NFL Bandwagon Report: Jets, Giants have the Big Apple buzzing

There are the teams you’re born rooting for, for better or worse, and then there are the bandwagon clubs – the franchises and star players that pique your interest, draw you in and drop you off. Each week of the 2022 campaign, we’re recapping some of the most encouraging and discouraging developments from around the NFL and deciding whose bandwagon to hop on or off – even if only for a week.

We’re now officially a third of the way through the regular season with Week 6 in the books.

This past week unfolded like many others this so far season in that it was bookended by a Thursday stinker and concluded with Russell Wilson and the Broncos flubbing another game in prime time.

So, which bandwagons are we hopping on and off this week?

Hop on: The Jets going from draft winners to actual winners

When they rallied back to the unlikeliest of victories against Cleveland in Week 2, we blamed the Browns. Two weeks later, their win over Pittsburgh felt more like an indictment of the Steelers and their growing list of injuries than it did a statement being made by New York. Even a pretty lopsided result over Miami ('s third string QB) didn't have me convinced about these Jets.

But Sunday's win at Lambeau against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers felt like a turning of the tide. And they earned that win. The Jets, who in past years have earned praise for strong drafts (especially last spring) but have faltered on the field, are putting their top picks – Sauce Gardner, Breece Hall, Quinnen Williams, Zach Wilson – in positions to succeed.

While Wilson hasn't exactly shone in these wins, Williams – selected third overall in 2019 – is a star on the defensive line, and we saw that in Green Bay.

Sustainable success is built from the trenches out, and with Williams leading the way things feel different in New York at last... case in point: Weeks 8, 9, and 11, when they face the Patriots, Bills, and Patriots again (after a bye in Week 10). For the first time in too long, the Jets are taking part in meaningful divisional matchups. (ES)

Hop off: Throwing at Seahawks’ Tariq Woolen

Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner is turning heads and balling out for the Jets, but as the No. 4 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft that was somewhat expected. Seahawks fifth-round pick Tariq Woolen on the other hand is exceeding expectations and is firmly involved in the defensive rookie of the year conversation. Woolen joined Jairus Byrd (2009) and Joe Haden (2010) as the only rookies in the 21st century to record an interception in four consecutive games, doing so in Seattle’s win over Arizona. Woolen told reporters Sunday he often watches old highlights of Seattle’s Legion of Boom. Woolen has already made a strong impression on one of those LoB alumni who happens to also be a former fifth-round Seattle draft pick that made an immediate difference when he first stepped onto an NFL field more than a decade ago. (MJ)

Hop on: Giants when they’re trailing in games

Lamar Jackson lost to an NFC team for just the third time in his career when the Ravens were defeated by the Giants 24-20. The Ravens certainly have issues closing out games – they’ve blown double-digit leads in the second half in all three of their losses. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Giants are developing a reputation as a team you shouldn’t ever count out. They’re 5-1 and have overcome deficits in all their games. The G-Men are riding high as they prepare for back-to-back road games at Jacksonville then Seattle. (MJ)

Hop off: Giving Belichick the game ball

Patriots rookie Brenden Schooler made a great special teams play Sunday against the Browns with a fumble recovery, but his attempt to proudly present the ball to Bill Belichick on the sideline was (unfortunately) a lot more memorable. (ES)

Hop on: Falcons as NFC South contenders

Is it possible Atlanta is the best team in the NFC South? Heading into the season the Falcons had 25/1 odds to win the division but those have dropped to roughly 6/1 just six weeks into the season with the team 3-3 and now tied with the Bucs atop the division. The Falcons are playing solid team ball under Arthur Smith and stuck to their run-heavy game plan in a 28-14 win over the 49ers and former Falcons OC Kyle Shanahan. Tampa beat Atlanta by six points in Week 5 and the teams conclude their season series in Week 18. Is it too wild to think a playoff spot or even the division title could be up for grabs in that regular-season finale? (MJ)

Hop off: Whatever's going on in Carolina

Week 5's loss to San Francisco felt like the final straw for the Panthers' dismal start to the season, with Matt Rhule being the first coach fired this year. But things have gotten even worse.

Against the Rams in Week 6, Carolina was facing a team whose offensive dysfunction felt like it was at a similar level... until the third quarter, that is, when Robbie Anderson was dismissed from the game by interim head coach Steve Wilks after Anderson and receivers coach Joe Dailey got into what appeared to be a heated argument. They'd exchanged words in the first half, too.

Within 24 hours, Anderson was traded. That kind of feels like a reward for the receiver, though, who now joins Kyler Murray and a fleet of receivers that suddenly has a job opening in the wake of Marquise Brown's foot injury.

Anderson could get plenty of opportunity as the return of DeAndre Hopkins from suspension in Week 7 will have defenders' focus fixed on the veteran going forward. (ES)

Hop on: The Eagles’ undefeated streak staying intact until…?

The Eagles' offence faced its toughest opponent yet in the Cowboys' dynamic defence on Sunday night, and while things got pretty close in the final quarter offensively Cooper Rush was ultimately no match for Philadelphia's secondary, which had three interceptions to extend Philly's season-opening win streak to 6-0.

Never count your chickens (Eagles?) before they hatch, etc., but I will now present (without comment) Philadelphia’s schedule upon their return from a week of rest. Starting in Week 8 the Eagles take on the Steelers, Texans, Commanders, Colts, and Packers to close out November. (ES)

Hop off: Cooper Rush as Cowboys saviour

The Dallas Cowboys backup QB had quite the stretch as a starter, however it’s looking like the clock is about to strike midnight on Rush’s Cinderella run under centre. Rush went 4-0 starting and didn’t allow a turnover in those games before throwing three interceptions and sustaining his first loss in a rough outing Sunday night against the Eagles. It was his first time throwing three picks since his final game in college with Central Michigan in 2016 and it comes on the heels of Dak Prescott’s thumb feeling better ahead of a possible return in Week 7. (MJ)