NFL Week 5 Performance Recap
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys (Thursday Night)
Tampa Bay won outright as 8.5-point road underdogs and stayed under the 47.5 total, beating Dallas 24-16 for its first win of the season behind undrafted quarterback Jalon Daniels and a career night from Bucky Irving. Daniels went 19 of 25 for 189 yards and a touchdown and ran for 23 more in his second career start, opening the game with a 15-play, 73-yard drive that took nearly 11 minutes and ended with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Irving. Irving finished with a career-high 165 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including a 72-yard run on the first snap of the second half, and the Buccaneers piled up 419 yards, 241 of them on the ground, without a turnover. Dallas turned it over three times, lost CeeDee Lamb to a quad injury after he caught one pass for 4 yards in the first half, and got back in it only after Todd Bowles went for it on fourth-and-goal at the 1 up 24-10 and Sean Tucker was stuffed, which led to a 99-yard Dak Prescott touchdown drive. Alex Anzalone's interception on a tipped ball sealed it, but Bowles went down on a knee on the sideline late in a concerning scene. Tampa Bay climbs to 1-4 and avoids its first 0-5 start since 2013, while Dallas falls to 2-3 with a defense that has now been picked apart in back-to-back weeks.
Philadelphia Eagles at Jacksonville Jaguars (London)
Philadelphia covered as a 6.5-point underdog and the game stayed under the 42.5 total, but the Eagles still lost 19-17 when Cam Little drilled a 57-yard field goal as time expired. Jake Elliott had given Philadelphia a 17-16 lead with a 48-yard field goal with eight seconds left, then kicked a line drive to Ameer Abdullah at the 8-yard line instead of a touchback, and Abdullah returned it to the Philadelphia 39 with one second left, setting up the winner. Parker Washington had two long touchdown catches for Jacksonville, including a one-handed grab on fourth-and-5 in the fourth quarter, while Jalen Carter had two strip-sacks of Trevor Lawrence that Philadelphia could not turn into points. The Jaguars committed 13 penalties for 100 yards, were stopped twice at the 1-yard line, and missed an extra point after DaVon Hamilton, a defensive tackle, filled in as an emergency long snapper for the injured Ross Matiscik. Philadelphia lost three offensive linemen in a week (Lane Johnson to retirement, Cam Jurgens in a trade, Drew Kendall to injury), ran for 22 yards, its fewest since 2015, and dropped to 2-3 with its third straight loss, while Jacksonville improved to 4-1.
Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins
Cincinnati pushed as 7-point road favorites and the game flew over the 44.5 total in a 31-24 win that moved the Bengals to 3-2 heading into their bye. Joe Burrow went 23 of 32 for 190 yards and a season-high four touchdown passes, three of them under pressure, including a 45-yard touchdown to Ja'Marr Chase, who made six catches for 77 yards after missing time in the concussion protocol. Cincinnati built a 28-10 lead, and Miami's two fourth-quarter touchdowns were not enough, even though Malik Willis ran for a franchise-record 74 yards by a quarterback and Ollie Gordon II added 88 yards and a score on 18 carries as the Dolphins ran for 217. Willis threw two interceptions and completed just one pass in the first quarter, and Chase Brown lost a fumble in the red zone, with Samaje Perine leading the Bengals in carries. The Dolphins fall to 0-5, while Cincinnati will get a week to fix its running game before a trip to Baltimore.
Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots
New England covered as 3.5-point home favorites and cleared the 45.5 total with a 45-17 rout that was its highest-scoring game in five years. Drake Maye accounted for five of six touchdowns, throwing four and running for one, and he has a 6-to-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio over his last six quarters after a rough first three games. Las Vegas was held to a season-low 38 rushing yards with Ashton Jeanty playing through ankle and foot issues, and Fernando Mendoza made his NFL debut late in relief of Kirk Cousins, going 6 of 8 for 48 yards. Elijah Ponder had two sacks, and the Patriots won despite losing left tackle Will Campbell and running back TreVeyon Henderson to injury and playing without A.J. Brown, Mack Hollins and Mike Onwenu. New England climbs to 3-2 with two straight wins, and Las Vegas falls to 3-2 with the Bills and Rams next.
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints
Minnesota covered as 2-point road favorites and stayed under the 42 total with a 23-13 win that moved the Vikings to 5-0. Kyler Murray completed his first 12 passes and finished 24 of 30 for 229 yards and a touchdown with no giveaways, adding 51 rushing yards, and Justin Jefferson returned from his ankle injury with six catches for 79 yards and a touchdown in triple coverage. Aaron Jones ran for 113 yards and a score on 25 carries, and Will Reichard hit field goals from 54 and 55 yards to extend his streak to 34 straight. Brian Flores' defense blitzed on 61.5 percent of snaps and held Tyler Shough to 16 of 25 for 96 yards and two interceptions, with the Saints managing just 142 total yards and 55 on the ground. New Orleans' only touchdown came when Jonas Sanker returned a Minnesota fumble 87 yards, and the Saints fall to 1-4 with Travis Etienne on injured reserve.
