It’s almost hard to believe we’re more than a quarter of the way through the 2023 NFL season. Teams and players are starting to separate themselves, and while it may be too early to look ahead to the playoff picture, it’s becoming evident which clubs are genuine contenders — and which aren’t.
Who performed above expectations on Sunday, and who’s already looking ahead to Week 6? Here are the winners and losers from Week 5.
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Winners and Losers From NFL Week 5
Winner | Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals Offense
Not only did the Bengals earn their second win — and potentially save their season — by defeating the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, but Cincinnati’s offense got back on track.
Still working his way back from a calf injury that was reaggravated in Week 2, Joe Burrow looked far more comfortable than he had in recent weeks. That allowed him to re-establish his connection with wideout Ja’Marr Chase, who posted a franchise-record 15 catches for 192 yards and three touchdowns in the Bengals’ 34-20 win.
3 tuddies! @Real10jayy__
📺: #CINvsAZ on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/bJxMYOHeze— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
Even with Tee Higgins sidelined by a rib fracture, the Bengals’ offense looked better than it had all season. And Cincy’s defense also came up big — Cam Taylor-Britt scored an on a pick-six, while Trey Hendrickson created constant pressure en route to 2.5 sacks.
The Bengals desperately needed this win, as dropping to 1-4 in a loaded AFC would have represented something close to a death sentence. Now, Cincinnati gets a Week 7 game against the Seattle Seahawks before a Week 8 bye can — hopefully — allow Burrow and Higgins to get fully healthy.
Loser | Mac Jones and Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick has now suffered the two worst losses of his career in consecutive weeks. After getting hammered (38-3) against the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday, the New England Patriots got shut out in a 34-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 5.
MORE: NFL Bye Weeks Schedule 2023
The Pats have not scored on their last 34 offensive possessions. It seems almost inconceivable, but maybe Bill O’Brien was a downgrade over the Matt Patricia/Joe Judge brain trust?
Or maybe the problem is simply Mac Jones, who went 12 of 22 for 110 yards and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Belichick pulled Jones in favor of Zappe in Week 5 — just as he did against the Cowboys — but suggested after the game that the former first-round pick would retain his starting job.
Winner | Detroit Lions
NFL history is littered with teams that enter a season with incredible hype only to fall flat on their face. But the Detroit Lions have done nothing but deliver on their preseason fanfare so far.
Sunday marked another clinic for Jared Goff, play-caller Ben Johnson, and the rest of Detroit’s offense in the Lions’ 42-23 win over the Carolina Panthers. Goff went 20 of 28 for 236 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to rookie tight end Sam LaPorta. And with Jahmyr Gibbs sidelined, David Montgomery continued to handle a ton of touches and scored his sixth TD of the season.
The Lions (4-1) could run away with the NFC North, depending on how the Green Bay Packers perform on Monday night. With upcoming games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, and Las Vegas Raiders, Detroit could conceivably be 7-1 by Halloween.
Loser | Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos
Russell Wilson wasn’t really the problem for the Denver Broncos in their 31-21 loss to the New York Jets in Week 5. In fact, Wilson — who entered Sunday ranked 17th in QBR — hasn’t been an issue for most of the season.
Denver’s defense, which allowed the New York Jets to rush for 234 yards in today’s defeat, has been responsible for most of the club’s losses. But Wilson coughed up a fumble while the Broncos were driving into range for a game-tying field goal.
QUINCY WILLIAMS LOOKS A LOT LIKE HIM.#NYJvsDEN on CBS pic.twitter.com/YSy4Q03PXi
— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 8, 2023
Jets cornerback Bryce Hall recovered the fumble and ran it in for a touchdown, ending any chance Denver had to send the game to overtime. Former Broncos head coach/current Jets OC Nathaniel Hackett — called out by Sean Payton during the summer — received a game ball.
Winner | Falcons QB Desmond Ridder
Desmond Ridder had not rewarded the Atlanta Falcons’ faith in him through the first four weeks of the season. He entered Week 5 ranking 30th in both adjusted net yards per attempt and EPA + CPOE composite.
It was fair to wonder whether Atlanta would turn things over to Taylor Heinicke, the second-highest-paid backup quarterback in the league.
MORE: NFL Offense Rankings 2023
But Ridder redeemed himself against the Houston Texans on Sunday, completing 28 of 27 attempts for 329 yards (8.9 YPA), one touchdown, and — perhaps most importantly — no interceptions, finishing with an 81.2 QBR.
Down by one point, Ridder got the ball back with 1:49 remaining in the fourth quarter and got the Falcons into range for a game-winning field goal, which Younghoe Koo hit. While he still has a lot of development left, Ridder’s performance in Week 5 will be critical for his confidence moving forward.
Loser | Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills lost a close London game to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5, but that’s not why they’re in our losers section.
Veteran linebacker Matt Milano fractured his leg and may have also suffered a season-ending knee injury on Sunday, as NFL Network reported. Milano will undergo an MRI to check for ACL damage, but his season is likely over.
#Bills star LB Matt Milano suffered a fractured leg and is feared to have suffered a season-ending knee injury in today’s loss, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo. They are checking on the ACL. MRI coming, but missing the rest of the season is likely. One of the NFL’s best LBs. pic.twitter.com/dZsJM5fSMI
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 8, 2023
Meanwhile, Bills head coach said defensive tackle DaQuan Jones — who had the game of his life in Week 4 with seven pressures and a sack against the Miami Dolphins — has a pectoral injury that “doesn’t look good.”
This is a Buffalo defense that already lost standout cornerback Tre’Davious White to a season-ending Achilles injury last Sunday. The Bills have as much talent as any team in the NFL, but they’re dropping like flies.
Winner | Pittsburgh Steelers
Last Sunday, it looked like 2023 might be a long season for the Pittsburgh Steelers after a 30-6 blowout against the Houston Texas.
Fast forward one week, and the Steelers are in first place in the AFC North.
Pittsburgh’s win over the Baltimore Ravens wasn’t pretty, but it was emblematic of the two teams’ division. The Steelers might have gotten lucky that Baltimore’s receivers couldn’t hang onto the ball, but T.J. Watt brought down Lamar Jackson twice, while Alex Highsmith won the game with a fourth-quarter strip-sack.
Loser | Giants QB Daniel Jones
The New York Giants entered Week 5 dead last in points and yards per play. They won’t be moving up the ranks after failing to score an offensive touchdown for the second straight week.
MORE: Week 6 NFL Power Rankings
Daniel Jones hasn’t been anything close to the $40 million per year quarterback that Big Blue is looking for, but it’s hard to put all the blame on Jones’ shoulders. The Giants’ offensive line is a total sieve and has allowed Jones to be sacked 16 times over the past two weeks.
Jones never saw a blindside hit from Dolphins pass rusher Andrew Van Kinkel coming on Sunday and was forced to leave the game with a neck injury. Jones, who suffered a neck injury in 2021, will have an MRI on Monday.
