Hello, boys and girls, and happy Thursday. John Breech is still away while watching old film, so you've got me, Cody Benjamin, to deliver all the latest from around the .This is the Pick Six Newsletter. Now let's get to it. (And please, do yourself a favor and make sure you're ! You don't want to mi s our daily offerings of everything you need to know around the .)We've got news and Jackie Robinson Jersey notes from around camp, contract drama, and much more:Today's show: Instant takeaways from campResident Patriots expert Tyler Sullivan was at Gillette Stadium for the start of New England's training camp Wednesday, and he joined Will Brinson on the latest "Pick Six NFL Podcast" to report his Day 1 takeaways. Some highlights:Sully confirmed that former coach and longtime Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, now back as an offensive a sistant, was in ' headset as the team's primary play-caller during offensive drillsBill Belichick was spotted with a "heavier eye on the offensive side," as he hands the baton to both Patricia and former coach Joe Judge, the two a sistants tasked with replacing Josh McDanielsSully's MVP of the day might've been former receiver , who had several nice end-zone catches in coverage, fired up the crowd and "just looked like the biggest guy in that receiver room"Catch the full episode (and subscribe for all kinds of daily NFL talk) .2. Agent's Take: could be next for record dealWith locked up Kurt Suzuki Jersey and at camp despite an uncertain future, former NFL agent Joel Corry has explored to get a fully guaranteed deal, a la in 2018 and this offseason. If it isn't Jackson, who's represented himself in previous negotiations, his eye is on Denver's new signal-caller. 3. Top underrated camp stories: Bucs stacked, ' big holeQBs and contracts get a lot of attention over the summer, and rightfully Eddie Mathews Jersey so. But what about the storylines that aren't getting as much love as they deserve? Here's a sneak peek at three of our:The are (still) stacked:Maybe we're just so used to the clockwork that is march to a playoff run, but has anyone looked at their depth chart lately? Even with recovering from injury, TB12 might have the best weapons he's had in Florida yet: , , , , a sterling line and defense. . is still without a team:His hands and energy remain intact. If can get up to $8 million as a secondary piece at this stage of his career, then Beckham almost surely can, too. Someone will be glad to deploy him in December.The glaring hole on the Packers: ensures Green Bay will stay competitive. But are the Packers really going into 2022, potentially A-Rod's final season, with , and as their top veteran receivers? Brian Gutekunst has to be using some of his new extension money to explore any po sible last-minute trade, no?4. Contract drama: hold-in, talks, moreHere are some of the biggest stories related to ongoing contract situations around the NFL:: Exploring the funding rule that could prevent the Bengals and from offering enough guaranteed money for their star QBs down the road: The receiver, whose current Mike Foltynewicz Jersey contract expires after 2022, wants a long-term deal in Pittsburgh, and he wasn't a full participant to open camp: The All-Pro safety is currently negotiating a new deal with team bra s, and coach Brandon Staley sounds optimistic he'll be on the field soon: The have shifted money in their star tight end's contract5. name their starter for 2022Well that didn't take long. Just one day into training camp, despite spending a third-round pick on QB , the Falcons have declared Mariota, the former starter-turned-No. 2, their Week 1 signal-caller. Coach Arthur Smith has a history with Mariota, who was always seen as the favorite to . Now the question is, how much leeway will the former first-round draft pick receive? And how far off is Ridder from challenging for snaps? 6. Camp roundup: Key injuries, ' Jose Ramirez Jersey QB battle, moreWant more tidbits from around camp? You came to the right place:: The Pro Bowler suffered a knee injury: The former Pro Bowler has been banged up for two years: The Dolphins QB vows to avoid outside opinions of his progre s: Matt Rhule says they'll compete for "a while": And the veteran plans to sign with a new team during camp: After signing a one-day contract with Seattle: The former Chiefs starter has battled injuries in recent seasons
