NFL Week 5 Recap: Who’s Up, Who’s Down, What’s Next for Every Team

Minnesota's defense stepped up with three interceptions of Aaron Rodgers, including a pick-six by Andrew Van Ginkel. Check back later for updates on all of Sunday’s games.

Rodgers was intercepted three times by the Vikings defense, including one that was returned for a touchdown. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Jump to a game

1. Vikings 23, Jets 17
2. Commanders 34, Browns 13
3. Bears 36, Panthers 10
4. Jaguars 37, Colts 34
5. Dolphins 15, Patriots 10
6. Falcons 36, Buccaneers 30 (OT)

Week 5 got off to a wild start. 

How wild? It began with the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers accounting for 66 points while Kirk Cousins went for a career-high 509 passing yards in the Falcons’ 36–30 overtime win Thursday night. 

On Sunday, the action began early in London, as the unbeaten Minnesota Vikings beat the New York Jets, 23–17. 

In the early window, the AFC takes center stage. Stefon Diggs looks to get revenge as the Houston Texans welcome in the Buffalo Bills. In Cincinnati, the Bengals host the Baltimore Ravens in a key AFC North matchup. 

Later, the Green Bay Packers visit the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium before Sunday Night Football gives us a classic matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers.

SUNDAY

Vikings 23, Jets 17

My take: Let’s be real about Aaron Rodgers. Outside of the win in Week 3 over the New England Patriots, Rodgers has struggled. In the other four games, he has thrown five touchdowns against four interceptions while completing 57.1% of his passes for 5.5 yards per attempt. By any measure, those are brutal numbers. Yes, dropped passes and shaky protection aren’t helping, but Rodgers was brought to New York (2–3) with the idea of him elevating the offense. That isn’t happening. Now, the Jets are at a crisis point and face the Bills next Monday night in a borderline must-win game. 

Stock up: Stephon Gilmore deserves love. Gilmore is on his fifth team in as many years, and he’s still providing quality coverage while making big plays. On Sunday, the 34-year-old sealed the victory for Minnesota (5–0) , sending the Vikings into the bye with a perfect record.

Stock down: Where is Breece Hall? He was fantastic last year with 1,595 scrimmage yards. This season? Hall has run for 3.0 yards per carry while also fumbling twice (losing one). If the Jets are going to pull out of this funk, Hall has to be vastly better than what he’s been. 

Up Next: Bills at Jets, 7:15 p.m. ET Oct. 14; BYE

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Daniels has the Commanders in first place in the NFC East after another stellar performance against the Browns on Sunday. / Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Commanders 34, Browns 13

My take: Bench Deshaun Watson. Bench him now. Cleveland (1–4) has watched Watson play horrific football for portions of the past three seasons. The result is an offense without any punch and a record that now puts the Browns into the role of sellers at the Nov. 5 trade deadline. The only questions are whether coach Kevin Stefanski finally turns to Jameis Winston, and which team is going to be lucky enough to land Amari Cooper? Meanwhile, Washington (4–1) looks like the class of the NFC East with Jayden Daniels playing splendidly. Daniels threw for 238 yards and ran for 82 more, helping the Commanders to a home win.

Stock up: Every team who wants to acquire a receiver. The Bills and Chiefs are a few teams that come to mind. Washington, ironically, is another. The best news coming out of this game for Cleveland is there will be many bidders for Cooper, who should officially be on the market. 

Stock down: The Browns have one of the worst offensive lines in football. Entering Week 5, Cleveland permitted 19 sacks, most in the NFL. Against Washington, the Browns saw Watson sacked seven times, putting the unit on a pace of 88 for the season.

Up Next: Browns at Eagles, 1 p.m. ET Oct. 13; Commanders at Ravens, 1 p.m. ET Oct. 13

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Bears 36, Panthers 10

My take: This was Caleb Williams’s best game as a rookie to date. Chicago (3–2) got a much-needed win at home and its quarterback looked far more comfortable against a bad Carolina (1–4) team, throwing for 304 yards and two touchdowns. If Williams and the offense can stay on schedule and score 20-plus points, the Bears are going to be in the playoff hunt behind a marvelous defense. Chicago now goes to London for a date with the Jaguars before their bye week. Despite offensive struggles, the Bears could get to 4–2 and feeling good with a week off. 

