Big questions, takeaways: Caleb Williams breakout? An elite Vikings D?

October 7, 2024 ndowd

NFL Nation, ESPNOct 6, 2024, 08:20 PM ET

Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season started Thursday night with the Atlanta Falcons escaping with an overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The first of three straight weeks of London games then got started Sunday morning with the Minnesota Vikings remaining undefeated as they knocked off Aaron Rodgers — who became the ninth QB to throw for 60,000 yards — and the New York Jets.

Later, the Baltimore Ravens won an overtime thriller over the Cincinnati Bengals, the Jacksonville Jaguars earned their first win of the season over the Indianapolis Colts and the New York Giants beat the Seattle Seahawks on the road to move to 2-3.

Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team. Let’s get to it.

Giants

Have the Giants finally turned the corner? This young team is playing better each week. They not only won on the road in a difficult environment in Seattle, but they did it without star wide receiver Malik Nabers (concussion) and starting running back Devin Singletary (groin). Quarterback Daniel Jones continues to play well, the offensive line is improved, the defensive line is feasting (five sacks), and the young secondary played its best game of the season. There is finally reason to be optimistic about the Giants.

Eye-popping stat: Jones had two passing touchdowns against the blitz for just the second time in his career. Jones was not thrown by Seattle’s pressure, finishing 9-of-11 against an extra rusher. He was 7-of-7 for 88 yards and two TDs at one point midway through the third quarter.

Most surprising performance: Deonte Banks vs. DK Metcalf. Banks was called out by his position coach for his effort (or lack thereof) after CeeDee Lamb‘s touchdown on him last week. He bounced back in a big way Sunday. Banks forced a fumble tackling Metcalf and held him to two catches on five targets for 24 yards throughout the first three quarters. — Jordan Raanan

Next game: vs. Bengals (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Bryce Ford-Wheaton returns blocked kick 60 yards to secure the win

Isaiah Simmons channels his inner Troy Polamalu and blocks the kick, then Bryce Ford-Wheaton scoops the rock and returns it 60 yards to secure the win for the Giants.

Seahawks

Are the Seahawks any good? The validity of the Seahawks’ 3-0 start was in question given they beat three below-average quarterbacks. There was no shame in getting beaten by the Lions in Week 4, with half their defense missing against a championship-caliber team. But there’s no excuse for Sunday’s performance, not even the short week and the latest injuries to Riq Woolen and Uchenna Nwosu. They were playing at home with a somewhat healthier defense against a 1-3 Giants team that was without two of their best offensive targets. The Seahawks’ schedule is only going to get tougher, starting Thursday night against the 49ers.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Not getting running back Kenneth Walker III more involved. Fifteen of the Seahawks’ 17 offensive plays in the first half were Geno Smith dropbacks. Walker, who scored three touchdowns last week in his return from an oblique injury, finished with only five carries for 19 yards (plus 57 yards on seven catches). The pass-heavy attack made sense against Detroit, but that wasn’t the case Sunday.

Most surprising performance: The Seahawks allowed 175 rushing yards to a Giants team that entered Sunday averaging just over 85 per game (30th in the NFL). What’s more, New York was without Devin Singletary. Backup Tyrone Tracy had 129 yards on only 18 carries. Seattle’s run defense continues to be suspect. — Brady Henderson

Next game: vs. 49ers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Packers

How many interceptions will Xavier McKinney end up with? The answer can’t be 17, can it? If so, he would break the NFL single-season record of 14. McKinney has a pick in each one of his five games with the Packers. His latest came Sunday to make him just the third NFL player since 1940 to record an interception in each of his first five games with a team, according to ESPN Research. One series before the pick, McKinney recovered a fumble. The Packers have 14 takeaways, the most by any team through five games since the 2021 Bills (15), per ESPN Research.

