2024 NFL Week 5: Key Takeaways and Highlights from Every Game That You Need to Know .giang

We’re one month into the 2024 NFL regular season—and what a month it has been.

There are two undefeated teams remaining in the NFL. One is the two-time defending Super Bowl champion. The other is a massive surprise.

The week opened with an epic comeback by Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons. It ended with the Kansas City Chiefs showing that while some things change, their knack for finding success remains the same.

The games in between provided no shortage of intriguing storylines, including Sam Darnold enacting revenge on the New York Jets and the continuing rise of rookie quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams.

And just as they do every week, Bleacher Report NFL analysts Gary Davenport, Kristopher Knox, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski have gathered to offer their takes on the biggest developments from another wild week of NFL action.

Chiefs Remain Super Bowl Favorites Because of Their Adaptability

There was a time when the Chiefs leaned heavily on Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and one of the most explosive passing attacks in the NFL. However, Kansas City has won two Super Bowls since trading away Hill, and it continues to adapt to a shifting roster.

Last year, for example, the Chiefs became more of a defensive team as the offense worked through some regular-season sputtering. Over the past few weeks, Kansas City has been forced to adapt again, as starting running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) and No. 1 receiver Rashee Rice (knee) landed on injured reserve.

And that was after offseason acquisition Marquise Brown landed on injured reserve with a preseason shoulder injury.

With two of their top playmakers absent, the Chiefs have found other players on which to rely. Running back Kareem Hunt, who was signed on September 16, has allowed the Chiefs to continue utilizing a physical rushing attack. JuJu Smith-Schuster, who was signed in late August, has returned to being a big-play threat.

Kansas City also used multiple-tight-end sets early and often during Monday night’s win over the New Orleans Saints. Travis Kelce remains Mahomes’ go-to target, but Noah Gray and Jody Forston were also incorporated in the passing game.

It helps to have Mahomes under center and Andy Reid calling plays, naturally, but Kansas City’s ability to change offensive identities and adapt to personnel changes on the fly is nonetheless impressive.

It helped the Chiefs rack up 460 yards and control the ball for nearly 40 minutes on Monday. It’s a big reason why an unprecedented three-peat is a very real possibility for the Chiefs.

Injuries Threaten to Derail Promising Start to Saints’ Season

Over the first two weeks of the season, the Saints looked like one of the best teams in football. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak was carving up opposing defenses, and quarterback Derek Carr looked to be back in Pro Bowl form.

However, New Orleans is in a three-game skid, and injuries have been a big part of the problem. The issue got even bigger on Monday night.

Star center Erik McCoy was already on injured reserve, while guard Cesar Ruiz, linebacker Willie Gay Jr. and do-it-all offensive chameleon Taysom Hill were among the inactives on Monday night.

During the game, defensive back Will Harris exited with a hamstring injury and did not return. Harris, a 2024 free-agent signing, has been a hidden gem of sorts for the Saints this season. The 28-year-old started the first four games for New Orleans and allowed an opposing passer rating of just 52.4 in coverage while playing 100 percent of the defensive snaps.

Later in the game, Carr exited with an oblique injury, and backup Jake Haener finished the game. Carr told reporters after the game that the injury occurred on his final throw and wasn’t related to the hit he took after releasing the ball.

Obviously, Carr’s injury will garner much of the attention heading into a Week 6 matchup with the rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, it’s far from the only injury that could impact the upcoming schedule.

New Orleans will host the Buccaneers and an improving Denver Broncos team before traveling to face the Los Angeles Chargers. It will catch the struggling Carolina Panthers in Week 9, but a 2-0 start could easily turn into 2-6 by then.

Davante Adams Isn’t the Magic Elixir for Jets’ Offensive Woes

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams, who has requested a trade, prefers to play for the New York Jets.

Of course, Rodgers would welcome his former Green Bay Packers teammate to New York.

While Adams would certainly elevate the Jets’ aerial attack, he isn’t going to solve the team’s pass-blocking woes or bring back a suddenly non-existent ground attack.

Over the last two weeks, Rodgers has taken eight sacks, and he’s gone down awkwardly in back-to-back weeks. Gang Green is averaging 50 rushing yards in that span.

The Jets need to address their play-calling and design issues with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.

Though wide receiver Garrett Wilson had his best game with Rodgers in London, the offense remains imbalanced, and Rodgers is taking big hits behind what’s supposed to be a revamped offensive line.