Stock up: D’Andre Swift is starting to earn that new contract. After gaining just 68 rushing yards through the first three weeks, Swift has now rushed for 166 yards on 4.4 yards per carry in wins over the Rams and Panthers. 

Stock down: Andy Dalton had a tough day. Dalton deserves a ton of credit for stabilizing the team after replacing Bryce Young in Week 3, but Dalton only threw for 74 yards before the game got out of hand. For Carolina to have any shot, Dalton has to be efficient.

Up Next: Falcons at Panthers, 4:25 p.m. ET Oct. 13; Jaguars at Bears, 8:30 a.m. ET Oct. 13

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Jaguars 37, Colts 34

My take: At least for a week, Doug Pederson won’t have to hear about calls for his job. Jacksonville (1–4) finally won a game, beating Indianapolis (2–3) for the 10th consecutive game. The Jaguars were buoyed by Trevor Lawrence having the best performance of his season by a wide margin, going 28-of-34 for 371 yards and two touchdowns. Conversely, the Colts should be sick. Indianapolis could have gotten over .500 for the first time this season but instead watched the defense play horribly again, allowing 497 total yards to an offense ranked 25th entering the weekend.

Stock up: Brian Thomas Jr. has been overshadowed nationally by collegiate teammate Malik Nabers, but he’s been excellent. Through five weeks, Thomas has caught 17 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns, including an 85-yard spectacular against the Colts. 

Stock down: The Colts’ defense. Indianapolis came into Sunday’s action dead last, permitting 399.8 yards per game. Jacksonville came in and shredded the unit with ease, consistently finding chunk plays in the passing game, including a 61-yard reception to Christian Kirk and an 85-yard touchdown to Thomas.

Up Next: Colts at Titans, 1 p.m. ET Oct. 13; Jaguars at Bears, 8:30 a.m. ET Oct. 13

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Dolphins 15, Patriots 10

My take: Ugly as it was, Miami (2–3) saved its season going into the bye week. The Dolphins got just enough from Tyler Huntley, who threw for 194 yards on 31 attempts with an interception. Moving forward, the question is when will Tua Taglvailoa return to action from his Week 2 concussion? As for New England (1–4), a season-opening win may have obscured the fact that the Patriots are the worst team in football. It might be time to play Drake Maye if coach Jerod Mayo believes the line can hold up enough. 

Stock up: After fumbling each of the first four weeks, Rhamondre Stevenson had to earn his role back. Stevenson did exactly that, scoring on a 33-yard rumble while amassing 89 yards on 12 carries. Most importantly, no fumbles. 

Stock down: Everyone who decided to watch this game. A complete disaster of a choice. Raking leaves, cleaning the garage with a toothbrush or going to the DMV would have been more enjoyable. 

Up Next: BYE; Texans at Patriots, 1 p.m. ET Oct. 13

THURSDAY

Falcons 36, Buccaneers 30 (OT)

My take: Cousins is showing why he’s a difference-maker. After struggling in Week 1, he has had Atlanta (3–2) in position to win every week, and had a career night against Tampa Bay (3–2) with 509 passing yards and four touchdown passes. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers have to be sick. The Falcons missed a field goal and threw an interception in the last seven minutes of the fourth quarter, but Tampa Bay couldn’t finish the game. Now, it trails Atlanta in the division via tiebreaker instead of having a two-game lead.  

Stock up: Darnell Mooney signed a three-year deal with the Falcons this offseason, and he showed why Thursday. The former Chicago Bears wideout caught nine passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns. If Mooney can become a consistent weapon, it takes ample pressure off Drake London. 

Stock down: Tampa Bay’s pass defense needs to be called out. The Buccaneers allowed Bo Nix to throw all over them (by his standards) in Week 3, giving up 216 passing yards and 26 points. Then this fiasco. It needs to be fixed with the Ravens, Falcons, Chiefs and 49ers coming up over the next five weeks.

Up Next: Falcons at Panthers, 4:25 p.m. ET Oct. 13; Buccaneers at Saints, 1 p.m. ET Oct. 13