Tag: chiefs

NFL Week 6 Recap: Panthers’ Rico Dowdle Dominates Cowboys, Flacco Debuts for Bengals, Chiefs Beat Lions

We dive into Rico Dowdle’s historic “buckle up” performance against his old team, a 40-year-old quarterback’s unlikely new chapter in Cincinnati, and the salty ending to a hard-fought game in Kansas City.

What happens when a player tells his old team to “buckle up” and then delivers a historic, record-setting performance against them? That’s the story of Carolina’s Rico Dowdle, and it’s just the start of the news from NFL Week 6. We’re breaking down Dowdle’s incredible revenge game against the Cowboys, Joe Flacco’s surprisingly solid debut in Cincinnati, and the post-game saltiness that boiled over between the Chiefs and Lions. Plus, are the Colts for real? It’s a packed episode—let’s get into it.

Press play to listen to our full NFL Week 6 breakdown.

In this episode, we’ll go over the most important wins and losses for NFL Week 6. We’ll pick out what we thought was the big news, get a Colts corner update from Anne, rank our top teams, and peek ahead to next week. 

Everything is a win when the goal is the experience.

saw this on Global Mind Apparel account on TikTok

My application of the thought of the day:

  • It’s the rebounding for my girls that is the highlight; it’s the laugh on the raft when we’re bored on the French Broad River; it’s knowing that confronting issues and puzzling through problems as a coach is one of the biggest parts of the job. 

NFL Week 6 What Happened? 

  1. The Chiefs at home beat the Lions 30-17. 
  • Lions go to 4-2. 
  • Chiefs go to 3-3 and are one game out of first place in their division behind the Chargers and the Broncos. 
  • Lions quarterback Goff caught a touchdown pass. Bobbled it, ran into a receiver, but held on. TD was taken away because Goff didn’t pause to become a running back before going in motion. 
  • Kelce 6 catches for 78 yards. 
  • Quarterback Mahomes leads the Chiefs in rushing with 222 yards. 
  • Scuffle after the game. 
  1. The Giants upset the Eagles 34-17 on Thursday night 34-17. 
  • The Eagles are still holding on to first but the NFC East is tight. 
  • Giants Coach Daboll got in some trouble when he went into the concussion tent and then was seen yelling at the team doctor. 
  1. The Buccaneers won at home over the 49ers. 
  • Buccaneers go to 5-1. They are one of five teams in the NFL with only 1 loss. 
  • 49ers go to 4-2 and are tied with the Seahawks and the Rams as teams in the NFC West with only three losses. 
  1. The Seahawks (4-2) beat the Jaguars (4-2) 20-12. 
  • The Jaguars take a step back and fall to second behind the Colts in the AFC South. 

Torg Headlines: 

  1. Who is this running back Rico Dowdle for the Panthers? 
  • Panthers were playing the Cowboys and the Cowboys chose not to re-sign Dowdle last year. Dowdle had said before the game the Cowboys better “Buckle Up.” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the Cowboys were shaking so bad with fear he couldn’t get them to show up to the field. 
  • He had 239 yards from scrimmage (that’s rushing and receiving) and became the 7th player in NFL history to have back to back games with at least 230 yards from scrimmage in each game. 
  • Born in Gaffney, South Carolina! Went to AC Reynolds in Asheville! Played for the South Carolina Gamecocks. 
  • Undrafted and this is his 6th year in NFL. 
  • The Panthers beat the Cowboys 30-27 and are now 3-3 and in second place behind the Buccaneers. 
  1. How would Joe Flacco do? 
  • Browns go 1-4 with Flacco starting and move him to the Bench for Dillon Gabriel. Flacco is 40 years old and won a Super Bowl with the Ravens. 
  • Five days to get ready for the game. 
  • He went 29-45 for 219 yards and two touchdowns. The second half was especially good, 21-30 for 179 yards. 
  • The Bengals lost the game to the Packers in Green Bay 27-18. The Bengals are still in second place, 2-4 and two games back of the Steelers, in their division. 
  • Per Jay Morrison of Sports Illustrated: Flacco has thrown TD passes to 66 different players. That’s 5th all time behind Drew Brees in first with 73 then comes Russell Wilson with 71, Testaverde with 70, and Brady with 67. 
  1. Are the Patriots going to be good now? 
  • They are 4-2 one game back in the win column from the Bills and they beat the Bills in Buffalo. They beat the Saints 25-19 in week 6. 
  • Second year quarterback Drake Maye threw for 261 yards with three TDs and no interceptions. 
  1. How would the Colts do as heavy favorites? 
  2. Will the Steelers keep winning? 
  • Beat the Browns 23-9 and are 4-1 leading their division. 
  • Quarterback Aaron Rogers 10 TDs and 3 interceptions. 
  • Steelers defense 20 sacks and +7 on forcing turnovers. 
  1. Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield’s first win over Niners 30-19. 
  • Bucs: first game they didn’t trail with a minute to go in the game. 
  • Niners: Prior to today’s game, all of the 49ers’ contests had been remarkably close. Their season included a 17-13 win against the Seattle Seahawks, a 26-21 victory over the New Orleans Saints, a narrow 16-15 win against the Arizona Cardinals, a 26-21 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and a 26-23 overtime win against the Los Angeles Rams.

