NFL - Week Five Review

The '72 Miami Dolphins, the only NFL Super Bowl championship team to go undefeated through the entire season and playoffs, can pop the champagne corks a little earlier than usual this season as the Indianapolis Colts knocked the previously unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs, 19-9 in the fifth week of the season. The Chiefs were the last unbeaten team in the NFL entering this past weekend.
In much the same manner as 2009, the early season standings appear to be upside down after many upsets this past weekend.
Just take a look at the standings.
However, expect the top teams to rise to the top as they did last year when the final games are played after Week 17.
But for now, the teams currently at or near the top can enjoy the success they have had.
The Colts looked lackluster once again in beating Kansas City. Peyton Manning did not throw a touchdown pass in the win.
Speaking of lackluster, the Saints were knocked off again, this time by Arizona, 30-20 as the Cards did it with defense, scoring two touchdowns on turnovers to score the victory. Saints' QB Drew Brees was intercepted three times, including a 28-yard interception return for a score by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie that sealed the game.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are indeed a surprise team as they are 3-1 after beating the Cincinnati Bengals, 24-21 by scoring the games final ten points in the last two minutes. Bucs' QB Josh Freeman threw for 280 yards and the game tying touchdown prior to Conner Barth nailing the game winning field goal from 31 yards out.
On the opposite side, disappointing starts seem to follow the San Diego Chargers every year since Norv Turner took over the team as head coach in 2007.
The Chargers lost to the Oakland Raiders, 35-27 (the Chargers' first loss to Oakland in 14 games) as quarterback Philip Rivers (431 yards passing with two TD) was sacked and fumbled as the Chargers were driving for the potential winning field goal. The loose ball was run back 64 yards for a touchdown by Tyvon Branch to clinch the win for the Raiders.
The Chargers' wide receiver Malcolm Floyd, the Heftyinfo NFL Player of the Week, had eight catches for 213 yards, including a 41-yard TD reception in the loss.
The Dallas Cowboys are also a disappointing team at 1-3 after losing at home to Tennessee, 34-27. Titans' running back Chris Johnson scored twice and ran for 131 yards and quarterback Vince Young threw two touchdown passes.
Cowboys' QB Tony Romo threw for 406 yards and three touchdowns in the loss, but also had three interceptions.
The Washington Redskins are tied for first place in the NFC East with the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles (3-2) after topping the Green Bay Packers, 16-13 in overtime. Packers' QB Aaron Rodgers suffered a concussion in the game and may miss the next game vs. Miami. In addition, Packers' linebacker Clay Matthews and tight end Jermichael Finley also suffered injuries.
The Giants blew away the Houston Texans, 34-10 behind another solid defensive effort and Eli Manning, who passed for 297 yards and three touchdowns.
The Eagles held off the very disappointing San Francisco 49ers, 27-24 for a road win that helped them keep pace with the Giants and Redskins. The 49ers are 0-5 and rumors are starting to swirl that Head Coach Mike Singletary is on the "hot seat."
The Baltimore Ravens blew out the Denver Broncos, 31-17 behind 233 yards rushing and a solid run defense. Broncos' QB Kyle Orton passed for 314 yards in the loss.
The Chicago Bears are a surprising 4-1 after they beat Carolina 23-6 behind a big day by Matt Forte' (166 yards rushing with two TD), who raced 68 yards for a second score in the first quarter.
Jacksonville posted a second straight win 36-26 at Buffalo as David Garrard threw three touchdown passes and Josh Scobee booted five field goals in the win.
Atlanta (4-1) beat the Cleveland Browns, 20-10 to open a slight lead over the Tampa Bay Bucs in the NFC South.
The Detroit Lions finally broke into the win column in 2010 with a 44-6 thrashing of the visiting St. Louis Rams. Stefan Logan brought a kickoff back 105 yards for a score and Lions' QB Shaun Hill threw for three touchdowns in the win.
The Monday night game between the Vikings and Jets in the Meadowlands took a while to get started... literally.
After a delay of nearly one hour due to lightning storms in the area, the Jets won the game 29-20 and dominated the first half defensively before the Brett Favre to Randy Moss combo got going. Favre hit Moss for a TD pass to cut the Jets lead to 12-7.
The hero for the Jets was kicker Nick Folk, who nailed five field goals in five tries, including a 53-yard kick. LaDainian Tomlinson (94 yards rushing) led a balanced offensive attack for the Jets, including Shonn Greene's 23-yard touchdown run to put New York ahead 22-13 midway through the final quarter.
Favre hit Percy Harvin (5 catches for 97 yards, 2 TD) for a score with four minutes remaining to cut the deficit to 22-20. But when Favre was intercepted for a touchdown by Dwight Lowery with just under two minutes to go, the game was over.