NFL: Week Six Review

The playoff picture and the overall strengths and weaknesses of front-running teams in the league became a little clearer after the sixth weekend of the year.

Even as a Giants fan, it was impossible not to be a little impressed by the way Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense torched the league's #1 defense for 40+ points. For those who thought that the Saints QB was losing it after two consecutive weeks without a touchdown toss, think again. Brees went 23/30 for 369 yards and 4 TDs. New Orleans have shown that they're the best team in the league, bar none. It'll take a VERY good football team to challenge them for NFC supremacy. As for the Giants, it's not all bad. Their closest NFC East rivals are now two games back, and you figure they'll be stronger for the experience. At least Eli Manning didn't get hurt.

Still on the NFC East, and I'm not quite sure what to make of Philadelphia's clunker against, of all teams, the Oakland Raiders. I must say, the Raider fans are the most fickle in the league. They booed JaMarcus Russell to begin the game and were cheering him to end the game. Compared to his previous efforts, his 17/28 for 224 yards and an 86-yard TD toss to Zach Miller could just about put him in the Hall of Fame. As for the Eagles and speaking of fickle...well, it's going to be a long week for Donovan McNabb in the City of Brotherly Love. You think Mike Vick's suddenly become their favourite Eagle QB?

Welcome back Tom Brady. How we missed ye! This was the Patriots offense we expected to see at the start of the season. Nothing like having the woeful Tennessee Titans coming into your house to use for a nice, handy, practice scrimmage-style tune-up. It wasn't even close. 5 TDs in the second quarter for Brady (29/34 for 380 yards and 6 total TDs), a 45-yard run for a TD by Laurence Maroney, and even Brian Hoyer, an undrafted free agent rookie out of Michigan State, managed to go 9/11 for 52 yards and a rushing TD. On the flip side, Kerry Collins was a terrible 2/12 for -7 yards and an INT. Expect Vince Young to start next week. Brady was 29/34 for 380 yards and a Patriots record 6 TDs.

The Vikings remain undefeated at 6-0 after another hero effort from Brett Favre to top a resurgent Baltimore Ravens outfit who got pipped at the post again this week. At 3-3, I'm not sure quite what to make of Joe Flacco and the Ravens just yet. They've been lucky twice in a row, and maybe three weeks running if you count the roughing-the-passer calls against Tom Brady and the Pats. The fact of the matter is, though, that they're in a tough division. The AFC North might be the toughest in the NFL this year.

Definitely the surprise of the season: the Denver Broncos. They took a lucky break in week one to beat the Bengals, and have played largely mistake-free football since then. When you give up a meagre 10 points in the second half all year, you're going to win football games. Josh McDaniels has done a great job at Mile High. He's revitalised guys like Brian Dawkins (whom many people thought was past it) and also roped in Brandon Marshall, whose output this season has him headed for a career year. As Ron Jaworski said on MNF yesterday: QB Kyle Orton is like the Rodney Dangerfield of the NFL. He gets no respect. You wonder when that will change, given the season he's having!

Honourable mentions:

Matt Schaub: 28/40 for 392 yards and 4 TDs. Always been high on Schaub. Could be a breakout season.
Ben Roethlisberger: 23/35 for 417 yards and 2 TDs. Big Ben just keeps on keeping on. Great selection of receivers.
Matt Ryan: 19/33 for 185 yards and 2 TDs. He keeps doing enough to win the Falcons football games.