Unless Adams is helping out with blocks and taking some handoffs, he’s not the universal solution for an offense that ranked 22nd in scoring and total yards before Week 5 and averaged 3.6 yards per play in a 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London.

Vikings Offense Needs RB Aaron Jones Back After Their Week 6 Bye

Quarterback Sam Darnold has deservedly garnered a lot of attention leading the Vikings offense, and All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the club’s highlight playmaker.

However, Minnesota’s offense didn’t look the same without running back Aaron Jones, who left during the first quarter of the game with a hip injury. He finished with 53 scrimmage yards.

Ty Chandler, Jones’ replacement, logged 14 carries for 29 yards and caught two passes for nine yards.

Fortunately for the Vikings, they built a 17-point cushion and led the Jets for the entire contest.

Now, the Vikings head into a bye week with a 5-0 record.

On that other side of that intermission, they’ll face the Detroit Lions in a crucial division matchup. Minnesota will need Jones to help balance its offense against a squad that scored 42 points before its Week 5 bye.

Jacksonville Jaguars’ Win Doesn’t Signal Bigger, Better Things for Trevor Lawrence and Co.

The NFL no longer features any winless teams. The Jacksonville Jaguars finally got off the schneid with a 37-34 victory Sunday over the Indianapolis Colts. Any and all victories are good during the regular season. But this particular outing doesn’t exactly portend better things for the Jags.

Right now, the only thing this win means is the season isn’t spiraling completely out of control. When looking at how the Jaguars managed the game, their effort remains concerning.

Keep the following in mind: First, the Jaguars held a two-touchdown lead, yet the defense allowed the Colts to come roaring back to tie the game. A Joe Flacco-led offense created 447 yards from scrimmage. The 39-year-old signal-caller threw for 359 yards. Second, the Colts lineup is decimated by injuries.

Aside from Flacco filling in for starting quarterback Anthony Richardson, the Colts didn’t have the following starters in the lineup: running back Jonathan Taylor, center Ryan Kelly, defensive ends Kwity Paye and Tyquan Lewis, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and cornerbacks Kenny Moore II and JuJu Brents. Furthermore, right guard Will Fries left the contest and didn’t return. A team missing nine starters, including multiple top names, should struggle. Yet Indianapolis was very much in the game.

Obviously, Jacksonville took care of business. Doug Pederson’s squad can only beat what’s placed in front of it. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence played his best game of the season, with 371 passing yards. All is not lost. The situation is not completely saved, either.

The Jaguars can start turning this season around with strong back-to-back performances in London against the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots. It’s feasible. However, Sunday’s outcome doesn’t tell the entire story, because there are still issues with Jacksonville’s performance.

For the Indianapolis Colts, Road to AFC South Goes Through Jacksonville

Since Shane Steichen became the Colts head coach, Indianapolis continually fields a competitive team, no matter the circumstances. The same problem that plagued previous coaches remains an issue with the franchise, though. The Colts can’t win in Jacksonville.

For Indianapolis to become the team it wants to be, it must somehow find a way to finally beat the rival Jaguars in their home stadium. How bad has it been? Well, Barack Obama was still president the last time the Colts won in Jacksonville. For 10 years, Indianapolis’ season stalled when the team arrived in Duval.

Obviously, the opportunity has already passed this season. But the issue shouldn’t be overlooked at this time. Sunday’s performance basically served a microcosm of what’s gone wrong.

The fact that Joe Flacco was in the lineup says plenty. Flacco played well, and the veteran kept the team in his game. However, Anthony Richardson’s current injured status only magnifies the issue. Last year’s fourth overall draft pick was supposed to arrive and develop into the Colts’ franchise quarterback. Eventually, Richardson needs to be back on the field.

Flacco is a fine bridge for now. But the Colts are a middling 2-3 team. Richardson can elevate the entire roster if he reaches his potential. The possibility of actually winning in Jacksonville next season will become more realistic if he does.

Dolphins Might Have Found 4th-Round Draft Gem in RB Jaylen Wright

The Miami Dolphins offense showed vital signs in a 15-10 win over the New England Patriots. While the Dolphins should feel encouraged by Tyler Huntley’s ability to move the ball in stretches, Jaylen Wright showed the potential to be a big-time playmaker.

