The 11 Biggest Overreactions After NFL Week 6

Week 6 of the 2026 NFL season provided plenty for fans to chew on as the midpoint of the campaign draws closer.

A mix of improbable results—such as the lowly Arizona Cardinals toppling the Super Bowl favorite Los Angeles Rams, the Tennessee Titans getting in the win column and the Cleveland Browns taking control of the AFC North—and expected outcomes (like the New England Patriots besting the New York Jets for the 19th time in 21 tries) has set the stage for a series of hot takes.

While some of these ideas have merit, many are just kneejerk responses to the scores and storylines that played out over the weekend. With that in mind, let's highlight the top 10 overreactions from Week 6.

The Buffalo Bills Can Win Without Fixing Their Defense

The Buffalo Bills rode another massive outing from Josh Allen to victory in Week 6. While the 33-30 win against the Las Vegas Raiders moved Buffalo to 5-1, the contest further revealed the cracks in the armor of the AFC East leaders.

The Bills are heavily relying on their MVP candidate quarterback to bail out an abysmal defense, one that must get fixed before the trade deadline if this franchise is going to finally break through and win a Super Bowl. The Bills are an utter mess on that side of the football, conceding an average of 386.8 yards and 28.5 points per game to opposing offenses.

Only a handful of teams have lifted a Lombardi Trophy in the modern era without the help of a top-10 defense and none have done so while being hamstrung by a bottom-five unit. The Bills cannot continue to lean on Allen and the offense to shoulder the burden of winning, as the plan will ultimately fail in spectacular fashion at some point during the playoffs.

It took Buffalo scoring on seven of nine offensive drives to get past a plucky Raiders team in the midst of a rebuild. That won't be sustainable come January when the competition gets much tougher and the stakes are far higher. The Bills need to make some drastic moves before the trade deadline to dial this defense in if they are serious about a championship.

The Cleveland Browns are the AFC North's Team to Beat

The Cleveland Browns are one of the biggest surprises of the NFL season's first six weeks, jumping out to a wildly unexpected 4-2 record and share of the AFC North lead in that span. While the Browns' surge is a nice story, they still aren't the team to beat in this incredibly tough division.

The AFC North is collectively punching up in 2026. Three of its four teams are sitting at 4-2 heading into Week 7, while the Cincinnati Bengals remain at 3-2 due to a Week 6 bye. Cleveland does have the inside track to win the divisional crown as the lone squad still unbeaten in AFC North play.

Both of Cleveland's divisional wins came by narrow three-point margins, with a 13-10 victory over Baltimore in Week 6 notably occurring against backup quarterback Tyler Huntley while Lamar Jackson was sidelined with injury. While the win still counts the same in the standings, a late season rematch could go far differently if Baltimore's superstar signal-caller is active.

The Browns still must prove they have the firepower to continue winning with regularity over the next three months. A defense that has only allowed 20.3 points per game and held three of its last four foes to 18 points or less is doing some heavy lifting, but averaging just 267.5 yards and 17.7 points (both bottom-five marks in the league) on the other end isn't going to cut it over the long term.

Cleveland has been a much tougher out than most expected going into the new season, but there is far more work to be done if this franchise is going to buck its status as perennial losers and seriously compete for its first divisional title since 1989.

The Dallas Cowboys are one of the more disappointing teams of the 2026 season. If not for the furious comeback they mounted in Week 3 against the Houston Texans, the team would be sitting at 1-5 and almost entirely out of contention before November. Although 2-4 isn't much better for a club that has Super Bowl aspirations, there is still reason to believe this franchise can turn it around.

A 23-13 defeat to the Green Bay Packers in primetime on the heels of a 24-16 loss to a Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad led by an undrafted rookie quarterback certainly doesn't inspire much confidence in the Cowboys, but the offense has the pieces in place to return to its early-season form. Prior to Week 5, Dallas was averaging over 30 points per game and still has all its key personnel on that side of the ball healthy.

