The NFL’s unbeaten teams both face significant tests this week as both the Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs seek to improve to 6–0.
Both squads enjoyed bye weeks while others made waves for better or worse in the NFL standings. Several teams are moving up as a result.
- Kansas City Chiefs (5–0)
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes isn’t worried about his receiving corps, and the team has a serviceable running game. The Chiefs defense has been stingy amid 17 points allowed per game, but the San Francisco 49ers could test that in a Super Bowl rematch.
- Minnesota Vikings (5–0)
Minnesota has running back Aaron Jones trending in the right direction just in time for the Detroit Lions coming to town. The Vikings defense will get a major test in red-hot quarterback Jared Goff and the Lions running attack.
- Detroit Lions (4–1)
Detroit blasted the Dallas Cowboys, and everything is clicking in all three phases for the Lions. The question mark is how the defense will do with star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson out for the season.
- Houston Texans (5–1)
Houston dominated the Patriots, with quarterback C.J. Stroud going as strong as ever. Meanwhile, the Texans defense hasn’t allowed more than 21 points in a game since week 1, but the Green Bay Packers could challenge that streak in Week 7.
- Baltimore Ravens (4–2)
Remember when the Ravens started 0–2? The Ravens have won four-straight over mostly quality opponents, and quarterback Lamar Jackson is looking like an MVP candidate again.
- Buffalo Bills (4–2)
Bills quarterback Josh Allen is looking perfect so far amid 10 touchdown passes and no interceptions. The Bills edging the New York Jets is a step in the right direction after back-to-back losses.
- Washington Commanders (4–2)
While rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels couldn’t out-class Jackson and the Ravens, the Commanders look like the class of the NFC East. Washington can solidify a grip on the division lead with two losing teams over the next month.
- San Francisco 49ers (3–3)
San Francisco won’t have running back Christian McCaffrey until November, but the defending NFC champions are well in the hunt. Brock Purdy has a 100.5 quarterback rating, and the Niners’ defense is limiting teams to 21.7 points per game.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4–2)
The Buccaneers can pile on the points, and the defense can shut down opponents when it’s time to. However, Tampa Bay gets a much bigger test than the New Orleans Saints when the Ravens come to town for Week 7.
- Green Bay Packers (4–2)
Green Bay won convincingly over the Arizona Cardinals amid the biggest output all season. Packers quarterback Jordan Love and company now get a monster test in the Texans.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (4–2)
Pittsburgh faces a quarterback battle and a big game against the Jets in primetime for Week 7. Whether or not the Steelers start Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, it will behoove the offense crack 20 points for only the third time this season.
- Philadelphia Eagles (3–2)
Philadelphia barely beat the Cleveland Browns in Week 6, and the Eagles will look to right the ship on offense in Week 7. The Eagles haven’t scored more than 21 points in a game since Week 1 despite star running back Saquon Barkley on the roster, but he faces his old team this weekend.
- Atlanta Falcons (4–2)
Atlanta remains hot on a three-game winning streak, but the Falcons face a Seahawks team looking to avoid falling below the .500 mark. Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins probably won’t outdo Goff’s performance against the Seahawks, but then again, Cousins threw for 509 yards and four touchdowns in his last home game.
- Chicago Bears (4–2)
Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams might not pass Daniels for Rookie of the Year voting in the end. However, Williams is trending the right direction amid eight touchdowns versus one interception in the past three games, all wins for the Bears.
- Los Angeles Chargers (3–2)
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has his team playing stingy defense amid 13.2 points per game despite 306.6 yards allowed per contest. Quarterback Justin Herbert is looking solid amid six touchdowns versus one pick in five games, but he’s been sacked nine times already.
- Denver Broncos (3–3)
While the Broncos came up short against the Los Angeles Chargers, things are looking up for Denver amid a recent three-game winning streak. Denver can get back on track with the Saints and Carolina Panthers over the next two weeks.
