NFL Week 5 grades from around the league

Josh Jacobs' second straight smashmouth rampage came primarily between the tackles and behind a six-man O-line. Jacobs, whose 193 scrimmage yards topped his previous career high (Week 4's 175), consistently found room behind an oft-scrutinized line with which the Raiders keep tinkering. Having this tool keeps a top-heavy defense fresher, and in grinding through a top-tier Broncos defense and nearly upending the Chiefs, the Raiders (1-4) should not be discarded just yet. Las Vegas' top-heavy roster felt a year away this summer, and only nine 1-4 teams have made the playoffs since the six-team fields began in 1990. But the Raiders have something here. 

RAIDERS GRADE: B-plus | NEXT: vs. Texans (Oct. 23)

Kelce's 25-yard, four-touchdown night bordered on fantasy-matchup manipulation, and it prevented an all-time miserable Kansas City Tuesday (stopping the Chris Jones-triggered madness from spilling into workplaces and classrooms). The future Hall of Fame tight end is showing he remains in his prime at 33. Upon trading Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs (4-1) needed at least one more year of elite Kelce. Having the 10th-year pass catcher in this form keeps freeing up a deeper but less threatening collection of Kansas City wideouts between the 20s while ensuring no restrictions reside on Andy Reid's unparalleled goal-line play sheet. This is a locked-in top-10 tight end in NFL history, and his role has never been more important. 

CHIEFS GRADE: A-minus | NEXT: vs. Bills (Sun.)

Although the Chiefs' conquests highlighted Burrow's breakout, the Bengals' franchise quarterback combined for 941 yards and seven touchdown passes against last year's Ravens outfit. Facing a healthier Baltimore defense in a matchup for the AFC North lead, Burrow could not break loose. Baltimore subdued Cincinnati's deep-strike attack, limiting Burrow to his lowest air yards per attempt figure (4.0) of his career, per Next Gen Stats. Burrow did no damage deep during a game where the Bengals (2-3) saw their run game move back on track and their defense hold an opponent without a second-half TD for a fifth straight contest. Tee Higgins' absence proved costly, but this remained an underwhelming Burrow night.

BENGALS GRADE: C-plus | NEXT: at Saints (Sun.)

Already skimping on wide receiver costs, the Ravens were missing top wideout Rashod Bateman. Baltimore's aerial attack still produced open targets, but Lamar Jackson -- highlighted by a bad fourth-down miss to Tylan Wallace -- offered inconsistency. Fortunately, Andrews was on his game. The fifth-year tight end's eight-catch, 89-yard night featured a wide-open touchdown saunter but vital chain-moving grabs on the hosts' two field goal drives that staved off the Bengals. Andrews' importance to the Ravens (3-2) does well to illustrate tight ends' collective underpayment. There is no way Jackson's premier weapon should be making less ($14 million per year) than 27 wide receivers. 

RAVENS GRADE: B | NEXT: at Giants (Sun.)

The Cardinals made matters difficult for Jalen Hurts, but in the Zach Ertz reunion game, the longtime Eagle tight end's successor shined to enable a Philly escape. Overshadowed by the Eagles' new A.J. Brown-DeVonta Smith receiving duo early this year, Goedert dropped a season-best outing in a game in which yards were harder to come by. Hurts' eight connections (for 95 yards) with Goedert included a 16-yard catch-and-run that set up Cameron Dicker's go-ahead field goal. Chosen a round before Andrews in 2018, the former second-rounder now has three 70-plus-yard games this season. Goedert is a rather potent third option in a rejuvenated Eagles' passing attack. 

EAGLES GRADE: B | NEXT: vs. Cowboys (Sun.)

The Cardinals held the Eagles to a season-low 20 points, erasing a 14-0 deficit and keeping Hurts from doing much down the field. Arizona's defense also stopped Philadelphia's offense from a go-ahead touchdown, but the Cards' final drive brought yet another perplexing chapter in the Kyler Murray-Kliff Kingsbury era. Murray's give-up slide/spike sequence showcased alarmingly poor awareness, abruptly ending a promising drive the elite dual-threat QB orchestrated. Matt Ammendola may have missed from closer than 43 yards had this drive continued, but the Cards (2-3) blew an opportunity to pick up a major upset win and move over .500 in their DeAndre Hopkins-less stretch. 

CARDINALS GRADE: C-plus | NEXT: at Seahawks (Sun.)