Raheem Mostert returned to action from a chest injury, and fellow running back De’Von Achane exited the game with a concussion, which allowed Wright to handle a portion of the rushing workload.

Wright logged 13 carries for 86 yards. Though Wright didn’t reach paydirt, he registered key runs on the Dolphins’ go-ahead scoring drive.

Both Mostert and Achane have struggled to stay healthy in their respective careers. Wright could round out a strong three-man backfield. The rookie fourth-rounder can break out like Achane flashed in his first year (2023) with the team.

Patriots Desperately Need a Wide Receiver to Emerge in Stagnant Offense

The Patriots shouldn’t rush rookie Drake Maye into action for two reasons.

First and foremost, New England’s offensive line needs to solidify itself as a cohesive pass-blocking unit, something pundits have talked about for weeks.

Secondly, the Patriots don’t have a playmaking receiver who can be a safety blanket or go-to target for Maye.

Entering Week 5, DeMario Douglas led the Patriots wideouts in catches (12) and receiving yards (94). He hauled in six passes for 59 yards in the loss to Miami.

Tight end Hunter Henry came into Sunday leading the team in catches (14) and receiving yards (148). He’s a big target but rarely turns routine receptions into big gains.

Whenever Maye takes over the offense, he must be able to trust one of his dynamic pass-catchers in critical moments, and the Patriots don’t have that player within their offense right now.

Josh Allen Needs a No. 1 WR to Beat AFC’s Elite Teams

Josh Allen strutted his way around the field as the Buffalo Bills beat below-average teams and non-playoff contenders, but he’s struggled against two of the AFC’s top squads, the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans.

Allen has had back-to-back subpar passing performances. Over the last two weeks, he’s completed 25 out of 59 passes for 311 yards and a touchdown.

In Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the Texans, Allen didn’t have his top wideout, Khalil Shakir. The Bills’ aerial attack couldn’t get much going aside from Keon Coleman’s 49-yard catch-and-run play for a touchdown.

Shakir may have a short-term injury, but his absence and the consequential drop-off of the Bills’ aerial attack should ramp up the front office’s urgency to pursue Davante Adams, who, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, prefers to play elsewhere.

Buffalo has cap restrictions and would likely need the Las Vegas Raiders to pay a portion of Adams’ salary. But perhaps the Bills can entice the Raiders with a strong package of draft picks while they’re in win-now mode.

Texans’ Depth Can Help Them Overcome Nico Collins’ Potential Absence

After Texans wide receiver Nico Collins scored on a 67-yard reception, he went to the blue tent and then the locker room. Collins didn’t return to the game because of a hamstring injury.

Without Collins, Stefon Diggs made his presence felt in a big way against his former team, hauling in six passes for 82 yards. Backup running back Dare Ogunbowale caught six passes for 57 yards. Tank Dell, Xavier Hutchinson and tight end Dalton Schultz posted modest box score numbers, but they all had key receptions that moved the chains in the second half.

Houston’s offense is more explosive with Collins on the field, but if he has to miss time, quarterback C.J. Stroud can still move the ball through the air with the team’s depth at the pass-catching positions.

If Collins is out, Diggs could rediscover his Pro Bowl form while Dell stretches defenses vertically with his speed.

Collins’ injury dampened the Texans’ victory, but Houston doesn’t have a problem.

Commanders Beginning to Look Like a Complete Playoff Team

Over the first month of the season, the Washington Commanders felt like a feel-good story. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was having a phenomenal start to his career, and Washington’s offense had carried it to three straight wins—the Commanders won only four all of last season.

Well, the Commanders are clearly more than just a feel-good story.

Daniels was again great when it mattered most against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. However, he wasn’t quite as efficient as he’d been since first catching fire in Week 2.

Perhaps more importantly, Washington’s defense had a second straight good game, which is noteworthy.

A couple of weeks ago, the Commanders stunned the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night thanks to an explosive evening from Daniels and the offense. In that game, however, Washington surrendered 436 yards of offense and 33 points.

Since then, Washington’s defense has looked and played like a completely different unit. It held the Arizona Cardinals to 296 yards and 14 points last week. It held Cleveland to 212 yards and 13 points on Sunday.

Head coach Dan Quinn deserves a ton of credit for changing the narrative in Washington in short order. This was not a competitive franchise a year ago. It’s already looking like a team with a star quarterback, a great complementary offense and a defense that is better than average.

