What would it take for the Cleveland Browns to bench quarterback Deshaun Watson? It’s the biggest topic surrounding a floundering team as it faces the Philadelphia Eagles, in need of a win of their own coming off a bye.
Jayden Daniels has captivated the league so far in 2024. But has he seen a test like a road game at Baltimore? What about some of the league’s feistiest teams and toughest outs, such as the Arizona Cardinals or Denver Broncos? Is the postseason a realistic goal?
And how does the rest of the season unfold for the New York Jets with interim coach Jeff Ulbrich, who takes over for the fired Robert Saleh?
Our NFL writers Mike Sando, Zak Keefer and Jeff Howe discuss Week 6 and more.
Cleveland visits Philadelphia on Sunday. The Browns are a disaster. Would you bench Deshaun Watson right now? The Eagles are underachieving. What is Philadelphia’s most pressing issue?
Keefer: This is a mess of the Browns’ own making, one without an easy answer due to the massive guaranteed money Watson is still owed ($46 million each of the next two seasons). While the QB isn’t the only issue amid Cleveland’s disappointing 1-4 start, he’s the biggest: Watson is averaging just 4.8 yards per attempt, worst in the league, and doesn’t have a completion of 30 yards or longer all season. He’s not even close to the player he was in Houston. At the risk of losing the locker room, the Browns have to keep playing him in the hope he climbs out of this slump. The Eagles, coming off a bye, had better hope Jalen Hurts starts playing better: Since the beginning of last season, he’s turned the ball over 22 times, second most in the NFL.
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Browns say they don’t need major change, but are they on the precipice of it?
Sando: I’d bench Watson in favor of Jameis Winston and then see what happens. If Winston faltered, the Browns could go back to Watson. The Browns can worry about what happens next at the end of the season. In the meantime, they need to prioritize winning. It’s difficult to say you’re doing that with Watson remaining in the lineup.
Howe: If the Browns think Watson needs time on the field to rediscover the production that we haven’t seen since 2020, that’d be the only credible argument for sticking with him as the starter. Otherwise, the offense looked better at times over the summer with Winston on the field. While the Browns don’t appear to be nearly the same team as the previous version that made the playoffs — also notable, the defense has significantly regressed — but they’re more talented than 1-4. With better quarterback play, they should already have three wins. They’re in a dangerous spot with a team that’s failing to meet expectations and the most important player on the roster falling way, way below expectations, so the Browns need a jolt with Winston.
The Jayden Daniels Show travels to Baltimore this week for what should be the rookie QB’s biggest test thus far as a pro. What are your expectations for Daniels on Sunday?
Keefer: Daniels has been terrific thus far, but Sunday will be the rookie’s toughest test as a pro, even against a Baltimore defense that just allowed 38 to Joe Burrow and the Bengals. Kliff Kingsbury has done a fantastic job of simplifying the scheme around Daniels’ strengths while not asking him to carry too much of the load in the passing game. This allows the Commanders’ run game (second best in the NFL) to balance out the attack, and Daniels is good enough to hit the occasional deep shot when the defense gets too focused on the run. Baltimore, obviously, is running the football better than anyone. In fact, Sunday’s game will be the first between two teams averaging 175 rushing yards or more in Week 6 or later in 46 years. Look for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens to win a fourth straight.
Sando: I expect more good things from Daniels unless Baltimore gets ahead early and makes Washington one-dimensional. We’ve seen the Ravens do this many times, and they have done it some this season. Overall, their defense hasn’t been what it once was, so the odds favor a good game from Daniels.
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Commanders-Ravens isn’t a rivalry, but Jayden Daniels and Lamar Jackson could change that
Howe: The Ravens defense has been below average through five games. And relative to the Ravens’ standard, “below average” can often translate to “bad.” It’s clear why they’re bringing back Dean Pees. Anyway, I think there’s reason to believe Daniels can keep it going. I’d like to see him play efficiently and continue making the plays that are in front of him. Rookie QBs who make the smart plays are already way ahead of the game, and then just make the timely throws from there. Don’t worry about going play for play with Jackson. I’m not sure if the Commanders are ready to win a game like this just yet, but I’m looking forward to seeing where they stack up.
The Broncos (vs. Chargers) and Cardinals (at Packers) are coming off nice Week 5 wins. Feisty spoilers or could they sneak into the playoff hunt?
Keefer: It’s way too early to look at playoff seedings, but I did anyway: As of right now, the Broncos are in the AFC playoffs, in the sixth seed. Part of that is some of the disappointing teams below Denver (Jacksonville, Cincinnati, the Jets). But it’s not that much of a stretch to imagine the Broncos being in the mix as we enter December. Across their next eight games, they’ll see just three playoff games from a year ago, and one of those teams is the Browns, who as noted above, are a dumpster fire. I like the Broncos’ chances much more than the Cardinals’ chances in one of the toughest divisions in football, even though the NFC West isn’t looking as formidable as it has in years past.
