The Sunday slate for Week 5 of the 2026 NFL season kicked off in London with a thrilling matchup between the Eagles and Jaguars.
Back in the United States, the first tie of the season came between the Commanders and Giants. The Vikings stayed undefeated despite two fumbles in the red zone against the Saints; while the Texans got into the win column for the first time with a blowout victory over the Titans. The Steelers, led by a big performance from RB Jaylen Warren, dominated against the Colts. And the Packers avenged last season's playoff loss to the Bears.
Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for teams that played Sunday. Fantasy football analysts Matt Bowen and Tristan Cockcroft also have fantasy takeaways from each matchup.
Let's get to it with the biggest lessons from Sunday's games.
Jump to:
NYG-WSH | CLE-NYJ | IND-PIT
HOU-TEN | CIN-MIA | LV-NE
CHI-GB | MIN-NO | PHI-JAX
Catch up on Thursday's game:
TB-DAL
N.Y. Giants 27, Washington 27
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Giants
How do the Giants keep this up? This team has proved that it doesn't quit. Somehow, it managed to forge a tie after the Commanders bungled the final play of OT when they were in clear field-goal range. It just adds to the dramatics for the Giants. After finishing their past two games with game-sealing interceptions in the final minute, the Giants rallied from down 14 points early in the fourth quarter to send it to overtime. It's the opposite of last season, when the Giants blew five double-digit leads. Now, New York has a 1.5-game lead atop the NFC East.
Trend to watch: After posting less than 100 rushing yards against the Cardinals last week, Cam Skattebo, Najee Harris and Tyrone Tracy Jr. combined for 21 yards on 11 carries in the first half vs. Washington. The RBs also combined for 1.9 yards per catch in first half. Skattebo then had a crucial fumble with less than two minutes remaining in overtime when the Giants were in field-goal range. -- Jordan Raanan
Next game: vs. Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Commanders
How devastating was this collapse? This was the worst collapse under coach Dan Quinn. The Commanders are now 1-3-1 and 0-2-1 in a bad NFC East. They could blame other losses on being short-handed or without their starting QB. But not Sunday. They held a two-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter, and quarterback Jayden Daniels showed his dynamic ability. But it all fell apart. Now, life could get awfully tough with their next games against the 49ers, Eagles and Rams. Washington badly needed a win, especially against an NFC East rival. Having Daniels back will always provide hope, but the defense again struggled to defend the pass.
Trend to watch: Washington's second-half defense continues to struggle. The Commanders allowed a combined 61 points in the second half from Weeks 2-4 and then surrendered 17 to the Giants on Sunday, wiping out a two-touchdown lead. The pass rush simply did not bother quarterback Jameis Winston enough, as he threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns after halftime. -- John Keim
Next game: at 49ers (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Fantasy football takeaway: Giants WR Malik Nabers had a season-high 28.3 fantasy points, catching 10 of 19 targets for 123 yards and a touchdown. He has now produced two straight games of 23 or more points, and he will continue to have both volume and big-play opportunities given the aggressive throwing style of QB Jameis Winston. He can be played as a WR1 with a Week 6 matchup versus the Saints. -- Bowen
N.Y. Jets 17, Cleveland 12
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Jets
Is this ugly win significant for Aaron Glenn and the Jets? With his hot seat getting hotter, the Jets' second-year coach needed this one badly. It snapped a three-game losing streak and provided his first win over an opponent with a winning record. Previously, he was 0-8 in those games. As hard as they tried to give it away -- with two turnovers and 10 penalties -- the Jets managed to pull it out, thanks to Cleveland's botched punt late in the game. This game was ugly (where was the offense?) but the defense had some big stops. Glenn, whose self-proclaimed "super power" is calling the defense, backed it up with an aggressive game plan.
Key stat to know: Rookie edge rusher David Bailey recorded three of the team's eight sacks, becoming only the second rookie in Jets history to have three in one game (Hugh Douglas had three in 1995). Bailey was not impactful in his first four games, fueling criticism from fans and media. This should quiet the skeptics. He finished with eight QB pressures. -- Rich Cimini
Next game: at Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Browns
How do the Browns jump-start their offense? If the Browns want to field a consistent offense to complement their sturdy defense, they have to run the ball more consistently. Quarterback Deshaun Watson's rushing yardage (40) nearly matched that of running back Quinshon Judkins (44), who averaged just 3.1 yards per carry. The struggles on the ground led to too many third-and-long situations, where the Browns struggled with the Jets' pressure looks. Watson was sacked a season-high eight times against New York.