The way the Commanders are trending, they can be more than just wild-card hopefuls in 2024. They might just be the favorites in the NFC East.

The Hot Seat Is Coming for Browns Coach Kevin Stefanski

It’s been a disaster of a start to the season for the Browns. Quarterback Deshaun Watson—who continues to not play well—has taken plenty of the blame for it. However, head coach Kevin Stefanski deserves a lot of the blame too, and he could soon find his job in jeopardy.

That may sound odd, considering Stefanski is the reigning Coach of the Year and a two-time recipient of the award. Yet, Cleveland’s issues go far beyond poor quarterback play.

Penalties have been a major issue throughout the season—Cleveland had been flagged 34 times coming into Sunday and was flagged another nine against Washington. The offense continues to have no rhythm or clear identity. Both of those issues fall on Stefanski.

Stefanski is the one responsible for getting his players prepared each week, and they’ve rarely looked game-day-ready. He was also the one responsible for replacing Alex Van Pelt with new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey in the offseason.

Van Pelt was the third coordinator Stefanski has replaced since the end of the 2022 season. Defensive coordinator Joe Woods and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer were replaced by Jim Schwartz and Bubba Ventrone, respectively, last offseason.

Franchise owner Jimmy Haslam isn’t exactly known for making rational football decisions, and Stefanski has officially run out of potential scapegoats. If Cleveland continues stumbling through games as it has its first five, Stefanski’s seat will get very warm.

Caleb Williams and DJ Moore Connection Beginning to Heat Up for Bears

While Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams hasn’t been as impressive as Washington counterpart Jayden Daniels, he’s played very well over the last two weeks.

A week ago, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron leaned on the running game to help make life easier on his rookie signal-caller. Against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, the Bears opened things up a bit more in the passing game.

Specifically, Chicago got the connection between Williams and star receiver DJ Moore rolling. We started to see signs of it last week.

Moore, who racked up 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023, had just 167 yards and no touchdowns through his first three games of 2024. However, after Williams and Moore failed to hook up on an early would-be touchdown pass in Week 4, they started ironing out their rapport.

“We both were frustrated after that missed touchdown,” Moore said, per Gene Chamberlain of SI.com. “He came over and we both talked about it, got on the same page right then and there and shouldn’t be any more mishaps on like a ball like that going forward.”

Moore ended up recording his first touchdown grab of the season in Week 4. He and Williams picked up right where they left off this week. Moore found the end zone twice and finished with five catches for 105 yards. He helped Williams (20-of-29 for 304 yards, 2 TDs) get into a groove early.

Having a true No. 1 target on whom he can rely is huge for Williams—and their growing connection is even bigger for the Bears. Chicago’s offense is starting to click, and with a top-10 defense in tow, the 3-2 Bears suddenly look like a factor in the NFC wild-card race.

It’s Time for the Panthers to Weigh Their Options at the 2024 Trade Deadline

Carolina made the shocking decision to bench 2023 first overall pick Bryce Young just two weeks into the season. That decision doesn’t guarantee that the Panthers will look to move on from Young permanently; they could make that move ahead of the 2025 draft.

“Sources around the league believe it is only a matter of time before Carolina completes a deal involving the second-year quarterback—with the most likely time coming at some point in the offseason,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on September 21.

Quarterback Andy Dalton gave Carolina’s offense a spark in Week 3, but after back-to-back flat performances—and a blowout loss to Chicago—it’s clear that the Panthers aren’t climbing back into the playoff picture.

Dalton (18-of-28 for 136 yards, 1 INT) wasn’t nearly good enough to keep Carolina competitive on Sunday and gave way to Young in garbage time.

Instead, the Panthers may be eyeing a high 2025 draft slot and, perhaps, a shot at a QB prospect like Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward. If Carolina wants to stockpile draft capital before next April, it could cash in at the November 5 trade deadline.

One name to watch is wide receiver and impending 2025 free agent Diontae Johnson. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, teams are “at least on high alert” with Johnson because of the possibility of Carolina being a deadline seller.

The Panthers were clearly out-matched against the Bears and repeatedly struggled on both sides of the ball. The offense mustered just 10 points, while the defense coughed up 36 and 424 yards of total offense.

With a couple more losses like this one, the possibility of the Panthers being deadline sellers will be high.