Teams that go for it on 4th Down: 

  1. Chiefs have converted on 9 of their 10 fourth down conversions. 
  2. The Browns have gone for it the most converting on 10-16 attempts for 62%. 
  3. Lions have gone for it 9th most with 9 attempts. They’ve converted 7-9 for 77% and that puts them 6th in conversion percentage. 
  4. The average team in the NFL goes for it about 15 times more a season than they did 10 years ago. 

Torg’sTop Ten NFL Teams as of Week 6: 

  1. Bills 4-1 with potentially the best quarterback in the league. Right there with Mahomes. 
  • Beat the Ravens 41-40 in the opener when the Ravens were at full strength. 15 point comeback. 
  • Through the first three games of the season, the Bills became the first team in NFL history to score over 100 points, commit zero turnovers, have fewer than 15 penalties, average over 150 rushing yards, and average over 250 passing yards in any three-game stretch.
  1. Colts 5-1. 
  • The Colts rank third in the league in total offense, averaging 376.8 yards per game.
  1. Buccaneers are 5-1. 
  • 49ers a quality win and signals team is for real. 
  1. Eagles 4-2 and I don’t think the Chiefs could stop their run game. 
  • Beat the Chiefs on the road 20-17. 
  • The Eagles are the number one red zone offense in the NFL, scoring a touchdown on 87.5% of their drives inside the 20-yard line.
  1. Chiefs 3-3 and getting healthy. 
  • Win over the Lions is impressive! I had the Lions as the NFL’s best team last week. 
  • Chiefs lead the league in 4th down conversions. 
  1. Lions 4-2. 
  • The Lions are tied for 3rd in the entire NFL with a +6 turnover differential.
  1. Packers 3-1-1
  •  Beat the Lions in the first game 27-13. 
  • The Packers’ offense is currently ranked #1 in the NFL in third-down conversion percentage at 52.3%.
  1. 49ers 4-2. 
  • Won at the Rams 26-23. 
  • The 49ers currently have the top-ranked passing offense in the NFL, averaging 306.3 yards per game just ahead of the Rams and the Cowboys. 
  1. Steelers 4-1. 
  • Tied for league lead with +7 turnover margin and Rogers is playing super competent and clutch football. 
  • Steelers are second in sacks behind the Broncos. 
  1. Patriots 4-2. 
  • They beat the Bills in Buffalo and I have the Bills as my best team. 
  • Quarterback Maye is playing well with 10 TDs and 2 interceptions. 

Thought about including them in the top 10:  them: 

  • Rams, Jags, Broncos, Seahawks 

Worst Teams:

  1. Jets are the worst with a record of 0-6 but a chance to get a win over the 3-3 Panthers. 
  2. Titans are the second worst at 1-5. Lost 20-10 to the Raiders who have looked bad. They play the Texans on 11/16. 
  3. Saints or Dolphins here? I’ll go with the Saints as edging out the Dolphins for worst team. I like the Saints 25-19 loss to the Pats and the win over the Giants is looking better, BUT the Dolphins played the Pats and Bills tough and have lost three games by 6 or less points. 

NFL Week 7 Games I’m Looking At: 

  1. Pittsburgh at Cincinnati on Thursday with two 40 year old or older quarterbacks. 
  2. Carolina at the Jets. Can Carolina get to a winning record or will the Jets win their first game? 
  3. Indy at Chargers. Anne has another chance to see her team at 4:05 pm. 
  4. Monday night October 20th. Whew, another tough one for Detroit! Tampa Bay at Detroit. 

