-34.
Breakdown: There are certainly no moral victories in the NFL and especially in the city of Cincinnati but they played well in a lot of areas particularly Joe Burrow. The former number one pick threw for a career-high 406 passing yards with four total touchdowns in the defeat and has a legit receiving corps with guys like Tyler Boyd (11 receptions, 101 yards and a touchdown), veteran A.J. Green (7 catches for 82 yards) and a growing rapport with former Clemson Tiger Tee Higgins who hauled in 71 yards and a score Sunday. The Bengals defense continues to suck allowing 398 yards and offense line issues have resulted in an insurmountable amount of turnovers (three fumbles and a pick) along with sacks (four) but the future could turn from gloomy and bleak in a few short seasons. Up next for WhoDey Nation stays home welcoming Derrick Henry and the high-powered Titans to town.
Houston Texans
Record: (1-6)
Recap: Loss Vs. Green Bay Packers, 45-20.
Breakdown: See now you even got J.J. Watt upset. Ya done messed up Houston as the Texans loss total went to six getting hosed by the Packers at NGR Sunday. A disgruntled Watt kept his answers shrewd and brief in their postgame beatdown as Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay lit up Romeo Crennel’s defense, tabbing 283 yards and four touchdowns on the Afternoon. Deshaun Watson tried his best Michael Jordan-impression throwing for 309 yards and rushing for another 38 with two touchdowns but the lack of weapons nor a consistent run game to pair with one of the league’s worst defenses has this team going sideways in a hurry. Watson, Watt and Co. will look for win number two in week eight versus
Jacksonville Jaguars
Record: (1-6).
Recap: Loss Vs. LA Chargers, 39-29.
Breakdown: Sacksville?! More like last-in-the-ville. This team reminds me of the 2020 Washington Wizards basketball team, why? High-powered offense that can be fun to watch, mistake-prone (almost always) and zero forms of defense. Need empirical evidence? Here you go: 140 yards rushing (119 and a touchdown) from the legs of rookie James Robinson and 294 total yards with 29 points, five sacks allowed and a fumble lost for the mistakes and no defense: how about 413 total yards allowed to a rookie in Justin Herbert to go along with 39 Charger points. It’s fun to watch but nearly impossible to win with these types of teams, still Duvall’s finest can prove me wrong in their week seven against Deshaun Watson and the one-win Texans back in Florida Sunday.
Atlanta Falcons
Record: (1-6).
Recap: Loss Vs Detroit Lions, 23-22.
Breakdown: Two of the Falcons' five losses have been when the A-T-L have led. This game was no different as Todd Gurley inexcusably scored on a play where he just needed to sit down, opening the door for Matt Stafford and the Lions to come back: they did just that and Atlanta rocking some sleek threads dropped their sixth of the last seven Sunday. They may blow another lead this Sunday at Carolina when playing Teddy Bridgewater and the Panthers.
New York Giants
Record: (1-5).
Recap: Bye Week.
Breakdown:
New York Jets
Record: (0-7).
Recap: Loss Vs. Buffalo Bills, 18-10.
Breakdown: The Jets scored more touchdowns than the Bills and still lost. I’m done talking about the Jets….
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