NFL Week 5 Overreactions
USAT’s Lorenzo Reyes breaks down the best games from NFL Week 5.
Sports Seriously
The NFL Week 5 schedule is almost in the books, with the final game of the week the Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday Night Football today (Oct. 6).
One thing that NFL Week 5 showed? A game is not over until it is over.
The Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans both overcame huge fourth-quarter deficits to cap off amazing comebacks in improbable wins on Sunday. The Broncos erased a 17-3 deficit for an epic 21-17 win over the previously unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Philadelphia Eagles, and the Titans overcame a 21-3 score to rally for a miraculous 22-21 last-second win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Interestingly, the Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints also overcame double-digit deficits in victories in NFL Week 5, making it five big comebacks in one week.
Here’s our reaction (and perhaps overreaction) to every team’s performance in NFL Week 5, a wild and wacky week of NFL games, including a new No. 1 in our NFL Week 6 power rankings and some big changes in the rankings based on the results of the fifth NFL week’s games. Previous ranking in parenthesis.
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The Jets are an easy choice to be ranked last in the league as the NFL’s lone winless team (0-5). The New York defense has allowed 157 points on the season, second-worst in the NFL. That has to improve if the Jets want to be respectable.
NFL Week 5: Lost to Dallas Cowboys, 37-22NFL Week 6: Sunday vs Denver Broncos in London (Oct. 12)
Remember when the Raiders opened the season with a win over the New England Patriots? That seems like ages ago. Las Vegas hasn’t won since. Geno Smith has six touchdown passes and nine interceptions this season. That won’t cut it.
NFL Week 5: Lost to Indianapolis Colts, 40-6NFL Week 6: Sunday vs Tennessee Titans (Oct. 12)
A key stat in the loss to the Carolina Panthers? The Dolphins rushed 14 times for 19 total yards. They gave up 239 yards on 32 carries. Ouch. Pretty hard to win a game with that disparity.
NFL Week 5: Lost to Carolina Panthers, 27-24NFL Week 6: Sunday vs Los Angeles Chargers (Oct. 12)29. Cleveland Browns (27)
We’re not normally into moral victories, but Dillon Gabriel was 19-for-33 for 190 yards and two touchdowns for Cleveland, making his first start in an NFL London game. And the Browns held the lead late until Minnesota scored with 25 seconds left. You can build on that.
NFL Week 5: Lost to Minnesota Vikings, 21-17NFL Week 6: Sunday at Pittsburgh Steelers (Oct. 12)
This may seem low for Baltimore, one of our Super Bowl favorites at the beginning of the season, but the results don’t lie. This team is 1-4 and was outscored by the Houston Texans, who were 1-3 entering the game. Yes, Lamar Jackson was out, but you have to be better than that. The Ravens have allowed an NFL-worst 177 points. Yuck.
NFL Week 5: Lost to Houston Texans, 44-10NFL Week 6: Sunday vs Los Angeles Rams (Oct. 12)
All the momentum the Giants built with their win over the Los Angeles Chargers was fumbled away — literally — in a sloppy, ugly loss against the previously winless New Orleans Saints. New York lost three fumbles against the Saints, including one by Cam Skattebo that Jordan Howden returned 86 yards for a touchdown. Jaxson Dart also had two passes picked off. A prime opportunity to build a win streak was wasted.
NFL Week 5: Lost to New Orleans Saints, 26-14NFL Week 6: Thursday Night Football vs Philadelphia Eagles (Oct. 9)26. Tennessee Titans (32)
While one could certainly argue the Cardinals blew the game against the Titans, Tennessee made the most of the opportunities Arizona gave it, including Tyler Lockett recovering a fumble after an Arizona interception for a score. A win is a win in the NFL. It doesn’t matter how you get it, even if Cam Ward’s first NFL win is among the most improbable we’ve ever seen.
NFL Week 5: Beat Arizona Cardinals, 22-21NFL Week 6: Sunday at Las Vegas Raiders (Oct. 12)25. New Orleans Saints (31)
Spencer Rattler has always had a cannon for an arm, and he’s starting to play smarter for the Saints, which could pay dividends. It paid off on Sunday, as he went 21-for-31 for 225 yards and an 87-yard touchdown pass to Rashid Shaheed. More importantly, he took care of the ball, which allowed the Saints to beat the self-destructing Giants, overcoming a 14-3 deficit for 26-14 win.
NFL Week 5: Beat New York Giants, 26-14NFL Week 6: Sunday vs New England Patriots (Oct. 12)
Yes, the Bengals are missing Joe Burrow, but they shouldn’t be this bad, right? The defense has to play better, and Jake Browning (six touchdowns, eight interceptions) must play better. After seeing Browning throw more three picks on Sunday, one has to wonder if Cincinnati should make a change at QB.
