The San Francisco 49ers didn't play Sunday, but there was plenty of action from a handful of Week 6 NFL games that should intrigue them.
San Francisco will host the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football at Levi's Stadium with a chance to move to 6-0. That'll be the most important development for the 49ers this week. However, with the NFL trade deadline approaching and the standings taking shape as we close out the first third of the season, there are a handful of other things to keep an eye on.
Here are the Week 6 NFL scores that mattered for the 49ers and why:
Denver Broncos 17, Seattle Seahawks 14 (Thursday Night Football)
It doesn't matter it happened Thursday, this one is huge for the 49ers since Denver's win dropped the Seahawks to 3-3 which means the 49ers will be no worse than two games ahead of their division rivals going into Week 7.
Tennessee Titans 26, Indianapolis Colts 20
An AFC South matchup rarely matters much for the 49ers, but this one could have a significant impact on their available trade targets. Indianapolis fell to 2-4 after surrendering 20 fourth-quarter points to a Titans club that hadn't scored more than 20 in a game all season. Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner after the loss expressed displeasure with the Colts' situation.
“I’m sick and tired of the same song and dance every year,” Buckner said via Pro Football Talk. “We lost to the Tennessee Titans, who were 0-5, and now they’re 1-5.”
Buckner has one year left on his contract with Indianapolis and carries a salary cap hit of $26,607,820 this season. If the 49ers want to go shopping for upgrades on the trade market, the Colts could quickly become trade deadline sellers. Losses like this one Sunday won't help them get out of that boat.
Pittsburgh Steelers 26, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19
Speaking of defensive tackles that could be traded ... do the Buccaneers still want Vita Vea? Or would they be willing to part with him for a draft pick or two now that they've fallen to 1-5 after Sunday's home loss?
New Orleans Saints 34, New York Giants 27
It wasn't likely the Giants were going to keep avoiding losses all year with Jameis Winston starting at quarterback, but their defeat at home Sunday vs. the Saints moved their record to 3-2-1. With the No. 1 seed in the NFC firmly in the 49ers sites going into Week 6, San Francisco and the Minnesota Vikings are now the only NFC teams with fewer than two losses.
Carolina Panthers 25, Philadelphia Eagles 14
Are the Eagles so hurt that they're going to just be bad this year? Their loss at home was their fourth in a row and they're now sitting at 2-4 on the season with wins over the Commanders and Titans. The 49ers host them in Week 17. That game is supposed to be in primetime on Sunday night, but at this rate the NFL may look to flex out of it. Especially if Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts misses significant time.
Kansas City Chiefs 22, Los Angeles Chargers 6
Two things with the Chargers after falling to 0-6:
- Mike McDaniel coming back to San Francisco in some sort of offensive advisor role would be a nice midseason pickup for the 49ers if head coach Jim Harbaugh decides to part ways with his offensive coordinator.
- Defensive end Khalil Mack would look good in red and gold, and at age 35 there's no way a foundering team like the Chargers are eager to hold onto him. We already know 49ers tight end George Kittle is in favor of the move.
Arizona Cardinals 18, Los Angeles Rams 16
LA is now 2-4 after consecutive losses to the Buffalo Bills and Cardinals. They're 2-4 and in danger of falling four games behind San Francisco in the division race if the 49ers take care of business Monday. Arizona is also 2-4 after the win, and their head-to-head victory gives them the tiebreaker over Los Angeles. That means going into Week 7 the Rams will be in last place in the NFC West. Here's what those standings look like entering Monday night:
- 49ers (5-0)
- Seahawks (3-3)
- Cardinals (2-4)
- Rams (!) (2-4)
Green Bay Packers 23, Dallas Cowboys 13
Nothing really helps the 49ers that much here, but the Cowboys are kind of a mess and that's always fun.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Week 6 NFL scores: Which games helped 49ers?