Week 5 of the NFL definitely had its percentage of stunning effects. The New York Giants disenchanted the Green Bay Packers in London to stay proper in the thick of the NFC East race and the Houston Texans recorded their first win of the season towards the Jacksonville Jaguars turning into the remaining group to win a recreation in the league this 12 months.
The 2022 season joined the 1998 and 2018 seasons as the best seasons since the merger wherein each group has no less than one win via Week 5. The New York Jets are over. 500 via 5 weeks for the first time since the 2017 season and the Giants have began 4-1 for the first time since the 2008 season. The Philadelphia Eagles are 5-0 for the first since since 2004 and are the lone unbeaten group in the NFL.
With all the thrilling video games that ensued in Week 5, those are the very best reactions from every contest — and whether or not those storylines are overreactions or reality.
The Giants are in reality a excellent soccer group
Overreaction or reality: Reality
The Giants are well-coached via Brian Daboll and the training body of workers he put in combination. Mike Kafka is an innovator and ingenious play caller and Wink Martindale has remodeled that protection right into a unit that makes key stops and is at all times in place to make performs.
New York beat Green Bay in spite of having 3 wholesome receivers on the energetic roster, a deficient offensive line out of doors of Andrew Thomas, and a banged-up Daniel Jones. They additionally have been down their best two edge rushers at the starting of the 12 months and two in their best 4 cornerbacks.
Can’t fault the time table. New York is 4-1 and might be an issue for plenty of combatants all through the 12 months.
The Eagles must be all in favour of their passing recreation
Overreaction or reality: Overreaction
Sunday’s win over the Cardinals wasn’t preferrred for Philadelphia, which performed parts of the recreation with out beginning left guard Landon Dickerson and beginning middle Jason Kelce (each returned). The Eagles additionally did not have left take on Jordan Mailata, taking part in the recreation with 3 backup offensive linemen at one level.
The Cardinals supplied a blueprint to decelerate the passing recreation, as the secondary hit the receivers onerous on touch and have been bodily at the line to remove the deep move. Arizona blitzed Jalen Hurts and compelled him to eliminate the soccer as nicely. Philadelphia used to be nonetheless in a position to grind out yards with its robust working recreation and talent to attain dashing touchdowns in the pink zone — with Hurts taking part in an enormous position.
The Eagles face a excellent Cowboys secondary subsequent week. Expect heavy blitzing and bodily play. Let’s see how Nick Sirianni and Shane Steichen alter.
Sauce Gardner is the favourite for Defensive Rookie of the Year
Overreaction or reality: Overreaction
Sauce Gardner is having a excellent 12 months — and had an excellent recreation Sunday to guide the Jets protection. He had a security on Teddy Bridgewater that set the tone for the Jets whilst additionally having a interception and 5 tackles in the victory that were given New York to over .500.
A difference-maker for the Jets, Gardner has a 49.8 passer ranking allowed when focused, best giving up one landing and one interception on 26 goals (46.2% finishing touch charge). Is he the favourite for Defensive Rookie of the Year? Thanks to Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen (13.2 ranking allowed in 24 goals with 3 interceptions), now not but.
Roughing-the-passer penalty on Tom Brady cost the Falcons the recreation
Overreaction or reality: Reality
Grady Jarrett’s sack on Brady would have given the Falcons the ball again in a 21-15 recreation. The Buccaneers have been going through a third-and-5 at the Falcons’ 47-yard line when Jarrett delivered what looked to be a blank sack on Brady. Instead, Jarrett were given a roughing-the-passer penalty and the Falcons have been compelled to burn their remaining day trip.
Tampa Bay were given a primary down 3 performs later and ran out the clock for the win. The Falcons did not get the alternative to get the ball again to peer if they might entire the comeback after trailing 21-0 in the 1/3 quarter.
Referee Jerome Boger’s rationalization used to be as unhealthy as his name. The Falcons deserved a shot to win the recreation.
Trevor Lawrence makes too many errors to be thought to be a excellent quarterback
Overreaction or reality: Reality
Two interceptions via Trevor Lawrence ended up costing the Jaguars on an afternoon they simply scored six issues towards the Texans. One used to be an pointless throw inside of the 10-yard line that led to a turnover in a 6-6 recreation, disposing of no less than 3 issues off the board.
Lawrence has 4 interceptions and 4 fumbles this 12 months, 8 giveaways in 5 video games. He’s come far and remains to be rising in Doug Pederson’s offense, however he isn’t a excellent quarterback at the moment. The giveaways want to be eradicated, particularly since they are an enormous reason why Jacksonville has misplaced its remaining two video games.
Taysom Hill is the very best all-around participant in the NFL
Overreaction or reality: Overreaction
This is a fascinating debate, taking into consideration Taysom Hill simply had a recreation which he rushed for 112 yards and 3 touchdowns, threw for a landing, and had a fumble restoration on particular groups. Hill can actually do all of it on offense, the final weapon for an offense with a backup quarterback in Andy Dalton and down Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry and Chris Olave.
Hill leads the Saints in dashing yards (228) and dashing touchdowns (5) whilst averaging 10.9 yards according to raise. He can be utilized on machine performs to overcome you along with his arm and legs and can catch passes as a H-back/tight finish. Hill additionally makes tackles on particular groups.
The very best all-around participant in the NFL at the moment is also Saquon Barkley, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, or Jalen Hurts. Hill must definitely be in the dialog.
