The NFL Roundup - Week 6

Written by John Edward Betancourt

(Joe Mahoney/Associated Press

Week 6 in the NFL is a special time for the league mainly because everyone is starting to settle into a routine. Losing teams just keep on losing, and while winning teams are often enjoying continued success; routine can build complacency and sometimes, they find themselves stunned with an epic loss. Just ask Denver, since it happened to them last week. Either way, it's up to the players to find ways to keep the game exciting in their minds going forward, which means we could be in for some stunning games and fascinating stories this weekend, depending on how those mental reps go and here are the stories we will be keeping an eye on this week in the NFL.

Will the Denver Broncos bounce back from their first loss of the season?
Any way you slice it, the Broncos were manhandled by the Atlanta Falcons last week in stunning fashion. The defense could not stop the run, the offensive line couldn't protect Paxton Lynch and you know this is a team that is not happy in the slightest about that loss and is ready to rebound from it by trouncing the San Diego Chargers, but can they do it? It's possible since Trevor Siemian is back in the lineup for Thursday Night Football...but the offensive line is still weak and Gary Kubiak will be resting comfortably at home, recovering from a migraine issue. So, in order for Denver to recover from that stinging loss, Interim Head Coach Joe DeCamillis is going to have to be ready to adjust the gameplan on the fly as necessary, something Kubiak does in masterful fashion, and the line has to keep Siemian upright and get the ground game going. If they can do that, all will be right in Broncos Country. 

Will the Buffalo Bills continue their amazing win streak?
A few weeks ago, many of us in football land were ready to forget about the Buffalo Bills. They had lost the first two games of the season, Rex Ryan was once more talking the big talk and not backing it up and then something magical happened. The team buckled down and here we are...with Buffalo enjoying a three game win streak. Heck, they even beat the Patriots and well, will this hot streak continue for the Bills? I think the answer is a resounding yes. After all, they are squaring off against the San Francisco 49ers, a team that just changed quarterbacks because nothing is going right on offense, and the Bills are going to feast upon that. They will attack Colin Kaepernick non stop, hope to exploit the rust and more than likely...walk away with their fourth straight win. 

Will Cam Newton's return make a difference?
The Carolina Panthers are in a free fall right now. Their season continues to slip away mainly because of the fact that the team is devoid of confidence and leadership at the moment. The captains on this squad are doubting themselves and that doubt is spreading like wildfire. For a moment there it seemed as though a change at quarterback was going to mix things up when Derek Anderson took the field and kept the Atlanta game competitive...but he was utterly ineffective on Monday Night against Tampa Bay. Which begs the question...with the players so down upon themselves and playing awful football right now, does it matter that Cam Newton is coming back to start? It does...provided that Cam took a moment while recovering to refocus himself on football. If he comes back, and energizes this squad, reminds them that they can do this if they execute one play at a time, we can expect some big things from Carolina this weekend. But if Cam comes out and lets adversity get to him...then it's just business as usual for the Panthers and they can add yet another L to the loss column.

Will Cincinnati be the next victim on the Patriots 2016 Revenge Tour?
With or without Tom Brady, the Patriots have made it clear that every single one of their opponents should be ready for one hell of a fight on the field, and their 4-1 record reflects that. They have steamrolled over teams, shut one team out, and now that Brady is back, they'll be even harder to beat, but this team proved that they are not invincible with their loss to the Bills, so does that mean that Cincinnati can stop them? That all depends, because this Bengals team, a force to be reckoned with a year ago, seem lost and confused on the field. At times they are outright brilliant and dominant, the rest of the time they are an absolute mess on offense and defense. Their season hasn't come to an end yet, but it is most certainly on the brink which means that with their backs against the wall, there is a chance they can beat the Patriots, provided they look like their old selves. If the team can get the run game going, and Dalton can find his receivers, the offense will certainly put up some big points; and if the defense can find its teeth once again and attack the Patriots offense and get to Brady and rattle him...they win this game. But who knows which Bengals squad will show up this Sunday, I just hope Cincinnati starts to believe in the fact that they are far more talented than their record currently reflects.

Do the Cleveland Browns finally get their first win of the season this weekend?
Nothing has gone right for the Browns this season. They have lost players left and right to injuries, they cannot execute on the field and they are 0-5 because of it. This is a team desperately in need of a win to take the sting of losing out of the locker room and allow this squad to build on something, anything for next season...so is this Sunday's game against the Titans the one they have been waiting for? After all, the Titans are a mediocre team, and beatable and well...if Cleveland can exploit their weaknesses on offense and play some tough defense...they might actually win a game. But that is easier said than done. When you can barely execute on the field and the coaching staff is incapable of adjusting on the fly, it may take a miracle for the Browns to pull it off. Granted stranger things have happened before, but my money is on Cleveland leaving Tennessee with their sixth straight loss.

---