Week six of the NFL season delivered dramatic upsets and unexpected heroes as the Arizona Cardinals secured the year's most shocking victory while the Philadelphia Eagles faced a mounting injury crisis. According to BBC Sport, both the Cardinals and Eagles now hold identical 2-4 records, though their trajectories could hardly be more different. The Cardinals' improbable win at Los Angeles has positioned them above the Rams in a competitive NFC West, while the Eagles' quarterback situation has become dire following a calf injury to Jalen Hurts.
The Cardinals' upset victory over the Rams showcased an unlikely hero in kicker Chad Ryland, who accounted for all 18 points in Arizona's 18-16 triumph. The Rams, who began the season as the clearest Super Bowl favourites in nine years, have now fallen to the bottom of their division after suffering their third loss. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs extended their unbeaten record to 5-0, and the Cleveland Browns emerged as surprise leaders of the AFC North despite beginning the season with criticism from their own fans.
How did the Cardinals pull off the biggest upset?
The Los Angeles Rams entered their matchup against Arizona as a team in crisis despite their pre-season status as championship contenders. After losing to the Buffalo Bills in overtime on Monday night, the organisation made a dramatic change at kicker, releasing Harrison Mevis on Tuesday and signing Blake Grupe from the New York Jets' practice squad. Grupe's field goal opened the scoring, but he suffered a knee injury while making a tackle on the ensuing kickoff, forcing the Rams to turn to punter Ethan Evans for extra-point duties.
The Rams appeared to have seized control when Evans successfully converted the extra point following Colby Parkinson's touchdown, giving Los Angeles a 16-13 lead with just 47 seconds remaining. However, Arizona responded immediately with Ryland delivering a career-high sixth field goal as time expired, securing an 18-16 victory. This marked the Cardinals' second win at SoFi Stadium this season, having also defeated the Los Angeles Chargers in week one, and elevated them above the Rams in a division that also includes the unbeaten San Francisco 49ers and defending champion Seattle Seahawks.
Rams head coach Sean McVay acknowledged the team's struggles, stating:
We've got to be able to figure it out and it starts with me.The loss leaves Los Angeles searching for answers after a season that began with championship expectations but has deteriorated into a fight for divisional relevance.
What is the Chiefs' path to another title?
The Kansas City Chiefs remained unbeaten at 5-0 following a dominant 22-6 victory over the San Diego Chargers, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes reaching a significant milestone. Mahomes recorded his 100th regular-season win in his 131st start, tying the record previously held by Tom Brady. The Chiefs' roster strengthened considerably this off-season when they signed Kenneth Walker, the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player, and the running back has delivered immediate impact.
Walker rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns against the Chargers, extending his league-leading total to 665 rushing yards through five games with his new team—a record for any player in their first five contests with a franchise. The 23-year-old represents arguably the first elite running back Mahomes has had at his disposal during his 10-year NFL career, fundamentally altering the Chiefs' offensive capabilities. Kansas City will travel to face Walker's former team, the Seattle Seahawks, in week seven.
The Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings both sit at 5-0, while the San Francisco 49ers, who reached 5-0 in week five, remain unbeaten at 5-1 after their bye week. The 49ers host Washington on Monday night. The Buffalo Bills improved to 5-1 with a narrow 33-30 victory at the Las Vegas Raiders, while the Chicago Bears returned Caleb Williams from a hamstring injury to defeat the Atlanta Falcons 31-23.
How severe is the Eagles' injury situation?
The Philadelphia Eagles' season has spiralled into crisis following the revelation that quarterback Jalen Hurts played in their loss to Jacksonville at Tottenham while carrying a superficial blood clot in his calf. A follow-up ultrasound showed the clot had moved, prompting the team to place Hurts on injured reserve, sidelining him for a minimum of four weeks. This development compounds an already dire injury situation that has decimated the Eagles' roster.
Offensive linemen Lane Johnson and Cam Jurgens departed the team two weeks prior to week six, with Johnson retiring and Jurgens being traded to the Baltimore Ravens. The loss of these veteran contributors, combined with Hurts' absence, has left Philadelphia searching for stability. Back-up quarterback Tanner McKee made his third NFL start against the Carolina Panthers, but the Eagles fell 25-14 as tight end Tommy Tremble scored his first two touchdowns of the season for Carolina.
The defeat marked the Eagles' fourth consecutive loss, their worst stretch since Nick Sirianni became head coach in 2021. Many Philadelphia supporters fear this losing streak signals the end of an era that saw the franchise reach two of the past four Super Bowls. The Eagles face all three of their divisional rivals over the next three weeks, a brutal schedule that could determine whether the season remains salvageable.
What made Travis Hunter's performance historic?
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter achieved a rare feat in the highest-scoring London game since 2015, as the Houston Texans prevailed 34-31 in a divisional matchup. The second overall draft pick in 2025 entered the league with an explicit goal of becoming the first full-time two-way player in 30 years, and in his 13th NFL game, he made a significant impact on both sides of the ball simultaneously.
Hunter caught a touchdown pass and recorded an interception in the same game, becoming the first player to accomplish this feat since Brian Dawkins of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2002, and only the fourth player to do so since the league merger in 1970. The 23-year-old made both plays in the fourth quarter, with his interception leading to a Cam Little field goal that tied the game at 31-31 before Ka'imi Fairbairn's field goal secured Houston's second victory of the season. The loss dropped Jacksonville to 4-2 despite their strong start to the campaign.
How did the Browns become AFC North leaders?
The Cleveland Browns delivered a shocking result against the Baltimore Ravens in a divisional clash, with running back Audric Estime, who began the week on Minnesota's practice squad, scoring the decisive touchdown. Derrick Henry's crucial fourth-quarter fumble for Baltimore opened the door for Cleveland, and Andre Szmyt's field goal—his second game-winning kick in three weeks—secured a 13-10 victory. The Browns improved to 4-2 and claimed the AFC North lead on a tiebreaker, a remarkable achievement given that quarterback Deshaun Watson was booed by Cleveland fans during the pre-season.
The Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers both finished week six at 4-2, with Pittsburgh mounting a dramatic comeback from 16-3 down in the fourth quarter to defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-19 in overtime. The Steelers' resilience contrasted sharply with the struggles of other AFC South teams, as the Tennessee Titans secured their first victory of the season by defeating the Indianapolis Colts 26-20 in a fourth-quarter rally. The Titans now travel to face Cleveland in week seven.
Only two teams remain winless heading into week seven: the Miami Dolphins at 0-5 and the Los Angeles Chargers at 0-6. The Chargers' continued struggles stand in stark contrast to their divisional rivals, with the Rams and Raiders both having recorded victories despite their own inconsistency.
Key Facts
- Chad Ryland's six field goals secured Arizona's 18-16 upset victory over Los Angeles, leaving the Rams bottom of the NFC West
- Kenneth Walker leads the NFL with 665 rushing yards through five games with Kansas City, a record for any player's first five contests with a new team
- Jalen Hurts placed on injured reserve with a calf blood clot, sidelining the Eagles quarterback for at least four weeks
- Travis Hunter became the fourth player since 1970 to record a touchdown catch and interception in the same game
- Cleveland Browns claimed AFC North leadership at 4-2 despite pre-season criticism of Deshaun Watson