Brandon Staley is unnecessarily dangerous on fourth down
Overreaction or reality: Reality
What Brandon Staley did on fourth down Sunday used to be ridiculous. Going for it on fourth-and-1 from his personal 46 with 1:14 left wasn’t vital in a 30-28 recreation, particularly since Los Angeles will have pinned Cleveland deep in its personal territory without a timeouts and a minute to move. Instead, Staley dialed up a Justin Herbert move to Mike Williams that used to be dominated incomplete — which disenchanted the injured Keenan Allen from his sofa.
A conversion would have sealed the win, however the Browns vital simply 20-to-25 yards with time on their facet to thieve a victory at house. Staley gave them that chance, however Cade York ignored a 54-yarder for the win.
The Chargers were given fortunate — and Staley can dial again on the aggressiveness. There’s a time and position in video games for it.
Overreaction or reality: Reality
This actually is a reality. The Steelers don’t seem to be a excellent group first of all, they’re now 0-8 in video games T.J. Watt does not play. The Bills torched a protection that has held its personal with out Watt, as Pittsburgh allowed 552 yards whilst racking up simply 3 pressures, one quarterback hit, and no sacks in a blowout loss.
When Watt will go back is somebody’s wager, however the Steelers protection can best do such a lot at the back of a rookie quarterback and a nasty offensive line suffering to attain issues. The protection imploded towards arguably the very best group in the NFL.
The Titans are the very best group in the AFC South
Overreaction or reality: Overreaction
Tennessee could be the very best group on this unhealthy department. Maybe it is Jacksonville, despite the fact that the Jaguars misplaced to Houston. Maybe it is Indianapolis, who wins in the ugliest of the way at the back of deficient quarterback play and a clumsy offensive line that are supposed to be higher.
The Titans have now not scored some degree in the fourth quarter via 5 video games, which has to modify if Tennessee goes to win constantly. Tennessee has a large number of flaws, but in addition has Derrick Henry to hold the group.
Through 5 video games, we actually do not know who the very best group in the AFC South is. The Titans, on the other hand, do sit down in first position.
The Vikings offense is again not off course
Overreaction or reality: Reality
What Minnesota did towards a forged Chicago protection used to be price tracking. Kirk Cousins appeared like his outdated self after finishing a team-record 17 passes to start out the recreation, discovering Justin Jefferson beneath all day lengthy as Minnesota scored touchdowns on its first 3 drives that went a complete of 247 yards.
If Greg Joseph does not pass over two box objectives, the Vikings get 35 issues on an afternoon the offense appeared very similar to what Kevin O’Connell envisioned. The Vikings have been 12 of 15 on 1/3 down and 4-for-4 in the pink zone. This offense goes to show up identical performances like Sunday to compete with the very best in the NFC.
Overreaction or reality: Overreaction
Bailey Zappe were given the crowd rocking at Gillette Stadium on Sunday after going 17 of 21 for 188 yards with one landing and one interception in the (*5*)Patriots‘ 29-0 shutout win. The Patriots did not punt till the fourth quarter and Zappe did a excellent activity towards zone protection, turning in crisp throws whilst Rhamondre Stevenson carried the offense at working again.
Should Zappe get started when Mac Jones is wholesome? The Lions have the worst protection in the NFL and have been shedding defensive backs all through the recreation (5 general). Jones used to be a first-round select that wishes the identical recreation plan Zappe were given in his first get started.
The recreation supervisor is what the Patriots have for successful video games. Matt Patricia must use that to his merit.
Justin Tucker is the maximum take hold of kicker ever
Overreaction or reality: Reality
Justin Tucker used to be computerized at the finish of the recreation once more, hitting a 43-yard box function as time expired to provide the Ravens a much-needed victory on “Sunday Night Football.” The Ravens kicker is 17-for-17 on box objectives in the ultimate minute of law or extra time and 5-for-5 in the postseason in that situation.
Tucker has made 75 immediately box objectives in the 2d part and extra time and 61 immediately in the fourth quarter and extra time — the longest in NFL historical past. His 91.2% box function conversion charge is the very best in NFL historical past.
Tucker is the maximum take hold of kicker ever. Sorry Adam Vinatieri.
The Cowboys want to play Dak Prescott towards the Eagles
Overreaction or reality: Reality
If Dak Prescott can grip the soccer and throw it with pace, he must get started towards Philadelphia in the NFC East showdown. Cooper Rush gained the recreation towards the Rams, however he wasn’t efficient going 10 of 16 for 102 yards. Rush fumbled the ball two times and used to be sacked thrice, taking a look each little bit of a backup quarterback who used to be carried via a robust run recreation and a dominant protection.
The Cowboys want Prescott to overcome Philadelphia. If he is wholesome, he must play.
Matt Rhule must be fired Monday
Overreaction or reality: Overreaction
This week is also it for Matt Rhule, as the Panthers simply do not appear to have a pulse on offense. The Panthers went 3 of 15 on 1/3 down and scored only one offensive landing at the back of a suffering Baker Mayfield — who threw a select six to Emmanuel Moseley that necessarily put the recreation out of achieve in the 2d quarter.
Carolina is also the worst group in the NFL, and Bank of America Stadium used to be taken over via 49ers fanatics all through the afternoon. That can not make proprietor David Tepper satisfied as he is shedding the pulse of his group. Rhule must get any other few weeks to peer if he can flip it round, however it can be time to chop the twine.