Tag: NFL Week 5

Bengals LB Germaine Pratt issues message after team’s OT loss

Bengals LB Germaine Pratt had something to say ahead of Week 6.

With the Cincinnati Bengals off to a 1-4 start, there’s been a lot of disappointment from players, coaches and fans. Linebacker Germaine Pratt let everyone know what he was thinking after the overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5.

“Look yourself in the mirror and get better,” Pratt posted to Twitter on Sunday after the game.

There’s nothing much more to say about such a poor start to the season for the Bengals, especially for the defense that is second to last in the league in points allowed with 29.0 per game given up, in front of only the Carolina Panthers which have allowed 33.0 per game.

The defense might not be playing well, but Pratt hasn’t been a part of that to this point in the season. The 28-year-old had another solid performance against the Ravens on Sunday with nine total tackles (six solo), the third game in a row he has reached that mark. His season total of 51 stops is just one short of linebacker Logan Wilson’s 52 for the year.

Losing Dax Hill to a season-ending injury might only make getting better tougher from this point, but the Bengals will have the chance to see what they can do against Daniel Jones and the New York Giants this coming week  on the road before they have another AFC North game in Cleveland a week later.

But as Pratt said, there’s nothing more to do than just get better moving forward, hopefully.

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Pardon as the Cardinals quietly conquer the NFC West

Escaping the San Francisco 49ers on the road Sunday means that the Arizona Cardinals remain undefeated in the NFC West.

Thanks to slumps by both the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, the 2-3 Arizona Cardinals are now finding new life as true NFC West contenders.

Trailing 23-13 in the fourth quarter Sunday, it was looking bleak for the Cardinals. Yet, somehow their rugged play on defense forced a crucial red-zone turnover that gave quarterback Kyler Murray another chance to win it, leading a game-winning drive ending in a 35-yard Chad Ryland field goal for a 24-23 win. 

Escaping the Niners on the road Sunday means that the Cardinals remain undefeated in their division. Remember, Arizona blasted the Los Angeles Rams in week two although the Washington Commanders made a mockery of their defense in week 4.

It’s been a very ambiguous start for Arizona but new found life on the defensive side of the ball may help them build the confidence needed to string together a few wins. 

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Khalen Saunders’ brother is rooting for him, not his boss Taylor Swift’s Chiefs

Khalen Saunders says his brother Kameron, a backup dancer for Taylor Swift, backs the Saints over the Chiefs. He’s ‘cheering for me because I’m paying for his ticket’

The New Orleans Saints will take on the Kansas City Chiefs on “Monday Night Football”, and with that, we got some insight from Khalen Saunders regarding the allegiance of his brother to either team. Saunders was asked which team his brother Kameron will be rooting for in this matchup, as he has worked as a dancer and choreographer for Taylor Swift, notably a fan of the Chiefs due to her relationship with star tight end Travis Kelce.

Saunders made it clear that Kameron will be rooting for the Saints, after being asked by Fletcher Mackrel of WDSU.

“Me. Of course,” Saunders laughed. “He don’t care about the Chiefs, he care about his brother. So, yeah I mean that’s his boss but I’m his brother, I was here first. So yeah, hopefully she’ll be there, but if not, yeah he’s gonna be on my side cheering, he ain’t gonna be cheering for the Chiefs. Even though he actually does have a key to the city in Kansas City too, but that’s beyond the point, he gonna be cheering for me because I’m paying for his ticket.”

Blood runs thicker than water. Saunders’ family will be out to support him on Monday. Maybe Swift will make an appearance, too, before performing at the Caesars Superdome later in October.

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NFL assigns Brad Rogers to referee Week 5’s Saints-Chiefs game

Brad Rogers will referee the Saints’ Monday night game with the Chiefs. New Orleans has gone 3-6 with him before, but Kansas City is 4-0:

The New Orleans Saints referee assignment for their road matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs has been set, with Brad Rogers as the head referee according to Football Zebras. The Saints are 3-6 in games Rogers has refereed, while the Chiefs are 4-0. That isn’t very encouraging, but it’s a good reminder that New Orleans needs to play disciplined and not hurt themselves with penalties.

