2023 NFL season, Week 5: What We Learned from Sunday's games

FULL BOX SCORE

• READ: Dak on 42-10 loss: 'Most humbling game I’ve ever been a part of'
• READ: Juszczyk: Purdy 'deserves more respect' after 49ers' blowout win

Grant Gordon's takeaways:

1. Purdy has emerged as top-tier QB. It’s time to toss the plucky underdog narrative on Brock Purdy into the trash bin. He’s not merely a feel-good story; he’s become an elite NFL quarterback helming an NFC heavyweight. Facing a dastardly Dallas defense on Sunday night, Purdy carved up the Cowboys with startling poise and accuracy. As his more experienced opposing QB sputtered, Purdy stood tall to the tune of a ridiculously efficient night: 17-of-24 passing, 252 yards, four touchdowns, zero interceptions and a 144.4 passer rating in fewer than four quarters of work. Nestled behind a phenomenal offensive line performance, Purdy never found a moment too large in the biggest game of the 2023 NFL season so far. He’s 10-0 to start his career (in the regular season), having become just the fourth quarterback since 1950 to win each of his first 10 starts. Purdy is most certainly surrounded by an all-star cast, but he’s fast becoming a star himself. 
2. Prescott struggles mightily in blowout loss. Heavy is the helmet that wears the Cowboys’ QB1 crown, and it’s very weighty right about now. Make no mistake, the Cowboys as a whole were a struggle bus on Sunday night. Their new-age doomsday defense got blown out. The offense had no balance, as evidenced by a miniscule 59 net rushing yards. However, in a pivotal season for Dak Prescott, he melted on a prime-time stage, forcing balls to covered receivers and failing to overcome a staunch San Francisco defense. Having tied for the league-high with 15 picks a season ago, Prescott put an onus on making sound decisions and not turning the ball over. Against the 49ers, though, he threw his second, third and fourth interceptions of the season -- more than he had in any single game last campaign. There’s plenty of season left for Dallas, but this one will sting and will surely pile up cause for concern regarding Prescott’s play for a perceived Super Bowl contender. 
3. Warner shines brightest among defensive all-stars. A slugfest throughout, Sunday night’s showdown featured a parade of defensive standouts, but when the game was in the balance in the first half, Fred Warner might well have been the best player of the field. With his Niners clinging to a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter, Warner dialed up a textbook punchout to force a Tony Pollard fumble. The All-Pro linebacker then ended back-to-back drives when he corralled Prescott for a third-down sack on the ensuing drive. At evening’s end, Warner had eight tackles, a sack, an interception and a forced fumble, leading the way in a masterful 49ers defensive performance. 

Next Gen stat of the game: Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was pressured on 37% of his dropbacks, but when he wasn’t pressured he was 9 of 17 for 77 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions, a 25.5 QB rating and a -13.1% CPOE. 

NFL Research: Niners running back Christian McCaffrey’s lost fumble to start the second quarter snapped a streak of 995 consecutive carries without a lost fumble, which was the longest active streak in the NFL. McCaffrey came back to score a 1-yard touchdown later in the quarter, becoming the fifth player in NFL history to score a scrimmage touchdown in 14 straight games (including playoffs). 

Back to top

FULL BOX SCORE

• READ: Chaos conference: Battista examines the crowded AFC field
• READ: Ja'Marr Chase: Bengals took 'a step closer to who we really are'

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Joe Burrow is nearly back. The vibe around the Bengals changed rapidly on Sunday thanks to Burrow. It was the healthiest he’s looked all season. He was able to navigate the pocket and even scrambled for positive gains. While it was a surprise to see Burrow improve so much coming off last week’s dreadful loss, it wasn't surprising to see how much his improved health benefitted Cincinnati's offense. The Bengals moved the ball with relative ease against the Cardinals, gaining a season-high 380 yards. While Burrow’s accuracy wasn't perfect, he was day-and-night better than he appeared in the first month of the season. Suddenly, this season doesn't seem as doomed as some might have thought.
2. Also back: Ja'Marr Chase. The primary beneficiary of Burrow's improved health is, of course, his favorite target. But this wasn't just some seven-catch, one-touchdown game for Chase. No, the star receiver returned to form in a fashion exclusive to the stars, setting a new Bengals record for single-game receptions. He torched the Cardinals, finishing with 15 catches for 192 yards and three touchdowns, including a 63-yard score to push the Bengals' lead to 10 early in the second half. He did so without Tee Higgins (cracked rib), who did not play in this game. Count Week 5 as a return to prominence party for Burrow and Chase.
3. Cardinals' margin for error is slim. As they've done in almost every game this season, the Cardinals hung tough for a good portion of the contest. They even snagged an interception that gave them a chance to take the lead late in the third quarter. But because they're not uber talented, the Cardinals have to get almost everything right in all three phases of the game to have a chance of victory against a team that is playing quality football, and turnovers doomed them on Sunday. Joshua Dobbs threw two interceptions (both off deflections, which could both be at least partially blamed on Dobbs), Arizona lost the turnover battle 3-1, and the Cardinals were absolutely dominated in time of possession (38:10 to 21:50). They also lost the engine of their running game, James Conner, to injury before the end of the first half, forcing OC Drew Petzing to dial up some creative reverses (and a fake reverse) to move the ball on the ground. It kept things interesting, but ultimately, it just wasn't enough -- even if they fought just as hard as they have throughout 2023.