Most surprising performance: Isaiah Bond emerged as a top pass catcher after KC Concepcion was ruled out early with a head injury. Bond entered the game with two catches on two targets, but his seven targets Sunday tied for the most on the team. He caught three passes for a team-high 74 yards. However, he also had a critical drop late in the game. -- Daniel Oyefusi
Next game: vs. Ravens (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Fantasy football takeaway: Jets WR Garrett Wilson rebounded from a quiet Week 4 with an 11-target, 23.4 fantasy point performance. QB Geno Smith has been getting him the ball effectively; Wilson's target share is a healthy 31%. Wilson finishing with top-10 WR numbers for the season seems well within his grasp. -- Cockcroft
Pittsburgh 34, Indianapolis 22
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Steelers
How will the Steelers use RB Rico Dowdle when he returns? Coach Mike McCarthy has been clear: He wants a two-back system. But during Dowdle's three-game injury absence, Jaylen Warren has exploded as the team's lead back. He led the Steelers in rushing (15 carries, 101 yards) and receiving (six catches, 87 yards) against the Colts. Warren has played nearly every offensive snap for Pittsburgh over the past three weeks, averaging 6.9 yards per carry and totaling 142 scrimmage yards after contact. McCarthy wants a balanced workload for his running backs, partly to preserve them for later in the season, but Warren is making a convincing case to stay on the field.
Key stat to know: Entering the fourth quarter, Colts running back Jonathan Taylor averaged 1.5 yards per rush and 0.7 yards before contact. He ripped off a 20-yard run in the final frame, but despite playing without DT Derrick Harmon, the Steelers' defense controlled the Colts' ground game for the second season in a row.
Best quote from the locker room: "I think as we say in Pittsburgh, I think we 'redd it' up. It's a good start," said Steelers coach Mike McCarthy on the way his team cleaned up its house following the loss to the Browns. -- Brooke Pryor
Next game: at Buccaneers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Colts
Can the Colts stop the bleeding on defense? The Colts might have felt a false sense of security after facing a struggling Houston offense two weeks ago and a third-string quarterback against Washington last Sunday. This performance against the Steelers suggests the defensive issues that plagued Indianapolis early in the season remain unaddressed. Once again, the issues centered on defending passes in the middle of the field and an alarming number of missed tackles, which led to two touchdowns on explosive plays from running back Jaylen Warren. The linebackers continue to struggle, and on Sunday they gave up two touchdown passes from Aaron Rodgers.
Trend to watch: The Colts lead the NFL with 16 field goal attempts, reflecting their inability to finish drives. While kicker Spencer Shrader has capitalized, going 16-for-16, the reality is the Colts are sputtering in their efforts to reach the end zone, in part because their underwhelming receivers aren't giving them enough. The absence of Alec Pierce (heel) has been glaring. The Colts lack playmaking. -- Stephen Holder
Next game: vs. Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Fantasy football takeaway: Steelers RB Jaylen Warren had a career-high 36.8 fantasy points, and he has now scored 20 or more in two of his past three games. Plus, he has had at least 20 touches in the past three weeks. Despite Warren's recent run, we recommend keeping him in the RB2 range for a tougher Week 6 matchup versus the Buccaneers' defense. -- Bowen
Houston 26, Tennessee 3
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Texans
Can Houston go on a run? Houston got its first win of the season for a second straight year against the Titans, so could this spawn another run? The first test would be defeating the division-leading Jaguars (4-1) in London. If Houston does that, it will host the Giants with a backup quarterback and then get a bye before traveling to face the Chargers. The biggest reason to have confidence in the Texans: They're a few plays from being 4-1, rather than 1-4.
What to make of the QB performance: Stroud went 26-of-34 for 261 yards and one touchdown, and he had another touchdown on the ground. But most importantly, he had no turnovers for the fourth straight game. The fourth-year quarterback looked firmly in control and rarely looked flustered; he went 8-of-11 for 115 yards when pressured. -- DJ Bien-Aime
Next game: vs. Jaguars (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET in London)
Titans
Is there any hope for the Titans' offense? Coming into Sunday, the Titans' offense ranked 31st in points per game (13.8) and last in yards (261.3). Those numbers dropped even further against the Texans, as Tennessee scored three points and gained 187 yards. The offense continues to lack an identity, which puts the defense in bad positions. Two turnovers in the second quarter gave Houston the ball in plus territory, leading to six points. It's hard to say there's any hope. Even the offensive line, which was once a positive, struggled with QB Cam Ward taking some big hits -- one of which led to an interception -- and four sacks.
