NFL Week 6 in review — and a sneak peek at Week 7

TOP TWO TEAMS

1. Cardinals (6-0)
His coach and play-caller sidelined by COVID-19, all Kyler Murray did was throw four touchdowns in a rout in Cleveland. In his past three games, he has no interceptions and passer ratings of 120.3, 104.1 and 129.0 in wins over the Rams, 49ers and Browns.

1. Ravens (5-1)
Just when you think it's time to worry about Baltimore's defense, it goes to Los Angeles, stonewalls the ascending Chargers and makes Justin Herbert post the second-worst passer rating (67.8) of his brilliant young career.

BOTTOM TWO TEAMS

16. Lions (0-6)
A 34-11 home loss to Cincinnati was Detroit's first 60-minute no-show of the Dan Campbell era.

16. Texans (1-5)
A four-touchdown loss to a one-win Colts team dropped pitiful Houston to a league-worst minus-80 point differential.

WHERE ARE THE VIKINGS?

TRENDING UP

Dallas. The Cowboys (5-1), winners of five straight, have intercepted 11 passes, seven by Trevon Diggs. They had 10 picks all of last season.

TRENDING DOWN

Carolina. Can a guy win MVP based on how his team has unraveled in his absence? The Panthers were 3-0 with Christian McCaffrey. They're 0-3 without him.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

RANKING NFC'S MVP CANDIDATES

The NFC is wide open with five teams with fewer than two losses. Considering the MVP race is really a MVQB race, let's rank the five quarterbacks as top contenders:

1. Murray
2. Prescott
3. Matthew Stafford
4. Tom Brady
5. Aaron Rodgers

If the Vikings can keep winning – a big if given their schedule — Kirk Cousins will no doubt enter the discussion.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

STAT TO WATCH

1-0. The record Raiders interim coach Rich Bisaccia takes into his first home game since replacing Jon Gruden. With offensive coordinator Greg Olson taking over Gruden's play-calling duties, Derek Carr posted his fourth 300-yard passing game in six weeks. The last Raider to do that was Rich Gannon in 2002 when he won league MVP. Next up for 4-2 Vegas: Philly's No. 5-ranked pass defense.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Bengals (4-2) at Ravens (5-1). The Bengals have arrived. And the Ravens haven't left. First place in the AFC North is on the line.

LOCK OF THE WEEK

EARLY UPSET SPECIAL

Giants (+3) vs. Panthers. The Giants are bad, but Sam Darnold will prove to be worse in a fourth consecutive loss. Season Early Upset Special record: 5-1. Last week: Vikings (+1 ½ when pick was made) over Panthers.

TURNAROUND IN TENNESSEE FOR MAHOMES?

The Chiefs have a league-high 14 giveaways. They had 16 in all of 2020. Patrick Mahomes has thrown eight interceptions, already two more than last season. Fortunately, K.C. heads to Tennessee to face one of the least opportunistic defenses in the league.