Around the AFC
KC Runaway?: The Chiefs are out to a 5-1 start and have won five straight. Second-place team in the division? That’s Las Vegas at 3-3. The Chargers (2-3) are typically viewed as the most likely threat to Patrick Mahomes’ divisional dominance, but Kansas City can put them further in the rearview mirror with a win Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.
Cleveland’s QB situation: The Browns logged their biggest win of the year Sunday vs. San Francisco with … P.J. Walker at quarterback. DeShaun Watson’s missed time with a shoulder strain and Walker got the nod over Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Pretty good result, beating the best team in football with a backup QB. Watson’s the guy when healthy, but it’s a situation to watch anyway.
Patriots (Lost Their) Way: Man, how bad has the situation become in New England? Bill Belichick’s team is 1-5 and only the Giants have a worse point differential than the Patriots’ minus-80. Mac Jones has been benched multiple times and now the team faces Buffalo and Miami the next two weeks. Ouch.
Around the NFC
MVP McCaffrey?: Christian McCaffrey, the former Valor Christian star, is off to a terrific start this season in San Francisco. He’s second in the NFL in scrimmage yards to Tyreek Hill and has nine touchdowns in six games so far, putting him on pace for 2,000-plus total yards and 25.5 touchdowns. Now, though, he’s dealing with an oblique injury. If McCaffrey avoids missing extended time, he’s going to continue to put up monster numbers.
Bears sitting… pretty? It may not look good for Chicago in the win-loss column, but they’re sitting pretty in at least one regard: The 2024 NFL Draft. The Bears’ own pick is trending toward being near the top of the draft. Even better? They hold 0-6 Carolina’s, too, after trading out of No. 1 so the Panthers could take Bryce Young last year. Chicago could actually end up with the top two selections in the draft. That’ll work.
Puka Mania. The top of the NFL’s receiving leaderboard is littered with big names from Hill to A.J. Brown, Stefon Diggs, D.J. Moore, Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase. But right in the middle of all those guys at No. 4 is Rams rookie Puka Nakua. The fifth-round pick is tied for the NFL lead with 50 catches. Not a bad Day 3 find for the 3-3 Rams as they try to surprise during what is essentially a rebuilding year.
Game of the Week
Miami at Philadelphia
A must-see matchup — and a potential Super Bowl preview? — on Sunday night between a pair of high-powered 5-1 teams run by star quarterbacks out of the 2020 draft class who were once teammates at Alabama. Tua Tagovailoa’s off to a terrific start and leads the NFL in several categories. Hurts is no slouch himself with seven touchdown passes and five more rushing. Philly’s got the dominant offensive line and run game — plus the better defense — to get the job done at home as a two-point favorite. But it won’t be easy.
Eagles 27, Dolphins 24
Lock of the Week
Arizona at Seattle
The 1-5 Cardinals hit the road to the Pacific Northwest to take on Geno Smith and the Seahawks. The 49ers might be prohibitive favorites in the division, but Seattle’s got a chance to hang around the whole year in the Wild Card picture. They’d won three straight before losing a tough, 17-13 decision at Cincinnati last week. They’re 8-point favorites to get back on track against Jonathan Gannon’s team and should have little trouble doing so.
Seahawks 28, Cardinals 17
Upset of the Week
Detroit at Baltimore
Many weeks this would land as the game of the week. It’s worthy of the designation as the 5-1 Lions hit the road to visit the 4-2 Ravens. Jared Goff’s playing great, Lamar Jackson is, too, and both teams have rugged defenses capable. Baltimore is second and Detroit sixth in yards per play allowed and they’re both in the top 10 in scoring defense. So, who’s going to get the job done? On this week, the nod goes narrowly to Dan Campbell’s team, a 3-point underdog, over John Harbaugh’s.
Lions 17, Ravens 16
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