NFL Week 6 lowlights: A look at Colts’ brutal collapse and more

For a group that is imagined to be led by its offense, Sunday’s loss was particularly abysmal. And whereas a tender upcoming schedule with video games towards the Las Vegas Raiders (3-3), Los Angeles Chargers (0-6) and Washington Commanders (1-3-1) would seem to provide Los Angeles room to shortly enhance, dropping to the beforehand one-win Cardinals suggests the Rams could not be capable of reap the benefits of the favorable stretch.

Of the 4 groups to carry double-digit leads on Sunday solely to lose, none have been extra excruciating than the Colts (2-4), who gave the Tennessee Titans (1-5) their first win of the season in a 26-20 loss.

Indianapolis, to place it merely, had no enterprise dropping. At one level halfway by means of the third quarter, it had 93.9 % odds of successful, per ESPN Analytics, solely to be outscored 23-7 the remainder of the best way.

The Colts ran 33 extra performs than the Titans and had a 399-186 benefit, however a brutal second-half collapse that featured drives ending in a fumble, interception and blocked punt returned for a landing was their undoing.

With the loss, head coach Shane Steichen’s job safety needs to be below scrutiny. In his fourth season as Colts head coach, the previous Eagles offensive coordinator has by no means reached the playoffs, and at 2-4 with video games on the Minnesota Vikings (5-0) and Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) forthcoming, issues won’t get any higher quickly.

Worst quarterback efficiency: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

A have a look at Penix’s surface-level numbers, and one would surprise what he is doing right here. The Falcons quarterback completed with an admirable field rating, going 19-of-33 for 225 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in a 31-23 dwelling loss to the Chicago Bears (4-2).

However probe deeper, and Penix’s alarming day reveals itself. Many of the third-year quarterback’s manufacturing got here with Chicago comfortably forward by a number of scores. Within the moments the sport was in attain, Penix flopped.

Per Sumer Sports data, throughout the first half, he was simply 6-of-13 for 55 yards. The Falcons went three-and-out on their first two possessions and turned the ball over on downs 3 times earlier than the offense awoke in a 31-7 recreation early within the fourth quarter.

Most regarding for Atlanta, the Bears gave others a blueprint to observe in attacking the Falcons. Chicago utilized relentless stress towards Penix, who was blitzed on 51.3 % of his dropbacks. He ended up taking a season-high 5 sacks, together with on his last play (after the Falcons made it a one-possession recreation) that resulted in a misplaced fumble.

If groups can efficiently stress Penix, it is recreation over for the Falcons. With quite a few ACL accidents since school, few quarterbacks are extra compromised of their mobility than the previous first-rounder.

Penix is a one-dimensional quarterback, and when struggling to finish passes, he lacks the flexibility to impression video games. For a group with as a lot offensive expertise because the Falcons (2-4), the entrance workplace ought to demand extra from the place.

Worst teaching resolution: New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh benches operating again Cam Skattebo

Harbaugh spent a lot time being mad at Skattebo for fumbling the soccer that he should have forgotten to remind quarterbacks Jameis Winston and J.J. McCarthy, who mixed to throw three interceptions, of the significance of ball safety.

The Giants (3-2-1) squandered an early 10-0 lead in one of many day’s wildest video games, a 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints (2-4), and Skattebo was a complete non-factor, failing to document a single contact.

After he fumbled 4 occasions within the first 5 weeks, Harbaugh wanted to ship a message, however the longtime teaching veteran could have needed to think about the opponent. Coming into Week 6, the Saints had ranked No. 30 towards the frenzy, permitting 148.8 yards per recreation, but Giants backs Tyrone Tracy Jr. (six carries, 18 yards), Devin Singletary (4 carries, 14 yards) and Najee Harris (4 carries, two yards) have been unable to reap the benefits of the exploitable matchup.

Harbaugh’s robust act backfired, and in a twist of irony, the Saints tied the sport at 10 earlier than the half after recovering a fumble by Giants kick returner Charlie Jones.

Maybe taking part in Skattebo would not have made a distinction within the end result, however as New York’s finest again, he ought to have been on the sector towards a group that hadn’t stopped the run earlier than Sunday.

Worst defensive efficiency: Buffalo Bills security C.J. Gardner-Johnson

Gardner-Johnson’s schtick is rising tiresome.

All the time one to wear down his welcome, the eight-year vet could already be on skinny ice after being ejected from Sunday’s 33-30 win by the Payments (5-1) over the Raiders for spitting in the direction of tight finish Brock Bowers.