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, Caleb Williams had a big day for the Chicago Bears and the Jacksonville Jaguars earned their first win of the season over the Indianapolis Colts.
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.
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NYJ-MIN | TB-ATL | IND-JAX
CAR-CHI | CLE-WSH | MIA-NE
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 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 No. 1 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 eight 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 should have led to a Dolphins field goal if not for a poor snap. — Mike Reiss
Next game: vs. Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
0:34
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. Because of that, they’ll continue to be hard to defend.
Eye-popping stat: Washington amassed 298 of its 434 total yards on just eight plays. The offense used the explosive plays to hurt Cleveland all game. 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. Their revamped offense has flopped with no signs of an identity or cohesiveness. Cleveland hasn’t topped more than 18 points in a game and their 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 Browns have an upcoming matchup against the Eagles, who rank fourth in rushing yards per game (153.8). — Daniel Oyefusi
Next game: at Eagles (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Bears
What’s 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 50% of his dropbacks, their highest pressure rate in the last three seasons under coach Matt Eberflus. 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)
0:40
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 ball that separated him most from Young was non-existent. The Panthers insist Young still can 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 30th in passer rating (72) but looked like an All Pro with a season-high 126.2.
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 bust his slump? 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 last four years. — Mike DiRocco
Next game: at Bears (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. p.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 1-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)
1:06
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)
