NFL Research spotlights the best nuggets from each slate of games. Here are the most eye-popping statistical accomplishments from Week 6 of the 2024 NFL season.
1) NFC North flexing its dominance through six weeks
The NFC North is a combined 17-5 in 2024, with every team 4-2 or better and the 5-0 Vikings at the top. It is the first time since 1970 in which every team in a division has at least four wins through six weeks.
The top four teams in point differential entering Monday Night Football all reside in the NFC North, with the Vikings at plus-63, Lions at plus-60, Bears at plus-47 and Packers at plus-41.
The two at the top of that list, Minnesota and Detroit, face off in Week 7.
2) Derrick Henry joins group of legends with another rushing performance of 100-plus yards
Henry was key in the Ravens snapping the Commanders’ four-game winning streak and earning a fourth consecutive win of their own. Henry rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-23 win over Washington.
For Henry, it was the 20th time in his career that he rushed for 100-plus yards and multiple touchdowns (and the second time in six games since joining the Ravens). Henry is the fourth player since 1950 to reach those single-game thresholds at least 20 times, joining Hall of Famers Jim Brown (25), LaDainian Tomlinson (25) and Emmitt Smith (21).
Speaking of LT, Henry became the first player with a rushing touchdown in each of his team’s first six games of the season since Tomlinson in 2005.
The Ravens have rushed for at least 150 yards and a touchdown as a team in all six contests this season. The last team to do that in its first six games of the season: John Madden’s 1971 Raiders.
Sunday also marked the 39th consecutive game that Baltimore has rushed for 100-plus yards, breaking a tie with the 1935-39 Lions for the third-longest streak in NFL history. The all-time record is shared by the 2018-2021 Ravens and 1974-77 Steelers, each with 43-game streaks.
3) Chicago does something it hasn't done in 68 years thanks to Caleb Williams
Williams led the Bears to a 35-16 win over the Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Week 6. Not only did Williams become the first rookie with multiple touchdown passes in an international game (he threw four), but he also became the first rookie drafted No. 1 overall to win at least four of his first six career starts.
The Bears have now scored at least five offensive touchdowns in each of their last two games -- something they hadn't accomplished in back-to-back contests since 1956.
4) Drake Maye makes history with his arm, legs in first career start
After exercising patience in the first five weeks of the season, Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo used Week 6 to turn to Maye, the hopeful future of the franchise and No. 3 overall pick. The only issue? Maye had to face C.J. Stroud and DeMeco Ryans’ Texans.
While the end result wasn’t pretty (a 41-21 Texans win in New England), Maye made history. He became the first quarterback since at least 1950 to throw three-plus touchdown passes and lead his team in rushing in his first career start.
This week, Maye will look to earn his first career win as the Patriots take on the Jaguars in London on NFL Network.
5) Buccaneers overcome gaffes with yardage explosion
The Buccaneers turned the ball over three times and were penalized 12 times ... and still stomped the Saints, 51-27, in New Orleans.
Tampa Bay had almost 600 total yards, with prolific performances through the air (Baker Mayfield: 325 passing yards, four touchdowns, three interceptions) and on the ground (277 rushing yards and an average of almost 8 yards per carry). The Buccaneers became the first team with at least 300 yards through the air and 275 yards on the ground in a road game since the 1962 Packers in Week 9 at Philadelphia. Those Vince Lombardi-coached Packers won that game 49-0 -- and ultimately capped off their season with an NFL Championship.
6) Jared Goff continues slinging in revenge game against Cowboys
Goff and the Lions showed dominance in Dallas this week, handing the Cowboys a 47-9 loss that felt personal for Detroit.
Coming off the bye, Goff finished Week 6 with 315 passing yards, three touchdowns and a 153.8 passer rating. He is the only quarterback with a 150-plus passer rating in a game against the Cowboys all-time (minimum 25 attempts).
Over his last three games, Goff has completed 81.8 percent of his passes and thrown seven touchdowns (to just one interception). Goff is the fourth player since 1970 to complete at least 80 percent of his passes in a three-game span while also throwing for 800-plus yards and seven touchdowns. He joined Drew Brees (2018), Peyton Manning (2013 and 2008) and Philip Rivers (2013).
7) David Montgomery breezes through tackles in Dallas
Montgomery ran for an easy 80 yards and two touchdowns in Week 6 against the Cowboys -- or perhaps not so easy, considering he ended up forcing 10 missed tackles, according to Next Gen Stats. Still, he made it look effortless.
The former Bears third-round pick has now rushed for at least one touchdown in eight consecutive games, breaking a tie with Billy Sims (1980-81) for the longest streak in Lions history.
8) Joe Flacco keeps turning back clock with another multi-touchdown effort
Dating back to 2023, Flacco has thrown multiple touchdown passes in each of his last eight games. He is the fourth quarterback in NFL history to throw multiple touchdown passes in eight consecutive games at age 38 or older, joining Tom Brady (nine games in 2015 and nine from 2020-21), Peyton Manning (nine games in 2014) and Warren Moon (eight games in 1995).
Research shoutouts: Jack Andrade (@RealJackAndrade), Tony Holzman-Escareno (@FrontOfficeNFL), Michelle Magdziuk (@BallBlastEm), Blake Warye (@bwaryeofblake)