Describe the game in two words: Romeo who? A day after Romeo Doubs was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team, Jayden Reed continued his strong start to the season. With four catches for 78 yards plus two runs for 19 yards, Reed became just the sixth player in NFL history to put up 400 receiving yards and 100 rushing yards in the first five games of a season, according to ESPN Research.

Eye-popping stat: Tucker Kraft‘s 66-yard catch-and-run touchdown was the longest by any NFL tight end this season, and the longest score by a Packers tight end since Tom Crabtree’s 72-yarder in 2012, per ESPN Research. Kraft reached a top speed of 19.7 mph, the highest top speed for a tight end on a scoring play this season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. — Rob Demovsky

Next game: vs. Cardinals (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Rams

Where do the Rams go from here? The Rams enter their bye at 1-4 after losing to the Packers. They’re in a similar hole to a year ago at 3-6 at their bye week. Last season, they won seven of their final eight games to reach the playoffs, but a similar run would be a tall task for this team. The Rams’ offense, which entered the game ranked 17th in DVOA, has struggled without wide receivers Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee). The Rams are targeting a Week 7 return for Kupp, but it may be too late for Los Angeles’ playoffs hopes, which were at 14.8% entering the game, according to ESPN’s FPI projections.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Limiting explosive plays. Defensive coordinator Chris Shula noted that the Packers can establish the run but can also pick their spots when they want to go for explosiveness. That was the case on two of Green Bay’s scoring drives: a 53-yard catch for Jayden Reed to set up a touchdown and a 66-yard touchdown catch for Tucker Kraft.

Most surprising performance: Running back Blake Corum. After coach Sean McVay repeatedly said during training camp that the Rams wanted to spell Kyren Williams with third-round pick Corum, the rookie played only eight offensive snaps through the first four games. Against the Packers, he played 11 snaps, recording five carries for 25 yards and one catch for 8 yards. — Sarah Barshop

Next game: vs. Raiders (Oct. 20, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Broncos

What impact will the Broncos’ battered offensive line have on keeping this win streak going? The Broncos beat the Raiders for the first time since 2019 and had their highest scoring output in a game since 2021, so Sunday was a confetti-cannon day. But it may now take some creativity and heavy lifting to get their offensive line settled. Right tackle Mike McGlinchey is on injured reserve, and his replacement, Alex Palczewski, left Sunday’s game with an ankle injury. Center Luke Wattenberg also left with an ankle injury. For one snap in the third quarter, left tackle Garett Bolles limped off the field, and the Broncos had a brief glimpse at the most difficult of scenarios. They rediscovered Javonte Williams in the run game and a franchise-record 11 players caught a pass in the win. But they’ve been one of the league’s worst passing offenses when they’ve struggled to control the line of scrimmage.

Most surprising performance: Williams. He didn’t seem like his former self for most of 2023 after his return from a horrific knee injury in 2022. He seemed to still be finding his way with 2.2 yards per carry in the first three games. However, in Denver’s Week 4 win over the Jets, he had 77 yards on 16 carries. Sunday, Williams had 40 yards on his first seven carries after halftime.

Early prediction for next week: The Chargers will take aim at inside linebackers Cody Barton and Justin Strnad. Barton has been a quality addition and Strnad has done well, but the Raiders found success between the guards with 110 yards rushing by halftime. The Broncos slammed the door in the second half (5 rushing yards allowed), but Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh will almost certainly decide to swing the hammer a bit too, with the No. 11 rushing offense entering Week 4. — Jeff Legwold

Next game: vs. Chargers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Raiders

Is the Gardner Minshew residency going dark in Las Vegas? Getting benched in favor of quarterback Aidan O’Connell late in the third quarter after two interceptions — including a 100-yard pick-six to Patrick Surtain II that tied the game at 10-10 when the Raiders were threatening to go up 17-3 — would suggest so. Minshew, who completed his first nine passes, simply melted down after the pick. Minshew finished 12-of-17 for 137 yards, while a clearly rusty O’Connell was 10-of-20 for 94 yards with an interception as the Raiders’ eight-game winning streak in the series ended.