Rogers has been the referee for multiple recent Saints games, including their matchups with the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers last season, both of which the Saints did end up losing however. In the Rams game, his crew threw six penalty flags for only 45 yards, three flags against each team, and 20 yards against the Saints. However, in the game against the Packers, his crew threw a whopping 18 penalty flags for 192 yards, 102 of which came against the Saints.

Over the years Rogers has been the head referee for nine Saints games, and they are 3-6 through that time span. He was the field judge for an additional Saints game in 2017, which they won against the Atlanta Falcons, so a 4-6 overall record (and the Chiefs are 5-1 with him on the field). So far this season he has been relatively even, calling 28 penalties against the home team and 27 against the away team, 55 total through 4 games (13.75 per game). We will see how his crew handles this matchup, and whether or not they go penalty heavy or let things play out.

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Gameday inactives, injuries and weather: Week 5

Week 5 weather, injury updates and gameday inactives for the fantasy football lineup decisions.

Sunday updates will begin when teams start releasing official pregame inactives and starter information to the league. This is typically around 90 minutes prior to the kickoff of their game.

Weather forecasts are courtesy of The Football Database.

Week 5 gameday inactives, weather and notes

KEY GAME-TIME DECISIONS

Early games: TE David Njoku (active), QB Anthony Richardson (inactive), TE Evan Engram (inactive), RB Brian Robinson Jr. (active)
Afternoon games: TE George Kittle (active), TE Trey McBride (active), RB Devin Singletary (inactive)
Sunday night:
Monday night:

Early games

New York Jets at Minnesota Vikings in London (9:30 a.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 60°F, cloudy, SSE 12 mph

Jets

Inactives: OT Max Mitchell, OT Morgan Moses, LB Braiden McGregor, RB Israel Abanikanda, LB C.J. Mosley, CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse and WR Malachi Corley

Lineup notes: QB Aaron Rodgers (knee) was limited Wednesday but practiced fully the rest of the week and will play. RT Morgan Moses (knee) remains out, LB C.J. Mosley (toe) joins him on the inactive list.

Vikings

Inactives: CB Dwight McGlothern, DB Fabian Moreau, WR Trishton Jackson, QB Brett Rypien, OT Walter Rouse, DT Levi Drake Rodriguez and DL Jalen Redmond

Lineup notes: TE T.J. Hockenson (knee) remains on the PUP, but his 21-day practice window was opened. He won’t play this week. QB Sam Darnold (knee) practiced all week and will play.

Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears (1:00 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 71°F, clear, W 16 mph

Panthers

Inactives: OG Andrew Raym, OT Jarrett Kingston, DL Jayden Peevy, RB Mike Boone, LB Josey Jewell and S Russ Yeast

Lineup notes: WR Adam Thielen (hamstring) went on IR and will miss at least three more games. He was joined by LB Shaq Thompson (Achilles) this week. WR Diontae Johnson (ankle) was limited Friday but is good to go. RB Miles Sanders (illness) had a full session Friday, and he’ll play.

Bears

Inactives: CB Terell Smith, DE Dominique Robinson, FB Khari Blasingame, RB Velus Jones Jr. and DT Zacch Pickens

Lineup notes: TE Cole Kmet (knee) was limited Wednesday but had full practices Thursday and Friday, and he’ll play.

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals (1:00 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 82°F, clear, SW 12 mph

Ravens

Inactives: DE Adisa Isaac, OG Andrew Vorhees, S Beau Brade, C Nick Samac, WR Deonte Harty and WR Devontez Walker

Lineup notes: RB Keaton Mitchell (knee) remains on the PUP.