- Seattle Seahawks (3–3)
Seattle badly needs to end a three-game losing streak and stop losing key players to injury. The Seahawks recently lost safety Rayshawn Jenkins to a hand injury until at least Week 12.
- Indianapolis Colts (3–3)
Colts quarterback Joe Flacco has seven touchdowns versus a pick in three games, and he’s completing 65.7 percent of his passes. The Colts’ defense, meanwhile, is giving up a whopping 404.7 total yards per game.
- New York Jets (2–4)
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers now has longtime favorite target Davante Adams to throw to, but time will tell if that changes the trajectory of the season. The Jets’ defense remains strong amid 18 points and 294.3 yards allowed per game.
- Dallas Cowboys (3–3)
Dallas faces a pivotal bye week after the biggest home loss since 1988. The Cowboys ultimately need to get healthy on both sides of the ball to have a chance to turn things around.
- Cincinnati Bengals (2–4)
Cincinnati has yet to win back-to-back games, and the Bengals will need to change that trend on the road against in-state rival Cleveland. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has a strong season going amid 12 touchdowns versus two interceptions, but the defense has given up 24 or more points in four of six games this season.
- New Orleans Saints (2–4)
New Orleans put up points without quarterback Derek Carr due to injury, but it only lasted half. The Saints’ defense, meanwhile, hasn’t shut down an opponent since Week 3 against the Eagles.t he may have helped the team in practice when he pl
- Arizona Cardinals (2–4)
Arizona couldn’t keep the road warrior ways going at Lambeau as the Cardinals came back down to Earth. The Cardinals get another tough test in the Chargers, and Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray will have to navigate one of the league’s toughest defensive units.
- Miami Dolphins (2–3)
Miami gets a tough challenge in the Colts, but the Dolphins have momentum after a win over the New England Patriots before a bye week. The Dolphins’ defense remains solid at 22.6 points allowed per game despite the offense’s fallout amid quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s absence.
- New York Giants (2–4)
Giants quarterback Daniel Jones continues to get hit a lot, to a tune of 14 sacks thus far. The Giants defense has held opponents to 20.2 points per game, but New York gives up a hefty dose of yardage at 340.2 per contest.
- Las Vegas Raiders (2–4)
Las Vegas remains banged up with another injury-riddled team in the Los Angeles Rams around the corner. The Raiders trading away Adams won’t change things drastically on the field as he hasn’t played since Sept. 22 due to a hamstring injury.
- Los Angeles Rams (1–4)
t he may have helped the team in practice when he plLos Angeles could get healthier in time to play the Raiders, especially if star wide receiver Cooper Kupp returns. However, the Rams’ defense remains a liability amid 27.8 points and 388.8 yards allowed per game.
- New England Patriots (1–5)
Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye showed promise in his debut, and he could do more against a struggling Jacksonville Jaguars team. In addition, the Patriots’ defense is holding teams to 23.8 points per game without an offense that chews up the clock.
- Tennessee Titans (1–4)
Tennessee played the Colts close in Week 6, but the Titans get a big test in the Bills next. Titans running back Tony Pollard is coming off one of his better games this year amid 93 yards rushing and a touchdown.
- Cleveland Browns (1–5)
Cleveland has off-field and on-field problems galore as the team seeks to snap a four-game slide. The Browns defense has carried the team amid 23.5 points allowed per game while the offense remains stuck in neutral at 15.8 points per contest.
- Carolina Panthers (1–5)
Carolina’s defense couldn’t slow down the Falcons, and the Panthers now get Daniels and the high-flying Commanders. Panthers former No. 1 pick and quarterback Bryce Young remains on the bench, but he may have helped the team in practice when he played Daniels’s role on the scout team.
- Jacksonville Jaguars (1–5)
Jacksonville had no answers for the Bears as the offense sputtered and the defense gave up another deluge of points. The Jaguars are also seeing quarterback Trevor Lawrence get hit far more than desired amid 15 in six games.