Sando: I see these teams more as feisty spoilers than as playoff contenders, but when you look at the state of the AFC in particular and then consider the playoff field has expanded from six to seven, there’s an opening for the Broncos. Can the Jets, Dolphins, Jaguars and/or Bengals close that opening? Probably. The Cardinals’ overall depth will likely hold them back.
Could quarterback Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals find a way into the playoff race this season? (Darren Yamashita / Imagn Images)
Howe: I think the Cardinals are good enough to sneak into the playoffs, and it helps their cause that the NFC West is so badly injured across the board. They’re going to have to find a way to steal some wins, though, because the NFC North is so good and the South and East are deeper than probably expected. I look at the Broncos as more of a spoiler because their offense has been far too inconsistent. But if Nix continues to improve, that defense can carry them. This weekend might tell their story. If they can take down the Chargers, the Broncos can continue to build confidence the next two weeks against the Saints and Panthers before a measuring-stick stretch against the Ravens, Chiefs and Falcons.
How concerned should the Bengals be at 1-4 and on the road in prime time against another surprisingly feisty team in the Giants?
Keefer: Joe Burrow’s right — this is not a championship team. Not when they blow games like they did Sunday against the Ravens, one that could’ve swerved the course of their season. The issue isn’t Burrow and the offense, outside of Zac Taylor’s questionable late-game decision-making, but the defense, which has regressed significantly since this team’s run to the Super Bowl after the 2021 season. So far Burrow is in the top five in EPA per drop back and passer rating; the Bengals’ defense is 30th in EPA per play, 30th in points allowed and 31st in sacks and pressures. Cincy should be worried already, but a loss Sunday to this Giants team? That would be inexcusable.
Sando: The Bengals should be very concerned about every opponent because their defense has been so vulnerable. That said, I think they’ll fare better as they face less dynamic offenses. Cincinnati should be able to outscore the Giants even with Daniel Jones playing better of late.
Howe: On the plus side, Joe Burrow is playing as well as just about anyone, and the Bengals could absolutely rip off four consecutive wins against the Giants, Browns, Eagles and Raiders to get to 5-4 before a rematch with Baltimore. On the down side, they just gave away another game and the defense has allowed the second-most points in the league. It’s going to be impossible to climb out of a 1-4 hole if the defense doesn’t get it back together. They’ve got a favorable schedule over the final three months to pull it off, though. And if they get into the playoffs by winning nine or 10 of their final dozen games, no one will want to see them in January.
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Can Bengals defense be salvaged? Canvassing those in the know for thoughts, solutions
Bills-Jets is set for “Monday Night Football.” What can we expect from the Jeff Ulbrich-led Jets? Does the Bills offense really only need another receiver or is coaching the biggest issue in Buffalo?
Keefer: No team loves drama more than the Jets, and I expect them to play well Monday night against the Bills with first place in the AFC East on the line. Ulbrich will have his guys ready, mindful that this is his 12-game audition to be a head coach. The problem is that firing Robert Saleh doesn’t remediate the offensive issues, stemming from the poor job coordinator Nathaniel Hackett is doing so far and Aaron Rodgers’ shaky performance to start the season. As for the Bills, the offense needs to get the run game back on track; it’s easy to tell how much more dangerous Josh Allen is when the rushing attack has the defense crowding the line of scrimmage. During Buffalo’s 3-0 start, when James Cook was rolling, Allen’s passer rating was 133.7. In two losses since, his passer rating has regressed to 65.
Sando: There was a decent chance the Jets would beat the Bills at home with or without a coaching change. This Jets season remains one of attrition regardless of the change. This team should improve significantly on offense over the second half of the season as the schedule of opposing defenses lets up. The challenge remains keeping Aaron Rodgers healthy enough for long enough to maximize that opportunity. Shorter term, the challenge for Ulbrich will be in making sure the Jets’ in-game processes are sound. How does he plan to navigate conversations on the headsets? How will his situational strategies work? This is a difficult position for him to be in, especially while holding onto defensive play-calling duties.
Howe: The Jets have had Allen’s number during their last pair of meetings at the Meadowlands, winning both times with the QB tossing five interceptions. So there’s definitely a path for the Ulbrich era to get off to a nice start if the Jets can manage the distraction of the Saleh firing. But unless there’s some massive shift in offensive philosophy or short of Rodgers turning back the clock a half-decade, I’m not sure this is a playoff team. The Bills have the pieces, but they were flat across the board against the Ravens and made far too many mistakes to steal a comeback victory in Houston against a quality opponent. Maybe the mistakes, such as dropped passes, can be argued as a lack of talent at the skill positions. But with how explosive they looked for three weeks, I’m not ready to write off that unit after a couple of bad days.
(Top photo of Jayden Daniels: Dylan Buell / Getty Images)