National Football League

NFL 2016: Updated Standings After Week 6

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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How do the NFL 2016 division standings shake out after Week 6? Which teams should we begin to take seriously as we near the midway point of the season?

Starting with the San Diego Chargers earning a victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos, Week 6 brought several surprise outcomes. The Tony Romo-less Dallas Cowboys continued their winning ways. This time, their rookie signal-caller outperformed one of the best in the game.

We’re also preparing for further news about wide receiver Odell Beckham’s wedding plans with Miss kicking net.

On a serious note, the Pittsburgh Steelers wait on pins and needles for a timetable on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s torn meniscus. Where does each team stand within their division? Which clubs deserve a watchful eye as we inch closer to the midway point of the 2016 season?

AFC East

1. New England Patriots (5-1)
2. Buffalo Bills (4-2)
3. Miami Dolphins (2-4)
4. New York Jets (1-5)

It’s time to give Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan credit for his team’s recent success. After firing offensive coordinator Greg Roman and promoting running backs coach Anthony Lynn to the position, the Bills have won four consecutive games. By the way, they’re the only team to beat the New England Patriots. The New York Jets allowed Geno Smith to play a few snaps on Monday Night Football down 28-3—that’s all you need to know about the direction of their season.

AFC North

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)
2. Baltimore Ravens (3-3)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)
4. Cleveland Browns (0-6)

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As mentioned, Roethlisberger exited his Week 6 matchup in the fourth quarter with a torn meniscus. It’s unclear how much time he’ll miss, but we should expect a heavy dose of running backs Le’Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams until the franchise quarterback returns. After winning three straight, the Baltimore Ravens lost their third consecutive game. As expected, the Cleveland Browns remain winless. The Steelers have so much cushion with the other three teams on a downward trend.

AFC South

1. Houston Texans (4-2)
2. Tennessee Titans (3-3)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3)
4. Indianapolis Colts (2-4)

Raise your hand if you placed the Indianapolis Colts at No. 4 in the AFC South after six weeks. All fans of the other teams within the division could put their hands down now. Without defensive end J.J. Watt, the Houston Texans still look like the clear-cut favorites to win this division. Keep an eye on the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have two tight victories after starting 0-3.

AFC West

1. Oakland Raiders (4-2)
2. Denver Broncos (4-2)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (3-2)
4. San Diego Chargers (2-4)

The Kansas City Chiefs went to the Black Hole and thumped the Oakland Raiders in damp and muddy conditions. However, the Raiders still lead the AFC West due to their divisional win over the San Diego Chargers in Week 5. After boasting an unflappable defense for four weeks, the Broncos have lost two straight; the latest loss occurred on the road to the Chargers, who fought to keep their head coach, Mike McCoy, off the hot seat.

NFC East

1. Dallas Cowboys (5-1)
2. Washington Redskins (4-2)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2)
4. New York Giants (3-3)

Without wideout Dez Bryant or Romo, the Cowboys ride the league’s leading ball-carrier, Ezekiel Elliott, and fellow rookie Dak Prescott at quarterback. Remember when the Cowboys couldn’t win without Romo? Those days are over. The Washington Redskins work on slowly shedding the fluke label with their fourth consecutive win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6. Beckham still hasn’t decided if he’s taking his fiancé, kicking net, to London to face the Los Angeles Rams in a battle between 3-3 teams.

NFC North

1. Minnesota Vikings (5-0)
2. Green Bay Packers (3-2)
3. Detroit Lions (3-3)
4. Chicago Bears (1-5)

The Minnesota Vikings come off a bye week as the only undefeated team in the league. With every struggling performance for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, we’re watching a gradual power shift in the NFC North. The Vikings defense closely resembles the Broncos’ defensive unit in the previous season. If quarterback Brian Hoyer continues to play well (6 TDs, 1 INT, 68% pass completion), Jay Cutler may have to look for a job elsewhere as the Chicago Bears free fall.

NFC South

1. Atlanta Falcons (4-2)
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-3)
3. New Orleans Saints (2-3)
4. Carolina Panthers (1-5)

The Carolina Panthers have stumbled through six weeks with a Super Bowl hangover. The pass defense surrendered three more points than the New Orleans Saints’ injury-riddled porous secondary in a head-to-head matchup. Quarterback Cam Newton Superman’s abilities couldn’t save his team from five losses before the midway point. The Atlanta Falcons lost a tight game to the Seattle Seahawks, but they’re still the only formidable squad above .500 in the NFC South.

NFC West

1. Seattle Seahawks (4-1)
2. Los Angeles Rams (3-3)
3. Arizona Cardinals (3-3)
4. San Francisco 49ers (1-5)

Despite losing some assets in the front seven, the Seahawks defensive unit looks sharp. The defense ranks No. 3 in points allowed and No. 1 in yards surrendered as the stingiest group in the NFL. Rams head coach Jeff Fisher has led his team to a record hovering around .500—what a surprise. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick started for the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6, but it didn’t change their drab season outlook.

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