NFL Week 5: Lost to Detroit Lions, 37-24NFL Week 6: Sunday at Green Bay Packers (Oct. 12)23. Carolina Panthers (28)
We were very down on the Panthers after their drubbing by the New England Patriots in NFL Week 4, but they had an impressive comeback against the Dolphins in Week 5. It wasn’t quite as impressive as the Titans and Broncos’ rallies, but Carolina overcame a 17-0 deficit in the second quarter to beat the Dolphins. Now, can Bryce Young and company sustain some momentum and keep pounding?
NFL Week 5: Beat Miami Dolphins, 27-24NFL Week 6: Sunday vs Dallas Cowboys (Oct. 12)22. Arizona Cardinals (20)
It’s hard to describe the Cardinals’ collapse against the Titans. Horrific? Stunning? Shocking? Embarrassing? Some people have described it as the worst loss in Cardinals history. All we know is that the fans are getting tired of it. Some had high hopes for Jonathan Gannon’s team this season, and after a 2-0 star,t Arizona has lost three straight games on last-second field goals. And the schedule gets more difficult from here.
NFL Week 5: Lost to Tennessee Titans, 22-21NFL Week 6: Sunday at Indianapolis Colts (Oct. 12)21. Houston Texans (25)
We may have been too tough on the Texans after their 0-3 start. C.J. Stroud and company have outscored the opposition 70-10 in their two wins since. Now, if the team can beat the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7 to move to 3-3, we’ll be ready to consider them an AFC challenger again.
NFL Week 5: Beat Baltimore Ravens, 44-10NFL Week 6: Off20. Dallas Cowboys (22)
No CeeDee Lamb, no problem for Dallas? Ryan Flournoy had six catches for 114 yards in the win over the Jets. Dak Prescott was 18-for-29 for 2637 yards and four touchdowns passing. That will work. Dallas’ offense has 77 points in its last two games.
NFL Week 5: Beat New York Jets, 37-22NFL Week 6: Sunday at Carolina Panthers (Oct. 12)19. Atlanta Falcons (21)
The Falcons got a week to rest in Week 5. Unfortunately for them, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Panthers and Saints, their NFC South rivals, all won. A tough game against the Buffalo Bills is up next.
NFL Week 5: OffNFL Week 6: Monday Night Football vs Buffalo Bills (Oct. 13)
The Bears come out of their week off having won two games in a row, with a big game against the Washington Commanders up next. The NFC North is tough, with it being the only division without a team with a losing record. Chicago, at 2-2, is in last place.
NFL Week 5: OffNFL Week 6: Monday Night Football at Washington Commanders (Oct. 13)17. Minnesota Vikings (16)
The return of Jordan Addison has sparked the Vikings, who got a much-needed win with a late score against the Cleveland Browns in London. Will J.J. McCarthy return for the team’s Week 7 game against the Philadelphia Eagles? Will he be able to provide another spark for Minnesota?
NFL Week 5: Beat Cleveland Browns, 21-17NFL Week 6: Off16. Denver Broncos (18)
We probably should elevate the Broncos more after their impressive comeback win over the Eagles. The part that impressed us the most? Sean Payton going for two to put his team ahead 18-17 with 7:36 left. That took guts, and it changed the trajectory of the game. This team is close to being 5-0.
NFL Week 5: Beat Philadelphia Eagles, 21-17NFL Week 6: Sunday vs New York Jets in London (Oct. 12)14. Los Angeles Chargers (8)
This team is headed in the wrong direction after an impressive 3-0 start that included wins over its three division rivals. A third straight loss to the 1-4 Dolphins would be disastrous. The Chargers had a 10-0 lead in this game after the first quarter, but failed to score for the rest of the game. Not ideal.
NFL Week 5: Lost to Washington Commanders, 27-10NFL Week 6: Sunday at Miami Dolphins (Oct. 12)13. Seattle Seahawks (7)
Just how good is Seattle? Its two losses have come in devastating fashion against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 and now the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5. The Seahawks led this game, 35-28, after scoring with 3:18 remaining in the fourth quarter, and lost after a late pick from Sam Darnold, who went 28-for-34 for 341 yards and four touchdowns, with the one pick.
12. Washington Commanders (15)
What a different Jayden Daniels makes for the Commanders, who bounced back from a loss without the starting quarterback against the Falcons in NFL Week 4 and bounced back from a 10-0 deficit against the Chargers. And how about Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who rushed 14 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns? This team’s offense is very hard to stop, as Los Angeles found out.
