2022 NFL Week 6 Recap

Broncos 16
Chargers 19 (OT)

All hail Dustin Hopkins, the former Washington kicker who shrugged off a hamstring injury to make all four of his field goals — including the game-winner in overtime to save us from another minute of this eyesore. His performance, along with that of fellow Washington alum DeAndre Carter, is yet another example of the Ron Rivera regime moving on from the wrong players.

And Denver … after a primetime flop to open last week, this week they capped Week 6 with another primetime turd in which the two teams combined to commit 19 penalties totaling 240 yards (for context, the Broncos’ “franchise” QB went backwards after halftime and threw for only 188 yards). The NFL needs to alter Denver’s schedule and keep this clown car parked in the 1 p.m. Sunday slot for the rest of the season.

Cowboys 17
Eagles 26

Hey, Demarcus Lawrence — you’ve seen Jalen Hurts now. He’s legit.

Hurts is Philly’s third QB to start a season 6-0, joining Ron Jaworski and Donovan McNabb — both of whom reached Super Bowls. It’s starting to look like Hurts will do the same.

And you see why Cooper Rush is a backup. Dallas is still Dak’s team.

Bills 24
Chiefs 20

In what has been a ridiculously even matchup, Josh Allen outdueled Patrick Mahomes and became the first to do so twice at Arrowhead Stadium. Buffalo seized a much-needed win — both for their confidence and their ability to force the road to the Super Bowl to come through Western New York. This result matters more than any other in Week 6.

Cardinals 9
Seahawks 19

Tariq Woolen has four interceptions in his first six NFL games. Kenneth Walker III is mauling people on the ground. Nobody rebuilds like Seattle.

Panthers 10
Rams 24

Look, Matt Rhule absolutely had to go (and probably never should have been hired, to be honest), but all I can see here is yet another example of an organization rolling out a Black interim coach to bail it out of a bad spot and ruin his chances of getting another head coaching job for real. This feeling was confirmed the minute I saw Robbie Anderson’s shenanigans.

Here’s the video of Robbie Anderson getting in the face of Joe Dailey. pic.twitter.com/TR9agsvaFr

— Joe Person (@josephperson) October 16, 2022

Ravens 20
Giants 24

The only thing worse than this camera angle is Baltimore’s late-game execution this season. Though usually the fault of the defense — all three losses were blown double-digit, fourth-quarter leads — this time Lamar Jackson got in on the act with a late-game pick that spoiled his own 12-0 record against NFC foes. The Ravens could easily be 6-0 but this 3-3 disappointment might just be who they are in 2022.

Meanwhile, this is definitely who the Giants are in 2022, outscoring their opponents 78-32 in the second half of their five wins this season. Brian Daboll should be the cinch Coach of the Year.

Bengals 30
Saints 26

Of course the Bayou Boys (former LSU greats Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase) teamed up to hand former Bengal Andy Dalton the ‘L’ that could cost him his last, best chance to be a starting QB.

Vikings 24
Dolphins 16

Props to Minnesota for beating the heat and starting 5-1 — but this has to be the softest 5-1 start I’ve ever seen. The Vikings’ schedule sets them up to win the NFC North, and maybe even have a gaudy record, but I can’t take this team seriously unless and until they can beat the likes of the Bills and Cowboys in November.

Jaguars 27
Colts 34

Indy put it all on old man Matt Ryan and he delivered with a franchise-record 42 completions to lead the Colts back into the thick of the AFC South division race. Jacksonville showed they’re probably not quite ready for that race.

Jets 27
Packers 10

One could make the case Green Bay spoke this loss into existence but the Packers are off to their worst start since 2012 because they’re a team in dire need of a rebuild that can’t happen while Aaron Rodgers is holding them hostage. Weird as it is to say, Green Bay will regret re-signing Rodgers to that lucrative extension.

Patriots 38
Browns 15

Did the Patriots really just fall into the next Tom Brady?

Bailey Zappe is the first rookie QB in the Super Bowl era to win and post a 100+ passer rating in each of his first two starts (Washington fans should be pleased to know the last player to do that was Sonny Jurgensen in 1957). Mac Jones ain’t getting his job back.

Also, New England’s victory tied Bill Belichick with George Halas for the second-most wins all-time by a head coach — and he can surpass Papa Bear Halas … next week against the Bears on Monday Night Football against a team that’s lost nine straight prime-time games. Some stories just write themselves.

49ers 14
Falcons 28

So much for happy returns — Kyle Shanahan’s first game back in Atlanta saw his top-ranked defense lit up by Marcus Mariota in a statement win for the former No. 2 overall pick. In a wide-open division, a Mariota resurgence might have the Falcons doing the Dirty Bird on the way to the postseason.

Commanders 12
Bears 7

Carson Wentz may have a sterling record on Thursdays but Washington’s long, no-good-very-bad day was capped by Tress Way punting for more than three times as many yards (307) as Wentz threw for (99) in what amounts to a pyrrhic “not loss” (I can’t in good conscience call this a win). Even if the Commanders get on a run — and it’s certainly possible if Wentz stays sidelined — this season feels soooo over.