–The 1972 Miami Dolphins could break out the champagne Sunday. They were the only team in NFL history to have a perfect season. For the 50th year in a row, it won’t happen this year as the last two unbeaten teams, San Francisco and Philadelphia, lost to backup quarterbacks Sunday. And because of the change in the game, it is unlikely it will ever be done again. The Dolphins only had to win 17 games. Now a team would have to win 20. And in the era of free agency and he salary cap, it is more difficult to keep teams together. The closest any team has come lately was New England in 2007 when they went 18-0 and lost the Super Bowl to the Giants.
–San Francisco lost to Cleveland because Brock Purdy wasn’t as sharp as he usually is and Deebo Samuels and Christian McCaffrey both got hurt and Jake Moody missed a 41-yard field goal that wouldhave won it at the end. The 49ers got no yardage on five of their first six drives after halftime. They had tfour hree and outs and Purdy threw a pick. It was Purdy’s first loss except when he was injured in the playoffs last year. Despite the loss, the 49ers still have a good shot at the top seed and a trip .to the NFC title game. Detroit, which is 5-1 after going 5-1 by beating the Bucs, may be their biggest obstacle. The 49ers and Lions don’t play in the regular season.
–Philadelphia lost for the first time when they lost to the Jets as Jalen Hurts threw three picks. But they may have problem beating out 4-2 Dallas for NFC East title because they have a much tougher schedule than the Cowboys. After this week’s game against Washington, they play Dallas, the Chiefs, Bills, 49ers and Dallas again. Dallas is unlikely to get to the Super Bowl because the 49ers have beaten them three years in a row, including in the playoffs the last two years.
–In the AFC, the Dolphins and Chiefs lead the East and West with 5-1 records but the 4-2 Jaguars have the best shot at winning a division title in the AFC South. The Jaguars have swept the Colts, who are likely to go with Garder Minshew the rest of the way even though he lacks a big arm because he is backing up injured Anthony Richardson. Tennessee is 2-4 and Ryan Tannehill is out with a high ankle sprain. The Texans are 3-3 and have beaten the Jaguars but even though C.J. Stroud is playing lights out, he is still a rookie.
–The Chicago Bears lost to Minnesota to fall to 1-5 but they still have a good shot at the top pick because they own Carolina’s first pick and the Panthers are 0-6. A surprising team in the mix at 1-5 is New England, which plays Buffalo and Miami the next two weeks and could fall to 1-7. Unless Bill Belichick gets some victories in the second half of the year, owner Bob Kraft will have to decide if he wants to stick with Belichick.