Although it hasn't resulted in wins, the defense has shown some signs of life after a brutal opening month. The Cowboys conceded an average of 28 points over the first four games, a number that has dropped to 23.5 during the last two.

If Dallas can regularly perform at even a league-average level on defense, the offense should be strong enough to win a large portion of the team's remaining games.

Favorable scheduling will work in the Cowboys' favor, with the injury-ravaged Philadelphia Eagles, inconsistent Arizona Cardinals and reeling Indianapolis Colts representing their next three opponents. A three-game winning streak would not only have Dallas sitting back above .500, but also provide the squad the momentum it needs to make a run in the wide-open NFC East.

The Houston Texans are Back in the Playoff Hunt

The Houston Texans raised eyebrows when they elected to part with valuable draft capital in exchange for underperforming wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. last week. The trade signified that Houston intends to contend rather than throw in the towel after a 1-4 start.

The move seems to have helped in the short-term, as Harrison contributed three catches for 34 yards during his new team's much-needed 34-31 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite the key Week 6 "W", it's not time to pencil Houston in for a spot on the 2027 NFL playoff bracket.

There is still much to be done before the Texans can be considered a true threat. While quarterback C.J. Stroud has been playing rather well after his postseason meltdown 10 months ago, the rushing attack remains a disaster and could be the offense's Achilles heel in 2026.

Houston's defense is also a concern despite the unit rating as one of the league's best last year. The Texans have conceded 30-plus points in half their games this season and just came close to blowing a double-digit fourth quarter lead for the second time in three weeks.

These are issues that the arrival of MHJ won't patch over. Houston should have the tools on-hand to fix these problems, but the squad can't afford any more missteps. A recent win over an AFC South rival helps, but the Texans shouldn't be considered a serious contender unless they string together some wins following their Week 8 bye.

The Indianapolis Colts Should Fire Shane Steichen Too

The Indianapolis Colts executed the first major personnel firing of the 2026 NFL season when they relieved longtime general manager Chris Ballard of his duties on Monday. The decision came on the heels of a dismal 2-4 start, continuing the string of poor play that began in the back half of the 2025 campaign.

While Ballard's inability to improve a team that began last season with an 8-2 record and ended it at 8-9—becoming the first team in NFL history to go six games above .500 and miss the playoffs—ultimately led to his dismissal, the Colts don't need to completely clean house at this time.

Head coach Shane Steichen was already on shaky ground after failing to spark Indy to a playoff appearance in any of his three previous seasons, but should get an opportunity to finish out the 2026 campaign. The Colts lack a proven in-house replacement who could step into the interim job and find immediate success. The franchise also significantly struggled the last time it attempted to place someone inexperienced in the role.

Jeff Saturday was the most recent interim head coach in Indianapolis. The former All-Pro Colts center was working at ESPN prior to accepting the gig and had no coaching experience outside of the high school ranks. Although he won his first game after replacing Frank Reich, Saturday's squad went on to lose seven straight. The interim coach was mercifully replaced by Steichen once the 2022 campaign concluded.

Although Steichen has his work cut out attempting to right this ship, the best option is letting him see it through and bringing in an entire new regime this offseason if things don't work out.

J.J. McCarthy Can Revive the New York Giants' Offense

The New York Giants' hopes of contending for a championship took a massive hit when Jaxson Dart went down for the season with an ACL tear in Week 2. While the club went 2-0-1 over the next three games with backup Jameis Winston at the reins, the cracks began to show in Week 6.

With New York's offense looking anemic against the New Orleans Saints, head coach John Harbaugh made the drastic decision to bench Winston and insert J.J. McCarthy for the fourth quarter. Although the bold move sparked three consecutive scoring drives and put Big Blue within striking distance of tying the game before the comeback bid ultimately fell short, McCarthy isn't the answer to their offensive woes.

Seeing McCarthy on the field during a meaningful contest less than a month after he joined the team shows just how desperate the G-Men are. With Winston reverting to his turnover-prone ways—tossing a pair of picks that effectively put the game out of reach—the coaching staff elected to see what it had in the third-year backup.