Hello, boys and girls, and happy Thursday. John Breech is still away while watching old film, so you’ve got me, Cody Benjamin, to deliver all the latest from around the .This is the Pick Six Newsletter. Now let’s get to it. (And please, do yourself a favor and make sure you’re ! You don’t want to mi s our daily offerings of everything you need to know around the .)We’ve got news and Jackie Robinson Jersey notes from around camp, contract drama, and much more:Today’s show: Instant takeaways from campResident Patriots expert Tyler Sullivan was at Gillette Stadium for the start of New England’s training camp Wednesday, and he joined Will Brinson on the latest “Pick Six NFL Podcast” to report his Day 1 takeaways. Some highlights:Sully confirmed that former coach and longtime Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, now back as an offensive a sistant, was in ‘ headset as the team’s primary play-caller during offensive drillsBill Belichick was spotted with a “heavier eye on the offensive side,” as he hands the baton to both Patricia and former coach Joe Judge, the two a sistants tasked with replacing Josh McDanielsSully’s MVP of the day might’ve been former receiver , who had several nice end-zone catches in coverage, fired up the crowd and “just looked like the biggest guy in that receiver room”Catch the full episode (and subscribe for all kinds of daily NFL talk) .2. Agent’s Take: could be next for record dealWith locked up Kurt Suzuki Jersey and at camp despite an uncertain future, former NFL agent Joel Corry has explored to get a fully guaranteed deal, a la in 2018 and this offseason. If it isn’t Jackson, who’s represented himself in previous negotiations, his eye is on Denver’s new signal-caller. 3. Top underrated camp stories: Bucs stacked, ‘ big holeQBs and contracts get a lot of attention over the summer, and rightfully Eddie Mathews Jersey so. But what about the storylines that aren’t getting as much love as they deserve? Here’s a sneak peek at three of our:The are (still) stacked:Maybe we’re just so used to the clockwork that is march to a playoff run, but has anyone looked at their depth chart lately? Even with recovering from injury, TB12 might have the best weapons he’s had in Florida yet: , , , , a sterling line and defense. . is still without a team:His hands and energy remain intact. If can get up to $8 million as a secondary piece at this stage of his career, then Beckham almost surely can, too. Someone will be glad to deploy him in December.The glaring hole on the Packers: ensures Green Bay will stay competitive. But are the Packers really going into 2022, potentially A-Rod’s final season, with , and as their top veteran receivers? Brian Gutekunst has to be using some of his new extension money to explore any po sible last-minute trade, no?4. Contract drama: hold-in, talks, moreHere are some of the biggest stories related to ongoing contract situations around the NFL:: Exploring the funding rule that could prevent the Bengals and from offering enough guaranteed money for their star QBs down the road: The receiver, whose current Mike Foltynewicz Jersey contract expires after 2022, wants a long-term deal in Pittsburgh, and he wasn’t a full participant to open camp: The All-Pro safety is currently negotiating a new deal with team bra s, and coach Brandon Staley sounds optimistic he’ll be on the field soon: The have shifted money in their star tight end’s contract5. name their starter for 2022Well that didn’t take long. Just one day into training camp, despite spending a third-round pick on QB , the Falcons have declared Mariota, the former starter-turned-No. 2, their Week 1 signal-caller. Coach Arthur Smith has a history with Mariota, who was always seen as the favorite to . Now the question is, how much leeway will the former first-round draft pick receive? And how far off is Ridder from challenging for snaps? 6. Camp roundup: Key injuries, ‘ Jose Ramirez Jersey QB battle, moreWant more tidbits from around camp? You came to the right place:: The Pro Bowler suffered a knee injury: The former Pro Bowler has been banged up for two years: The Dolphins QB vows to avoid outside opinions of his progre s: Matt Rhule says they’ll compete for “a while”: And the veteran plans to sign with a new team during camp: After signing a one-day contract with Seattle: The former Chiefs starter has battled injuries in recent seasons…
It goes without saying R.A. Dickey Jersey that the coming 2022 NFL season is exceedingly important for the , and not simply head coach Mike McCarthy. It's also pivotal for several cornerstone players, including All-Pro left tackle , who has had difficulty staying healthy on an annual basis. Unfortunately for Smith, with OTAs now well underway, he's already nursing an i sue the Cowboys are keeping an eye on -- albeit seemingly minor (at least at the moment).The eight-time Pro Bowler mi sed the second day of practice at OTAs due to tightne s in his lower back, McCarthy told media Wednesday, and while he was present the entire day leading up to practice, the team decided to "play it smart" and not push the i sue by forcing him onto the field for drills in late May. The 31-year-old hasn't played a complete regular season since 2015, and recently mi sed all but two games in 2020 due to neck surgery and a high ankle sprain along with a stint on the reserve/COVID-19 list cost him six games in 2021.As is often the case, Smith's health Ronald Acuna Jr. Jersey will take center stage entering training camp and the regular