32 Things We Learned in NFL Week 6: Standouts, Surprises, and Second-Year QB Debates

0. Jets’ Struggles Continue

The New York Jets remain winless since January 5, the final game for former QB Aaron Rodgers. Rookie head coach Aaron Glenn now sits at 0-6, already the first Jets coach to start a career 0-5, highlighting a rough start to a promising rebuild.

1. Carolina’s Undrafted Hero

Rico Dowdle, the Carolina Panthers running back, became the first undrafted player since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to post back-to-back 200-yard games from scrimmage. Following 234 yards in Week 5, Dowdle added 239 against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, with a touchdown. His combined output also marks the most yards ever against a former team.

2. Top Draft QB Rematch

The top two picks of the 2024 NFL Draft—Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams and Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels—are set to clash Monday night. Last season, Daniels threw a game-winning Hail Mary against Williams, sparking Washington’s NFC title run while sending Chicago into a ten-game losing streak.

3. Patriots’ Rising Star

Third overall pick Drake Maye of the Patriots is quietly asserting himself as a top-tier talent. Maye tied his career high with three touchdown passes in a 25-19 win over the Saints, posting a 140.1 passer rating, the second-best of his young career.

4. Maye Joins Elite Company

Analytics aside, Maye joins the ranks of Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott, and Dan Marino, as only quarterbacks with at least 200 passing yards and a 100+ passer rating in five consecutive games before age 24. That’s impressive company for a rookie season.

5. Colts’ Strong Start

The Indianapolis Colts boast a perfect 6-0 start, matching their performance during Peyton Manning’s 2009 season. If the season ended today, Indy and the Buccaneers would occupy the top playoff seeds.

6. Rookie Impact: Tyler Warren

Rookie Tyler Warren continues to shine for the Colts, catching six passes for 63 yards and a touchdown in a 31-27 win over the Cardinals. Warren’s versatility as a “position-less” tight end carries over from his Penn State days and has become integral to Indy’s success.

7. Dolphins’ QB Woes

Former high draft pick Tua Tagovailoa threw three interceptions in a 29-27 loss to the Chargers, highlighting Miami’s ongoing struggles and leaving fans nostalgic for the “Tank for Tua” era.

8. Justin Herbert Shines

Tua’s former successor, Justin Herbert, led the Chargers with 264 yards passing and two touchdowns, including a 42-yard clutch completion that set up the game-winning field goal, highlighting his ongoing development.

9. Seahawks’ Road Record

Seattle defeated Jacksonville 20-12, achieving a club-record ninth consecutive road victory, the longest in the NFL this season. Second-year coach Mike Macdonald is now 10-1 away from Lumen Field since taking over.

9a. Broncos’ Sack Party

Eight different defenders sacked Jets QB Justin Fields, bringing Denver’s season total to 30 sacks, the league’s best. The Jets’ net passing yards—just 45—marked a record low for the team this century.

10–12. Browns’ Offensive Struggles

The Cleveland Browns failed to score more than 17 points in 11 straight games, with rookie QB Dillon Gabriel throwing 52 passes for just 221 yards (4.3 yards per attempt). Six sacks further limited production, yet coach Kevin Stefanski refrained from debuting backup Shedeur Sanders.

13–15. Bengals’ Adjustment Period

Joe Flacco, traded to Cincinnati, threw for 219 yards and two TDs in his debut, but the Bengals still lost 27-18 to the Packers, who amassed 409 total yards. Running and defensive issues remain problematic.

16. 49ers Injury Setback

All-Pro LB Fred Warner suffered a season-ending ankle injury for San Francisco, highlighting the team’s injury woes.

17. Chargers’ Consistency

Kicker Cameron Dicker was flawless, converting all five field goals and both PATs, achieving a career-high 94.6% success rate.

18–21. AFC North Challenges

Baltimore lost despite holding the Rams to 17 points. The Steelers now have four wins, matching the rest of the AFC North combined. Historic streaks continue as Pittsburgh beats Cleveland regularly in Pittsburgh, dating back to 2003.

22–25. Individual Standouts

• Jalen Ramsey recorded his first multi-sack game with the Steelers, highlighting versatility.
• Christian McCaffrey became the first RB since Saquon Barkley (2018) with 100+ scrimmage yards in each of his team’s first six games, also tallying 50+ receiving yards per game.

26. Maxx Crosby Joins Legends

Crosby now has 10 tackles for loss, joining Jared Allen and Aaron Donald as the only 21st-century players to post 10+ TFLs in each of their first seven seasons.

27. Mahomes Milestones

In Week 6, Mahomes threw his 300th career TD pass in his 138th game, reaching the mark nine games faster than Aaron Rodgers, with three TDs in a 30-17 victory over Detroit.

28–29. Seahawks & Jaguars Travel Challenges

The Seahawks excel at East Coast 1 p.m. games (22-6 record). Jacksonville appeared fatigued, committing 10 penalties and surrendering seven sacks.

30. Travis Hunter Makes History

Rookie Travis Hunter became the first NFL player since Deion Sanders to catch four passes and record multiple tackles in the same game, highlighting rare versatility.

31. NFL Moments Beyond the Game

The Jaguars offered Sunday’s best moment when DE Josh Hines-Allen’s son, a cancer survivor, participated in the pregame coin toss, showing the league’s impact beyond the field.

32. MVP Through Week 6

Tampa Bay QB Baker Mayfield has excelled despite wideout injuries, connecting with new targets Kameron Johnson and Tez Johnson for touchdowns, making him the early NFC MVP favorite.

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