Best NFL Games This Week | Week 5
It must be said; this NFL season has been one of the most spectacular in recent memory. So many games have already gone down to the wire, and there have been jawdropping plays all around the league.
Week 5 has also got some fantastic games in store for us, including the second game to take place in London, England, this season. Let’s take a look at what’s coming up this week.
Jaguars (2-2) @ Bills (3-1) in London - Sunday Oct 8, 9:30am ET
As a rare Sunday morning game, we really are in for a treat with this one. London hosts its second game of the season, this time at the majestic Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the Jacksonville Jaguars going up against the Buffalo Bills.
The Jaguars have already played in London this season, with last week’s game at Wembley Stadium against the Atlanta Falcons resulting in a comfortable 23-7 win for Jacksonville. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence played excellently, completing 23/30 passes and throwing for 1 touchdown, but the real story was their defense. They intercepted the Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder twice, and they really stifled Atlanta all game.
However, Atlanta were not at their best in that game, and Buffalo will be coming into this game pumped up after their huge 48-20 win against the previously undefeated Miami Dolphins. Josh Allen was spectacular as quarterback, throwing for 4 touchdowns and completing 21 of his 25 passes as he pieced up a strong Dolphins defense.
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs caught the ball only 6 times, but 3 of those were for touchdowns and those 6 receptions went for 120 yards, showing how effective and efficient his game has become over the past few games. Their Week 1 defeat in overtime to the New York Jets seems a long time ago now, and the Bills are really showing why they were many fans’ pick to win it all this year.
Jacksonville are going to have to be on their A-game to win again in London, but you wouldn’t put it past them, considering how well they have played in patches this year. Their 2-2 record mirrors their inconsistently perfectly, but they have showed that when they get it right, they can be a really tough matchup for anyone. Whatever happens, expect fireworks.
Eagles (4-0) @ Rams (2-2) - Sunday Oct 8, 4:05pm ET
Next, we have two teams on the opposite spectrums in terms of meeting expectations this season. I’m not sure anyone expected the Philadelphia Eagles to still be undefeated after 4 games, but last year’s Super Bowl runners up have brushed aside team after team so far this year to be top of the NFC East.
Their last win was the closest one so far, though, with a 34-31 win in OT over the Washington Commanders giving the Eagles a mighty scare. Quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for 2 touchdowns and carried them up the field to give them the game-winning field goal, but the Eagles defense giving up 14 points in the 4th quarter was very uncharacteristic for such a great team.
This week, they come up against a Los Angeles Rams side that has been very disappointing so far, with their 2-2 record only hanging on due to a mistake by the Indianapolis Colts in the Rams’ 29-23 win in OT last week. Los Angeles were leading 21-0 at halftime, only to let the Colts back in the game with a shocking second half collapse, going into overtime tied at 23 apiece.
Star quarterback Matthew Stafford has had a tough start to the season, and the 2022 Super Bowl winners have had to ride out the storm at times this season. They will hope that their overtime win will spur them on, but they will find it hard against a great Eagles side this week.
How to watch the game.
Cowboys (3-1) @ 49ers (4-0) - Sunday Oct 8, 8:20pm ET
And now we come to the showpiece event of Week 5. The 4-0 San Francisco 49ers will come up against a 3-1 Dallas Cowboys side that has played some of the most eyecatching football of the season. These two have been on the top of their game, aside from the Cowboys’ disappointing loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3.
Dallas have otherwise been excellent, with last week’s 38-3 demolition of the New England Patriots being one of the standout performances of the season. New England is famed for their mean defense, and the Cowboys took full advantage of a couple of mistakes to score touchdown after touchdown and leave the Patriots battered and bruised. They will be looking to be as ruthlessly efficient against the 49ers, but it’s a harder ask this time around.
That’s because San Francisco have been perfect so far. They dispatched of the Cardinals in Week 4, winning 35-16, and Brock Purdy was almost perfect as quarterback. He completed an astonishing 20 of his 21 attempted passes, and he really showed why he has been so highly rated around the league over the past couple of seasons.
The true star of the game was Christian McCaffery, though, with the 49ers running back running for 106 yards and 3 touchdowns. His power and pace will be a problem for any team this year, and the Cowboys defense will have issues containing both him and Purdy’s arm.
However, the Cowboys have been probably the best defense this year, aside from the loss against the Cardinals, and they will want to carry on their form to stop the most dangerous team they will have faced so far.
Whoever wins this matchup will really send a message out to the rest of the league that they mean business. With plenty of teams playing great football, the playoff picture looks as open as it has in years, and one of these two will want to take themselves to another level this weekend. It’s going to be a game for the ages.
How to watch the game.
Author: Dan Anderson