An off-ball linebacker so good he quickly outgrew that position, Micah Parsons keys this relentless Dallas pass rush. Parsons racked up nine of the 4-1 Cowboys' 22 pressures on Matthew Stafford. But Cowboys' complementary cogs have made this rush so difficult to suppress. Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa shredded the Rams' battered O-line for a career-high four QB hits, and Dorance Armstrong -- the Cowboys' Randy Gregory backup plan -- caused the strip that produced DeMarcus Lawrence's scoop-six. Cooper Rush's win-loss record is generating extensive publicity, but the Dallas D-line's matchup against Philly's O-line should be the story heading into a worthwhile (at long last) Cowboys-Eagles Sunday night spot.

COWBOYS GRADE: A | NEXT: at Eagles (Sun.)

The Rams morphed from the NFL's worst passing attack in 2016 to the league's top-scoring offense in McVay's debut. They hit another gear after Stafford replaced Jared Goff. McVay's capabilities are nearly unrivaled. But the Rams (2-3) need their coach to find more solutions. Their offense submitted a brutal week. A depleted O-line, a borderline nonexistent run game, and a potentially damaging free agency miss (Allen Robinson) are restraining the defending champions. Stafford has been sacked 21 times this season, while Robinson totaled five catches for 19 yards against the 49ers and Cowboys. Reinforcements up front and at receiver (definitely Van Jefferson, possibly Odell Beckham Jr.?) will come, but the Rams should be grateful for their Week 7 bye.

RAMS GRADE: D | NEXT: vs. Panthers (Sun.)

A Jacoby Brissett deep misfire to Donovan Peoples-Jones -- a rather strange decision given the circumstances -- and Cade York's ensuing 54-yard missed game-winner bailed out Brandon Staley. The Chargers reached 3-2 in spite of the second-year coach's latest fourth-down decision: eschewing a scenario in which Brissett has barely a minute to drive 60-plus yards with no timeouts for a fourth-and-1 call that gave the Browns the ball at the Chargers 45-yard line. Some Staley gambles have worked, but Sunday's escape offered more evidence Justin Herbert is tied to a coach whose decision-making could hinder the Bolts' long-term potential. 

CHARGERS GRADE: B-minus | NEXT: vs. Broncos (Mon.)

A week after the Falcons' largely Cordarrelle Patterson-less rushing attack gashed a short-staffed Browns defense, Ekeler minced a unit that had Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney back. The Browns (2-3) gave up 238 rushing yards to the NFL's worst rushing team (a deceiving stat given Ekeler's talent) and have since traded for Falcons linebacker Deion Jones. The Pro Bowler/pick-six maven fell out of favor in Atlanta's new scheme and is currently on IR, and Cleveland is probably more than just an Anthony Walker replacement away here. But the Browns needed to try something -- especially after their offseason D-tackle apathy helped leave their run defense in this state. 

BROWNS GRADE: C | NEXT: vs. Patriots (Sun.)

The past two Seahawks' seasons have featured their defense yielding yardage at record-setting paces. This prompted Pete Carroll to fire Ken Norton Jr. and promote Vic Fangio disciple Clint Hurtt. Also a noted defensive guru, Carroll has now seen his past three defenses approach midseason points with few answers. In addition to Taysom Hill's soul-sucking (to Seahawk fans and fantasy GMs) performance, Alvin Kamara totaled 194 scrimmage yards. Seattle (2-3) allowed 235 rushing yards. Every team has carved up Carroll and Hurtt's defense, which is fortunate to have drawn a debuting Nathaniel Hackett and a Lions team missing five offensive starters. This Seattle defense is undercutting Geno Smith's stunning proficiency.

SEAHAWKS GRADE: C-minus | NEXT: vs. Cardinals (Sun.)

The Saints' defense was not much better in this shootout, a game with a talented New Orleans team at risk of losing a fourth straight. Fortunately, the Saints (2-3) still employ Taysom Hill. OC Pete Carmichael removed Sean Payton's gadget toy from the Saints' QB room this offseason, but Hill reappeared in a season-saving role. Hill wildcat looks bedeviled the Seahawks. Further etching his name in gadget-player lore, the 32-year-old backup rushed for three touchdowns, threw a TD pass and recovered a fumble on a botched punt. While the bane of Kamara and Drew Brees's fantasy managers' existence, Hill has provided undeniable value for the Saints. The discarded QB did the most Sunday to keep this edition in the NFC hunt.

SAINTS GRADE: B-minus | NEXT: vs. Saints (Sun.)

