2026 NFL Week 6 Biggest Takeaways for Every Team

The Houston Texans made a major move ahead of Week 6, acquiring wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. from the Arizona Cardinals.

Can the 2024 fourth overall draft pick change the Texans' fortunes after a 1-4 start to the campaign? Only time will tell.

Conversely, the Denver Broncos were without two of their best defenders Thursday and still found a way to shut down Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the Seattle Seahawks offense.

As the weekend progresses, Bleacher Report NFL analysts Brent Sobleski , Kris Knox , and Moe Moton will follow all of the action and then break down each contest, provide takeaways and ask the most pressing questions.

How Do the Denver Broncos Offset Slow Starts?

The Broncos have been notoriously slow starters since the 2025 campaign began. It continued to be an issue this season, which is why Sean Payton stripped offensive coordinator Davis Webb of play-calling duties and the head coach took over the job once again.

However, Thursday's approach was different.

The Broncos weren't generating explosive plays. Instead, Denver employed a strong ball-control approach by leaning on the run game, with Payton asking Bo Nix to get the ball out quickly when he dropped back to pass.

Nix also took a few shots downfield in an attempt to stretch the defense, though those passes didn't connect.

Ultimately, Denver built a 14-3 halftime lead. In an ironic twist, the unit and team, as a whole, struggled during the second half before winning in overtime.

The Bo Nix we've seen this season is not the same player we saw last year. Yes, Payton did a better job manufacturing a little offense to start the game, but the unit still wasn't particularly good overall.

Denver won Thursday despite generating only 168 yards of offense. As Sumer Sports' Shawn Syed noted , the victory came without Nix completing a pass over 10 air yards. An aggressive and opportunistic defense led the way.

Payton can devise an improved game plan and place his squad in a better position to succeed, but eventually Nix must shoulder the responsibility that comes with his position and perform at a higher level. Otherwise, this Broncos team won't be able to match up against the AFC's best.

Is Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold Part of the Problem?

It's weird to question a Super Bowl-winning quarterback just six games into the following season, but Darnold was a primary reason why the Seahawks lost Thursday. He simply hasn't played well since returning from injury.

Darnold threw two critical interceptions. One occurred in the fourth quarter and the other came in overtime. The latter was particularly devastating because it led to the Broncos' game-winning field goal.

On the first interception, the Seattle QB's throw on an over route arrived late and too far inside, allowing the defensive back to undercut it. The second was far more egregious: Darnold attempted a hole shot despite Denver's safety being positioned over the top, leaving little room to complete the throw.

Granted, Denver pressured Darnold all night long, amassing 17 quarterback hits. At the same time, the Seahawks signal-caller made debilitating mistakes at critical moments. He has now thrown two interceptions in each of three of Seattle's last four games.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba may be the NFL's most productive wide receiver, but he could use a little help. Shaheed is the perfect complementary option because of the 28-year-old's explosive traits.

Shaheed is more than a special teams ace and offensive gadget contributor. He can be a legitimate WR2 on Seattle's roster, as evidenced Thursday with five catches for 66 yards. Both figures were season-highs.

Cooper Kupp isn't the wide receiver he once was, and Tory Horton has yet to prove he can be a reliable option. Shaheed is the logical choice to be the Seahawks' primary option after Smith-Njigba, thus taking some pressure off the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year.

Divisional rivalries take center stage Sunday, starting with the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.

Half of this weekend's slate is built around rivals facing one another, and it's a make-or-break scenario for at least one of the squads in each of those contests.

The Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns vie to be the AFC North's top team. The Tennessee Titans want to finally notch a victory, while the Indianapolis Colts desperately need a win to regain .500 status.

The New York Jets can get into the AFC East race by beating the New England Patriots. The Los Angeles Rams try to get back on track against the Arizona Cardinals after a devastating overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Los Angeles Chargers want to show their season isn't over while facing the Kansas City Chiefs.

Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars, London (9:30 a.m.)

Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons (1 p.m.)

Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns (1 p.m.)

Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts (1 p.m.)

New York Jets at New England Patriots (1 p.m.)

New Orleans Saints at New York Giants (1 p.m.)

Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles (1 p.m.)

Pittsburgh Steelers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 p.m.)

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams (4:05 p.m.)

Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (4:25 p.m.)

Buffalo Bills at Las Vegas Raiders (4:25 p.m.)

Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers (8:20 p.m.)

Monday Night Football: Washington Commanders at San Francisco 49ers

Don't make San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans angry. Opponents don't like him when he's angry.

The 33-year-old played through broken ribs against the Seattle Seahawks and dominated, even against Mike Macdonald's outstanding secondary.

"I think it pissed him off, honestly," longtime friend Terran Petteway told The Athletic's Matt Barrows . "And when that happens, it's a totally different Mike, a totally different beast. Once that Mike comes into play, it's game over."

Now, Evans and the Niners face the Washington Commanders, who field a bottom-10 pass defense. Plus, Dan Quinn's squad is coming off a heart-wrenching loss that was the direct result of a lack of situational awareness.

The Commanders must face arguably the NFL's best team.

Washington Commanders at San Francisco 49ers (8:15 p.m.)