Most surprising performance: It seemed like rookie receiver Carnell Tate was on the verge of breaking out after his 145-yard performance last week, but he finished with one reception on four targets. Ward took a couple of deep shots to Tate, but they couldn't connect consistently. -- Turron Davenport
Next game: at Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Fantasy football takeaway: With Texans RB David Montgomery suffering a groin injury in the second quarter, Woody Marks moved into the lead role for Houston. Marks finished with 75 total yards on 19 touches (12.5 points). If Montgomery is out for Week 6 in Jacksonville, managers can play Marks as a flex starter. -- Bowen
Cincinnati 31, Miami 24
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Bengals
Did the Bengals find something in the run game? It sure looks like it. Much like in 2022, when the Bengals ripped up their run scheme to be more straightforward and downhill, Cincinnati switched things up Sunday. And the direct approach worked. Samaje Perine spearheaded the rushing attack with 14 carries for 68 yards. Chase Brown also found some success after a rough couple of weeks. The Bengals acknowledge they need to find a useful running attack in order to relieve pressure on the passing game. With the under-center passing attack sputtering, what Cincinnati did against the Dolphins could be a good blueprint for the rest of the season.
What to make of the QB performance: Sunday was a perfect example of how the Bengals look when Joe Burrow is firing on all cylinders. He had the 10th four-touchdown game of his career, and his first since Week 16 of the 2025 season. He was clinical on third downs and, importantly, avoided bad turnovers.
Best quote from the locker room: "We got to be smarter," Burrow said before repeating the phrase again. "Two fumbles in the red zone, a couple personal fouls that hurt our field position, gave them points on the board. Yeah, we got to be smarter." -- Ben Baby
Next game: at Ravens (Oct. 25, 1 p.m. ET)
Dolphins
Who is to blame for QB Malik Willis' early struggles? There's a multitude of reasons. First, Sunday was his 11th career start and he's still developing at this level. There were flashes throughout the game, but his first half was ugly and his biggest flaw might be his willingness to extend every play for as long as he can. At the same time, his receivers struggled to create separation and the offense doesn't seem comfortable when Willis is buying time. There was an expected learning curve this season, but the Dolphins enter the Week 6 bye with little to hang their hats on from the first month.
Trend to watch: After RB De'Von Achane sustained a torn ACL, the Dolphins were expected to employ a committee in the backfield between Ollie Gordon II and Jaylen Wright. Through three games, however, Gordon has been the clear lead back. The 2025 sixth-round pick ran for 88 yards on 18 carries, compared to 11 yards on six carries for Wright. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
Next game: at Jets (Oct. 25, 1 p.m. ET)
Fantasy football takeaway: Bengals RB Chase Brown disappointed for the second time in three weeks -- he had poor rushing returns in Week 4, too -- but his fantasy managers should exercise patience. Recent Cincinnati teams have tended to heat up later in the season, and Brown has averaged 8.1 more fantasy points from Week 6 forward than in Weeks 1-5 in his career. -- Cockcroft
New England 45, Las Vegas 17
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Patriots
What has led to Drake Maye's dramatic turnaround? One thing that helped Sunday: Elite pass protection. In the first half, as the Patriots built a 21-7 lead, the Raiders pressured Maye on only two of his 17 dropbacks (17%), according to ESPN Research. Maye had 160 passing yards, his most in a half this season. Overall, coach Mike Vrabel previously highlighted the importance of Maye not trying to choke the life out of every play, and Maye has been letting things come to him the past two weeks -- with three or more passing TDs in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.
Trend to watch: Injuries continue to pile up. RB TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) and starting LT Will Campbell (right knee) were knocked out of the game in a span of three plays in the second quarter. The Patriots already entered the game without four CBs and have placed a total of 19 players on injured reserve this season. -- Mike Reiss
Next game: vs. Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Raiders
Could the Raiders' season spiral downhill after this loss? Record-wise, the Raiders are still in good shape (3-2). But their upcoming schedule isn't kind. Las Vegas' next two games are at home, but those matchups are against the Bills and Rams. That's why a win on Sunday was so important. With a victory, the Raiders would at least have an above-.500 record by Week 8. Now, the Raiders' season could take a downward turn. Drake Maye made the Raiders pay for their lack of pressure and weak coverage, throwing for 374 yards and four touchdowns. Josh Allen and Matthew Stafford, the past two league MVPs, will be expected do the same.
