Week 6 of the NFL season got off to an exciting start with Philadelphia’s 28-23 win over the Panthers Thursday night, as Carson Wentz continued to play at a high level and prove he has the potential to be one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. Quarterback play has been a major issue for a lot of other teams across the league, and this is the week they are hoping to change that.
Here’s a look at 15 key questions for Week 6 of the NFL season:
1. Can Adrian Peterson make an immediate impact in Arizona?
Peterson’s tenure in New Orleans lasted just five games, as he was traded to the Cardinals this week in a deal that was hardly a surprise. He had just 81 yards on 27 carries with the Saints, and the lack of production had a lot to do with not getting many opportunities. But Peterson is also 32, so age could be a factor. He’s certain to get more chances with the Cardinals, and it will be interesting to see what he does with them.
2. Whom will Eli Manning throw to?
Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall both suffered ankle injuries last week that required surgery. Both have been placed on injured reserve and will not play in Week 6, nor will wide receiver Sterling Shepard, who is dealing with an ankle injury of his own. The next man up might have been Dwayne Harris, but he fractured his foot last week and is expected to miss the rest of the season. Who the heck is left?
Tight end Evan Engram, New York’s first-round pick in this year’s draft, will likely see a lot more targets. Second-year wide receiver Roger Lewis could be in for more looks, too. It goes without saying that the 0-5 Giants are in deep, deep trouble.
3. How effective will Derek Carr be if he plays?
All signs are pointing to Carr being able to suit up against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, which is quite impressive considering he suffered a transverse process fracture in his back just two weeks ago. With the Raiders having lost three straight and fading fast in a tough AFC West division, they need Carr back as soon as possible.
That doesn’t mean Oakland is rushing its quarterback into action when he’s less than 100-percent healthy, but it will be interesting to see how Carr looks. Back injuries have a tendency to linger.
4. Will the 49ers or Browns win a game first?
Unless something unexpected happens, it looks like both the Browns and 49ers are going to fall to 0-6 on the season. The Niners will be playing their third consecutive game on the road when they travel to Washington, which is never easy in the NFL. The Browns are taking on a Texans team that will be anxious to bounce back after a tough loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last week, though Houston will be without J.J. Watt. Cleveland is also on the road.
It’s probably safe to assume that neither the Browns nor the 49ers are getting their first win this weekend, but going 0-16 is extremely rare in the NFL. At some point, one or both of these teams is going to catch an opponent sleeping.
5. Do the Jets have a chance against the Patriots?
To say that the Patriots have looked more vulnerable than expected this season would be an understatement. Their defense finally got its act together in a 19-14 win over the Buccaneers last week, but New England’s offensive line was still atrocious. Tom Brady is on pace to be sacked more times than any other year of his career, and the star quarterback missed a practice this week with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. If New York can generate pressure like everyone else has against the Pats, they might be able to keep the game closer than expected. The Jets tend to play the Patriots tough at home. Why should this year be any different?
6. Can Mitchell Trubisky shake off his rough first outing?
Trubisky was thrust into a starting role last week because of how badly Mike Glennon has struggled, and the rookie did not respond well in a tough loss to the Vikings. He completed just 12-of-25 passes for 128 yards, one touchdown and one interception. This week, Trubisky faces another tough task on the road against a Ravens team that just went into Oakland and dominated the Raiders.
The Bears aren’t going to go back to Glennon unless Trubisky gets hurt or proves to be completely incompetent, so he should have a long leash. Still, fans in Chicago need something to feel optimistic about. Trubisky is hoping to play much better than he did in his NFL debut, but that will be easier said than done in Baltimore.
7. How will Ben Roethlisberger respond to all the criticism?
Roethlisberger created a lot of drama for himself when he questioned whether or not he has what it takes anymore after throwing five interceptions in a loss to the Jaguars. He later insisted that his comments were made purely out of frustration, but this is the same Big Ben who openly pondered retirement during the offseason. After the worst game of his career, Roethlisberger should be extremely motivated to play well at Kansas City. He already unloaded on the media for blowing his remarks out of proportion, and Roethlisberger insists he is still fully confident in his ability.
The Steelers have lost two of their last three, and the losses came against the Jags and Bears. Sunday’s game may be the toughest one they will have all season. With the way the Chiefs’ offense has been clicking, Roethlisberger will need to be at his best.
