The first five weeks of the NFL season are in the books. As always, we’ve had surprising hot starts, underachieving rookies, and big-name stars sidelined due to injury, including Joe Burrow, Tyreek Hill, and Malik Nabers. Almost a third of the way through the regular season, it feels like the right time to look back. Which trends are real, and which storylines are just small-sample noise?
Ravens are Cooked
Baltimore is 1-4 and has conceded by far the most points in the NFL. Lamar Jackson missed Week 5’s game because of injury, joining a Pro Bowl-level injury report for this squad.
The Ravens have Jackson, Kyle Hamilton, Roquan Smith, Patrick Ricard, Ronnie Stanley, Marlon Humphrey, and Nnamdi Madubike among the players on the shelf. Their prognoses vary, with Madubike out for the year, and Jackson potentially in line to return for Week 6.
The playoffs aren’t quite out of reach yet, but the Ravens don’t have much time to turn their season around and it looks bleak in Baltimore.
Drake Maye Might be for Real
Drake Maye carried the Patriots to a blowout of the Panthers in Week 4. He backed it up in a big way, taking the Pats into Buffalo and beating Josh Allen’s Bills. Maye has thrown two interceptions all year and has posted big-time passing numbers.
There were some shaky moments, but that’s part of the developmental process with a young quarterback. He’s used his legs when necessary and generally shown great poise in or out of the pocket.
New England isn’t going on a deep run this year, but the way Maye has followed up a promising rookie season gives hope for a franchise that’s been in the doldrums since the end of the Tom Brady era.
Watch Out for the Colts
Only the Lions have scored more points this season than the Colts. Their offensive line, per PFF, is the fifth best in the league, Daniel Jones has been exemplary, and Jonathan Taylor is back to his All-Pro best.
There really have not been any major flaws with this Colts team so far. The Week 5 blowout win over the Raiders was another sign that their offensive firepower is for real. The offensive line grades above average in both pass protection and run blocking, the receivers have been more than dependable, and the special teams unit ranks among the league’s best
With Houston’s slow start, Tennessee in shambles, and Jacksonville still too shaky for my liking, Indy looks like it could run away with this division.
Nacua Making History
Matthew Stafford has a knack for producing historic wide receiver seasons. Calvin Johnson and Cooper Kupp were the stars before, and now it is Puka Nacua, who leads the NFL at an absurd 117.6 yards per game.
Before Week 1 it was fair to question the Rams’ contender status, especially with Stafford’s health in doubt and the feeling that their window had closed.
Instead, PFF currently ranks them first in offense and second in defense. Nacua would be the Offensive Player of the Year if the season ended today, and Davante Adams looks like a lock for the Pro Bowl.
Ben Johnson Needs Time
The 2–2 Bears have not taken the leap some expected. Caleb Williams has shown flashes, but Chicago’s offense has been inconsistent and ranks near the bottom of the league.
Wins in Weeks 3 and 4 got the Bears back to .500 before their Week 5 bye. The time off could help them reset before facing the Commanders in Week 6.
The upcoming schedule is favorable with the Saints, Ravens, Bengals, and Giants on deck, so the Bears are worth keeping an eye on.
Dallas Stays Competitive
The Micah Parsons trade likely will not age well, and it has clearly weakened the Cowboys in the short term. Even so, Dallas is 2–2–1 with a real chance to reach five wins before the Week 10 bye.
The offense has kept rolling despite CeeDee Lamb’s health issues. Javonte Williams has delivered clutch runs, George Pickens has stepped up, and Jake Ferguson has quietly been one of the league’s top three tight ends. The defense, though, remains porous and limits Dallas’ ceiling.
At best they look like a wild-card team, but the opening stretch has still been entertaining for their fans.
Falcons Are Not A Contender
Any hopes that the Falcons could challenge the Buccaneers for the division look far-fetched. Michael Penix has been erratic, throwing as many interceptions as touchdowns despite playing behind one of the league’s best offensive lines. The defense has not stood out either, with an ineffective pass rush and bottom-10 numbers against the run.
The idea was that Penix, paired with Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Darnell Mooney, Kyle Pitts, and Ray-Ray McCloud, would spark a high-powered offense, but it has yet to materialize.
And the schedule only gets tougher after the bye with the Bills, Niners, Patriots, and Colts lined up before Week 11.
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