Week 6: Unbeaten No More

10/16/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

49ers & Eagles Suffer 1st Losses & Key Injuries as Week 6 Upsets Shuffle the Deck

Week 6 Sunday was a defensive struggle for games across the league, and our last two undefeated teams both fell. The 49ers and Eagles both lost for the first time all season, and their defeats came at the hands of teams with backup quarterbacks, no less. We’ll analyze. The Sunday nighter in Buffalo was a dogfight, too. And though defense was king in Week 6, the Dolphins kept pace with their record-setting scoring output. Let’s get into it.

Unbeaten No More

Both the 49ers (5-1) and Eagles (5-1) suffered their first losses of the 2023 season, and they came back-to-back on the road Sunday against unsuspecting underdogs. The 49ers fell to the Browns after a missed game-winning field goal attempt from kicker Jake Moody (19-17). Cleveland was without starting QB Deshaun Watson or RB Nick Chubb. A few hours later at MetLife Stadium the Jets stunned the Eagles (20-14) after forcing QB Jalen Hurts into a career-high 3 INTs. Philly led 14-3 before a trio of Jets field goals and a late-game interception that broke their undefeated run. And after six weeks, every NFL team has at least one loss.

Undefeated Injuries: Both the Niners and Eagles lost key players to injuries, and we’ll learn more in the days ahead. RB Christian McCaffrey (49ers) and LT Lane Johnson (Eagles) both left early.

QB Streaks Snapped: San Francisco’s loss marked the first regular-season defeat for QB Brock Purdy. Hurts was 20-1 in his last 21 regular-season starts for Philly until the Jets picked him apart.

New York Nightcap

The night game in Buffalo featured another defensive battle in the state of New York. The Giants had the Bills on the ropes with a 6-0 lead entering the fourth quarter, but the Bills scored two touchdowns in the final frame. The Giants fought to have a chance late, but the final series ended on the 1-yard line and a goal-line stand for the Bills (14-9) after some questionable calls and no-calls. It was the Giants’ third game of the season without an offensive touchdown.

NFL Power Rankings Preview: The losses to San Fran and Philly will shuffle the deck in this week’s upcoming Power Rankings. The Lions and Dolphins looked good again on Sunday, and we could have a new No. 1 come Wednesday.

Week 6 Top Performers

QB J. Goff (DET): 30/44, 353 yards, 2 TDs

QB T. Tagovailoa (MIA): 21/31, 262 yards, 3 TDs

RB K. Williams (LAR): 20 touches, 158 yards, 1 TD

RB R. Mostert (MIA): 20 touches, 132 yards, 3 TDs

WR T. Hill (MIA): 6 receptions, 163 yards, 1 TD

WR C. Kupp (LAR): 7 receptions, 148 yards, 1 TD

WR A. St. Brown (DET): 12 receptions, 124 yards, 1 TD

Week 6 Scores & Highlights

Chiefs def. Broncos (19-8)

Ravens def. Titans (24-16)

Commanders def. Falcons (24-16)