Entering Week 6 of the regular season, there has been plenty of intrigue as we are approximately a third of the way through the season.
Currently, the Arizona Cardinals (5-0) are the only undefeated team remaining, but they are still trying to fend off the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West. Other divisional races are also highly competitive as teams try to establish themselves as postseason threats.
With all of the excitement on the field, let’s take a look at some of the biggest news stories of the week in the NFL.
Gruden Out With Raiders
While the Las Vegas Raiders currently sit 3-2 and a game out of first in the AFC West, the focus in Raider Nation has been on a completely different topic this week.
Head coach Jon Gruden has resigned from his position after discriminatory and homophobic emails were made public. While the emails were about a decade old, the very nature of them and their targets, which included everywhere from commissioner Roger Goodell, NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith, and gay NFL football players, were both appalling and an embarrassment for the Raider organization.
With Gruden out, special teams coach Rich Bisaccia will take over as the interim head coach. The 61-year-old Bisaccia has plenty of coaching experience at both the collegiate and professional levels, but this will be the first time serving as an NFL head coach.
The Raiders are currently +1300 to win the AFC West and +3600 to win the AFC.
Russell Wilson Out For Foreseeable Future In Seattle
After having to leave the game against the Rams last weekend with a finger injury, the Seahawks’ quarterback Russell Wilson will be out for the foreseeable future as he had two surgeries on the middle finger on his throwing hand.
Wilson had suffered both a fracture and a tendon rupture in the injury. While the expectation is that he will be back this season, it won’t be anytime soon. Geno Smith will take his place in the interim.
This season, Wilson has thrown for 1,196 yards, ten touchdowns, and just one interception. He had also rushed for 68 yards and another touchdown.
Seattle has the worst odds to win a loaded NFC West at +1700.
Giants Hampered With Injuries
Russell Wilson wasn’t the only quarterback injured in Week 5. The New York Giants lost quarterback Daniel Jones to a concussion suffered against the Dallas Cowboys.
Jones is making progress towards playing in Week 6 but will still need to be cleared by an independent neurologist. Thus far, Jones has thrown for 1,282 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. He also leads the team in rushing with 197 yards and two scores.
Jones isn’t the only Giants’ player that is injured. Saquon Barkley also left the game and is out with an ankle injury.
Furthermore, all three of the Giants’ top receivers are dealing with injuries as Kenny Golladay (out, knee), Sterling Shepard (questionable, hamstring), and Kadarius Toney (questionable, ankle) are all hampered with various injuries.
Brady And Buccaneers Looking At Extension
According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are entertaining signing 44-year-old Tom Brady to an extension.
After winning a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay last season, Brady is out to a strong start this season. Thus far, he has thrown for 2,065 yards, 17 touchdowns, and just three interceptions.
After winning Thursday night against Philadelphia, the Buccaneers are now 5-1 as they lead the NFC South. They are currently the favorites to win the division at -470.
In terms of the Super Bowl, the Buccaneers are tied with the Buffalo Bills as the favorites to win it all at +550.
For Brady, he is in his 22nd season in what will undoubtedly be a Hall-of-Fame career. While it is unclear how much longer Brady will be able to play at a high level, it appears that Tampa Bay thinks that he has at least a few years left in the tank.
