NFL Week 5 Recap: 14 Games, 14 Stories

The NFL's Week 5 slate delivered heart-pounding action, wild finishes, and a handful of upsets that left fans on the edge of their seats. From overtime thrillers to defensive battles, this week had it all. With playoff races heating up and underdogs showing their bite, the intensity only continues to rise. Whether you’re celebrating a big win or still catching your breath, let’s break down all the highlights and storylines that defined Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season;

1.) Buccaneers 30 - Falcons 36 (OT)

A Thursday night thriller saw the Falcons outlast Tampa Bay in overtime, with both teams trading blows all night. Kirk Cousins led a late drive for the Falcons to tie it, setting up the win in OT with a game-winning touchdown drive. Kirktober is officially underway !

2.) Jets 17 - Vikings 23

Minnesota edged out the Jets in a tight contest, with Sam Darnold leading the Vikings to a 5-0 start. The Jets struggled offensively, as Rodgers threw three picks that kept them from catching up. Jets are struggling and that locker is falling part week by week.

3.) Panthers 10 - Bears 36

Chicago overwhelmed Carolina in a dominant performance, with Caleb Williams firing on all cylinders. The Bears’ defense held Andy Dalton to just 10 points, forcing multiple turnovers and making it a tough day for the Panthers.

4.) Browns 13 - Commanders 34

Washington controlled this game from start to finish. Jayden Daniels had a great outing, leading the Commanders to an easy win, while the Browns’ offense never found its footing, faltering against Washington's defense. Jayden Daniels is what Deshaun Watson wishes he could be.

5.) Dolphins 15 - Patriots 10

An AFC East defensive struggle ended with Miami squeezing out a win over the Patriots. Neither offense found rhythm, but a late Dolphins TD from FB Alec Ingold was enough to separate them from New England.

6.) Colts 34 - Jaguars 37

A back-and-forth AFC South shootout ended in favor of the Jaguars, with Trevor Lawrence tossing 2 touchdowns. The Colts hung in tough, but the Jags held on with a critical defensive stop late in the game, securing their first win of the season.

7.) Bills 20 - Texans 23

In stunning fashion, the Texans pulled off a victory over the Bills. CJ Stroud threw for over 300 yards and led critical drives late in the game that resulted in a game-winning field goal, while the Bills’ offense sputtered at key moments. Buffalo had their chances but could not capitalize when the time came.

8.) Ravens 41 - Bengals 38 (OT)

A classic AFC North battle saw Baltimore edge out Cincinnati in overtime, with Lamar Jackson putting on a show both through the air and on the ground. The Ravens sealed the win behind the legs of Justin Tucker after coming back from a 10 point deficit late in the fourth.

9.) Raiders 18 - Broncos 34

Denver finally found some rhythm on both sides of the ball, as Bo Nix led the Broncos to a comfortable win over the Raiders. Las Vegas couldn’t keep up, with their offense struggling throughout.

10.) Cardinals 24 - 49ers 23

In a nail-biter, Arizona stunned San Francisco with a late-game surge, overcoming a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit. Kyler Murray's heroics led the Cardinals to a shocking upset over the 49ers.

11.) Giants 29 - Seahawks 20

The Giants picked up a much-needed win, pulling away from Seattle with a big second half. Daniel Jones played mistake-free football, and the defense forced key turnovers that sealed the game.

12.) Packers 24 - Rams 19

Green Bay escaped with a win over the Rams, who fought hard but couldn’t keep up in the fourth quarter. Jordan Love’s timely plays kept the Packers ahead, while the Rams failed to execute in the clutch.

13.) Cowboys 20 - Steelers 17

For the most part it was a well balanced back and forth game. There wasn't many exciting plays and the game was delayed over 1 hour, but the home crowd still couldn't provide the Steelers that edge. Pittsburgh won the turnover battle 3-0 but couldn't execute much throughout the contest. Pittsburgh defence bent the whole game and broke in the 4th quarter leading to Jalen Tolbert's go ahead game winning TD in the last 20 seconds to give the Cowgirls the victory. BUT, the GOAT himself TJ Watt hit 100 career sacks and was the second fastest to ever do it behind Reggie White.

14.) Saints 13 - Chiefs 26

Another week, and another Chiefs victory. Kansas City is now 5-0 to start the season, and they've done it with a beat up squad. Kelce had a big night filling a large role in the receiving game without Rashee Rice, JuJu had over 100 receiving yards and Kareem Hunt dominated the ground game. Derek Carr and the Saints defence fought to the final whistle but it just wasn't enough to top the Chiefs in Taylor Swift land (Arrowhead).

That’s your Week 5 recap! Stay tuned for more updates on @PerriSportsHub!