Week 6 of the 2023 NFL season brought even more chaos to the league standings. After the Kansas City Chiefs moved to 5-1 with a Thursday night win over the Denver Broncos, could the AFC’s other contenders keep pace on Sunday? And what about the NFC, where the NFL’s two remaining winless teams — the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles — took close Week 6 losses?
From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!
Winners and Losers From NFL Week 6
Winner | New York Jets
The New York Jets had, improbably, never beaten the Philadelphia Eagles in 12 all-time meetings. That changed on Sunday in what might have been the most significant win of head coach Robert Saleh’s career.
Gang Green took down the previously undefeated Eagles thanks to a standout effort from the club’s defense, which limited Jalen Hurts and Co. to just 14 points. Safety Tony Adams intercepted Hurts with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, setting up the Jets’ offense in prime position.
The #Jets hand Philly their first loss of the season and earn their first win over the #Eagles in franchise history! pic.twitter.com/8Ndeiysego
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 15, 2023
After Breece Hall scored to give New York a 20-14 lead, the Jets’ defense came up big again, allowing Philadelphia to gain just two yards on four downs.
New York’s season appeared to be over when Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1, but the Jets are now 3-3 and just beat one of the NFL’s best teams. It remains unclear how far Saleh’s club can go with Zach Wilson under center, but they’re still in the mix for now.
Loser | The NFC’s Elite
Hurts totaled more than 350 yards and scored two total touchdowns against the Jets, but he also threw three interceptions for just the second time in his career.
In 2022, the 8-0 Eagles’ first loss came to the Washington Commanders, a club with a similar profile as New York. For the second year in a row, Philadelphia’s first defeat came at the hands of a team with a stout defensive front capable of generating pressure and a secondary ready to create turnovers.
MORE: Week 7 NFL Power Rankings
Like Hurts, Brock Purdy also posted one of the worst games of his NFL career, but it’s hard to blame him for his performance in the 49ers’ 19-17 loss to the Cleveland Browns. San Francisco not only had to deal with Jim Schwartz’s outstanding defense and weather elements, but it also lost several key contributors.
Christian McCaffrey suffered an oblique and/or rib injury and missed most of the second half. Deebo Samuel went down with a shoulder injury in the first quarter and never returned, although X-rays were negative on the 49ers’ star WR.
Winner | Detroit Lions
On Sunday, the Lions did exactly what good teams are supposed to do — beat an inferior opponent by two scores, even on the road.
Jared Goff kept rolling against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6, completing 30 of 44 attempts for 353 yards and two touchdowns in Detroit’s 20-6 win. The Lions moved to 5-1 even with running back David Montgomery (shoulder) unavailable for most of the game.
#Lions QB Jared Goff with a DEEP SHOT to Jameson Williams 😮💨
Williams’ presence can take this offense to another level 🔥
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 15, 2023
But Detroit’s defense was the club’s most impressive unit today, constantly harassing Baker Mayfield while keeping the Bucs out of the end zone. Lions DC Aaron Glenn should be on the shortlist for every NFL team searching for a new head coach this offseason.
Detroit was the NFC North favorite heading into the season. But few thought the Lions would hold a 2.5-game lead through six weeks.
Loser | The Entire NFC South
The Buccaneers turned back into a pumpkin against the Lions, but they didn’t lose any ground in the NFC South standings — because every other team in the division lost, too.
MORE: NFL Offense Rankings 2023
The New Orleans Saints got picked apart by C.J. Stroud and managed just 13 points against the Houston Texans’ defense. Desmond Ridder looked like the NFL’s worst quarterback (again) while throwing three picks for the Atlanta Falcons. And the Carolina Panthers were never close to competing with the Miami Dolphins in a 42-21 rout.
There may not be a single above-average team in the NFC South, but someone has to win the division (stop us if you’ve heard that before).
Winner | The Entire AFC North
The Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) were on a bye, but every other AFC North club pulled off a victory on Sunday.
The Baltimore Ravens (4-2) got things started with a dominant defensive performance against the Tennesee Titans in London. The Browns took down the previously undefeated 49ers with PJ Walker starting under center. And the Cincinnati Bengals leaned on their defense in an impressive win over the Seattle Seahawks.
The AFC North and AFC East entered the season competing for the title of “best NFL division,” but the North has taken a significant lead through six weeks.
Loser | New England Patriots
What else can be said about Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots, who are now 1-5 and all but eliminated from the AFC playoff race? The Patriots actually put up 17 points against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, an improvement over the three total points they’d scored over the past two games.
But this is the worst any Belichick-coached team has ever looked — and that includes his days with the Browns. Mac Jones isn’t an NFL-caliber quarterback right now, and it’s almost inconceivable to imagine Belichick will let the former first-round pick start against the Buffalo Bills in Week 7.
Winner | Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert
Sunday marked the third multi-touchdown game of the season for Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert, who only seems to be getting more productive at age 31. With De’Von Achane and Jeff Wilson Jr. on injured reserve, Mostert took 17 carries for 115 yards and two TDs, adding 17 yards and another score on the ground.
Mostert put up a season-high 55 rushing yards over expectation (RYOE) in Week 6 and has the fourth-most RYOE in the NFL this year, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Wilson could be back when the Dolphins face the Eagles next week, but Mostert is clearly atop the club’s RB pecking order.