It's week 5, and the schedule is busy! Who to beat the Vikings or the Chiefs, the last undefeated teams? Who from the Bills or the Texans will assert themselves as one of the big contenders in the AFC? Here is the program for the week, marked by the start of the rest weeks: no matches for the Lions, Eagles, Chargers and Titans.
The match of week 5: fond memories of Stefon Diggs
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Houston Texans (3-1) – Buffalo Bills (3-1) – Watch live for free on M6+
This is the clash of this day between two members of the top 5 of our power ranking. Behind the untouchable Chiefs, the Bills and the Texans appear to be serious outsiders in the NFC. At home, Buffalo has a lot to prove. Dominated last week against the Ravens (35-10), the players from the state of New York must recover. It will be difficult against a Texan defense which has only allowed 161 passing yards per game (4th record in the league). However, Josh Allen (QB, Bills) is 9-1 against top-5 teams against the pass since 2020. Buffalo has hope.
On the other side of the field, the meeting will have a special flavor for Stefon Diggs (WR). The former Bills receiver is one of the targets of CJ Stroud (QB, Texans) who is establishing himself as one of the sure forces in the league. The quarterback seems to have the ability to make his team win even in difficult matches, like against the Jaguars (24-20). His duel with Allen promises to be one of the highlights of the week. With the absence of Von Miller (OLB, Bills), suspended, and the expected return of Joe Mixon (RB), Texans, Houston is bound to pose problems.
Player of the Week 5: Travis Kelce, back to work
Kick-off Tuesday at 2:15 a.m.
Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) – New Orleans Saints (2-2)
After 4 games, Travis Kelce (TE, Chiefs) has only been targeted 21 times by Patrick Mahomes (QB, Chiefs). This is the lowest total to this point in the season in the career of the multiple All-Pro. In addition to the greater use of the running game (111 games out of 194), this underuse of Kelce is also explained by the emergence of Rashee Rice (WR) (24 receptions out of 29 targets, 288 yards). Except that Rice has a knee injury, and if nothing has been announced, his presence this weekend seems almost impossible.
So, expect to see some Kelce again. Maybe even a lot of Kelce, against the Saints whose otherwise sturdy defense is struggling against tight ends. New Orleans allows 12.8 receiving yards to tight ends, which is the highest total in the league. After a last season where he played a disproportionate weight in Kansas City's passing game, Kelce is therefore likely to return to service.
The duel: Jayden Daniels against Myles Garrett
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Washington Commanders (3-1) – Cleveland Browns (1-3)
Jayden Daniels (QB, Commanders) is by far the most impressive rookie quarterback at the start of the season. Pragmatic, the former LSU player knows how to take what the game offers him and shows great precision. As a result, Jayden Daniels leads the league with 82% of completed passes, showing himself to be formidable in intermediate zones (between 10 and 19 yards). Against the Browns, he will have a lot to do, since the Ohio team shines precisely in defending this zone. And if Cleveland is not at the expected level in defense in general, defensive end Myles Garrett (4 sacks) still represents a permanent danger for a quarterback. For Daniels, this will be a new test.
The stat: 3 minutes 26
Kick-off Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
New York Jets (2-2) – Minnesota Vikings (4-0)
Each team played 240 minutes of play excluding overtime at the start of the season. The Vikings only trailed for 3 minutes 26 of them. The statistic is already exceptional when we consider that Minnesota was not really expected, especially after the injury to JJ McCarthy (QB). It becomes downright crazy when you add in the opponents encountered along the way: Giants, 49ers, Texans, Packers. Before their match in London against the Jets, Sam Darnold (QB) and his team are on cloud nine. Milk, preferably.
