Crowe - NFL Week #6 Power Rankings 2022

Crowe - NFL Week #6 Power Rankings 2022

Sometimes, it takes the simple act of a third-string quarterback coming in to play and win his first NFL game in his very first start to put things in proper perspective. Such is the case of Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe.

The rookie out of Eastern Kentucky, first thrust into the lineup in week 4 in Green Bay after both Mac Jones (ankle) and Brian Hoyer (concussion) couldn’t play, had a full week of practice before taking on Detroit last Sunday. The preparation certainly paid off for the Pats and Zappe, who was drafted in the fourth round of this past April’s NFL Draft. All Zappe did was complete 17 of 21 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown in an easy 29-0 victory for New England.

As for that perspective, here’s how Zappe responded Wednesday on if the experience of playing quarterback in the NFL was what he had expected it to be.

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“Hundred percent. It takes a lot of work. You got to be here early, stay late. I love the game of football. I love watching film. I love learning the game of football, so this stuff is fun for me,” said Zappe, according to the team’s website.

Fun. Simple. Pure and true.

At 2-3 and in last place in the AFC East, the Patriots are nowhere near our vaunted top 10 power rankings. The good news for Patriots Nation however is that they are playing better and they only have to look back one year ago when the team also started 1-3 before going on a seven-game winning streak that climaxed in a playoff berth.

So, while we wait for the Patriots’ first appearance of the season, let’s take a look at our week six power rankings.

 

10. Tennessee Titans (3-2, Last week not ranked)

The Titans may not like having week six off with an early bye. They’ve won their last three straight games to put an 0-2 start in the rear-view mirror. With Jacksonville’s surprising loss to the Texans, Tennessee holds a half-game lead in the AFC South. To no one’s surprise, Derrick Henry now leads the league in rushing attempts with 104.

 

9. New York Giants (4-1, Last week ranked 10th)

Raise your hand if you thought the Giants had a loss coming their way when running back Saquon Barkley left the game with a shoulder injury last Sunday. Most NFL fans did, including yours truly. But surprise, surprise, Barkley returned, scored a go-ahead touchdown and then the G-Men thwarted a pair of Aaron Rodgers passes at the goal line to stun the Packers in London, 27-22. Brian Daboll is surely showing why he was in high demand this past offseason and is in the early mix for coach of the year.

 

8. San Francisco 49ers (3-2, Last week not ranked)

Week one of the 49ers’ East Coast excursion brought great dividends for San Francisco in the form of a no-stress 37-15 victory over the Panthers behind Jimmy Garoppolo’s two touchdown passes. Step two comes this Sunday as Kyle Shanahan’s team stays East before taking on the Falcons. The Niners are the only team in the NFC West with a winning record of 3-2.

 

7. Minnesota Vikings (4-1, Last week ranked 8th)

It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t sealed until late in the fourth quarter, but a win is a win for the Vikings. Minnesota almost blew a 21-3 lead, winning 29-22 with a late touchdown after the Bears took a 22-21 advantage. As we’ve been telling you time and again through five weeks, these are the types of games the Vikings normally lose. But wins over the Lions, Saints and Bears now have them atop the NFC North standings.

 

6. Baltimore Ravens (3-2, Last week ranked 6th)

When push came to shove Sunday night in Baltimore, Lamar Jackson and Mark Andrews combined to take over and take out the Bengals 19-17 to end the Ravens’ five-game home losing streak. Andrews and Jackson accounted for 41 of the 45 yards on the game-winning, nine-play, two-minute drive that ended with Justin Tucker’s 43-yard field goal. For now, Baltimore remains the lone team in the AFC North with a winning record.

 

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2, Last week ranked 7th)

The odd thing about the Bucs’ win over the Falcons in week 5 is that Tom Brady threw for 256 yards in the first half, but no touchdowns. It left Tampa Bay in the precarious situation of having to hold on late for the win after a controversial roughing the passer call against Grady Garrett wiped out the Falcons’ last chance at a go-ahead drive late in the game. No worries though for the Buccaneers, they travel to Pittsburgh to face the 1-4 Steelers Sunday.

 

4. Dallas Cowboys (4-1, Last week ranked 9th)

With Dak Prescott on the cusp of returning from his fractured thumb, the Cowboys are rolling along with four straight wins behind backup quarterback Cooper Rush. Last Sunday in LA, Dallas’ dominant defense rendered Matthew Stafford useless with its relentless pressure (5 sacks, 2 fumbles, 1 interception) that led to a sack, fumble, and scoop for a score, winning 22-10. Will the offense look as patient with Prescott back at QB most likely in week seven against the Bears? The answer to that will decide just how far Dallas can go this season.

 

3. Buffalo Bills (4-1, Last week ranked 3rd)

After a pair of struggling weeks, the Bills took out their frustrations on the lowly Steelers, routing them 38-3 in a game that wasn’t that close. Josh Allen had himself quite a day, tossing four touchdown passes and 424 yards, most of it (4 TDs, 348 yards) in the first half. This Sunday, Buffalo can seek revenge for the 13 seconds they couldn’t close out in last season’s AFC Divisional Round playoff game in Kansas City against the Chiefs. If they get that revenge, they’ll take over the top spot in the AFC. Buffalo holds the distinction of having the league’s top-scoring defense as well as the top overall offense.

 

2. Kansas City Chiefs (4-1, Last week ranked 2nd)

Whew! Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce hooked up four touchdowns in rallying the Chiefs to a 30-29 victory over the Raiders, who blew a first-half 17-0 lead. KC can thank Las Vegas too for foregoing an extra point that would’ve tied the game in the fourth quarter and instead going for an unconverted two-point conversion that came back to haunt the Raiders. There’s more adversity ahead this Sunday as the Chiefs welcome the Bills, who have only allowed seven points in the second half this season, back to Arrowhead Stadium in a 2021 playoff rematch.

 

1. Philadelphia Eagles (5-0, Last week ranked 1st)

Give the Eagles credit. They didn’t fall prey to the infamous trap game against the Cardinals. Instead, they grounded out a nearly eight-minute drive for a game-winning field goal and held their breath as Matt Amendola’s game-tying attempt went wide right. If things go Philly’s way, they’ll be back in Glendale, Arizona in February where the stakes would be much higher in the Super Bowl. Sunday night, they’ll host the Cowboys in a battle for first place in the NFC East. Quick stat – QB Jalen Hurts has won his last eight regular season starts.

 

Week 6 games to watch
Patriots at Browns (Sunday 1 pm on CBS) – Bill Belichick returns to Cleveland.
Vikings at Dolphins (Sunday 1 pm on FOX) – Skyler Thompson starts at QB for the Dolphins.
Jets at Packers (Sunday 1 pm on FOX) – Could we be seeing a resurgence for the Jets?
Ravens at Giants (Sunday 1 pm on CBS) – These two teams met in Super Bowl XXXV in 2001.
Bills at Chiefs (Sunday 4:25 pm on CBS) – A rematch of last season’s most exciting fourth quarter in recent playoff history.
Cowboys at Eagles (Sunday 8:20 pm on NBC) – First place in the NFC East on the line in primetime.

Last week:
10. Giants
9. Cowboys
8. Vikings
7. Buccaneers
6. Ravens
5. Packers
4. Dolphins
3. Bills
2. Chiefs
1. Eagles