A chaotic start to the regular season continued across the NFL on the Sunday of Week 5. The early window got the action started with plenty of upsets, as four underdogs won outright. The late window didn’t disappoint either, including a statement win from one of the hottest teams in the NFL, and thrilling finish on Sunday Night Football.
PFN’s Playoff Predictor has been updated following Sunday’s Week 5 afternoon games. With a few contests left to go, let’s offer an updated look at the NFL standings and playoff picture.
Playoff Picture After Week 5 Early Slate
AFC Playoff Picture
1) Kansas City Chiefs (4-0, play Saints on Monday)
2) Houston Texans (4-1, beat Bills on Sunday)
3) Baltimore Ravens (3-2, beat Bengals on Sunday)
4) Buffalo Bills (3-2, lost to Texans on Sunday)
5) Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2, lost to Cowboys on Sunday night)
6) Denver Broncos (3-2, beat Raiders on Sunday)
7) Los Angeles Chargers (2-2, on BYE)
In the Hunt
8) New York Jets (2-3, lost to Vikings on Sunday)
9) Las Vegas Raiders (2-3, lost to Broncos on Sunday)
10) Miami Dolphins (2-3, beat Patriots on Sunday)
11) Indianapolis Colts (2-3, lost to Jaguars on Sunday)
12) Tennessee Titans (1-3, on BYE)
13) Cleveland Browns (1-4, lost to Commanders on Sunday)
14) New England Patriots (1-4, lost to Dolphins on Sunday)
15) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4, beat Colts on Sunday)
16) Cincinnati Bengals (1-4, lost to Ravens on Sunday)
NFC Playoff Picture
1) Minnesota Vikings (5-0, beat Jets on Sunday)
2) Washington Commanders (4-1, beat Browns on Sunday)
3) Atlanta Falcons (3-2, beat Buccaneers on Thursday)
4) Seattle Seahawks (3-2, lost to Giants on Sunday)
5) Detroit Lions (3-1, on BYE)
6) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2, lost to Falcons on Thursday)
7) Dallas Cowboys (3-2, beat Steelers on Sunday night)
In the Hunt
8) Green Bay Packers (3-2, beat Rams on Sunday)
9) Chicago Bears (3-2, beat Panthers on Sunday)
10) Philadelphia Eagles (2-2, on BYE)
11) New Orleans Saints (2-2, play Chiefs on Monday)
12) Arizona Cardinals (2-3, beat 49ers on Sunday)
13) New York Giants (2-3, beat Seahawks on Sunday)
14) San Francisco 49ers (2-3, lost to Cardinals on Sunday)
15) Los Angeles Rams (1-4, lost to Packers on Sunday)
16) Carolina Panthers (1-4, lost to Bears on Sunday)
Vikings Top Jets To Stay Undefeated
Are the Vikings the best team in football? They’re making a strong case.
Minnesota stayed undefeated after earning a thrilling 23-17 win over the Jets in London. The Vikings got out to an early lead and nearly gave it away, but Stephon Gilmore delivered a game-sealing pick in the final minute.
Sam Darnold threw for 179 yards as his storybook season continued. The Vikings will enjoy their bye next week before hosting the Lions on Oct. 20.
Aaron Rodgers Struggles, Gets Banged Up in Loss
Jets fans shouldn’t hit the panic button yet, but they should be feeling nervous about their team.
The Jets looked outclassed for much of Sunday’s loss to the Vikings. Rodgers threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns but also threw three picks and targeted Garrett Wilson 22 times! He doesn’t look comfortable in New York’s offense.
Worse yet, Rodgers was forced from the game after suffering a leg injury. He returned shortly afterward, but it’s fair to wonder whether Rodgers, who also got banged up last week, will hold up for the rest of the season.
49ers Struggle In Another Upset Loss
The San Francisco 49ers couldn’t take advantage of the Seattle Seahawks stumbling at home, falling to the Arizona Cardinals. The Niners looked to be cruising after scoring on four straight drives in the first half, but were shut out in the second half. San Francisco also has a kicker situation to deal with after Jake Moody suffered an ankle injury, forcing the Niners to play without a kicker after halftime.
Jake Moody has been carted to the locker room.
The 49ers emergency kicker? Kyle Juszczyk. pic.twitter.com/tcugbYpBwi
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) October 6, 2024
The 49ers now face a critical short week trip to Seattle on Thursday night. San Francisco has a golden opportunity to make up some ground on the division leaders (who looked shaky themselves in a dispiriting loss to the New York Giants), but are rapidly approaching must-win territory.