What to make of the QB performance: With the Raiders down 28 late in the fourth quarter, coach Klint Kubiak turned to rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The No. 1 pick's NFL debut didn't come at the prettiest time, but he did some good things during his first career drive. Mendoza completed 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards. He led the offense to the red zone, where he was stopped short of the first-down marker on fourth-and-3. -- Ryan McFadden
Next game: vs. Bills (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Fantasy football takeaway: Patriots QB Drake Maye's 39.46 fantasy points blew his prior career high out of the water, and they came at an opportune time. He has alleviated concerns about his bad September, and he's playing at a clear fantasy QB1 level right at a time when New England faces the meatiest portion of its schedule (vs. Jets, at Bears, at Dolphins, vs. Packers, at Lions). -- Cockcroft
Green Bay 31, Chicago 7
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Packers
How badly did the Packers need this? If for no other reason, it would have been a long two and a half months -- and likely a lot of chatter from Bears coach Ben Johnson -- before these teams meet again on Christmas Day. Instead, the Packers got Johnson out of their heads (and perhaps quieted him down when it comes to the Packers-Bears rivalry). This won't make up for last season's playoff loss, but the Packers put together their best performance of 2026. They have their first winning streak of the season and are now tied with the Bears for second in the NFC North at 3-2.
What to make of the QB performance: Christian Watson for 53 and 42 yards. Matthew Golden for 50. Tucker Kraft for 46. And these weren't catch-and-runs but rather deep shots by Jordan Love. At some point, the Packers are going to need more from their run game. That wasn't the case Sunday, when Love became the first Packers quarterback with at least four completions of 40-plus yards since Brett Favre against the Raiders in 2003. -- Rob Demovsky
Next game: vs. Cowboys (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)
Bears
Will the Bears stick with Case Keenum until Caleb Williams returns? Tyson Bagent went 12-of-21 for 87 yards and two interceptions before he was benched in the fourth quarter. It didn't seem like the Bears trusted him to throw downfield, as he averaged 6.3 air yards per attempt and 2.4 air yards per completion. Keenum wasn't much better, throwing a red zone interception and losing a fumble. While Williams has returned to practice and went through a workout pregame, he might not be ready to return from his hamstring injury next week. If that's the case, coach Ben Johnson will need to decide which backup he'll ride with in Atlanta after a putrid performance by the offense.
Most surprising performance: Bears CB Jaylon Johnson gave up four catches for 106 yards and a touchdown, while QB Jordon Love was a perfect 6-of-6 for 115 yards when targeting receivers with CB Malik Muhammad in coverage. It didn't help that CB Tyrique Stevenson left the game with a hamstring injury. -- Courtney Cronin
Next game: at Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Fantasy football takeaway: Packers QB Jordan Love dropped a season-high 25.28 points, throwing for 367 yards and two touchdowns. And he excelled in the vertical passing game, completing six throws of 20-plus air yards. With upcoming matchups versus the Cowboys, Lions and Panthers -- all teams who struggle to defend the deep ball -- Love should be in the QB1 mix. -- Bowen
Minnesota 23, New Orleans 13
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Vikings
Are the Vikings for real? Few projected the Vikings to spend much time atop the NFC North, and even after starting the season with four consecutive wins, they still ranked No. 14 in ESPN's Football Power Index. But they have a formula that is working and has given them a two-game lead in the division -- which includes two NFC North wins and four in the conference. Their offense continues to mystify, losing two red-zone fumbles Sunday. But their defense has locked down opponents all season; the Saints managed just 142 total yards. Kicker Will Reichard brought his season conversion total to 15-for-15 with three more field goals, including one from 55 and another from 54.
