Tuesday Takeaways: NFL Week 6 Reactions

1. Who are the true contenders in the NFC?

Typically, when we are this far into a season we start to get a clear picture at which teams have a true shot at winning the Super Bowl. In the AFC I think we can confidently say the Chiefs and Ravens are true contenders, with teams like the Texans not far behind. The NFC picture is a little bit muddier. The preseason favorites 49ers, Cowboys, and Eagles have not lived up to expectations. The Seahawks have come back down to earth after a 3-0 start. Despite their great records I do not think anyone truly believes in teams like the Vikings, Packers, Bears, Commanders, etc. The team that instills you with the most confidence right now are the Detroit Lions, but I truly think the loss of Aidan Hutchinson might hurt them even more than we think. However, I am very intrigued to see what other teams join the Lions at the top of the NFC through the next few weeks. 

2. We now know who the real worst teams are.

Just like I said we can start to figure out who the best teams in football are by week 6, we also can figure out which teams will be battling for the first overall pick come next April. For me the Patriots, Jags, and Panthers have separated themselves from the rest of the worst. The Patriots might offer some more fun with Maye but they simply do not have enough weapons to win games. I guess the Jaguars are just waiting for the perfect day to fire Doug Pederson. The Panthers are not very good on offense and are even worse on defense. The Cleveland Browns are very close to entering this conversation, but I want to wait and see if the addition of Nick Chubb perhaps provides SOME spark to their team. The Rams are also not very good but have been so decimated by injuries I am giving them a pass for now. The return of Kupp and Puka I think will lift them back to mediocrity at least. The Titans also are barely passing by, simply because my eyes tell me they are not QUITE as awful as the three teams mentioned first. We will see if the trend continues for these teams or if they can turn it around.

3. Could we have a back to back MVP?

One of my favorite things about the 2024 season so far is that there is no clear cut favorite MVP so far! Lots of times there are at least a few guys dominating that you can say "one of these dudes will win it". So far there have been lots of guys playing really well, but no one has separated themselves. Joe Burrow is playing some of the best ball of his career but his team is not winning. Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield have somehow entered consideration due to their great starts. TJ Watt deserves some love in my opinion. Though I doubt we will ever see a defensive player win anytime soon, his dominance has been awesome to watch. Jayden Daniels has gotten some love. Jordan Love is putting up numbers. If Jared Goff keeps stacking wins I can see him maybe getting a shout. Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes are people you can never count out. TO ME, my top two guys right now would be Lamar Jackson and Justin Jefferson. Lamar is playing even better than he did last year, when he almost won MVP unanimously. I agree that his offensive teammates are playing better to help elevate his game but the 2 time MVP has a strong case so far. I am not sure anyone elevates the play of their team as much as Jefferson. Heck, he has even made me mention Sam Darnold as an MVP candidate in his own right! The best WR in the league truly embodies the term "valuable" for his team and is having another elite season.

4. Jacoby Brissett probably should never have been playing.

I have to admit I was wrong. I was on the train of thought that playing Brissett and having Drake Maye start on the bench would be beneficial at least for Maye's development. I do think the Patriots should have had a better plan of when to insert Maye by going this route, but overall this route may have just been the wrong call. Maye looked like a rookie at time, including a terrible pick on his third throw, but he also offered far more threat to the defense in one game than Brissett has all season. Brissett offered no verticality which is something that Maye does well. Maye had his rookie moments but also showed lots of positive things against a pretty good Houston defense. I was high on Maye in the draft and I am excited to see the young QB over the season.

5. Davante Adams trade is boring.

Davante Adams was always going to the Jets. It was inevitable. Despite knowing this, I am still disappointed. I wanted to see him go somewhere like Baltimore or Buffalo to truly give a team an elite WR1. Through all the drama throughout this trade process I was kind of hoping to see something shocking. That did not happen. 

Adding Adams could help elevate the Jets offense and I would not be surprised if they can do enough to become a potentially very good team. Their defense is still pretty great and the offense has the potential to be as well.