Offenses were on full display this week with multiple 30+ point outbursts and overtime thrillers in week 5. Some of the notable highlights from week 5 include the Ravens taking down the Bengals, Aaron Rodgers falling apart in London, the 49ers dropping to below .500, and the Texans big win over the Bills. With playoff pictures starting to take shape, let’s take a look at some of the biggest overreactions from week 5. Below is the overreaction meter.
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Overreactions
The Bengals are going to miss the playoffs
The Cincinnati Bengals dropped to 1-4 after their 41-38 overtime loss to their division rival the Baltimore Ravens. We got a quarterback duel in this game with Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson throwing for a combined 740 yards and 9 touchdowns. Ja’Marr Chase exploded with 10 catches for 193 yards and 2 touchdowns while Tee Higgins added 2 touchdowns of his own in the loss. The game changed late in the 4th quarter with Burrow throwing an interception on 2nd and 15 with the Bengals up 3 to set up the game-tying field goal to go to overtime.
A missed field goal and a long Derrick Henry run in overtime set up Tucker’s game-winning field goal handing the Bengals their 4th loss of the season. The slow start to the season can be attributed to the 2nd worst scoring defense in the NFL allowing an average of 29 points per game. Another slow start to the season has head coach Zac Taylor’s job security in question. Despite their struggles, I still believe the Bengals will find a way into the playoffs. Their schedule eases up down the stretch and Joe Burrow is playing like an MVP so far to start the season.
Overreaction Meter: 2
The 49ers are in trouble
After being up 23-10 at halftime the San Francisco 49ers (2-3) were held scoreless in the 2nd half and fell to the Arizona Cardinals (2-3) 24-23. After a strong start, Brock Purdy fell apart finishing with 244 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. The 49ers defense struggled to stop the run again allowing 169 rushing yards to the Cardinals. This loss makes San Francisco now 0-2 in their division but still only sit 1 game back of Seattle in the NFC West.
The injuries are notable for San Francisco. They are currently missing 3 all pros between Christian McCaffrey, Javon Hargrave, and Dre Greenlaw. Despite the injuries, they still rank in the top 10 of many offensive and defensive categories to start the season. There is no reason to panic with the 49ers. They just need to get in the playoffs, and they become the favorites in the NFC with the talent they have on their roster.
Overreaction Meter: 3
The MVP Conversation is up for grabs
Through five weeks of the season the MVP award has no clear favorite right now. Going into week 4 Patrick Mahomes was still the odds-on favorite in a majority of sports books followed by Josh Allen, C.J. Stroud, Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels, and Sam Darnold.
Mahomes has struggled out of the gates only having 1 more touchdown than interceptions so far this season. Josh Allen has thrown for under 300 passing yards and only 1 touchdown the last two weeks. CJ Stroud has yet to throw for 3 touchdowns in a game this season despite the Texans 4-1 start. Lamar Jackson has been dominant the last three weeks but struggled to start the season. Jayden Daniels and Sam Darnold have question marks surrounding the sustainability of their high-level play. Then Joe Burrow has started to sneak into the MVP conversation but has a 1-4 record. This race is wide open, with no QB standing above the others
Overreaction Meter: 1
Aaron Rodgers is washed
Rodgers and the Jets (2-3) had their opportunities in London to take down the Vikings (5-0). The Jets defense held the Vikings offense to under 300 yards and only 1 touchdown. On the other side of the ball, the Jets struggles continued. The Jets once again finished under 20 points with Aaron Rodgers finishing 29/54 with 244 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. The lone bright spot on the offense was WR Garrett Wilson who finished with 13 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown on 22 targets.
Look Aaron Rodgers is a 1st ballot hall of famer and the term “washed” looks a lot different for Rodgers compared to an average NFL quarterback. At times yesterday Rodgers had the Jets offense rolling. Other times, Rodgers was holding onto the ball too long, making the wrong throw, or not calling out a blitzing linebacker. The year off from football looks like it has hurt Rodgers more than the Achilles injury. Rodgers never struggled with turning the ball over in his last few years in Green Bay, now we seem him making throws we have never seen from the future hall of famer. He is no longer a top QB in the NFL, but he still has enough left in him to be an average QB in this league
Overreaction Meter: 1
Caleb Williams will win rookie of the year
The Bears (3-2) kept building upon their momentum and put up 36 points against the Panthers (1-4). Caleb Williams finished 20/29 for 304 passing yards and 2 touchdowns in the win showing off his improvisation abilities that made him so coveted out of college. With Williams continuing to improve his play, he is starting to insert himself into the rookie of the year conversation. Despite this Williams still has some ways to go to catch Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers.
Daniels has led the Commanders to a 4-1 start behind his record-breaking play to start the season. He has an average outing against a tough Browns defense this week but still managed over 300 total yards. Daniels has provided the Commanders with multiple ways to attack opposing defenses through the ground and air that have made the offense unstoppable to start the season. Before his concussion, Nabers was establishing himself as one of the league’s best wide receivers. Through four weeks Nabers had 35 catches for 386 yards and 3 touchdowns on 52 targets. If Williams keeps playing better, he can work his way into this tight race for the rookie of the year.
Overreaction Meter: 2
Justin Fields is not the long-term answer in Pittsburgh
After a hot start to the season, the Steelers (3-2) find themselves on the wrong end of their last two games. This week against the Cowboys (3-2), their offense was nonexistent for a majority of the night as they only finished with 17 points and 226 total yards. The Cowboys defense down Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Daron Bland dominated what was supposed to be a good matchup for the Steelers offense. Justin Fields on the night finished with 158 total yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 fumble on the night.
Justin Fields is the same quarterback in Pittsburgh that we have seen the last few years in Chicago. He holds the ball way too long, he’s careless with the football, and he doesn’t work past his first read. Not a good combination of attributes for your starting quarterback in the NFL. I will give Fields his flowers, his rushing ability is game changing and has been underutilized in Pittsburgh. As a passer though he has not shown enough development to leave him in their over Russell Wilson or anoint him the franchise quarterback.
Overreaction Meter: 3