Elsewhere in the AFC, the Patriots are on top of the East as usual but several teams are trying to shock the entire league. The Buffalo Bills moved to 5-1 after a Week 7 win and are front runners to get a wildcard or win the AFC East if the Pats stumble. It would be just the Bills second playoff appearance in 19 years.
In the NFC the San Francisco 49ers join the Patriots as the league’s only undefeated teams. Coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad is 6-0 after a shutout win in rainy and mud-soaked Washington. San Francisco seemingly finds a different way to win each week but remain undefeated for the first time since 1990 through six weeks.
Notable Trades So Far
The NFL trade deadline isn’t until 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 29th but some high profile trades have gone down already. The first blockbuster was on September 1st when the Texans traded 3 draft picks including 2 first rounders and two players to Miami for wide receiver Kenny Stills and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil. The trade has benefited Houston in the short term as Tunsil helped shore up their offensive line.
On the same day, in an unrelated trade, the Texans acquired a third round pick and two linebackers for Pro Bowl defensive end and former number 1 overall draft pick Jadeveon Clowney. The DE would not sign his franchise tender with Houston and wanted more money than the team was willing to offer.
The other trade of note this year happened on October 15th when the Jacksonville Jaguars shipped disgruntled corner Jalen Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams. Ramsey wants to become the highest paid CB in the league.
The Dallas Cowboys started the year 3-0 with an explosive offense. Their beginning schedule may have been fool’s gold as they have gone 3-1 since but a 37-10 beat down of division rival Philadelphia is sure to bring renewed optimism.
The pro football calendar is nearing the halfway point but legendary Patriots coach Bill Belichick likes to say, “football season doesn’t start until after Thanksgiving.” That motto gives hope to teams that have started slow but is a word of warning to even the best in the NFL.
