NFL 2016: What To Look For Week 6
NFL 2016: What To Look For Week 6

Here's what to look for during Week 6 of the NFL 2016 regular season.

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Climbing Back

Since the current 12-team playoff format was instituted in 1990, 17 teams have rebounded from being at least three games under .500 after the season's first five weeks or later to qualify for the postseason. That includes seven 1-4 teams that won their division.

Last year, the Houston Texans bounced back from a 2-5 record after 7 games to win the AFC South, while the Kansas City Chiefs rebounded from a 1-5 start and advanced to the AFC Divisional Playoffs.

 

NFL Teams 3 or more games below .500 after Week 5 or later and made the playoffs

Season Team Record Final Record Advanced To
Source: NFL
1990New Orleans Saints2-58-8Wild Card
1992San Diego Chargers1-411-5Divisional
1993Houston Oilers1-412-4Divisional
1994New England Patriots3-610-6Wild Card
1995Detroit Lions2-5, 3-610-6Wild Card
1995San Diego Chargers4-79-7Wild Card
1996Jacksonville Jaguars3-6, 4-79-7Championship Game
2002Tennessee Titans1-411-5Championship Game
2002New York Jets1-4, 2-59-7Divisional
2004Green Bay Packers1-410-6Wild Card
2008San Diego Chargers4-7, 4-8, 5-88-8Divisional
2010Seattle Seahawks6-97-9Divisional
2011Denver Broncos1-4, 2-58-8Divisional
2012Washington Redskins3-610-6Wild Card
2014Carolina Panthers3-6-1, 3-7-1, 4-8-1, 5-8-17-8-1Divisional
2015Houston Texans1-4, 2-59-7Wild Card
2015Kansas City Chiefs1-4, 1-5, 2-511-5Divisional

 

Steve Smith: Catch Me If You Can

Baltimore wide receiver STEVE SMITH, SR. has 27 catches this season, bringing his career total to 988.

With 12 catches on Sunday against the New York Giants, Smith would become the 14th player in NFL history to record 1,000 career receptions.

 

1,000 or More Career Receptions

Player Receptions
Source: NFL
Jerry Rice1,549
Tony Gonzalez1,325
Marvin Harrison1,102
Cris Carter1,101
Tim Brown1,094
Terrell Owens1,078
Reggie Wayne1,070
Andre Johnson1,062
Larry Fitzgerald1,049
Jason Witten1,044
Anquan Boldin1,030
Isaac Bruce1,024
Hines Ward1,000
Steve Smith, Sr.988

 

 

Ben Roethlisberger's Air Show

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER leads the NFL with 15 passing touchdowns this season, followed by Atlanta's Matt Ryan (12), Oakland's Derek Carr (11) and San Diego's Philip Rivers (11).

If Ryan, Carr and Rivers reach 15 touchdown passes this week, it will be the second time in NFL history four different quarterbacks have thrown for at least 15 touchdowns in the first six weeks of a season.

 

 

Rolling Roethlisberger

Pittsburgh's BEN ROETHLISBERGER threw four touchdown passes last week to bring his league-leading total to 15. With another four-touchdown performance on Sunday against Miami, Roethlisberger would be tied for the fourth-most passing touchdowns through the first six games of a season in the Super Bowl era.

The players with the most passing touchdowns through the first six games of a season in the Super Bowl era

 

Most TD Passes through First Six Games

Quarterback Team TD Passes Season
Source: NFL *Through five games
Peyton ManningDenver Broncos222013
Tom BradyNew England Patriots212007
Brett FavreGreen Bay Packers201996
Peyton ManningDenver Broncos192014
Daunte CulpepperMinnesota Vikings192004
Ben RoethlisbergerPittsburgh Steelers15*2016

 

Lorenzo Alexander: Sacking The Competition

Buffalo's LORENZO ALEXANDER tallied three sacks last week to bring his season total to seven. With another three-sack performance on Sunday against San Francisco, Alexander would be tied for the most sacks through the first six weeks of a season in the past 15 years.

The players with the most sacks through the first six weeks of a season since 2001:

 

Most Sacks Through First Six Weeks of a Season

Player Team Sacks Season
Source: NFL *Through Week 5
Elvis DumervilDenver Broncos102009
Jared AllenMinnesota Vikings9.52011
J.J. WattHouston Texans9.52012
Robert MathisIndianapolis Colts9.52013
Lorenzo Alexander*Buffalo Bills72016

 

 

Magnificent Marcus Mariota

Tennessee quarterback MARCUS MARIOTA accounted for four touchdowns last week (three passing, one rushing). This marked the fourth time in his career Mariota had four touchdowns in a single game, making him the second quarterback to have four four-touchdown games in the first 17 games of his career (CHARLIE CONERLY, 1948-49).

With another four-touchdown performance on Sunday against Cleveland, Mariota would become the first quarterback to have five four-touchdown games in his first 18 games in NFL history.

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