NFL Week 6 scores and live updates: Bears beat Jaguars in London, channel, highlights, analysis, stats
By Brooks Kubena, Zac Jackson and Amos Morale III
The Philadelphia Eagles welcomed back their top two receivers, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, who’d both missed time with injuries in recent weeks, in Sunday’s Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Both made key plays to help the Eagles seal a 20-16 victory.
Brown, who hadn’t played since the season opener, caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jalen Hurts, as well as a 40-yard bomb near the end of the game to help Philadelphia kill the clock whole Smith who caught a 45-yard touchdown pass that gave the Eagles a 20-13 lead in the fourth quarter.
The Browns lost their fourth-straight game and their offense failed to score a touchdown despite quarterback Deshaun Watson posting a season-high passer rating of 90.5.
Eagles far from perfect
The box score will show Hurts was 16-of-25 passing for 264 yards and a touchdown pass each to Brown and Smith. But Philadelphia once again appeared disjointed offensively. The Eagles still remain the only NFL team to have not yet scored in the first quarter. Back-to-back false starts limited them to a field goal in the red zone.
Hurts began the game 0-for-5 passing. It did not look like an offense that emerged from a bye week with two weeks of preparation. Philadelphia still secured several explosive plays. Sunday was anything but easy for an offense that too often makes it harder on itself. — Brooks Kubena, Eagles beat writer
Philly’s defense shows improvement
Defensively, the Eagles suffocated Cleveland on Sunday. The unit only surrendered three field goals. Seven defenders were involved in five sacks.
The defense also mustered four recorded tackles for loss. The secondary got a much-needed boost from rookie Cooper DeJean, who debuted as the team’s starting nickel. The No. 44 pick sacked Watson once, and, on another blitz, forced Watson into another sack. The Browns gained 4.6 yards per play and were 3 of 12 on third down.
After struggling mightily against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia’s defense showed it can be relied upon to stop offenses under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. — Kubena
Concerning injuries
The Eagles were fully healthy emerging from their bye week. They now must deal with some troubling injuries. Starting tight end Dallas Goedert (hamstring), cornerback Darius Slay (knee) and left tackle Jordan Mailata (hamstring) all exited the game with injuries. Mailata’s seems the most severe.
The fifth-year veteran was carted off the field after requiring help to limp off the field. Losing Mailata would also be the most damaging for Philadelphia. The Eagles re-signed him to a three-year, $66 million contract extension in the offseason to solidify one of the NFL’s best offensive lines.
Philadelphia’s coaching staff has faith in backup Fred Johnson, but Mailata has been a source of strength both on and off the field. Goedert has battled injuries in each of the last three seasons. Grant Calcaterra and Jack Stoll don’t command as much defensive attention. The Eagles have depth at cornerback.
Isaiah Rodgers, who was reinstated this offseason from a gambling suspension, filled in for Slay. — Kubena
Browns offensive struggles continue
Though it became a strange game and Cleveland clawed back, the offense didn’t score a touchdown.
What’s been the league’s worst offense remains the biggest problem and biggest reason the Browns are now 1-5. What’s probably most eating at Browns coach Kevin Stefanski right now is one touchdown would have been enough to position Cleveland to at least play overtime — and there were multiple chances for the Browns to score.
Penalties and miscues continue to haunt Cleveland, and though Watson just hasn’t been good enough, he got the Browns to the 3-yard line in the game’s final five minutes with multiple impressive throws. Two false start calls derailed that drive, and fourth-quarter failures have derailed the season. — Zac Jackson, Browns beat writer
Long list of issues
Injuries have mounted, and Cleveland remains the only team to not get to 300 yards or 20 points in a game. That’s simply not good enough. The defense kept the Browns alive in Philadelphia and the offense certainly played better in the second half, but Cleveland again came up short.
Watson probably did enough in the second half to quell the calls for a quarterback change, but he simply hasn’t been good enough and the Browns failed with late penalties and an inexplicable third-quarter miscue when backup Jameis Winston came in for short yardage and Cleveland ran an end around to little-used wide receiver Cedric Tillman.
There are timing issues and trust issues with this offense and this organization — top to bottom. — Jackson
Required reading
- Browns say they don’t need major change, but are they on the precipice of it?
- It might be time for Browns to consider trading Amari Cooper and planning for the future
- NFL QB stock report, Week 6: Deshaun Watson ranks among NFL’s worst, but can Browns bench him?
- What Devin White’s release says about the Eagles linebackers room
- Bryce Huff’s September was a slow start. Can Eagles expect production soon?
(Photo: Heather Barry / Getty Images)
