In case you missed it in NFL’S Week 6
Here are the top topics after the NFL season’s sixth Sunday.
‘ America’s Team’ is 5- 1 after beating Seattle
With DeMarco Murray achieving something only Hall of Famer Jim Brown had, Tony Romo at his improvisational best, a dominant offensive line and a surprisingly competent defence, the Dallas Cowboys are 5- 1 for the first time since 2007 — and worthy of their “America’s Team” moniker for the first time in a while.
Murray’s 115 yards allowed him to match Brown as the only running backs to gain 100 yards in each of a season’s opening six games, and his late touchdown allowed the Cowboys to beat the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks 30- 23. It’s only the second time in Russell Wilson’s 21 home games that Seattle lost.
Fake spike
Aaron Rodgers pulled off Dan Marino’s move against Marino’s old team, using a fake spike to help extend what became the go- ahead TD drive in Green Bay’s 27- 24 victory at Miami. Rodgers — who is right- handed but earlier threw one pass lefty in order to avoid getting sacked — gave every indication he was going to spike the football to stop the clock at second- and- 6 from Miami’s 16. But snapping the ball with 12 seconds to go, he held onto the ball, and with teammates helping sell the fake — slot receiver Jordy Nelson didn’t move; offensive linemen stood up and stayed put — completed a toss to Davante Adams for a gain of 12. “Yeah, that was kind of some freestylin’ right there,” said Rodgers, who then hit Andrew Quarless for a touchdown.
Ties OK?
Should the NFL look into figuring out a way to make sure a game doesn’t end in a tie? The Bengals and Panthers both got a field goal in overtime, but Cincinnati’s Mike Nugent missed a 36- yard potential winner at the end of the lone extra quarter, and the score wound up 37- all. Professional football remains unique among major sports — including college football — in letting games conclude without a winner.
Generous Cousins
Only 2 ½ years after drafting a pair of quarterbacks, Robert Griffin III in the first round ( trading a bunch of first- and second- round picks to get him) and Kirk Cousins in the fourth, Washington can’t be quite sure what to make of its QB situation. RG3 keeps getting hurt and has yet to prove himself as a pocket passer; Cousins keeps giving the ball away. He threw three fourth- quarter interceptions in a 30- 20 loss at Arizona on Sunday, two games after throwing three third- quarter picks in a blowout against the Giants. Cousins is merely one of many, many problems for Washington, which is 1- 5 under rookie head coach Jay Gruden.
Injuries
Among significant players who left games Sunday with leg injuries were Cleveland’s Pro Bowl centre, Alex Mack, who had never missed a snap — more than 5,000 — in his NFL career until breaking his left leg; the Giants’ salsadancing receiver, Victor Cruz, who cried as he was driven off the field after tearing a tendon in his right knee while trying to make an end- zone catch; Philadelphia’s do- everything Darren Sproles, who hurt his left knee. The AFC Eastleading Patriots, meanwhile, lost linebacker Jerod Mayo ( right knee), running back Stevan Ridley ( right knee) and starting guard Dan Connolly ( concussion).