NFL - Week Five Recap

Bears QB Justin Fields had a big game in win against Washington.

Last Thursday night in Washington, D.C., the Chicago Bears (1-4) rose to the occasion and won their first game this season by knocking off the host Commanders (2-3), 40-20 behind four touchdown passes from quarterback Justin Fields. Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore hauled in three TD passes and had 230 yards on eight receptions. The Bears defense, perhaps inspired to win the game for Bears legend (and Hall of Fame linebacker) Dick Butkus, who passed away earlier in the day, played a stellar game as they had five sacks and forced two turnovers as the Commanders (2-3) lost their third game in a row even with QB Sam Howell passing for 388 yards and two scores. 

The game over in London, England on Sunday was the second consecutive one for the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2) and they beat the Buffalo Bills, 25-20 to make it two wins in a row with the offense scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter to help hold off the Bills (3-2) as running back Travis Etienne (26 carries for 136 yards) scored two rushing touchdowns. Jags QB Trevor Lawrence passed for 315 yards and one score to offset Bills QB Josh Allen (359 passing yards, two TD, one interception). 

The Detroit Lions improved to 4-1 with a 42-24 thrashing of the visiting Carolina Panthers (0-5) as QB Jared Goff threw for three touchdowns and also ran for another along with rushing scores from David Montgomery (109 rushing yards) and Craig Reynolds. The Lions defense forced three turnovers (two INT, one fumble) in the win. Carolina rookie QB Bryce Young had three TD passes along with the two picks thrown in defeat.  

In Miami, the Dolphins (4-1) beat the New York Giants (1-4) by a 31-16 count as running back De'Von Achane went off for 151 yards on 11 carries and scored on a 76-yard run. Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa (308 passing yards) had two TD passes, but also served up a 102-yard pick six INT to Giants DB Jason Pinnock. Giants QB Daniel Jones was sacked six times and left the game with a neck injury.

 

The Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) won a low scoring affair at home, 17-10 against the Baltimore Ravens (3-2) as the defense came up big in the final quarter, getting two big turnovers from Ravens QB Lamar Jackson on an interception and later a fumble recovery. The only Baltimore touchdown came on a 14-yard scoring run by RB Justice Hill. The Steelers got a blocked punt for a safety and kicker Chris Boswell made three field goals to go with a 41-yard scoring pass from QB Kenny Pickett to WR George Pickens (pictured right) with 1:17 remaining in the game.  

 

The Atlanta Falcons (3-2) won a last second thriller, 21-19 against the Houston Texans (2-3) as kicker Younghoe Koo made a 37-yard field goal as time expired. Falcons QB Desmond Ridder (329 passing yards) had a scoring pass and run to lead the offense. Texans rookie QB C.J. Stroud threw a TD pass and kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn made four field goals in the loss. 

The Indianapolis Colts improved to 3-2 and a share of first place in the AFC South (with Jacksonville) as they won at home, 23-16 against the Tennessee Titans (2-3) with RB Zach Moss scoring two rushing touchdowns and gaining 165 yards on 23 carries and kicker Matt Gay made three field goals. Titans rookie RB Tyjae Spears had a rushing score in defeat.

What is going with on with Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots? They got crushed last week in Dallas (38-3) and this weekend they were blasted 34-0 at home by the New Orleans Saints (3-2) as their QB Mac Jones was benched for the second straight game. The Patriots (1-4) managed just 156 total yards in offense and eight first downs. The Saints defense scored on a pick six INT by Tyrann Mathieu and QB Derek Carr had two TD passes and RB Alvin Kamara scored a rushing TD to lead the rout. 

The Kansas City Chiefs (4-1) outlasted the host Minnesota Vikings, 27-20 to win their fourth straight game as QB Patrick Mahomes had a pair of scoring passes to offset Vikings QB Kirk Cousins two TD passes as Minnesota fell to 1-4 this season. 

In Denver, the New York Jets (2-3) got it going on both ends as they bested the Broncos, 31-21 behind solid defense that had three fumble recoveries along with a safety and a defensive score by Bryce Hall (39-yard fumble return) to help seal the win. The Broncos (1-4) lead 13-8 at the half as QB Russell Wilson finished the game with two TD passes, but the Jets took over in the second half with RB Breece Hall (22 carries for 177 yards) going 72 yards for a touchdown while kicker Greg Zuerlein made five field goals.

The Philadelphia Eagles sauntered to another win to improve to 5-0 as they beat the host Los Angeles Rams, 23-14 with QB Jalen Hurts scoring a rushing TD and thrwoing for another score to tight end Dallas Goeddert. Kicker Jake Elliott added three field goals as well. The Rams led 14-10 behind two TD passes from QB Matthew Stafford, but were shut out in the second half as they dropped to 2-3 this season.

The Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) won on the road, 34-20 against the Arizona Cardinals (1-4) with the offense finally getting it going as QB Joe Burrow (317 passing yards) connected with WR Ja'Marr Chase for three touchdowns, including a 63-yard strike. Chase hauled in 15 receptions for 192 yards in the win. Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt took back an interception 11 yards for a score and the defense got three turnovers (two INT and one fumble) to help make the difference in the final score. Arizona QB Joshua Dobbs had two TD passes and the two interceptions thrown in the loss.

In the Sunday night game, the host San Francisco 49ers (5-0) demolished the Dallas Cowboys, 42-10 as QB Brock Purdy (252 passing yards, four TD) and tight end George Kittle hooked up for three scoring passes while the defense intercepted three passes, had four QB sacks and limited Dallas (3-2) to just eight first downs and 197 total yards. 

In Las Vegas on Monday Night Football, the Raiders (2-3) beat the Green Bay Packers, 17-13 with the defense getting three interceptions to spark the victory. Raiders RB Josh Jacobs scored on a two-yard run on the first play in the fourth quarter to settle the score. Earlier in the game, Las Vegas QB Jimmy Garoppolo threw a nine-yard TD pass to WR Jakobi Meyers for a 7-3 lead. In the third quarter, the Packers (2-3) took a 13-10 lead on a field goal and five-yard scoring run from running back AJ Dillon.

 

WEEK FIVE RESULTS 

Chicago 40, Washington 20 

Jacksonville 25, Buffalo 20 

Detroit 42, Carolina 24 

Pittsburgh 17, Baltimore 10 

Miami 31, N.Y. Giants 16

New Orleans 34, New England 0 

Atlanta 21, Houston 19 

Indianapolis 23, Tennessee 16 

Cincinnati 34, Arizona 20

Philadelphia 23, L.A. Rams 14

Kansas City 27, Minnesota 20 

N.Y. Jets 31, Denver 21 

San Francisco 42, Dallas 10

Las Vegas 17, Green Bay 13