RNOL 27/ Week 6

Rhett Okafor: "Cleveland's defense showed up to work—Jared Verse was in Pittsburgh's backfield all afternoon with 3 sacks—but this game was decided by the Steelers' inability to hold onto the football. Six turnovers against a 1-8 team is a choice, and it cost them 12 points they couldn't afford to lose."

The Browns beat Pittsburgh 37-25 behind Dylan Sampson's 2 touchdown runs and a defense that forced 6 turnovers from the Steelers. Taylen Green went 18 for 26 for 258 yards with a touchdown and 2 interceptions, while Jared Verse dominated with 3 sacks as Cleveland's pass rush generated 5 total sacks. Pittsburgh outgained Cleveland 345 to 365 in total yards and threw for 285, but the turnover margin was decisive—the Browns gave it away twice to the Steelers' six times.

Colts took care of Commanders, 30-17. Daniel Jones did the damage for Colts — 25/42, 268 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT. Tyler Warren did the catching for Colts — 9 catches, 73 yards, 1 TD. Terry McLaurin has not had a better afternoon this season. Total yards: Colts 408, Commanders 226.

Marcus Reyes: "Josh Allen's 2 interceptions against a Patriots defense that figures to give you nothing is what separates a 3-point win from a comfortable one—Buffalo's margin of victory tracks directly to its turnover problem, not its talent." Caleb Brooks: "New England's ground game kept this close enough to steal—Henderson's 172 yards gave the Pats a fighting chance they had no business having at 3-6, but Allen's arm (312 yards, 3 TD) was the difference when it mattered."

Bills needed all sixty minutes, edging Patriots 42-39. Josh Allen threw for Bills — 17/26, 312 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT. Drake Maye did the damage for Patriots — 11/20, 259 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT — in a losing effort. Make it 4 consecutive games past 250 for Drake Maye. Through the air: Bills 312, Patriots 259.

Sierra Vaughn: "Chicago had 4 turnovers to New York's 4, but Williams threw 4 touchdowns and the Bears still lost by 3—that's what happens when your defense lets up 203 rushing yards and you can't make it stick." Elise Carter: "Breece Hall had the kind of afternoon that changes how you see a player, and New York still nearly blew it—that's the thing nobody's talking about here." Don: "Williams threw 4 touchdowns and still lost—that's not on him. New York won despite 4 turnovers because Hall and 203 rushing yards did the work Chicago's defense couldn't stop."

Chicago lost a shootout it should have won. Caleb Williams threw 4 touchdowns on 28 of 42 passing for 291 yards, and the Bears defense registered 3 sacks, but the team committed 3 turnovers to New York's 4 and got outrushed 203 to 98. The Jets won 38-35 despite Cade Klubnik's 260 yards and 3 touchdowns, which tells you everything about Chicago's inability to control the line of scrimmage and protect the football. For a 3-6 team playing from behind, the Bears have to tighten up the giveaways and establish something on the ground—you can't win close games giving away the ball and ceding 203 rushing yards.

22 points separated these two, and Jaguars had all of them. Joe Burrow threw for Bengals — 12/23, 225 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT — in a losing effort. Travon Walker was the problem for Jaguars — 3 sacks. On the ground: Jaguars 89, Bengals 31.