NFL Week 5 questions, takeaways: Vikings grasp big

Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season began Thursday evening with the Atlanta Falcons escaping with an beyond regular time bag over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The first of three straight weeks of London games then got began Sunday morning with the Minnesota Vikings supreme undefeated as they knocked off Aaron Rodgers — who modified into the ninth QB to throw for 60,000 yards — and the Fresh York Jets.

Our NFL Nation journalists reacted to your total motion, answering lingering questions coming out of every game and detailing every thing else or now not it’s mandatory to know for every crew. Let’s compile to it.

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NYJ-MIN | TB-ATL

Minnesota 23, NY Jets 17

Is this a ideally suited begin for the Vikings? Entirely, despite the dramatic nature of the 2d half. The Vikings will enter their Week 6 bye undefeated, correct two short of their projected bag total (6.8), per ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index. In London, they proved they’ve a range of programs to push a game over the invent line, a key attribute for any crew hoping to grasp a deep playoff bustle. Within the worst game of quarterback Sam Darnold‘s short tenure with Minnesota, and after dropping working inspire Aaron Jones (hip) in the first half, the Vikings got a defensive touchdown and picked off Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers three situations, tying his single-game profession excessive.

Portray the sport in two words: Wild day. Rookie living kicker Will Reichard had a ideally suited day in a wild one for the particular teams devices. The Vikings might perhaps well well now not accept as true with won without Reichard converting from 54, fifty three and 41 yards. He is 9-for-9 on area targets and 16-for-16 on additional aspects this season.

Most soft performance: Darnold. He modified into in by far his worst performance since signing with the Vikings this offseason, lacking a chain of begin receivers and throwing extra incompletions (17) than completions (14) for the first time in 2024. Nonetheless as he has performed in all places in the season, he made some foremost fourth-quarter throws, hitting receiver Justin Jefferson for 25 yards and tight stop Johnny Mundt for 20 to living up the Vikings’ final area purpose. — Kevin Seifert

Next game: vs. Lions (Oct. 20, 1 p.m. ET)

Jets

Can the Jets compile their season by buying and selling for WR Davante Adams? It might perhaps perhaps per chance well grasp Aaron Rodgers satisfied, and so that they might perhaps well well use a companion for Garrett Wilson on the perimeter. Wilson (13 catches for 101 yards) emerged from his unhurried begin, however Rodgers did now not compile grand attend from Allen Lazard (three drops) or Mike Williams (two catches for 25 yards), who was invisible. Adams would attend that. Nonetheless Rodgers needs to play higher, too. He threw three interceptions, including two in the first quarter — a profession first. That included a pick-six, inserting the Jets in a 17-0 gap. The skedaddle security was shaky, as Rodgers (29-of-54 for 244 yards) took a pounding. He showed his toughness, however the Jets need extra than that to turn around their season.

Supreme gap in the sport notion: Zero rushing assault. Again. Breece Hallin a extreme amble, was held to 23 yards on 9 carries. That makes 27 yards on 19 carries over the last two games. Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett gave up on the working game when it might perhaps well well’ve made sense to present extra alternatives to rookie Braelon Allen. The notion going into the season was to bustle the offense thru Hall, however there is nothing there, inserting a tension on Rodgers and the passing assault. Hackett’s rushing arrangement lacks creativity; or now not it is so predictable.

Most soft performance: The Jets’ protection. They looked unpleasant in the first quarter; it looked admire one in all today. Nonetheless they flipped the script. Taking half in without nickelback Michael Carter — who sustained a hamstring grief sooner than the sport — and without cornerback Sauce Gardner for a quarter, the Jets held the Vikings to two area targets in the 2d half. Correct protection, inconsistent offense. Sound familiar? — Properly off Cimini

Next game: vs. Payments (Monday , 8:25 p.m. ET)

Atlanta 36, ​​Tampa Bay 30

Falcons

Is Atlanta’s offensive performance sustainable? Most likely now not to the stage of success it had in opposition to Tampa Bay, then any other time it will be shut. The Bucs had been without All-Pro security Antoine Winfield Jr., and must you are making some deep performs in the passing game, lacking the categorical player in the inspire stop will grasp a inequity. Quarterback Kirk Cousins looks to be healthy and stated he felt extra anticipatory on his throws, that design he’s beginning to hunt down a rhythm with Drake London, Kyle Pitts & Co. The extra that happens, the extra fluid the offense must soundless be, leading to extra nights admire Thursday (however now not going to consequence in 550 offensive yards).

Portray the sport in two words: Momentum changing. Had the Falcons lost — and with 22 seconds, left Tampa Bay had a 93% likelihood of worthwhile — they are going to be 2-3 and potentially two games in the inspire of Tampa attributable to tiebreakers. Now, the Falcons are atop the division attributable to the tiebreaker and accept as true with a perception in what the offense can attain after a 550-yard day.

Supreme gap in the sport notion: Atlanta soundless can’t compile to quarterbacks. The Falcons had one sack, and it was their most productive quarterback hit of the sport. Atlanta’s 5 sacks for the season are tied for closing in the NFL. Based mostly entirely mostly on Pro Soccer Reference, its 14.4 tension share getting into Sunday was 2d worst, previous to most productive Carolina, and its prance share (3.4) was most productive higher than that of Arizona and Cincinnati. — Mike Rothstein

Next game: at Panthers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Buccaneers

How is the Bucs’ rising grief concern taking a look? They’d 14 gamers on the grief account closing week. Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot) returned to take a examine Friday however was shrimp. He’d enable the Bucs to utilize extra dime programs and accept as true with extra tempo. It is unclear when factual take care of Luke Goedeke (concussion) and defensive take care of Calijah Kancey (calf) will return. Goedeke was a paunchy participant two weeks prior to now however has been shrimp ever since, and Kancey has but to take a examine. Coach Todd Bowles stated or now not it’s unclear the extent of security Jordan Whitehead‘s groin grief — he’s one in all their finest communicators.

Portray the sport in two words: Uncared for alternatives. With Tampa leading 30-27, the Bucs’ Tavierre Thomas blocked a area purpose try with 6:37 left in the fourth quarter, however Bucky Irving fumbled on the ensuing possession. With 1:52 left, Tampa’s Lavonte David intercepted a skedaddle, inserting the Bucs on the Falcons’ 28. Nonetheless Tampa couldn’t compile a significant down on the pressure that followed, in actuality dropping 14 yards, and had been compelled to punt.

Gape-popping stat: The Bucs surrendered 121 yards after first contact, which is one in all the strongest indicators of missed tackles. It was their fifth-most yards after first contact allowed in a game since 2020. It will soundless be effectively-known that they surrendered 122 in opposition to the Broncos in Week 3. — Jenna Laine

Next game: at Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)