Next Gen stat of the game: Joe Burrow's 63-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Marr Chase was the longest completion of his career based on air distance (58.1 yards).

NFL Research: Ja'Marr Chase joined Jerry Rice as the only players since 1950 with multiple games of 10-plus receptions, 190-plus receiving yards, and three-plus receiving touchdowns.

Back to top

FULL BOX SCORE

• READ: Eagles' Sirianni had 'confidence' on QB sneak to end first half

Bobby Kownack's takeaways:

1. Eagles hang on with gutsy, hard-nosed football. Jalen Hurts was fantastic as always, accounting for 375 total yards (303 passing, 72 rushing) and two scores, but much of Philadelphia’s fifth victory of the season came thanks to trench domination and a little daring. The Eagles simply wore down the Rams throughout the game, opening holes for 159 rushing yards and keeping Los Angeles’ pass rush at bay by surrendering only one sack. Philly’s unstoppable “Brotherly Shove” was again on display, most notably on a bold QB sneak drawn up to take the lead, 17-14, with two seconds remaining in the first half. The safe play was a field goal, but the right play for a line as strong as Philadelphia’s was going for pay dirt. The Eagles’ defense also played the bully, holding the Rams scoreless in the second half and bringing down Matthew Stafford four times. Jalen Carter had two sacks, bursting through the middle for the first multi-sack game of his career, and Haason Reddick had two in a row on third and fourth down late in the game to snuff out any hopes of a Rams comeback.
2. Kupp-Nacua combo starts fast before fading. Cooper Kupp made his 2023 debut for the Rams after missing 12 straight games dating back to Week 10 of last year, introducing another gamebreaker to contend with opposite rookie sensation Puka Nacua. It proved a headache for the Eagles, but only for a half. As he so often has in the past, quarterback Matthew Stafford zoned in on Kupp, targeting him on six of his 10 throws during Los Angeles’ first drive, which went 75 yards for a touchdown. Kupp’s return didn’t take away Nacua’s shine, though. The fifth-rounder caught a beautiful, toe-dragging TD with half a minute remaining in the second quarter. At halftime, the two had combined for 129 yards, nine catches and a score. Then Philly tightened, allowing the two WRs just 60 combined yards on six catches the rest of the way. It didn’t prove a winning formula on Sunday, but the Kupp-Nacua duo showed promise for more fireworks ahead.
3. Dallas Goedert finally gets going. Philadelphia’s offense had been humming through four weeks, ranked fifth in both yards and points, but its tight end was mostly missing from the operation. Goedert entered Sunday’s game with just 88 receiving yards on 13 catches. Unfortunately for the Rams, the Eagles located him time and time again on Sunday. The sixth-year tight end opened the game’s scoring with a touchdown catch, his first of the season, and he had already set a season-high with 52 receiving yards at the close of the first quarter. Goedert continued to streak open for the remainder of the game, including on a 49-yarder down the sideline, and he led the team with nine targets and eight catches, finishing with 117 yards. A.J. Brown also eclipsed 100 yards receiving for a third straight week. The defending NFC champions are now 5-0, onboarding all their best weapons and seemingly only getting stronger.

Next Gen stat of the game: Rams WR Puka Nacua’s second-quarter touchdown catch was the most improbable reception of his career (24.0%) and Matthew Stafford’s most improbable completion since Week 2 of last season.

NFL Research: Jalen Hurts leads the NFL in carries and rushing first downs on third- and fourth-and-1s since 2022. Sunday’s win was also his first game with 40-plus rushing yards since Super Bowl LVII.

