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Chris Scott wasnt saying this lightly, and nor were the 87,533 spectators who staggered out of the MCG on Friday night. Victors, vanquished or neutral, all were elated by Geelongs two-point victory over Hawthorn in the latest instalment of their ongoing attempts to play the greatest AFL match ever played.Focus will be placed upon Isaac Smith for missing a set shot after the siren after Hawthorn - as they always seem to - gave themselves an opportunity to win a game at the last. But it would be unfair to do so; as Alastair Clarkson rightly pointed out, Hawthorns enviable record in tight games this year meant it was perhaps time for a ball to fade to the wrong side of a goal post.Instead it was best to take in Scotts assessment and count the reasons why. Scott admitted to thinking the game, on Smiths boot, was already lost. He also conceded the coaching staff, unable to influence the hectic final minutes overmuch, had started prepping for extra time.I feel for Isaac, I think its a horrible situation to be in, off the boot he probably thought it looked pretty good as well, Scott said. In the moment youre not commiserating with them but we certainly do feel for them. The game was typical of a final, a contrast of styles but still really fierce.Its almost unfair to end a game like that. We were preparing for extra time a little bit, that would have been a more fitting outcome, but happy to take it.Vivid were the contrasting styles of Geelongs contested ball work, epitomised by the indomitable Patrick Dangerfield, and the precision by hand and foot allowed Hawthorn to dominate possession and forward 50m entries. That left the stats sheet reading contested ball Geelong 170-118, uncontested possession Hawthorn 260-188, and marks 113-65.I think they played the game the way they wanted to for big chunks of the game, Scott said. We were better in the contest but its just not their style. Because theyre ranked in the top four with those sorts of numbers in the contest it does speak to how well they control the ball.Its a fascinating case study when youve got two completely contrasting styles. But it wasnt that long ago I sat in press conference after press conference talking about how we were going to fix our contested ball. Every team is adjusting and trying to play to their strengths. Both teams did that tonight and thats why it was so close.While Geelong finished the winners, it was actually Hawthorn who enjoyed the biggest lead in the game, 17 points in the third term. Geelongs ability to recover that ground and nab a narrow lead at the last change may not have been decisive given what followed, but at games end the two-point margin from three-quarter-time had held - just.It was a concerning part of the game, Scott said. They looked like they had control. We talk about the specifics and the technical side of the game but as much as anything we needed something to get us going. There were a few things we did improve, not so much from the coaches box, the players started implementing a little bit better, kick a couple and momentum shifts.At three-quarter-time we went in feeling really confident. But then they kicked a couple in the last quarter and wrested the momentum back. If you were guessing how the game was going to go in the last quarter you wouldve assumed it played out like it did, really tight.This is all without mentioning the sheer physicality of the thing. Theres Luke Hodge and Joel Selwood in a head clash, having their heads bandaged and going back on. Taylor Duryea busts his thumb in a marking contest, shrugs it off to contest again at the other side of the ground and takes only the briefest of treatment breaks before returning.Early in the last quarter, Josh Caddy tackles Sam Mitchell with all his might and moments later is seeking treatment for the clash he initiated. Ten minutes later Geelong have no fewer than three players all going off the field with the blood rule, and Tom Hawkins needed his balance checked by medical staff after yet another heavy physical clash. Caddy returned to kick what proved the winning goal - but only by the width of Smiths subsequent miss.Oddly enough, a match that felt so definitive may be anything but. Clarkson was in a hurry to remind his players and the public that this was the final to lose if one had to be lost. Hawthorn were thrashed in Perth by West Coast last year and went on to win the flag. They are no worse off this time.I said to the players if youre going to lose a final this is the one to lose, all the rest of them dont give you a second chance, he said. We went down this path last year and well have to go down that path again. Disappointing but we had our chances over the night. It could quite easily have been us victorious. Weve had a pretty good run with close games this year, but didnt nail it tonight.Boxing comparisons are beloved of many a football coach, and Clarkson offered up his own. With two heavyweights going at each other, its really hard to keep a side down for the whole four quarters, he said. They couldnt keep us down for four quarters and we couldnt keep them down. Sometimes it just comes down to rub of the green.We said to Isaac chin up mate, what can you do about it. Win next week, of course, but only after making peace with the fact that the fateful miss was a fittingly white-knuckled conclusion to an epic. Lane Taylor Super Bowl Jersey . 