season. DAL OT #77 The Cowboys are hoping to , a position of dire need, but the first-round pick and Fort Worth native will now certainly get looks at left tackle as well (the position he most often played for Tulsa) with the elder Smith absent this week, along with rookie fifth-round draft pick Matt Waletzko and Josh Ball, the latter entering Year 2 with the club.Smith was joined on the sideline by , the newly signed wide receiver seen wearing a walking boot at OTAs, and the Cowboys are being cautious with his injury as well, though not detailing what the exact nature of it is. "I know he won't work next week," said McCarthy. "I can't give you the specifics of that, too. It's not of a serious nature. I'm not worried long-term." Jared Shuster Jersey NYG WR #83 TAR44REC24REC YDs285REC TD2FL0 Washington was brought in during free agency after the team traded four-time Pro Bowl receiver to the and lost their bet that would re-sign in Dallas -- Wilson instead taking his talents to South Beach to join the . Although the re-signing of became that much more paramount following those two lo ses, it's likely Adam Duval Jersey he will mi s the start of the season as he continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered in 2021; and despite prepping for his new role as WR1 heading into September, the Cowboys' usually deep WR corps was instantly made exceedingly thin.This sets Washington up for what might be a big role on a one-year prove-it deal, but he must first get healthy and then ramp up to compete with a promising talent like rookie wide receiver . But Tolbert himself is nursing what's being described as a minor injury, and isn't expected to take the field this week, either. It's still two months until training camp arrives for the Cowboys, so there's no concern that any of the aforementioned (Gallup Babe Ruth Jersey notwithstanding) will mi s any actual games, but the team is already working through some early injury bug bites and, given Smith's i sues with durability and his importance to the team's succe s, it's fair to pay very close attention to his status as OTAs, minicamp and the preseason roll along.
It goes without saying R.A. Dickey Jersey that the coming 2022 NFL season is exceedingly important for the , and not simply head coach Mike McCarthy. It’s also pivotal for several cornerstone players, including All-Pro left tackle , who has had difficulty staying healthy on an annual basis. Unfortunately for Smith, with OTAs now well underway, he’s already nursing an i sue the Cowboys are keeping an eye on — albeit seemingly minor (at least at the moment).The eight-time Pro Bowler mi sed the second day of practice at OTAs due to tightne s in his lower back, McCarthy told media Wednesday, and while he was present the entire day leading up to practice, the team decided to “play it smart” and not push the i sue by forcing him onto the field for drills in late May. The 31-year-old hasn’t played a complete regular season since 2015, and recently mi sed all but two games in 2020 due to neck surgery and a high ankle sprain along with a stint on the reserve/COVID-19 list cost him six games in 2021.As is often the case, Smith’s health Ronald Acuna Jr. Jersey will take center stage entering training camp and the regular season. DAL OT #77 The Cowboys are hoping to , a position of dire need, but the first-round pick and Fort Worth native will now certainly get looks at left tackle as well (the position he most often played for Tulsa) with the elder Smith absent this week, along with rookie fifth-round draft pick Matt Waletzko and Josh Ball, the latter entering Year 2 with the club.Smith was joined on the sideline by , the newly signed wide receiver seen wearing a walking boot at OTAs, and the Cowboys are being cautious with his injury as well, though not detailing what the exact nature of it is. “I know he won’t work next week,” said McCarthy. “I can’t give you the specifics of that, too. It’s not of a serious nature. I’m not worried long-term.” Jared Shuster Jersey NYG WR #83 TAR44REC24REC YDs285REC TD2FL0 Washington was brought in during free agency after the team traded four-time Pro Bowl receiver to the and lost their bet that would re-sign in Dallas — Wilson instead taking his talents to South Beach to join the . Although the re-signing of became that much more paramount following those two lo ses, it’s likely Adam Duval Jersey he will mi s the start of the season as he continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered in 2021; and despite prepping for his new role as WR1 heading into September, the Cowboys’ usually deep WR corps was instantly made exceedingly thin.This sets Washington up for what might be a big role on a one-year prove-it deal, but he must first get healthy and then ramp up to compete with a promising talent like rookie wide receiver . But Tolbert himself is nursing what’s being described as a minor injury, and isn’t expected to take the field this week, either. It’s still two months until training camp arrives for the Cowboys, so there’s no concern that any of the aforementioned (Gallup Babe Ruth Jersey notwithstanding) will mi s any actual games, but the team is already working through some early injury bug bites and, given Smith’s i sues with durability and his importance to the team’s succe s, it’s fair to pay very close attention to his status as OTAs, minicamp and the preseason roll along.…
