Issues are getting fascinating in a rush as Week 5 of the NFL season arrives.
Tensions are rising as would-be contenders just like the Eagles, Bengals, Dolphins and Browns, to call a couple of, have encountered early calamities. Underdogs just like the Falcons, Commanders and Vikings have discovered early success. In the meantime, the Cowboys, Jets and Bears and different groups that entered the season with nice hopes proceed to battle to achieve their footing.
The surprising and unmatched drama stays the one fixed of an NFL season.
The primary byes of the season happen this weekend for the Lions, Eagles, Chargers and Titans. The break comes on the excellent time for the battered Chargers, and for the Eagles, who’re additionally injury-riddled and struggling for solutions in areas of underperformance.
However there’s nonetheless loads of motion on faucet. This week’s slate kicked off Thursday night time with an NFC South matchup, because the Falcons beat the Buccaneers 36-30 in time beyond regulation behind Kirk Cousins’ 509 passing yards. The motion continues Sunday with the primary London-based recreation of the season, adopted by 11 video games stateside and a Monday night time contest between the New Orleans Saints and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
Listed here are 5 of the main storylines to comply with this week. (Discover the Week 5 schedule right here.)
Sam Darnold and the Vikings are one in every of simply two 4-0 groups, together with the Chiefs. (Mark Hoffman / USA Immediately Community by way of Imagn Photos)
Vikings’ Darnold vs. the Jets
The NFL’s worldwide sequence resumes with a showdown in London between Aaron Rodgers and the Jets and Sam Darnold (previously of the Jets) and the Vikings.
The Jets made Darnold the third decide of the 2018 draft, however the USC product by no means actually had an opportunity given the dysfunction that engulfed the franchise throughout his three seasons there. Declared a bust, Darnold was traded to Carolina after which spent a season in San Francisco as a backup. That stint helped him reset professionally, and study the sport in a fashion he was by no means afforded in New York. Now he’s experiencing a profession revival in Minnesota, the place he has led the Vikings to a 4-0 begin whereas main the NFL in passing touchdowns (11).
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After transport Darnold off, the Jets swung and missed on Zach Wilson (the second decide of the 2021 draft) and final season turned to Rodgers in hopes that the long run Corridor of Famer can lastly rescue them from the league’s basement. Rodgers missed all however 4 snaps with an Achilles tendon tear final season. He’s wholesome once more, however he’s additionally 40, and the Jets (2-2) are nonetheless fighting inconsistencies. After an embarrassing loss to Denver final week, frustrations look like percolating — Rodgers needs coaches to do a greater job holding underperforming teammates accountable.
Can Darnold precise revenge throughout the pond? Or will Rodgers get the help essential to nudge the Jets above the .500 mark for the primary time since Week 8 of final season? (Jets vs. Vikings in London, 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday.)
Momentum for Ravens and Bengals
After a gradual begin, projected AFC contender Baltimore received a much-needed win in Dallas in Week 3, after which dominated fellow convention elite Buffalo at residence final Sunday night time. Offseason pickup Derrick Henry hit his stride because the workhorse again/sidekick Lamar Jackson has lengthy lacked, and Jackson was slinging and toting the rock for touchdowns whereas the beforehand disjointed protection rounded again into kind.
Now the Ravens hope to hold that momentum into Week 5, the place they journey to Cincinnati to tackle one more anticipated playoff staff of their AFC North rival Bengals. Cincinnati opened the 12 months 0-3 earlier than pulling off a much-needed win in Carolina final week. This needs to be one other showdown between two of this era’s prime quarterbacks (Jackson and the Bengals’ Joe Burrow).
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Jackson has received his final three video games in opposition to Cincinnati, however the Bengals bounced Baltimore from the primary spherical of the playoffs two years in the past with Jackson sidelined by a knee harm. Can the Ravens proceed their ascension, or was final week the get-right recreation the Bengals wanted? (Ravens at Bengals, 1 p.m. ET Sunday.)
Texans huge receiver Stefon Diggs faces his former staff, the Payments, on Sunday. (Thomas Shea / Imagn Photos)
5 groups entered Week 4 with 3-0 information. The Chiefs and Vikings each improved to 4-0, however the Payments, Steelers and Seahawks all suffered their first losses of the season. Now, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Seattle get again to work in hopes of rapidly rebounding.