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NFL Nation reporters assess the biggest injuries across the league for Week 6.NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West AFC East | AFC North| AFC South | AFC WestNFC EASTDallas CowboysWide receiver?Dez Bryant was able to work through a limited portion of Wednesdays practice, his first on-field work since suffering a tibial-plateau fracture in his right leg on Sept. 25. The key now is how his leg reacts to the work on Thursday. The Cowboys will not rush Bryant back. With the bye week looming after Sundays game in Green Bay, the Cowboys could keep Bryant out this week and give him more time to heal and practice leading into their Oct. 30 meeting against the Eagles. Cornerback?Orlando Scandrick (hamstring) and running back?Lance Dunbar (knee) are likely out this week. -- Todd ArcherNew York GiantsDefensive end?Jason Pierre-Paul is bothered by a groin injury and did not practice Wednesday. Its too soon to know whether the two-time Pro Bowl defensive end is in jeopardy of not playing Sunday against the Ravens, but if he cant play, there isnt a lot of experience behind him. Owa Odighizuwa and rookie Romeo Okwara would figure to get more playing time if Pierre-Paul is out or limited, and neither has played much this season. -- Colin Stephenson, special to ESPN.comPhiladelphia EaglesStandout defensive lineman Fletcher Cox injured his ankle against Detroit and was held out of Wednesdays practice, but he is expected to play against Washington this week. Hell be fine for the game, coach Doug Pederson said. Cornerback Leodis McKelvin is also expected to suit up, though he has been dealing with a left-hamstring injury for the better part of the season and was not able to finish last weekends loss to the Lions. -- Tim McManusWashington RedskinsRedskins tight end Jordan Reed was being evaluated for a concussion, and if hes diagnosed with one, it would be at least the fifth of his career since he entered college. He complained of symptoms on Tuesday, two days after the Redskins won in Baltimore. If Reed had to miss Sundays game vs. the Eagles, it would take away quarterback Kirk Cousins security blanket. Reed leads the Redskins with 33 receptions for 316 yards and two touchdowns. They still have Vernon Davis and Niles Paul?at tight end, but Reeds presence creates opportunities for others. -- John KeimNFC NORTHChicago BearsQuarterback Jay Cutler has not been cleared to return from a thumb injury, so Brian Hoyer is expected to make his fourth consecutive start on Sunday against the Jaguars. Two of Hoyers top targets -- wide receiver Eddie Royal (calf) and tight end Zach Miller (ribs) -- missed practice on Wednesday but should be available in Week 6. The same cannot be said about cornerback Bryce Callahan, who left the Colts game with a hamstring injury. Callahan -- one of the defenses most improved players -- also missed?practice on Wednesday, and he is uncertain to face the Jags. That would be a sizable loss for Chicagos secondary. -- Jeff DickersonDetroit LionsThe Lions have a bunch of injuries and almost all are to key contributors or starters. Detroit could have holes on the defensive line (Haloti Ngata,?shoulder), linebacker (DeAndre Levy, quad and knee) and tight end (Eric Ebron, knee and ankle) this week. That doesnt even include running backs Dwayne Washington and Theo Riddick, receiver Anquan Boldin and left guard Laken Tomlinson, all of whom missed practice Wednesday. Those four players are the biggest question marks this week, both from a fantasy and reality perspective, and it is worth paying attention to their practice status as the week progresses. -- Michael RothsteinGreen Bay PackersIf running back?Eddie Lacy plays on Sunday against the Cowboys, hell do it without a full week of practice. He spent Wednesday in the rehab group, trying to strengthen his left ankle, while the rest of the team went through practice. Lacy couldnt finish last Sunday nights win over the Giants and might need the entire week to know whether he can go against Dallas. Green Bay could be without James Starks too, as he missed Wednesdays practice with what was later disclosed as a knee injury.?