NFL Week 6 Truth Meter: Who's Real, Who's Fraudulent

As we round the quarter mark of the NFL season, a few teams are starting to separate themselves from the pack — for better or worse. Some are quietly stacking wins, others are coasting on luck, and a few have been exposed as straight-up fraudulent. Let’s break down where things stand:

✅ Legit Contenders (or at least, close):

Indianapolis Colts (4-1)

I was early on Daniel Jones — the talent is there, he was set up for failure on the Giants and now the results are showing. He’s playing clean, efficient football, and Jonathan Taylor is running wild. This defense is legit, the offense is balanced, and they’re finally healthy. Nobody’s talking about Indy, but they’re dangerous.

Denver Broncos (3-2)

The record might say 3-2, but Denver is two field goals away from being 5-0. Sean Payton has this team playing tough, clean football, and they’re hanging with everyone. If a couple bounces go their way, the Broncos could easily be leading the AFC West. The defense is quietly elite, led by Nik Bonnitto, who currently leads the league in sacks, and the Broncos are also net -67.0 in penalty yards, which can be cleaned up. Don’t be fooled by the record — this is a dangerous team trending up.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1)

Baker Mayfield is a legit MVP contender as we had mentioned in WEEK 2. He just ran circles around a highly ranked Seattle defense and has done so all year without a fully healthy supporting cast. Wirfs, Godwin, Bucky and Evans have all missed time, and this offense is still humming. When this team gets right? Look out.

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1)

Statement win over the Chiefs? Check. Elite defense? Check. A top-five rusher in Travis Etienne (currently 4th in rushing yards)? Check. This team might not be flashy, but they’re physical, well-coached, and built to beat anyone. And the scary part? Guys like Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter haven’t even broken out yet. Once this offense starts firing on all cylinders, the AFC better watch out.

⚠️ On Thin Ice (The Record's Lying To You):

Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)

Don’t let the wins fool you — this offense is broken. The Eagles have scored 125 points on just 1,308 yards of offense, meaning they’ve scored 40 more points than expected. That’s not sustainable. Kevin Patullo’s offense looks disjointed, AJ Brown ranks 62nd in receiving yards, and without the turnovers and special teams heroics, this could easily be a losing team.

Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)

They’ve got playoff potential — but this team is getting bounced early. Aaron Rodgers has been a statue behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league, and the numbers don’t lie: 1,054 total yards has translated to just 96 points — nearly 28 below expected. This offense is stale, predictable, and not built for January football.

❌ Who’s Getting Exposed

Arizona Cardinals (2-3)

That loss to the Titans? Embarrassing. Kyler Murray is still coasting off name recognition and hasn’t looked like a franchise QB since his rookie year. With a loaded QB class coming in 2026, the Cardinals need to seriously reevaluate their long-term plans.

Houston Texans (2-3)

Big win over Cooper Rush and a Ravens team missing half their starters. That’s nice. But this offensive line is a mess, and it’s holding back everything from the run game to Stroud’s development. This team has pieces, but 2025 isn't their year.

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