Torg’s Week 6 Bets Results: 

  1. Jags moneyline over Seahawks with Lawrence 175+ passing yards +118. Loss because Jags lost 20-12. 0-1. 
  2. Pats winning by over 3.5 over Saints with Maye 175+ passing yards +120. Win Pats win 25-19 and Maye 261 passing yards. 1-1. 
  3. Colts by 8 or more over Cards +124. Loss Colts win 31-27 but don’t cover. 1-2. 
  4. Panthers moneyline over Cowboys +102 and Panthers win 30-27. 2-2. 
  5. Niners moneyline over Bucs boosted to +193. Bucs win 30-19. Loss 2-3. 
  6. Bengals within 14.5 with Flacco over 175 yards +104. Bengals cover 27-18 and Flacco throws for 219 yards. 3-3. 
  7. Chiefs moneyline over Lions with Mahomes 225+ passing yards and at least 2 TDs at +194. Chiefs win 30-17, Mahomes 257 yards, and 3 TDs. 4-3 on the week so far. 

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NFL Week 4 and the WNBA Playoffs: Colts Fumble, Chiefs Statement Win and the Indiana Fever are One Win Away From the WNBA Finals

This week on TORG Stories: We break down the biggest NFL headlines, from the Chiefs getting back on track to the Ravens’ recent struggles and the Bears’ dominant defensive play. Plus, a deep dive into the WNBA playoffs with the Fever forcing a Game 5 and Boston’s historic night.

click player above to listen to episode

Welcome to the Torg Stories Podcast! We’re recording on Sept 29, 2025. This episode is titled, “NFL Week 4 and WNBA Playoffs: Colts Fumble, Chiefs Statement Win, & the Indiana Fever are One Win Away From the WNBA Finals.” 

Bill Torg’s NFL Headlines from Sunday, Sept 28, 2025:  

The Ravens are in Trouble and the Chiefs are Righting the Ship: 

  1. Ravens lose 37-20 to the Chiefs. Quarterback Lamar Jackson has injured his hamstring. 5 starters went out with injuries. The Chiefs quarterback Mahomes had 4 TDs and no interceptions. 
  2. Giants upset the Chargers 21-18 and got their first win. Jaxson Dart got his first start at quarterback. He rushed for 54 yards and a touchdown. 
  3. Eagles won the battle of the unbeatens by defeating the Buccaneers 31-25.  Baker Mayfield finally was unable to deliver a game tying or winning score in the last minute. 
  4. Bears Block Party: We get another game decided by a blocked kick as Bears beat the Raiders. 
  5. Steelers go to 3-1 with a 24-21 win over the Vikings in Dublin. The Steelers almost gave it away. Weird not go for it on 4th and inches with less than two minutes to go. Rogers went 18-22 with a TD and no interceptions. Carson Wentz quarterbacked for the Vikings and went for 350 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs. 

Colts Corner: Week 4 Recap & The Road Ahead

1. The Big Picture: 

  • Unbeaten Streak Snapped: Colts Fall to Rams 27-20 After Avalanche of Mistakes
  • Current Record: 3-1 (Still a great start, and still tied for 1st in the AFC South)
  • The Vibe: The Colts proved they can hang with an NFC contender like the Rams, but they ultimately beat themselves with a flurry of critical, self-inflicted errors.

2. The Heartbreak Moments (The Unforced Errors)

  • The Unfathomable Fumble: Rookie WR Adonai Mitchell caught a deep ball and was on his way to a 76-yard go-ahead touchdown, but he inexplicably dropped the ball just before crossing the goal line, resulting in a touchback and a massive 7-point swing. (This is the most critical talking point.)
  • The Costly Penalty: A Jonathan Taylor 53-yard touchdown run, which would have put the Colts back in the lead late in the 4th quarter, was nullified by a holding penalty (also on Mitchell).
  • Turnovers: QB Daniel Jones threw his first two interceptions of the season, coming on the team’s first and final drives. Overall, the Colts committed 3 turnovers and were flagged for 11 penalties.

3. Offensive Standouts (Who Played Well)

  • Jonathan Taylor (RB): Continues to be productive, rushing for 76 yards (on 17 carries). Mention the momentum-changing 53-yard run that was called back.
  • Pace Setter: The Colts’ offense found success in the second and third quarters, using play-action and the run game to briefly take the lead in the fourth quarter.
  • Daniel Jones (QB): Despite the turnovers, he was efficient, passing for 262 yards and leading two fourth-quarter scoring drives (a TD to Pittman Jr. and a field goal).
  • Tyler Warren (TE/FB): Scored his first NFL touchdown on a 2-yard rush.

4. Defensive & Special Teams Notes

  • Defensive Effort: They held a potent Rams offense to 3 points in the third quarter and forced two key turnovers (Kam Curl’s two interceptions).
  • Special Teams Boost: Anthony Gould had a good kickoff return of 38 yards, helping set up an early field goal.

