Key events
Steelers 0-0 Browns 14:45, 1st quarter
We are underway in Pittsburgh and Steelers mega tight end Darnell Washington rumbles down the sideline for 36 yards. Cracking start for Mike Tomlin’s team.
Preamble
There are no international breaks here people, welcome to week six of the NFL. A helter-skelter set of seven games kick off at 1pm (EST) over on the east coast of the US and 6pm (BST) in the UK. But first we have been blessed by even earlier gridiron in London where the winless New York Jets remain so after a 13-11 defeat to Denver. The Broncos defense ruled the day, as they often do, as they terrorised Justin Fields with nine sacks. The pass coverage was decent too, the Jets finished with -10 passing yards. Minus 10. Yikes.
Your magnificent septet:
Baltimore Ravens v LA Rams
Carolina Panthers v Dallas Cowboys
Indianapolis Colts v Arizona Cardinals
Jacksonville Jaguars v Seattle Seahawks
Miami Dolphins v LA Chargers
New Orleans Saints v New England Patriots
Pittsburgh Steelers v Cleveland Browns
After a successful mission to Dublin, the Steelers return from their bye week for an AFC North classic with the Cleveland Browns. At 3-1 Pittsburgh will be confident they can keep a firm grip at the division’s summit with a victory over their struggling rivals. Key to victory for Pittsburgh will be unleashing the pass rush on Cleveland’s rookie quarterback Dillion Gabriel. Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig is the man to watch for splash plays that could wreck Gabriel’s second game running the 1-4 Browns offense. The young buck will hopefully have brought his notebook as his opposite number Aaron Rodgers makes his 245th start.
Elsewhere in the AFC North the Ravens host an NFC interloper in the LA Rams. Sean McVay’s team arrive in Baltimore more than a little irked after dropping a divisional game to the Mac Jones-led San Francisco 49ers. So who better to face when you’re angry and want to set the record straight? Cooper Rush. The beleaguered backup QB is fresh from leading the Ravens to the largest home defeat in their history last week. It is not all his fault though. An injured defense depleted of its big names has put head coach, John Harbaugh, in a tough spot at 1-4. Next week’s bye cannot come quickly enough to get Lamar Jackson back but first can they pull off a morale-boosting upset against the Rams?
Finally, a heavyweight clash between the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1) and the Seattle Seahawks (3-2) is going down in Duuuuval. The record is fantastic for the Jags, but are they all that? They might need to rely on luck a little less today after using all of it up and then some to beat the Chiefs with a 99-yard pick six and miraculous scoring scramble from Trevor Lawrence. Jacksonville’s defense was shredded by Patrick Mahomes so a visit from an MVP contender in Sam Darnold and a sublime Seattle offense is rather sub-optimal. However the Jags will hope the arrival of cornerback Greg Newsome this week from Cleveland can help contain phenomenal wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Edge defender Travon Walker should also be back to beef up the Jags pass rush.
