Week 5 in the NFL featured Derek Carr and the Las Vegas Raiders exorcising their demons in Kansas City, the New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons picking up their fifth losses, and the return of Washington's Alex Smith to the football field after a gruesome leg injury two years ago.
Elsewhere, the Carolina Panthers won their third game in a row, while the Pittsburgh Steelers remained undefeated thanks to four touchdowns from rookie Chase Claypool.
All that and more in Week 5's biggest takeaways from NFL Nation.
Jump to a matchup:
LV-KC | CIN-BAL | PHI-PIT
LAR-WSH | CAR-ATL | JAX-HOU
ARI-NYJ | TB-CHI | MIA-SF | IND-CLE
DAL-NYG | SEA-MIN | NO-LAC | BUF-TEN
Tennessee Titans 42, Buffalo Bills 16
Standout performer for BUF-TEN: Ryan Tannehill completed 21 of 28 for 195 yards with three TD's passing and one rushing.
The Titans managed to win a battle of undefeated teams despite only practicing three times in 16 days and being without 12 players on their roster. They showed that nothing can rattle them, not even a COVID-19 outbreak. Tennessee's win was a statement game. -- Turron Davenport
Next game: vs. Houston (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
When Buffalo's passing game isn't on, this team looks a lot more beatable than it did over the past four weeks. At this point, it's safe to assume this is not the same Bills defense we've seen over the past two seasons -- to the point where it's more of a liability than an asset through five weeks. But with Buffalo's explosive aerial attack, it's been tough to see just how much of a liability that defense is. Bills players insist they'll get it figured out, and they were missing two starters, but with high-scoring Kansas City coming to Orchard Park in Week 6, it's a side of the ball that needs to start carrying its weight. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
Next game: vs. Kansas City (5 p.m. ET, Monday)
New Orleans Saints 30, Los Angeles Chargers 27 (OT)
Standout performer for LAC-NO: Drew Brees went 33-of-47 passing for 325 yards with a touchdown pass, a touchdown run and an interception in leading a 17-point comeback, the biggest of his career at home
No one will confuse this up-and-down Saints team with the 2009 Super Bowl champions. But Brees did just overcome a 17-point or greater deficit for the second time in his career in Monday's victory over the Chargers -- second to only a memorable win at Miami during that '09 season. And now the Saints (3-2) have at least given themselves a chance to reboot after the Week 6 bye. They hope to get wide receiver Michael Thomas back from an ankle injury and a disciplinary suspension -- which will help their inconsistent offense. But their defense also needs to clean up the deep-ball issues that nearly sunk them Monday night, among other woes. -- Mike Triplett
Next game: vs. Carolina (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 25)
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert became the first rookie to throw four touchdown passes on Monday Night Football ... but it was all for naught. Another losing cause, as the Chargers blew a 17-point lead on the road for the second week in a row and fell to the Saints. This was the second overtime loss of Herbert's career, the first coming in a three-point loss to Kansas City in his debut on Sept. 20, when he was thrown into the starting lineup before anyone really realized it. Then came a five-point loss to Carolina in Week 3 and a seven-point loss to Tampa Bay last weekend after the Chargers, now 1-4, took a 17-point lead. And now this, a loss after the Chargers went up 20-3 in the first half. What little is left of Anthony Lynn's hair is now gone. -- Shelley Smith
Next game: vs. Jacksonville (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 25)
Dallas Cowboys 37, New York Giants 34
Standout performer for NYG-DAL: Andy Dalton, 111 yards passing yards, directed the winning drive in the final minute filling in for an injured Dak Prescott
The Cowboys are in first place in the NFC East with a 2-3 record, but will be without starting quarterback Dak Prescott for the rest of the season because of a dislocated and fractured right ankle. "I just feel terrible for him," coach Mike McCarthy said. "He was having a tremendous year. In my short time working with him, he's made such an impression on me, and he's clearly the leader of this football team. I have no doubt that he'll bounce back from this and this will be all part of his great story." Veteran Andy Dalton, who has not had a winning record as a starter since 2015, will take over. -- Todd Archer
Next game: vs. Arizona (8:15 p.m. ET, Monday, Oct. 19)
The Giants saw two touchdowns negated -- one in each half -- on questionable calls. Those points proved to be costly, particularly for a team that doesn't seem to know how to win. The Giants (0-5) could've been in the thick of the the NFC East race but instead remain in the race for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. Quarterback Daniel Jones failed to lead his team down the field with a chance to win. Even though Jason Garrett's offense showed some life, it was another disappointing result for the Giants, and Joe Judge remains winless as head coach. -- Jordan Raanan