Back to top

FULL BOX SCORE

• READ: Jets back OC Nathaniel Hackett in win over Payton, Broncos

Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Breece Hall, clutch defense lift Jets late. The Jets kicked four short field goals, which kept the Broncos in an ugly game and made the job of the New York defense more challenging. But the Jets’ D was mostly lights out in the second half. Denver went three-and-out on three straight drives, then lost a fumble to start the second half. Russell Wilson led a 75-yard TD drive to make it a three-point game late, but Quincy Williams' strip sack of Wilson was scooped up by Bryce Hall and returned for a game-sealing TD. On offense, Breece Hall boosted the Jets after a slow start (20 yards on their first four drives). He set the tone with six carries in an eight-play span, netting 50 yards and setting up a field goal to cut Denver’s lead to 10-8. Then he turned on the afterburners on his next touch, racing 72 yards to give the Jets their first lead at 15-13. Hall’s cutting and lateral agility really stood out, putting any ACL-recovery concerns fully to bed. He was the Jets’ best offensive player, running for 177 yards and adding 17 more on three catches. 
2. Broncos’ offense struggles late, coughing up another close one at home. The Broncos carried over offensive momentum from their Week 4 win, scoring on three of their four drives before halftime. It wasn’t perfect, such as Wilson’s intentional grounding leading to a safety, but it was encouraging. Yet outside of one had-to-have-it drive, the Broncos struggled mightily in the second half. Denver went three-and-out three straight times but was given a reprieve after a Jets muffed punt. Two plays later, Samaje Perine’s errant flip to Marvin Mims Jr. on a trick play was recovered by the Jets. Wilson later led a 75-yard TD drive, and a two-point conversion cut the deficit to 24-21. With the game on the line, Wilson was strip-sacked, and it ended up being six the other way. There were 41 seconds left, and the Broncos had a chance to at least drive into field-goal range, making Wilson’s lack of ball security even more alarming. It appeared he was trying to scramble for the first down -- and there was lots of green ahead -- but Wilson failed to tuck the ball away, resulting in yet another frustrating narrow loss at home, where they’re 0-3. 
3. Zach Wilson overcomes two end-of-half gaffes. The progress Wilson has made since taking over for Aaron Rodgers has been incremental, but encouraging. Sunday’s game featured a lot of positives but a few plays where he nearly let things get away. The first big mistake occurred right before halftime: Wilson completed a pass inbounds in the red zone with just 15 seconds remaining, but with zero timeouts, the game clock ran out, costing New York a chance to cut into a 13-8 deficit. The second happened with the Jets leading 24-21 and trying to ice the game late. Wilson led New York into scoring range with just over two minutes remaining, but he threw a pass too far inside to Garrett Wilson, resulting in a Pat Surtain II pick. That opened the door for the Broncos to mount a potential comeback; though, the Jets defense bailed their quarterback out. In a game in which the Jets lost starting right tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker to injury and were without left tackle Mekhi Becton at times, Wilson made some big throws -- including one to Tyler Conklin prior to the INT -- and scrambled effectively. The coaches showed confidence in him, too. But between the two big end-of-half mistakes and the overall red-zone execution (0 for 5), there’s plenty for Wilson and Co. to tighten up.

Next Gen stat of the game: On Breece Hall’s 72-yard TD, he ran for +62 rush yards over expected and hit a top speed of 21.50 mph, which was the second-fastest speed of his career and tied for the eighth-fastest speed in the NFL this season.

NFL Research: Not only did the Jets snap a three-game losing streak, Zach Wilson snapped a six-game losing streak as their starting QB. Sunday was his first win as a starter since Week 9 of last year versus the Bills.

