NFL Week 6: Kaepernick’s First Start Can’t Lift Niners; Seahawks, Giants, Patriots Win

Week six of the 2016 NFL season featured controversial quarterback Colin Kaepernick making his first start of the season for the San Francisco 49ers, Tom Brady returning home to Gillette Stadium, and Odell Beckham, Jr. making peace with a certain kicking net… Um, what?

All in all, it was a big week for some teams, but a tough one for others (sorry, Browns, maybe next week). Let’s break down the action, starting with Thursday night’s divisional matchup between the Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers.

It was that kind of game for Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian. Even so, this season has been worse for the Chargers, as every one of their four losses came in otherworldly fourth-quarter collapses. This time though, the Chargers’ defense asserted itself long enough to pull out the victory, 21-13. But it wasn’t an easy victory – the Chargers nearly suffered another heartbreak after the Broncos recovered an onside kick with 27 seconds left in the game. Luckily for them, Siemian’s subsequent Hail Mary attempt fell well short.

Should've not expected that Hail Mary to reach the EZ with passes like this https://t.co/i3YYqe7CvH

— Ninos ن (@Ninosssssssss) October 14, 2016

Chargers Coach Mike McCoy, obviously in fear for his job, couldn’t hide his dismay as he watched his team nearly collapse once again:

Mike McCoy can't believe they haven't won yet. https://t.co/wNgWYzTRYp

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 14, 2016

Elsewhere in divisional action, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton came back from a concussion just in time for a huge shootout with Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. It was a back-and-forth matchup with both teams throwing caution (and defense) to the wind as Brees and Newton eclipsed the 300-passing yard and multiple-touchdown marks. In the end, it was a Will Lutz-52 yard field goal with 11 seconds left in the game that sealed the deal for the Saints, 41-38. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks had a monster game for New Orleans:

Brees over the top to @BrandinCooks.

You know how this ends. SIX. #CARvsNOhttps://t.co/dwtbVg7dGl

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) October 16, 2016

The Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts played a barn-burner of a game on Sunday Night Football. After being down two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter, the Texans offense blazed all the way back to tie it up with 49 seconds left. After thwarting an Andrew Luck-led attempt at a last-minute win, the teams went to overtime. In the end, the Texans completed the comeback and the victory, 26-23, aided by this huge dagger-play from quarterback Brock Osweiler to receiver Jaelen Strong:

https://twitter.com/wilde_dylan/status/787868246338785280

In non-divisional play, Tom Brady returned home to Gillette Stadium to continue his vengeance on the rest of the league. The latest victim? The Cincinnati Bengals, who have lost their identity as a team, though the game was close early. In fact, it was only 10-7 at halftime. But it was a different story in the second half, as the Patriots asserted their dominance on route to a 35-17 win. The Brady-Gronkowski connection was as strong as ever:

How would you name @RobGronkowski's tackle-breaking run?

Let us know using #NTPGronkowski! https://t.co/lKcSRJNGKQ

— NFL (@NFL) October 10, 2016

San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick made his first start in nearly a year, even though the headlines have followed him even when he was on the bench. And though he played well and provided a spark, the Buffalo Bills had other plans, as their defense and running game proved too much to handle for the outclassed 49ers, who fell in a blowout, 45-16. LeSean McCoy is making fantasy football owners happier and happier each week:

SHADY! SHADY! SHADY!

It's a hat trick 🎩🎩🎩 kind of day for @CutOnDime25! #GoBills #SFvsBUF https://t.co/oaf1YlmCvQ

— NFL (@NFL) October 16, 2016

The New York Giants took down the Baltimore Ravens, 27-23 in the Meadowlands, but the bigger story? Odell Beckham Jr.’s awesome performance, and more importantly, the beautiful love story between him and a kicking net. Not familiar? Well, it all started after Beckham imploded on the sideline when Eli Manning threw a heartbreaking interception against the Washington Redskins two weeks ago. Beckham sought to unleash his frustration on a kicking net – but the net wasn’t having it:

Then last week, after scoring his first touchdown of the season, Beckham decided to make amends:

And after his spectacular performance on Sunday, how could he not go back to the one he had wronged and show his true affection?

https://twitter.com/Lilgeeeeee/status/787749414102306816

See below for our scoreboard for the rest of Week 6, along with Week 6’s biggest Fantasy stars:

San Diego Chargers (2-4) def. Denver Broncos (4-2) 21-13
Fantasy Star: Hunter Henry – 6 catches, 83 yards, 1 TD

Buffalo Bills (4-2) def. San Francisco 49ers (1-5) 45-16
Fantasy Star: LeSean McCoy – 19 rushes, 140 yards, 3 TDs; 2 catches, 2 yards

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3) def. Chicago Bears (1-5) 17-16
Fantasy Star: Cameron Meredith – 11 catches, 113 yards

Detroit Lions (3-3) def. Los Angeles Rams (3-3) 31-28
Fantasy Star: Matthew Stafford – 23/31 for 270 yards and 4 TDs

Miami Dolphins (2-4) def. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) 30-15
Fantasy Star: Jay Ajayi – 25 rushes, 204 yards, 2 TDs; 1 catch, 3 yards

New England (5-1) def. Cincinnati Bengals (2-4) 35-17
Fantasy Star: Tom Brady – 29/35 for 376 yards and 3 TDs

New Orleans Saints (2-3) def. Carolina Panthers (1-5) 41-38
Fantasy Star: Drew Brees – 34/49 for 465 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT

New York Giants (3-3) def. Baltimore Ravens (3-3) 27-23
Fantasy Star: Odell Beckham, Jr. – 8 catches, 222 yards, 2 TDs

Tennessee Titans (3-3) def. Cleveland Browns (0-6) 28-26
Fantasy Star: Marcus Mariota – 17/24 for 284 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; 7 rushes, 64 yards

Washington Redskins (4-2) def. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2) 27-20
Fantasy Star: Matt Jones – 16 rushes, 135 yards, 1 TD

Kansas City Chiefs (3-2) def. Oakland Raiders (4-2) 26-10
Fantasy Star: Spencer Ware – 24 rushes, 131 yards, 1 TD

Dallas Cowboys (5-1) def. Green Bay Packers (3-2) 30-16
Fantasy Star: Dak Prescott – 18/27 for 247 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; 1 rush, 6 yards

Seattle Seahawks (4-1) def. Atlanta Falcons (4-2) 26-24
Fantasy Star: Christine Michael – 18 rushes, 64 yards, 2 TDs

Houston Texans (4-2) def. Indianapolis Colts (2-4) 26-23
Fantasy Star: Lamar Miller – 24 rushes, 149 yards, 1 TD; 3 catches, 29 yards, 1 TD

Arizona Cardinals (3-3) def. New York Jets (1-5) 28-3
Fantasy Star: David Johnson – 22 rushes, 111 yards, 3 TDs; 3 catches, 27 yards.