NFL Week 5 takeaways – Lessons, big questions for every game

Week 5 of the 2022 NFL season kicked off Thursday night time with an Indianapolis Colts victory on the Denver Broncos that went into time beyond regulation. Usually further motion manner a number of big offensive performs, however one way or the other neither staff controlled to attain a landing within the 12-9 game.

For the second one week in a row, we were given some Sunday morning motion, because the New York Giants confronted the Green Bay Packers in London. This game got here proper right down to the twine, because the Giants held off the Packers for a 27-22 victory.

Our NFL Nation journalists react with the largest takeaways and lingering questions popping out of this week’s matchups and glance forward to what is subsequent. Let’s get to it.

Jump to a matchup:

IND-DEN | NYG-GB

Giants

What to understand: Daniel Jones and the Giants actually confirmed one thing. They rallied from down 14 within the first part in opposition to the Packers to put up an enormous disillusioned victory, possibly their absolute best win since beating the Cowboys overdue in 2016. Jones did it whilst obviously now not one hundred pc (ankle) and in spite of a questionable supporting forged. If the rest, it put his toughness on complete show. Jones went 13-of-14 passing for 136 yards in the second one part. He additionally rushed seven occasions for 37 yards, sooner than kneeling with the ball overdue. Jones carried a Giants offense that had Marcus Johnson, Richie James, David Sills V and Darius Slayton at large receiver. A monster effort.

How did famous person RB Saquon Barkley pop out of the game? The Giants’ offense revolves round Barkley. He accounted for 43% in their general offense getting into the game and stated this week he is “good with whatever [workload] they throw at me.” But after New York went to Barkley early and incessantly, he left Sunday’s contest within the 3rd quarter with a shoulder damage. He went to the locker room sooner than returning to attain the game-successful TD out of the Wildcat halfway during the fourth. Everyone can be gazing how Barkley feels this week given his significance to this offense. — Jordan Raanan

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


Packers

What to understand: At some level, the Packers are going to need to discover a deep danger — whether or not he is on their staff at the moment or now not. Either that or they must overlook about making an attempt and simply run the ball extra, as a result of Aaron Rodgers used to be simply chucking and counting on Sunday. He attempted to move deep to Allen Lazard a number of occasions and could not attach. He attempted Romeo Doubs and overlooked him. He attempted Randall Cobb, who had a pleasant game (seven catches for 99 yards), however Cobb hasn’t ever been a constant deep danger. Rodgers used to be 0-of-5 on makes an attempt of 20 or extra yards within the air, together with 0-of-4 in the second one part, in step with ESPN Stats & Information analysis.

What’s came about to the Packers’ protection? Green Bay nearly misplaced to Bailey Zappe final week. Daniel Jones were given the Packers this week. The Giants performed with out their most sensible-3 receivers, and it did not subject. All the debate within the offseason used to be how the Packers have one in all their absolute best defenses lately. Yet they nonetheless controlled to depart gamers open, omit tackles and dedicate pricey consequences. It began in Week 1 once they let Justin Jefferson damage that, and it hasn’t gotten significantly better — if in any respect. The Giants scored on 5 instantly drives after opening the game with consecutive 3-and-outs. — Rob Demovsky

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

Thursday

Colts

What to understand: The Colts’ protection is legitimate. Russell Wilson and the Broncos’ offense have some deep problems, surely. And Denver’s screw ups indubitably contributed to the luck of the Indianapolis protection. But the Colts ruled the road of scrimmage, and that’s a space the place having a bonus can pass some distance. Indianapolis has now not allowed any issues within the fourth quarter or time beyond regulation in its 5 video games.

Can the Colts stabilize their offensive line even a little bit? They’re desperately making an attempt. The Colts reconfigured their lineup for Thursday night time’s matchup, making strikes at 3 of the 5 positions. It did not paintings, regardless that, so that they will not be completed tinkering. During their 10-day layoff sooner than Week 6, they’re going to proceed analyzing their choices. But not anything issues until extremely paid linemen equivalent to Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly and Braden Smith play, at minimal, at a good degree. That could be sufficient to permit embattled quarterback Matt Ryan and an rising workforce of go-catchers to stay the Colts in video games. Maybe. — Stephen Holder

Next game: vs. Jaguars (Sunday, Oct. 16, 1 p.m. ET)


Broncos

What to understand: All the ones excellent intentions from the offseason merely do not subject now, because the Broncos’ offense has the glance of a gaggle that overreaches when it does not need to and overthinks when it mustn’t. The result’s the Broncos merely do not rating touchdowns at a fee that is any place with regards to a playoff hopeful. Thursday night time, they passed the Colts an unpleasant time beyond regulation win with two Wilson interceptions within the fourth quarter — each in Colts territory. And at the game’s final play, when a conversion of a fourth-and-inches would have given them 4 probabilities at a game-successful landing, they elected to position Wilson within the shotgun, and he threw an incompletion to finish the game.

Is Russell Wilson urgent? Not always, however there are moments, particularly when Wilson is attempting to push the ball downfield when he does not need to, when it looks as if he is attempting to are living as much as the industry and his contract on every play. He performed his maximum composed, most productive game within the season opener — the loss in Seattle — and it additionally occurs to be his simplest 300-backyard passing game of the younger season. Look, the Broncos have not safe him neatly sufficient, and operating again Javonte Williams‘ season-finishing knee damage will take some adjustment, however issues are not going to fortify till Wilson — and trainer Nathaniel Hackett — calm down a little bit. Furthermore, it used to be reported Saturday that Wilson is coping with a in part torn lat close to his throwing shoulder. — Jeff Legwold

Next game: at Chargers (Monday, Oct. 17, 8:15 p.m. ET)

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