Around the NFC
Dak returns: It wasn’t quite Michael Jordan’s announcement, but asked if he’s returning to the Cowboys’ starting lineup, quarterback Dak Prescott said simply, “I am.” That comes after Cooper Rush filled in admirably, but then lost the last of five starts on Sunday night against Philadelphia. Prescottap been out with a fractured thumb on his throwing hand since partway through the season opener. Now the NFC East can really get weird.
Thumbs down: Speaking of bum thumbs, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers has one, too, though he’s set to start against Washington this weekend. You know what he could use in addition to a healthy opposable digit? Another wide receiver. And while Sammy Watkins’ impending return from injured reserve will help, so, too, would Odell Beckham Jr. or Carolina’s D.J. Moore. Come to think of it, though, better play from his offensive line might be at the top of the quarterback’s wish list.
Hopkins’ season debut: Arizona got wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins back from a six-game PED suspension and he wasted no time getting back into rhythm. The standout pass-catcher reeled in 10 catches for 103 yards from Kyler Murray on Thursday night in a 42-34 victory over New Orleans. Before the game, he put out a trailer-stye video regarding his return which, interesting choice given it was a suspension rather than an injury that caused him to miss six games. Even still, good timing with Hollywood Brown out at least a month with an injury.
Around the AFC
Parity (or something): Scan the NFL slate this weekend and you’ll come across an early kickoff in Nashville between the Titans and Indianapolis. Solid AFC South game that also happens to be the only contest of the weekend for the NFL in which both teams sport a winning record. Teams with byes this weekend include the 6-0 Eagles, 5-1 Bills and 5-1 Vikings. Simply put, there’s a lot of 3-3 on the docket in Week 7.
Tua’s return: A lot of eyes will be on the Dolphins and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa when he returns to the field after a heavily scrutinized pair of incidents earlier in the season. Tagovailoa lost consciousness when he hit his head on the turf Week 3, just five days after appearing to suffer a head injury — though he never entered the league’s concussion protocol the first time around. Since then, the NFLPA and league have adjusted the protocol when players appear to have a head injury.
Ravens up (or down): Baltimore has alternated results each of the first six weeks and, like nine other NFL teams, finds itself 3-3. The Ravens’ three losses have come by a total of 10 points. They’ll go this weekend without running back J.K. Dobbins, who is set to miss a month or more, but they’ve got Lamar Jackson, and that is always worth tuning in for. The quarterback has rushed for 451 yards and a pair of scores, making him the fifth-leading rusher in the NFL. That, of course, is on top of 13 touchdown passes against six interceptions on the year.
Game of the Week
Kansas City at San Francisco
Denver’s not the only franchise celebrating the Super Bowl XXXII championship team this weekend. The franchise’s glory days will probably come up some point soon in San Francisco, where running back Christian McCaffrey found himself traded this week after spending his first five-plus seasons in Carolina. His new coach? Kyle Shanahan. Their dads, Mike Shanahan and Ed McCaffrey, had a pretty good run together in the Mile High City. Kyle and Christian, though, kick off their stint together as two-point home underdogs to the Chiefs.
Chiefs 31, 49ers 21
Lock of the Week
Atlanta at Cincinnati
Joe Burrow is starting to get it going for the Bengals. After throwing four picks in Cincinnati’s season opener and seeing his team start 0-2, he’s thrown nine touchdowns against just one interception over the past four games, which have included three wins. Cincy’s next five are against the Falcons, Browns, Panthers, Steelers and Titans. Time for Zac Taylor’s team to make a run.
Bengals 27, Falcons 20
Upset of the Week
Seattle at L.A. Chargers
OK, this might be a little bit of a stretch. There wasn’t a great upset candidate this week. Overall, the Chargers didn’t impress Monday night, though Denver does have one of the league’s better defenses. As five-point favorites at home, they’re perhaps susceptible to a 3-3 Seattle team thatap playing with confidence behind Geno Smith and has some young defensive talent, including standout rookie corner Tariq Woolen (four INTs).
Seahawks 24, Chargers 23
