Pick Six Newsletter: Monday Edition

Welcome to your Monday roundup!

After the Cowboys’ humiliating 42-10 loss to the 49ers, it feels like it might be time to strip them of the “America’s Team” title. The 49ers are playing at an elite level, and until they stumble, maybe we should just hand them the title.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Patriots’ abysmal performance, getting shut out 34-0, raises serious questions about Bill Belichick’s future. Is it time for him to consider retirement?

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1. Today’s Show: Biggest questions after Week 5

Podcast Recap: Week 5 Takeaways

I’m running on fumes after staying up until 3 a.m. recording a podcast with Will Brinson and Ryan Wilson! We dived into our 10 biggest takeaways from Week 5, tackling some pressing questions:

• Is Bill Belichick done in New England? With the Patriots’ recent struggles, we debated Belichick’s future. I suspect he won’t return next year, as Robert Kraft may be ready for a change, even if it’s a mutual decision.
• Who will win the AFC North? All teams are within one game of first place. The Ravens’ surprising loss to the Steelers has shifted the landscape. I’m leaning towards the Bengals, especially with a healthier Joe Burrow.
• Are the Lions among the NFC’s elite? After their impressive 42-24 win over the Panthers, the Lions are on a roll. We agreed that the 49ers and Eagles are the top two, but opinions varied on the Lions’ ranking. I placed them fourth behind the Cowboys, a choice I might regret!

2. Week 5 grades: Patriots get an ‘F’ for ugly loss to Saints

NFL Grades: Week 5 Highlights

Patriots vs. Saints (0-34)

• Saints Grade: B+
  The Saints defense dominated, forcing three turnovers and limiting the Patriots to just 1-of-12 on third downs. Alvin Kamara contributed significantly in his return, helping the team bounce back after two straight losses.
• Patriots Grade: F
  The Patriots’ performance was abysmal. Mac Jones struggled, throwing a pick-six and receiving little support from the offensive line or running game. After two consecutive blowouts, questions about Bill Belichick’s future in New England are emerging.

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Bengals vs. Cardinals (34-20)

• Bengals Grade: A-
  Joe Burrow finally found his form, throwing for 317 yards and three touchdowns, including a long TD pass to Ja’Marr Chase. The defense also made critical plays, including a pick-six. With Burrow looking healthier, the Bengals are back in contention.
• Cardinals Grade: C
  Joshua Dobbs struggled, turning the ball over three times, including a crucial pick-six. Despite a solid start to the season, the Cardinals faltered when it mattered most and couldn’t capitalize on key opportunities.

3. 15 crazy facts from Week 5: Belichick suffers another record-setting loss

Every Sunday night, I get an email from our research department here at CBS Sports, and every Sunday, that email always includes some amazingly wild facts about the games that were just played.

With that in mind, here are 14 crazy facts about Week 5:

Bad news Belichick

1. . Thanks to New England’s 34-0 loss to New Orleans, Bill Belichick now has two 30-point losses over the past two weeks, which is more than he had in his previous 453 games combined (1). This was also the largest home shutout loss in franchise history.

Miserable Mac.

1.  Mac Jones already has as many pick-sixes at Gillette Stadium (4) than Tom Brady did in his entire 20-year career in New England.

High-flying Dolphins.

1.  With 524 yards of offense against the Giants, the Dolphins now have the most total yards of any team through the first five games of a season in NFL history with 2,568. The previous record was held by the 1999 Rams, who had 2,527 yards through five weeks.

High-flying Dolphins, Part II.

1.  With a 69-yard TD against the Giants, Tyreek Hill now has 19 touchdowns of 60 yards or more in his career, which is tied for the fifth most in NFL history trailing only Desean Jackson (26), Jerry Rice (23), Devin Hester (21) and Bobby Mitchell (20).

High-flying Dolphins part III. 

1. De’Von Achane is the first player in NFL history with at least 100 rushing yards while also averaging at least 10.0 yards per rush in three straight games. Achane is also the first player in the Super Bowl era to score seven touchdowns in his first four career games. .

Achane joins elite company.

1.  The Dolphins running back hit 100 yards for the third straight game, which makes him just the third rookie over the past 35 years to run for at least 100 yards and a rushing TD in three consecutive games. Achane joins Barry Sanders and Mike Anderson (via ESPN Stats and Info).

One-score wonders no more.

1.  After going 11-0 in one-score games, the Vikings are now 1-4 in one-score games this season following their 27-20 loss to Kansas City. The Vikings now join the 1944 Detroit Tigers as the only teams in NFL history to lose four of their first five games by one-score.

Not a second-half team. 

1. The Broncos beat the Jets 13-8 at halftime on Sunday, but ended up losing the game. This marks the 10th straight time that they’ve lost a game after leading at halftime, which extends their own NFL record.