Describe the game in two words: Meltdown High. The Raiders give off tenuous House of Cards vibes and, after the Minshew pick-six, they collapsed … in breathtaking fashion. Since Antonio Pierce took over as interim coach on Nov. 1, 2023, the Raiders were a model of disciplined play, in terms of fewest flags thrown on them. Sunday, they became an undisciplined mess with 11 penalties accepted, their most since having 13 total penalties against the Patriots in Week 15 of the 2022 season.

Eye-popping stat: Rookie Brock Bowers gained 31 yards after the catch over expected on his 57-yard touchdown, which was the most by a tight end this season. It was the longest receiving TD by a Raiders TE since 2009 and the longest by a rookie since 2019, according to ESPN Research. — Paul Gutierrez

Next game: vs. Steelers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Gardner Minshew connects with Brock Bowers for a 57-yard TD

Brock Bowers leaps to catch Gardner Minshew’s pass and then takes off for a 57-yard Raiders touchdown.

Cardinals

How can the Cardinals build on Sunday’s win? It may just be the first weekend of October, but Sunday’s win over the 49ers was as important of a win as the Cardinals may get all season. It showed the Cardinals they can win a game in which they bend but don’t break. Arizona’s defense held deep in the red zone four times and the offense finally found its footing in the fourth quarter when QB Kyler Murray led the Cardinals on a game-winning drive. Their 2-3 record is significantly different than last year’s 1-4 start.

Most surprising performance: Marvin Harrison Jr. He had two catches, which came in the first quarter for 36 yards, but was targeted five other times. A series of miscommunications contributed to Harrison’s tough day at the office. His ineffectiveness resulted in just two targets in the second half, the first within the opening minute of the third quarter. He didn’t get thrown to again until there was 2:49 left in the game on an important fourth-down conversion.

Describe the game in two words: Defensive holds. The Cardinals’ defense certainly had its share of lapses and gave up its share of big plays, but the unit came up big when needed. Arizona stopped the 49ers four times at or inside the 10-yard line, forcing three field goals and a fumble on those drives. — Josh Weinfuss

Next game: at Packers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

49ers

After another division loss, where is this season headed for the 49ers? It’s too early to rule out the Niners from making a playoff run given their history of playing better in November and December under coach Kyle Shanahan. But if they’re going to get there this year, it’s going to be a slog. This team doesn’t look anything like the juggernaut of 2023. They’re already 0-2 in the NFC West and 0-3 in the NFC. All of that factors into potential tiebreakers at the end of the season, and with a short week trip to Seattle coming up, the Niners already have their backs against the wall if they’re hoping to win their third consecutive NFC West crown.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Without RB Christian McCaffrey (Achilles tendonitis), it was reasonable to expect that the 49ers’ offense would take a step back on finishing drives with touchdowns. But it’s a problem that the team still hasn’t found a consistent solution for. The 49ers made six red zone trips, yet they only managed one touchdown. For a team that led the NFL in red zone efficiency in 2023, answers need to be found quickly.

Most surprising performance: Special teams has been a consistent problem, but that unit delivered for the Niners on Sunday. In the second quarter, Deommodore Lenoir scooped up a field goal blocked by defensive tackle Jordan Elliott and raced 61 yards for a touchdown, the first blocked field goal attempt returned for a touchdown by San Francisco since 2009. The injury to kicker Jake Moody on the ensuing kickoff was a quick reality check, but getting special teams production was a needed bonus. — Nick Wagoner

Next game: at Seahawks (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Ravens

How huge was that comeback win for the Ravens? Quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Ravens came back from 10 points down in the fourth quarter to deliver an unbelievable overtime victory. In winning its third straight game, Baltimore might have ended the season of the rival Bengals, who fell to 1-4. This looked like the old Ravens, from Jackson making MVP plays on the run to kicker Justin Tucker hitting long-range field goals in the clutch. It wasn’t always pretty — Jackson fumbled a snap in overtime — but the Ravens look like one of the teams to beat in the AFC.