Back to top

FULL BOX SCORE

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Travis Kelce avoids major injury, returns for game-winning TD. When the star tight end slipped with a non-contact injury late in the first half, all of Kansas City held its breath. Kelce limped off the field with what looked like it could be a serious injury. But after sitting out the first series in the second half, Kelce returned. The TE caught five passes on the ensuing drive, including a vice-grip grab on a critical third down. Kelce then got wide open for a short TD that proved to be the decisive score. Once again, the Chiefs’ offense lacked fluidity for spells but made key plays. Justin Watson snagged two big grabs, and Rashee Rice snagged a TD, as Patrick Mahomes spread the ball to 10 different targets. It's not always pretty or explosive, but Mahomes conjures enough magic each week to put up points. After the game on Sunday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Kelce sustained a low-ankle sprain based on the initial diagnosis.
2. Kirk Cousins, Vikings move the ball but come up shy again. The Minnesota quarterback fought off waves of blitzes to keep the Vikings in the contest. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo brought 24 blitzes on Sunday, forcing Cousins to get rid of the ball quickly. The QB went 11-of-22 passing for 97 yards with two TDs and two sacks taken versus the blitz, per Next Gen Stats. Despite yet another first quarter fumble, Minnesota hung around and battled back into the contest with a 14-play, 75-yard drive to get within a score early in the fourth quarter. After the defense got off the field twice, the Vikings couldn't close. A picked-up flag on a fourth-down heave ended Minnesota's penultimate drive at the Chiefs’ 24-yard line. Cousins & Co. got the ball back with 1:07 left and no timeouts. They quickly moved to the Chiefs’ 38 with five seconds remaining. However, Cousins didn't even pull the trigger on a Hail Mary, taking a sack to seal the Vikings' fourth one-score defeat of the season.  
3. Justin Jefferson leaves with hamstring injury. The Chiefs did a masterful job curtailing Jefferson's production early. L'Jarius Sneed, a physical corner, covered Jefferson on 19 routes, allowing one catch for 10 yards, per Next Gen Stats. Kansas City held the star wideout to a paltry three catches on six targets for 28 yards. Then worse news struck for Minnesota. Jefferson exited the game early in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury and didn't return. The star wideout watched from the sideline as his club attempted to rally late. Head coach Kevin O’Connell said after the game that it’s “still very early” to determine the severity of the injury. If Jefferson's injury lingers, it could have wide-ranging ramifications for the 1-4 Vikings. As stellar as Jordan Addison has been early in his rookie season (six catches for 64 yards and a TD on Sunday), Minnesota's offense would undoubtedly lose a ton of its potency without Jefferson in the lineup.

Next Gen stat of the game: The Chiefs blitzed on 48.0% of dropbacks against the Vikings, the unit’s highest blitz rate in a game since 2022 (Weeks 1-4: 37.2% blitz rate).

NFL Research: With the win in Week 5 at Minnesota, Andy Reid passed Pro Football Hall of Famer Tom Landry for the fourth-most wins all-time (251) among NFL head coaches.

Back to top

FULL BOX SCORE

• READ: Bills LB Matt Milano likely out for season with broken leg, knee injury

Jeremy Bergman's takeaways:

1. Jaguars overcome unforced errors, put game away with big plays. For the second straight week, Jacksonville got off to a hot start against its poorly adjusted opponents in London. And again, the Jags soiled a number of opportunities that would've sent fans to the tube early. Drops persisted (Jacksonville now leads the league with 10), the Jags committed eight penalties and Trevor Lawrence fumbled twice inside Bills territory, squandering scoring chances and letting one of the league's top offenses back in the game again and again. But Duval's defense stepped up when its offense faltered early, forcing six punts and leaving Buffalo, who had averaged 41 points over its last three games, with 20 points in just 21:48 of possession. Coming into Sunday, the Jaguars hadn't rediscovered the killer instinct that propelled them down the stretch last season to an AFC South title. But against the cream of the AFC crop in Buffalo, the Jags shut the door with two late scoring drives, propelled by major gains from Travis Etienne (23 carries, 132 yards, 2 TDs) and Calvin Ridley (seven catches, 122 yards), the latter of whom made Kaiir Elam look like Jason Elam in pass coverage.
2. Sloppy Bills wake up too late. After Josh Allen told reporters at Friday's availability that he was still waking up after Buffalo's late-week arrival to London, Stefon Diggs joked that his QB was a "sleepyhead." The same could go for the entire Bills team on Sunday. Buffalo began its loss to Jacksonville with four straight punts, unable to extend drives with any semblance of a ground game -- its RBs finished with 15 yards on 10 carries. The Bills' first play in Jags territory came late in the second quarter, followed by their entry into the end zone. In the second half, with Buffalo down only four, the same pattern persisted. Unable to sustain marches, Buffalo had just 12 offensive plays before it mustered two explosive scoring drives starting midway through the fourth quarter. The slumbering Bills didn't help themselves by committing 11 penalties -- their most since Week 9, 2021, also against the Jags -- for 109 yards. Through five weeks, it's hard to get a read on these inconsistent contenders.
3. A.J. Epenesa steps up on depleted Bills defense. Von Miller's return was the most anticipated storyline for Buffalo's defense coming into its trip overseas. But the star of the afternoon in Sean McDermott's unit was an unheralded pass rusher getting more run than usual: A.J. Epenesa. With Greg Rousseau and Shaq Lawson out and Miller sidelined for long stretches of time in his 2023 debut (McDermott said after the game Miller was on a pitch count), Buffalo leaned on the likes of Epenesa, Leonard Floyd and Kingsley Jonathan on the edge. Epenesa enjoyed a career day, logging two sacks and three passes defensed on 55 defensive snaps, all career highs. He keyed a pass rush that, even sans Miller (18 snaps, none after midway through the third quarter), swarmed Lawrence for five sacks and 14 pressures. That push made up for a defense that was already without Tre'Davious White and then lost star inside linebacker Matt Milano in the first quarter with a season-threatening knee injury. As injuries and fatigue mounted -- the Jags ran 82 offensive plays to the Bills' 54 -- Buffalo went bust. But contributions from its deep bench in the front seven were a promising development.