-- Rob DemovskyMinnesota VikingsWhen the Vikings return from their bye week, the health of wide receiver Stefon Diggs will be among their chief injury issues. Diggs missed the Vikings last game with a groin injury, and he has been hampered by the ailment for several weeks. Missing the win over?the Texans last weekend could have provided the teams leading receiver with the rest he needed to get healthy before the Vikings next game in Philadelphia. -- Ben GoesslingNFC SOUTHAtlanta FalconsWide receiver Julio Jones popped up on the injury report with a knee injury and was held out of Wednesdays practice. Jones has been nagged?by?different injuries this season (ankle and calf) but always ends up playing through them. Falcons coach Dan Quinn said he expects Jones to be a full participant in Thursdays practice. When your best player is banged up, its always worth monitoring. -- Vaughn McClureCarolina PanthersQuarterback Cam Newton is on target to return?after missing a game with a concussion, if the symptoms dont return Thursday. He returned to practice Wednesday, his first since suffering the concussion in an Oct. 2 loss at Atlanta. Running back Jonathan Stewart also is set to return after missing three games with a hamstring injury. In doubt are cornerback James Bradberry (toe), defensive tackle Vernon Butler (ankle), defensive end Charles Johnson (quad), left tackle Michael Oher (concussion) and defensive tackle?Paul Soliai. Of those, Johnson is the most likely to be available for Sundays game at New Orleans. -- David NewtonNew Orleans SaintsThe bye week didnt serve as a miracle cure for the Saints lengthy injury list. Four key?players missed practice Wednesday: left tackle?Terron Armstead, cornerback?Delvin Breaux, defensive end?Paul Kruger and linebacker?Dannell Ellerbe. There is still optimism that all four will return within a matter of weeks, but their chances of playing Sunday vs. the Panthers appear dim if they dont return to practice by Thursday. Breaux and Armstead have both been costly absences for the Saints, since they arguably both rank among the five most valuable players on the roster. -- Mike TriplettTampa Bay BuccaneersCoach Dirk Koetter said the biggest priority for the Bucs during the bye week is to get healthy. They were without three of their four starting defensive linemen and their top two running backs in the win over the Panthers on Monday night. Charles Sims has since been placed on IR. Theyre hoping Doug Martin (hamstring), Gerald McCoy (calf), Robert Ayers (ankle) and?Clinton McDonald (hamstring) can all get back to action after the break. -- Jenna LaineNFC WESTArizona CardinalsQuarterback?Carson Palmer?will return?after suffering a concussion in Week 4,?but he wont have two mainstays on the offensive line, guards Evan Mathis and Mike Iupati, protecting him on Monday night against the Jets. Both were injured in last weeks game, replaced by Earl Watford and John Wetzel, who is listed as a tackle. Its tough to replace the experience, the size. But thats the NFL. The next guys got to step up, Palmer said. -- ESPN.com staffLos Angeles RamsThe Rams defensive line is in a precarious state. Three of their starters -- Robert Quinn, Will Hayes and Michael Brockers -- missed the Week 5 loss to the Bills,?and it showed, as the Rams gave up?193 rushing yards. Star defensive tackle Aaron Donald was constantly triple-teamed in that game.?The Rams defensive line was the biggest reason they went on a three-game winning streak earlier this season, and theyll need a healthy one against a Lions team that loves to throw the ball downfield, especially with cornerback Trumaine Johnson recovering from an ankle sprain. Rams coach Jeff Fisher sounds hopeful that at least one or two of his defensive linemen can return against Detroit. -- Alden GonzalezSan Francisco 49ersThe 49ers are hopeful that defensive tackle?DeForest Buckner will return from a foot injury this week after he sat out last weeks game against Arizona. Theyll need him back and as close to full strength as possible this week against Buffalo. The Bills are averaging a whopping 5.9 yards per carry since changing offensive coordinators, the best mark in the league. The Niners have the second-worst run defense in the NFL. The No. 7 overall picks?absence again this week wouldnt help that cause. -- Nick WagonerSeattle SeahawksThe Seahawks?got healthy for the most part during the bye week, but the player to watch Sunday against the Falcons is wide receiver Tyler Lockett, who has been dealing with a left-knee injury. He looks really good. He feels very good, coach Pete