NFL Week 5: Beat Los Angeles Chargers, 27-10NFL Week 6: Monday Night Football vs Chicago Bears (Oct. 12)11. New England Patriots (14)
The Patriots are another team that could warrant a higher ranking this week after an impressive win in Buffalo, handing the Bills their first loss. New England’s next three games? At the New Orleans Saints, at the Tennessee Titans and against the Cleveland Browns. This team could be 6-2 at that point.
NFL Week 5: Beat Buffalo Bills, 23-20NFL Week 6: Sunday at New Orleans Saints (Oct. 12)10. Los Angeles Rams (4)
We like the decision to go for the win from Sean McVay late in the loss to the San Francisco 49ers. That took guts instead of just tying it with a field goal. We just aren’t fans of the play the Rams ran on fourth-and-1 at the San Francisco 11. Still, this team has proven it can be an NFC contender with close losses to the Eagles and 49ers.
NFL Week 5: Lost to San Francisco 49ers in overtime, 26-23NFL Week 6: Sunday at Baltimore Ravens (Oct. 12)9. Green Bay Packers (12)
The Packers are 2-1-1 coming out of their early bye, with some very winnable games up next. Green Bay beat the Lions in the first game of the season, but is looking up at 4-1 Detroit in the NFC North standings, with no room for error.
NFL Week 5: OffNFL Week 6: Sunday vs Cincinnati Bengals (Oct. 12)8. Pittsburgh Steelers (11)
The Aaron Rodgers era in Pittsburgh is off to a 3-1 start, with the Browns and Bengals up next. The Rodgers to DK Metcalf connection could prove key for the Steelers this season. It was key in the team’s 24-21 win over the Vikings before their week off in Week 5.
NFL Week 5: OffNFL Week 6: Sunday vs Cleveland Browns (Oct. 12)7. Indianapolis Colts (10)
What a difference a change of scenery can make. Daniel Jones has six touchdown passes and just two interceptions for the Colts, who are now 4-1. Shane Steichen could be the NFL Coach of the Year right now.
NFL Week 5: Beat Las Vegas Raiders, 40-6NFL Week 6: Sunday vs Arizona Cardinals (Oct. 12)6. San Francisco 49ers (6)
San Francisco’s win over the Rams may not have required a big comeback, but it was improbable nonetheless with so many players injured and out for the 49ers. Hats off to Mac Jones, who overcame injury himself during a 33-for-49, 342-yard, two-touchdown performance that put Kyle Shanahan’s team atop the NFC West standings.
NFL Week 5: Beat Los Angeles Rams in overtime, 26-23NFL Week 6: Sunday at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Oct. 12)5. Jacksonville Jaguars (5)NFL Week 5: Monday Night Football vs Kansas City Chiefs (Oct. 6)NFL Week 6: Sunday vs Seattle Seahawks (Oct. 12)4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9)
What the Buccaneers have done late in games is nothing short of incredible, perhaps even miraculous. Tampa Bay is the second team since at least 1991 to win four times in its first five games despite trailing in the fourth quarter. The team’s four wins have come by a combined nine points.
NFL Week 5: Beat Seattle Seahawks, 38-35NFL Week 6: Sunday vs San Francisco 49ers (Oct. 12)3. Buffalo Bills (2)
Buffalo was the last unbeaten team remaining in the NFL before falling to the Patriots. This team has the second-highest scoring offense in the AFC, but could be in for some tougher environments. It played four of its first five games of the season at Highmark Stadium.
NFL Week 5: Lost to New England Patriots, 23-20NFL Week 6: Monday Night Football at Atlanta Falcons (Oct. 13)2. Philadelphia Eagles (1)
As the defending Super Bowl champions, we said we would rank the Eagles No. 1 until they lost. That happened in NFL Week 5 with the Broncos’ impressive come-from-behind win over Philadelphia. Philadelphia has been far from dominant this season, but it has found ways to win close games. That ended against Denver. Will it be a wake-up call for Jalen Hurts and company?
NFL Week 5: Lost to Denver Broncos, 21-17NFL Week 6: Thursday Night Football at New York Giants (Oct. 9)
1. Detroit Lions (3)
The Lions are the hottest team in the NFL, having won four straight since falling to the Packers in NFL Week 1. They have outscored their opponents, 174-112. They are the best team in the NFL right now, ahead of a very intriguing NFL Week 6 Sunday Night Football game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
NFL Week 5: Beat Cincinnati Bengals, 37-24NFL Week 6: Sunday Night Football at Kansas City Chiefs (Oct. 12)
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