The Payments head to Houston, the place they have to present they will higher help quarterback Josh Allen. The seventh-year veteran is off to among the finest begins of his profession, however he can’t do it alone. An improved dashing assault would assist ease strain on him, and a protection that allowed 271 dashing yards at Baltimore should play higher. The Payments have executed effectively in opposition to the move, holding groups to 165.3 yards per contest (though Baltimore actually didn’t throw a lot as a result of Buffalo was so dangerous in opposition to the run), however the unit should work exhausting to include C.J. Stroud and former Payments receiver Stefon Diggs. They’ll have to take action with out move rusher Von Miller, who was suspended final week for violating the league’s private conduct coverage.
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In the meantime, the Seahawks, who misplaced 42-29 to the Lions Monday night time, hope to deal with enterprise at residence in opposition to the New York Giants. Geno Smith leads the NFL in completions (115), makes an attempt (159) and yardage (1,182), and his completion share (72.3) ranks second. Seattle truly outgained Detroit in complete yards (516-389), and dominated time of possession, however a pair of turnovers proved pricey. Seattle had ranked among the many prime 10 in complete protection however allowed Detroit to attain on all 5 journeys contained in the pink zone. The Seahawks’ offense and protection will look to seal the deal Sunday in opposition to New York.
Lastly, the host Steelers goal to rebound Sunday night time in opposition to the Cowboys. Justin Fields is once more projected to start out at quarterback, and he’s coming off his most efficient outing of the season (312 passing yards and a landing, 55 dashing yards and two touchdowns). However Fields and receiver George Pickens every misplaced a fumble final week in opposition to Indianapolis and the Steelers’ normally stout protection couldn’t gradual Jonathan Taylor and Joe Flacco. Dallas is shorthanded on protection due to accidents to stars Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, and the Cowboys’ offense stays inconsistent and one-dimensional. If Pittsburgh can capitalize, the black and gold stay atop the AFC North. (Payments at Texans, 1 p.m. ET; Giants at Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. ET; Cowboys at Steelers, 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday.)
Jaguars’ dropping streak
When new coach Doug Pederson and Trevor Lawrence led the Jaguars on a 6-1 surge to shut out the 2022 common season, then adopted that up with an opening-round playoff victory, it appeared as if Jacksonville would ascend to the constant contenders within the AFC. The identical appeared true throughout an 8-3 begin to the 2023 season. Then got here that perplexing 1-5 season-ending collapse. After which got here the 0-4 begin to this season.
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Opponents this season have outscored Jacksonville 109-60, and the Jaguars rank twenty ninth within the NFL in factors scored, thirtieth in factors and yards allowed and thirty second in takeaways. They got here near snagging their first victory final week and even led Houston with 6:16 left within the recreation. However Stroud directed a 24-20 comeback victory capped by a landing move with 18 seconds left.
Up subsequent: one other AFC South matchup in opposition to 2-2 Indianapolis. After Sunday’s residence recreation, the Jaguars have two straight in London. How a lot additional will staff proprietor Shad Khan’s endurance prolong if Pederson fails to show this round within the subsequent three weeks? (Colts at Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET Sunday.)
Who will likely be Patrick Mahomes’ go-to man with Rashee Rice sidelined by a knee harm? (Kirby Lee / Imagn Photos)
Chiefs’ resourcefulness amid accidents
They needed to scratch and claw for it, however the Chiefs earned their fourth victory of the season final Sunday, edging the undermanned Chargers 17-10. The victory proved pricey, nevertheless, as Kansas Metropolis misplaced prime huge receiver Rashee Rice for a minimum of the subsequent 4 video games to a knee harm. The Chiefs already had misplaced huge receiver Marquise Brown and operating again Isiah Pacheco to accidents. So who will Patrick Mahomes lean on now as he tries to information the franchise to an unprecedented third straight Tremendous Bowl victory? The quarterback’s wizardry and Andy Reid’s creativity definitely will likely be put to the take a look at.
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Who will emerge to fill the go-to man position Rice had assumed this season whereas rating among the many league leaders in yards and catches? Rookie Xavier Worthy should assume a heavier workload. And after wanting like a shell of himself by means of three video games, Travis Kelce must look extra just like the man who had seven catches for 89 yards final week as soon as Rice received harm. JuJu Smith-Schuster logged 32 snaps final week however obtained no targets. The Chiefs definitely will want extra from the 27-year-old who helped them win the Tremendous Bowl two years in the past however has since been slowed by knee issues. If not Smith-Schuster, then who? Previous pal Kareem Hunt did add 85 yards of offense (69 dashing, 16 receiving) final week. But when Kansas Metropolis’s as soon as well-oiled machine is to maintain rolling towards dominance, Reid and Mahomes should pull out all the stops to maintain this offense on the mandatory ascension monitor. (Saints at Chiefs, 8:15 p.m. ET Monday.)
(Prime picture: Stacy Revere / Getty Photos)
