Week Five has come and gone and it managed to stretch out over six days as the pandemic caused delays and cancellations to the schedule. Still, it started and finished with games which may prove pivotal by week 16 and plenty happened in between – both good and bad depending on who your team is. Let’s start with the bad…
Hard Times In New York!
Oh dear, it is not a good time to be a New York football fans the Citys two teams both lost again falling to a combined record of 0-10! Ouch! We would like to say that there were positive signs, however, we can’t and the only bright spot is that the Giants are just two games off the lead given the abysmal nature of their division. Speaking of the NFC East…
The NFC East Has Less Wins Than The Seahawks!
Yes, you read that right Seattle scraped to 5-0 on Sunday night thanks to a second-half collapse from the Vikings, especially on defense, and some typical Russel Wilson Magic. He has something good going with DK Metcalf who snagged the winning TD. A few fingers must be pointed at Mike Zimmer for that horrible 4th down decision late in the final quarter, however, if the Vikings defense had played the same way in the second half as they started the game this should not have been an issue.
Are The Raiders For Real?
The LV Raiders had the result of the weekend thanks to another fine showing from QB David Carr who even out yarded Maholmes (not an easy task) with 347 yards passing and 3 TDs in their excellent road win. Shame only 13,311 socially distanced fans got to witness this live, but hey ho at least some got in. They are now 3-2 and although they have a pretty brutal 3 game stretch coming up things end easier so who knows a playoff slot may not be beyond the realms of possibility.
The 49ers Super Bowl Hang Over Continues
The curse of a losers ring is hanging over San Francisco who o looked a shadow of last years team in their humiliating beat down at home to Miami. Plenty of Fitsmagic was on show and the Dolphins ageless QB had a near-perfect night with 350 yards passing 3TDs and a 154.5 RTG. Given the strength of the NFC West, it’s hard to see the 49ers making the playoffs now.
The Chargers Are The Best 1-4 Team We Have Seen In A While.
The LA Chargers must be hoping their luck changes soon after falling to a 3 point OT loss away at the Saints in Monday nights game. Rookie QB Justin Herbert just keeps getting better and better this time throwing for 4TDs and showing off his rocket arm in the process. This was a mighty impressive performance by him against a ferocious Saints defense and although it’s early days it looks like the Chargers have a franchise QB. Their 4 defeats have all been by a TD or less.
Tannehill Quietly Gets The Job Done
In the weekend’s clash of the undefeated teams, the Bills were made to look pretty ordinary by the Titans, who have their cast-off QB Ryan Tannehill to thank in no small part for being 4-0. he was perfect in the red zone tossing 3 TDs and has controlled the ball well all year. That 4th round pick they gave the Dolphins for him in 2018 looks like one of the best trades of the century.
Dak Out For The Season
Dak Prescott suffered a nasty season-ending leg injury which is a shame as he was having a great season yardage wise even if the results were not good. He was doing his part but the Defense has not been great which is why the Cowboys lead the NFC East with a 2-3 record. They have given up an NFL worst 180 points so far this season 19 more than the next worst – the hapless NY Jets. Speaking of whom one must wonder how much longer they will give the injury-prone Sam Darnold? He is out again in week six and the odds must be pretty short now that the Jets take Trevor Lawrence in the 2021 draft, thats assuming that the Giants don’t beat them to the No 1 pick as if they do they might decide to end the Daniel Jones experiment early.
Best Of The Rest
The Ravens took care of business with the minimum of fuss beating the Bengals with more ease than even the 27 -3 score would suggest. Joe Burrow had a difficult night being sacked 7 times. That makes it 22 in five games and if this continues it’s hard to see him lasting the season.
TheRams & The Bears have quietly amassed 4-1 records, much to the surprise of many and although its probably too early tom talk about either as contenders both have shown steady progress with Goff having his best game so far and Foles ruining Tom Bradys night yet again.
Results
Thursday 8th October
Chicago 20 Tampa Bay 19
Sunday 11th October
Carolina 23 Atlanta 16
Las Vegas 40 Kansas City 32
Arizona 30 New York Jets 10
Pittsburgh 38 Philadelphia 29
LA Rams 30 Washington 10
Baltimore 27 Cincinnati 3
Houston 30 Jacksonville 14
Miami 43 San Francisco 17
Cleveland 32 Indianapolis 23
Dallas 37 New YorkGiants 34
Seattle 27 Minnesota 26
Monday 12th October
New Orleans 30 LA Chargers 27 (OT)
Tuesday 13th October
Tennessee 42 Buffalo 16