5. The Road Ahead (Upcoming Schedule)

  • Next Game: Sunday, October 5th vs. the Las Vegas Raiders at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Here are some of the biggest shifts in the NFL standings:

AFC Standings Shifts

  • AFC West Race Tightens: The Kansas City Chiefs moved to 2-2 after dominating the Ravens, while the previously undefeated Los Angeles Chargers suffered their first loss.
    • Detail: The Chargers lost to the Giants (21-18) and are now 3-1, immediately putting the Chiefs back in the division conversation, as the Chiefs’ statement win (37-20 over Baltimore) provided a much-needed morale and point differential boost.
  • AFC North Turmoil: The Pittsburgh Steelers moved into the early division lead at 3-1, while the Baltimore Ravens plummeted.
    • Detail: The Ravens dropped to 1-3 after a blowout loss to the Chiefs (37-20) and are now dealing with multiple injuries, including to QB Lamar Jackson. This has created a significant gap in the division, with the Steelers now holding a strong position.
  • AFC South Shakes Up: The Indianapolis Colts lost their undefeated status, while the Jacksonville Jaguars moved into a tie for the division lead.
    • Detail: The Colts’ first loss (27-20 to the Rams) dropped them to 3-1, while the Jaguars’ upset win over the 49ers (26-21) boosted their record to 3-1, setting up a tight race in the AFC South.

NFC Standings Shifts

  • The Undefeated Club Shrinks Dramatically: The number of remaining undefeated teams was slashed from six to just two.
    • Detail: The Buffalo Bills (4-0) and Philadelphia Eagles (4-0) are the only teams remaining perfect. The Chargers (3-1), Colts (3-1), San Francisco 49ers (3-1), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) all suffered their first loss on Sunday.
  • NFC West Regroup: The Los Angeles Rams delivered a statement victory to keep pace with the rest of the conference, while the San Francisco 49ers took their first loss.
    • Detail: The Rams moved to 3-1 by beating the Colts, while the 49ers lost at home to the Jaguars (26-21), keeping the division standings from getting out of hand early.
  • NFC South Still Contested: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered their first loss, but the other teams in the South remain tightly grouped.
    • Detail: The Buccaneers dropped to 3-1 after losing to the Eagles. However, the rest of the division still trails: the Falcons won (2-2), and the Saints remain winless (0-4).

Five Games to Watch Next Week: 

  1. San Francisco 49ers (3-1) at Los Angeles Rams (3-1)
    • Detail: This NFC West rivalry matchup is a “loser-leaves-town” scenario for the division lead after both teams suffered their first loss in Week 4, immediately turning this Thursday night game into a high-stakes, must-win affair.
  2. Kansas City Chiefs (2-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1)
    • Detail: The Chiefs’ offense is trying to prove their Week 4 breakout (37 points vs. Ravens) was real against an elite Jaguars defense that leads the NFL in forced turnovers (12) and just gave the 49ers their first loss.
  3. New England Patriots (2-2) at Buffalo Bills (4-0)
    • Detail: It’s the only matchup featuring a currently undefeated team (Bills) and a Patriots team under Mike Vrabel that just posted a statement win (42-13 over Carolina) and has explosive special teams highlights to its credit.
  4. Houston Texans (1-3) at Baltimore Ravens (1-3)
    • Detail: A critical AFC Wild Card eliminator, where the Ravens are in panic mode after falling to 1-3 and likely being without QB Lamar Jackson (hamstring), giving C.J. Stroud’s Texans a chance to deliver a crippling blow to Baltimore’s season.
  5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) at Seattle Seahawks (3-1)
    • Detail: This is a crucial interconference battle between two NFC teams that suddenly need a win to separate themselves from the 3-1 middle tier of the conference and keep pace in the Wild Card race.

Torg’s novel Love on the Big Screen

Love on the Big Screen novel cover by Bill Torgerson. A man and woman in silhouette stand in a spotlight; the man holds a boombox over his head, referencing classic 80s movie romance. The title is in vibrant pink and blue text.
$2.99 Kindle and $9.99 paperback click here

Love on the Big Screen is about a college freshman basketball player whose understanding of love was shaped by late 80s romantic comedies such as Say Anything, Sixteen Candles, and The Breakfast Club. It’s now available on Amazon for $2.99 as a Kindle book and $9.99 in paperback. Click here to link to Amazon and check out the book. 