What to make of the QB performance: Kyler Murray picked up where he left off in Week 4's victory over the Dolphins, and he has now completed 36 of his past 43 passes over five quarters. It figured to take some time, but we can see Murray's adjustment to the Vikings' scheme -- and their adjustment to him -- happening in real time. -- Kevin Seifert
Next game: vs. Colts (Oct. 25, 1 p.m. ET)
Saints
Why is the Saints' offense taking a step back? The Saints put together their a third sloppy game on offense this season. Fourth-quarter turnovers doomed them against the Raiders in Week 3, while running backs rushed for only 50 yards and had a fumble against the Falcons in Week 4. Things didn't get better against the Vikings' dominant defense, with Tyler Shough throwing two interceptions and the run game practically nonexistent again. The slow starts also continued with another scoreless first quarter. Playing with a backup left tackle until Kelvin Banks Jr. returns, the Saints' offense has not shown significant progress in the past few weeks.
What to make of the QB performance: Shough, who is playing with an injured non-throwing hand, was blitzed on 91% of his dropbacks in the first half and threw two picks. He completed 16 of 25 passes for 96 yards -- for a 38.1 passer rating -- in a game that would have been a blowout if not for the Saints' own defensive turnovers.
Best quote from the locker room: Saints center Erik McCoy said the turnovers, penalties, slow starts and three-and-outs are just some of the issues that have led to poor offensive performances in the past three games. "The reality is offensively we don't know how to win right now. And it's something that we have got to get fixed, and we've got to get fixed fast because we just went on a three-game losing skid at home with all of our fans showing out, showing up," McCoy said. "... We've got to get our act together because our defense put on a hell of a performance today." -- Katherine Terrell
Next game: at Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Fantasy football takeaway: Vikings RB Aaron Jones Sr. had 88% snap and 69% rushing shares, resulting in his third straight game with at least 14 fantasy points (18.7). His ceiling isn't sky-high, but he's making the most of a huge workload and should remain a high-end fantasy RB2 for his favorable matchups ahead in Weeks 7 (vs. Colts) and 8 (at Lions). -- Cockcroft
Jacksonville 19, Philadelphia 17
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Jaguars
Are Jaguars' self-inflicted wounds holding them back from true potential? Thirteen penalties, failing to score despite having the ball at the 1-yard line, dropping a touchdown pass, missing a PAT because of a bad snap ... it's hard to win any game making those self-inflicted mistakes, yet the Jaguars have managed to do it the past two weeks. This time it was against an Eagles team missing its top two offensive players. You can't win consistently living on the edge, though, especially when playing against some of the league's better teams in the coming weeks. The Jaguars weren't that sloppy in the first three weeks and had two blowout wins. It must stop or their success will.
Most surprising performance: Defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton was forced into duty as the long-snapper after Ross Matiscik suffered a shoulder injury on the Jaguars' first punt. Hamilton snapped the rest of the game and had an errant snap on a field goal attempt that holder Logan Cooke got down in time for Cam Little to make a 34-yarder. However, a high snap on a PAT with 3:20 remaining threw off the timing, and Little missed. Hamilton redeemed himself with a great snap on a 57-yard field goal with one second remaining that gave the Jaguars the win. -- Michael DiRocco
Next game: vs. Texans (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET in London)
Eagles
Is the defense ready to carry this team? It might not have a choice. The Eagles were working with primarily backups on the offensive line for most of the day and are dealing with injuries to a number of playmakers, including Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith and Tank Bigsby. Vic Fangio's group was the difference for most of the game, holding Trevor Lawrence and Jacksonville's offensive attack in check, including with a pair of goal-line stands. Jalen Carter (two strip sacks, three pressures, three tackles for loss, pass deflection) was the best player on the field for much of the day. The injury-riddled Eagles will need that kind of production from their star players to keep them afloat.
What to make of the QB performance: Jalen Hurts did well to help manufacture some offense with a depleted group in the first half. He went 5-of-7 against the blitz before the break -- a troubling issue last week against the Rams -- and hit Darius Cooper for a 61-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. The offense was stymied for most of the second half and was in jeopardy of being held scoreless after halftime for the third consecutive game. But Hurts moved the Eagles down the field late, setting up Jake Elliott's go-ahead 48-yarder with eight seconds remaining. It looked like the game winner before disaster struck on special teams. -- Tim McManus
Next game: vs. Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Fantasy football takeaway: Jaguars WR Parker Washington's 30.4 fantasy points -- fully supported by high-level usage (84% route participation, 24% target share) -- reminded us that he can reach the fantasy WR1 tier when he's on the field with Lawrence. Washington is a fantastic trade target, as his Jaguars have one of the position's softest remaining schedules. -- Cockcroft