Coach of the week 5: Doug Pederson, the last cartridges
Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4) – Indianapolis Colts (2-2)
It's starting to work. By starting 0-4, the Jaguars have already almost given up any chance of the playoffs. Trevor Lawrence (QB) still does not pass the expected milestone, the defense is sinking. We urgently need to win to relaunch some semblance of positive momentum. This will be difficult against the Colts who managed to maneuver the Steelers defense, even though Jacksonville has the 30th defense in the league on its side. But the Colts will potentially be without Anthony Richardson (QB) and Jonathan Taylor (RB, sprain), which could complicate their possibilities on the ground. Evan Engram (TE) is back to provide solutions in the air for the Jaguars. In any case, it's difficult to believe that Pedersen still has a lot of defeats ahead of him on the Florida bench.
The division: AFC North, a shock with serious consequences
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Cincinnati Bengals (1-3) – Baltimore Ravens (2-2)
Washington Commanders (3-1) – Cleveland Browns (1-3)
Kick-off Monday at 2:20 a.m.
Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) – Dallas Cowboys (2-2)
The problem with starting off badly is that you no longer have much room for error. By losing their first 2 and 3 games respectively, the Ravens and the Bengals must continue, especially the latter. Except that everyone's difficult schedule continues with this clash which will be very expensive between two teams expected before the season. Woe to the vanquished.
For the Browns, we don't really know what to hope for as the attack is slipping. The Steelers have the opportunity to maintain their lead in an expected duel against Detroit. This risks hitting the lines. Justin Fields (QB, Steelers) must continue to win because his rival Russell Wilson's calf is healing.
The other divisional duels
Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
New England Patriots (1-3) – Miami Dolphins (1-3)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Denver Broncos (2-2) – Las Vegas Raiders (2-2)
San Francisco 49ers (2-2) – Arizona Cardinals (1-3)
Depressing duels also between the Patriots and the Dolphins. To see if Jacoby Brissett (QB) can take the opportunity to recover, while Drake Maye (QB) is still biding his time. On the Dolphins side, the tenure of Tyler Huntley as quarterback was announced.
The Raiders will try to stop the Broncos' two-game winning streak with Bo Nix (QB) on the right track. Once again, a forbidden defeat in a division where Chiefs and Chargers look a little cut above.
The 49ers must also win against the Cardinals whose level is difficult to estimate. It will still be without Christian McCaffrey, but Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are there.
The other matches of week 5
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Chicago Bears (2-2) – Carolina Panthers (1-3)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Seattle Seahawks (3-1) – New York Giants (1-3)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Los Angeles Rams (1-3) – Green Bay Packers (2-2)
In the NFC West, Seattle has a good opportunity to widen the gap on the competition against the unconvincing Giants. The Rams will hope for their part that Jordan Love (QB, Packers) is as generous in interceptions (3) as against the Vikings. Even the flashes displayed by the Wisconsin pitcher can also make Green Bay salivate as it finds its holder. Finally, Caleb Williams (QB, Bears) has the perfect opportunity to show off against the Panthers.
The complete list of matches for week 5
Kick-off Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
New York Jets (2-2) – Minnesota Vikings (4-0)
Kick-off Sunday at 7 p.m.
Chicago Bears (2-2) – Carolina Panthers (1-3)
Washington Commanders (3-1) – Cleveland Browns (1-3)
New England Patriots (1-3) – Miami Dolphins (1-3)
Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4) – Indianapolis Colts (2-2)
Houston Texans (3-1) – Buffalo Bills (3-1) To follow live for free on M6+
Cincinnati Bengals (1-3) – Baltimore Ravens (2-2)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:05 p.m.
Denver Broncos (2-2) – Las Vegas Raiders (2-2)
San Francisco 49ers (2-2) – Arizona Cardinals (1-3)
Seattle Seahawks (3-1) – New York Giants (1-3)
Kick-off Sunday at 10:25 p.m.
Baltimore Ravens (1-2) – Buffalo Bills (3-0)
Los Angeles Rams (1-3) – Green Bay Packers (2-2)
Kick-off Monday at 2:20 a.m.
Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) – Dallas Cowboys (2-2)
Kick-off Tuesday at 2:15 a.m.
Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) – New Orleans Saints (2-2)