Next game: vs. Washington (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Cleveland Browns 32, Indianapolis Colts 23
Standout performer for IND-CLE: Myles Garrett, 1 sack, forced a safety off an intentional grounding
The Browns haven't been to the playoffs in 18 years. They're also 4-1 for the first time since 1994, when Bill Belichick was the coach. The Colts figure to be one of the teams the Browns will be vying against for a playoff spot. Winning Sunday -- while also handing Indy a loss -- took Cleveland one small step closer to snapping the NFL's longest playoff drought. -- Jake Trotter
Next game: at Pittsburgh (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Could the Colts be forced to make a change at quarterback after Philip Rivers threw two more interceptions to bring his season total to five and was called for intentional grounding for a safety against Cleveland? Nope. Coach Frank Reich said Rivers is the "least" of his worries. Four of Rivers' five interceptions happened in the Colts' two losses this season. -- Mike Wells
Next game: vs. Cincinnati (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Miami Dolphins 43, San Francisco 49ers 17
Standout performer for MIA-SF: Ryan Fitzpatrick, 350 passing yards, 3 TDs
A near-perfect game from Ryan Fitzpatrick should quiet talk about Tua Time while also showing rookie Tua Tagovailoa how to lead a team. Fitzpatrick's career has been defined as a roller coaster, and Sunday was the peak of the quarterback's play. Coach Brian Flores doesn't have to tell us Fitzpatrick will remain the Dolphins' starter this week because his play did the talking, and it seems Miami's transition plan is working out just as intended thus far. -- Cameron Wolfe
Next game: vs. N.Y. Jets (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The 49ers are in serious trouble. An embarrassing blowout loss to the Dolphins dropped them to 2-3, and over the next seven weeks, they play the Rams, Patriots, Seahawks, Packers, Saints, Rams and Bills. Given their many struggles, it's hard to find any obvious wins in there unless the Niners improve quickly. "We have got to close the doors, go out to the field and go to work," coach Kyle Shanahan said. "You either get better or worse and if we don't get better, then it's going to be a long season." -- Nick Wagoner
Next game: vs. L.A. Rams (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Las Vegas Raiders 40, Kansas City Chiefs 32
Standout performer for LV-KC: Derek Carr, 347 passing yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Derek Carr said last week he was tired of losing, so what did he do about it? He outplayed Patrick Mahomes to exorcise his Arrowhead Stadium demons, and the Raiders ended a seven-game losing streak at the Kansas City Chiefs with an upset of the defending Super Bowl champions. Carr, who entered the game having lost all six of his games at Kansas City by an average score of 29-12, engineered an efficient ball-control offense that showed just enough explosiveness to keep the Chiefs honest. -- Paul Gutierrez
Next game: vs. Tampa Bay (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 25)
The aura of invincibility that once surrounded the Chiefs' offense was further punctured by the Raiders, who became the third opponent in the past four weeks to give the Chiefs fits with their defense. The strategy of getting pressure without the blitz and then blanketing receivers downfield was familiar. The Chiefs will undoubtedly see similar tactics in their next game against the Bills and beyond, so they're either going to need to protect Mahomes better or get their receivers open quicker. Otherwise, their problems won't go away. -- Adam Teicher
Next game: at Buffalo (5 p.m. ET, Monday, Oct. 19)
Baltimore Ravens 27, Cincinnati Bengals 3
Standout performer for CIN-BAL: Patrick Queen, 9 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF, 1 TD
The Ravens' defense has taken over the starring role on the team. In 2019, Lamar Jackson and the offense carried Baltimore to the best record in the regular season. Through five games, it's the defense that's setting the tone. In sacking Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow seven times, the Ravens came within a late fourth-quarter field goal of their first shutout in two years. Baltimore is limiting teams to 15.2 points per game and has also scored two defensive touchdowns this season. -- Jamison Hensley
Next game: at Philadelphia (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
After Joe Burrow secured his first NFL win last weekend and became the first rookie to throw for 300 or more yards in three consecutive games, he didn't look like a 23-year-old who just turned pro. That wasn't the case Sunday, as Cincinnati mustered 205 total yards and didn't get inside the Ravens' 30-yard line until the end of the game. Sunday was a sobering reminder of what it will take for Burrow to succeed in the NFL. "We just didn't execute our plan very well," Burrow said. "I didn't play very well, and we as an offense didn't play very well." -- Ben Baby
Next game: at Indianapolis (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Los Angeles Rams 30, Washington Football Team 10
Standout performer for LAR-WSH: Aaron Donald, 4 sacks
