TAMPA TRUMPS CHEESEHEADS
Aaron Rodgers called it ‘the wake up we needed’.
Green Bay rolled to a 10-0 lead against Tom Brady and Tampa Bay, then Rodgers threw a pick six, followed by another interception on his very next throw and from there, it was one way traffic as the Buccaneers defence smelled blood and Brady and Ronald Jones took advantage.
Jones went for 23-113-2 on the ground whilst we had a Gronk sighting as the big fella had his best game as a Buccaneer putting up 5-78-1.
Aaron Jones had been on a tear but he was held to 15 rushing yards on 10 carries. Fortunately for Fantasy Football owners, he snuck in for a TD.
Tampa’s defence wound up with two picks (including the pick six), five sacks, sic tackles for loss and a stunning 13 QB hits, meaning Rodgers spent most of this game running for his life.
PITTSBURGH PUNISH LITTLE COUSINS
The Steelers had beaten the hapless Browns at Heinz Field on the last 16 occasions. Make that 17 after unbeaten Pittsburgh hammered the Browns 38-7.
Such was the beatdown, Baker Mayfield ended up on the bench.
James Conner provided added offensive punch with 20 carries, 101 yards and a TD and rookie Chase Claypool had 74 receiving yards and a rushing touchdown.
The Browns are 4-2 with Cincinnati up next so there’s no need to panic but it was a clear example of what a contending team looks like and what an also-ran looks like.
CONTENDING TITANS
Tennessee have had a rough beginning to this NFL season… but you’d hardly know it with the way the team has been performing on-field.
The Titans have had the most disruptions in regards to COVID with their facility having been shutdown for long periods at a time.
Ryan Tannehill has not put a foot wrong since taking over in Tennessee. And, they have Derrick Henry. Henry goes 6-3″ and 113kg of power and ferocity, of which the Houston Texans felt every square inch.
Henry rumbled all over the Texans for 212 rushing yards and 2 TD plus 52 receiving yards on a pair of catches.
Jonnu Smith, AJ Brown and Adam Humphries (plus Corey Davis when healthy) form a nice receiving crew and coach Mike Vrabel has the defence roaring.
Tennessee are 5-0 on the back of the most interrupted preparation of any team yet sit undefeated with a mouthwatering clash with the unbeaten Steelers on the horizon.
NEW YORK NOTHINGS
New York sports are a mess but the Giants finally found a win over Washington. The WFT are also 1-5 so it’s barely a signature win but for a New York sports team, any win is a good win.
Across town, people are discussing whether the Jets are the worst team in NFL history.
The Jets are yet to get within a touchdown of an opponent with a nine-point home loss against lowly Denver their best performance of the season.
A battered San Francisco smashed them at MetLife, they could only manage seven points at Indianapolis and Arizona smoked them 30-10.
But, the worst was to come with week six’s effort against AFC East rivals, Miami, in a staggering 24-0 shellacking.
With Buffalo and Kansas City next up, forget about anything other than 0-8 and then the winless season chatter begins to arise.
LEV LANDS IN KC
We did not see him take the field in Monday Night Football and rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire was blazing with 26 carries for 161 yards but former All Pro Le’Veon Bell is in town and brings with him major intrigue as to how he slots into the speed and aerial attack of Kansas City.
Bell’s best is as good as we’ve seen from a back in the past decade but genuine questions are around about Bell’s current status.
Bell scored 4 total touchdowns in his time with New York. Bell’s prime years in Pittsburgh included scrimmage yardage totals of more than 2,200 yards but that was back in 2014.
There’s no doubting Le’Veon will see some empty boxes and Andy Reid will work out ways to get the ball in his hands but as CEH continues to improve, perhaps Bell will be a genuine back-up.
DALTON NO DAK
Newsflash. Andy Dalton is no Dak Prescott.
And, unfortunately for Cowboys fans, Dak is not coming back this season so expect things to continue to be lowly.
Ezekiel Elliott put the ball on the ground twice in the first half – which has nothing to do with Dalton – but when the Dallas defence turned into human turnstiles, the former Bengal was asked to throw them back into the game.
54 pass attempts will not be a successful game plan for Big D.
Forgetting Dalton, questions need to be asked of this Dallas defensive group.
They gave up an 80-yard bomb to Christian Kirk but more worryingly, conceded 261 rush yards to Kenyan Drake, Kyler Murray and Chase Edmonds.
Scary times in Arlington, Texas.
Josh Jenkins Sports 