Baltimore Ravens' Justin Tucker (No. 9) kicked a game-winning field goal to beat the Cincinnati Bengals.
CNN —
Week 5 in the NFL had everything: late drama, historic achievements and a game across the Atlantic in London.
Sunday’s action began with the Minnesota Vikings’ victory over the New York Jets at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a win which maintains Minnesota’s undefeated start to the season.
Here are the main storylines from Sunday’s games.
Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum celebrates after a play during a game against the New York Jets in London on Sunday, October 6. The Vikings extended their win streak with a 23-17 victory.
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman scores on a 49-yard touchdown reception during the Bills' 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans in Houston on October 6.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence eats a cupcake to celebrate his birthday after his team beat the Indianapolis Colts 37-34 at home in Jacksonville, Florida, on October 6. It was the Jaguars' first win of the season.
Green Bay Packers punter Daniel Whelan grabs a high snap during a game against the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood, California, on October 6. The Packers won 24-19.
Indianapolis Colts running back Trey Sermon runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Florida, on October 6.
Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn celebrates with teammates after kicking a 59-yard field goal on the last play of his team's victory over the Buffalo Bills in Houston on October 6.
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir runs for a touchdown after a blocked field goal during a game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, California, on October 6. The Cardinals came back to narrowly upset the 49ers 24-23.
Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss celebrates after an interception in Denver on October 6. The Broncos beat the Las Vegas Raiders 34-18.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after his team's loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London on October 6. Rodgers was intercepted three times.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels passes in the first half of the team's 42-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, September 29.
Denver Broncos cornerback Tremon Smith celebrates as a field goal attempt by New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein misses in the fourth quarter in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 29. The Broncos won 10-9.
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders fights off the tackle attempt by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 29. The Bengals beat the Panthers 34-24.
Houston Texans safety Eric Murray celebrates after sacking Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence during the Texans' 24-20 victory in Houston on September 29.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle catches a touchdown pass in the end zone in Santa Clara, California, on September 29. The 49ers beat the New England Patriots 30-13.
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton bobbles the ball as he runs against Dallas Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks during the Giants' 20-15 loss to the Cowboys in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Thursday, September 26.
Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills celebrates an interception during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Orchard Park, New York, on Monday, September 23. This was his first career interception and latest milestone since he suffered from a cardiac arrest on the field in early 2023.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold throws the ball to tight end Johnny Mundt in Minneapolis on Sunday, September 22. The Vikings beat the Houston Texans 34-7.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III runs with the ball for a touchdown during the Steelers' 20-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Pittsburgh on September 22.
Kadeem Telfort of the Green Bay Packers takes a selfie with a fan after the Packers beat the Tennessee Titans 30-14 on the road in Nashville on September 22.
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones lands in the end zone for a touchdown in Minneapolis on September 22.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescotts sits on the field after a play during the team's 28-25 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Arlington, Texas, on September 22.
New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard runs past New England Patriots cornerback Alex Austin for a touchdown in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Thursday, September 19. The Jets won 24-3.
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney scores a touchdown during the team's 22-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia on Monday, September 16.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes runs the ball against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dax Hill during the Chiefs' 26-25 victory in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday, September 15. The defending Super Bowl champs moved to 2-0 on the season.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. catches a pass over Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum and linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. during a game in Minneapolis on September 15. The Vikings would go on to win the game 24-17.
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara runs the ball during the Saints' 44-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, on September 15. Kamara had four touchdowns in the game.
Miami Dolphins players attend to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after he took a hit to the head in the second half of a game against the Buffalo Bills in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Thursday, September 12. Tagovailoa was later ruled out with a concussion.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and teammates wait in a tunnel before a game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, California, on Monday, September 9. This is the first game back for Rodgers since tearing his Achilles tendon last year after his first game of the season.
Los Angeles Chargers players and Las Vegas Raiders players clash after a play during the second half of their game in Inglewood, California, on Sunday, September 8.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott celebrates after a touchdown during the Cowboys' 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland on September 8. Hours before the game, Prescott agreed to a record four-year, $240 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid player in the NFL.
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. breaks a tackle from Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker K.J. Britt in Tampa, Florida, on September 8. The Buccaneers beat the Commanders 37-20.
Miami Dolphins wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle celebrate a touchdown during a 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Miami Gardens, Florida, on September 8. Hill was detained for a short time by police after a traffic incident earlier in the day. Miami-Dade Police Department Director Stephanie V. Daniels said Sunday that an investigation has begun into the incident and one of the officers involved is being placed on administrative duties.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields signals during the second half of a game against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta on September 8. The Steelers defeated the Falcons 18-10.
Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo, right, and Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson tumble in the end zone in Chicago on September 8. Okonkwo made the catch for a touchdown, but the Titans ultimately fell 24-17 to the Bears.
Rhamondre Stevenson of the New England Patriots runs the ball against Cincinnati Bengals defenders in Cincinnati on September 8. The Patriots beat the Bengals 16-10.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, center, celebrates his interception return for a touchdown during the Vikings' 28-6 victory over the New York Giants in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 8.
Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars players pray together at the end of the game in Miami Gardens, Florida, on September 8.
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir, top, dives for the end zone for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Justin Jones is unable to make the tackle in Orchard Park, New York, on September 8. The Bills won 34-28.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love walks off the field after taking a hit in the final seconds of a game against the Philadelphia Eagles in São Paulo early Saturday, September 7. The Eagles won 34-29.
Brazilian and American flags are presented on the field at Neo Química Arena – also known as Corinthians Arena – in São Paulo ahead of the game between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, September 6. It was the first NFL game in South America.
Grammy Award-winning singer Taylor Swift cheers on boyfriend Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs during the game against the Baltimore Ravens in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday, September 5.
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely catches a pass with his toe out of bounds as time expires at the end of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 5. The Chiefs won 27-20.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes scrambles during the game against the Baltimore Ravens in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 5.
Fans enter Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, ahead of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens on September 5.
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Overtime drama lifts Ravens over Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals thought they were righting the ship. After a back-and-forth encounter with the Baltimore Ravens, they were set up with a 53-yard field goal in overtime to get their second win of the season.
But after a dramatic day of football, there was one more twist in the tale as Evan McPherson’s attempt sailed wide left and the game went on.
And Baltimore made Cincinnati rue that mistake on the very next play, with Derrick Henry galloping 51 yards down the field to set up a 24-yard field goal from Justin Tucker to clinch a 41-38 win for the Ravens.
It was a typically exciting ending to a game full of twists and turns at Paul Brown Stadium.
The two AFC North rivals exchanged offensive blows throughout, whether they were Henry rumbling for scores or explosive touchdown throws from Bengals QB Joe Burrow to Ja’Marr Chase. The former LSU teammates first connected on a 41-yard pass before a 70-yard bomb midway through the fourth quarter extended Cincinatti’s lead to 10.
However, the Ravens – led by reigning MVP Lamar Jackson, who had four touchdowns on the day – were not to be denied, orchestrating a 13-play, 60-yard drive which ended in a touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely to pull within three. A Tucker field goal after a Burrow interception sent the game to overtime before the late drama saw the Ravens win their third straight game and improve to 3-2, while the Bengals fall to 1-4.
Henry’s late heroics were crucial in the Ravens’ late comeback on what was a historic day for the running back.
A five-yard run in the second quarter meant he joined the 10,000-yard rushing club, becoming the 32nd player in NFL history to do so and the first since 2017, per the NFL. His first quarter touchdown also saw him become the 14th running back ever with 100 career scrimmage touchdowns.
Henry's 51-yard run in overtime set up the game-winning kick against the Bengals.
The 30-year-old has had a striking impact since joining the Ravens in the offseason as he leads the NFL in rushing through five games. But after the dramatic victory, Henry wasn’t reflecting on his personal accolades.
“This win is big because of what transpired today,” he said. “It puts us up two in the division, so we definitely needed this one. It was just as important for us as it was for them. Glad we got the victory. With everything that happened, that just to show you the resiliency of this team, and we’re going to keep on fighting to the end.”
The disappointing result for Cincinnati eclipsed what was predominately an impressive showing from quarterback Burrow, who passed for 392 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.
It has been an underwhelming start to the season for the Bengals, and Burrow explained that improvements have to be a team-wide movement.
“There have been tough conversations had,” he told reporters. “I think our coaches are handling it the right way. And whenever you’re 1-4 – whenever you’re in a tough situation – there are going to be tough conversations that are going to be had, that guys aren’t going to like.
“Those conversations have been had. So I’m happy with how we’re going about it. We obviously have to win more. That’s no secret, but I think people are (handling it) the right way.”
Burrow threw for five touchdowns in the overtime loss to the Ravens.
Last-second field goal lifts Texans over Bills
There was another clash of AFC heavyweights on Sunday which also ended with late drama, this time in Houston.
A 59-yard field goal from Ka’imi Fairbairn as time expired sealed the Houston Texans’ 23-20 victory over the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium.
It came after an encounter in which both teams’ defenses were the dominant forces throughout.
The Bills managed to hold Houston to just two touchdowns while the Texans piled up the yardage. On the other side, Houston limited Buffalo to just 276 yards with QB Josh Allen struggling with the pressure he saw all day, throwing for just 131 yards and a touchdown.