Teams looking to open their first preseason slate in two years meet when the take on the on Saturday in Week 1 of the 2021 . The coronavirus pandemic wiped out the 2020 exhibition season, putting a crimp on talent evaluations throughout the league. The Browns, who finished 11-5 and tied for second in the AFC North with the , will be looking for consecutive postseason appearances since reaching the playoffs in five straight seasons from 1985 to 1989. The Jaguars, who were last in the AFC South at 1-15 in 2020, have not reached the postseason since 2017.The game from TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla., is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET. A good part of Cleveland's succe s in 2020 can be attributed to its defense, which ranked 17th in the league in yards allowed at 358.4, while the Jaguars were Joakim Soria Jersey 31st at 417.7. Jacksonville is a 3.5-point favorite in the latest Browns vs. Jaguars odds from Caesars Sportsbook Rollie Fingers Jersey , while the over-under for total points scored is set at 37. Before making any Jaguars vs. Browns picks or NFL preseason bets, .A national sportswriter whose work appears in The New York Times and Los Angeles Times, Tierney has covered the for decades and reported from seven Super Bowls. He's crushed his , going 187-147 against the spread (56 percent) the past three seasons. All-time at SportsLine (2016-20), Tierney is 347-291 on all NFL picks, returning $2,534 to $100 players.Tierney has had a lot of succe s in games involving the Jacksonville Jaguars. He went 23-12 in his last 35 against-the-spread in Jacksonville games, returning $1,013 to $100 players. Anybody who has been following him is way up. Now, Tierney has locked in another confident against the spread pick for the Jaguars vs. Browns matchup. . Here are the NFL preseason betting odds, lines, and trends for Browns vs. Jaguars:Browns vs. Jaguars spread: Jacksonville -3.5Browns vs. Jaguars over-under: 37 pointsBrowns vs. Jaguars money line: Cleveland +155, Jacksonville -175CLE: The Browns are 4- Catfish Hunter Jersey 1 against the spread in their last five games as road underdogsJAX: The Jaguars are 6-2 ATS in their last eight Saturday games Featured Game | Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns Moneyline Spread Total JAC CLE Why the Jaguars can coverNew coach Urban Meyer wants to build a winning attitude and is taking the preseason seriously. He also wants to get a good look at his squad, and that includes the 25th selection in the first-round. Running back Jr., quarterback and top pick teammate at Clemson, is expected to see a lot of action. Etienne led Clemson in rushing with 914 yards on 168 carries (5.4 average) and 14 touchdowns. He also caught 48 pa ses for 588 yards (12.3 average) and two touchdowns.Also expected to see some action is top returning running back, . Robinson played in 14 games in 2020, carrying 240 times for 1,070 yards (4.5 average) and seven touchdowns. He had five explosive plays of 20 or more yards and converted 54 first downs. He also caught 49 pa ses for 344 yards (7.0 average) and three TDs. He had two receptions resulting in explosive plays and converted 15 first downs as a receiver. Why the Browns can coverAlthough wide receiver has had an excellent camp, he isn't expected to play much on Saturday. Instead, the Browns are expected to take a good look at . The undrafted receiver from Louisiana, was among the team's final roster cuts in 2020, but signed to the Fernando Rodney Jersey team's practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster for Weeks 13, 14 and 16 as well as the team's wild card game against the . In the three regular-season games, he caught five pa ses for 60 yards (12.0 average) and had one explosive play of 22 yards.Rookie , who can play both running back and wide Brett Anderson Jersey receiver, is also expected to get a good look. Felton, a sixth-round draft choice from UCLA, earned second-team All-Pac 12 honors in 2020. He led the Bruins in rushing, carrying 132 times for 668 yards (5.1 average) and five touchdowns. He had career highs of 32 carries and 206 yards in a 27-10 win over Arizona, and finished as the fourth-leading rusher in the conference.How to make Browns vs. Jaguars picksTierney has analyzed this matchup from all angles and has discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. . Who wins Browns vs. Jaguars? And what critical x-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? , and find out.