Bengals

Inactives: TE Tanner Hudson, TE Tanner McLachlan, CB Mike Hilton, WR Trenton Irwin, DE Cedric Johnson and DL Sheldon Rankins

Lineup notes: OT Trent Brown (knee) was placed on IR.

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots (1:00 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 63°F, clear

Dolphins

Inactives: DB Ethan Bonner, LB Channing Tindall, C Andrew Meyer, QB Skylar Thompson, RB Jeff Wilson Jr., S Jordan Poyer and LB Mohamed Kamara

Lineup notes: QB Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) remains on IR, and LB Jaelen Phillips (knee) joined him. RB Raheem Mostert (chest) returns this week after full work Friday. QB Skylar Thompson (ribs) is out, but WR Odell Beckham Jr. (knee) will play. QB Tyler Huntley will start once again.

Patriots

Inactives: S Kyle Dugger, WR Javon Baker, QB Joe Milton III, SS Jabrill Peppers, TE Jaheim Bell and WR K.J. Osborn

Lineup notes: C David Andrews (shoulder) went on IR. S Jabrill Peppers (shoulder) is inactive, and WR K.J. Osborn (shoulder) also won’t go. WR Kendrick Bourne (knee) was activated from the PUP and will be available. RB Rhamondre Stevenson was benched due to fumbling issues but will play. RB Antonio Gibson gets the starting nod this week.

Cleveland Browns at Washington Commanders (1:00 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 75°F, clear

Browns

Inactives: QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, OG Javion Cohen, LB Jordan Hicks, OT Jack Conklin, CB Kahlef Hailassie, LB Khaleke Hudson and WR Jamari Thrash

Lineup notes: RB Nick Chubb (knee) remains on the PUP, but his 21-day practice window was opened. He has been ruled out. RB Nyheim Hines (knee) was limited all week and ruled out. TE David Njoku (ankle), RB Pierre Strong (hamstring), and LT Jedrick Wills (knee) will be on the field, though RT Jack Conklin (knee) couldn’t get right in time. WR Jerry Jeudy (knee) and DE Myles Garrett (Achilles) practiced Friday and are good to go.

Commanders

Inactives: QB Sam Hartman, QB Jeff Driskel, S Dominique Hampton, WR Noah Brown, S Tyler Owens, OT Chris Paul and DE Clelin Ferrell

Lineup notes: WR Noah Brown (groin) is out. RB Austin Ekeler (concussion) and RB Brian Robinson Jr. (knee) are both ready to play.

Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars (1:00 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 77°F, cloudy

Colts

Inactives: RB Jonathan Taylor, QB Anthony Richardson, WR Anthony Gould, OT Blake Freeland, DB Kenny Moore II, DE Kwity Paye and C Ryan Kelly

Lineup notes: RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle) has been ruled out. QB Anthony Richardson (oblique) is inactive, as expected. RT Braden Smith (knee) and C Ryan Kelly (neck) were both labeled questionable after sitting out Friday, but the latter won’t go after being downgraded Saturday.

Jaguars

Inactives: OG Cole Van Lanen, S Daniel Thomas, OT Javon Foster, LB Myles Cole, DT Jordan Jefferson, TE Evan Engram and LB Yasir Abdullah

Lineup notes: LB Foyesade Oluokun (foot) is on IR. TE Evan Engram (hamstring) is awfully close but just couldn’t get back this week. WR Gabe Davis (shoulder), RB Travis Etienne (shoulder) and RB Tank Bigsby (shoulder) were all limited Friday but carry no injury tags. LB Josh Hines-Allen cleared concussion protocol and has been removed from the injury report.

Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans (1:00 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 86°F, mostly clear (retractable-roof dome)

Bills

Inactives: S Taylor Rapp, DL Austin X. Johnson, DL Ed Oliver, LB Edefuan Ulofoshio, WR Khalil Shakir, C Will Clapp and CB Taron Johnson

Lineup notes: WR Khalil Shakir (ankle) didn’t practice this week and has been ruled out. LB Terrel Bernard (pectoral) upgraded to questionable this week and will give it a whirl. QB Josh Allen (hand) practiced fully all week and will play.

