NFL Week 5 is already here, as it begins on Thursday with a talented, playoff-implicated matchup in the NFC West division.
The 2019 NFL season is now four weeks in and there has been no shortage of surprises this year. We only have three undefeated teams remaining and a new quarterback for the New York Giants that’s won two in a row. Not to mention, a struggling Baltimore team?
We’re here to recap the wild Week 4 in the NFL for you, as well as preview Week 5. That being said, let’s get to it.
Week 4 Final Scores / Prediction Results
- Philadelphia Eagles: 34 at Green Bay Packers: 27 (Incorrect)
- Tennessee Titans: 24 at Atlanta Falcons: 10 (Incorrect)
- Cleveland Browns: 40 at Baltimore Ravens: 25 (Incorrect)
- New England Patriots: 16 at Buffalo Bills: 10 (Correct)
- Kansas City Chiefs: 34 at Detroit Lions: 30 (Correct)
- Carolina Panthers: 16 at Houston Texans: 10 (Correct)
- Oakland Raiders: 31 at Indianapolis Colts: 24 (Incorrect)
- Los Angeles Chargers: 30 at Miami Dolphins: 10 (Correct)
- Washington Redskins: 3 at New York Giants: 24 (Correct)
- Seattle Seahawks: 27 at Arizona Cardinals: 10 (Correct)
- Tampa Bay Buccanneers: 55 at Los Angeles Rams: 40 (Incorrect)
- Minnesota Vikings: 6 at Chicago Bears: 16 (Incorrect)
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 26 at Denver Broncos: 24 (Correct)
- Dallas Cowboys: 10 at New Orleans: 12 (Correct)
- Cincinnati Bengals: 3 at Pittsburgh Steelers: 27 (Correct)
- Week 4 Results: 9-6
- Overall Results: 38-25
Recap: What we saw during Week 2
On the weekly Thursday Night Football game on Fox, we saw the Philadelphia Eagles basically save their season. They were 1-2 entering Lambeau Field to face a 3-0 Green Bay Packer team. If the Eagles went 1-3, in a division with the Cowboys (a team that’s a Super Bowl pick of many) and a resurgent Giants team with Daniel Jones, it’d be a tough hole to climb out of.
Carson Wentz ultimately stepped up in the 34-27 win, tossing three touchdown passes. Running back Jordan Howard was all over the field, rushing for 87 yards on 15 carries for two touchdowns and catching three balls for 28 yards and another score.
Marcus Mariota making a statement? Surely seemed like it in the Titans’ big 24-10 win in Atlanta. The fifth-year pro, who many are still doubting is the answer for Tennessee at quarterback, completed 18 of his 27 throws for 227 yards and three touchdowns. The Titans have gotten back to .500 at 2-2.
They are who we thought they were! Actually … they weren’t. The Cleveland Browns looked like a whole different team in Week 4. After starting 1-2 on the season with losses to the Titans and the Rams, the Browns pulled off a big win by defeating the Ravens 40-25 in Baltimore. Running back Nick Chubb had a huge game, gaining 165 yards on 20 carries for three touchdowns.
Despite their first loss of the season to the Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 34-30 at home, the Detroit Lions definitely look a lot better than they have in recent memory. Possibly a playoff team? The one issue with them is that they play in arguably the best division in football. The Vikings are 2-2 and are in the basement of the NFC North. A 2-2 record in the NFC East has you in second place (the Eagles).
Detroit quarterback Matt Stafford had a productive game, completing 21 of his 34 throws for 291 yards and three touchdowns.
We saw the Daniel Jones era continue for the Giants. Wait … sorry. I meant to say the “Danny Dimes era.” Despite only throwing for one touchdown and two picks, Jones picked up his second win in his second start, defeating Washington 24-3. Big Blue is now at .500 at 2-2. The defense stepped up for New York, only allowing three points. Two picks from Janoris Jenkins and a pick-six for Jabrill Peppers led to the big victory at MetLife Stadium.
There’s life in Tampa Bay? The Bruce Arians and Jameis Winston-led Buccaneers offense struck again, totaling six touchdowns on Sunday as they ousted the Rams 55-40. This included four touchdown passes from Winston, who gained 385 yards through the air. He was 28-for-41 passing. The Bucs have proved to be an explosive ballclub, as they’ve put up 86 points in the last two contests.
We saw Kirk Cousins, who’ve I’ve always been high on, disappoint again in a 16-6 loss to Chicago. He has a great running back, great receivers, a great defense, and a Pro Bowl tight end. Cousins needs to find a way to throw the ball downfield and, ultimately, win ball games. The Vikings should be prevailing in many contests with the talent they have, and it comes down to their quarterback. He’s not horrible statistically, but the aspect of winning games needs to come together, and fast.
And finally, on Sunday Night Football on NBC, we saw the Dallas Cowboys actually face a team that made the playoffs last year. And, of course, they couldn’t get it done, falling 12-10 to the Saints. This, against a quarterback (Teddy Bridgewater), who’s hardly started any football games since 2015. Does this change predictions about what the Cowboys will be able to do this year? Many had them as their Super Bowl team in the NFC. Does that now change?
Preview: What to watch for during Week 5 of the NFL
Los Angeles Rams (3-1) at Seattle Seahawks (3-1) – Thursday, Oct. 3, 8:20 p.m. ET
Whoever loses this game will be in third place in the NFC West division. The winner will be in second with the still-undefeated San Francisco 49ers in first. That’s why this matchup has playoff implications, even though it’s only Week 5.