Carroll said. I made a point of hanging with him today, and well see how he gets through the week, of course. He feels the best hes felt, and hes kind of ready to get out there and get running around and get going. He was frustrated the last couple weeks that he couldnt contribute more. Lockett played 20 snaps in Week 3 and 14 in Week 4. He has just one catch since Week 2. If Lockett looks close to 100 percent, hoowever, he should see an increased role on offense.dddddddddddd -- Sheil KapadiaAFC EASTBuffalo BillsDefensive tackle Marcell Dareus has yet to play in a game this season, and theres a chance that continues Sunday against the 49ers. Dareus, who was suspended the first four games of the season, injured his hamstring in practice last Friday, missed Sundays game in Los Angeles and did not practice Wednesday. Coach Rex Ryan said hes unsure if Dareus will be able to suit up vs. San Francisco. -- Mike RodakMiami DolphinsDolphins rookie cornerback Xavien Howard (knee) missed Wednesdays practice and isnt expected to play Sunday against the Steelers and their high-powered passing game. Howard has been Miamis best cover corner and would have been used to try to slow down?wide?receiver Antonio Brown. Miamis starting corners?Byron Maxwell and Tony Lippett have been inconsistent and could struggle against Pittsburgh. -- James WalkerNew England PatriotsThe Patriots came out of Sundays win over the Browns relatively clean, which means starting right tackle Marcus Cannon,?who tested his injured calf before the game but couldnt go, is one of the more notable injury situations to monitor this week. Coach Bill Belichick was impressed with Cannons replacement, Cameron Fleming, calling him one of the teams most dependable players. Others to watch on the injury front include the potential return of running back?Brandon Bolden (knee), defensive end?Shea McClellin (concussion) and defensive tackle?Vincent Valentine (back), all of whom all missed Sundays win. -- Mike ReissNew York JetsThe Jets are hurting. Not only is wide receiver Eric Decker (shoulder) out for the season, but they could be missing three other starters for Monday nights clash against the Cardinals: center Nick Mangold (knee), linebacker David Harris (hamstring) and cornerback Darrelle Revis (hamstring). This will test their depth. Rookies Robby Anderson and Charone Peake will continue to have expanded roles, and rookie Darron Lee could see more snaps if Harris cant go. -- Rich CiminiAFC NORTHBaltimore RavensWide receiver Steve Smith Sr. missed practice after rolling his ankle in last Sundays game. Predicting Smiths availability is tricky because of his toughness and determination. Remember, he only missed one game last season after breaking bones in his back. If Smith is sidelined, Kamar Aiken takes over that spot just like he did last season. Aiken, who has a similar skill set to Smith, caught 50 passes in the eight games that Smith missed last season because of his Achilles injury. -- Jamison HensleyCincinnati BengalsRunning back?Jeremy Hill is still nursing a sore shoulder after leaving Sundays game against the Cowboys early, but a source says Hill is expected to play. Tight end Tyler Eifert is a different story. Eifert did not practice on Wednesday, making it the fourth straight practice he has missed since injuring his back last week. He looks like a long shot to make his season debut this week, especially if hes not out on the practice field by Thursday. -- Katherine TerrellCleveland BrownsCoach Hue Jackson said that rookie Cody Kessler remains the teams starting quarterback until Jackson feels otherwise. That?would indicate that if Kessler comes through a week of practice with bruised ribs in healthy shape, he will start at Tennessee. Kessler and Josh McCown?--?whos?recovering from a broken collarbone -- both threw on Wednesday, and Kessler appeared to be more comfortable in the practice period open to the media. -- Pat McManamonPittsburgh SteelersTalk about next man up. The Steelers defense will be without defensive end Cam Heyward (hamstring) and possibly linebacker Ryan Shazier (knee) on Sunday in Miami. Those are arguably the Steelers two best defensive players. Vince Williams has acquitted himself well in relief of Shazier, validating the two-year contract extension he was awarded in the preseason. The Steelers are very high on his future. Heywards absence is a trickier proposition. The Steelers rely heavily on ends Heyward and Stephon Tuitt, sometimes as lone interior rushers in passing situations. They will have to get creative with rookie Javon Hargrave, veteran defensive end Ricardo Mathews and third-year tackle Dan McCullers to offset the loss. Hargrave has the highest upside of the group, and coach Mike