NFL Week 6 Recap: Parity, Punches, and Prime-Time Surprises

Week 6 in the NFL delivered everything fans could ask for—upsets, injuries, redemption arcs, and even a postgame punch. On the latest episode of Those Guys, Alex Hardy and Nick Ferguson broke down the Monday Night Football doubleheader and the biggest storylines from Sunday’s slate. From the Buffalo Bills’ unraveling to Baker Mayfield’s resurgence, the league is wide open—and unpredictable.

Buffalo Bills: Cracks in the Foundation

The Bills dropped their second straight game, this time to the Atlanta Falcons, and the concerns are mounting. Missing Dalton Kincaid disrupted their offensive identity, forcing them out of their preferred 12 personnel and into a more pass-heavy 11 set. Despite being effective on the ground, Buffalo leaned too heavily on Josh Allen’s hero ball, and it backfired.

Nick Ferguson praised the Falcons’ defensive game plan, which blitzed Allen on 56% of dropbacks—the highest rate he’s faced in four years. Atlanta’s young defensive line dominated the trenches, and James Pierce Jr., acquired via a controversial draft trade, proved his worth.

Meanwhile, Bijan Robinson was unstoppable, racking up 238 total yards and a touchdown. The Bills’ defense, already missing key players like DaQuan Jones, Christian Benford, and Cole Bishop, couldn’t contain him. Ferguson warned that Buffalo’s defensive woes could derail their season, even with an MVP-caliber quarterback.

Falcons Flying High

Michael Penix Jr. has officially taken over the Falcons’ offense, and his connection with Drake London is flourishing. London, a lefty himself, shrugged off concerns about switching from Kirk Cousins to Penix, a left-handed QB. The result? A breakout performance on Monday Night Football.

The Falcons are now firmly in the NFC South mix, joining the Panthers and Buccaneers in a surprisingly competitive division. Ferguson noted that the division, once thought to be Tampa Bay’s to lose, is now “any team’s game.”

Chicago Bears: Redemption in Real Time

In the second Monday night matchup, the Bears edged out the Commanders 25–24 thanks to a game-winning field goal from Jake Moody. Caleb Williams was efficient, throwing for 252 yards and a touchdown, while DeAndre Swift exploded for 108 rushing yards and a 55-yard receiving score.

Ben Johnson’s offense looked sharp coming off the bye, with young players like Luther Burden and Kyle the Nun Guy getting involved. Colston Loveland is still finding his footing, but the Bears are trending upward at 3–2.

Nick Ferguson, however, had a rough night—betting the under and benching both Swift and Drake London in fantasy. “I really screwed everything up,” he admitted.

Commanders: Missed Opportunities

Washington turned the ball over three times and missed a field goal in a one-point loss. Jaden Daniels had two turnovers, and Jacory Krosky-Merritt couldn’t get the run game going. Bobby Wagner, despite leading the team in tackles, was exposed in coverage on Swift’s big play.

Ferguson acknowledged Wagner’s legendary career but noted that “father time comes for us all.” The Commanders now face a brutal stretch: Cowboys, Chiefs, Seahawks, and Lions before their next bye.

Tennessee Titans: Coaching Carousel Begins

Brian Callahan became the first head coach fired this season, and speculation immediately turned to potential replacements. One name floated was Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady. Hardy joked that Brady might have “sandbagged” the game to avoid being considered for the Titans job.

Ferguson agreed that the Titans’ instability—cycling through quarterbacks and GMs—makes it an unattractive destination. “You’re chasing something that seems so far away,” he said, referencing the Chiefs’ sustained success.

Brian Branch vs. JuJu: Postgame Punch Sparks Debate

One of the most talked-about moments came after the Lions-Chiefs game when Detroit’s Brian Branch sucker-punched JuJu Smith-Schuster. Hardy criticized Branch for waiting until after the game to show fight, calling it “Bush league.”

Ferguson defended Branch, saying it was “street justice” after JuJu cracked him in the back during the game. He argued that JuJu flopped like a soccer player, comparing him to Vlade Divac. Hardy countered that the face mask jammed into JuJu’s nose caused the bleeding—not a flop.

Regardless of the debate, Branch’s suspension means Detroit will be without one of its best secondary players when they face Tampa Bay next week.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker’s Revenge Tour

Baker Mayfield continues to defy expectations, leading the Bucs to a 5–1 record despite missing key weapons like Bucky Irving and Chris Godwin. His connection with Tez Johnson and ability to escape pressure have made Tampa one of the most exciting teams in the NFC.

Hardy praised Mayfield’s resilience, noting that he’s now working with his third offensive coordinator—both previous ones landed head coaching jobs. “It’s a fun team to watch with just a bunch of dudes,” he said.

Todd Bowles confirmed that Godwin and Irving will miss next week’s game against Detroit, but Mike Evans may return. Ferguson emphasized how critical the run game is to Tampa’s balance, especially with so many teams struggling to run the ball.

San Francisco 49ers: Fred Warner Injury a Death Knell

The 49ers fell to Tampa Bay 30–19, and the loss of Fred Warner for the season could be catastrophic. Already missing Nick Bosa, San Francisco’s defense has been held together with duct tape. Warner, the quarterback of the defense, is irreplaceable.

Ferguson, who coached Warner early in his career, said the injury will change how he plays. “Fred relies on anticipation, physicality, and quickness,” he explained. Without him, Rob Saleh’s defense loses its anchor.

Miami Dolphins: Leadership Crisis

Tua Tagovailoa’s candid comments about leadership sparked controversy. Ferguson defended Tua, saying he’s tired of being the scapegoat and is finally speaking the truth. “He’s putting everything out on Front Street,” Ferguson said.

Hardy questioned whether Tua, as the quarterback, should be responsible for holding others accountable. Ferguson argued that the locker room doesn’t see Tua as a leader, comparing the situation to Russell Wilson’s time in Seattle.

The Dolphins’ culture issues were highlighted by a failed players-only meeting and poor defensive performance against the Chargers. Hardy declared he’s “done with Miami for a while.”

Indianapolis Colts: Quiet Contenders

Despite losing two players in pregame warmups, the Colts rallied to beat the Cardinals. Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives, and the team continues to impress.

Hardy floated the idea of Jones as an AFC MVP candidate, joining Mayfield in the redemption arc conversation. Ferguson credited Shane Steichen and Kevin O’Connell for revitalizing careers across the league, calling 2025 “the year of the backup quarterback.”

Steelers vs. Bengals: AFC North Slugfest Ahead

Looking ahead to Week 7, the Steelers travel to Cincinnati in a classic AFC North showdown. Pittsburgh dominated the Browns last week, sacking Dylan Gabriel six times and stifling their run game.

Joe Flacco will start for the Bengals, but Ferguson questioned his mobility and the offensive line’s ability to protect him. Hardy gave the edge to Pittsburgh, despite traveling, and expects a low-scoring affair typical of the division.

Final Thoughts: Parity Reigns Supreme

Ferguson summed up the season perfectly: “2025 is going to be one of those years we look back and say, what a year it was.” Injuries, coaching changes, and unexpected performances have created a landscape where any team can win on any given Sunday.

Hardy added, “There’s a lot of parody that we’re seeing right now. Bottom feeder teams are performing well. The league is wide open.”