NFL Week 6 winners, losers: Lions look like legit contender, Giants trip themselves up

Week 6 in the NFL brought some stunning upsets, including a pair that unseated the last remaining undefeated teams.

The San Francisco 49ers were facing a Cleveland Browns team that was missing Deshaun Watson and Nick Chubb, but rainy conditions, a poor game from Brock Purdy and missed field goals sunk the Niners.

In New Jersey, the Jets rode their defense to four turnovers, including uncharacteristic interceptions from Jalen Hurts, to take down the Philadelphia Eagles.

Elsewhere in the NFC, a team that had been waiting a long time to contend, the Detroit Lions, are balanced, versatile and looking poised to make a run.

Here are the winners and losers from Sunday of Week 6.

WINNERS

Greedy Jaguars keep getting the ball back

On the back of an aggressive defense, the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) took down the Indianapolis Colts 37-20 for a season sweep against their AFC South rivals. That gives Jacksonville a nice bump in the race for the division title, but if there’s any indication that that Jaguars may stick around, it’s the team’s turnover differential of +7, which ranks second in the NFL. Jacksonville leads the NFL in takeaways with 15. By comparison, the Jaguars had 27 last season, tied for fourth-best.

Their four takeaways against the Colts helped them build an early lead. Jacksonville still allows far too many explosive passing plays (it allowed three completions of 40 or more yards Sunday) and will need to limit those moving forward. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been solid and running back Travis Etienne ranks sixth in the league in rushing yards (451), but it’s Jacksonville’s propensity to create turnovers that gives it the ability to win any given week.

Restore the roar

The Lions (5-1), as the only team in the NFC North with a winning record, are running away with the division. They have a two-and-a-half game lead on the next closest team. They are balanced, with an offense capable of explosive fits and a defense that limits big plays. What makes Detroit so fun to watch is that it is versatile enough to win in different ways. And its players are maximizing effort, too.

In a 20-6 road win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, quarterback Jared Goff lit up the box score to the tune of 353 yards and a pair of touchdowns. In previous weeks, it had been David Montgomery and the rushing game posting big numbers. The defense has been steadily productive and limited Tampa Bay to two third-down conversions and no red=zone touchdowns on two tries. For the first time since 1969, the Lions have won four straight games by 14 points or more. More may be coming.

Jets defense, again, saves the day

New York was without its two starting cornerbacks, Sauce Garnder — one of the finest in the NFL — and D.J. Reed. It was still missing Aaron Rodgers, yet the Jets defeated the Eagles 20-14 for the first time in franchise history. Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts has been in the MVP conversation. New York, however, intercepted Hurts three times and pressured him on 21 of 50 dropbacks (42%).

The Jets (3-3) are hanging around in the AFC East, though the offense with Zach Wilson (19-of-33 for 186 yards) under center remains anemic. The Jets converted just two-of-11 third-down attempts (18.2%). They went just one-of-four in the red zone. Those numbers alone make it remarkable that New York upset the Eagles, but it also shows the proficiency of the defense. This was a statement victory. But unless the offense eventually shows it can bear some weight, this style will prove unsustainable.

The case for Sam Howell

By no means is he a finished product, and he still needs to sustain this production over a longer sample size, but second-year Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell is taking steps toward becoming a reliable option. Howell, 23, ranks ninth in the NFL in passing (1,500 yards) and is posting an above-average completion rate (67.8%).

In a 24-16 win against the Atlanta Falcons, Howell recorded his first three-touchdown game. He also did it against a team that came into Sunday with the eighth-ranked passing defense (190.8 yards per game allowed). Yet, what has made Howell’s performance this year so impressive is that he’s doing it behind a tattered Washington (3-3) offensive line that has yielded more sacks (34) than any other in the NFL. Some of those sacks, of course, are on Howell, but his ability to evade pressure and release the ball quickly should give him some staying power in the league.

LOSERS

Missed chances for the 49ers, and Brock Purdy’s MVP chase takes a hit

San Francisco, the most consistent team in the league thus far, failed to seize opportunities against the Browns in a 19-17 defeat. And while a pair of missed field goals loom large, second-year quarterback Brock Purdy played the worst game of his career. Rookie third-round place kicker Jake Moody pushed a 41-yard field goal that would have won the game, and he also hooked a 54-yarder in the first quarter. The one in the opening frame came after linebacker Fred Warner returned an interception to the Cleveland 26-yard line; with that short of a field, the Niners (5-1) should’ve done far more with that drive, anyway.

This was a game in which P.J. Walker started at quarterback for the Browns, who were also Chubb, their longtime offensive engine. The only score for San Francisco after the second quarter was after Walker’s second interception gifted the Niners the ball on the 8-yard line. Purdy (12-of-27 for 125 yards and one touchdown with one interception) struggled, and now offensive stars Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel are banged up.

The Giants leave too much meat on the bone

This was always going to be a tough ask, upsetting the Buffalo Bills on the road with backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor starting. But New York (1-5) settled for a pair of field goals Sunday night after it had marched the ball down to Buffalo’s 11-yard line and failed miserably in the red zone.

There was the end of the first half, when New York got it down to the Bills’ 1-yard line. But with no timeouts and with the clock at 14 seconds, Taylor appeared to audible into a run play for Saquon Barkley. It was stopped short, the clock bled and the Giants couldn’t come away with any points. Then there was the final play of the game, an untimed down with the Giants again at the Buffalo 1-yard line. This time New York did opt to pass, but the attempt fell incomplete, cementing a 14-9 loss. New York ended the game 0-for-5 in red zone tries and 0-for-3 in goal-to-go spots. Against weaker teams, maybe those missteps aren't fatal. Against the Bills, you’re asking to lose.

Seahawks' turnovers and an inability to punch it in

The Seattle Seahawks outgained the Cincinnati Bengals by a margin of 381-214. They recorded 24 first downs to Cincinnati’s 15. They held the ball for eight more minutes. Yet in a 17-13 loss, Seattle (3-2) was done by quarterback Geno Smith's interceptions and the offense's inability to punch the ball in the end zone.

Smith did throw for 323 yards, but he also tossed a red zone interception at the start of the second half and another at the start of the fourth, after the Seahawks had whittled the Cincy lead down. But Seattle was just 1-of-5 in red-zone situations, including 1-of-4 in goal-to-go scenarios. The Seahawks had a couple of shots at the end zone inside the four-minute mark in the fourth quarter. The first time, Smith was sacked twice in four plays. The second, he couldn’t connect with receiver DK Metcalf twice for the game-winning touchdown. All in all, it wasted a solid defensive performance.

Window closing (closed?) for the Titans

With Mike Vrabel as their head coach, the Tennessee Titans have been — for the most part — consistent. They’ve had a winning record in four of the last five years. Tennessee has claimed the division twice and has made three trips to the postseason.

Now, as it heads home from London after a 24-16 setback against the Baltimore Ravens and goes into the bye week with a 2-4 record and sitting in last place, Tennessee faces a crossroads. That’s primarily because quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who has been the starter since 2019, is no longer suitable to direct this offense. Tannehill, 35, was carted off with an ankle injury against the Ravens, but he has been ineffective even when healthy. He was never a star in Tennessee, but the offense was at its best when he could play turnover-free, clean football. He has a 2:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio this year and is on pace for a career-low 71.9 QB rating. It might be time to look to the future.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL winners, losers: Lions look legit, Giants trip themselves up