Post-Week 6 brings another round of Quick Outs, shining a light on notable performances and pivotal moments throughout the AFC. This week’s highlights feature Aaron Rodgers’ surgical takedown of the Browns, Colts coach Shane Steichen’s brilliant play crafting, the Jets’ head-scratching end-of-half choices, and growing worries about Buffalo’s defensive soft spots.
Aaron Rodgers’ Commanding QB Display
When the Pittsburgh Steelers brought in Aaron Rodgers as their field general, everyone knew what they were getting. This offense – what we’re calling the “Rodgers System” – thrives on deep shots, quick slants, RPO screens, and plenty of boundary throws, treating elaborate schemes as window dressing. Pittsburgh rolled the dice, betting Rodgers could still channel his 2014 MVP magic for a few snaps each game. Sunday’s dismantling of Cleveland came closer than any previous outing to proving that theory right.
Rodgers was surgical in the one-to-ten-yard window, misfiring on just two of 19 attempts – a hitch intended for DK Metcalf and an early curl to Jonnu Smith that sailed wide. Everything else found its mark with pinpoint precision, including two catchable balls that Metcalf surprisingly let slip through his hands, one being a perfectly threaded slant on a crucial third-and-short.
The veteran wasn’t content with dink-and-dunk either; he thrived when Cleveland cranked up the heat. Facing five-plus rushers, Rodgers went a perfect seven-for-seven, seamlessly blending bootlegs with pocket presence to carve up the blitz packages.
Most encouraging were the flashes of vintage brilliance that made Rodgers a household name. He delivered a nifty flip pass to Jaylen Warren while scrambling away from trouble, then uncorked a spectacular on-the-run strike to Connor Heyward for six points.
Sure, expecting this caliber of play every Sunday might be wishful thinking, but Rodgers’ knack for mixing mistake-free football with those signature wow moments could be exactly what Pittsburgh needs. Whether it translates to postseason relevance is anyone’s guess, but Sunday’s clinic certainly provides reason for optimism.
Breaking Down Josh Downs’ Score
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen keeps finding new ways to showcase his offensive ingenuity, constantly tweaking his approach to get the most from his pass-catchers. Josh Downs’ touchdown against Arizona perfectly captured this philosophy in action.
Starting from a trips formation with the running back positioned strong-side, Jonathan Taylor quickly shifted behind the quarterback, dragging linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither and safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson toward the sideline. With those defenders drawn away, only middle linebacker Mack Wilson posed a real threat.
Steichen neutralized Wilson by sending Michael Pittman on a shallow crossing pattern near the goal line, effectively removing the linebacker from the equation. This choreographed movement created a clear runway for Downs to streak past safety Budda Baker. Not only did Downs beat Baker to the spot, but he also showed grit by holding onto the ball despite taking a solid hit while crossing the plane.
This sequence perfectly demonstrates Steichen’s talent for creating advantageous matchups through smart personnel movement, while highlighting how Downs’ blend of speed and toughness makes him a legitimate red zone threat for Indianapolis.
Jets’ End-of-Half Chaos
Coming into this season, expectations surrounding the New York Jets centered on new head coach Aaron Glenn bringing structure and smart decision-making to the franchise. Despite roster questions, there was genuine hope that Glenn’s defensive background in Detroit, combined with lessons learned from Dan Campbell’s leadership style, would translate into a more polished product.
The Jets’ late second-quarter sequence against the Broncos in London, though, raised serious doubts about that assumption. After pulling off a gutsy fake punt conversion, New York had a golden opportunity to add points before the break. Instead, what followed was a masterclass in poor clock management and organizational breakdown.
Following a minimal 1-yard pickup on third-and-2, the Jets inexplicably let the play clock wind down before burning a timeout, seemingly more concerned with limiting Denver’s remaining time than securing the critical first down. Then, facing fourth-and-1 with under 30 seconds left, New York looked completely unprepared. Rather than executing a quick sneak or spiking the ball to preserve time, they watched valuable seconds tick away.
Garrett Wilson’s visible frustration – literally walking away from the huddle mid-sequence – said everything about the disarray on display. During those final pre-halftime minutes, the Jets managed just 31 yards on 10 plays, burning over three minutes without meaningful progress.
The entire stretch felt disjointed and amateurish – the antithesis of what competitive NFL teams deliver when the stakes are highest.
Buffalo Bills’ Run Defense Crisis
The Buffalo Bills have watched promising seasons derailed by their inability to stop power running attacks, a recurring theme under head coach Sean McDermott. While this weakness isn’t new, the current struggles have reached alarming proportions.
The most glaring issue is Buffalo’s susceptibility to explosive rushing plays. Week after week, opponents break loose for chunk gains because the Bills’ linebackers can’t disengage from blocks and their safeties consistently take poor pursuit angles.
According to TruMedia, Buffalo is surrendering explosive runs on 14.7% of opponent carries through six games – a rate that would shatter records dating back at least two decades.
The lowlights keep piling up: Derrick Henry’s early-season breakaways, Kendre Miller’s 18-yard touchdown scamper, and Bijan Robinson’s 81-yard house call after Cole Bishop whiffed on what should have been a routine tackle. These breakdowns have become a weekly occurrence.
Even removing that disastrous Week 1 performance against Baltimore, the adjusted figure still sits at 12.7% – which would rank among the most porous defenses in modern NFL history. Even if Buffalo somehow improves to an 11% rate by season’s end – an optimistic projection – only 25 teams out of 320 over the past 20 years have been that vulnerable.
Buffalo’s overall run defense efficiency tells a similar story, posting a 54.0% success rate against rushing attempts – the worst mark of the McDermott era and nearly three percentage points below his previous low in 2020.
While injuries and small sample size concerns provide some context, the underlying trends suggest a defense built on speed and athleticism is getting physically overwhelmed on a consistent basis. Health and scheme adjustments might bring improvement, but the warning signs are impossible to ignore.
Reported by Derrik Klassen, Staff Writer covering the NFL for The Athletic.
