Week 5 of the NFL 2024 season has ended, but we will cover all the games throughout the week: starting with the Atlanta Falcons overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on TNF.
Atlanta quarterback Kirk Cousins came through on this game on prime-time television. Cousins threw for 42/58 and 1 touchdown. Looking at the statistics here where we know Atlanta threw the ball a ton this game hence 58 passing attempts, Kirk threw for a total of 509 yards. Had the Falcons lost this game, considering with 22 seconds left Tampa Bay had a 93% chance of winning, they would have a record of 2-3 and potentially two games behind Tampa because of tiebreakers. Now, the Falcons are atop the division because of the tiebreaker and have a belief in what the offense can do after a 550-yard game.
For Atlanta, they are headed into Week 6 with 3 wins and 2 losses. Not only are they headed in with these numbers, but they are headed in with a ton of momentum.
Now to the news overseas: The Minnesota Vikings beat the New York Jets in London 23-17. Former Jets quarterback Sam Darnold continues his MVP campaign through four weeks and remains out of the losing column. Darnold was harassed and harried by his former team, completing just 14 of 31 passes for 179 yards and taking four sacks. Nonetheless, Minnesota fought it out until the last whistle and remained undefeated.
Next Gen Stats Insight for Jets-Vikings (via NFL Pro): The Jets generated pressure on 15 of the Vikings’ 37 dropbacks (40.5%), sacking Sam Darnold four times. Eight different players generated at least one pressure for the Jets.
Baltimore Ravens improve to 3-2: Lamar Jackson’s gameplay remains the headline in Baltimore. Lamar picked apart an already banged-up Bengals secondary with 348 yards and four touchdowns. Lamar dropped lobs and lasers through the middle of the Bengal’s defense and used his legs to enhance his run game when he saw an opening that he would take advantage of. He completed 10 of 15 intermediate passes for 174 yards and a touchdown. The highlight reel play that he generated came deep in the fourth quarter when Jackson flubbed the snap, stiff-armed Bengals Sam Hubbard, to keep the play alive, and then found rookie tight end Isaiah Likely in the end zone. Lamar’s throw was off-balanced and waited until the last second to find Likely open, but he made this play look exceptionally easy.
To the Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans, the Bills continue to experience offensive struggles. Houston got off to a hot start, taking a 14-3 first-quarter lead after a 67-yard bomb from QB C.J. Stroud to WR Nico Collins. However, the NFL’s leading receiver suffered a hamstring injury and missed the rest of the game. As for the other side of the ball, Sunday marked the worst passing day of Josh Allen’s career. Allen completed 9 for 30, for 173 yards and a single touchdown. Without Bills starting WR Khalil Shakir, Bills receivers did not generate separation and couldn’t get to Allen’s misfires. While Stroud hit his big bomb to Collins, Allen couldn’t find the range on several deep shots. The Bills play the struggling Jets at home next Monday and hope to find some life in the offense in front of Josh Allen.
The Jacksonville Jaguars earned their first win of the season! The Jaguars playing Indianapolis Colts at home ended up with their first win all season. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence shined a ray of sunshine on his birthday W. It was tied with three minutes left when Lawrence led the Jaguars calmly on a 39-yard field goal drive to top off the win. Lawrence had one interception on a pass thrown into traffic but completed 28 of 34 passes for a career-high 371 yards and two touchdown passes. The first touchdown pass was an 85-yard bomb to WR Brian Thomas Jr, who quickly became Trevor’s best target. As for Indianapolis, veteran quarterback Joe Flacco is running the offense due to Anthony Richardson’s injury he suffered last week. Joe is proving he’s still got it, throwing for 33 of 44, 359 yards, and three touchdown passes.
On to Miami at New England, Miami luckily snuck out the win. Miami’s injuries have been critical this season, with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on the sidelines. The Dolphins continue to seek light in their offense without Tua, in hopes he will return sometime this season.
Week 6 is coming up, and we have some good matchups to look forward to.