Teams looking to open their first preseason slate in two years meet when the take on the on Saturday in Week 1 of the 2021 . The coronavirus pandemic wiped out the 2020 exhibition season, putting a crimp on talent evaluations throughout the league. The Browns, who finished 11-5 and tied for second in the AFC North with the , will be looking for consecutive postseason appearances since reaching the playoffs in five straight seasons from 1985 to 1989. The Jaguars, who were last in the AFC South at 1-15 in 2020, have not reached the postseason since 2017.The game from TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla., is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET. A good part of Cleveland’s succe s in 2020 can be attributed to its defense, which ranked 17th in the league in yards allowed at 358.4, while the Jaguars were Joakim Soria Jersey 31st at 417.7. Jacksonville is a 3.5-point favorite in the latest Browns vs. Jaguars odds from Caesars Sportsbook Rollie Fingers Jersey , while the over-under for total points scored is set at 37. Before making any Jaguars vs. Browns picks or NFL preseason bets, .A national sportswriter whose work appears in The New York Times and Los Angeles Times, Tierney has covered the for decades and reported from seven Super Bowls. He’s crushed his , going 187-147 against the spread (56 percent) the past three seasons. All-time at SportsLine (2016-20), Tierney is 347-291 on all NFL picks, returning $2,534 to $100 players.Tierney has had a lot of succe s in games involving the Jacksonville Jaguars. He went 23-12 in his last 35 against-the-spread in Jacksonville games, returning $1,013 to $100 players. Anybody who has been following him is way up. Now, Tierney has locked in another confident against the spread pick for the Jaguars vs. Browns matchup. . Here are the NFL preseason betting odds, lines, and trends for Browns vs. Jaguars:Browns vs. Jaguars spread: Jacksonville -3.5Browns vs. Jaguars over-under: 37 pointsBrowns vs. Jaguars money line: Cleveland +155, Jacksonville -175CLE: The Browns are 4- Catfish Hunter Jersey 1 against the spread in their last five games as road underdogsJAX: The Jaguars are 6-2 ATS in their last eight Saturday games Featured Game | Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns Moneyline Spread Total JAC CLE Why the Jaguars can coverNew coach Urban Meyer wants to build a winning attitude and is taking the preseason seriously. He also wants to get a good look at his squad, and that includes the 25th selection in the first-round. Running back Jr., quarterback and top pick teammate at Clemson, is expected to see a lot of action. Etienne led Clemson in rushing with 914 yards on 168 carries (5.4 average) and 14 touchdowns. He also caught 48 pa ses for 588 yards (12.3 average) and two touchdowns.Also expected to see some action is top returning running back, . Robinson played in 14 games in 2020, carrying 240 times for 1,070 yards (4.5 average) and seven touchdowns. He had five explosive plays of 20 or more yards and converted 54 first downs. He also caught 49 pa ses for 344 yards (7.0 average) and three TDs. He had two receptions resulting in explosive plays and converted 15 first downs as a receiver. Why the Browns can coverAlthough wide receiver has had an excellent camp, he isn’t expected to play much on Saturday. Instead, the Browns are expected to take a good look at . The undrafted receiver from Louisiana, was among the team’s final roster cuts in 2020, but signed to the Fernando Rodney Jersey team’s practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster for Weeks 13, 14 and 16 as well as the team’s wild card game against the . In the three regular-season games, he caught five pa ses for 60 yards (12.0 average) and had one explosive play of 22 yards.Rookie , who can play both running back and wide Brett Anderson Jersey receiver, is also expected to get a good look. Felton, a sixth-round draft choice from UCLA, earned second-team All-Pac 12 honors in 2020. He led the Bruins in rushing, carrying 132 times for 668 yards (5.1 average) and five touchdowns. He had career highs of 32 carries and 206 yards in a 27-10 win over Arizona, and finished as the fourth-leading rusher in the conference.How to make Browns vs. Jaguars picksTierney has analyzed this matchup from all angles and has discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. . Who wins Browns vs. Jaguars? And what critical x-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? , and find out.…
The became the first team in history to select a quarterback and a running back from the same school in the Matt Joyce Jersey first round of the common-draft era. Jacksonville selected Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick and Travis Etienne at No. 25, reuniting the pair of Clemson teammates.Drafting a running back in the first round these days appears to be a stretch, especially the way Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer plans to use Etienne. Keep Oakland Athletics Jersey in mind the Jaguars have and on their roster."I see Carlos and James the 1-2, downhill, powerful running backs," Meyer said. "And I see Travis -- there's times where we could be in two-backs and Travis is a guy that goes out. Or we're still playing with it, but he's certainly a third-down back and he's a guy that's a matchup i sue for the Reggie Jackson Jersey defense." Etienne is the third-down back? This all depends on how Meyer plans to use a third-down back and split the carries, along with the offensive scheme he tries to run. Etienne should compete for carries immediately in Jacksonville given his college resume. He is the ACC's all-time leader in rushing yards (4,952), scrimmage yards (6,107), rushing touchdowns (70), and scrimmage touchdowns (78).So why can Etienne fit as a third-down running back and contribute immediately? Etienne has 1,020 receiving yards over the last two seasons -- the most in FBS by a running back.The Jaguars are determined to make Lawrence succe sful. The best way to do that is to bring in a familiar face. "We had the conversation Yusmeiro Petit Jersey . 'How do you get a guy succe sful?' Have a very strong run game,''' Meyer said. "We had a chance to go with this -- Travis Blake Treinen Jersey . I've had some good fortune over the years to have a guy that can do both, flex out. He's as good outside as a receiver as he is as a running back. So, he's a high-end character guy that has elite speed, that -- really, really excited."
