In Week 6 of the NFL, most of the favored teams managed to secure their expected victories.

With a third of the season completed, we now have a clearer picture of each team, along with their strengths and weaknesses.

One of the biggest surprises has been the Dallas Cowboys, who suffered their worst home defeat in nearly 36 years on Sunday. While they are still in the mix for the NFC East title, the Cowboys seem outclassed by some of the league’s elite teams. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers showed good ball distribution with contributions from multiple players, yet their red zone execution remains a significant concern.

Below are the standout teams and those that struggled in Week 6.

WINNERS

Bengals Find a Way to Win

When a one-win team scrapes out a road victory, it’s tough to criticize, but the Cincinnati Bengals still need to tighten up their defense, despite holding the New York Giants to just seven points.

The Giants were missing key players, including receiver Malik Nabers, running back Devin Singletary, and edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, and even missed a couple of field goal attempts. Yet, the Bengals struggled to capitalize on promising field positions and need better performance from their rushing attack, aside from a last-minute touchdown scramble from Joe Burrow. However, with Tee Higgins back in action (seven catches for 77 yards), Cincinnati’s offense is looking more formidable. The Bengals (2-4) are already two games behind in the AFC North race, leaving little room for error.

Ravens Acquire Derrick Henry: A Smart Move

It’s hard to overstate the impact of Derrick Henry joining the Baltimore Ravens this offseason. He leads the league in rushing yards (704) and touchdowns (eight).

Together with Lamar Jackson, the Ravens have developed the most potent rushing attack in the NFL. They hold the top two spots for rushers with over 50 attempts in terms of yards per carry. This dynamic makes them especially deadly in the red zone, where Baltimore (75%) ranks alongside the Texans as the most efficient team in the league. By dominating the rushing game 176-52 in a 30-23 win over the Washington Commanders (4-2), they are becoming a tough team to contend with.

Eagles Gain Crucial Receivers

Let’s overlook the strange moment when coach Nick Sirianni teased the home fans after the Eagles (3-2) narrowly defeated the one-win Cleveland Browns 20-16—Sirianni claimed he was “just having some fun.” The Philadelphia offense greatly benefited from the return of receivers A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (concussion), both of whom had been sidelined for multiple weeks.

Each made long receptions of at least 40 yards and scored touchdowns, amassing a total of 180 yards from nine catches. Brown is known for his physical playstyle, adept at snatching contested balls and expertly using body positioning. Smith excels with precise route-running. Quarterback Jalen Hurts (64% completion rate, 264 yards, two touchdowns) delivered his best performance of the season. However, the team struggles at times on third-down conversions, suggesting room for improvement, but this performance showed signs of progress.

Packers Show Offensive Prowess, But Red Zone Woes Persist

While the Green Bay Packers have been productive offensively, they’ve struggled with consistency throughout the season, often falling behind early. However, in their 34-13 win against the Arizona Cardinals, the Packers (4-2) started strong, scoring the first 24 points of the game.

Jordan Love threw four touchdowns to three separate receivers, and a total of nine Packers recorded at least one catch while seven players contributed to a strong ground game, combining for 179 rushing yards. Still, a significant concern remains: their efficiency in the red zone, having managed to convert only 50% of their opportunities this season. Against less formidable opponents like the Cardinals, this may not have been an issue, but it could cost them against stronger teams.

LOSERS

Cowboys Need to Make Changes

The Cowboys hold three wins, but their crushing 47-9 loss to the Detroit Lions is a stark reminder of their struggles to compete. Detroit dominated Dallas, echoing a similar defeat at the hands of the New Orleans Saints just a month prior.

The Cowboys are lacking physicality, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines. They appear to play with the mindset that they can’t beat quality opponents. Their rushing game is woeful; by the end of the third quarter, their leading rusher, Rico Dowdle, had just 7 yards on three carries, with the team totaling a mere 16 rushing yards on 10 attempts. This defeat marks their worst home loss since 1988, a season before Jerry Jones purchased the franchise, and they have yet to win at home this season. The issues appear deeply ingrained and stem from the coaching staff. This team reflects the signs of a squad whose brightest days may be behind them.

The Case Against Starting Will Levis

Quarterback Will Levis of the Tennessee Titans is a young player who may have been thrust into action too early. Starting him at this point doesn’t seem to provide Tennessee with a competitive edge.

Backup Mason Rudolph is unlikely to be a sustainable solution either. Tennessee (1-4) risks damaging Levis’s confidence while unwittingly fostering poor habits, as illustrated by his ill-fated fourth-quarter throw into double coverage that dashed their chances against the Indianapolis Colts in a 20-17 loss. Levis currently leads the league with seven interceptions and is ranked last among qualifying quarterbacks.

Players are currently experiencing a quarterback rating of 70.7. Tennessee does have some talented receivers; however, Levis hasn’t managed to establish any chemistry with Calvin Ridley, who received eight targets on Sunday but failed to make a catch. DeAndre Hopkins, a three-time All-Pro player, has also been largely ineffective. This raises questions about the team’s choice to trade Malik Willis, a player who was never truly given a fair opportunity.

Raiders implode, jeopardizing their season

The Las Vegas Raiders (2-4) had a relatively clean game with only four penalties on Sunday, which would usually be seen as a positive. Nevertheless, during their matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, each penalty ended up nullifying significant plays, showcasing a team that fell apart in a 32-13 defeat.

The initial penalty occurred in the second quarter when a roughing-the-passer call nullified an interception, leading to a Pittsburgh touchdown just four plays later. The second penalty, in the third quarter, wiped out a large completion, causing the Raiders to lose their chance at a field goal. The resulting punt was then blocked. Moments later, another strange roughing-the-passer penalty on third-and-18 extended the Steelers’ drive, allowing Najee Harris to score a 36-yard touchdown shortly after. The fourth and final penalty came at the end of the third quarter for an illegal man downfield, negating a touchdown pass, followed by a fumble by running back Ameer Abdullah at the goal line two plays later.