NFL Week 6: Top questions, takeaways for every game

Week 6 of the 2024 NFL season featured another game in London and another strong performance from the Chicago Bears offense against the Jacksonville Jaguars. On Thursday night, the struggling San Francisco 49ers picked up an important NFC West victory on the road over the Seattle Seahawks.

Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answered lingering questions about every game and detailed everything else you need to know about each team. Let's get down to business.

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SF SEA | JAX CHI

Bears

Has the Bears offense finally established its identity? Caleb Williams threw four touchdowns by doing what coaches have emphasized for weeks: playing point guard. A week after the connection between Williams and DJ Moore was initiated, the rookie threw two touchdowns each to Keenan Allen and Cole Kmet. Chicago showed the balance it was looking for with another 91 rushing yards and a touchdown from D'Andre Swift and enters the bye week with confidence in the state of its offense.

Describe the game in two words: Williams' command. The two touchdown passes Williams threw to Allen are an example of the quarterback's precision and control – placing the ball in tight windows where only his receiver could reach it. On several occasions, Williams maneuvered the pocket and got it out of structure (notably a cross-body throw to Kmet that set up Chicago's fifth touchdown). Williams' four touchdown passes brought his total to nine in six games, the second-most ever by a Bears rookie QB.

Most surprising performance: Elijah Hicks, playing for safety Jaquan Brisker (concussion), helped ease the pain that came with losing three starters in the Bears' secondary (cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was out before the game with a calf injury and nickel quarterback Kyler Gordon left the third quarter with a hamstring injury). Hicks had five tackles, fumbled a fumble and broke up a pass in the end zone. –Courtney Cronin

Next game: on Commanders (October 27, 1 p.m. ET)

Jaguars

How does the loss affect the job security of coach Doug Pederson and GM Trent Baalke? It doesn't help. A day after owner Shad Khan said he still believed in Pederson and Baalke, the Jaguars played a sloppy game and fell to 1-5. That makes reaching the playoffs – which Khan said was his expectation before the season – highly unlikely. Of the 201 teams that have started 1-5 since 1966, only four have made the playoffs. The Jaguars are now 2-10 in their last 12 games, with their only wins coming against Carolina and Indianapolis, which is a good indication of the direction of the franchise.

Biggest gap in the game plan: The Jaguars didn't put any pressure on rookie QB Caleb Williams. When the Bears took a 35-10 lead, Jacksonville had blitzed him just six times and pressured him on 10 of his 32 dropbacks. That includes just one blitz and five pressures on 18 dropbacks in the first half, when Williams drained them for 128 yards and two touchdowns.

Amazing statistics: The Jaguars dropped four potential touchdown passes, including two from Gabe Davis. Christian Kirk also dropped a potential touchdown — the ball went through his hands and hit him in the facemask — and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. had a potential deep touchdown pass in his hands that he couldn't catch. – Mike DiRocco

Next game: vs. Patriots in London (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET)

49ers

What does the win in Seattle mean for the 49ers at the start of an important stage? It's an exaggeration to say it saved the 49ers' season, but that's not a stretch. Instead of 2-4 and 0-3 in the NFC West, the Niners are tied with Seattle for first place at 3-3 (with one edge in the tiebreaker). They get a few extra days of rest, no small feat given their injury issues, and they face the Chiefs and Cowboys in each of their bye weeks. If the 49ers reach their Week 9 bye with a record of at least 4-4, they can regroup, get healthy and make a run in November and December, when they are traditionally at their best under coach Kyle Shanahan.

Most surprising performance: The 49ers' rookie class filled out admirably. Safety Malik Mustapha made his first career interception to stop Seattle's first drive in the red zone before leaving with a sprained ankle. Cornerback Renardo Green received his first career pick in the fourth quarter and running back Isaac Guerendo sealed the win with a 76-yard run that set up the final touchdown.

Amazing statistics: QB Brock Purdy had excellent throws with more than 10 air yards. He went 6 of 8 for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Seahawks QB Geno Smith was 5 of 14 for 89 yards and two interceptions on such throws. – Nick Wagoner

Next game: vs. Chiefs (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Seahawks

Are the Seahawks closer to beating the 49ers? The 49ers have won the last five meetings by an average of 15.2 points, either dominating throughout or pulling away in the second half. This game was closely contested as the Seahawks came within five points in the fourth quarter and needed a defensive stop to have a chance at a win. On the other hand, Seattle benefited from a missed call that cost San Francisco at least three points. The 49ers also had to do without Christian McCaffrey and only had one running back from the third line at the end of the game. The Seahawks had their own injury problems, but if they couldn't beat the 49ers at home while San Francisco was missing its best offensive player, then when?

Amazing statistics: Seattle pressured Brock Purdy on 15 of his 31 dropbacks (48.4%). For comparison, the Dolphins led the NFL on Sunday with a pressure rate of 40% this season. But even though the Seahawks often got close to the 49ers' quarterback, they couldn't get to him and finished the game with no sacks and only four QB hits. They'll be happy to face a quarterback who's much less elusive than Purdy in Kirk Cousins ​​next week.

Early forecast for next week: Byron Murphy II will return from his hamstring injury and make an impact. The absence of Seattle's first-round pick in the last three games has forced them to face Leonard Williams, Jarran Reed and Johnathan Hankins more often than they would have liked. With Murphy's return, their D-line rotation will be deeper and life will also be easier for their second-level defenders since Murphy will be there to fill gaps and command double teams. –Brady Henderson

Next game: at Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)