Texans

Inactives: RB Dameon Pierce, WR Steven Sims, RB Joe Mixon, DE Derek Barnett, OT Tytus Howard and LB Jake Hansen

Lineup notes: RB Joe Mixon (ankle) is out for Week 5. WR Tank Dell (chest) graduated to a full practice Friday and will return. RB Dameon Pierce (hamstring) was close to returning but is indeed inactive. OT Laremy Tunsil (ankle) is good to go after missing some practice time early in the week.

Late-afternoon window

Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos (4:05 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 73°F, clear

Raiders

Inactives: OT Thayer Munford, WR Davante Adams, CB Decamerion Richardson, LB Divine Deablo, TE Michael Mayer, WR Tyreik McAllister and RB Zamir White

Lineup notes: WR Davante Adams (hamstring) and RB Zamir White (groin) are out. DE Maxx Crosby (ankle) will gut it out this week.

Broncos

Inactives: WR Devaughn Vele, DT Eyioma Uwazurike, CB Kris Abrams-Draine, TE Greg Dulcich and QB Zach Wilson

Lineup notes: RT Mike McGlinchey (knee) remains on IR. WR Josh Reynolds (foot) practiced all week and will play.

Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers (4:05 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 90°F, mostly cloudy,

Cardinals

Inactives: OG Isaiah Adams, TE Travis Vokolek, PK Matt Prater, DE Victor Dimukeje, DE Xavier Thomas, CB Garrett Williams and WR Xavier Weaver

Lineup notes: TE Trey McBride (concussion, ribs) cleared the protocol but then was added Saturday as questionable with injured ribs. He will give it a go. The same can’t be said for PK Matt Prater (knee), and he’ll be replaced by PK Chad Ryland this week.

49ers

Inactives: QB Joshua Dobbs, OG Ben Bartch, S Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, WR Jacob Cowing, WR Chris Conley and CB Darrell Luter Jr.

Lineup notes: RB Christian McCaffrey (calf, Achilles) remains on IR. TE George Kittle (ribs) traded a hamstring injury for a ribs injury, and he’s will play through a questionable status. LB Fred Warner (ankle) is active.

Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Rams (4:25 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 69°F, mostly clear (open-air dome)

Packers

Inactives: CB Jaire Alexander, DT Devonte Wyatt, OG Jordan Morgan, DL Brenton Cox, OT Travis Glover and WR Christian Watson

Lineup notes: QB Jordan Love (knee) was limited Wednesday but had full sessions Thursday and Friday. He’ll play. WR Christian Watson (ankle) was out of practice all week and deemed doubtful. WR Romeo Doubs (personal) was doubtful, too, before the team announced Saturday that he’d serve a one-game suspension for missing two practices. CB Jaire Alexander (groin) is out. TE Luke Musgrave (ankle) didn’t practice all week, and he’s questionable.

Rams

Inactives: WR Cooper Kupp, QB Stetson Bennett, DL Desjuan Johnson, CB Tre’Davious White, DE Brennan Jackson, OT Geron Christian and RB Cody Schrader

Lineup notes: TE Tyler Higbee (knee) remains on the PUP. WR Puka Nacua (knee) still is on IR. WR Cooper Kupp (ankle) is out again as well. WR Demarcus Robinson (hip) was limited Wednesday but had full sessions the rest of the week and will play. CB Darious Williams activated from IR and is on the field, but it appears as through CB Tre’Davious White is a healthy scratch after being listed as “rest” on the participation report this week.

New York Giants at Seattle Seahawks (4:25 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 60°F, clear

Giants

Inactives: CB Anthony Johnson, QB Tommy DeVito, S Tre Hawkins III, RB Devin Singletary, DE Carlos Basham Jr., WR Malik Nabers and OG Jake Kubas

Lineup notes: WR Malik Nabers (concussion) has been ruled out. RB Devin Singletary (groin) won’t go, either. WR Wan’Dale Robinson (heel) was limited all week with a heel injury, but he will play. WR Isaiah Hodgins was elevated from the practice squad.

