Week 5 within the NFL was a wild one.
Three of the early-window video games — not counting the Falcons topping the Jets within the actually early window in London — got here all the way down to electrical finishes. And Packers, Patriots and Vikings gained their video games on subject objectives at or close to the tip of regulation or in extra time, on a day during which place kickers struggled at historic ranges.
We additionally noticed an upstart crew with a rookie coach, the Los Angeles Chargers, outlast one other highly effective AFC opponent within the Browns in what may find yourself being a possible playoff preview. The identical went for a rematch of final yr’s AFC championship sport, although this time, it was the Payments who prevailed over the Chiefs in convincing trend.
Elsewhere, a tough week obtained harder for embattled Jaguars coach City Meyer, who noticed his crew drop to 0-5.
NFL WEEK 5: 32 issues we discovered
City Meyer’s Jaguars fell to 0-5 on Sunday and Jacksonville has misplaced 20 straight video games.
Listed below are the Week 5 winners and losers.
WINNERS
The (AFC West favourite?) L.A. Chargers
Within the observe meet that was a 47-42 victory, the Chargers outslugged a worthy contender within the AFC, the Cleveland Browns. Questions on defensive lapses abound for each groups after this sport, however that the Chargers needed to battle again from a 14-point, third-quarter deficit exhibits simply how far Los Angeles (4-1) has are available Brandon Staley’s first season as head coach.
First, let’s spotlight what the Chargers did do nicely on protection. One of many fundamental causes Los Angeles was in a position to hold the deficit manageable was as a result of in three of Cleveland’s first 5 journeys contained in the crimson zone, it clamped down and compelled the Browns to accept two quick subject objectives and compelled one turnover on downs. However quarterback Justin Herbert is rapidly turning into one of many younger star passers in the complete NFL. Herbert is on a historic tempo in his younger profession, bolstered by his 26-of-43 efficiency in opposition to the Browns for 398 yards with 4 touchdowns. He additionally added a speeding rating. He might be on a observe to insert himself within the MVP dialog. Extra importantly, with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs trying susceptible — particularly on protection — the Chargers may even threaten for the division crown.
Not solely offense in Arizona
A crew coached by Kliff Kingsbury all the time was going to have dynamic playmakers on offense. However the Cardinals have remained the lone undefeated crew within the NFL additionally due to a very gifted and environment friendly protection. Going up in opposition to a dynamic athlete and passer in 49ers rookie Trey Lance, who was making his first profession begin, the Cardinals prevailed, 17-10.
Arizona was wonderful in high-leverage conditions. The Cardinals restricted the 49ers to 3-of-11 conversions on third downs, saved the Niners out of the tip zone of their solely goal-to-go situation of the sport and stopped San Francisco on fourth downs on 4 out of 5 tries. In accordance with the Elias Sports activities Bureau, it was the one time in at the very least the final 40 seasons {that a} crew recorded 4 fourth-down stops in a single sport. The Cardinals will begin to have a goal on their backs, however having a now-improved protection makes this crew that rather more harmful as a result of it will not be incumbent on Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and the Arizona offense to hold the crew.
The shedding Lions
Sure, they fell in heartbreak, once more. And gamers and coaches within the NFL nearly by no means wish to hear about silver linings. However what rookie coach Dan Campbell is doing in Detroit, getting his crew to punch above its weight and practically pull off two inconceivable upsets in as many weeks, needs to be admired. The Lions misplaced to the Vikings, 19-17, on a crushing game-winning subject purpose after Detroit had battled again from a 10-point deficit with a little bit greater than 5 minutes left to play. This got here only one week after the Lions misplaced (additionally 19-17) when Ravens kicker Justin Tucker set an NFL report with a 66-yard, game-winning subject purpose.
In each instances, the Lions gave up huge passing performs to place their opponents close to subject purpose vary. These are points the crew wants to wash up. This Lions roster remains to be younger and has a variety of holes. Jared Goff just isn’t a long-term reply at quarterback. However Detroit ranks second in third-down protection (27.78%) and has turn out to be a high-effort crew. That has saved it in these video games. If Campbell can hold creating the expertise the Lions have and if the Lions enhance their roster over the following couple of seasons, Detroit might be a crew to observe within the close to future.
LOSERS
The Chiefs are out of types
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs — at the very least as they presently stand — aren’t the identical crew that has dominated the AFC. The Payments smashed the Chiefs, 38-20, in a rematch of the AFC title sport. And for the Chiefs (2-3), it is acquainted points which have plagued this crew in 2021. It begins on protection, the place the secondary is a multitude and provides up far too many explosive passing performs, most of which come on whole breakdowns in protection. Payments quarterback Josh Allen completed the sport with 315 yards and three touchdowns. In reality, Allen had gained 260 passing yards by way of solely his first eight completions for an absurd 32.5 yards per completion.
However the offense and sluggish begins are an issue, too. Regardless of upgrades to the offensive line, the unit nonetheless suffers from lapses in move safety. The Payments did not even blitz the Chiefs; in response to NextGen Stats, Buffalo rushed not more than 4 on each single drop again, however nonetheless managed to generate stress on 19.6% (11) of these performs. That allowed Buffalo to play two deep safeties to restrict Kansas Metropolis’s downfield passing sport. The Payments have been additionally merely extra bodily off the road of scrimmage, chipping the Chiefs’ targets. Fumbles and turnovers have been an issue all yr lengthy, too. Kansas Metropolis clearly has sufficient expertise to interrupt out of this funk, however it should take work from each gamers and coaches.