Ravens Get Above .500 But Still Carry Defensive Questions

The Baltimore Ravens easily could have lost Sunday’s back-and-forth battle with the Cincinnati Bengals. Baltimore staged an epic 10-point comeback late in the fourth quarter, but Lamar Jackson’s mishandled snap in overtime nearly handed Cincinnati a win.

Baltimore escaped when Evan McPherson missed a 53-yard attempt and Derrick Henry rumbled into field-goal range the next play.

The Ravens have also escaped a 0-2 start to the season and have battled back to 3-2. However, finally getting above .500 doesn’t exactly announce Baltimore as a legitimate Super Bowl threat in 2024.

The Ravens have serious defensive issues that must be addressed if they’re going to make a deep playoff run. Baltimore’s secondary was repeatedly gashed by Joe Burrow (392 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT) and Ja’Marr Chase (193 yards, 2 TDs) on Sunday. And while Burrow has traditionally played the Ravens well, poor pass defense isn’t a new issue for this defense.

Baltimore came into Week 5 ranked 21st in net yards per pass attempt and 28th in passing yards allowed. No team had been more efficient against the run, but in a quarterback-driven league, poor pass defense can derail an otherwise promising campaign.

Yes, it was a late Marlon Humphrey interception that set up Baltimore’s final points of regulation, but it was inconsistent secondary play that forced Baltimore into comeback mode in the first place.

It’s fair to wonder how much the departure of former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald has impacted the secondary—which ranked first in net yards per attempt allowed last season. It’s also fair to wonder how Baltimore solves the problem.

Perhaps it will scour the trade market ahead of the November 5 deadline.

The Ravens are firmly back in the playoff picture, but they’ll need defensive improvement to chase a Super Bowl this season.

The Next Two Weeks are Now Critical for the Bengals

There were several points during Sunday’s game that it felt like Cincinnati was destined to win its second game of the season.

Until Burrow’s fourth-quarter interception in Ravens territory, he seemed borderline unstoppable. Before McPherson’s overtime field-goal attempt hooked left, it seemed like fortune would finally smile on the Bengals.

For the second time this season, though, Cincinnati lost to a good team on the final play of the game. In Week 2, it was a late pass-interference call against the Kansas City Chiefs that set up Harrison Butker’s game-winning field goal. On Sunday, it was Burrow’s pick and then McPherson’s miss that allowed Baltimore to steal one.

Only a handful of plays have separated kept the Bengals from the 3-2 start they could easily have right now. These are plays they will look back on if they inevitably miss the playoffs.

There have been things Cincinnati has done well over the first five weeks. Burrow is back to 100 percent, and his connection with Chase is as strong as ever. Tee Higgins (83 yards, 2 TDs) was back in form on Sunday, and the Bengals have gotten serviceable production out of their new-look backfield.

However, the Bengals defense—which gave up 520 yards on Sunday—has been a liability, and miscues have too often cost the team in key moments.

There’s still time to turn things around, but at 1-4, time is ticking. Up next are road games against the New York Giants and the Browns. If the Bengals don’t win both of those, there may be no righting of the proverbial ship in 2024.

Aidan O’Connell Isn’t Going to Spark Raiders’ Lackluster Offense

In the third quarter, the Las Vegas Raiders benched Gardner Minshew for Aidan O’Connell.

After a red-hot start, completing his first nine pass attempts, Minshew struggled mightily after throwing a pick-six in the red zone.

Minshew completed 12 out of 17 passes for 137 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions before he went to the sideline.

O’Connell didn’t play much better. He was under duress for most of his time on the field and threw an interception—a pass that bounced off tight end Brock Bowers’ hands.

Less mobile than Minshew, O’Connell has limitations when improvising on broken plays or evading pocket pressure.

Though O’Connell is a more accurate passer than Minshew, he doesn’t have the physical tools to be a spark plug for an offense that struggles to run the ball and is about to lose its best wide receiver in Davante Adams.

As the young people would say, the Raiders offense is cooked.

Broncos Must Take Training Wheels Off Bo Nix, Allow Him To Be a More Aggressive Passer

Broncos head coach and offensive play-caller Sean Payton must design more deep shots for the aerial attack to help Bo Nix significantly advance his development.

Nix showed off his arm on a deep throw to rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin, who beat Raiders defenders by five yards in separation but dropped the ball in the end zone.

If Payton draws up more deep-ball attempts, the receivers should be more comfortable tracking those passes. With a more aggressive approach, Denver can open up lanes for its ball-carriers.

During the draft evaluation process, critics pointed to Nix’s lack of deep-ball production as a limiting factor in his developmental ceiling. He has the arm strength and accuracy to push the ball downfield. Payton needs to trust him to make splash plays through the air.

Cardinals Must Find Way to Build on Physical Second-Half Performance

Our biggest takeaway regarding the Arizona Cardinals last week involved the team’s lack of a definitive identity. Arizona might have found one during the second half of Sunday’s win over the San Francisco 49ers.

After struggling to move the ball with any consistency in the first half, the Cardinals found a rhythm in the second by relying on James Conner and the ground game after halftime.

After tallying just nine yards on six carries in the first half, Conner racked up 75 yards on 13 carries in the second. In doing so, he completely wore down San Francisco’s defense.

Conner certainly wasn’t the sole hero of this game. Jesse Luketa forced a pivotal fumble late in the fourth quarter, while Marvin Harrison Jr. had a clutch reception on what initially appeared to be a 4th-down desperation heave to help set up a game-winning field goal.

However, by relying on Conner and getting a strong push at the line of scrimmage, Arizona was able to control the tempo and shift the balance of mistakes. The Cardinals defense wasn’t exactly stellar down the stretch, but it capitalized when it mattered most.

Murray threw an interception in the first half, while Chad Ryland had a field-goal attempt blocked and returned for a touchdown. The 49ers had three turnovers and turned it over on downs once in the second half.

Record heat may have also played a factor in San Francisco’s collapse. Yet, the fact remains that Arizona was the more physical team after halftime, and that propelled them to victory. If the 2-3 Cardinals are going to get back in the playoff race, they need to figure out how to replicate that moving forward.

There’s suddenly an opening in the NFC West, and the Cardinals might just be able to break through it by playing a bit of bully ball.

Injuries Are Only a Part of the 49ers’ Problem

The 49ers have been forced to navigate multiple key injuries this season, and they experienced another when kicker Jake Moody was carted to the locker room with a leg injury.

Moody’s absence definitely played a factor late in Sunday’s game. Without his regular kicker available, head coach Kyle Shanahan opted to go for it on 4th-and-23 from the Cardinals’ 27-yard-line.

The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, and missing three points there may have cost San Francisco the game.

However, injuries are far from the only problem in the Bay Area this season. Ball security has been an issue—the 49ers now have eight turnovers through five games—and the defense has struggled to close games under new coordinator Nick Sorensen.

After Sunday’s loss and the Week 3 loss to the Rams, San Francisco is 0-2 in divisional play. It blew late leads in both of those losses. Combine that with mistakes that have come at the most inopportune times—Jordan Mason’s fourth-quarter fumble on the Cardinals’ 8-yard line was massive—and the 49ers are in real trouble.

San Francisco was just physically out-played in a brutally hot game and must now turn around to face the rival Seattle Seahawks on the road on Thursday night. The 49ers will have to play with more efficiency and with more late-game intensity if they’re going to win that one.

And if they don’t, the 49ers will be sitting at 2-4 with the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys on deck before the Week 9 bye. With San Francisco’s injury woes unlikely to simply disappear, that’s not where this team wants to be.

Green Bay Packers TE Tucker Kraft Becomes a More Dangerous Weapon with Each Passing Week

The Green Bay Packers are the NFL’s youngest team, and the squad is loaded with offensive talent. Tight end Tucker Kraft is the latest to become weaponized by head coach/offensive play-caller Matt LaFleur.

Tucker set new career highs Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams with 88 receiving yards and two touchdowns. The tight end’s ability to create after the catch really stood out.

The 2023 third-round pick provided a 66-yard touchdown romp—a 16-yard completion-turned-50-yard run toward the end zone, with a little stiff arm added for some zest.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Tucker reached 19.70 mph on the run. He now leads all tight ends in yards after catch. His second touchdown came via red-zone screen, where he once again scampered into the end zone.

Quarterback Jordan Love is now regularly targeting Kraft as part of the offense. He saw nine passes a week ago in the loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He became Green Bay’s biggest weapon during Sunday’s 24-19 victory. Opponents are going to see a lot of the tight end for the rest of the season.

