Week 6 of the NFL season featured a star player returning from one of the most dramatic injuries of the season, an important game across the pond, and another devastating loss for a Super Bowl contender.
Here’s all the action you need to know from Sunday.
Caleb Williams picked up where he left off
Chicago Bears starting quarterback Caleb Williams played Sunday for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 2, and he was spectacular in a 31-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Williams completed 30 of 36 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown, improving his completion percentage to 72.5% for the season.
Williams was particularly effective when not facing pressure. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Williams completed all 24 of his passes with a blank pocket, the most attempts without a miss under such circumstances since 2018.
After going 2-1 without their starter, the Bears improved to 4-2 with the victory. The offense has hummed with Williams at center, averaging 31.0 points per game in his three starts. Chicago will now enter a period of its season in the spotlight, as the team’s next three games will all be played in prime time.
The Rams are still looking for answers
Six weeks after starting the season as heavy favorites to win the Super Bowl, the Los Angeles Rams (2-4) occupy last place in the NFC West after Sunday’s 18-16 home defeat against the Arizona Cardinals.
After a frustrating, low-offensive day, the Rams finally managed to muster some productive momentum to tie the game at 15 in the final minute of the fourth quarter. The rest was not a foregone conclusion. The team cut kicker Harrison Mevis after a miss in last week’s loss to Buffalo, only to see his replacement, Blake Grupe, get injured while attempting to make a tackle early Sunday. That left Rams punter Ethan Evans rallying to attempt his first point after since college — which he did to give Los Angeles a one-point lead with 47 seconds left.
But it was another kicker who became the hero. A controversial penalty given to the Rams for unnecessary roughness – a penalty that increased the Cardinals’ winning probability from 26% to 74% – helped Arizona’s final drive move downfield into position for Chad Ryland to attempt a game-winning 43-yard kick. He managed to keep the Rams always looking for consistency. By the way: The Rams and Chargers have a combined victory at their home stadium, SoFi Stadium, this season. The Cardinals are 2-0 there.
The Texans’ season isn’t over yet.
The Houston Texans are winners of two straight games after a 34-31 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. It was the first match of the day on Sunday, and perhaps the best. Quarterbacks CJ Stroud and Trevor Lawrence totaled 618 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. Stroud was nearly perfect, posting a quarterback rating of 96.9 (out of a possible 100).
After the Texans took a 10-point lead in the final minute of the third quarter, the Jaguars came roaring back. First, Lawrence led a nine-play, 61-yard touchdown drive to cut the score to 31-28 early in the fourth. Then, after a Travis Hunter interception, Lawrence led a 38-yard drive that resulted in a 60-yard Cam Little field goal.
But Houston had the last laugh. After Little’s kick, the Texans quickly marched into Jacksonville territory with the ensuing possession. Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a 49-yard field goal as time expired, securing Houston’s second victory of the season.
The Texans are now 2-4, and while their climb to the playoffs will be tough, Houston reached the postseason after an 0-3 start a year ago. If Stroud maintains his current level of play – he’s thrown nine touchdowns and just one interception so far this season – the Texans won’t be a pushover.
The Titans came out of the winless ranks
Tennessee’s season-long nightmare is finally over. The Titans finally won a game, eliminating their division rival, the Indianapolis Colts, 26-20. Tennessee came back strong in the second half, scoring all of its points in the final 30 minutes, including 20 in the final quarter.
The Colts helped the cause with a litany of errors. Quarterback Daniel Jones threw two interceptions, running back Jonathan Taylor had a fumble, special teams blocked a punt for a touchdown and the offense also had a turnover on downs for good measure.
The Titans are now 1-5. Indianapolis, meanwhile, started this season with high expectations from owners, but fell to 2-4 after the loss.
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