Decyfr’s Week 6 Roundup

The Miami Dolphins’ 1972 record of being the only team in NFL history to complete a perfect season will stand for yet another year, as the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles became the last dominoes to fall – recording their first defeat of the season.

This year’s London Games have also concluded, with the NFL now set to take Frankfurt by storm in early November. With plenty to unpack, here’s Decyfr’s roundup of the action from Week 6.

Carolina Panthers @ Miami Dolphins

Final Score: 21 – 42

The Miami Dolphins continue to look a formidable force and their game against the Carolina Panthers emphasised that further. Miami went down 14-0 in the first quarter as Carolina capitalised on an unusually slow start by the Dolphins. However, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa rallied his side to score 35 unanswered points – taking them to their fifth win.

Raheem Mostert was the star of Week 6 with three total touchdowns!#Decyfr #NFL #FantasyFootball | @RMos_8Ball @MiamiDolphins pic.twitter.com/rgDsaY2zog

— Decyfr Sport (@DecyfrSport) October 17, 2023

Tagovailoa threw for 262 yards with three touchdowns to Raheem Mostert, Jaylen Waddle and the NFL’s leading receiver, Tyreek Hill – who now has 814 receiving yards after adding another 163 yards to his tally against the Panthers. Miami’s records don’t end there – as Tagovailoa also leads the NFL in passing yards with 1,876 yards this season. The Panthers’ first-overall pick Bryce Young showed promise, but the quarterback has failed to take Carolina to a win this season – making them the only team of the 32 without a victory.

Player Of The Game: Tua Tagovailoa, Quarterback, Miami Dolphins

San Francisco 49ers @ Cleveland Browns

Final Score: 17 – 19

The seemingly unstoppable San Francisco 49ers fell agonisingly short of a sixth-straight win this season when rookie kicker Jake Moody missed a last-gasp field goal with the score 17-19. The result meant Brock Purdy tasted defeat for the very first time as a starter for the 49ers – a streak which had lasted 10 games.

The 49ers took a 10-7 lead into the second half, but things started to unravel in the third quarter as injuries to Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey severely hampered their offensive threat. The Browns’ elite defense led by Myles Garrett capitalised to hold the niners to under 30 points for the first time this season.

How things stand after Week 6…#Decyfr #NFLUK #NFL pic.twitter.com/xwBgz7qJif

— Decyfr Sport (@DecyfrSport) October 18, 2023

Backup Browns quarterback, PJ Walker, had been called up from the practice squad following the injury to Deshaun Watson and impressed with 192 passing yards, 69 more than Purdy had managed. A trademark Amari Cooper showing was pivotal in the win as he was Walker’s number one target with 108 receiving yards, including a massive 58-yard reception.

Player Of The Game: Amari Cooper, Wide Receiver, Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Final Score: 20 – 6

Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions extended their unexpectedly strong start to the season with a win in Tampa Bay. With rookie sensation Jahmyr Gibbs already out and the loss of leading rusher David Montgomery in the second quarter, the side relied on Goff’s arm and the talents of receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to defeat the Buccaneers, who were sporting their throwback ‘Creamsicle’ uniforms for the first time since 2012.

Goff threw for a staggering 353 yards with two touchdowns going to receivers St. Brown and Jameson Williams. St. Brown managed 124 yards receiving while Williams had 53 in a performance worthy of their now 5-1 record – a stark contrast to recent years with fourth place finishes in the NFC North in four of their last five seasons. On the other hand, Tampa Bay fell to 3-2 off the back of their bye week, but still remain atop the NFC South.

Player Of The Game: Jared Goff, Quarterback, Detroit Lions

Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Jets

Final Score: 14 – 20

The second of the two previously undefeated teams not only lost their unbeaten record this season but also their 100% record against the New York Jets, dating back to 1973. The Eagles were ahead for most of the game, with the Jets looking dead and buried until late in the fourth quarter when Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was intercepted by Tony Adams who returned it for 45 yards, leaving the Jets in a prime position to score within the two-minute warning. Breece Hall then ran it in from eight yards to erase the eleven-point deficit and seal the win for the New York Jets. Jalen Hurts threw three interceptions in a bitter defeat for the Eagles – who remain top of the NFC East.

There was further optimism for Jets fans as Aaron Rodgers made his way onto the field during warmups and threw some passes at the MetLife Stadium.

Player Of The Game: Quincy Williams, Linebacker, New York Jets

ICYMI: The @Eagles have signed seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver @juliojones_11 on a one-year contract.#Decyfr #NFL #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/CevZ6PLA4r

— Decyfr Sport (@DecyfrSport) October 18, 2023

New York Giants @ Buffalo Bills

Final Score: 9 – 14

A low-scoring affair in Buffalo saw the Bills defense hold on for the win against the New York Giants, led by Tyrod Taylor, who came in to replace the injured Daniel Jones. After being shut out in the opening half for the first time since 2019, Josh Allen and the Buffalo offense finally found some momentum, scoring twice in the fourth quarter with touchdowns from Quintin Morris and Deonte Harty.

There was a health scare in the second quarter when Buffalo running back Damien Harris was transferred to an ambulance on the field and taken to a nearby hospital after sustaining a neck injury. Bills Head Coach Sean McDermott said that the player “has full movement” in all of his extremities but will be monitored closely.

The game ended controversially though – as the Giants believed an incomplete pass intended for tight end Darren Waller was thought to have been interfered with illegally by Bills’ cornerback Taron Johnson. Replays suggested Johnson looked to be pulling on Waller’s jersey and preventing him from reaching the ball. Nevertheless, the flag never came and Buffalo held on to move to 4-2.

Player Of The Game: Stefon Diggs, Wide Receiver, Buffalo Bills

Here are your Week 6 scores ⬇️

How would you sum up the weekend’s action?#Decyfr #NFLUK #NFL pic.twitter.com/Rv10XnieOa

— Decyfr Sport (@DecyfrSport) October 17, 2023

Dallas Cowboys @ Los Angeles Chargers

Final Score: 20-17

Monday Night Football saw a resurgence from the Cowboys and  Dak Prescott, after their 42-10 drubbing by San Francisco in Week 5.

Prescott threw 272 passing yards with one touchdown to Brandin Cooks, and rushed one in for himself in the first quarter. The Cowboys’ defense, on the other hand, was immense in the fourth quarter, stopping the Chargers, who went in search of a game-winning drive.

After Micah Parsons got his first sack of the game, a poor throw from Justin Herbert, whilst attempting to evade the sack, found the hands of Super Bowl LIII winner Stephon Gilmore to seal the win for the travelling Cowboys.

Los Angeles are now at 2-3 with questions marks looming over Herbert, as well as offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Meanwhile, Dallas move to 4-2 and sit second in the NFC East.

Player Of The Game: Dak Prescott, Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys