We're almost through another week of the NFL season and there's still so much left to learn about these teams. Let’s break down the good, the bad and the ugly from Week 6 of the NFL season.
The good
We ask again... are the Giants #GoodAtFootball?
I still can't really tell, but what we do know is that they're much better than we predicted. They're not at all playing sexy. After all, we're through six weeks and they don't have a single receiver with more than 190 yards. But Saquon Barkley, AKA Mr. Comeback Player of the Year (probably) is literally putting this team on his back.
Brian Daboll feels likely to nab himself a postseason award, too. We'll take one "Coach of the Year," please — shaken, not stirred. They're not a powerhouse on offense. They're not a powerhouse on defense. They do have grit though, and we're going to trace that straight back to the head coach.
He already helped to transform Buffalo into a winning culture. Is he doing the same for New York? Either way, the patience of Giants fans in the post-Eli era is being rewarded.
Fun fact: Rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux said on a Reddit AMA four months ago that the player he most wanted to sack was Lamar Jackson. His first career sack came in Week 6 against... who else — Lamar Jackson. His odds for defensive rookie of the year are now at +600. Who wouldn't wanna root for this kid?
Are the Patriots headed for a quarterback controversy?
It wouldn't be the first time a late-round QB won the Patriots' starting gig after an injury to their first-round starter... (cough, Tom Brady).
Bailey Zappe has been slinging it, and it shouldn't be a huge surprise. Zappe literally holds the NCAA record for most passing yards in a single season. In his final season at Western Kentucky, he posted a line of 5,967 passing yards, 62 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Seriously, that was his real stat line.
Now, in two starts, he leads all quarterbacks with a 111.4 passer rating and ranks third among passers with 8.5 yards per attempt per NFL Next Gen Stats. Mac Jones has a lot to live up to when he returns with just how solid this rookie has looked.
Bailey Zappe's odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year are climbing... Now at +1700! | Bet $10 to win $170
The bad and the ugly
The Packers. Aaron Rodgers. Yikes.
Who broke Aaron Rodgers? The answer... is probably Aaron Rodgers. Or maybe ayahuasca? Either way, he's looking rough.
He's currently top-13 in completions, pass yards, touchdowns and passer rating... but not because he's making clutch throws. Entering Week 6 Monday Night Football, Rodgers ranks 25th among QBs with just 6.7 yards per attempt. Where did the deep threat go? Last year, Rodgers boasted a 102.1 passer rating on targets of 20+ yards. This year? 69.8. (Nice.) This, sir, is on you.
Our back-to-back MVP winner's odds for a three-peat are now at +5000, AKA bet $10 to make $500. Better smash now if you believe in the bounceback! If not (we don't), maybe we'll try again next year.
ICYMI: Jets rookie CB Sauce Gardner walking off the field wearing a cheesehead after beating the Packers in Lambeau is everything.
Cam Akers — done with the Rams?
Cam Akers was out of practice Thursday and Friday ahead of Week 6 for “personal reasons.” Apparently, the “personal reasons” were that the Rams literally asked him to stay home. So. Much. Weirdness.
The word is that there are some "philosophical differences" between Akers and head coach Sean McVay. What could those be? I literally have no idea. Either way, NFL insider Jay Glazer thinks it's unlikely we see Akers play another down for the Rams.
How highly sought after will he be ahead of the NFL trade deadline? Are teams really going to be that interested? I'm not sure about that one either. He's averaging 3.0 yards per attempt this season and has yet to really prove he can look like the FSU back he was drafted to be post-Achilles injury. It's not looking great, Bob. We're rooting for the #CamComeback, though.