Describe the game in two words: Didn’t flinch. The Ravens came up with a huge turnover after allowing five touchdown passes. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey‘s interception at the Ravens’ 28-yard line put Baltimore in position to tie the game with 3:01 remaining in regulation. Tucker, who had been 1-of-7 since the start of 2023 on attempts of 50 yards of longer, hit a 56-yarder with 1:35 remaining in the fourth quarter. Tucker then hit the winning 24-yard field goal in overtime.

Eye-popping stat: After rushing for 175 yards against the Bengals, the Ravens have out-rushed their opponents by at least 100 yards in all five games this season, per Elias. That’s the longest such streak by any team to start a season since 1933 when yardages were fully tracked. They have now out-rushed their opponents by 754 yards this season. — Jamison Hensley

Next game: vs. Commanders (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Bengals

Is there a short-term fix for the Bengals defense? At this point, the defense is what it is. Cincinnati made some changes in the secondary in order to improve the pass defense and that hasn’t made a big impact so far. Lamar Jackson threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns in Baltimore’s win. Even though the Bengals didn’t have starting slot cornerback Mike Hilton, the unit was good enough to produce a better performance. It’ll be up to defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo to find fixes to try to salvage Cincinnati’s season.

Describe the game in two words: Deflating loss. The Bengals knew how important it was to not only win their first AFC North game of the year but also pick up their first home win of the season. Cincinnati was in control for the majority of the game but let a 10-point lead slip away and drop to 0-3 at home this season.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Jackson had little problem finding his tight ends. Charlie Kolar and Mark Andrews each had big receptions in the middle of the defense, combining for 119 receiving yards and a touchdown. Each of them had at least one catch of over 25 yards. — Ben Baby

Next game: at Giants (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Ja’Marr Chase takes off for 70-yard TD

Ja’Marr Chase gets his second touchdown and Joe Burrow’s fifth touchdown pass of the game in style with a 70-yard score.

Texans

How will the Texans offense survive without wide receiver Nico Collins? The Texans offense appeared to be en route to a dominant day fueled by Collins, who scored a 67-yard touchdown in the first quarter to put the Texans up 14-3. But on that play, Collins injured his hamstring and missed the rest of the game. The offense scored just nine points the rest of the way. The lack of scoring allowed the Bills to come back from a 20-3 hole and knot things up at 20-20.

Eye-popping stat: When the Texans pressured Bills quarterback Josh Allen, he went 1-for-14. Allen ended the game with the lowest completion percentage (30%) in a game with at least 30 pass attempts in the last 30 seasons. He was 0-for-6 under duress in the first half.

Describe the game in two words: Late struggles. Outside of the first game against the Colts — when they scored 17 points in the second half — the offense has totaled 23 points in the final two quarters of the other four games. That’s why the Texans struggle to put games away comfortably. — DJ Bien-Aime

Next game: at Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Bills

What can the offense do to start games stronger? The Bills’ offense was just not clicking in the first half outside of some runs by James Cook, scoring just three points. QB Josh Allen completed 33.3% of his throws through the opening two quarters, which was his worst completion percentage in a half since 2019. Receivers weren’t finding ways to get open and not appearing on the same page. Even without Khalil Shakir (ankle), Allen’s top target, the Bills have to find better ways to script early drives and get more receivers open downfield. Digging themselves into deep holes in the past two games has been costly.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Third-down defense. The Bills allowed the Texans to extend drives, with Houston going 8-of-16 on third down and 5-of-9 on third-and-long. Buffalo’s defense kept the team in the game with two big turnovers in the fourth quarter but allowed Houston to take time off the clock too often.