The Rams improved to 4-1 and after sweeping the NFC East are primed to begin division play next Sunday against the 49ers. The Rams are in second place in the NFC West behind the Seattle Seahawks as they attempt to reclaim the division title they won in 2017 and 2018 before the 49ers won last season. With quarterback Jared Goff regaining his form from two years ago, when the team advanced to the Super Bowl, and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald leading the league in sacks, including four on Sunday, the Rams could be positioning themselves for deep playoff run. -- Lindsey Thiry
Next game: at San Francisco (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Washington's problems run deeper than Dwayne Haskins. The benched quarterback wasn't showing the team what it wanted, which is why it started Kyle Allen on Sunday. But without him -- and with Allen hurt in the second quarter and Alex Smith seeing his first action in almost two years -- Washington managed 108 total yards. And the defense was gashed again. That side of the ball was supposed to provide the backbone of the team, but instead it allows too many big plays. Washington entered the game tied for the second-most plays of 25 yards or more allowed this season with four; Sunday, the team allowed five such plays. It has allowed at least 30 points each of the past four games. -- John Keim
Next game: at N.Y. Giants (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Pittsburgh Steelers 38, Philadelphia Eagles 29
Standout performer for PHI-PIT: Chase Claypool, 116 total yards, 4 TDs
Chase Claypool is for real. The rookie second-round pick from Notre Dame got heaps of praise from coach Mike Tomlin and his teammates during training camp. And with a four-touchdown performance in the Steelers' win against the Eagles, the wide receiver showed he's worthy. It was impressive not just that Claypool became the first rookie in team history to score four touchdowns in a single game, but how he did it. The final score came on a play he'd never run from that spot. But his ability to adapt to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's audibles makes him a special talent. "We expected them to go all-out blitz," Roethlisberger told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio after the game. "So we had a play called and they sat back in a zone, and we had him in a spot and I just called a play that he never ran in that spot, and obviously he knows what he is doing and I was proud of him." -- Brooke Pryor
Next game: vs. Cleveland (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Travis Fulgham's encouraging play is starting to feel like more than a fluke, and that's huge for the Eagles, who have been snakebit at wide receiver the past couple of seasons. Fulgham went off for 10 catches and 152 yards Sunday against Pittsburgh. With his emergence, Philadelphia suddenly has a potentially promising one-two punch for the near future once first-round pick Jalen Reagor returns from a UCL tear in his thumb. And it lessens the need for the Eagles to depend on the health and production of 33-year-old DeSean Jackson (hamstring) and 30-year-old Alshon Jeffery (Lisfranc). Even at 1-3-1, they'll remain in contention in the awful NFC East if their offense can keep pace. -- Tim McManus
Next game: vs. Baltimore (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Carolina Panthers 23, Atlanta Falcons 16
Standout performer for CAR-ATL: Teddy Bridgewater, 313 yards, 2 TDs
The future of Atlanta coach Dan Quinn might be in doubt after an 0-5 start, but first-year Panthers coach Matt Rhule's future is bright after Sunday's victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It was Carolina's third consecutive win and forced a tie with Tampa Bay atop the NFC South. It was the result of the same things Rhule demands that led to the previous two victories: fast play, physical play and mistake-free football on both sides of the ball. With running back Christian McCaffrey (ankle) likely to return in a couple of weeks, this team should only get better. -- David Newton
Next game: vs. Chicago (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
There's no other way to look at the Falcons' 0-5 start then to say it's time to make a coaching change. Dan Quinn was supposed to turn things around after back-to-back 7-9 seasons. Now the Falcons have little to no chance to make the playoffs, as no team in the Super Bowl era has made the postseason after an 0-5 start. Atlanta officially parted ways with Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff on Sunday night. -- Vaughn McClure
Next game: at Minnesota (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Arizona Cardinals 30, New York Jets 10
Standout performer for ARI-NYJ: Kyler Murray, 380 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
The Cardinals bounced back from two consecutive losses with a win over the Jets and career-high 380 passing yards from Kyler Murray, who had his own rebound from last week's 133 passing yards. But the victory was overshadowed by Chandler Jones' biceps injury, which coach Kliff Kingsbury said could be season-ending. Losing Jones would take away the Cardinals' most effective pass-rushing weapon, because even with one sack this season, Jones commands enough attention to draw personnel away from the other side where the likes of Devon Kennard and Haason Reddick -- the likely candidate to replace Jones in the starting lineup -- were able to work one-on-one. -- Josh Weinfuss