The became the first team in history to select a quarterback and a running back from the same school in the Matt Joyce Jersey first round of the common-draft era. Jacksonville selected Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick and Travis Etienne at No. 25, reuniting the pair of Clemson teammates.Drafting a running back in the first round these days appears to be a stretch, especially the way Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer plans to use Etienne. Keep Oakland Athletics Jersey in mind the Jaguars have and on their roster.”I see Carlos and James the 1-2, downhill, powerful running backs,” Meyer said. “And I see Travis — there’s times where we could be in two-backs and Travis is a guy that goes out. Or we’re still playing with it, but he’s certainly a third-down back and he’s a guy that’s a matchup i sue for the Reggie Jackson Jersey defense.” Etienne is the third-down back? This all depends on how Meyer plans to use a third-down back and split the carries, along with the offensive scheme he tries to run. Etienne should compete for carries immediately in Jacksonville given his college resume. He is the ACC’s all-time leader in rushing yards (4,952), scrimmage yards (6,107), rushing touchdowns (70), and scrimmage touchdowns (78).So why can Etienne fit as a third-down running back and contribute immediately? Etienne has 1,020 receiving yards over the last two seasons — the most in FBS by a running back.The Jaguars are determined to make Lawrence succe sful. The best way to do that is to bring in a familiar face. “We had the conversation Yusmeiro Petit Jersey . ‘How do you get a guy succe sful?’ Have a very strong run game,”’ Meyer said. “We had a chance to go with this — Travis Blake Treinen Jersey . I’ve had some good fortune over the years to have a guy that can do both, flex out. He’s as good outside as a receiver as he is as a running back. So, he’s a high-end character guy that has elite speed, that — really, really excited.”…
Six weeks into the NFL season has been enough to determine the gap between the best and worst divisions in football -- which is only widening as each interdivision game is being played. The NFC West has been on top for the majority of the early portion of the year while the NFC East isn't the worst division in the league -- not even in contention for that "honor" despite how poor it has looked.The battle for the league's top division has come full circle thanks to the emergence of the AFC North and the early-season succe s of the AFC West. As for the league's worst division? The AFC South may be emerging from the basement after a strong Week 6, making the race at the bottom even more intriguing.This week's power rankings demonstrate the gap between the top four divisions and the bottom four:Last week's ranking: 7What an awful week for the AFC East. No team in the division emerged victorious Manny Ramirez Jersey -- not even the . To make matters worse for the AFC East, the division lost two interdivisional games to the AFC South, which headed into Week 6 with 2-12 record against teams outside the division. The falling to the -- and snapping Jacksonville's 20-game losing streak -- is a bad stain on this division. The gave the all they could handle, but they are another team in this division that's at least two games under .500 (there are three of them).Even with the powerhouse Bills, the AFC East is 5-12 in interdivisional games. Overall, the division has a combined record of 8-15. A poor Week 6 Hanley Ramirez Jersey puts the AFC East at the bottom this week, as only Buffalo can salvage this division from becoming the worst in football.Last week's ranking: 8Didn't think the AFC South had the power to go undefeated in out-of-division games this week (or any week for that matter), but this division deserves a lot of credit. Whether the Bills decide to go for it on fourth down or not, the showed that they still are a threat in the AFC despite their rocky start. Tenne see was able to keep its division lead with the huge "Monday Night Football" win, and avoid falling to .500. The took care of the in an intra-divisional matchup to advance to 2-4, but the shocker this week was the Jacksonville Jaguars upsetting the Miami Dolphins in London -- a major reason why the AFC South isn't the worst in football this week.It is still just 4-12 in interdivisional games, but half those wins came this week. Overall, the AFC South has a combined record of 8-16. Going 2-0 against the AFC East jumps the AFC South up a spot.Last week's ranking: 6This wasn't a banner week for the NFC East. The were embarra sed by the for three quarters before making the game closer than it seemed while the were blown out by the . Both games were at home. The Washington Football Team actually led at halftime against the before getting outscored 21-0 in the second half. These lo ses were expected for the NFC East, even if all those games occurred at home.If it wasn't for the Dallas Cowboys being one of the best teams in football, the NFC East would be competing with the AFC South and AFC East for the worst division. Dallas is already three games up on Washington and Philadelphia for the division lead through six weeks. Despite the other NFC East teams (not named Dallas) having a