Describe the game in two words: Offensive miscues. Allen finished the game 9-of-30 for 131 yards, one touchdown and one sack. There were miscommunications with receivers and drops on almost every drive throughout the game — including the final drive where they failed to advance the ball or burn clock. — Alaina Getzenberg

Next game: at Jets (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Dolphins

Will the Dolphins stick with quarterback Tyler Huntley? Huntley’s passing numbers have not been good over the past two weeks, and he still doesn’t look fully comfortable within the Dolphins’ offense. He was more willing to push the ball downfield in Week 5, however, which feels like a small sign of life for this offense. The Week 6 bye comes at a critical time as Miami needs to spend it getting Huntley acclimated.

Most surprising performance: After running back De’Von Achane was ruled out in the first half with a concussion, Jaylen Wright led the Dolphins with 86 rushing yards on 13 carries. The rookie had a strong training camp and preseason, so his performance isn’t coming out of nowhere — but this was clearly his breakout game. Miami finished with a season-high 193 rushing yards in a surprising show of physicality for the NFL’s 24th-ranked rushing offense entering Week 5.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Dolphins have a league-leading 11 special teams penalties this season, adding another Sunday in addition to a field goal blunder in the first half. Special teams is a key area Miami has struggled with this season and has exacerbated its rough start. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next game: at Colts (Oct. 20, 1 p.m. ET)

Patriots

How much closer are the Patriots to starting rookie QB Drake Maye? The Patriots’ passing game was mostly stuck in neutral until showing life on their final drive. Coach Jerod Mayo had noted last week that it was “unsustainable” to keep playing offense the way they have and expect to win. After reviewing the film, he’ll have to decide if Maye would make a significant difference. Up to this point, the Patriots’ lack of consistent pass protection had been the primary reason for offensive struggles. That seemed to improve against the Dolphins, putting more of the spotlight on some of Jacoby Brissett‘s struggles.

Describe the game in two words: Rock bottom. The defense hung in the game until being worn down late, but New England displayed a mostly punchless offense and was penalized 12 times for 104 yards. This feels like a Patriots team from the early 1990s, when they played uninspiring offensive football and were annual favorites for the first overall pick.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Clock management. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and Brissett were shaky once again at the end of the second quarter, similar to a Week 2 loss to the Seahawks. The Patriots had the ball at their own 5-yard line with 1:43 remaining and Rhamondre Stevenson had run 8 yards on first down. But instead of working down the clock, or forcing the Dolphins to use their timeouts, the Patriots then threw two straight incompletions. It might have led to a Dolphins field goal before halftime if not for a poor snap. — Mike Reiss

Next game: vs. Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Ja’Lynn Polk comes foot short of go-ahead TD for Pats

Ja’Lynn Polk nearly reels in a last second touchdown catch to put the Patriots in front of the Dolphins, but the pass gets ruled incomplete after review.

Commanders

Does Washington have the NFL’s best offense? No team has been as high-powered as the Commanders over the past four games. During that stretch, Washington has averaged an NFL-best 33.8 points and 409 yards per game. New Orleans was the top-ranked scoring offense (31.8 points) entering Sunday, which was built on a combined 91 points in the first two games. Washington is now averaging 31.0 points for the season. With rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Commanders can hurt teams even when struggling. He did not have his best start but finished with 238 yards and ran for 82 more yards.

Eye-popping stat: Washington amassed 298 of its 434 total yards on just eight plays. The offense hurt Cleveland all game with explosive plays. The Commanders had seven plays that gained 28 yards or more. Daniels had passes of 66 and 41 yards, the latter ending in a touchdown. There was also a 50-yard run by Austin Ekeler, who missed last week’s contest with a concussion.