Seahawks

Inactives: OG Sataoa Laumea, LB Boye Mafe, OT Mike Jerrell, DT Byron Murphy II and C Olu Oluwatimi

Lineup notes: RB Kenneth Walker III (oblique), WR Tyler Lockett (thigh) and WR DK Metcalf (hand) practiced fully Friday and will play. TE Noah Fant (toe) saw limited work Friday, but he carries no injury status.

Sunday Night Football

Dallas Cowboys at Pittsburgh Steelers (8:20 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 74°F, SW 12 mph

Cowboys

Inactives: DL K.J. Henry, TE John Stephens, QB Trey Lance, OT Matt Waletzko, CB Caelen Carson, RB Deuce Vaughn and LB Micah Parsons

Lineup notes: DE DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) and WR Brandin Cooks (knee) were placed on IR. LB Micah Parsons (ankle) has been ruled out. RB Rico Dowdle (wrist) practiced fully and is good to go. RB Ezekiel Elliott (illness) was limited Thursday due to dehydration, but he’s fine.

Steelers

Inactives: WR Roman Wilson, LB Alex Highsmith, QB Russell Wilson, OT Max Scharping, RB Jaylen Warren, TE MyCole Pruitt and RB Cordarrelle Patterson

Lineup notes: RB Jaylen Warren (knee) and RB Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) are out. QB Russell Wilson (calf) is inactive, and QB Justin Fields draws another start.

Monday Night Football

New Orleans Saints at Kansas City Chiefs (8:15 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 63°F, clear

Saints

Lineup notes: TE Taysom Hill (ribs) won’t be available this week. RB Kendre Miller (hamstring) was designated to return from IR and carries no injury designation. RB Alvin Kamara (hip, ribs), WR Chris Olave (hamstring), and TE Juwan Johnson (forearm) all avoided injury labels and will play.

Chiefs

Lineup notes: RB Isiah Pacheco (leg) remains on IR. WR Rashee Rice (knee) landed on IR as well. RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) was limited all week and is doubtful. RB Kareem Hunt (shoulder) returned to a full session Saturday and avoided an injury designation. WR Mecole Hardman (knee) is questionable despite fully practicing Saturday.

Instant analysis of the Patriots’ 15-10 loss to Dolphins in Week 5

The Patriots lost by a toe

A toe was the deciding factor in the New England Patriots’ heartbreaking loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

It was a sloppy offensive game that came down to field position and defensive stops.

Unfortunately for the Patriots, the Dolphins got the most important defensive stop late in the fourth quarter when a touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk was called incomplete, negating a potential game-winning drive for New England.

Polk came down with the ball in his possession with one foot and a toe inbounds. Boos echoed throughout Gillette Stadium as the Patriots failed to turn the drive into points.

The defense gave the offense one last chance after forcing Miami’s offense three-and-out. Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett led the unit down to the red zone before the team ran out of time, bringing their overall record to 1-4 on the season.

There were plenty of opportunities for the Patriots to win the game, but penalties and bad play-calling ultimately cost the team when it mattered most.

Coming into the game, the Dolphins were considered one of the worst teams in football without Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback. If that truly is the case, what does that make the Patriots?

Losing to potential playoff-contending teams, like the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and maybe even the New York Jets can be explained away. However, it’s hard to explain losing to the Dolphins at home with Tyler Huntley as the starting quarterback.

The Patriots’ organization, not just the team, needs to take a long look in the mirror after this loss.

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Bengals lose to Ravens: Quick takeaways after Week 5

Quick-hitting takeaways after Ravens vs. Bengals in Week 5.

The Cincinnati Bengals got a massive showing from Joe Burrow and the offense during the Week 5 encounter with the Baltimore Ravens.