By game's end, Minkah Fitzpatrick was the only available Steelers starting defensive back. Pittsburgh (1-4) is also down T.J. Watt, who is now set to miss more time thanks to a knee scope being tacked onto his torn-pec rehab. Still, this was an embarrassing effort from a team that has fielded one of the NFL's best defenses over the past five seasons. The Steelers tallied one QB hit and gave up 552 yards -- the third-worst mark in franchise history -- in a game that could have been worse had the Kenny Pickett-led offense produced enough to keep Allen in the game. This was a modern Steelers low point, and a Buccaneers-Dolphins-Eagles stretch is likely to ensure Mike Tomlin's .500-or-better streak ends this season.

STEELERS GRADE: F | NEXT: vs. Buccaneers (Sun.)

The Bills were also missing three skill-position troops (Dawson Knox, Isaiah McKenzie, Jamison Crowder), but Allen put starters Gabe Davis and Stefon Diggs to work. Even rookie fifth-rounder Khalil Shakir was bumped from No. 5 to No. 3 in Buffalo's wideout hierarchy, totaling 75 yards and a touchdown. Allen's 466-yard day gives the Bills (4-1) a nice shove into their top 2022 revenge game. Allen-Patrick Mahomes V offers the Bills an opportunity to create home-field advantage distance from a Chiefs team that will be encountering better opposition compared to Buffalo's docket. The Bills are down a few starters, but after their Baltimore comeback and this display, their AFC frontrunner status remains.

BILLS GRADE: A-plus | NEXT: vs. Chiefs (Sun.)

Marcus Mariota's capability of driving his team 80-plus yards to a game-winning touchdown is relevant, but the Falcons (2-3) should have at least enjoyed that opportunity. Jerome Boger ruling Grady Jarrett's routine sack of Tom Brady a penalty represents a bad look for the NFL, which has seen its most celebrated player catch a few notable officiating breaks over the course of his storied career. Despite the Buccaneers barely letting the Falcons past midfield for three quarters, Arthur Smith's team -- down Kyle Pitts and Cordarrelle Patterson -- continues to show fight. But prospects for an unlikely Atlanta division win undoubtedly took a hit Sunday.

FALCONS GRADE: C-plus | NEXT: vs. 49ers (Sun.)

Leonard Fournette set both career standards in receptions (10) and receiving yards (83) in Tampa Bay's Week 5 win. The former top-five pick continues to make a significant second-act impact for the Bucs (3-2). Adding 56 rushing yards -- including 12 to extend the Bucs' soon-to-be controversial final drive -- Fournette offered a Bucs team not exactly in need of additional aerial help some security. Lost somewhat in a historic running back draft class (2017), the ex-Jaguar's contributions to this Bucs upswing should not have him looking too far up at more celebrated 2017 draftees like Kamara, Dalvin Cook, or Christian McCaffrey. 

BUCCANEERS GRADE: B | NEXT: at Steelers (Sun.)

Considering the mileage the Titans put on Henry from 2019-21 and the foot injury the throwback weapon sustained, it was reasonable to slot this season as the cliff for the All-Pro running back. After a rough start, Henry is defying doom prognostications. Tennessee's seventh-year back drove multiple Commander piles into the end zone and provided a key diversion on backup Dontrell Hilliard's TD. Henry has topped 130 scrimmage yards in each of his past three games; the Titans (3-2), winning those contests is not exactly a coincidence. Henry will need to keep this up for a less talented Tennessee team compared to recent years, but he has elevated an injured squad back into the mix.

TITANS GRADE: B-minus | NEXT: vs. Colts (Oct. 23)

Inheriting a mess in 2020, Ron Rivera is on the hot seat. His team played fairly well in Week 5. Carson Wentz approached 400 passing yards, and third-round pick Dyami Brown showed signs of life with two deep TD receptions. Brian Robinson also made his way back from two gunshot wounds sustained in late August, marking a stunningly quick re-emergence for the promising third-round pick. Washington allowed just 241 yards. Excepting the Jake Fromm and Nate Sudfeld games/spectacles, that was the team's best work since October 2020. But the Commanders (1-4) being unable to convert a first-and-goal from the 2-yard line for the win keeps them miles behind in the rejuvenated NFC East.

COMMANDERS GRADE: C-plus | NEXT: at Bears (Thu.)

Although the ugly imagery that led Tua Tagovailoa into concussion protocol changed the protocol altogether this week, Teddy Bridgewater being removed from Sunday's game is nearly as concerning. Bridgewater being deemed unfit to re-enter the Jets matchup follows a two-concussion 2021 for the ninth-year veteran, to whom the Dolphins (3-2) have tied their non-Tua hopes. Seventh-round rookie Skyler Thompson's unexpected entry led to Miami sinking further from the top power poll spots it occupied two weeks ago, and Bridgewater's concussion history threatens to unravel this season. 