Tomlin said his performance against the Jets in Week 5 was his best yet. Also, Tomlin adds that Mathews has a ridiculous motor. -- Jeremy FowlerAFC SOUTHHouston TexansThe Texans have a banged-up secondary and could be without cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph (concussion) and Kareem Jackson (hamstring) and safety Quintin Demps (calf) on Sunday against the Colts. If either Joseph or Jackson is unable to start, cornerback Kevin Johnson, the teams first-round pick in 2015, could play a big role against a pass-heavy Indianapolis offense. Houston leads the league in pass defense, allowing an average of 184 yards per game, but Sunday night could be a tough test for the secondary. -- Sarah BarshopIndianapolis ColtsWide receiver T.Y. Hilton didnt practice Wednesday due to a hip injury. The Colts are already without receiver Donte Moncrief (shoulder). Hilton has had success against the Texans in recent years. He has 21 receptions for 432 yards and four touchdowns in his last three trips to Houston. -- Mike WellsJacksonville JaguarsFree safety Tashaun Gipson missed practice on Monday and Wednesday with a knee injury. Not having him against Chicago would hurt because quarterback?Brian Hoyer has thrown for 300 or more yards in three consecutive games. Gipsons range allows the Jaguars to play single-high coverage, which they havent been able to do successfully until this season. Coach Gus Bradley said theres a good chance Gipson could play on Sunday, though. Im starting to learn more about him that he may have these things that periodically show up, but as we get closer to game day he seems to be pretty good, Bradley said. Its more on us. I think he felt like he could go. We were more precautionary on our end. -- Mike DiRoccoTennessee TitansThe Titans are quite healthy heading into Week 6 against Cleveland. Strong safety DaNorris Searcy missed the last two games with an ankle injury but was not on the Wednesday injury report. Its not yet clear if he automatically gets the spot back, or if Daimion Stafford could stick there. Either way, the Titans have rotated all four of their top?safeties when they are all healthy. Searcy is generally better suited to turn and run when needed. -- Paul KuharskyAFC WESTDenver BroncosQuarterback Trevor Siemian (shoulder) was formally listed as questionable for Thursday nights game in San Diego. When the Broncos left Denver following their morning practice, however, the expectation was still that Siemian would play unless he suffered an unexpected setback. Siemian participated in all three of the Broncos practices this week, and in Tuesdays workout he donned shoulder pads to test his injured shoulder with the gear on. He was the only player on the team in shoulder pads for what was essentially a walk-through practice. -- Jeff LegwoldKansas City ChiefsRunning back Jamaal Charles was a full practice participant on Wednesday for the first time this season, and that should translate to a bigger workload for him in Sundays game against the Raiders -- and beyond. As long as there are no setbacks, hell probably do a little bit more, coach Andy Reid said. Outside linebacker Justin Houston was medically cleared to practice, though he cant rejoin the Chiefs in that manner until next week because hes on the PUP list. The Chiefs will make a decision later in the week whether to have Houston practice next week. His return at some point this season looks certain -- barring a setback -- after he had offseason surgery on his left ACL. Hes in pretty good shape, Reid said. Right now hes running around and doing a lot of things. -- Adam TeicherOakland RaidersRunning back?Latavius Murray?might?be out of his walking boot, but the starting running back was nowhere to be found on the Raiders practice field on Wednesday. While the 5-foot-8 rookie mighty mite duo of DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard were more than serviceable last weekend -- and would be expected to do the same against Kansas City if?Murray?is unable to play --?Murray has averaged more than 6 yards per carry in his career against the Chiefs. -- Paul GutierrezSan Diego ChargersThe Chargers will be without three-fourths of their?starting secondary for a second game in a row on Thursday when they face the Broncos. Top cornerback?Jason Verrett is done for the year with a?torn ACL in his left knee, while strong safety Jahleel Addae will miss his fourth straight game with a broken clavicle. And cornerback Brandon Flowers is out for a third game in a row due to lingering concussion issues. That makes for tough duty for an inexperienced San Diego defense facing two of the top receivers in the NFL in Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. -- Eric D. Williams ' ' '