Most surprising performance: Linebacker Frankie Luvu. Luvu has been active all season but dominated Sunday with 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. He also set up another sack by knocking Cleveland’s running back several yards back, opening a lane for Bobby Wagner to finish the play. — John Keim

Next game: at Ravens (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Browns

Have the 1-4 Browns dug themselves into an insurmountable hole? Cleveland entered the season with hopes of a deep playoff run but is closer to a top-five pick at this point. The Browns’ revamped offense has flopped with no signs of an identity or cohesiveness. Cleveland hasn’t topped more than 18 points in a game and its defense resembles nothing like the unit that dominated opponents in 2023. Through five games, there are few redeemable qualities that inspire confidence in this Browns team.

Eye-popping stat: The Browns, who entered Week 5 with the worst third-down offense in the NFL, failed to convert all 12 of their third-down attempts with QB Deshaun Watson in. This was against a Commanders defense that entered the game with the third-worst EPA in the league.

Early prediction for next week: The Browns will give up at least 175 rushing yards to the Eagles in Week 6. Cleveland’s defense has now allowed over 150 rushing yards in consecutive games, and the Eagles rank fourth in rushing yards per game (153.8). — Daniel Oyefusi

Next game: at Eagles (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Bears

What has been the most impressive part of Caleb Williams‘ development? The rookie quarterback showed great improvement with his deep ball accuracy. In Weeks 1-4, Williams was 5-of-29 (17%) with three interceptions on passes of at least 15 air yards, both marks which ranked at the bottom of the NFL among qualified QBs. Against the Panthers, Williams was 4-of-4 for 108 yards and two TDs on deep passes. The explosive plays showed up on big connections to Cole Kmet, Keenan Allen, Gerald Everett and DJ Moore.

Describe the game in two words: Moore dominance. Williams’ connection with his No. 1 receiver finally came to fruition against Moore’s former team. Williams and Moore discussed their frustrations over missed opportunities against the Rams in Week 4, and on Sunday, Moore hauled in five catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns.

Eye-popping stat: The Bears’ defense pressured QB Andy Dalton on 20 of his 41 dropbacks (48.8%) for their highest pressure rate in a game since ESPN began tracking the metric in 2009. Dalton completed 8 of 12 passes for 73 yards with three sacks and an interception when pressured. — Courtney Cronin

Next game: vs. Jaguars (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. p.m. ET)

Caleb Williams, DJ Moore link up for another TD connection

DJ Moore hauls in his second touchdown catch of the game from Caleb Williams to increase the Bears’ lead before halftime.

Panthers

What will it take for QB Bryce Young to get another start? We may have found out. Young hadn’t played since being benched at 0-2 until 4:15 remained Sunday and the Panthers trailed 36-10. He was 4-of-7 for 58 yards. Andy Dalton, as well as he played in his first start, has been a part of consecutive losses. Dalton was ineffective against the Bears, and the deep balls that had separated him most from Young were nonexistent. The Panthers insist Young can still be the future.

Describe the game in two words: Injury toll. Carolina was down four defensive starters heading into Sunday and lost outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney in the first half. It doesn’t have the personnel to stop anybody, even rookie Caleb Williams, who had ranked 29th in QBR (29.9) but looked like an All-Pro on Sunday.

Eye-popping stat: The Panthers don’t blitz a lot (25%), and Sunday amplified why. They’re not very good at it. The Panthers blitzed Williams on 31% of his dropbacks. Williams was 8-of-10 for 128 yards and a touchdown against the blitz. — David Newton

Next game: vs. Falcons (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Jaguars

Did QB Trevor Lawrence‘s slump end? Lawrence (371 yards, 2 TDs) hadn’t won a start since Nov. 26, 2023, losing nine consecutive contests. That also happened to be the last time Lawrence threw for 300 yards. This was by far his — and the offense’s — best performance since then. Was it perfect? No, since he did throw an easy interception. But Lawrence hit two deep shots to Brian Thomas Jr. and Christian Kirk after missing three potential long touchdowns last week. It was the kind of confidence-building performance he needed as the Jaguars head to London for back-to-back games.