Los Angeles Rams Find Yet Another Standout Wide Receiver

Rams general manager Les Snead is a wizard. He has to be after drafting Cooper Kupp in the third round and Puka Nacua in the fifth round. Both of those targets aren’t in the lineup right now, though. Enter Jordan Whittington, whom the Rams drafted in this year’s sixth round.

Whittington caught seven passes for 89 yards against the Packers. He’s doing all the things asked of Kupp and Nacua.

“We’re putting a little bit more on his plate every single week in terms of the run game, the pass game … and he’s handling it well,” offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said last week. “He’s going to be in this league for a long time.” Clearly, veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford is already getting comfortable with the rookie, and the two are establishing a rapport.

Both Kupp and Nacua are expected back at some point during the regular season. Much like Nacua last year, don’t expect Whittington to take a back seat when they do. The Rams should have a tremendous trio based on what the team has seen so far.

“When I first saw Puka Nacua, I knew he was something special. I felt the same way for Jordan,” wide receiver Tutu Atwell said.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. Steps into Lead Role for New York Giants Offense

Devin Singletary is currently nursing a groin injury. He shouldn’t have the New York Giants’ starting running back spot upon his return. Rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. assumed the role in his absence.

Tracy looked spectacular in his starting debut. This year’s 166th overall draft pick carried the ball 18 times for 129 yards during Sunday’s 29-20 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Prior to the injury, Singletary averaged 3.9 yards per carry and posted only one game over 65 yards through the first four contests.

For further context, no one on the Giants roster managed as many rushing yards in a single game last season as Tracy produced on Sunday.

The rookie fifth-rounder presents significant upside. He’s just now in his second season as a full-time running back after converting from the wide receiver. Tracy is an outstanding athlete, who already runs decisively and with a certain level of physicality.

His performance couldn’t have come at a better time, with classmate Malik Nabers also not in the lineup with a concussion. Nabers and Tracy can be the future of the Giants offense. They should be the primary focal points as the season progresses.

Lack of a Running Game Destroys the Seattle Seahawks’ Chances

Quarterback Geno Smith led the Seahawks with 72 rushing yards against the Giants. Everyone else on the roster managed a combined 30 yards.

Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet carried the ball a total of seven times. The game wasn’t out of reach for Seattle, either. In fact, the Seahawks ran the ball only twice in the first half.

The Giants are solid against opposing ground attacks, but they weren’t ranked top-10 entering the matchup. It’s a perplexing approach by Seattle, considering Mike Macdonald’s backfield. Seattle’s head coach is defensive-minded by nature. He came from the Baltimore Ravens, where running the football tends to be a priority. Before that, he coached for the Michigan Wolverines under Jim Harbaugh, who’s all about establishing a physical ground-and-pound attack.

Yes, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb orchestrated college football’s most prolific passing attack over the previous two seasons. But the Seahawks can’t entirely abandon the running game, especially with a solid duo in Walker and Charbonnet. In particular, Walker proved to be the hot hand a week earlier with three rushing touchdowns. Seattle targeted him more times in the passing game than just handing him the ball.

When a quarterback drops back 40 times and faces regular pressure that leads to seven sacks—all while still playing in a tight game—the Seahawks’ approach should be questioned and changed for future contests.

The Kirk Cousins-Led Atlanta Falcons Have Arrived

After an offseason filled with more than a little hype, the Atlanta Falcons faced more than a little pressure in Week 5. The Falcons had played in four one-possession games to open the season. But they had also lost two of three at home.

A loss Thursday to the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers would drop Atlanta to 1-3 at Mercedes Benz Stadium. Drop the Falcons two back of Tampa with a head-to-head loss. And ratchet up the rumblings that the 2024 Falcons were overrated. That the addition of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins was less seismic, franchise-altering move and more Cousins once again padding his bank account.

Cousins earned that cabbage Thursday night—in a game that may come to define the Falcons in 2024.

All Cousins did against the Buccaneers was complete 42-of-58 passes for a career-high 509 yards. Lead Atlanta on a frenetic comeback to tie the game at the end of regulation. And then calmly guide the team down the field for the game-winning touchdown in overtime.

This isn’t the first prime-time, late-game heroics from Cousins against an NFC contender, either—he led the Falcons to a last-second win in Philadelphia in Week 2.

The Falcons still have flaws—plural. The team continues to struggle in the red zone, and the pass rush is non-existent.

