MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Byrnes

Twelve of the sixteen NFC teams are .500 or better while most AFC Division leaders struggled this week.

Week 5 began Thursday in Los Angeles:

San Francisco (4-1) 26 Rams (3-2) 23 – OT 

Backup quarterback Mac Jones looked like a starter, as he and Christian McCaffrey (139 total yards/TD) led the 49ers to a key division win.

Key fumbles and bad special teams plagued the Rams all day and they wasted one of Matthew Stafford’s finest passing days.

In fact, he has thrown for 764 yards, 6 TDs/0 int over his last two games while receiver Puka Nacua remains the NFL-leader in receptions (52), and yards (588).

Rumblings about Kyren Williams fumblings are growing, but to be fair Derrick Henry had fumbled often with no real questions being asked.

Sunday:

Tampa Bay (4-1) 38 Seattle (3-2) 35

At some point, quarterback Baker Mayfield HAS to come off the “bust list” and be listed as an elite quarterback in the NFL.

Mayfield (379 yards/2 TDs) has clicked with rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and his win versus the Seahawks was amazing to watch.

Egbuka (7-163-1) is the fourth-leading receiver after five weeks with 445 yards.

Mayfield has thrown for nearly 10,000 yards and his 79 touchdowns ties him with Jared Goff, for the most touchdown passes over the last three years.

Mayfield has added nearly 700 yards on the ground with four more scores since he began his stint in Florida.

Washington (3-2) 27 Chargers (3-2) 10

The multi-back attack of the Commanders should be no more after week 5, as running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt became a one-man highlight reel.

JCM ran for 111 yards on just 14 carries and two scores and added 2 receptions for 39 yards to average over 10 yards every time he touched the ball.

The Commanders ripped off 27 unanswered points after Jayden Daniels started slow in his return from injury.

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel continues to reinvent himself in the nation’s capital with eight catches, one for a touchdown, on 96 yards.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had a good first series but without left tackle Joe Alt he was running for his life and being sacked five times in the loss.

Other Sunday Results:

-Min 21-Cle 17

-Hou 44-Bal 10

-NO 26-NYG 14

-Den 21-Phi 17

-Dal 37-NYJ 22

-Ind 40-LV 6

-Car 27-Mia 24

-Ten 22-Ari 21

-Det 37-Cin 24

-NE 23-Buf 20

Monday Night:

Jacksonville (4-1) 31 Kansas City (2-3) 28 

In an exciting Monday Night matchup, Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence overcame a fumble at the one-foot line to defeat Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

Late in the fourth quarter, Lawrence fell down on first and goal at the one-yard line but got up and forced his way into the endzone for the winning score.

Both quarterbacks led their teams in rushing, but Kareem Hunt had two rushing scores for Kansas City.

Jacksonville running back Travis Etienne Jr., the leagues fourth leading rusher, had an off night with 49 yards on 12 carries.

*Some Key Injuries:

-Ari QB K. Murray (foot)

-LV P AJ Cole (ankle)

-LAC RB O. Hampton (ankle)

-Min QB C. Wentz (shoulder)

*Week 5 Results

Horrible!

(7-7) (50-27-1)

*Week 6:

-Phi over NYG

-LAR over Bal

-Den over NYJ

-Pit over Cle

-LAC over Mia

-NE over NO

-Ind over Ari

-Jax over Sea

-Dal over Car

-LV over Ten

-TB over SF

-GB over Cin

-Buf over Atl

-Was over Chi