Torg Game Ball Awards for Sept 29, 2025

  1. Patrick Mahomes (QB, Kansas City Chiefs)
    • Reason He Deserves the Game Ball: Mahomes put the Chiefs’ offense back on track with a vintage 4-touchdown, 0-interception performance (124.8 passer rating) in a must-win game that sent a decisive message to the rest of the AFC.
  2. Marcus Jones (CB/PR, New England Patriots)
    • Reason He Deserves the Game Ball: Jones single-handedly flipped the momentum and kick-started the Patriots’ dominant victory with an 87-yard punt return touchdown and a 61-yard return, providing a historic outburst of special teams scoring.
  3. Puka Nacua (WR, Los Angeles Rams)
    • Reason He Deserves the Game Ball: Nacua was utterly uncoverable, posting a career-high 13 receptions for 170 yards and the game-tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter to set up the Rams’ comeback victory over the Colts
  4. Lexie Hull of the Indiana Fever: Bad shooting game in their win over the Aces but had 4 steals and 7 rebounds in a gritty and hustling performance. She drew the most offensive fouls in the WNBA this season. 
  5. Aliyah Boston of the Indiana Fever: 24 points, 14 rebs, and 5 assists. 

Anne, did you choose some more NFL Categories to share?

  1. I learned…
  • You still lose a timeout on your second challenge if you win it. The Aces staff somehow lost count of their timeouts. 
  1. Statistical pick ups from the broadcast: 
  • Steph White 4-0 in the red leather jacket. 
  • Fever has had 18 players appear in games this year. 

Ravens, Browns, Panthers, Giants, and Texans are 1-3. 

Where are we at with the WNBA Playoffs?

  1. The First Finals Spot Has Been Clinched.
    • The Phoenix Mercury defeated the Minnesota Lynx (the No. 1 seed) 3-1 to advance to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2021.
    • Individual Highlight: Alyssa Thomas delivered a near triple-double in the clinching Game 4 with 23 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds, while DeWanna Bonner hit two crucial three-pointers in the final minutes to seal the comeback win.
  2. The Indiana Fever Have Forced a Decisive Game 5.
    • The Fever beat the Las Vegas Aces 90-83 in Game 4 to tie the best-of-five series at 2-2, setting up a winner-take-all Game 5 on Tuesday night in Las Vegas.
    • Individual Highlight: Aliyah Boston had a career playoff performance with 24 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists, becoming just the second player in Fever franchise history (alongside Tamika Catchings) to record a 20/10/5 game in the postseason.
  3. The #1 Seed Lynx Faced Unprecedented Playoff Chaos.
    • The Minnesota Lynx were eliminated in Game 4 while missing both their star player, Napheesa Collier (ankle injury suffered in Game 3), and Head Coach Cheryl Reeve, who was suspended by the league.
    • Discussion Questions on the Reeve Suspension:
      • The Right Call? Was the WNBA justified in issuing a one-game suspension for Reeve’s on-court confrontation and comments, or was the punishment too severe given the high stakes and her stated concern over player safety (Collier’s injury)?
      • The Real Problem: Reeve publicly called for a “change of leadership at the league level when it comes to officiating.” Do you agree that officiating inconsistency is the WNBA’s biggest structural problem right now, especially as the league continues its rapid growth?
      • The Precedent: This is believed to be the first time a coach has been suspended for a WNBA playoff game. Does this harsh penalty set the right standard for coach conduct, or will it simply discourage coaches from speaking out about league issues?

Torg Weekend Betting Results:

  1. Steelers moneyline over Vikings +124. Steelers hang on to win 24-21. WIN 1-0. 
  2. Chargers over Giants in my survivor pool. LOSS. 1-1. 
  3. Chargers live moneyline vs. Giants +104. LOSS 1-2. 
  4. Josh Allen for the Bills under 220.5 passing yards vs Saints. Just thought they’d run it a lot and blow them out. Allen 209 yards. WIN. 2-2. 
  5. Eagles moneyline with Hurts anytime touchdown scorer +146. No Hurts TD. LOSS. 2-3. 
  6. Panthers moneyline over Pats +210. Blown out. 42-13. LOSS 2-4. 
  7. Fever moneyline over Aces +158. Fever force game five! Win! 3-5. 
  8. Colts moneyline boosted 50% over Rams +234. LOSS. 3-6
  9. Ravens -2.5 and Jackson 25 yards rushing. Lamar gets yards but injured. LOSS. 3-7. 
  10. Niners -3.5 live bet with 3-0 lead -106. Loss 3-8. 
  11. Bears moneyline over Raiders +108. Blocked kick to win. WIN. 4-8. 
  12. Mercury moneyline with Thomas to get 10 points and 8 assists +106. WIN 5-8. 
  13. Mercury moneyline when they fell down 10-1 to open the game. +116. WIN 6-8. 
  14. Quarterbacks for Cowboys and Packers to each get a TD pass and 200 yards passing. +164. WIN 7-8. 

Thanks for checking out the Torg Stories Podcast!