Kickers
The NFL, when it modified its rule in 2015 to push again the additional level, needed the play to have extra drama. In Week 5, the league obtained its want. There have been 12 missed further factors thus far, with Monday night time’s sport nonetheless left to be performed. Further factors weren’t the one kicking battle. There have additionally been 12 missed subject objectives. This should not essentially be chalked as much as any big-picture points or problematic pattern; once in a while, every week comes by the place this simply appears to occur. This one, nevertheless, was the worst kicking efficiency for the reason that rule change.
What makes this case fascinating, although, is that climate sometimes performs a consider poor kicking. This week, although, video games weren’t affected by inclement climate. Particularly, the Packers’ 25-22 extra time victory in opposition to the Bengals provided a examine of kicking comedy. At one level, Mason Crosby of the Packers and Evan McPherson of the Bengals mixed for 5 consecutive missed subject purpose kicks in a stretch of fewer than eight minutes of sport time — and it occurred within the fourth quarter and extra time. And, if there’s a missed further level in Monday night time’s sport between the Colts and Ravens, it would set a report for probably the most mixed missed further factors throughout the complete league in a single week.
City Meyer
With every passing day, City Meyer is exhibiting that the pinnacle teaching job of the Jacksonville Jaguars is simply too huge for him. It wasn’t a lot that the Jaguars (0-5) misplaced to the AFC South-rival Titans, 37-19. It was the hassle they confirmed. Early within the third quarter, with the Titans holding an 11-point lead, the Jaguars protection didn’t look all for tackling Titans operating again Derrick Henry on a 9-yard landing rush.
It is no shock that effort was a difficulty. This complete week was shrouded in controversy over Meyer’s choice to remain in Ohio after final week’s loss in opposition to the Bengals, lacking the crew flight. He was later filmed at a bar, the place a girl who was not his spouse danced on him. It will be pure for gamers to query his dedication.
After the incident in Ohio, Jaguars proprietor Shad Khan issued a robust assertion and mentioned Meyer “should regain our belief and respect.” But, Meyer has repeatedly failed to carry himself accountable and routinely blames others for errors, even his gamers. After Sunday’s loss, reporters requested him a couple of fourth-and-1 name and why Trevor Lawrence did not hold it on a quarterback sneak. Meyer mentioned Lawrence was “not fairly comfy with that but” and added “I do not micromanage who’s within the sport.” Minutes later, Lawrence disagreed and mentioned that whereas it wasn’t one thing that they had completed in a sport but, that he was “comfy.” This crew has had bouts of psychological errors and communications points, carless penalties, carelessness with the ball. And all of it falls on Meyer.
Brian Flores and Chris Grier
Reminiscences of Miami’s shock 10-win season in coach Brian Flores’ second season with the Dolphins really feel so way back. And after the defending Tremendous Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers throttled the Dolphins, 45-17, each Flores and basic supervisor Chris Grier have some vital inquiries to reply. The Tampa roster is healthier than Miami’s. It may be the very best in the complete league. However Flores, a coach with a specialty on protection, spent 15 seasons on the Patriots’ teaching employees, every of these when Tom Brady performed in New England. He ought to have at the very least an honest thought of how one can fluster Brady.
As an alternative, Brady accomplished 30-of-41 passes for 411 yards with 4 touchdowns. The Bucs didn’t convert solely three of their 11 third-down makes an attempt. And Tampa gained 558 yards of whole offense in what was merely a defensive collapse for Miami (1-4). Whereas Grier has hit on a few of his latest draft picks, his incapability to repair holes at operating again, linebacker, offensive line and quarterback are regarding. Although second-year passer Tua Tagovailoa has been sidelined with damaged ribs, Grier will all the time should face questions of how Miami handed on Justin Herbert, who has been a revelation for the Chargers and was taken one decide after Tagovailoa was. It is too early for a complete cleansing home, but when extra performances like this comply with, that point could also be rapidly nearing.
The Panthers as NFC disruptors
That they had a scorching begin to the season, however after consecutive losses, Carolina has regressed to the imply. Granted, final week’s defeat got here in opposition to a strong Cowboys crew and each have been with star operating again Christian McCaffrey sidelined. However Carolina (3-2) blew a 12-point lead it held within the second quarter and squandered a number of possibilities to increase their lead in a disappointing 21-18 loss in opposition to the Eagles.
Carolina’s protection held its finish of the discount early within the sport. Apart from the three first downs the unit gave up on Philadelphia’s end-of-half drive within the second quarter, the Panthers had allowed the Eagles to maneuver the chains simply twice of their different 10 possessions to begin the sport. The Panthers protection continually put the offense in nice subject place, however Carolina stalled when it obtained into plus territory. Quarterback Sam Darnold has now thrown 5 interceptions within the final two weeks after tossing three in opposition to the Eagles. Although there have been different shortcomings, his incapability to maneuver the ball when Philly introduced stress doomed the Panthers. The particular groups unit permitting the Eagles to dam a punt with 4 minutes left within the sport arrange the game-winning landing. However do not lose sight of the throw Darnold missed to receiver Robby Anderson on third down. These are the video games Carolina must win with the intention to be a contender within the convention. This loss exhibits the Panthers nonetheless have some work to do to get there.
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: NFL Week 5 winners, losers: City Meyer, Jaguars proceed to lose