Predicting biggest overreactions for NFL Week 6: Browns go to Shedeur Sanders as QB1? Chiefs missing playoffs?
Excessive reactions after a football match are natural. Why did this team win or lose and can they continue this momentum (or end it)? Will one player’s decision ultimately send his team into a downward spiral or propel them to new heights?
And the coaches? Should we fire a coach in the middle of a bad season or be patient? Same with a quarterback trying to keep his starting job from week to week? That’s the beauty of the NFL, the instant reaction to an outcome and then time to reflect on that reaction.
Overreactions are a hot topic in the NFL these days, but can we make them exist? Maybe, based on the upcoming slate results and how we expect this week’s game to go.
These overreaction predictions are the result of what we think should happen this week, rather than the actual outcome.
Dillon Gabriel is making his second start as Browns quarterback, a week after playing well in his first career start. Gabriel was 19 of 33 for 190 yards with two touchdowns for the Browns (94.3 rating) in a loss to the Vikings, a good defense that can test any young quarterback.
Cleveland faces Pittsburgh this week on the road. Even though the Steelers’ defense isn’t as strong as the Vikings’, the first sign of trouble for Gabriel could signal outside noise for Sanders — especially since Joe Flacco was traded to the Bengals and Sanders was promoted to QB2.
There will be clamoring for Sanders all year, and it could start on Sunday.
The Chiefs will miss the playoffs
Monday’s loss to the Jaguars put the Chiefs at 2-3 for the season, a rare gap for Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes this time of year. The road isn’t any easier for the Chiefs, who face the Lions on “Sunday Night Football.” If the Chiefs lose at home, they will fall to 2-4 on the season, which could put them in a hole in the AFC West race with the Chargers facing the Dolphins and the Broncos facing the Jets.
Sunday isn’t a must-win for the Chiefs, but it’s close to being one.
Buy or sell NFL Week 6: Cowboys in the playoffs? Crows, right? Jonathan Taylor, the best RB in the NFL?
Zachary Pérels
The stage appears set for Prescott to have another massive game on Sunday, as he faces a Panthers defense that is 22nd in yards per play (5.6) and 13th in passer rating allowed (89.7). Take away the Falcons’ rare shutout and the Panthers are 25th in passer rating allowed (106.7) and opponent success rate (70%).
Prescott could have a huge matchup against a pass defense where the overall stats are deceptive. A win would put the Cowboys at 3-2-1 for six weeks, and the move would begin to determine how Dallas would qualify for the playoffs – with Prescott being an MVP favorite.
The 49ers-Buccaneers winner will be one of the top two seeds in the NFC
The 49ers and Buccaneers are in for the best matchup of the week, as both teams boast 4-1 records – and got there in very different ways. This is the third straight big game for Tampa Bay, which lost to Philadelphia at home and beat Seattle on the road.
A Buccaneers win would be huge, but the challenge won’t get any easier with the Lions next week and the Bills and Rams in November. The schedule then becomes much easier for Tampa Bay.
The 49ers have a very favorable schedule after the Buccaneers, as six of their next seven opponents are .500 or lower heading into their bye week. The 49ers could actually get to 10 wins by the bye week and set themselves up for a run for home-field advantage in the NFC.
The only question remains. Will Brock Purdy be back?
Daniels returned for the Commanders last week and played very well in a win against the Chargers, a game in which the Commanders went down 10-0 and scored 27 unanswered points to end the game. The game was buried in the regional window, but Daniels was 15 of 26 for 231 yards and a touchdown (100.0 rating) in his first game back from injury.
Daniels is healthy now and the Commanders have an opportunity to show how much better they are with him at quarterback. A win against the Bears on “Monday Night Football” would put the Commanders at 4-2 and in the race for the NFC East — and much more in the conference.
The Commanders have a series of brutal games coming up, but the game changes with Daniels at quarterback. The hype train will roll if they win Monday – and the following week against the Cowboys.
