NFL Week 6: Close Games, Rookies look like Pros, and more

As if the NFL couldn't get any better? Well it can, especially week 6 which had so many games decided in the last 10 seconds (you heard that right) of the 4th quarter, not to mention an exciting overtime game that had the first ever blocked punt for a touchdown. Week 6 really had everything and just goes to show once again why the NFL is the greatest sport on the planet. Here's a recap to the week that was:

Upset of the Week: Browns 35 Giants 14. The talk of the NFL for the first month was the 4-0 Super Bowl champions and how they may have been one of the most overlooked teams in recent memory. Even without Plaxico Burress the Giants still rolled to a blowout win last week and this week on Monday night I expected the same. Just don't say that to Browns qb Derek Anderson who kept Brady Quinn on the bench for another week by throwing for over 300 yards and leading Cleveland to one of the biggest upsets of the year. The Brownies at 2-3 are still in the hunt without question and while this loss is disappointing for the Giants, they are still in first in the NFC East.

Statement Win of the Week: Cardinals 30 Cowboys 24. The game went to overtime and ended fairly quickly as Cards' linebacker Monty Beisel blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown from the Dallas 3 yard line. The win was the second loss of the year for Dallas, and oddly enough the losses kept coming even after the game was over. Tony Romo is expected to be out 3 games, Pacman could be on his way to another suspension and punter Matt McBriar looks to be out for the year. There are more injuries where that came from but thats just the tip of the iceberg for what could be the Titanic sinking in Dallas. Arizona now stands at 4-2 and first place in the NFC West. A statement game for sure as coach Ken Whisenhunt tries to prove his team isn't the same old Cardinals. For now that may ring true but there are still many games left in the season, this win was just one of the big ones.

Hot Seat of the Week: Mike Nolan, 49ers. You don't go into the 4th quarter leading 26-17 and expect to give up 23 unanswered points and then lose the game. That's exactly what happened on Sunday as the 49ers just couldn't hold on and put the Eagles away. McNabb played one of his best games while J.T. O'Sullivan continued to turn the ball over and hurt his team in the process. Mike Martz was brought to San Fran by Nolan to improve the offense and make the 49ers better. Martz continues to misuse Frank Gore and his frantic play calling is really costing the team. Reports have surfaced if the team is 2-6 heading into the bye Nolan may be axed. Finally something 49er fans can look forward to. 

Game of the Week: Falcons 22 Bears 20.  One of the most exciting games I have ever watched. Thats all the words to describe this great game between Chicago and Atlanta this past Sunday. Bears wr Rashied Davis caught the "game winning" touchdown with just 11 seconds left in the game. After the Falcons got the ball back rookie Matt Ryan hooked up with Michael Jenkins for 26 yards and 4 seconds left to play. Jason Elam took the field and kicked the game winning 48 yarder. The Falcons are a shocking 4-2 after most predicted the team to be the worst in football before the season started. Matt Ryan is already the real deal and should only continue to improve. It finally looks like this team is over the disaster of the Mike Vick and Bobby Petrino debacles. Now is the team for real? That is hard to say but so far this year they are very good. 

Tidbits:

• Even after the Vikings won, coach Brad Childress should be fired. You give up on the qb you drafted 2 weeks into the season, you call out your punter through the media, the fans still want your head, and you only beat the Lions by a safety. At 3-3 they can still win the division, but still Childress is just not a good football coach.
• Despite the injuries and circus about to take place, the Cowboys will still make the playoffs. They still have Marion Barber and Terrell Owens. Even though he is ancient, Brad Johnson can still manage a football game, he did take the Bucs to the Super Bowl way back in 2002.

• Detroit may go 0-16. It could be said every year, a team looks so bad you just don't see them winning at all. The Dolphins of 2007 were very horrible and didn't win until week 15. This year the Lions stand at 0-5, they have already fired Matt Millen and look to be be getting rid of everyone. Roy Williams, Jon Kitna, and just about anyone else with name value is reportedly on the block. Dan Orlovsky made one of the dumbest mistakes ever in a football game by stepping out of bounds and costing his team 2 points, the same 2 points the Vikings would win by. If anyone hasn't noticed things in Detroit aren't looking to good. The '76 Bucs may soon have company.

Top Ten Quick Hits:

1. The best team in the NFC? It still may be the Giants but for now it looks like the Buccaneers.
2. Wade Phillips won't have a job in 2009.
3. Tony Gonzales and Larry Johnson will still be Chiefs after today's trading deadline.
4. The Bengals are a very good 0-6 team.
5. The Rams look to be on the comeback trail, they have a coach players respect.
6. Matt Ryan is the next franchise qb.
7. Week 7 won't be as good as week 6
8. The NFC winner will be a team no one is talking about. The Colts will win the AFC.
9. The Patriots could miss the playoff. 2 Blowouts in 3 weeks have changed my belief in them.
10. Not dropping Derek Anderson on my fantasy team was a smart move.