NFL - Week Five Review

Raiders QB Derek Carr (right) celebrates big win over the Chiefs.

The Las Vegas Raiders went into Kansas City and hammered the Chiefs, 40-32 as they improved to 3-2 while Kansas City (4-1) suffered their first loss this season. Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (347 passing yards) threw for three touchdowns while the team racked up 490 yards in total offense. Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes had two TD passes and a rushing score while being sacked three times and throwing his first interception this season in the loss.

The Cleveland Browns outlasted the Indianapolis Colts, 32-23 for a home win to improve to 4-1 for the first time in 26 years while the Colts fell to 3-2. Browns QB Baker Mayfield had two TD passes (along with two INT) to lead the offense while Ronnie Harrison took an interception back 47 yards for another score. Colts QB Philip Rivers was intercepted twice in defeat.

Dallas (2-3) beat the visiting New York Giants, 37-34 but lost starting quarterback Dak Prescott to a severe ankle injury that will keep him out for the rest of the season. Andy Dalton took over for Prescott and led the Cowboys final drives in the second half, including the winning drive that resulted in the 34-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein to win it as time expired. Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott scored twice on the ground and the Dallas defense scored on a fumble recovery as well. The Giants dropped to 0-5 with the loss.

The Seattle Seahawks (5-0) pulled out a 27-26 victory at home in the Sunday night game against Minnesota as QB Russell Wilson completed a six-yard TD pass, his third of the game, to wide receiver DK Metcalf (six receptions for 93 yards and two TD) with 15 seconds remaining in the game. Minnesota (1-4) squandered a 13-point first half lead as the Seahawks scored 21 straight points in a span of 1:53 in the third quarter. The Vikings took the lead back on a pair of scoring passes by QB Kirk Cousins to WR Adam Thielen. Minnesota bypassed a chip shot field in the final two minutes but were stopped by the Seattle defense, setting up the game winning 94-yard drive by Wilson and company.

On Thursday night, the host Chicago Bears (4-1) beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 20-19 as the defense sacked Bucs QB Tom Brady three times. Bears QB Nick Foles had a TD pass and RB David Montgomery scored a rushing touchdown while kicker Cairo Santos made two field goals, including the game-winner from 38 yards late in the fourth quarter. Kicker Ryan Succop made four field goals in the loss, which snapped the Buccaneers (3-2) three game win streak.  

The New Orleans Saints (3-2) won a 30-27 overtime thriller in the Monday night game against the Los Angeles Chargers (1-4) when Will Lutz made his third field goal of the game from 36 yards out and then the Saints defense made the stop on fourth-and-seven at midfield to end the game. Saints QB Drew Brees had 325 passing yards with one TD pass and one interception and also scored on a one-yard run while Taysom Hill ran nine yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 27-27 with just under one minute remaining in the fourth quarter. Chargers kicker Mike Badgley's 50-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright as time ran out to force the overtime. Chargers QB Justin Herbert had four touchdown passes in the loss, two of them going to WR Mike Williams as they dropped their fourth straight game.

                                                                Elsewhere Around the NFL   . . . . . . . . . 

The Baltimore Ravens (4-1) rolled over the visiting Cincinnati Bengals, 27-3 behind a pair of TD passes from QB Lamar Jackson and a 53-yard fumble return for score by linebacker Patrick Queen. Cincy QB Joe Burrow was sacked seven times and had two turnovers (one INT, one fumble) as the Bengals (1-3-1) managed just 205 total yards . . .  The Los Angeles Rams (4-1) completed a sweep of the NFC East division as they toppled host Washington, 30-10. The Rams defense registered eight QB Sacks (four by Aaron Donald) and held Washington (1-4) to 108 yards in total offense. Rams RB Darrell Henderson had two touchdowns, including an 11-yard scoring pass from QB Jared Goff (two pass TD) to seal the win. Washington Quarterback Alex Smith played for the first time in  nearly two years in the game. Smith had been out of action after a terrible leg injury during the 2018 season  . . .  The Houston Texans (1-4) beat the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars, 30-14 to get their first win this season as the defense had four sacks and also two fumble recoveries while QB Deshaun Watson had three TD passes to lead the offense.

Jacksonville (1-4) lost their fourth consecutive game  . . .  The Miami Dolphins (2-3) smashed the host San Francisco 49ers, 43-17 behind three touchdown passes from QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (pictured right) and five field goals by kicker Jason Sanders. San Francisco fell to 2-3 as they allowed five QB sacks and starting QB Jimmy Garoppolo (only 77 passing yards and two INT) was benched in his first game back from injury since Week Two . . .  The Arizona Cardinals (3-2) snapped a two-game losing streak with a 30-10 trouncing of the host New York Jets (0-5) as QB Kyler Murray scored on a rushing touchdown and also threw a 37-yard scoring pass to WR DeAndre Hopkins . . .  The Pittsburgh Steelers improved to 4-0 as WR Chase Claypool scored four touchdowns, including one rushing score, in a 38-29 shootout win over the Philadelphia Eagles (1-3-1). Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger had three TD passes in the win and Eagles running back Miles Sanders scored twice, including a 74-yard TD run while QB Carson Wentz had a pair of scoring passes, but was also sacked five times . . .  The Carolina Panthers won their third straight game as they knocked off the host Atlanta Falcons, 23-16 to improve to 3-2 this season. Panthers QB Teddy Bridgewater had two TD passes to pace the win. Falcons RB Todd Gurley rushed for 121 yards and scored on a 35-yard run in defeat. Atlanta (0-5) fired Head Coach Dan Quinn following the game . . .  The Tennessee Titans rolled past the Buffalo Bills, 42-16 on Tuesday night to go to 4-0 as QB Ryan Tannehill had three TD passes and rushed for another score and RB Derrick Henry scored two rushing touchdowns to lead the way. Josh Allen had two TD passes and two interceptions for the Bills (4-1), who committed three turnovers in the loss.

Week Five Results 

Chicago 20, Tampa Bay 19 

Las Vegas 40, Kansas City 32

Carolina 23, Atlanta 16

Baltimore 27, Cincinnati 3 

Houston 30, Jacksonville 14

Arizona 30, N.Y. Jets 10 

Pittsburgh 38, Philadelphia 29 

L.A. Rams 30, Washington 10 

Miami 43, San Francisco 17 

Cleveland 32, Indianapolis 23

Dallas 37,  N.Y. Giants 34

Seattle 27, Minnesota 26  

New Orleans 30, L.A. Chargers 27 (OT) 

Tennessee 42, Buffalo 16

Denver at New England - game postponed until Week Six