Next Gen stat of the game: Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence was 8 of 9 for 89 yards and a touchdown with a +22.8% CPOE against Buffalo on third down. Entering Week 5, Lawrence had the lowest CPOE (-7.9%) on third down since 2021.

NFL Research: Bills QB Josh Allen logged his 41st career rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, passing Jack Kemp for the third-most by a QB in NFL history. Only Cam Newton (75) and Steve Young (43) have more.

Back to top

FULL BOX SCORE

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Desmond Ridder bounces back. Ridder's Week 4 outing was so ugly, coach Arthur Smith was understandably asked if he might change quarterbacks entering Week 5. He can rest easy knowing those questions won't be coming after Sunday’s victory. Ridder was sharp, firing on-target passes all over the field and putting together the most complete performance of his young career. He broke 300 passing yards for the first time, took the ball in himself for Atlanta's first score and smoothly flipped a pass to Bijan Robinson for a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. In between those scores, Ridder proved last week wasn't the norm, manipulating defenses with his eyes and using a mix of play-action passes and quick throws to keep the offense moving. Ridder found his magic wand on a crucial final drive, setting up Younghoe Koo's game-winning field goal. In total, considering where Ridder was at the end of last week, Sunday was a major triumph for him.
2. Atlanta's defense scores a win. The Falcons might have produced a blueprint to use against C.J. Stroud and the Texans going forward. Atlanta didn't generate a ton of pressure (11.4% QB pressure rate) and blitzed just seven times (20%), but Stroud was off his game compared with the last few weeks. Press coverage was the key, with the Falcons attempting to throw Stroud off his timing by pressing on 35.8% of dropbacks and watching him struggle a bit with his accuracy, especially when off schedule. Bottling up the run helped, too, as Atlanta held Dameon Pierce to 66 yards on 20 attempts. Stroud eventually broke through, throwing a touchdown pass with less than two minutes to go in the fourth quarter, but Atlanta's defense forced Houston to settle for four field goals earlier in the game. And the Falcons did it without forcing a turnover.
3. Texans show their inexperience. After two weeks of high-flying action, the Texans came back to earth on Sunday. They forced two turnovers, but produced just three points via the takeaways. They struggled on third down, converting on 4-of-13 tries. And too often, they crossed Atlanta's 25-yard line, and ended up settling for field goals. That's why the Falcons were able to hang around, despite losing the turnover battle. But giving up a 23-yard completion to Drake London, who won a one-on-one battle along the sideline, was especially painful during Atlanta’s game-winning drive. A penalty for too many men on the field on the ensuing play drove home an unavoidable truth: The Texans are in a much better place than they were in recent years, but they're still figuring out how to win the close ones.

Next Gen stat of the game: Despite averaging only 2.8 yards per carry between their top two backs, Atlanta still found success utilizing play-action. Desmond Ridder gained 139 of his 329 passing yards off play-action passes. Also, he recorded a 63.2% success rate, the fourth-highest in a game by any quarterback this season.

NFL Research: C.J. Stroud broke the record for the most passes attempted (186) without an interception to start a career, passing Dak Prescott (176) and Tom Brady (162). Stroud also became the only quarterback in the Super Bowl era to have zero interceptions in each of his first five starts (minimum 30 pass attempts per game).

