NFL Week 6 Recap: Cowboys Suffer Historic Loss, Lamar Jackson Makes History, Texans Shine in Rookie’s Debut

Week 6 of the 2024 NFL season may not have been filled with nail-biting finishes, but it certainly offered plenty of drama and notable performances to keep fans engaged. Sunday’s action commenced with the Chicago Bears showcasing their recent resurgence by defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Here’s a look at the key storylines from the day.

Cowboys Endure Historic Home Defeat

The Dallas Cowboys faced a humiliating defeat at home, losing 47-9 to the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium. This marked the worst home loss in the Jerry Jones era, which has spanned since 1989. The defeat was particularly disappointing as it came on Jones’s 82nd birthday. “This was very concerning and it was very humbling,” Jones admitted post-game. “This was a shocker.”

The Cowboys struggled in every facet of the game, allowing the Lions to amass 492 total yards while managing only 251 themselves. Detroit’s quarterback, Jared Goff, continued his impressive form, completing 18 of 25 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns before being substituted in the fourth quarter to safeguard against injury.

A significant contributor to the Lions’ success was their running game, led by David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, who combined for 184 rushing yards. Montgomery rushed for 80 yards and two touchdowns, extending his franchise-record streak to eight consecutive games with a rushing touchdown. Montgomery praised the team’s improvement, noting, “There was a period at the beginning of the season where we were trying to figure out our identity. Now, we are starting to execute a lot more.”

The only downside for Detroit was the serious leg injury to star defensive player Aidan Hutchinson, who suffered a broken tibia midway through the third quarter.

For Dallas, this loss compounded their struggles, marking their fourth straight home defeat and leaving them with three road wins. Quarterback Dak Prescott, who signed a contract in the offseason making him the league’s highest-paid player, threw two interceptions and the team rushed for just 53 yards. This rout tied a franchise record for the most home losses by more than 25 points in a single season during the Super Bowl era. Despite increasing pressure on head coach Mike McCarthy, Jones stated he is not considering a coaching change, emphasizing, “I’m not going to be hypothetical with you about when I’d consider a coaching change.”

Lamar Jackson Breaks Records in Ravens Victory

In what was billed as the game of the week, the Baltimore Ravens emerged victorious over the Washington Commanders, winning 30-23. This matchup featured a highly anticipated quarterback duel between Lamar Jackson and rookie Jayden Daniels.

Jackson, the reigning NFL MVP, was exceptional, completing 20 of 26 passes for 323 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 40 yards. A highlight of his performance came when he passed former MVP Cam Newton for the second-most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history, finishing the game with 5,661 yards. “It’s just great to be in discussion with those guys,” Jackson remarked, referring to the legendary quarterbacks he is now alongside.

Running back Derrick Henry contributed significantly with 132 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while rookie receiver Zay Flowers caught nine passes for 132 yards. Despite a strong performance, Jackson emphasized there’s still room for improvement within the Ravens’ offense, saying, “There’s always room for improvement… we still had drives where we should’ve put points on the board.”

Texans Ruin Rookie Drake Maye’s Debut

Week 6 also marked the first NFL start for Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 Draft, but it did not go as planned. Maye and the New England Patriots were thoroughly outmatched at home, falling 41-21 to the Houston Texans.

Joe Mixon’s return was pivotal for Houston, as he rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown, along with 30 receiving yards and another score. Although Maye showcased flashes of his potential, including a stunning 40-yard touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte, he also struggled, throwing an interception on his third attempt.

Despite the loss, Maye made history by becoming the first quarterback since at least 1950 to throw three or more touchdowns and lead his team in rushing in his first career start. Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo expressed optimism for Maye’s future, stating, “I thought he showed a lot of poise… it’s definitely encouraging.”

Maye’s next opportunity to shine will come in London as the Patriots prepare to face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 7.

Week 6 Scores Recap

Here are the results from Week 6:

• Chicago Bears 35, Jacksonville Jaguars 16
• Baltimore Ravens 30, Washington Commanders 23
• Green Bay Packers 34, Arizona Cardinals 13
• Houston Texans 41, New England Patriots 21
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers 51, New Orleans Saints 27
• Philadelphia Eagles 20, Cleveland Browns 16
• Indianapolis Colts 20, Tennessee Titans 17
• Los Angeles Chargers 23, Denver Broncos 16
• Pittsburgh Steelers 32, Las Vegas Raiders 13
• Atlanta Falcons 38, Carolina Panthers 20
• Detroit Lions 47, Dallas Cowboys 9
• Cincinnati Bengals 17, New York Giants 7

As the season progresses, each of these storylines will continue to evolve, providing fans with plenty to watch for in the coming weeks.