NFL Takeaways: Week 5
Photo by Steven Bisig from Imagn Images
Happy week 5 of the NFL season, everybody.
Wherever you are, I hope it’s actually fall and not 80 degrees like it is in Baltimore.
Nothing says fall like a t shirt and shorts!
Ugh.
I hate it.
Here’s what we learned from week 5.
49ers defeat Rams 26-23
I said last week that the Niners shouldn’t bother risking Brock Purdy’s health to play him, because the gap between him and Mac Jones is not big enough to be worth a QB not at 100%.
Sure enough, I was right, because good heavens Mac Jones looked fantastic as the Niners got another huge division win.
I thought the Niners would win the division because the rest of the division was underwhelming.
Turns out, they might just be good.
Vikings defeat Browns 21-17
Dillon Gabriel got his first career start, and he was fine considering he was facing a very tough Vikings defense.
But that Browns defense is legit. If Gabriel can improve as the year goes on, they might have something here.
But that’s a big if.
Texans defeat Ravens 44-10
I didn’t think the Ravens would win considering all the injuries they had.
But I did not expect it to look this bad against a Texans offense that has looked lifeless all year.
It might be time for a change in Baltimore.
Saints defeat Giants 26-14
Jaxson Dart started really, really hot.
But then a bunch of turnovers followed suit and the Giants blew a 14-3 lead to give the Saints their first win of the year.
There was always going to be growing pains with Dart, but it’s a little disheartening seeing them happen against a bad team like the Saints.
Broncos defeat Eagles 21-17
6 carries for Saquon?
Hurts and AJ Brown still not connecting?
I still think the Eagles will be fine, but it’d be foolish to not be a little bit worried.
Cowboys defeat Jets 37-22
Every single time I think I get a read on the Jets being feisty and competitive, they follow it up with a giant stinker.
Not that I thought they’d beat the Cowboys, but I thought they’d be better than this.
I don’t get them.
Colts defeat Raiders 40-6
There’s no other way to spin it.
This was a good team, the Colts, beating up on a terrible team, the Raiders.
Plain and simple. I was wildly wrong about these two teams.
Panthers defeat Dolphins 27-24
Players and coaches are publicly trashing the defense. The fanbase is furious.
It’s time to blow it up in Miami. It’s done.
Buccaneers defeat Seahawks 38-35
Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold put on an absolute fantastic game worthy of the incredible uniform matchup they had, and it came down to one deflected pass being intercepted to get the Bucs the win.
These two teams have flaws, but I don’t think it can be argued that they’re good teams.
Plus, they looked so good.
Uniform matchup of the century.
Titans defeat Cardinals 22-21
The Cardinals players have to be throwing these games on purpose somehow.
I don’t know how, but this is three straight losses on time expiring field goals, and in some of the dumbest ways possible.
Blowing a regular late lead against the Niners, coming back against the Seahawks before a bad kickoff gave the Seahawks a short field, and then two of the absolute dumbest plays imaginable to let the Titans come back and win.
This isn’t a serious football team.
They’re some sort of social experiment.
Commanders defeat Chargers 27-10
Justin Herbert played well, but the line and defense couldn’t hold up, Omarion Hampton got hurt, and the Commanders easily handled the Chargers.
It’s just so typical Chargers.
They can never get out of their own way, whether it be by injuries or by poor play.
Lions defeat Bengals 37-24
Did anyone other than Lions fans watch this game?
Genuinely wondering.
The Lions are really good. The Bengals are not.
This wasn’t worth paying attention to.
Patriots defeat Bills 23-20
Drake Maye is legit.
That was an incredible performance on the road against a very good division rival in primetime.
Ain’t no two ways about it. The kid is good.
Jaguars defeat Chiefs 31-28
The Jags have been good this year because their defense has been excellent. They needed the offense, and their 55 million dollar a year quarterback, to step up.
Lawrence did, and they got a huge Monday Night Football win over the Chiefs.
And you know why?
It’s because they wore their throwbacks.