Back to top

FULL BOX SCORE

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Led by Aidan Hutchinson, Lions defense forces three turnovers in blowout win. Detroit’s D got after rookie Bryce Young early, pressuring the quarterback into several costly errors. Hutchinson made a spectacular interception to end Carolina’s second possession, reading a tight end screen, stopping dead in his tracks and snaring the pigskin with one hand. It marked the fourth INT of the edge rusher's career, the most by a defensive lineman in his first 25 career games since at least 1940, per NFL Research. Hutchinson later picked up the Lions' lone sack of the afternoon and posted six total QB pressures. After Carolina cut Detroit's early lead in half, 14-7, the D stepped up, forcing back-to-back turnovers that the offense cashed in for points to blow open the contest. Two late TD drives by the Panthers made the score look closer, but this was a dominant performance by the Lions despite missing key players on both sides of the ball. Keeping a winless club from finding any spark was precisely the step Dan Campbell's club needed to prove it can be an upper-echelon club.
2. NFL education continues for Bryce Young. There are some brief glimpses of brilliance for the No. 1 overall pick, but the lows are excruciatingly low. He should have never released the ball picked off by Hutchinson. His second INT was a terrible read, never seeing the corner drop off in coverage. Those were two throws a veteran signal-caller would easily avoid. Young was getting little help outside of Adam Thielen's (11/107/1) ability to win off the line of scrimmage. The running game was once again bottled up, and the offensive line struggled with protection. There were times on Sunday that Young anticipated his protection would break down and seemed to panic. But when everything is right for the QB, he flashes the potential that made him the top selection. Most comfortable in up-tempo, Young flashed superior ball placement, avoided pressure well, keeping his eyes downfield, and threw it away when needed. If he can clean up the little things, the season will begin to turn for the young QB.
3. No Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs, no problem for Lions’ offense. Missing two key weapons, Jared Goff and Detroit hit the gas pedal off the bat. The QB hit two chunk throws on the Lions' opening drive, and David Montgomery bounced a run outside, racing to the end zone for a 42-yard TD. Goff spread the ball around, hitting eight different targets with at least one pass. The Lions missed St. Brown on key plays -- as evidenced by going 4 of 10 on third downs -- but got enough explosive plays from Josh Reynolds and Sam LaPorta that it ultimately didn't matter against a winless opponent. It was a workman-like 377 yards for the Lions’ offense, which punted just twice (both in the third quarter).

Next Gen stat of the game: Aidan Hutchinson averaged a 0.69-second pass rush get-off on Sunday, the quickest of his career in a single game. Hutchinson also generated a game-high six QB pressures (one sack) on 35 pass rushes (17.1%).

NFL Research: The Lions have at least four wins through five games for the first time since 2011. In 2011, Detroit started the season 5-0 and finished 10-6 (lost in Wild Card Round at New Orleans).

Back to top

FULL BOX SCORE

• READ: Colts QB Richardson out at least a month with AC joint sprain

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Thank heavens for backups. After Jonathan Taylor agreed to a three-year extension on Saturday, most everyone expected the star to resume his role as a key part of Indianapolis' offense. Instead, it was Zack Moss who carried the Colts on Sunday, racking up 195 yards from scrimmage (165 rushing) and two touchdowns on 25 touches. The running game was vital for the Colts, especially after Anthony Richardson exited with a shoulder injury, and Moss was the player who fueled the ground attack. That's not to take away from Gardner Minshew, who proved the value of a reliable backup quarterback with his performance (11 of 14 for 155 yards). It's fair to wonder if the Colts would have won the game without him. But it was a team effort, one led by lesser-known contributors, and the Colts are 3-2 because of them.
2. The Tannehill-Hopkins connection is strong. Ryan Tannehill's tumultuous season found some stability in one pairing on Sunday. He looked toward DeAndre Hopkins often, and in most instances, Hopkins came through. In fact, Hopkins was the only Titans wide receiver to finish with more than one catch (the next three in line were running backs and a tight end), proving the Titans wise in their efforts to add him in the offseason. It's the passing game's saving grace, especially when the run game fails to balance things out offensively. And it made Sunday's game a close one, although Tennessee failed to capitalize on a number of scoring opportunities.
3. Colts building momentum with impressive start. The Colts had some things working against them in Week 5. Richardson's departure could have derailed them, especially when they were already without key defenders Shaquille Leonard and Kwity Paye on Sunday. But instead of wilting or allowing self-inflicted wounds to cause them to crumble, the Colts stood tall, limiting the Titans to one touchdown and ending two crucial Tennessee drives at the Colts' 16- and 5-yard lines. Indianapolis held the ball for 7:03 on the game’s final scoring drive, a statement made by a team playing without its promising young quarterback. Indianapolis showed it will fight to the end, no matter the circumstances. After losing a heartbreaker to the Rams last week, this one has to feel good.

Next Gen Stat of the game: Zack Moss gained +77 rushing yards over expected on Sunday, the most RYOE by a Colts running back since Week 17 of 2020 (Jonathan Taylor, +93 RYOE). Of his +77 RYOE, +55 came on rushes between the tackles.