Next game: at Dallas (8:15 p.m. ET, Monday, Oct. 19)
The Jets are 0-5 for the first time since 1996. They've lost every game by at least nine points. The defense has allowed at least 27 points in every game. They've been outscored 161-75. We could go on, but you get the point. This is as bad as it's ever been in a quarter-century, and there's little hope for a turnaround. -- Rich Cimini
Next game: at Miami (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Houston Texans 30, Jacksonville Jaguars 14
Standout performer for JAX-HOU: Brandin Cooks, 8 catches for 161 yards and a TD
There was a lot of excitement at NRG Stadium as the Texans got their first win of the season under interim coach Romeo Crennel. It's clear there's still a lot of work to be done for this 1-4 team, however. A promising start: Deshaun Watson was able to connect with wide receiver Brandin Cooks, who had his best game for the Texans. -- Sarah Barshop
Next game: at Tennessee (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Just another week in which the Jaguars couldn't put together anything resembling a complete game. The defense, minus three starters before the game and losing two others during to injuries, managed to keep it close into the fourth quarter, but this week the offense and special teams self-destructed. Kicker Stephen Hauschka missed two field goals, running back James Robinson fumbled on a fourth-down play inside the 10-yard line, and quarterback Gardner Minshew lost another fumble. That's what bad teams do, and the Jaguars, at 1-4 after their fourth consecutive loss, are definitely a bad team. -- Mike DiRocco
Next game: vs. Detroit (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Chicago Bears 20, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19
Standout performer for TB-CHI: Khalil Mack, 2 sacks
The Bears are tough to figure out. They have been outplayed most of the season, yet they are 4-1. Is Chicago a true contender? Time will tell, but it has positioned itself in the thick of the NFC playoff picture by virtue of Thursday's win over Tampa Bay. Quarterback Nick Foles was good (30-of-42, 243 yards, TD, INT), not great, proving the team needs just adequate play on offense to compliment its strong defense. -- Jeff Dickerson
Next game: at Carolina (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
With few playmakers at his disposal, Bucs quarterback Tom Brady found himself on the losing end of a fourth-quarter comeback, falling to the Bears. Not only did he appear to lose track of down and distance on a fourth-down play (depending whom you ask) on Tampa's final drive, one of the Buccaneers' top players on defense -- defensive tackle Vita Vea -- is out for the season with broken ankle. At 3-2 with the Packers coming to town next Sunday, the Bucs need to focus on getting Chris Godwin, Scotty Miller, Leonard Fournette and Mike Evans 100% healthy, and limiting destructive penalties. -- Jenna Laine
Next game: vs. Green Bay (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Seattle Seahawks 27, Minnesota Vikings 26
Standout performer for SEA-MIN: Russell Wilson: 20-of-32 passing, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 58 rushing yards on 5 carries
The Vikings' loss at Seattle will widely be pinned on their failed attempt on fourth-and-1 from the Seahawks' 6-yard line when Alexander Mattison was stopped shy of a first down that would have sealed Minnesota's second consecutive road victory. Playing for an injured Dalvin Cook, Mattison ran straight up the gut instead of cutting outside, where it appeared he had room to pick up at least a yard. Coach Mike Zimmer was adamant afterward that he doesn't regret his decision to go for it over kicking a field goal to give Minnesota an eight-point lead, and that aggressive choice was likely the right one. But there are others that will come into question as the Vikings try to move forward after a 1-4 start. Those include a failed 2-point attempt with a designed quarterback run after a third-quarter touchdown and calling for pressure on a fourth-and-10 play that left the secondary exposed, allowing Russell Wilson to connect with DK Metcalf for a 39-yard gain and paving the way for Seattle to win the game. -- Courtney Cronin
Next game: vs. Atlanta (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Seahawks won ugly Sunday night, but they're sitting pretty at 5-0 for the first time in franchise history after beating Minnesota. There are concerns, to be sure. Their pass defense was gashed early in the season and their run defense got worked against the Vikings. For the first time this season, their red-hot offense was flat in the first half before scoring 21 consecutive points in the third quarter. But the Seahawks' problems should be kept in context with the rest of the NFC West, with the San Francisco 49ers stumbling through an injury-riddled 2-3 start and the 3-2 Arizona Cardinals losing Chandler Jones to what might be a season-ending injury. The Seahawks face Arizona when they come back from next weekend's bye and should have All-Pro safety Jamal Adams back in the starting lineup. -- Brady Henderson
Next game: at Arizona (4:05 p.m. ET, Oct. 25)