The NFL’s Week 6 fallout brought pressure across the league, from front-office upheaval in Indianapolis to looming quarterback and coaching decisions elsewhere. The Colts fired their longtime general manager after losing at home to the previously winless Titans, while the winless Chargers could consider changes to their offensive staff after slipping to 0-6.
In the NFC East, the Giants must now decide whether Jameis Winston or J.J. McCarthy will start against Houston in Week 7. The Eagles are confronting a far more serious issue after news that Jalen Hurts is expected to miss the remainder of the season because of blood clots in his lungs.
But Houston delivered one of Sunday’s clearest statements. After opening 0-4, DeMeco Ryans’ Texans have found momentum, and C.J. Stroud has them looking increasingly capable of making the early-season hole disappear.
Stroud powers Texans past Jacksonville in London
Stroud threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns as Houston beat Jacksonville 34-31, producing the first opponent to score more than 20 points against the Jaguars this season. Jacksonville had held each of its first five opponents to 20 points or fewer.
Stroud went 24-for-34 with one interception, a fourth-quarter end-zone throw that stood as his first giveaway of the year. Otherwise, he repeatedly made explosive plays against a Jaguars defense that had been among the league’s toughest through five weeks.
Under pressure, Stroud completed 10 of 11 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. His 90.9 percent completion rate when pressured was the best single-game mark of his career with at least 10 attempts.
The quarterback’s production has not been the central reason for Houston’s early losses. The Texans’ defense had struggled far more than expected during the 0-4 start, while Stroud largely avoided negative plays and turnovers. His connection with Nico Collins has remained especially important, and the acquisition of Marvin Harrison Jr. has expanded the options around him.
Harrison’s presence also appeared to create room for Jaylin Noel, who posted his first 100-yard game. Stroud showed confidence throwing to his former Ohio State teammate in contested situations.
Houston also found an unexpected running-game spark against a Jacksonville front that had not allowed a 40-yard rusher in any of its first five games. Woody Marks ran for 56 yards and Jawhar Jordan added 43, with both clearing 40 yards.
“In close losses, you are often only one or two plays from changing the result,” Stroud said. “You cannot abandon your process or start forcing a bunch of new things. We stayed with it, focused harder on it, and the breaks have begun to go our way. I’m excited about what is ahead.”
The Texans face the Giants next week, then have their Week 8 bye before games against the Chargers, Browns and Colts. Houston’s defense still needs to improve after permitting at least 30 points in two of its last three games, but Stroud’s form gives the club a path back into the race before Thanksgiving.
Rams searching for answers at 2-4
The Rams reached the same 2-4 record as Houston in a much darker mood after losing 18-16 at home to the Cardinals. Los Angeles entered the season as a Super Bowl favorite, yet Sean McVay’s team could not generate enough offense against an Arizona defense that had surrendered at least 36 points in each of its previous three games.
“There is nothing positive I can say,” McVay said after the loss.
Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and Kyren Williams were unable to produce the expected output. Los Angeles dealt with failed blitz pickups, penalties, missed throws and stalled possessions, while Stafford averaged a season-low 4.8 air yards per attempt. It was his second consecutive game setting a season low in that category.
Left tackle Alaric Jackson’s absence has been a factor, but the Rams’ problems go well beyond one player. The offense has been inefficient, Chris Shula’s defense has allowed too much, and special teams have become a major weakness. Los Angeles has repeatedly hurt itself across all three phases.
“We keep emphasizing it and working at it, but we have to solve it,” McVay said. “Right now, I do not have those answers.”
Stafford offered an equally blunt assessment: “Our record is what we are.”
The Rams have games against the Raiders, Chargers and Commanders before a Week 11 bye and then another meeting with Arizona. A surge before the break is essential, because the schedule becomes more difficult afterward.
Caleb Williams returns with record-setting accuracy
Caleb Williams returned from his Week 2 hamstring injury and immediately steadied Chicago’s offense in a 31-23 victory over Atlanta. Ben Johnson opened Williams’ day with a play-action rollout, an early indication that the Bears were not planning to limit their quarterback.
Williams completed his first 12 throws before his first incompletion and finished 30-for-36 for 305 yards and a touchdown. His 83.3 percent completion rate was the highest ever posted by a Bears quarterback with at least 30 pass attempts in a game.
The performance came one week after Chicago’s offense collapsed in a 31-7 loss to Green Bay. Williams did not attempt a deep pass against Atlanta and was sacked four times, but he was highly efficient on short and intermediate throws and showed better consistency from the pocket.
“That is how you would script the start against a team like Atlanta,” Johnson said. “Their defense is very good, and they can score quickly. Our response was huge, and having Caleb back was a major part of it.”
Chicago now heads into consecutive prime-time games against the Patriots and Seahawks.
Saints answer owner’s call, then leave for Paris
New Orleans responded after owner Gayle Benson challenged the team to show more urgency following its 1-4 start. The Saints overcame an early 10-0 deficit and defeated the Giants 34-27 on the road.
Kellen Moore’s team scored 34 unanswered points to seize control. Tyler Shough threw three touchdown passes, Alvin Kamara caught a 31-yard touchdown, and the Saints ran for 175 yards. The defense created four turnovers.
New Orleans nearly allowed a dramatic comeback after three straight late three-and-outs, as Giants backup J.J. McCarthy helped narrow the margin. Still, the middle portion of the game gave the Saints enough breathing room to end a three-game losing streak.
“Resiliency,” Shough said. “We knew that was in us. We still have not played a complete game, but we showed what we are capable of today. We will keep moving forward, and it feels good to leave here with a win.”
The Saints flew directly to Paris after the game and will spend the week there before facing the Steelers next Sunday.
NFC East’s slide raises more questions
The Cowboys, Eagles and Giants all lost Sunday, leaving the NFC East with an 0-5-2 record across the past two weeks. If Washington loses to the unbeaten 49ers at Levi’s Stadium, the division would become the first in NFL history to go winless in back-to-back weeks when every club in the division played.
Dallas lost 23-13 to Green Bay despite receiving enough defensive stops to remain competitive. Brian Schottenheimer’s offense, featuring Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and Javonte Williams, has gone quiet for long stretches. Jerry Jones generally avoids midseason coaching changes, but pressure on Schottenheimer will intensify if the offense does not improve quickly.
Philadelphia faces a major reset after Hurts’ medical diagnosis. Tanner McKee struggled early against Carolina, missing throws by significant margins before finding some late success by targeting DeVonta Smith. The Eagles’ offensive line issues have made the quarterback situation even more concerning.
General manager Howie Roseman must decide whether to pursue a veteran quarterback before the Nov. 10 trade deadline or stay with McKee. Philadelphia had moved on from Cam Jurgens in an effort to accumulate draft assets, and spending significant resources on a temporary quarterback solution could conflict with that plan. Yet the poor state of the division may convince the Eagles they can still contend with adequate play at quarterback.
The Giants, meanwhile, lost after building a 10-point lead against New Orleans. Winston’s turnovers again undermined the offense before John Harbaugh turned to McCarthy, who led a late rally that fell short.
Harbaugh did not name a Week 7 starter against the Texans. McCarthy looked more comfortable and more in command than he did in Minnesota, but he was fortunate to throw only one interception; several passes could have been picked off. Winston remains capable of moving the offense, though his high-risk decisions continue to bring costly mistakes.
Washington is the division’s final chance to avoid another winless day. The Commanders enter Sunday night after an embarrassing tie with the Giants and must now try to beat an undefeated San Francisco team led by the league’s early MVP favorite.