NFL Research: Moss finished as the first 100-plus-yard rusher against Tennessee since Week 1 of last season (Saquon Barkley, 164).

Back to top

FULL BOX SCORE

• READ: Giants QB Jones exits loss to Dolphins with neck injury
• READ: Dolphins continue to light up scoreboard, climb record books

Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Tua Tagovailoa’s MVP campaign hits a snag. The Dolphins eventually put the game away, but Tagovailoa’s two INTs gave the Giants life. Miami was threatening to bust it open before halftime, leading 14-3 with third-and-goal at the Giants’ 4-yard line. But Tua’s pass was tipped and run back 102 yards by Jason Pinnock for a game-changing score. Instead of going up 14 or 18 points, the Dolphins only led by four. The Giants doubled Tyreek Hill, and Tagovailoa hung onto the ball too long, forcing a pass to Jaylen Waddle. In the third quarter, with Miami up 24-10, Tagovailoa was late and slow through his progression on another pick, gifting the Giants a field goal. Tagovailoa threw for 308 yards and two TDs, but this game shouldn’t help his MVP cause. He was indecisive at times and cost his team points.
2. Giants’ O-line woes continue. After allowing 11 sacks on Monday night, the Giants gave up seven in Week 5. Even with injuries depleting the offensive line’s depth, this has become a shocking epidemic. Three Dolphins converged on Miami’s second sack on Sunday; it led to a missed field goal the next snap. The next two sacks also came on third downs, with Daniel Jones taking big hits both times. Joshua Ezeudu, forced to play left tackle, was guilty of a hold on a sack and was flagged on back-to-back plays for false starts. A Ben Bredeson hold wiped out a 21-yard run by Eric Gray, which would have tied the Giants’ longest gain of the day. And these plays were all in the first half! This can’t continue. The Giants are in bad shape with Andrew Thomas, Shane Lemieux and John Michael Schmitz out, but Jones is getting pummeled and an already limited offense is moving backward way too often. Jones exited the game with a neck injury after getting sacked for the sixth time early in the fourth quarter.
3. Dolphins’ defense turns in a very respectable game. It was not a pretty game for Miami, but there was one solid development: Miami’s defense took care of business. It kept the Giants’ offense out of the end zone and sacked Giants QBs seven times total. Zach Sieler (two sacks) continues to be one of the league’s most underrated defenders, but it was a group effort. Jerome Baker and Emmanuel Ogbah each had 1.5 sacks, and Andrew Van Ginkel had one, too. The Dolphins were expected to have the edge against a Giants O-line battered by injuries, but they deserve credit for not allowing the G-Men to flip what was a closer game than it should have been. Despite losing the turnover battle 3-0, the Dolphins ended up winning comfortably, and Vic Fangio’s defense deserves credit. 

Next Gen stat of the game: De'Von Achane reached a top speed of 21.76 mph on his 76-yard TD run, the second-fastest speed reached by a ball-carrier this season and temporarily was responsible for the two fastest speeds of the season, along with his 67-yard TD run (21.93 mph) in Week 3. But on the very next Dolphins offensive play, Tyreek Hill reached a top speed of 22.01 mph, taking over the top spot. The Dolphins currently account for the seven fastest speeds by ball-carriers.

NFL Research: Achane has more TDs (seven) in his first four career games than any other player in the Super Bowl era.

