playNFL NationOct 20, 2026, 06:05 AM ETCloseNFL Nation is made up of 32 team-specific reporters who cover the NFL year-round across ESPN.com, ESPN television shows, ESPN Radio, ESPN+ and social media platforms. It was established ahead of the 2013 season.Multiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsWeek 6 of the 2026 NFL season featured some troubling performances from offenses around the league. The Cardinals went 0-for-5 in the red zone, yet still defeated the Rams, who lost a fumble and turned the ball over on downs twice. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had an interception for the sixth straight game, helping lead to a sixth straight loss.
And Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was sacked five times against the Bears.Why did these offenses struggle so much? In addition to our updated 1-32 rankings, we asked our NFL Nation reporters to pick out the biggest offensive issue for each team. From ineffective run games to a lack of red zone efficiency, what is causing each team to falter this season?To form the list, our power panel of more than a dozen NFL analysts evaluates how all 32 teams stack up against one another. Here are a few highlights from this week’s rankings:The Texans are slowly climbing up our list after a shocking 0-4 start to the season.
After defeating the Titans in Week 5, Houston got another win over a divisional opponent in the Jaguars. The London matchup was also the Texans debut of wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who had three receptions for 34 yards after being traded from the Cardinals last week.The Rams are out of the top 10 in our rankings for the first time this season after their second straight loss Sunday. They are the fifth team in the past 50 seasons to enter a season as the outright Super Bowl favorite and lose at least four of their first six games, per ESPN Research. None of the previous four teams made the conference title game (2015 Seahawks, 2002 Rams, 1999 Vikings and 1987 Giants).The NFC East is off to a rocky start, becoming the first division in NFL history to be winless in consecutive weeks in which every team in the division played a game, per ESPN Research.
That struggle has been illustrated in our list. Compared with last week’s rankings, the Cowboys are down six spots, the Eagles are down five, the Giants fell four and the Commanders were lowered one spot. Dallas is the only one of those teams to not play a backup QB this season.Let’s get into the full list, starting with the same No. 1 team from last week.Jump to a team: ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF SEA | TB | TEN | WSH1. San Francisco 49ers (6-0)Week 6 result: Beat the Commanders 23-17 Week 6 ranking: 1Biggest issue on offense: Wide receiver injuriesThe Niners haven’t had many problems in terms of production, but they have had a significant amount of attrition at wideout.
Ricky Pearsall (knee), De’Zhaun Stribling (ankle), Christian Kirk (calf) and Demarcus Robinson (ankle) were supposed to be four of the team’s top five receivers and all landed on IR before Week 3. That doesn’t account for Deebo Samuel Sr.’s multiweek hamstring injury or the various bumps and bruises Mike Evans played through before departing Monday night’s game with Achilles tendinitis. The good news? Most of them are expected back this season, but the 49ers have had to scramble in the meantime. — Nick Wagoner2.
Kansas City Chiefs (5-0)Week 6 result: Beat the Chargers 22-6 Week 6 ranking: 2Biggest issue on offense: Offensive tackle healthThe Chiefs have done an admirable job protecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes, especially since left tackle Josh Simmons, their 2025 first-round pick, has been out because of a bulging disk in his lower back. Coach Andy Reid suggested Simmons won’t be ready for Sunday’s showdown against the Seahawks. Plus, right tackle Jaylon Moore sustained a concussion against the Chargers. Reid might have to continue altering the Chiefs’ playbook if undrafted rookies Kahlil Benson (left tackle) and Joshua Ezeudu (right tackle) are the starters. — Nate Taylor3.
Buffalo Bills (5-1)Week 6 result: Beat the Raiders 33-30 Week 6 ranking: 3Biggest issue on offense: Putting the ball on the groundAny criticism of an offense that leads the league in scoring and ranks top three in total offense and yards per play might seem like a nitpick. But running back James Cook III and quarterback Josh Allen have coughed up a few too many fumbles to start the season. Just imagine what this offense would look like if it weren’t for five lost fumbles, including three in opposing territory. The Bills did show improvement against the Raiders on Sunday, though, committing zero turnovers. — Nick Suss4.
Minnesota Vikings (5-0)Week 6 result: Bye Week 6 ranking: 6Biggest issue on offense: Injuries across the boardThe Vikings spent the five games before their bye searching for smooth air offensively. There were plenty of reasons for that, but the biggest was simply health-related personnel turnover. Players who have missed at least one game include quarterback Kyler Murray (concussion), receivers Justin Jefferson (ankle) and Jordan Addison (hamstring), running back Jordan Mason (finger), left tackle Christian Darrisaw (concussion), left guard Donovan Jackson (knee), and tight ends T.J. Hockenson (concussion) and Josh Oliver (biceps).
All but Jackson and Oliver are expected to return next week. — Kevin Seifert5. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2)Week 6 result: Lost to the Texans 34-31 Week 6 ranking: 5Biggest issue on offense: PenaltiesPenalties have cost the Jaguars three touchdowns, including a pair of 3-yard touchdown runs by running back Bhayshul Tuten. It happened again in Sunday’s loss, with a questionable holding call on tight end Brenton Strange. The Jaguars didn’t get points on that possession because QB Trevor Lawrence threw an end zone interception two plays later.
Jacksonville did score touchdowns after the other two penalties, against New England and Cincinnati, but it finally caught up to them in a three-point loss to the Texans. — Michael DiRocco6. Seattle Seahawks (3-3)Week 6 result: Lost to the Broncos 17-14 Week 6 ranking: 4Biggest issue on offense: TurnoversThe Seahawks’ run game has been underwhelming and their pass protection has been problematic, but no issue is holding first-year coordinator Brian Fleury’s unit back like turnovers. It has committed 12 of them, third most of any offense so far. While Sam Darnold’s struggles go beyond his interceptions, he has thrown seven picks in four games since returning from a glute injury.
Seattle has also lost five fumbles. How costly have those giveaways been? Ten of the Seahawks’ turnovers have come in their three losses, which were by a combined eight points. The opponents in those losses scored 44 points off those takeaways. — Brady Henderson7.
New England Patriots (4-2)Week 6 result: Beat the Jets 26-19 Week 6 ranking: 9Biggest issue on offense: Offensive line healthThe Patriots had three starters — right tackle Morgan Moses (ankle), left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (hamstring) and right guard Ben Brown (knee) — get knocked out of Sunday’s game. And the only reason Brown was in the lineup was because opening-day starter Mike Onwenu (ankle) and his replacement Greg Van Roten (hip) were put on IR earlier in the season. The Patriots have started three different OL combinations in their first six games, and there will likely be a fourth Thursday in Chicago. — Mike Reiss8. Baltimore Ravens (4-2)Week 6 result: Lost to the Browns 13-10 Week 6 ranking: 7Biggest issue on offense: PenaltiesBaltimore’s offense has been flagged an NFL-worst 31 times, with a bulk of the penalties coming from false starts (13) and holding (13).
On Sunday, the Ravens were called for delay of game three times with backup quarterback Tyler Huntley, which led to a season-low 10 points. “When you’re fighting behind the sticks, it’s hard to g