DOLPHINS GRADE: D-minus | NEXT: vs. Vikings (Sun.)

Normally on the other side of these kinds of games, the Jets finished with five rushing touchdowns in a game for the first time since 1993. Twenty-nine years after that Boomer Esiason-started contest, the Jets (3-2) pounced on their weakened rival and unleashed Breece Hall. After a shaky offseason, the second-round pick looks like an impact player for a Jets backfield that has endured some slipups in recent years. Hall's 197 scrimmage yards, coming with Duane Brown back at left tackle and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker relocated to right tackle, led to the biggest Jets victory margin against the Dolphins since 2007. Not bad for a rebuilding team.

JETS GRADE: A | NEXT: at Packers (Sun.)

San Francisco's vaunted defense produced another pick-six, but its offense -- down to its third left tackle, rookie Jaylon Moore -- kept up. Wilson, the only holdover from the 49ers' Super Bowl LIV backfield, led the way with 120 rushing yards on 17 carries. Though Tevin Coleman was back in the mix this week, Wilson has been with the team since backing up Coleman and Raheem Mostert in 2019. The fifth-year back smashed through a quality Carolina defense, doing so behind a young offensive line, to help Jimmy Garoppolo and Co. control their underdog opponent. Unfortunately for the 49ers (3-2), injuries -- particularly on defense -- keep piling up.

49ERS GRADE: A | NEXT: at Falcons (Sun.)

In what will be one of the softest landings in the history of fired head coaches, Rhule is a near-certainty to be canned soon. Although he does not call plays, the former college culture-builder has hired two OCs and selected three QBs during his three-year run with the Panthers (1-4). Nothing is working on that side of the ball, even with Christian McCaffrey healthy. Phil Snow's defense also buckled against the 49ers, dropping the better of Carolina's two units outside the top 20 in total defense. Rhule will be able to coast on his seven-year, $62 million contract and his next lucrative college salary. This all reflects badly on David Tepper. Rhule and the failed Deshaun Watson pursuit have defined this ownership tenure.

PANTHERS GRADE: F | NEXT: at Rams (Sun.)

D'Andre Swift and D.J. Chark's absences make for a decent excuse, but the Lions (1-4) faced a Patriots team with a third-string quarterback. This game flow produced a shutout loss for a team that entered Week 5 first in scoring and total offense. But Jared Goff-Bill Belichick played out similarly to how it did in Super Bowl LIII. For some reason, the Lions tried a fourth-and-9 from the Patriots 32-yard line while trailing 6-0, despite new kicker Michael Badgley having gone 4-for-4 as a Bear last week. That led to a Patriots sack-strip-score sequence. Considering the trouble the Lions still have on defense, Goff's 19-for-35, two-turnover outing drove this high-octane team back into the NFL's basement.

LIONS GRADE: F | NEXT: at Cowboys (Oct. 23)

Clearly feeding off Pat the Patriot's long-awaited return, this New England defense made the Lions' No. 1 rankings on offense look fraudulent. Reminding of the Pats' Jacoby Brissett-quarterbacked 27-0 shutout of the Texans in 2016, the Bailey Zappe-led team's 29-0 victory included an 0-for-6 Lions fourth-down mark. Jonathan Jones blasted Amon-Ra St. Brown on one of the tries, and the Matt Judon sack strip set up Kyle Dugger's fumble-six on another. The runaway gem of the Pats' 2021 free agent class, Judon beat both Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell for sacks. The always-red-sleeved pass rusher is tied for the NFL lead with six sacks. He did the most to ensure the Pats (2-3) could manage without Mac Jones this time.

PATRIOTS GRADE: A-plus | NEXT: at Browns (Sun.)

This being a regionally televised 1 p.m. game, Cousins was naturally in strong form from the start. The Vikings starter started a franchise-best 17-for-17, but the Bears (2-3) adjusted and minimized Minnesota's offense for much of the second half. Chicago also received better Justin Fields work in Week 5 (71% completion rate). But the Bears allowed a 17-play, 75-yard Vikings drive to finish this effort and still allowed 429 yards. Chicago's new front office gutted the team's previous front seven, so shortcomings will ensue. And it is not like losses are too harmful to a team eager to obtain a high draft pick. Moral victories are almost better for this type of team.

BEARS GRADE: C | NEXT: vs. Commanders (Thu.)

