Who says you have to take it easy on rookie quarterbacks?
The Commanders’ Jayden Daniels, the Broncos’ Bo Nix and the Bears’ Caleb Williams have all been starters since Week 1, and their 10 combined wins are the second by a rookie quarterback class through the first five weeks of a season since the AFL-1 in 1970. This is the second most wins. NFL merger.
One wonders when the Patriots, who have hit rock bottom with four straight losses, will switch from veteran Jacoby Brissett to rookie Drake Maye. Especially if owner Robert Kraft has other franchises looking around with envy. It starts with a young quarterback.
The surging Vikings and Falcons have the luxury of rookie quarterbacks JJ McCarthy (injured) and Michael Penix Jr., respectively, and await long-term plans.
Here are The Post’s NFL power rankings for Week 6:
1. Kansas City Chiefs 5-0 (1)
Kareem Hunt, unsigned until Sept. 17, cemented his spot as the top running back as long as Isiah Pacheco was sidelined, carrying 27 times for 102 yards in a 26-13 win over the Saints. Patrick Mahomes threw for 331 yards and helped the Chiefs have an advantage of about 18 minutes in time of possession. Harrison Butker kicked four field goals.
2. Minnesota Vikings 5-0 (2)
Sam Darnold didn’t torch his previous team. And Aaron Jones is injured. So the Vikings relied on their defense to intercept Aaron Rodgers three times in a 23-17 win over the Jets in London. Andrew Van Ginkel returned his own pick for a touchdown and Stephon Gilmore sealed the win in the red zone in the final minute.
3. Detroit Lions 3-1 (3)
Was it a waste of time to say goodbye? After going 2-1 in one-score games to start the season, the Lions’ offense was clicking on all cylinders with a 42-point explosion against the Seahawks in Week 4. However, the defense is also doing its part thanks to Aiden Hutchinson’s performance. 6.5 sacks and three interceptions by Kerby Joseph.
4. Houston Texans 4-1 (4)
Ka’imi Fairbairn’s tie-breaking 59-yard field goal with time running out helped ease the pain of blowing a 17-point lead and secured a 23-20 victory over the Bills. Fairbairn also connected on kicks from 50 and 47 yards. Stefon Diggs had six catches for 82 of CJ Stroud’s 331 passing yards in his first game against his former team.
5. Baltimore Ravens 3-2 (5)
Derrick Henry’s 51-yard run set up Justin Tucker’s 24-yard field goal to beat the Bengals, 41-38, in overtime. Henry’s game-changing run was his first play after a missed field goal. Lamar Jackson passed for 348 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 55 yards and another score, but failed on the first possession of overtime.
6. Buffalo Bills 3-2 (6)
Josh Allen was off target all day in the loss to the Texans, completing 9-of-30 passes for 131 yards, including a 49-yard touchdown to Keon Coleman. Allen missed just one snap after his head bounced off the turf, but was diagnosed with a rolled ankle. James Cook ran for 82 yards and a touchdown.
7. Washington Commanders 4-1 (10)
No team has scored more points this season than the Commanders, who won their fourth straight game by beating the Browns 34-13. Daniels threw a 41-yard touchdown pass and was one of four rushers along with Brian Robinson, Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols to carry 31 passes for 211 yards. Daniels also scored a goal from the ground.
8. Atlanta Falcons 3-2 (12)
Kirk Cousins gained a new fan base by rushing for a career-high 509 yards and four touchdowns. The last of those came in KhaDarel Hodge’s 36-30 overtime victory over the Buccaneers. Cousins also completed five passes in 1:14 with no timeouts, driving the Falcons for a tying field goal as time expired in regulation.
9. Green Bay Packers 3-2 (14)
Jordan Love overcame the first pick-six of his career (a failed throw attempt) and completed his next nine passes, including two touchdowns to Tucker Kraft, in a 24-19 win over the Rams. Xavier McKinney recovered a fumble and became the first player since 1970 to record an interception in each of his first five games with a new team.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-2(7)
Mike Evans joined the 100 career touchdown club, catching two from Baker Mayfield in the overtime loss to the Falcons. It looked like the Buccaneers had wrapped up the win when Lavonte David intercepted Cousins at Atlanta’s 28-yard line with 1:52 left in the fourth quarter, but the Bucs somehow went back 14 yards and were forced to punt and never regained possession.
11. Dallas Cowboys 3-2 (18)
12. Pittsburgh Steelers 3-2 (8)
13. Denver Broncos 3-2 (20)
14. Philadelphia Eagles 2-2 (13)
15. Los Angeles Chargers 2-2 (17)
16. Arizona Cardinals 2-3 (23)
17. San Francisco 49ers 2-3 (11)
18. Seattle Seahawks 3-2 (9)
19. Jets 2-3 (15)
An attempt to overcome a 17-point halftime deficit ended in a loss for the Vikings. Garrett Wilson broke off a slow start with 13 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown, but the Jets managed just 14 carries for 36 yards and Rodgers tied his career high with three interceptions. The offensive line also can’t keep Rodgers upright.
20. New Orleans Saints 2-3 (16)
21. Chicago Bears 3-2 (21)
22. Giants 2-3 (27)
No Malik Nabers, no Devin Singletary. No problem. Daniel Jones threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns and rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. rushed for 129 yards to lead the Seahawks to a 29-20 win. Isaiah Simmons blocked a field goal returned 60 yards for a touchdown to secure the win to offset Seattle’s early 102-yard fumble return touchdown.
