NFL - 5 Takes from Week 6 Action
Cowboys Can't Go Back to Tony Romo
Sorry, Tony, but you're going to have to get used to being a backup quarterback if you want to remain in Dallas. Dak Prescott has exceeded all expectations after being picked up in the 4th round of the NFL draft. He has led the Cowboys to 5-1 and got his first signature win with a stunning 30-16 rout of the Packers at Lambeau Field. Prescott broke Tom Brady's record for 155 passes without an interception before he did finally throw his first pick of his career in the third quarter against the Packers. However his 18 for 27, for 247 yards and 3 touchdowns once again showed the poise and leadership that has so impressed many. There is no going back to Romo now; the Cowboys are 5-1 and running away with the division. Romo remains a very, very good quarterback at his best, however, he should be looking for a trade ASAP if he wants to play regular football for the rest of his career.
What is Going on with Aaron Rodgers
I picked the Packers to reach the Super Bowl this year off the back of superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers rebounding from the worst year of his career last year. The Packers still made the playoffs last year, however Rodgers was well done in a number of categories despite still playing at a relatively high level. Rodgers was once again inconsistent in going 31 for 42 for 294 yards, with 1 touchdown and 1 interception against the Cowboys. It was the 3rd interception Rodgers had thrown in two weeks at home after he put in a poor performance against the Giants last week. Stunningly, six weeks into the NFL season, Rodgers is in the last in completion percentage at 56% and is looking skittish in the pocket. I'm not sure who to blame, but Rodgers needs to take on some of the criticism and get back to his best because the Packers look like a team going nowhere right now.
Raiders Defence A Big Concern
The Raiders were riding high at 4-1 and sitting pretty at the top of the AFC West. However this team's defence has gone backwards this year and eventually that was going to catch up with the Raiders. They got a smack of reality when their bitter rivals the Chiefs came into town and ran them out of town on their own patch on a wet and soggy afternoon in Oakland. The Chiefs ran for over 180 yards on the ground and Alex Smith was 19 for 22 for 224 yards. The Raiders offense can't keep propping the team up and, with starting running back Latavius Murray out injured and Derek Carr having an off day, the Raiders needed the defence to step up. It was again poor as they allowed numerous long drives and fell off tackles as they coughed up sole first place in the AFC West. The Raiders have been out gained in yards in every single game in 2016 and that needs to change quick smart if this team wants to make the playoffs. The defence is last for yards conceded and in a tough AFC West the Raiders could yet drop out of contention if that continues.
Newton and the Panthers Appear Dead in the Water at 1-5
What a disaster this season is proving for Carolina coming off being upset in the Super Bowl by the Broncos. On that night Cam Newton, the league MVP, was picked off 3 times and was heavily criticised for his sulky and short post-match press conference. He repeated the dose on Sunday by walking out of a press conference after coughing up a few miserable words. The Panthers are now 1-5 and look like a team in turmoil this season after going 15-1 in the regular season last year. The team's defence has not been anything close to the machine it was last year, and Newton has played inconsistent football at best. After another sulky press conference you wonder if Newton is the sort of character that can lead his team out of a big hole, or whether he was much more at home last year when the team was crushing everyone in sight. We will learn a bit about Cam Newton in the next 10 weeks as the going gets tough in Carolina.
Tom Brady is Playing with A Rage that Makes this Team a Clear Super Bowl Favourite
Forget about thinking Tom Brady is on the slide; he is as good as ever and to make matters worse for opponents, he is playing with a siege mentality. After being suspended for the first four games of the season due to the "Deflate Gate" saga of 2014, Brady has come back and played at a typically high level as he picked apart the Bengals with a savage ease on Sunday. Brady was 29 for 35 for 376 yards and 3 touchdowns with a staggering high quarterback rating of 140. At 39 years old Brady somehow looks in the prime of his career, breaking records and throwing the ball better than ever. Brady has an unbelievable chemistry with tight end Rob Gronkowski who has benefited most from Brady's return, picking up 271 yards of receiving in the last 2 weeks. The rest of the NFL beware - Tom Brady is on a mission and at this point I find it hard to see anyone stopping them.