combined record of 5-13, the division is 7-11 in interdivisional games. The NFC East has a combined record of 10-14. Last week's ranking: 5The Michael Brantley Jersey NFC North isn't a good division either, as no team in this group appears to be a formidable challenge for the . The are showing signs of being a playoff team in the NFC, which has five good teams and then the next two playoff spots are wide open -- which should make for an interesting next 12 weeks.The are the only winle s team in football and didn't look competitive in a lo s to the . Green Bay took care of the on the road as still is figuring out the . Playing Tampa Bay this week isn't likely to help Chicago either.Overall, the NFC North is 6-10 in interdivisional games and has a combined record of 11-13. There's three teams .500 or better in the NFC North, which separates the division from the other bottom dwellers. Last week's ranking: 4With two teams on a bye in the NFC South this week, it was hard to gauge whether the division should move up or down in the rankings. Tampa Bay took care of Philadelphia on Thursday night, but the fell to the Minnesota Vikings in overtime at home -- a game that really could have gone either way. The Panthers are 0-3 in their three games without , who was placed on injured reserve last week.This division has three teams .500 or better and its teams have a combined record of 14-9. The NFC South definitely belongs with the upper tier of divisions with an 11-7 interdivisional record, but it's hard to rank them above the top divisions with half the teams idle last week. The South is a division to keep an eye on in the weeks ahead, especially with winnable games for each team in Week 7 (the entire division plays interdivisional games).Last week's ranking: 3Hard for this division to move up or down either given the and played an intra-divisional matchup, Trevor Bauer Jersey which the Raiders won to improve to 4-2. Every team in this division is .500 or better thanks to the Chiefs blowing out Washington in the second half -- Kansas City still surprisingly resides in last place in the West. The give the West a poor grade as the division leaders, getting blown out by the (who lead the AFC North) in a game in which they weren't even competitive. Los Angeles still leads the division at 4-2 as every team is within one game of each other.The AFC West is one of the deepest divisions in the league, having a combined record of 14-10. The division is 11-7 in out-of-division matchups. In Week 7, the Chiefs have a huge game against the Titans while the Broncos have a big road test against the . A pair of wins could move the AFC West up a notch -- and give them a shot to compete for the best division in football.Last week's ranking: 2The AFC North is the biggest challenger to the NFC West for the best division in football. The Ravens thrashed the Chargers in a battle of division leaders while the were able to hold off the on "Sunday Night Football." The Bengals were able to take care of the Lions to give the division an impre sive 3-1 week, with the injured Cleveland Browns getting pummeled by the at home -- a game that could have potentially moved the North into the top spot. Again, this division is good. No team is under .500 and the Ravens may be the best team in the AFC through six B.J. Upton Jersey weeks. The Bengals have the look of a playoff team and the Steelers are proving they never should be counted out. Cleveland's injuries may hurt (no pun intended), but the Browns have a lot of talent on that roster.An impre sive 14-8 in interdivisional games, the AFC North has a combined record of 15-9. T
Six weeks into the NFL season has been enough to determine the gap between the best and worst divisions in football — which is only widening as each interdivision game is being played. The NFC West has been on top for the majority of the early portion of the year while the NFC East isn’t the worst division in the league — not even in contention for that “honor” despite how poor it has looked.The battle for the league’s top division has come full circle thanks to the emergence of the AFC North and the early-season succe s of the AFC West. As for the league’s worst division? The AFC South may be emerging from the basement after a strong Week 6, making the race at the bottom even more intriguing.This week’s power rankings demonstrate the gap between the top four divisions and the bottom four:Last week’s ranking: 7What an awful week for the AFC East. No team in the division emerged victorious Manny Ramirez Jersey — not even the . To make matters worse for the AFC East, the division lost two interdivisional games to the AFC South, which headed into Week 6 with 2-12 record against teams outside the division. The falling to the — and snapping Jacksonville’s 20-game losing streak — is a bad stain on this division. The gave the all they could handle, but they are another team in this division that’s at least two games under .500 (there are three of them).Even with the powerhouse Bills, the AFC East is 5-12 in interdivisional games. Overall, the division has a combined record of 8-15. A poor Week 6 Hanley Ramirez Jersey puts the AFC East at the bottom this week, as only Buffalo can salvage this division from becoming the worst