Back to top

FULL BOX SCORE

• READ: Belichick looking to 'start all over' after second straight blowout loss

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Saints’ D dominates, shutting out Patriots in Foxborough. New Orleans smelled blood in the water against a floundering Patriots offense. The Saints' defensive front controlled the entire contest, collapsing the pocket and stuffing the run game. Carl Granderson's pressure on the Patriots’ second drive forced a wayward Mac Jones flutterball, which was intercepted by Tyrann Mathieu for a pick-six. The rout was on. Granderson lived in the backfield, destroying New England's interior. The 26-year-old generated a sack, three tackles for loss and two QB hits. The Saints forced three turnovers, allowed just eight first downs (one in the second half) on 14 Patriots possessions and held New England to 156 total yards (1 of 14 on third downs). When New Orleans plays like that up front, it’s as good a D as any.
2. Is this rock bottom for New England? Mac Jones was sent to the bench for the second consecutive week in a blowout loss. This week, Bailey Zappe entered with 13:03 left in the fourth quarter following the starter's second INT of the afternoon. Jones again played with his head spinning, missing a host of throws and guiding a rudderless offense. Jones' pick-six was a mind-numbing decision to attempt to throw while getting crushed. To open the second half, trailing 21-0, Jones made a terrible pitch attempt on third-and-short that turned into a fumble. The Patriots’ offense looks as abysmal as last year's horrid output. They have scored three points in the past two games, haven't scored a touchdown since the second quarter of Week 3 and didn't even sniff the red zone on Sunday. Zappe provided no spark upon entering (zero first downs on four possessions). It wasn't just the offense that looked putrid, though. The defense, missing key starters, got bowled over. And the special teams performed horribly, missing a field goal, authoring bad punts and making poor kick returns. It was an all-hands-on-deck terrible day for Bill Belichick's club. 
3. Saints’ offense shows more life after recent duds. Offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael came in taking heat. On Sunday, the Saints showed better diversity early, finally implementing more pre-snap motion as they drove for two second quarter TDs that blew the game open. Derek Carr's injured shoulder looked better this week, offering better velocity than we saw a week ago. While the QB still peppered the line of scrimmage with most of his throws, he also made a few good field-stretching passes over the middle to move the chains. Alvin Kamara generated 97 scrimmage yards on 25 touches in his second game since returning from suspension. We still haven’t seen explosive plays from the slippery back, but his presence makes life easier on the rest of the offense. 

Next Gen stat of the game: Nearly all of Derek Carr’s production came against zone coverage versus the Patriots (15 of 20, 144 yards, 2 TDs).

NFL Research: The 34-0 loss was the Patriots' largest shutout at home in franchise history. The previous largest shutout loss at home was in Week 2 of the 1969 season versus Kansas City (31-0). It marked New England's first shutout loss at home since Week 4 of the 2016 campaign versus Buffalo (16-0).

Back to top

FULL BOX SCORE

Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Steelers’ defense, special teams come up big. On a day when the Steelers’ offense struggled badly, the special teams and defense made game-changing plays, turning a potential loss into a win. A fourth quarter blocked punt for a safety cut Baltimore’s lead to 10-5. After the free kick, the Steelers settled for a field goal, but the Ravens got it back deep in Steelers territory after a Gunner Olszewski fumble. That’s when Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. made a crucial end-zone interception of Lamar Jackson, keeping the Steelers alive when Baltimore threatened to make it a two-score game. Pittsburgh drove 80 yards for the go-ahead score, but it required two more stops in the final 77 seconds from the defense. T.J. Watt fell on a Jackson fumble for the first stop, then sacked Jackson on fourth down to end it. It was a gutsy performance from a Steelers defense that was asked to carry an outsized share of the load.
2. Ravens, Lamar Jackson fell apart offensively when it mattered most. The Ravens missed myriad chances to beat their hated rivals on the road. Baltimore took a 10-3 lead, but Justice Hill coughed up a fumble that led to a Pittsburgh field goal. Jackson diced up the Steelers in the first half, throwing for 153 yards and running for 39, but the Ravens left points on the board. After halftime, the Ravens’ offense fell apart, with Jackson turning it over twice and taking three sacks. The Ravens gained only one fourth quarter first down. Jackson’s red-zone INT after a Steelers turnover was a killer; he shouldn’t have tried it. He also failed to feel back-side pressure and was stripped with over a minute to go. It wasn’t all Jackson’s fault. He had multiple would-be TD passes that were dropped. All in all, this was a tough game for Jackson and a step back for the Ravens’ evolving offense.
3. Jaylen Warren gives offense a spark. There’s been plenty of chatter this season about whether Warren should have a bigger role in the offense, and a key fourth quarter sequence provided more evidence in favor of such a move. Warren had only six touches entering the fourth quarter, but he had three key runs and two big catches to give the Steelers a huge lift. Down 10-5, Warren caught a pass for 23 yards on third-and-8 in Pittsburgh territory, breaking two tackles. Then on the next two plays, Warren ran for 10 and 16 yards -- hurdling a Ravens defender on the first one -- before they bogged down for a field goal. That sequence gave the dormant Steelers offense a lift, and they’d score the go-ahead TD on the following drive. Najee Harris finished with 40 yards on 15 touches. Warren did more (79 yards) with slightly less volume (12 touches). Perhaps he’s earned a more steady role in an offense that needs all the production it can find.

Next Gen stat of the game: T.J. Watt now has 14.0 career sacks against the Ravens. That is the second-most by any player versus the Ravens all-time, only trailing former Steeler James Harrison (16.0).

NFL Research: Kenny Pickett’s 41-yard TD pass to George Pickens with 1:17 remaining increased the Steelers’ win probability from 49.2% to 83.0%.

Back to top