NFL Takeaways: Week 5
Photo from ESPN
We’re now at the point of the season where, due to bye weeks, there’s only three games on in the 4 P.M. window, which continues to be a glaring fault with the NFL and one I desperately hope they fix, knowing that they never will.
Alas.
Here is what we learned from week 5.
Buccaneers defeat Cowboys 24-16
Maybe the Cowboys are just bad.
I fell for the bait of an improved defense.
That’s my fault.
Jaguars defeat Eagles 19-17
Two weeks ago, the Cowboys kicked it out of the endzone for a touchback with 7 seconds left against the Ravens in a tied game.
That was the wrong call, because the Ravens had a timeout, and it put the ball on the 35. It made it easier for them to get into field goal range.
Sunday morning, the Eagles had the Jaguars return it with 12 seconds left and no timeouts.
That was also the wrong call, because with no timeouts, it’d be incredibly hard for the Jags to get into field goal range and get a field goal off without any timeouts.
But a long return put Cam Little into field goal range with one second left, and the Jags won the game.
That, and Siranni deciding to throw instead of forcing the Jags to use their timeouts and kicking as time expired, is coaching malpractice. It’d be hard to be one upped in that category this weekend.
Commanders tie Giants 27-27
But boy did Dan Quinn find a way!
For the record, I don’t know if this was Dan Quinn’s fault, the OC’s fault, or the players fault.
But the Commanders had the ball in field goal range with under 20 seconds left in overtime and no timeouts. You can easily just kick there and win.
Instead, Jayden Daniels took the snap, ran around, and fell over, again, with no timeouts left, and the clock expired for the Commanders to not even get a chance to win.
Amazingly bad.
Packers defeat Bears 31-7
Talk about a statement win.
The Packers looked absolutely dominant, both offensively and defensively, and clobbered the Bears in Lambeau.
Make no mistake, this could have been worse.
And now, at 3-2, they’re far from dead like we originally thought.
Texans defeat Titans 26-3
The Titans are bad.
Is what it is.
Bengals defeat Dolphins 31-24
A really, really rough game for Malik Willis, who is trying to show the Dolphins that they just need receiving help and to give him another year at the helm.
If they get the first overall pick and get Jeremiah Smith, he’ll stick around.
If not…I’d start worrying if I was him.
Patriots defeat Raiders 45-17
The Patriots are alive and dominant again.
Drake Maye got his confidence back, and they’re looking like a problem.
Watch out.
Vikings defeat Saints 23-13
Another poor offensive performance for the Vikings.
Another win.
When will Brian Flores get another head coaching opportunity? Lord knows he deserves one.
Jets defeat Browns 17-12
Ever seen two bad teams try to lose the game?
That’s what this was.
And when it looked like the Browns had a great opportunity to win their 4th in a row, they fumbled a punt snap to give up a touchdown and lose.
The weather was bad, sure, but so was the game.
Steelers defeat Colts 34-22
The Jaylen Warren game.
101 yards on the ground. 87 in the receiving game. Two touchdowns.
The Steelers get ever closer to their precious 9 wins.
Broncos defeat Chargers 23-17
I don’t know how you keep this going if you’re the Chargers.
Something has to change.
I know they’re incredibly hurt, but it can’t continue like this. It just can’t.
Lions defeat Cardinals 45-21
Lions offense? Very good!
Lions defense? Still a bunch of issues.
More at 11.
49ers defeat Seahawks 32-29
The Seahawks defense has allowed 10 touchdowns this year.
4 of them have come off of turnovers inside their own 40.
You can’t repeat like that.
Ravens defeat Falcons 30-23
Snoop Huntley now has 4 wins when trailing in the last 8 minutes of the game.
We are approaching Charlie Batch levels of beloved backup QB, folks.
Bills defeat Rams 37-34
There’s a reason the Rams didn’t win the Super Bowl last year.
It’s not because they weren’t good enough.
It’s not because they got unlucky.
It’s not because other teams were just far better than them.
They didn’t win the Super Bowl because they had terrible special teams, as they often do under Sean McVay.
And now, 5 weeks into the season, the Rams are once again dead last in special teams DVOA, and it lost them the game last night.
They have never gotten it right, and it might just sink them again.