Most surprising performance: Running back Tank Bigsby. He has been a solid complement to Travis Etienne Jr. for the first four weeks, but he took the lead role Sunday. He ran for 101 yards on 13 carries — both career highs — against the Colts, which included a 65-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Etienne (six carries for 17 yards and six catches for 43 yards) spent much of the fourth quarter on the sideline.

Eye-popping stat: Rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. ran the 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds at the combine in February, so it wasn’t surprising that he sped past the Colts’ defensive backs on his 85-yard touchdown catch. But what is more impressive is that he reached a top speed of 22.15 mph on the play, per NFL Next Gen stats. That’s the fastest speed of any ball carrier this season and the second fastest in the past four years. — Mike DiRocco

Next game: at Bears (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET)

Colts

Where did the Colts’ offensive explosion go? The Colts’ offense ended the day with a bang, but it was anemic with Joe Flacco under center. While he was mostly accurate and in sync while replacing injured Anthony Richardson, Flacco failed to produce the chunk plays Richardson is known for. Flacco was averaging 5.6 yards per attempt until the first of the Colts’ two late touchdown drives, forcing them to make long, time-consuming scoring drives. It wasn’t until late in the fourth quarter that Flacco showed some aggressiveness, hitting wide receiver Alec Pierce on deep shots of 24 and 46 yards on consecutive plays. By then, the Colts were trailing by 14. Richardson, who missed the game with an oblique injury, entered the weekend leading the NFL in air yards per attempt (12.6).

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Colts relied on their typical four-man rush. The problem is the Colts are missing three of their top pass rushers — DeForest Buckner, Kwity Paye and Tyquan Lewis — and the remaining personnel struggled to create pressure. As a result, Indy did not produce a sack, which allowed Trevor Lawrence to torch the Colts’ secondary. He faced a 2.9% pressure rate, the lowest of his career, according to ESPN Research.

Describe the game in two words: The usual. The Colts lost their 10th consecutive road game against Jacksonville, and the games have included just about everything. In 2015, a 51-16 Colts loss, Indianapolis was outscored 42-3 in the second half. In 2021, the Colts needed to beat the one-win Jaguars in the final week of the season to clinch a playoff spot and lost. There’s never a dull moment in Duval for the Colts. — Stephen Holder

Next game: at Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Vikings

Is this a perfect start for the Vikings? Absolutely, despite the dramatic nature of the second half. The Vikings will enter their Week 6 bye undefeated, just two short of their projected win total (6.8), per ESPN’s Football Power Index. In London, they proved they have plenty of ways to push a game over the finish line, a key attribute for any team hoping to make a deep playoff run. In the worst game of quarterback Sam Darnold‘s short tenure with Minnesota, and after losing running back Aaron Jones (hip) in the first half, the Vikings got a defensive touchdown and picked off Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers three times, tying his single-game career high.

Describe the game in two words: Wild day. Rookie place kicker Will Reichard had a perfect day in a wild one for the special teams units. The Vikings might not have won without Reichard converting from 54, 53 and 41 yards. He is 9-for-9 on field goals and 16-for-16 on extra points this season.

Most surprising performance: Darnold. He turned in by far his worst performance since signing with the Vikings this offseason, missing a series of open receivers and throwing more incompletions (17) than completions (14) for the first time in 2024. But as he has done throughout the season, he made some crucial fourth-quarter throws, hitting receiver Justin Jefferson for 25 yards and tight end Johnny Mundt for 20 to set up the Vikings’ final field goal. — Kevin Seifert

Next game: vs. Lions (Oct. 20, 1 p.m. ET)

