Eli’s Top 10 NFL Teams Week 6
Another wild week in the NFL is in the books, here are my top ten teams entering Week 6.
1. San Francisco 49ers (5-0)
Brock Purdy just keeps on winning. The 49ers have scored 30+ points in all five of their games this season, and there’s no reason to think the offense will slow down anytime soon. Brock Purdy is playing to the best quarterback rating in the league and has yet to throw an interception, Christian McCaffrey is playing like an MVP candidate, and the defense continues to make big plays. All three were on display in a 42-10 Sunday night blowout win over the Cowboys. Next week, their biggest test when it comes to opposing defenses, as they travel to Cleveland.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)
The Eagles are starting to look more and more like themselves offensively, mainly due to the fact Jalen Hurts ran 15 times in Sunday’s 23-14 win over the Rams in Los Angeles. The run game continues to be among the best in the league, despite the fact the passing game had been shaky to start the season. That might no longer be the case, as Hurts has thrown for 300+ yards in each of the last two games. The secondary continues to be the Eagles’ biggest problem, but a 5-0 start is masking that for now. Philly takes on the Jets next week.
3. Miami Dolphins (4-1)
After a blowout loss in Buffalo last week, the Dolphins got back on track with a 31-16 win over the lowly Giants in Miami. The passing offense slept-walked through the game, but the run game continues to show it’s an elite part of the offense. The emergence of De’Von Achane has been exactly what this Miami team has needed for years, and with Jeff Wilson Jr. set to return soon, the run game should continue to get better. Even if Achane is set to miss time with a knee injury, Wilson’s return should help the burden of missing Achane. The defense played much better this week, but then again, it was the Giants. Miami faces another lowly opponent at home in the Panthers on Sunday.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (4-1)
Ranking the Chiefs 4th continues to be based on precedent knowing what this team is capable of, but we’re five weeks in and they still really haven’t got it going thus far. Aside from Week 3, this offense has looked sluggish at times, a weird thing to say about a Patrick Mahomes-led team. Isaiah Pacheco has brought life to what has been a stagnant run game over the last few years, and the defense has been fine, it’s the lack of weapons aside from Travis Kelce that has been the biggest problem so far. The Chiefs are still 4-1 despite all this and should be 5-1 after their game against Denver on Thursday.
5. Detroit Lions (4-1)
The Lions are making the case to be placed in the upper-echelon tier of the NFC along with the 49ers and the Eagles. Jared Goff continues to play like one of the best QBs in the league at home, and David Montgomery has been a touchdown machine. Not to mention the defense, which has been the most improved unit in the league compared to a year ago and is one of the main reasons this team sits at 4-1. I guess the preseason hype surrounding this team was worth it, the Lions are legit. Detroit faces Tampa on the road this Sunday.
6. Buffalo Bills (3-2)
Just when you think the Bills are starting to get in a real groove, they revert back to their no-run-game offense and put everything on Josh Allen’s shoulders. That was the case in a 25-20 loss across the pond on Sunday. Key players lost to injury on defense with the likes of Tre White and Matt Milano going down in the past two weeks either doesn’t help, and why did they go over to London on Friday again? All in all, it was a disastrous week for the Bills. Lucky for them, they get the Giants this week at home on Sunday night, a perfect opportunity to bounce back.
7. Dallas Cowboys (3-2)
This is why I will never truly believe in the Cowboys. After looking like a top-four team after a blowout win over New England last week, Dak Prescott folded in primetime and the defense looked awful in a 42-10 embarrassing loss to the 49ers on Sunday night. The play-calling was suspect, Prescott was bad, and the defense looked the worst it has all year. Yes, they faced the 49ers, but this is supposed to be a contending team, which they didn’t look like on Sunday. Dallas faces the Chargers in LA on Monday night.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2)
After two straight wins in London, the Jags vaulted back into my top 10 this week. The run game got going in last week’s win over the Bills, something this offense desperately needed to take some pressure off Trevor Lawrence. Speaking of Lawrence, he’s been fine so far but has not taken the jump I and many others expected he would take after his performance in the second half of last season. For some reason, the Jags don’t get a bye after two games in London, and face the Colts at home this week.
9. Seattle Seahawks (3-1)
Seattle was on bye last week, but like I said last week, this team has found its groove after a Week 1 loss to the Rams at home. The health of Geno Smith will be the story heading into this week after sustaining a knee injury in New York last Monday night, but early reports say he should be good to go this week. The Seahawks face Cincy in a non-conference game in Cincy this Sunday.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)
I so badly wanted to put the Steelers here, but with a lackluster offense (to be kind) and a -31 point differential, I couldn’t find myself pulling the trigger. Alas, the Bucs remain in my top 10 coming off the bye, but I still wonder how long they’ll be up here. It’s reasonable to think Baker Mayfield’s play will slow down, but the defense is still legit and has been just as much of a factor in the 3-1 start. Tampa faces Detroit at home this Sunday in a big NFC showdown.