After my own personal bye week, it’s time to get back to the Fieldhouse for Week 6.
The three games I’ll be taking a look at this week featured some real heavy-hitters going at each other, with an AFC North rivalry, potential NFC Championship matchup and potential AFC Championship matchup all occurring in the same week.
Cleveland Browns 7, Pittsburgh Steelers 38
The Cleveland Browns rolled into Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on the high of a four-game win streak, but they met a more fearsome opponent in the 4-0 Pittsburgh Steelers.
This matchup went the way most matchups between these two squads go – a massacre for the Browns and an easy win for the Steelers. This time was supposed to be different; the Browns were supposed to show the world that they’re for real. Instead, they got exposed.
For Cleveland, quarterback (QB) Baker Mayfield was behind center for most of the game prior to getting injured. Before he left, Mayfield went 10 for 18 for 119 yards, and two picks against one touchdown. One of those picks was a pick-six that set the tone of the game early on.
After going down, journeyman backup Case Keenum went five for nine and 46 yards.
Without running back (RB) Nick Chubb, Cleveland’s ground game suffered. RB Kareem Hunt only had 40 yards on 13 carries, though to be fair, Pittsburgh’s run defense is pretty cold.
Tight end (TE) Austin Hooper led the receiving corps with 50 yards on three receptions. Wide receiver (WR) Jarvis Landry followed with 40 yards on three receptions.
On defense, Cleveland’s outside linebacker (OLB) Malcolm Smith and middle linebacker (MLB) BJ Goodson both had five solo tackles, with Goodson also recording 0.5 sacks. Safety Sheldrick Redwine (0.5 sacks) and defensive end (DE) Myles Garrett also got to QB Ben Roethlisberger.
For Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger went 14 for 22, recording 162 yards and a touchdown. RB James Conner had 101 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown. RB Benny Snell and WR Chase Claypool also earned one rushing touchdown each.
Rising star Claypool led the receivers with 74 yards on four receptions. WR James Washington also had a solid game, earning 68 yards and a touchdown on four receptions.
The Steeler’s defense was lights out, highlighted by DE Cameron Jordan’s eight total tackles. DE Stephon Tuitt earned a forced fumble and cornerback (CB) Cameron Sutton and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick both earned an interception.
The Steelers are looking like a Super Bowl contender with a championship caliber defense, complemented by a great group of young WRs. On the other hand, the Browns are now without Chubb and Mayfield, and don’t appear to be as good as once believed.
Green Bay Packers 10, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 38
This potential NFC Championship game was also a dud. QB Aaron Rodgers had a horrible game against the Bucs, throwing two back-to-back interceptions.
For Green Bay, Rodgers went 16 for 35 for 160 yards and two picks. Rodgers failed to have a single touchdown amid the immense pressure from Tampa’s front seven.
RBs Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones also didn’t produce much, only earning a combined 49 yards on a combined 14 carries. Star WR Davante Adams had 61 yards on six receptions to lead the offense.
The only notable performance from Green Bay’s defense was from inside linebacker (ILB) Krys Barnes, who led the way with 10 total tackles.
For Tampa, QB Tom Brady went 17 for 25, earning 166 yards two touchdowns. RB Ronald Jones had a monster game with 113 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns.
TE Rob Gronkowski actually led all Tampa receivers with 78 yards and a touchdown on five receptions.
The defense for the Bucs really showed out. ILB Devin White led the way with 10 total tackles (nine of which being solo). White (1), OLB Jason Pierre-Paul (1.5) and ILB Lavonte David (1.5) all recorded sacks Rodgers. CB Jamal Dean and safety Mike Edwards both notched an interception.
When it comes down to it, I believe the Bucs are the clear front runner in the NFC, with Green Bay and the NFC West the only other teams I see challenging Tampa moving forward. With the incoming addition of WR Antonio Brown, the Bucs’ offense looks to be about as stout as their defense.
Green Bay’s performance, though dreadful, shouldn’t raise alarm among Packers fans, at least not yet. They’ll have some rough games along the road and the Bucs are a solid team. Green Bay is still a strong contender for NFC supremacy.
Kansas City Chiefs 26, Buffalo Bills 17
Not only was this the battle of the big-arm QBs, but both teams are top contenders from the AFC.
While it wasn’t a total dud, KC managed to keep Buffalo down throughout the game. Once the Chiefs had the lead, they never let it go.
For Kansas City, QB Patrick Mahomes went 21 for 26, recording 225 yards and two touchdowns. RB Clyde-Edwards Helaire had a big game with 161 yards on 26 carries.
Surprisingly, none of the Chiefs’ top receivers led the receiving corps. This time it was WR Demarcus Robinson, who had five receptions and 59 yards. TE Travis Kelce did have a big game as well, recording two touchdowns.
OLB Damien Wilson led the Chiefs’ defense with five total tackles.
For the Bills, QB Josh Allen went 14 for 27, earning 122 yards and two touchdowns against one interception. Allen was also the leading rusher, putting up 42 yards on eight attempts.
WRs Stefan Diggs and Cole Beasley recorded a combined 91 yards on a combined 10 receptions and two touchdowns.
Defensively, Tremaine Edumnds led the way with 12 total tackles. OLB AJ Klein had a forced fumble.
Another loss means Allen loses another step in the MVP race. The Bills are sliding as of late and don’t look like they’re serious contenders anymore. They’ll still win the AFC East but will they make it to the promised land?
Kansas City is no doubt winning their division this year, and they’ve shown they can defeat top-notch opponents in their conference. Their loss against the Las Vegas Raiders a week prior isn’t indicative of the team moving forward.
Around the League:
AFC North:
#1: Pittsburgh Steelers (5-0)
#2: Baltimore Ravens (5-1)
#3: Cleveland Browns (4-2)
#4: Cincinnati Bengals (1-4-1)
AFC South:
#1: Tennessee Titans (5-0)
#2: Indianapolis Colts (4-2)
#3: Houston Texans (1-5)
#4: Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5)
AFC East:
#1: Buffalo Bills (4-2)
#2: Miami Dolphins (3-3)
#3: New England Patriots (2-3)
#4: New York Jets (0-6)
AFC West:
#1: Kansas City Chiefs (5-1)
#2: Las Vegas Raiders (3-2)
#3: Denver Broncos (2-3)
#4: Los Angeles Chargers (1-5)
NFC North:
#1: Chicago Bears (5-1)
#2: Green Bay Packers (3-2)
#3: Detroit Lions (2-3)
#4: Minnesota Vikings (1-5)
NFC South:
#1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2)
#2: New Orleans Saints (3-2)
#3: Carolina Panthers (3-3)
#4: Atlanta Falcons (1-5)
NFC East:
#1: Philadelphia Eagles (2-4-1)*
#2: Dallas Cowboys (2-4)
#3: Washington Football Team (1-5)
#4: New York Giants (1-6)*
NFC West:
#1: Seattle Seahawks (5-0)
#2: Arizona Cardinals (4-2)
#3: Los Angeles Rams (4-2)
#4: San Francisco 49ers (3-3)