in football.Last week’s ranking: 8Didn’t think the AFC South had the power to go undefeated in out-of-division games this week (or any week for that matter), but this division deserves a lot of credit. Whether the Bills decide to go for it on fourth down or not, the showed that they still are a threat in the AFC despite their rocky start. Tenne see was able to keep its division lead with the huge “Monday Night Football” win, and avoid falling to .500. The took care of the in an intra-divisional matchup to advance to 2-4, but the shocker this week was the Jacksonville Jaguars upsetting the Miami Dolphins in London — a major reason why the AFC South isn’t the worst in football this week.It is still just 4-12 in interdivisional games, but half those wins came this week. Overall, the AFC South has a combined record of 8-16. Going 2-0 against the AFC East jumps the AFC South up a spot.Last week’s ranking: 6This wasn’t a banner week for the NFC East. The were embarra sed by the for three quarters before making the game closer than it seemed while the were blown out by the . Both games were at home. The Washington Football Team actually led at halftime against the before getting outscored 21-0 in the second half. These lo ses were expected for the NFC East, even if all those games occurred at home.If it wasn’t for the Dallas Cowboys being one of the best teams in football, the NFC East would be competing with the AFC South and AFC East for the worst division. Dallas is already three games up on Washington and Philadelphia for the division lead through six weeks. Despite the other NFC East teams (not named Dallas) having a combined record of 5-13, the division is 7-11 in interdivisional games. The NFC East has a combined record of 10-14. Last week’s ranking: 5The Michael Brantley Jersey NFC North isn’t a good division either, as no team in this group appears to be a formidable challenge for the . The are showing signs of being a playoff team in the NFC, which has five good teams and then the next two playoff spots are wide open — which should make for an interesting next 12 weeks.The are the only winle s team in football and didn’t look competitive in a lo s to the . Green Bay took care of the on the road as still is figuring out the . Playing Tampa Bay this week isn’t likely to help Chicago either.Overall, the NFC North is 6-10 in interdivisional games and has a combined record of 11-13. There’s three teams .500 or better in the NFC North, which separates the division from the other bottom dwellers. Last week’s ranking: 4With two teams on a bye in the NFC South this week, it was hard to gauge whether the division should move up or down in the rankings. Tampa Bay took care of Philadelphia on Thursday night, but the fell to the Minnesota Vikings in overtime at home — a game that really could have gone either way. The Panthers are 0-3 in their three games without , who was placed on injured reserve last week.This division has three teams .500 or better and its teams have a combined record of 14-9. The NFC South definitely belongs with the upper tier of divisions with an 11-7 interdivisional record, but it’s hard to rank them above the top divisions with half the teams idle last week. The South is a division to keep an eye on in the weeks ahead, especially with winnable games for each team in Week 7 (the entire division plays interdivisional games).Last week’s ranking: 3Hard for this division to move up or down either given the and played an intra-divisional matchup, Trevor Bauer Jersey which the Raiders won to improve to 4-2. Every team in this division is .500 or better thanks to the Chiefs blowing out Washington in the second half — Kansas City still surprisingly resides in last place in the West. The give the West a poor grade as the division leaders, getting blown out by the (who lead the AFC North) in a game in which they weren’t even competitive. Los Angeles still leads the division at 4-2 as every team is within one game of each other.The AFC West is one of the deepest divisions in the league, having a combined record of 14-10. The division is 11-7 in out-of-division matchups. In Week 7, the Chiefs have a huge game against the Titans while the Broncos have a big road test against the . A pair of wins could move the AFC West up a notch — and give them a shot to compete for the best division in football.Last week’s ranking: 2The AFC North is the biggest challenger to the NFC West for the best division in football. The Ravens thrashed the Chargers in a battle of division leaders while the were able to hold off the on “Sunday Night Football.” The Bengals were able to take care of the Lions to give the division an impre sive 3-1 week, with the injured Cleveland Browns getting pummeled by the at home — a game that could have potentially moved the North into the top spot. Again, this division is good. No team is under .500 and the Ravens may be the best team in the AFC through six B.J. Upton Jersey weeks. The Bengals have the look of a playoff team and the Steelers are proving they never should be counted out. Cleveland’s injuries may hurt (no pun intended), but the Browns have a lot of talent on that roster.An impre sive 14-8 in interdivisional games, the AFC North has a combined record of 15-9. T…