Yet, the bad defense continued and some iffy play calls from Zac Taylor in overtime doomed the Bengals to a 41-38 loss.

Here is a look at some quick takeaways coming out of the Week 5 AFC North clash.

 

Offense is elite

That’s three straight games with 30-plus points for the Bengals. Burrow looks about as comfortable as it gets behind the best line play he’s ever had and the results speak for themselves. Even without a big day from the running game and constantly under pressure from a blitz-happy defense, Burrow ripped five touchdown passes with 372 yards and Ja’Marr Chase popped off for 10 catches, 193 yards and two touchdowns.

 

Defense missed key names

Obvious, sure. But how about the return of former first-rounder Myles Murphy and his big impact on the game in all facets? Getting B.J. Hill back in the middle helped too, but Murphy was a super-obvious boon to the edge rotation. It didn’t save the entire unit’s poor play, but it helped get a few more stops than past weeks.

 

Injuries: Time to panic

While lots of good happened on Sunday, two major injury mishaps are major causes for concern. One was losing starting cornerback Dax Hill to an injury. The former safety and first-rounder who won the starting job this summer is a key piece, especially with Cam Taylor-Britt so hot and cold over the last two weeks. The other was first-round rookie Amarius Mims needing a cart to leave the field, for obvious reasons. There’s no viable backup with Trent Brown already out. Mims returned late, but who knows?

 

Dynamic swap

In past years, it was the defense making some key turnovers and remaining steady that led to deep playoff runs. This year, the script has flipped and it’s all about the offense. Burrow looks perhaps the best he’s ever played, his line is good and his weapons are healthy. With how wild the AFC North is, it’s not 100 percent over, but 1-4 is brutal.

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Instant analysis after Bengals lose to Ravens in OT classic

Instant analysis after Ravens vs. Bengals in Week 5.

The Cincinnati Bengals got five touchdown passes from Joe Burrow and yet still came up short in a 41-38 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

Over the course of another bitter AFC North game between these rivals, Joe Burrow continued his hot streak while leading the offense to 30-plus points in a third consecutive game.

The defense, however, continued its spotty play and helped the Ravens stay in it throughout the contest, making even a 10-point lead feel shaky.

Here’s a look at some quick notes and numbers to know.

 

Quick Thoughts

  • Bengals defense got bullied down the field on Baltimore’s opening drive. To its credit, though, it forced a three-and-out later in the quarter.
  • That defense lost Dax Hill to injury — he was almost strangely ruled out right away by the team.
  • Tee Higgins opened the scoring for the Bengals early in the second quarter. After a brutal start, that scoring drive was 10 plays with six first downs.
  • Sam Hubbard continued his “own the Ravens in weird ways” by registering Derrick Henry’s safety, which made it 14-9. Nice play by Hubbard, although a strange one for the Ravens to just not block him.
  • Master class in coaching and execution near the end of the half. Good timeout usage by Zac Taylor gave Joe Burrow enough time to hit Ja’Marr Chase for a 41-yard touchdown, then a two-point conversion to steal a lead going into the half.
  • Rookie Amarius Mims needed a cart to leave the field after an injury in the third quarter, which is about as worst-case scenario as it gets.
  • Bengals swapped out Vonn Bell for Jordan Battle with a 10-point lead and the entire unit looked lost, letting the Ravens score far too quickly.
  • Speaking of too quickly, Chase took a basic screen 70-yard for a score on the very next play.

  • Lou Anarumo kept sending pressure with another 10-point lead and Lamar Jackson just kept torching it.
  • Stunningly bad interception from Burrow on a basic slant to Chase while trying to protect a lead, as contact is fine within five yards of the line.
  • To the defense’s credit, after Burrow’s pick, it limited the Ravens to a field goal, making it 38-all.
  • The Bengals were once again struggling on defense…until Jackson made a stunningly bad mistake of his own, bobbling a snap and fumbling, which Germaine Pratt recovered in field goal range.
  • Bad play calls from Taylor, settling for a 53-yard field goal doomed this one in overtime at the end.