Although McCarthy racked up 243 passing yards in short order, he also struggled with accuracy (completing just 11 of 21 passes) and turnovers (tossing an interception on his first drive). Those same issues doomed McCarthy's chances of leading the Minnesota Vikings and will prevent him from becoming a quality starter in the Big Apple.

If McCarthy does usurp Winston as the starter going forward, the G-Men will remain a fringe playoff team at best with no real shot at contending for anything beyond a Wild Card appearance.

The Kansas City Chiefs are Unstoppable Again

The Kansas City Chiefs soundly thrashed the Los Angeles Chargers this weekend, keeping their unblemished record intact as they march towards a 10th playoff berth in 11 seasons. While it was a solid performance, the Chiefs have yet to be truly tested in 2026.

Kansas City's 22-6 victory over the Chargers didn't reveal anything new about the club. The Bolts are a bad football team that have issues across the roster, schematic concerns and injury woes that led them to start four rookie offensive linemen in Week 6. The Chiefs played smart against their imploding foe, riding another big performance from key offseason acquisition Kenneth Walker III to an easy win.

While Walker has been a revelation and has immensely helped Patrick Mahomes ease back into action after recovering from an ACL tear, the Chiefs have yet to face a legitimate Super Bowl contender this season. The combined record of their first five opponents is 9-17, with the Chargers and Miami Dolphins both winless and the Denver Broncos (who have a myriad of offensive issues to figure out) being the lone team above .500 going into Week 7.

At this rate, the Chiefs may not be challenged until well into the back half of the campaign. Their next five games are against the Seattle Seahawks, Broncos, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals—a stretch that Kansas City is likely to be heavily favored throughout.

Things will get much tougher starting in Week 12 when the Chiefs head to Highmark Stadium to face the Buffalo Bills, kicking off a five-week stretch against multiple Super Bowl hopefuls. This includes meetings with the Los Angeles Rams, Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers in consecutive weeks.

If the Chiefs can get through that portion of the schedule with a winning record and remain in the AFC's driver's seat, then it will be time to seriously consider them a Lombardi Trophy threat. Until then, they remain a team that still has to prove last year's 6-11 finish was a fluke.

The Los Angeles Rams Are No Longer a Super Bowl Threat

The Los Angeles Rams' 2-4 start is arguably the biggest shock of the 2026 NFL season. The team was a heavy Super Bowl favorite coming into the campaign, but a series of injuries and poor on-field performances has set the team back significantly in the weeks since.

Los Angeles hit a new low during an 18-16 defeat to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, a stunning loss that has many rightfully questioning whether this group can still win it all.

While the Rams will now try to become the first team to overcome a losing record through six weeks and still reach the Super Bowl, this team does boast the collective talent to make history.

L.A. still has the reigning MVP under center in Matt Stafford. At the age of 38 and in his 18th NFL season, the veteran signal-caller is the type of steady handy that an underperforming squad needs to dig itself out of a rut. Stafford has experienced all the highs and lows the league can offer and has the experience needed to right the ship. His chemistry with Puka Nacua will help offset the absence of Davante Adams, who could be out two-plus months after rupturing a hamstring.

Even without reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett in the picture, the Rams have collected enough talent on that side of the ball to lock down opponents. They rank top-five in total and passing defense and will only get better once Garrett returns from the knee surgery that has kept him sidelined since the opener.

Special teams remains the most concerning issue the Rams are dealing with. The team made the drastic decision to release kicker Brandon Mevis and sign Blake Grupe, but the decision backfired after Grupe was injured in his first game. If L.A. can find a stable kicker and clean up its coverage, there should be a rapid and noticeable improvement in the team's overall performance.

With their backs against the wall and a soft schedule upcoming, the Rams should be able to rip off a winning streak that will bring them above .500 and right back into the Super Bowl discussion before the calendar flips to December.