However, late in the fourth quarter, the Bills had a chance to leave Texas with a victory as they got the ball back on their three-yard line with just over 30 seconds remaining and the scores tied at 20-20.
But three straight incompletions – all of which stopped the clock and allowed Houston to set up its own game-winning drive – ended those hopes. If the Bills had run the ball once, they could have bled the clock and forced the game to overtime.
As it turned out, Sam Martin’s punt went to Houston’s 41-yard line and was returned to Buffalo’s 46 to give Houston a chance. And C.J. Stroud completed a short pass to set up Fairbairn for the long field goal, sparking jubilant celebrations as players rushed the field to lift the kicker aloft.
Fairbairn is lifted by teammates after kicking the game-winning field goal against the Bills.
Second-year Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans spoke about his team’s ability to win close games afterwards.
“These are the type of games you find out who you are as a team,” Ryans told reporters. “Buffalo is an outstanding team. They’re a well-coached team. All their players, the way they play, nothing but respect for them. Tough opponent.
“To beat a team like this, at the end of the day you want to score more points than the other team. It doesn’t matter how you get it done. I’m proud of our guys for gutting it out. Again, it wasn’t all pretty. That’s how games go. It’s about how you finish at the end, and I’m proud of the way our guys finished.”
The victory improves the Texans to 4-1 while the defeat is the Bills’ second in a row as they fall to 3-2.
After suffering a heavy defeat to the Ravens last time out, Bills head coach Sean McDermott said his team was “down” in the locker-room following the loss to Houston.
“There are no moral victories. I did like how they battled. To battle back after getting down like we did,” he said. “We have a lot of young guys particularly on the defensive side battling and giving us great effort in all three phases.
“The margins in the NFL are slim and we’ve got to continue to work to improve ourselves, get some guys healthy at some point here. I think that would help and yet that’s not an excuse. We have to find ways to pull these out.”
Jayden Daniels continues to shine
Jayden Daniels has been arguably the star of the 2024 season so far and the rookie quarterback continued his breakout year on Sunday.
The No. 2 overall pick threw for 238 yards, a touchdown and an interception as his Washington Commanders comfortably beat the Cleveland Browns 34-13.
The combination of his accurate throwing and mobility – he ran 11 times for 82 yards against Cleveland – continues to be a tough proposition for opposing defenses to stop as he blossoms into a star in his first year in the league.
Against Cleveland, Washington’s balanced offensive outing helped to keep the Browns defense scrambling, throwing for 219 yards and rushing for 215 on the ground. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. ran for two scores while Jeremy McNichols added another.
And Sunday’s game continued Daniels’ historic start to professional football.
Daniels has enjoyed a stellar start to his rookie season in the NFL.
He is now the first player in NFL history to pass for at least 1,000 yards and rush for at least 250 in his first five career games, per the NFL.
The Washington offense is also on a historic pace, becoming the first team since 1970 to score 150 or more points across the first five games of a season while starting a rookie quarterback.
The Commanders’ star wide receiver Terry McLaurin finished with 112 yards but also a lost fumble and a dropped catch for a touchdown against the Browns. And he spoke afterwards about his connection with Daniels is getting better each week.
“The great thing about him is that we’re always in constant communication,” the 2022 Pro Bowler told reporters. “So when I have a mistake, he’s always got my back and making sure I’m just keeping focused and staying with him.
“I’m just trying to encourage him when things don’t go right. But you can definitely tell our connection is growing each and every week. And I just want to be the guy that can help continue to develop and be a great teammate for him.”
Daniels and the Commanders are 4-1 after beating the Browns.
For the Browns, it was another disappointing offensive performance as pressure mounts on starting quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Watson had just 125 yards passing and one touchdown as he looked frantic against a previously porous Washington defense.
But despite the offensive woes of his team, head coach Kevin Stefanski says he won’t be benching Watson anytime soon.
“We’re not changing quarterbacks,” Stefanski said. “We need to play better, I need to coach better. That’s really what it is.”
Full Week 5 Sunday scores
Away vs. home (winners in bold)
New York Jets 17-23 Minnesota Vikings
Carolina Panthers 10-36 Chicago Bears
Baltimore Ravens 41-38 OT Cincinnati Bengals
Buffalo Bills 20-23 Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts 34-37 Jacksonville Jaguars
Miami Dolphins 15-10 New England Patriots
Cleveland Browns 13-34 Washington Commanders
Las Vegas Raiders 18-34 Denver Broncos
Arizona Cardinals 24-23 San Francisco 49ers
Green Bay Packers 24-19 Los Angeles Rams
New York Giants 29-20 Seattle Seahawks
Dallas Cowboys 20-17 Pittsburgh Steelers