Jets

Can the Jets save their season by trading for WR Davante Adams? It would make Aaron Rodgers happy, and they could use a partner for Garrett Wilson on the perimeter. Wilson (13 catches for 101 yards) emerged from his slow start, but Rodgers didn’t get much help from Allen Lazard (three drops) or Mike Williams (two catches for 25 yards), who was invisible. Adams would help that. But Rodgers needs to play better, too. He threw three interceptions, including two in the first quarter — a career first. That included a pick-six, putting the Jets in a 17-0 hole. The pass protection was shaky, as Rodgers (29-of-54 for 244 yards) took a pounding. He showed his toughness, but the Jets need more than that to turn around their season.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Zero rushing attack. Again. Breece Hall, in a serious slump, was held to 23 yards on nine carries. That makes 27 yards on 19 carries over the past two games. Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett gave up on the running game when it would’ve made sense to give more opportunities to rookie Braelon Allen. The plan going into the season was to run the offense through Hall, but there’s nothing there, putting a strain on Rodgers and the passing attack. Hackett’s rushing scheme lacks creativity; it’s so predictable.

Most surprising performance: The Jets’ defense. They looked awful in the first quarter; it looked like one of those days. But they flipped the script. Playing without nickelback Michael Carter — who sustained a hamstring injury before the game — and without cornerback Sauce Gardner for a quarter, the Jets held the Vikings to two field goals in the second half. Good defense, inconsistent offense. Sound familiar? — Rich Cimini

Next game: vs. Bills (Monday , 8:25 p.m. ET)

Rodgers throws 3 picks as Jets fall to 2-3

Aaron Rodgers’ three interceptions include a pick-six as the Jets fall to the Vikings in London 23-17.

Falcons

Is Atlanta’s offensive performance sustainable? Probably not to the level of success it had against Tampa Bay, but it could be close. The Bucs were without All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr., and when you’re making some deep plays in the passing game, missing the best player in the back end will make a difference. Quarterback Kirk Cousins looks healthy and said he felt more anticipatory on his throws, meaning he’s starting to find a rhythm with Drake London, Kyle Pitts & Co. The more that happens, the more fluid the offense should be, leading to more nights like Thursday (but not likely to result in 550 offensive yards).

Describe the game in two words: Momentum changing. Had the Falcons lost — and with 22 seconds, left Tampa Bay had a 93% chance of winning — they would be 2-3 and potentially two games behind Tampa because of tiebreakers. Now, the Falcons are atop the division because of the tiebreaker and have a belief in what the offense can do after a 550-yard day.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Atlanta still can’t get to quarterbacks. The Falcons had one sack, and it was their only quarterback hit of the game. Atlanta’s five sacks for the season are tied for last in the NFL. According to Pro Football Reference, its 14.4 pressure percentage entering Sunday was second worst, ahead of only Carolina, and its hurry percentage (3.4) was only better than that of Arizona and Cincinnati. — Mike Rothstein

Next game: at Panthers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Buccaneers

How is the Bucs’ growing injury situation looking? They had 14 players on the injury report last week. Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot) returned to practice Friday but was limited. He’d allow the Bucs to use more dime packages and have more speed. It’s unclear when right tackle Luke Goedeke (concussion) and defensive tackle Calijah Kancey (calf) will return. Goedeke was a full participant two weeks ago but has been limited ever since, and Kancey has yet to practice. Coach Todd Bowles said it’s unclear the extent of safety Jordan Whitehead‘s groin injury — he’s one of their best communicators.

Describe the game in two words: Missed opportunities. With Tampa leading 30-27, the Bucs’ Tavierre Thomas blocked a field goal attempt with 6:37 left in the fourth quarter, but Bucky Irving fumbled on the ensuing possession. With 1:52 left, Tampa’s Lavonte David intercepted a pass, putting the Bucs on the Falcons’ 28. But Tampa couldn’t get a first down on the drive that followed, actually losing 14 yards, and were forced to punt.

Eye-popping stat: The Bucs surrendered 121 yards after first contact, which is one of the strongest indicators of missed tackles. It was their fifth-most yards after first contact allowed in a game since 2020. It should be noted that they surrendered 122 against the Broncos in Week 3. — Jenna Laine

Next game: at Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

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