NFL: Teams in Panic Mode After Week 6 (2021)
There were plenty of upsets in Week 6 of the NFL season. Despite all the losses, there are more than stand out. Whose fans should be in panic mode most?
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins were without multiple starting wide receivers and both starting cornerbacks. Despite all their injuries, this loss had to hurt the most. It wasn’t a matter of bad play in a close game, but a bunch of questionable coaching decisions along the way. Two challenges that cost timeouts, the playcalling on 4th down, and a soft zone with the game on the line all doomed the Dolphins against the Jags. This game could’ve easily been won if not for those calls.
Related: Teams In Panic Mode After Week 5
Los Angeles Chargers
This was a “fall back down to earth” moment for the Chargers. While they’ve had considerably impressive wins this season, this loss will shift momentum. True they played the Ravens who are one of the top teams in the NFL right now, but this is the quality of play they’ll be facing if they were to make the playoffs. The fact that it wasn’t close is just a reminder of how much work they need to do the remainder of the season to keep this train on track.
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland has been a thorn in opponents’ sides all season long. While they haven’t walked away with wins in these close games, they’ve kept it close. However, that’s not the most painful takeaway from this week’s matchup. The injuries are starting to pile up for the Browns who had a real shot to have back-to-back playoff seasons. Now they’ll struggle to stay healthy enough in a very tough division. If the injuries now are tough, just remember, we haven’t even reached the coldest part of the season against mostly northeast rivals. The colder the weather, the more banged-up teams can get.
More NFL: 5 Biggest Matchups of Week 6
Dallas Cowboys
Although walking away with a win has to feel good, beating a two-win team in overtime has to at least have cause for pause. While you never can really count out the New England Patriots under Belichick, they faced a good rookie quarterback who is yet to show off a playoff-caliber skill set. What will this team look like against the Undefeated Cardinals or the future Hall of Famer with the Packers? There’s a good chance they’ll coast to a division win this year, but if they cant ramp it up come the playoffs, start smashing that panic button.
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills were one of the hottest teams in the NFL but lost a heartbreaker against the Titans. Losing a close game when you’re running away with the division isn’t terrible but it’s the way they lost. The Bills seemed to have no answer for Derrick Henry. Few teams do, but they’ll need to make adjustments when they face run-heavy teams. They might be able to contain running backs, but what happens when they face a dual-threat QB like Lamar Jackson? By no means are they in free-fall mode, but there’s definitely a reason for convern.
Who slipped up and who will rebound in Week 7? Which teams are in full free-fall mode? We’ll be here next week to find out.
Rick ODonnell aka Caveman Rick has many years covering the Miami Dolphins, Sports, and all sorts of movies and television.