But Cousins has had Atlanta in every game it has played, and the team’s schedule to start the year has been brutal—not one of its first five opponents has a losing record.

Next week brings a break—a trip to Carolina to face the lowly Panthers. And while there are no gimme wins in the NFL, Atlanta showed again against the Bucs that it isn’t going away until the game’s over.

And maybe all that hype wasn’t so misplaced after all.

Gut-Punch Loss at Atlanta Could Cost Tampa Bay Buccaneers Dearly

After the Atlanta Falcons failed to convert a 4th-and-15 play in their own territory with less than two minutes left Thursday night, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were in the catbird’s seat. Grind some clock and kick a field goal, and victory is probably theirs. Get a first down, and that probably becomes definitely.

Instead, what happened may well be talked about in December by Tampa fans wondering where the 2024 season went wrong.

The Buccaneers didn’t grind enough clock. Moved themselves outside field-goal range. Couldn’t stop Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (on the best night of his career) from leading a game-tying drive. And then couldn’t even slow Atlanta down when they took the overtime kick downfield for a touchdown.

Mind you, it’s not that Tampa “outplayed” Atlanta. The Falcons racked up a jaw-dropping 550 yards of offense and scored 36 points. The defensive meetings this week with Todd Bowles at Bucs Place will be—intense.

But the Buccaneers played well enough to win this game. To establish a firm grip on first place in the NFC South. To send a message that Tampa is more than just the best team in a mediocre division. That it is a legitimate contender in the NFC.

The Buccaneers let all that slip away. And while Baker Mayfield had another excellent game with three touchdown passes and just five incompletions, this is the kind of loss that can hang with a team who now faces five straight games against .500 or better teams before their Week 11 bye.

This was a gut-punch loss. No getting around it.

Jalen Tolbert Finally Provides Dallas Cowboys with Secondary Threat in Passing Game

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott set a scene earlier in the week that ultimately materialized during Sunday’s 20-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“It’s an opportunity to show the depth of this team, and what we’re made of,” Prescott said when asked about the team’s wide receivers knowing that veteran Brandin Cooks would miss the contest because of an infection in his knee. “Young guys, as we talk about, you were going to have to count on them late in the year—we’ve got to count on them now. That’s the NFL.

“I mean, honestly it’s how I got my job. It’s how a lot of people have stepped in and gotten the job. … When your number’s called, jump in, show that you belong here, show that you can prepare the right way, and make the most of your opportunity.”

In baseball parlance, Prescott is speaking of Cooks being Wally Pipped. For those who don’t know, Pipp didn’t play one day for the 1925 New York Yankees. Lou Gehrig replaced him in the lineup and never surrendered the starting job until he retired.

Jalen Tolbert stepped in for Cooks and may have well supplanted the 31-year-old target as the Cowboys’ secondary threat from wide receiver.

CeeDee Lamb is the Cowboys’ top target, of course. But Tolbert didn’t disappoint against the Steelers. He led Dallas with seven receptions on 10 targets for 87 yards. With the game on the line and facing 4th-and-goal, Prescott looked to Tolbert on a crossing pattern for the game-winning score.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Tolbert accounted for 40.8 percent of the Cowboys’ air yards during the contest.

“I can’t wait for them to go out there and showcase their abilities,” Lamb said of Dallas’ young receivers earlier in the week.

Tolbert listened and responded.

Pittsburgh Steelers Have No Clue What They Have on Offense

Seriously, the Steelers have to be scratching their heads after losing back-to-back games, first to the Indianapolis Colts, then to the Dallas Cowboys.

The confusion originates from the lack of consistency seen from everything found on offense.

The defense has stars who make plays. The offense shows up at times, completely disappears at others and makes horrific plays from time to time.

Quarterback Justin Fields still isn’t playing freely nor totally giving the Steelers what they need. His completion percentage has decreased in each of the past two games after registering a season-high. He still misses some easy throws, then rips others.

Every ball-carrier not named Fields is averaging 3.3 yards per carry during this stretch. Top wide receiver George Pickings basically disappeared against the Dallas Cowboys, where he provided three catches for only 26 yards.

The offensive line remains in flux with two rookies now starting along the interior.

At 18.4 points per game, the Steelers find themselves among the bottom seven in scoring. If something doesn’t change with Fields or the overall approach, Pittsburgh could continue to waste more good defensive outings.