Week 6 of the 2022 NFL season started with one other snoozer of a Thursday affair, this one between the Washington Commanders and Chicago Bears, and ended with a not-much-better Monday night time battle between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers.

The Chargers pulled out the 19-16 win after they recovered a muffed punt that adopted a FOURTH consecutive three-and-out by the groups in time beyond regulation.

With the win, the Chargers discover themselves at 4-2, however simply do not seem like a 4-2 workforce and the Miami Dolphins’ recreation in opposition to them at SoFi Stadium on Dec. 11 does not look as daunting now because it did when the 2022 schedule first got here out.

The Chargers have loads of big-name gamers on their roster, however their OC retains insisting on a brief passing recreation regardless of Justin Herbert’s clearly throwing skill, the offensive line already has misplaced its greatest participant (Rashawn Slater) for the season and the second-best (Corey Linsley) has been out and in of the lineup, star defensive finish Joey Bosa is on the shelf for a number of weeks with an harm, and high-priced free agent acquisition J.C. Jackson has been so dangerous since coming back from an ankle harm that he bought benched at halftime of the Denver recreation Monday night time.

The Chargers are on monitor to make the playoffs in 2022, however they’re in all probability not the Tremendous Bowl contenders that many media analysts had projected them to be earlier than the season began. 

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FOR EVEN MORE COVERAGE ON THE MIAMI DOLPHINS, CHECK OUT SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’S MIAMI DOLPHINS PAGE ON SI.COM

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STEELERS SHOW SIGNS OF LIFE

Of all of the leads to Week 6, in all probability none was extra stunning than the Pittsburgh Steelers, who come to Exhausting Rock Stadium this Sunday night time, defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Acrisure Stadium.

And it wasn’t simply that the Steelers went into the sport with a 1-4 document after getting blown out by the Buffalo Payments, they must face Tom Brady with out not solely star linebacker T.J. Watt — with out whom they have been 0-9 since he arrived as a first-round decide in 2017 — but in addition with out security Minkah Fitzpatrick (you keep in mind the title, proper?) and beginning cornerback Cam Sutton.

The Steelers’ 20-18 victory was secured after linebacker Devin Bush broke up a Tom Brady move on a late two-point conversion and quarterback Mitch Trubisky — within the recreation after rookie first-round decide Kenny Pickett sustained a concussion — got here up with clutch completions on third-and-15 and third-and-11 to assist Pittsburgh kill the ultimate 4:38 off the clock.

Trubisky had a stellar efficiency in reduction of Pickett within the recreation, going 9-for-12 for 144 yards with a landing, no picks and a 142.4 passer ranking. His greatest passer ranking whereas he began the primary 4 video games was 81.1.

EVEN MORE FRUSTRATION FOR BRISSETT

The New England Patriots and rookie QB Bailey Zappe bought loads of consideration for his or her 23-point win at Cleveland, however the flip aspect was one other dangerous day for the Browns — and former Dolphins quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

On the finish of the week the place QB Deshaun Watson was allowed on the facility for the primary time whereas serving his 11-game NFL suspension, Brissett had season-worst stats in completion share (46.7) and passer ranking (54.5) and was sacked a season-high 4 instances.

Oh, and Brissett was stuffed for no acquire on a fourth-and-1 quarterback sneak, which not often occurs given his measurement and talent to maintain transferring ahead.

Brissett might be at quarterback — barring unexpected circumstances when the Browns come to Exhausting Rock Stadium in Week 10 after their bye, however who is aware of what their playoff outlook might be by then contemplating they’re now 2-4 and their subsequent two video games are at Baltimore and at residence in opposition to Cincinnati.

49ERS FEELING SOME PAIN

After their dominating performances on protection in opposition to the Rams and Panthers in back-to-back weeks, the 49ers have been getting loads of reward and talked about as maybe a workforce to observe when it comes to representing the NFC within the Tremendous Bowl.

Issues look a complete totally different now — and that is excellent news for the Dolphins, who personal the 49ers’ first-round decide in 2023 — after a humbling loss at Atlanta and a steady rash of accidents.

The loss at Atlanta dropped to 49ers to 3-3 and so they’ll subsequent face the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, with beginning CB Emmanuel Mosley and beginning DT Jevon Kinlaw on IR, DE Nick Bosa and  DT Arik Armstead as query marks after lacking the Atlanta recreation, and CB Charvarius Ward (groin) and S Talanoa Hufanga  (concussion) having left the sport with accidents.

QUICK HITTERS

— Increase your hand when you had the Jets at 4-2 after six video games, with a win at Lambeau Area. We advised greater than as soon as earlier than the season that the Jets have been going to be rather more tough to deal with this season, however who knew all their younger gamers who ship this huge this shortly.

— There’s been nothing as drastic as what occurred in opposition to the Dolphins in Week 2, however the Baltimore Ravens hold discovering methods to blow huge leads. It occurred once more in opposition to the Giants on Sunday once they squandered a 20-10 fourth-quarter lead. As nice as Lamar Jackson has been in 2022, it was not an excellent search for him to complete Baltimore’s final two drives in that recreation with an interception and a fumble. The interception was notably dangerous as a result of it got here with the Ravens main 20-17 and occurred after he let the shotgun snap get by him, retrieved the ball after which fired downfield into site visitors.

— The 4 groups that started the set of byes for 2022 included two future Dolphins opponents seeking to get their season entering into the proper course — the 1-4 Detroit Lions and the 1-3-1 Houston Texans.

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