Texans Get Close Win
Despite a 3-1 record heading into the showdown with the Buffalo Bills, the Texans did not look like an elite team, needing rallies to beat the Colts and Jaguars, barely beating the Bears, and being blown out by the Vikings. Not anymore, as the Texans raced out to a 14-3 lead and used a last-second field goal to defeat the Bills in a game that might decide seeding later in the season.
C.J. Stroud threw for 331 yards and one score, while Stefon Diggs caught 6 balls for 82 yards against his former team. Houston’s defense limited Josh Allen to just 131 yards, most of which came on a 49-yard TD late.
The Texans dominated time of possession, total yards (+149), and most statistical categories and never trailed. As for the Bills, what once looked like the best team in football at 3-0, now has plenty of questions after back-to-back losses to the Ravens and Texans. After barely trailing the first three games of the season, the Bills have not led at any point during the last two games and now face the rival Jets next Monday night.
Ravens Edge Bengals in Shootout
The Ravens are starting to show their identity: explosive on offense and weak on defense.
Can they ride that formula to a championship? We’ll have to see, but Lamar Jackson (348 yards, four TDs) and Derrick Henry (92 yards, one TD) looked like an unstoppable duo in Sunday’s 41-38 win.
As for the Bengals, they’re now 1-4 despite rounding into form on offense. Joe Burrow threw for 392 yards and five touchdowns in Sunday’s loss, while Ja’Marr Chase caught 10 balls for 193 yards and two scores.
The Bengals have the talent to make a long postseason run, but none of that will matter if they dig themselves into too deep of an early season hole.
Bears Rounding Into Form?
Things didn’t look good for Caleb Williams and the Bears early in the season, but they’re now 3-2 following Sunday’s 36-10 dismantling of the Panthers.
Williams completed 20 of 29 passes for 304 yards and two TDs while looking far more comfortable and confident than earlier in the season. Chicago still has issues on the offensive line, but one of the more talented rosters in the league is starting to put things together.
Jaguars Save Their Season
Doug Pederson is probably safe for another week.
Staring at a 0-5 start, the Jaguars saved their season with Sunday’s 37-34 win over the Colts. Sure, they did it against Joe Flacco (Anthony Richardson missed the game due to an injury), and Gabe Davis was seen getting into it with Trevor Lawrence — but a win is a win.
Meanwhile, the Colts got 359 yards and three touchdowns from Flacco, who did all you could ask for and more from a backup QB. But, no, there isn’t a quarterback controversy in Indianapolis — yet.
Broncos Move Into Playoff Position
Much of the narrative around the Denver Broncos this season has surrounded the team’s problematic offense. But after a season-high 34 points and another stifling defensive performance, the Broncos are suddenly 3-2 and in playoff position after a win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Bo Nix had his best day yet, averaging a season-high 7.6 yards per attempt and going 19-27 for 215 yards. All-Pro candidate Patrick Surtain II intercepted a pair of passes, including a 100-yard pick six to set the tone in the second quarter.
A 100 YARD PICK 6!! @PatSurtainll pic.twitter.com/Xh3CG05U9J
— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024
With another home game coming up next week against the banged-up Los Angeles Chargers, the Broncos are an early candidate to become one of the surprise playoff contenders of 2024.
Cowboys Hand Steelers Their Second Straight Loss
After a weather delay that lasted more than an hour due to lightning in the area, both teams got off to a slow start.
At halftime, neither team had scored a touchdown, with the Cowboys leading 6-3. Dallas had two turnovers in the first half: an interception thanks to a miscommunication between Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, and a fumble by Prescott.
Steelers star T.J. Watt made history in the first half by joining his brother, J.J., in the NFL’s 100-sack club. He became the second-fastest player since 1982 to record 100 sacks (trailing only Reggie White).
In the third quarter, Justin Fields threw a 16-yard touchdown to tight end Connor Heyward, giving Pittsburgh a 10-6 lead. Then, early in the fourth quarter, Prescott connected with Rico Dowdle on a 22-yard touchdown pass to give Dallas a 13-10 lead.
Prescott threw his second interception of the night with around 10 minutes left in the game, this time to Joey Porter Jr. This turned into a touchdown for the Steelers, with Fields throwing a shovel pass to Pat Freiermuth at the goal line.
With 20 seconds left, Jalen Tolbert caught the game-winning four-yard touchdown on 4th-and-goal, sealing the 20-17 win for the Cowboys.
Entering this game, the Steelers were 8-2 coming off of a loss in their last 10 games, but Dallas handed them their second loss in a row.
The Cowboys are now 3-2, just like the Steelers. Next Sunday, Dallas will host the Detroit Lions. Meanwhile, the Steelers will travel to Las Vegas to take on the Raiders.