The Good
Just one week after getting booed at home during the 30-17 loss to the Titans, the then 1-4 Dolphins had a lot to prove against the Steelers. It was the upset that no one saw coming. The Dolphins beat the Steelers, 30-15, on Sunday and for the first time all season, the Dolphins offensive line showed up. This is an O-line that allowed quarterback Ryan Tannehill to get sacked 17 times so far this season. However, Tannehill wasn’t sacked once and finished the game with 252 passing yards. Tannehill wasn’t the only one to benefit from the offensive line’s great performance. Running back Jay Ajayi put the team on his back as he ran for 204 yards and scored two touchdowns on 25 carries. Before last week, Ajayi hadn’t earned more than 48 rushing yards in a single game (out of 13 games played). This could be a turning point for the Dolphins offense. We’ll found out this week when they host the Bills. Either way, this was an outstanding game for the struggling team.
Bonus: Another running back with a great Week 6 performance was LeSean McCoy. After going down in the second quarter with a right knee injury, McCoy was cleared to play in the third quarter and finished the game with 140 rushing yards on 19 carries. He also matched a career-high three touchdowns in the game.
The Bad
Maybe the Jets’ tragic Monday night loss to the Cardinals should be the Ugly of the week. Â I don’t know where to start. Ryan Fitzpatrick was benched for Geno Smith, both threw interceptions. Fitzpatrick, however, currently leads the NFL in picks with 11. After the 28-3 loss, Jets’ wide receiver Brandon Marshall said in the postgame press conference, “the reality is that we’re not a good team right now.” At least he’s honest about it. To add insult to injury, Jets head coach Todd Bowles announced that Fitzpatrick will start this Sunday against the Ravens. This is a quarterback who has yet to throw a touchdown pass in the second half of a football game this season. (update: on Wednesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Jets will start Geno Smith against the Ravens on Sunday.)
Bonus: Come on, Jaguars! Do better. During halftime of Sunday’s win over the Bears, the Jaguars equipment manager asked cornerback Prince Amukamara to change his jersey. Amukamara was later told by a reporter during the postgame press conference that his name was misspelled on his jersey.
The Ugly
On Monday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the NFL is reviewing a low hit that Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict put on Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett. In the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game, Burfict hit Bennett on a low pass from Tom Brady to Danny Amendola. Burfict apologized to Bennett after the game but this may not have been the only incident involving Burfict from that game. He also stepped on the legs of Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount. Rapoport reported that Burfict should only face a fine, not a suspension. Burfict certainly has a history of being labeled a “dirty player.” The 26-year-old was suspended the first three games of this season after violating several of the league’s safety-related playing rules.
Bonus: It’s almost sad watching the Panthers in their Superbowl Hangover. The Panthers are currently 1-5 after Sunday’s 41-38 loss to the Saints. Later, quarterback Cam Newton was definitely not feeling the media. He started by giving short answers but then walked out after being asked what it was like to watch from the sidelines, in the fourth quarter, after tying up the game.