Stroud’s streak. 

1. C.J. Stroud has opened his NFL career by throwing 186 passes without an interception. That breaks the previous record, which had been held by Dak Prescott, who went 176 passes without throwing an interception to start his career in 2016.

Minshew Magic. 

1. With Indy’s 23-16 win over the Titans, the Colts QB joined Steve Young as the only players since 1950 with a 75% completion percentage and 150 passing yards or more in multiple wins off the bench in a season. Young did the same thing in 1989 with the 49ers.

Ja’Marr Chase makes history.

1.  The Bengals receiver set the franchise record for receptions in a game by catching 15 passes during Cincinnati’s 34-20 win over Arizona. Chase also became just the fourth player in NFL history to record at least 15 catches, with 190 yards or more and at least three touchdowns in the same game.

Mac attack is back in the end zone.

1.  After scoring a TD against the Cowboys on Sunday night, Christian McCaffrey has now scored at least one TD in 14 straight games, which is the longest streak in 49ers history. He’s also now tied with Emmitt Smith for the fourth-longest streak in NFL history trailing only Lenny Moore (17), O.J. Simpson (15) and John Riggins (15).

Hurts so good. 

1. With 303 passing yards and 72 rushing yards, Jalen Hurts now has five career games with at least 300 passing yards and 50 rushing yards. That number is tied for the third most in NFL history, trailing only Steve Young (he did it eight times) and Josh Allen (seven)

49ers are streaking. 

1. The 49ers have now won 15 straight regular-season games, which is tied for the longest streak in franchise history. Brock Purdy has also won his first 10 starts, which is tied for the second-longest streak to start a QB’s career in NFL history. Only Ben Roethlisberger (15) had a longer winning streak to start his career.

49ers are streaking, part II.

 With their 42-point outburst against the Cowboys, the 49ers have scored at least 30 points in their first five games, which makes them just the sixth team in NFL history to pull off that feat (via ESPN). The good news for the 49ers is that the last four teams to do it all made the Super Bowl (2007 Patriots, 2011 Patriots, 2013 Broncos, 2018 Rams).

If you see any other fun facts, feel free to tweet them at me.

4. NFL Week 5 winners and losers: Shanahan shines, Belichick not so much

NFL Week 5 Winners and Losers

Winners:

1. Desmond Ridder: The Falcons quarterback silenced critics with a stellar performance against the Texans, throwing for 329 yards and leading a game-winning drive that ended with a last-second field goal.
2. Nathaniel Hackett: The Jets offensive coordinator got the last laugh against Sean Payton as his Jets defeated the Broncos. Denver is now 1-4, while Hackett’s Jets improved to 2-3, showing resilience after last year’s struggles.
3. Steelers Defense: Once again, Pittsburgh’s defense stepped up, forcing two crucial turnovers in the final minutes of their 17-10 victory over the Ravens, contributing directly to the win.
4. Kyle Shanahan: The 49ers head coach outsmarted the Cowboys in a dominant 42-10 victory, showcasing his tactical superiority and leading his team to a statement win.

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Losers:

1. Bryce Young: The Panthers QB struggled, throwing two interceptions in the first half against the Lions, both leading to touchdowns for Detroit, further raising concerns about his readiness for the NFL.
2. Bills Travel Plans: The Bills’ late arrival in London on Friday didn’t help their performance against the Jaguars, leaving them looking jet-lagged and out of sync.
3. Bill Belichick: The legendary coach finds himself on the losers list after his team was outscored 72-3 over two weeks, marking a rare and troubling stretch for the Patriots.
4. Taylor Swift Fans in Minnesota: After two weeks of Swift sightings, fans were disappointed to see her absent during the Chiefs game, especially with Travis Kelce suffering an ankle injury during the match.

Feel free to share your own winners and losers on Twitter!

5. Monday preview: Prepping you for Packers at Raiders

6. Extra points: Jefferson headlines a rough week for injuries

NFL Weekend Highlights: Key Injuries and Contract News

• Justin Jefferson: The Vikings star injured his hamstring against the Chiefs and will undergo an MRI. His potential absence would be a big blow for the 1-4 team.
• Anthony Richardson: The Colts QB left the game with a shoulder injury after a hit. Initial diagnosis indicates a sprain, possibly sidelining him for 2 to 12 weeks. Gardner Minshew will fill in as starter.
• Daniel Jones: The Giants QB exited with a neck injury. While not serious, his status for the upcoming game against the Bills is uncertain. Tyrod Taylor will start if he can’t play.
• Jonathan Taylor: The Colts running back signed a three-year extension worth $42 million, including $26.5 million guaranteed. In his first game back, he managed only six carries for 18 yards, behind Zack Moss’s impressive performance.

Stay tuned for more updates!