As we finish NFL Week 6, we’ve witnessed a thrilling mix of excitement, unexpected turns, triumphs, and setbacks on the gridiron.
While waiting until Thanksgiving to gauge a team’s identity is customary, we’re already gaining valuable insights into which teams are contenders and which ones might be considering early draft plans for 2024.
The spotlight has been on rookie quarterbacks who have shown immense talent, with some shining brightly from the start while others may need more time to prove themselves. The NFL landscape is filled with surprises and disappointments alike. Here are five things we’ve learned from the first six weeks of the 2023 season.
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The Miami Dolphins are changing the league
The numbers through six weeks have been jaw-dropping when you consider what Mike McDaniel’s Miami Dolphins (5-1) are doing. While you can’t say they are the best team in the league, they are changing how the offensive game is played, and their coach has a style and approach that connects with today’s modern athlete.
The electric play of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle at wide receiver, coupled with the added firepower from running backs Raheem Mosteret and rookie sensation De’Von Achane, means McDaniel’s motion-heavy offense has so many ways to beat you, teams are struggling to shut down this scoring machine.
But it’s about time we acknowledge the contribution of Tua Tagovailoa to the Dolphins’ offense. His latest performance on Sunday was exceptional yet again. Despite some dismissals due to his talented teammates and McDaniel’s system, Week 6 clearly demonstrated Tagovailoa’s indispensable role as he led the team to a comeback from a 14-0 deficit against the Panthers. He completed 21-of-31 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception.
The ongoing narrative that suggests Tagovailoa relies heavily on his surroundings is becoming tiresome. Even star quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen have stout supporting casts around them. Based on his statistics and the team’s overall performance, Tagovailoa is the early favorite for NFL MVP.
Related: Ranking all 32 quarterbacks after NFL Week 6
The Detroit Lions aren’t just all roar, they can bite, too
The Detroit Lions are 5-1 for the first time since 2011 after a convincing 20-6 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The Lions, now 13-3 dating back to Week 8 of last season, have taken on the personality of their salt-of-the-earth head coach, Dan Campbell, winning by sheer brute force and grit.
Detroit has now won four straight games, something they have not done since 2016, and remarkably, all four wins have come with double-digit margins of victory — a milestone they haven’t reached since 1991 when they last appeared in the NFC championship Game. They are one of only three NFC teams at 5-1 (Philadelphia, San Francisco) and one of only five teams (Kansas City, Miami) with that record left in the league.
They’ve done it thanks to an aggressive and talented defense that has allowed the fewest rushing yards through six weeks since 1932. They’ve yet to let an opponent rush for 100 yards in a game and have turned around a unit that allowed the fourth-most rushing yards (2,491 yards) a year ago.
A catalyst on offense has been quarterback Jared Goff. Written off by many when he was traded by the Los Angeles Rams to Detroit in 2021, Goff has been spectacular so far in 2023. Against Tampa Bay on Sunday, Goff finished 30-out-of-44 passing for 353 yards and adding two touchdowns and has now thrown nine touchdowns and nearly 1,300 yards.
The Lions have done it all while dealing with injuries, most recently with starting running back David Montgomery, who has missed time in three games, including Sunday in Tampa. They’re for real and have a favorable schedule with only a few tough weeks left in the season.
The San Francisco 49ers are still the most complete team
The San Francisco 49ers dropped a tough one to Cleveland on Sunday and may have lost their all-everything running back Christian McCaffrey to an oblique injury. While they may have lost their perfect record, and the extent of the injury is not known, the 49ers still boast the most complete roster in the league.
Aside from McCaffrey on offense, quarterback Brock Purdy has shown he wasn’t some flash-in-the-pan feel-good story last season. He’s undoubtedly in the MVP conversation early and continues to show why the team let oft-injured Jimmy Garappolo walk and why they traded the disappointing Trey Lance to Dallas. Add in the emergence of Brandon Aiyuk as WR1, and the San Francisco offense can hurt you in multiple ways. Before Sunday, the 49ers offense had scored 30 or more points in eight consecutive games and have a good chance to do it again facing a weak Minnesota squad next week.
The 49ers’ defense continues to be one of the best units in the NFL. It’s been ranked in the Top 10 in the league in five of the last six seasons and shows no signs of stalling now. According to ESPN, the unit boasts five top 10 defensive players in the NFC: Javon Hargrave, Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, and Talanoa Hufanga. Warner is an early favorite for Defensive Player of the Year and Bosa is always one of the best at his position.
San Francisco is a well-oiled machine and no matter if it’s offense or defense, they are unquestionably the most balanced and talented team at just about every single position.
The Chiefs just aren’t the Chiefs right now
After six weeks of the 2023 NFL season, the Kansas City Chiefs are 5-1 and have established themselves as one of the top teams in the league. However, despite having more wins than this time last year, there’s a sense that something isn’t quite right. Andy Reid’s offense has only managed to score over 30 points once so far, which is a significant contrast to their explosive start in the previous season when they achieved it three times in the first six games.
Even amidst their struggles, the Chiefs’ offense remains formidable compared to other teams in the NFL. They rank among the top five across various statistical categories. Additionally, they are within the top 10 in points per game, yards per game, yards per play and overall success rate – all indicators of their ability to move the ball downfield effectively.
Despite being better than most of the league offensively, there are areas where the Chiefs have encountered challenges in terms of reliability and executing plays. Patrick Mahomes performance has also been impacted due to key players like Travis Kelce and Kadarius Toney being hampered by injuries. This has disrupted the rhythm of their offensive gameplay and Mahomes has looked uncomfortable more than usual.
There have been instances where Mahomes has tried to force passes or missed opportunities when he had open receivers. This has led to inefficiencies and a decrease in his performance this season, as indicated by an increase in interceptions and a lower passer rating(95.7 vs. 105.2 in 2022). Even with this falloff in production from Mahomes, he still has old faithful in tight end Travis Kelce.
So, what do the Chiefs need to do to get back to normal? The solution may lie in staying true to their preseason strategy. They need to have faith that key players stay healthy, young receivers gain consistency in the offense and Mahomes regains his previous form.
The defense’s strong performance also gives them some flexibility as they work through these growing pains on offense. With Reid’s leadership and Mahomes and Kelce’s skills, showing patience might be crucial as they overcome these challenges.
The Buffalo Bills are a disappointment
Entering Sunday night’s game, one of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl on the AFC side has faced significant challenges against a weak schedule early in the season. The Bills have been feast or famine so far, from the opening shocking loss to the New York Jets to their home loss to Jacksonville. Josh Allen turned the ball over at an alarming rate early on and hasn’t settled in and it’s hurt Buffalo significantly thus far.
At 4-2 following Sunday night’s narrow win over the New York Giants, it’s not time to push the panic button, but the warning signs for this team were actually apparent during the offseason. Outside of players like Allen and star wideout Stefon Diggs, the Bills’ roster shows signs of getting older. Mainly, their defense heavily relies on a few players who are now in their 30s like standout safety duo Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde.
It’s worth noting that their top edge rusher, Von Miller, is in his 13th season and there’s a concern about his performance potentially declining after his ACL injury in 2022. Unfortunately, Miller isn’t the only Buffalo defender dealing with significant injuries. Star cornerback Tre’Davious White was lost for the season with an Achilles injury and their catalyst defender Matt Milano is out with a leg injury he suffered in Week 5, adding to the Bills trouble.
With Allen’s talent, the Bills should still factor in the AFC East race and the playoffs. But the Bills’ window to make a run at the Super Bowl may close fast if it hasn’t already closed.