NFL Injuries and Standings Reshape Week 6 Stakes

The Houston Texans beat the Jacksonville Jaguars with a walk-off field goal at Wembley Stadium. The kick cut Jacksonville’s projected chance of winning the AFC South from 87 percent to 69 percent and lifted Houston’s to 14 percent. According to The Athletic’s playoff predictor, a loss would’ve left Houston at 2 percent.

Standings Turn on One Kick

Jacksonville could have improved to 5-1 with a win. Instead, the result shifted the division outlook, and Houston left London with a greater chance of winning the title. The game was part of a Week 6 slate that included 12 scheduled matchups that Sunday.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was ruled out of the team’s AFC North game against the Cleveland Browns with an ankle injury. Team sources called his status “day to day,” and Baltimore coach Jesse Minter said the team didn’t expect him to miss much time. Jackson injured the ankle late in the first half of Baltimore’s Oct. 4 win over the Tennessee Titans.

Tyler Huntley was set to start again after leading Baltimore to a 30-23 overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons the previous Sunday. Baltimore went 6-6 in regular-season games Huntley started. The Browns game marked Baltimore’s first division game of the season; the Steelers’ division record stood at 1-1.

Bills-Raiders Matchups

The Buffalo Bills, 4-1, traveled to face the Las Vegas Raiders, 3-2, after beating the Los Angeles Rams 37-34 in overtime on Monday night. Josh Allen ran for 121 yards against the Rams, while James Cook added 111, and together they scored three rushing touchdowns. Buffalo had begun a two-game, weeklong stay on the West Coast and could improve its conference record to 3-1 with a win in Las Vegas.

Buffalo’s defense faced a critical point before its bye week. Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard pushed for urgency and consistent signs that the team’s potential remained within reach.

Las Vegas aimed to end a two-game losing streak after the New England Patriots beat the Raiders 45-17 the previous week. New England gained 536 yards, and quarterback Drake Maye accounted for five touchdowns.

New York Post writer Vincent Bonsignore said Allen could punish defensive mistakes by running, escaping pressure or throwing over defenders. He wrote that the Raiders’ pass rush, led by Maxx Crosby, needed to pressure Allen without opening escape routes. Interior defenders had to hold their rush lanes, while the secondary needed to stay with receivers when Allen extended plays. Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Leonard also had to account for Cook.

Bonsignore said the Raiders’ offense needed a running game to create manageable situations, contributions from receivers beyond Brock Bowers, and scoring drives from quarterback Kirk Cousins. He said coach Klint Kubiak needed to deliver those elements, adding that field goals might not keep pace if Buffalo scored touchdowns. The article predicted a 34-20 Bills win and listed Allen’s 121 rushing yards against the Rams as its key statistic.

Injuries Across the Slate

The Chicago Bears listed Caleb Williams as questionable against the Atlanta Falcons after full practices Thursday and Friday. He was expected to return unless he suffered a setback, and said he’d need to pass a “stress test” of his readiness. The Kansas City Chiefs aimed to remain undefeated against the winless Los Angeles Chargers.

The Philadelphia Eagles lost quarterback Jalen Hurts, whom doctors placed on injured reserve after finding a small, superficial blood clot in his calf. He was set to miss at least four games, with Nov. 22 against the Pittsburgh Steelers identified as the earliest he could return. Coach Nick Sirianni said: “I know there's a great deal of interest in Jalen's health, but I'm not going to get too much into any of that. ... Jalen's health is of the utmost importance to all of us in the building. Care deeply about Jalen. Not going to get too much into that.” Philadelphia planned to start Tanner McKee, a fourth-year veteran who had started in Week 18 in each of the previous two seasons. The Eagles had lost three straight and were missing key offensive players.

Live coverage reported drizzle over Wembley about 20 minutes before kickoff and empty seats. Former Jaguars player Fred Taylor tried to encourage support inside the stadium and said, “it's all about business.”