 

Key Stat

469: Total yards for the Ravens. All of Cincinnati’s offensive stats look good, so here’s one that speaks to how bad the defense was again. Most games, it’s near-impossible to win with a defense playing like that.

 

Game Balls

DE Sam Hubbard: Hubbard had the safety, but he also just generally stuffed the stat sheet and was productive on a day his line finally got some guys back.

QB Joe Burrow: Burrow was on fire most of the day, especially standing tall against pressure, taking some big hits and delivering strikes anyway, leading to his five touchdown passes.

WR Ja’Marr Chase: 10 catches, 193 yards, two touchdowns. What else is there to say at this point?

 

Top Takeaway

September nap is over…but it might be too late: The Bengals are awake now, which is nice. And 1-4 is indeed a world-ending problem. If they can clean up the defense just a little more, this is the type of offense that can drag it kicking and screaming to wins, but the hole might be too deep.

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Walter Jones to raise the 12th Man Flag for Week 5 game vs Giants

Walter Jones to raise the 12th Man Flag for Week 5 game vs Giants

One of the best players in the history of professional football has the honors of raising the 12th Man Flag on Sunday. The best pregame tradition in the NFL will be carried out by Seattle Seahawks legend, and first ballot Hall of Famer, Walter Jones.

Originally the No. 6 overall pick from the 1997 NFL draft, Jones more than lived up to his lofty selection. During his 13 years in the league, all with the Seahawks, Jones made a name for himself as a nigh-impenetrable wall along Seattle’s offensive line.

Jones played in 180 games and started every single one of them. He dropped back to defend 5,703 pass attempts and only surrendered 23 sacks. Additionally, he was flagged for holding only nine times. He named to the first team All-Pro four times, second team All-Pro twice, nine Pro Bowls, and a member of the All-Decade team of the 2000’s.

It is fitting Jones is raising the flag against the New York Giants. During the 2005 season, of which the Seahawks advanced to their first Super Bowl appearance, Seattle hosted the Giants. On that day, the world was introduced to the roar of the 12th Man, as they forced New York into committing 11 false start penalties. A stark contrast to the elite talent of Jones on the other sideline.

There are only a few jerseys hanging retired from the rafters of Lumen Field (for now) and among them is Jones’ No. 71, and rightfully so.

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Week 5 Preview and Prediction: Seattle Seahawks vs New York Giants

Week 5 Preview and Prediction: Seattle Seahawks vs New York Giants

The Seattle Seahawks are coming off their first loss of the 2024 season, and will look to get back into the win column with a victory over the New York Football Giants. Seattle (3-1) is hosting New York (1-3) for the first time since the 2022 season, but did play them last year on Monday Night Football in the meadowlands. Both games were convincing wins for the the Seahawks.

Such could be the case for Seattle again in the third-straight meeting between these two teams in as many years. The Giants are, once again, looking like one of the worst teams in football. Quarterback Daniel Jones and the offense are an unthreatening mess, while their defense struggles to stop just about anyone.

New York’s offense is going to be even more toothless on Sunday, as they will be without star rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers and running back Devin Singletary. Not exactly two players you want out, let alone against a Seahawks defense getting considerably healthier. Although Boye Mafe and Byron Murphy II are out, Seattle will be getting back Jerome Baker, Uchenna Nwosu, and Julian Love and Leonard Williams who will face their former team.

Geno Smith and the Seahawks offense, on the other hand, is coming off a red-hot performance against the Detroit Lions. Seattle played their most complete game of the season, offensively, and it was dynamic. They should face little resistance from New York, a team who feels like they are already on the verge of calling 2024 another lost season.

This is the NFL, and I hate to pick a game to be a blowout, but with how both teams are at the moment, it feels wrong to pick anyone but the Seahawks convincingly.

Prediction: Seahawks over Giants 28-10

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