The New England Patriots Made a Mistake Trading for A.J. Brown

The New England Patriots' trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for A.J. Brown was one of the splashiest moves of the 2026 NFL offseason, but thus far the deal hasn't panned out as expected.

Brown was supposed to represent an upgrade over Stefon Diggs, the incumbent No. 1 wideout who New England released following a successful one-year stint with the franchise.

That hasn't come to fruition, as Brown followed up a three-catch, 26-receiving yard performance in his New England debut with a monthlong stint on the IR. His Week 6 return from a high-ankle sprain was anything but triumphant, as the veteran wideout caught just three of his team-high 10 targets and gained a mere 27 yards.

Despite the slow start, it's too early to consider New England's trade a blunder.

Brown is a three-time Pro Bowler who eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in six of his first seven NFL seasons. Even last year when he was clearly disgruntled with his role in Philly's offense, Brown still contributed 1,003 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 78 catches.

Brown's production should spike up rapidly once he's recovered fully from the ankle sprain and builds a rapport with star quarterback Drake Maye. It may take a few more weeks to find his rhythm, but it would be a genuine shock if the receiver isn't playing a starring role in the offense come playoff time.

The New Orleans Saints Are Back on Track

The Saints had some sleeper playoff potential heading into the 2026 season, but a 1-4 start tempered expectations around this upstart program. The team did manage to snap a three-game losing skid and secure its second win of the campaign on Sunday, but that 34-27 victory over the New York Giants doesn't prove New Orleans is truly back on track.

The Saints had to overcome a slow start, falling into an early 10-0 hole before waking up and putting 34 answered points on the board. Despite chasing Giants starting quarterback Jameis Winston from the game at the start of the fourth quarter, New Orleans nearly squandered its 24-point lead to a J.J. McCarthy-led foe and needed a fourth down stop in the end zone to avoid a potential overtime.

While the upside of head coach Kellen Moore's high-powered offensive system was on display at times, quarterback Tyler Shough still plenty of room to improve after completing a meager 53.3 percent of his throws for 144 yards in the contest. A ground game that put up a collective 175 yards on 38 totes was promising to see, but this unit has largely underwhelmed in 2026 and still needs to show it can establish the run with regularity.

It wasn't the type of start or finish that inspires confidence in this group, especially ahead of a trip to Paris to face a tough Pittsburgh Steelers team in Week 7. It won't be safe to say the team is back on track unless it enters a Week 8 bye with a 3-4 record and momentum.

The Philadelphia Eagles' 2026 season hasn't gone to plan. The team was seeking to bounce back from an unsuccessful Super Bowl title defense and return to the upper echelon of contenders, but a rash of injuries, questionable trades and poor play has led the franchise to stumble to a 2-4 record out of the gate.

While the Eagles lost their fourth straight game on Sunday and will be without Jalen Hurts for the remainder of the campaign after blood clots were found in the quarterback's lungs, there is still ample opportunity for this franchise to reach the playoffs.

In most other divisions it would be time to give up on the campaign, but Philadelphia benefits heavily from playing in a wide-open NFC East that has no clear frontrunner after six weeks of play.

The New York Giants are currently leading the pack with a modest 3-2-1 record. Despite this, the G-Men were forced to play recently-acquired quarterback J.J. McCarthy in an effort to get their listless offense going. The Dallas Cowboys have scored 30 total points over the past two weeks and lost three of their last four, joining the Eagles at 2-4 with their latest defeat. The Washington Commanders have issues across the roster and are facing an uphill battle to recover from their 1-4-1 start.

If the Eagles can stabilize their offense under promising backup Tanner McKee, there is a chance they can string together some wins and jump out as the top team in a weak division. Philly fans know better than most that backups have sparked Super Bowl runs before, including in 2017 when Nick Foles led the Eagles to their first ever Lombardi Trophy after taking over for an injured Carson Wentz.

The odds of that type of run occurring again may look bleak, but the Eagles shouldn't be counted out yet. They'll get a chance to turn things around and build some momentum when they host the Cowboys in a pivotal Week 7 showdown.