Cleveland Browns at New York Jets
New York covered as 2.5-point home favorites in a 17-12 win that stayed under the 38.5 total, with rookie David Bailey recording three sacks and nine pressures in a rainy game at MetLife Stadium. The Jets sacked Deshaun Watson eight times, the most in a game by any team this season, and Bailey tied Hugh Douglas (1995) for the most sacks in a game by a Jets rookie. Garrett Wilson caught a 32-yard touchdown and Braelon Allen scored the go-ahead 22-yard touchdown late after a Cleveland punt snap sailed over Corey Bojorquez's head, wiping out a Carson Schwesinger strip-sack of Geno Smith. Isaiah Bond dropped all three of his targets in the rain, including one that would have been a touchdown, after KC Concepcion left in the first quarter with a head injury. The Jets improve to 2-3 despite four fumbles, while Cleveland falls to 3-2 with its offense held to 198 yards.
Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh covered as 3-point home favorites and flew over the 42 total in a 34-22 win that was never in doubt after the first quarter. Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes for the third straight game, passing Peyton Manning for third on the all-time touchdown list, and Jaylen Warren set the tone with an 80-yard touchdown catch and later added a 50-yard touchdown run, becoming the first player since Herschel Walker in 1986 with both in one game. Pat Freiermuth caught two touchdowns and rookie Germie Bernard had six catches for 80 yards, while Spencer Shrader hit five field goals for Indianapolis, two of them from inside the 10. Jonathan Taylor was held to 45 yards on 15 carries in his worst game of the year, and Pittsburgh won despite losing Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek to injuries. The Steelers move to 3-2 and the Colts fall to 2-3.
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans
Houston covered as 6.5-point road favorites and stayed under the 37.5 total, routing Tennessee 26-3 for its first win of the season. C.J. Stroud went 26 of 34 for 260 yards with a touchdown pass and a rushing score, and the Texans broke the game open after halftime with a 17-play, 74-yard drive after settling for four first-half field goals. DeMeco Ryans took over defensive play-calling and the unit allowed 187 yards, with Will Anderson Jr. getting three sacks and Danielle Hunter seven pressures. Cam Ward went 23 of 36 for 170 yards with an interception and four sacks, completing just two passes of 10-plus air yards, and the Titans have now scored 3 points or fewer in two of their last three games. Houston climbs to 1-4 and will welcome Marvin Harrison Jr. after a trade with Arizona, while Tennessee falls to 0-5.
New York Giants at Washington Commanders
New York covered as 3.5-point road underdogs and the game flew over the 41.5 total in a 27-27 overtime tie that Washington gave away by botching the final seconds. The Commanders blew a two-touchdown lead as Jameis Winston led a comeback that tied it with 1:43 left in regulation, hitting Isaiah Likely 11 times for 94 yards and two touchdowns and Malik Nabers 11 times for 121 yards and a score. In overtime, Cam Skattebo fumbled on his third straight carry with the Giants in field-goal range, and Washington moved into range of its own, but with no timeouts Jayden Daniels scrambled and went down, the clock kept running, and the Commanders could not spike the ball before time expired, leaving Dan Quinn furious. Daniels was strong in his return from an elbow injury, going 17 of 25 for 199 yards and running for 109 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries, while Dominic Zvada missed three field goals for New York. The Giants move to 3-1-1 and the Commanders to 1-3-1, in a tie that feels like a loss for Washington.
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
Green Bay covered as a 1.5-point home underdog and the game stayed under the 46.5 total in a 31-7 rout of Chicago that was never close after halftime. Jordan Love went deep repeatedly, hitting six passes of 30-plus yards and finishing 25 of 31 for 367 yards and two touchdowns with a career-best 137.5 rating, including 53- and 43-yard scores to Christian Watson. The Packers forced five takeaways, the most for them in a game since 2016, and Dani Dennis-Sutton had five pressures, a sack and a fumble recovery as Green Bay generated 31 pressures. Tyson Bagent threw two interceptions before giving way to Case Keenum, and Chicago turned it over five times and managed 246 yards and 3.6 yards per play. The Bears fall to 3-2 and hope Caleb Williams is ready for Week 6, while Green Bay improves to 3-2 despite rookie kicker Trey Smack missing two field goals and an extra point.
Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers
Denver covered as a 3.5-point road favorite and stayed under the 41.5 total in a 23-17 win that ended with a fourth-quarter shutdown of the Chargers. Los Angeles led 17-10 entering the fourth after two third-quarter touchdowns, including a 42-yard Kimani Vidal run, but then went punt, turnover on downs, fumble, interception and sack on five straight possessions, gaining 19 net yards on 19 plays. Bo Nix tied it with a 5-yard touchdown to Courtland Sutton and Wil Lutz hit two late field goals after Zach Allen forced a Justin Herbert fumble and Brandon Jones intercepted him. Sean Payton took over play-calling and the offense still managed just 224 yards, with Nix throwing for 123, and Denver survived without Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss. The Chargers started four rookies on the offensive line and were without Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey, and at 0-5 they have lost eight straight games including last year's playoff loss.
Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals
Detroit covered as 5.5-point road favorites and cleared the 54.5 total with a 45-21 win, finally getting a defensive performance to match its offense. The Lions led 24-7 at halftime, held Arizona to 109 yards before the break without allowing a single third-down conversion, and finished with five sacks. Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, Jameson Williams caught two touchdowns, and Jared Goff threw three touchdowns with no interceptions, becoming the first player in NFL history with 12 passing touchdowns and no giveaways through his team's first five games. Jacoby Brissett attempted more than 45 passes for the second time in three weeks and Trey McBride made nine catches, including a leaping touchdown in garbage time, while Arizona traded Marvin Harrison Jr. to Houston. Detroit improves to 3-2 and Arizona falls to 1-4 with an offense that has stalled on the ground.
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
San Francisco won outright as a 3-point road underdog and cleared the 46.5 total, outlasting Seattle 32-29 to move to 5-0. The defenses dominated for three quarters, with the 49ers forcing four turnovers, including a Gracen Halton strip-fumble touchdown, and Renardo Green intercepting Sam Darnold twice, but Brock Purdy and Mike Evans took over late, with Evans catching seven passes for 113 yards and a touchdown and converting a two-point try. San Francisco's 95-yard touchdown drive and 43-yard field goal drive in the fourth quarter put it ahead for good, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba could not hold on to a late catch that would have set up a game-tying field goal attempt. Seattle turned it over four times, with both Emanuel Wilson and George Holani fumbling, and Darnold was sacked five times, while San Francisco lost Deebo Samuel to injury in the third quarter. The 49ers win their fifth straight in Seattle and lead the NFC West by 2.5 games, while the Seahawks fall to 3-2.
Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore won outright as a 3-point road underdog (some books had the Ravens favored) and cleared the 43.5 total, rallying from an eight-point deficit in the final 2:25 for a 30-23 overtime win without Lamar Jackson. Tyler Huntley was 11 of 11 for 80 yards on the game-tying drive and in overtime, throwing a 7-yard touchdown to Devontez Walker, and Derrick Henry ran for 102 yards, caught an 18-yard touchdown, converted the tying two-point try and ran 24 times, including seven on the 14-play, 68-yard overtime drive that ended with Huntley's 1-yard sneak. Atlanta led 23-15 after a Jessie Bates fumble return touchdown and a Kyle Pitts score, but Michael Penix Jr. was hit by Tavius Robinson on the final drive of regulation and exited with a ribs injury, and Tua Tagovailoa threw the game-ending interception to Kyle Hamilton. Bijan Robinson had 118 scrimmage yards and Calais Campbell played in his 283rd game to set the record for a defensive lineman. Baltimore moves to 4-1 while Atlanta falls to 2-3 and has to wait on Penix's status.
Monday Night Preview: Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles is a 3.5-point home favorite at most books (some have it at 2.5) with the total at 54.5 in a rematch of the 44-42 Rams win in December 2024 that matches the last two MVPs, Josh Allen and Matthew Stafford. Buffalo comes in 3-1 after a 29-26 loss to New England in which the Bills' makeshift secondary lost challenge after challenge, and it is banged up at corner and without a healthy D.J. Moore, while Allen has 1,039 passing yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions plus seven rushing touchdowns on 33 carries. The Rams are 2-2 after a 24-20 comeback win in Philadelphia that required 14 unanswered points in the final four minutes, and they rank second in yards allowed (247.5 per game) and ninth in points allowed (20.8), including the second-fewest passing yards in the league at 145.5. Puka Nacua is coming off nine catches for 125 yards and had 12 catches for 162 yards the last time these teams met, and Kyren Williams has been a workhorse, but Los Angeles also gave up leads against Denver and has been inconsistent on offense. The Bills have not covered in two straight games and the Rams' defense is the best Buffalo has faced all year, so this shapes up as a spot where the Rams laying the points and the over both have a case if Allen's health holds up.