Punctuating a rough day for ex-Viking Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Cam Dantzler stripped the Bears wideout to secure another narrow victory. The Vikings are 4-1 and have that impressive win over the Packers, but they have looked like their general Cousins-era version since. Minnesota has now beaten two rebuilding NFC North squads by one score at home, needing a final-minute touchdown to vanquish the Lions before falling behind a less talented Bears team in the fourth quarter. If the Dolphins must play their third-stringer again, the Vikes may be able to get away with this caliber of football for a bit. Absent a Teddy Bridgewater reunion, Minnesota's schedule does not heat up until mid-November.

VIKINGS GRADE: B-minus | NEXT: at Dolphins (Sun.)

The Texans extended their win streak against the Jaguars to nine games. This stretch has now involved seven head coaches and a few quarterbacks. Like they did in both Urban Meyer games, the Texans (1-3-1) won as underdogs Sunday. Stingley's end zone interception of Trevor Lawrence, which featured a deft whip-around from the No. 3 overall pick, stalled the Jaguars. The LSU product added two pass deflections to keep a solid start for the Texans' rookie class going. Stingley is the most important piece here, making performances like this stand out in what will be another non-playoff season.

TEXANS GRADE: B-plus | NEXT: at Raiders (Oct. 23)

Perhaps the most winnable game on Jacksonville's schedule morphed into a reminder of how far this franchise fell in the wake of that fateful 2017 AFC championship game. The Jaguars (2-3) have the AFC South's most talented quarterback, but Trevor Lawrence has not followed up his promising September with much. Last year's No. 1 pick completed fewer than 50% of his passes after Stingley's INT and has now committed seven turnovers -- one coming on an underthrown Hail Mary, but it counts -- in his past two games. The Jags, who have seen Christian Kirk (three catches since Week 4) go quiet as well, should still have an AFC South say. But this still feels like a bridge year.

JAGUARS GRADE: D-plus | NEXT: at Colts (Sun.)

Trotting out borderline practice squad-level wide receivers and finishing the game without their top three cornerbacks, the Giants beat the three-time reigning NFC North champs. Brian Daboll and DC Don Martindale deserve considerable credit for helping the team craft this upset, and after their brigade of two-and-done HCs post-Tom Coughlin, the Giants (4-1) have something here. OC Mike Kafka's play-calling led Big Blue to one of their best drives in years (competition is slim here), and Daniel Jones hit six targets -- just two being actual starters -- on that 91-yard, game-tying march. Jones' best game this season, coming against the Packers, showcased the Giants' Daboll hire; this might actually be a wild-card contender.

GIANTS GRADE: A | NEXT: vs. Ravens (Sun.)

With the NFC East looking to have two potential home-field advantage threats, in the Cowboys and Eagles, this was a game the Packers (3-2) could not really afford to blow. Yet a mostly healthy defense loaded with high-priced veterans or homegrown first-rounders allowed Saquon Barkley and his host of unimposing henchmen to mount two fourth-quarter scoring sojourns. Aaron Rodgers missing all six of his deep targets against New York's crumbling cornerback contingent also jumps out from the Packers' London debut. Fortunately for the Pack, three more Bears and Lions games remain. But this was a puzzling defeat. 

PACKERS GRADE: D | NEXT: vs. Jets (Sun.)

Matt Ryan's 11 fumbles are more than anyone has committed through five games since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. The Broncos' defense was probably the best unit on the field Thursday, but as Denver's offense sputtered, Ryan recovered and kept locating Alec Pierce. The Colts (2-2-1) are expecting a lot from their second-round rookie, with ex-second-rounder Parris Campbell's injuries throwing his career off course. Pierce is starting to deliver. Pierce's eight-catch, 81-yard night, as the Colts attacked Broncos corners not named Pat Surtain II, came after a four-reception, 80-yard Week 4. The outside target may be coming around quickly. It will be needed for a still-struggling team.

COLTS GRADE: C-minus | NEXT: vs. Jaguars (Sun.)

Russell Wilson is playing poorly, but the likely Hall of Famer is battling crises at every turn. The Broncos (2-3) continue to lose offensive pieces; they are now down Garett Bolles, Javonte Williams, and Tim Patrick for the year. Nathaniel Hackett might be grossly overmatched as a head coach; his late-game play-calling prevented Denver from closing out what would have been a historically hideous win. And Wilson is now battling his own injury. The Broncos sport a stupefying 21% red zone TD rate and have the NFL's most fumble-prone running back (Melvin Gordon). While matters could stabilize for Wilson, it might take until 2023 for that to happen. A new coach could somehow be in place by then. The 33-year-old QB's prime may soon feature back-to-back wasted years.

BRONCOS GRADE: D | NEXT: at Chargers (Mon.)