There’s no sugar-coating it, the Rams need to step up, big time. With a 15-point loss to the Tampa Bay Buccanneers, the defending Super Bowl runner-ups seem in trouble. The Rams also only beat Carolina by three and Cleveland by seven. Possibly a Super Bowl hangover? Who knows? Regardless of what it is, this Thursday night matchup will be a must-win for the Sean McVay-coached team.
Tampa Bay Buccanneers (2-2) at New Orleans Saints (3-1) – Sunday, Oct. 6, 1:00 p.m. ET
Will the Buccaneers continue to make noise after a big shootout win at the LA Memorial Coliseum? Jameis Winston has stepped up the last few weeks, tossing three touchdowns against the Giants and then four against the Rams.
It’s a big-time division game too. If the Bucs win this, they’d be back in first place in the NFC South. Them and the Saints would be 3-2 heading into Week 6.
One specific matchup to focus on within this game will be the Bucs offense against the New Orleans defense. Tampa Bay has been explosive on that side of the ball, having gained 518 yards against the Rams in Week 4. How will that fare against a Saints defense that only allowed 10 points to a Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott-led Cowboys offense?
Minnesota Vikings (2-2) at New York Giants (2-2) – Sunday, Oct. 6, 1:00 p.m. ET
The losing team in this game will thus drop to 2-3. That doesn’t seem like a horrible spot, but in either division, it means either landing at the bottom or close to it. In the NFC North, the Vikings will remain in last place, which they’re in at the moment even with a .500 record.
With the Giants, it would mean finding themselves in third place in the NFC East. That’s the spot they’re in currently, but that’s not exactly the location you want to remain stagnant in. Especially when there’s now some confidence in this ballclub with Daniel Jones at the helm.
Also, how will this Big Blue offense with their rookie quarterback matchup against this Minnesota defense? The Vikings are ranked No. 11 against the run with 94.2 rushing yards allowed-per-game and No. 9 against the pass with 218.5 passing yards allowed-per-game? This will definitely be the best defense Jones has faced thus far and will be one of the better defenses the Giants will face all season.
Baltimore Ravens (2-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (1-3) – Sunday, Oct. 6, 1:00 p.m. ET
Can the Ravens get back on track after dropping the last two games? They looked really good in Weeks 1 and 2. However, look at the competition in those games. Miami and Arizona look like they’re on their way to being in the top five in next year’s NFL Draft order.
They, Baltimore faced one of the top-two AFC teams in the Chiefs and lost 33-28. Then, they fell 40-25 to a Cleveland team that came into the matchup with a 1-2 record. The Ravens need to get back on track in the AFC, and this will be a big opportunity to do so.
Also, will Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph actually throw the ball downfield? Will he utilize the deep ball instead of throwing check downs? That’s another aspect of this game we’ll have to focus on.
Green Bay Packers (3-1) at Dallas Cowboys (3-1) – Sunday, Oct. 6, 4:25 p.m. ET
Can Dallas prove that they can compete and defeat playoff-caliber teams? They defeated a Giants team without Daniel Jones, a winless Redskins team, and a winless Dolphins team. Then, they faced New Orleans, a team that actually made the postseason in 2018, and lost 12-10. This, while facing a backup quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater as Drew Brees is still nursing his injured thumb.
Green Bay, on the other hand, needs to improve off their loss to the Eagles. They had a chance to win the game on the goal line and couldn’t get it done. Yeah, it hurt not to have Davante Adams in that situation. However, as a whole, the offense needs to make better decisions in those spots. They have a big opportunity to step up and win a big game at AT&T Stadium this Sunday (I refuse to call it “Jerry World”).
Week 5 Predictions (In bold) (All times ET)
- Thursday, Oct. 3, 8:20 p.m. – LA Rams (3-1) at Seattle Seahawks (3-1)
- Sunday, Oct. 6, 1:00 p.m. – Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2) at Carolina Panthers (2-2)
- Sunday, Oct. 6, 1:00 p.m. – Arizona Cardinals (0-3-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (0-4)
- Sunday, Oct. 6, 1:00 p.m. – Atlanta Falcons (1-3) at Houston Texans (2-2)
- Sunday, Oct. 6, 1:00 p.m. – TB Buccanneers (2-2) at NO Saints (3-1)
- Sunday, Oct. 6, 1:00 p.m. – Minnesota Vikings (2-2) at NY Giants (2-2)
- Sunday, Oct. 6, 1:00 p.m. – Chicago Bears (3-1) at Oakland Raiders (2-2)
- Sunday, Oct. 6, 1:00 p.m. – NY Jets (0-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (2-2)
- Sunday, Oct. 6, 1:00 p.m. – Baltimore Ravens (2-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (1-3)
- Sunday, Oct. 6, 1:00 p.m. – Buffalo Bills (3-1) at Tennessee Titans (2-2)
- Sunday, Oct. 6, 1:00 p.m. – NE Patriots (4-0) at Washington Redskins (0-4)
- Sunday, Oct. 6, 4:05 p.m. – Denver Broncos (0-4) at LA Chargers (2-2)
- Sunday, Oct. 6, 4:25 p.m. – GB Packers (3-1) at Dallas Cowboys (3-1)
- Sunday, Oct. 6, 8:20 p.m. – Indianapolis Colts (2-2) at KC Chiefs (4-0)
- Monday, Oct. 7, 8:15 p.m. – Cleveland Browns (2-2) at SF 49ers (3-0)
