5 best NFL games to watch in Week 5
5. Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
Huge game for both NFC North teams. If you are the Lions, you have to find a way to win your second game of the year in this spot. Detroit is 1-3 and a loss in the very tough NFC would all but eliminate it from postseason contention five weeks into the regular season. On the flip side, the Packers need to start seeing 60-minute efforts. Green Bay is a respectable 2-1-1 but nothing has come easy, even a blowout win over the Buffalo Bills that was followed up by Aaron Rodgers being critical of the play calls.
4. Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns
Yes, the Browns are involved in one of the best five games of the week, and it’s actually a very good slate. Cleveland is 1-2-1 after losing in overtime to the Oakland Raiders seven days ago, but it has a chance to get back to .500 against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns are going against a terrific defense, giving Baker Mayfield his stiffest test to date. Meanwhile, the Ravens are trying to move into first place of the AFC North with a win coupled with a loss by the Bengals in Cincinnati.
3. Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers
Does anybody punt? Hell, does anybody hit a third down in this game? Atlanta and Pittsburgh have two of the most dynamic, diverse and explosive offenses in the sport, and both are capable of putting up 50+ points in this one. Pittsburgh is sitting at a surprising 1-2-1 after losing a pair of home games in September to the Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs. Now, the Steelers play their third game at Heinz Field this campaign, hoping to topple the Falcons. Atlanta desperately needs the win at 1-3, and will likely need to put together a showcase from Matt Ryan and Co. to get the job done.
2. Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles
The loser here is in a tough spot. Minnesota is 1-2-1 after an appalling loss to the Bills, which was followed by a much more understandable defeat to the Los Angeles Rams four days later. Now, the Vikings try to beat the defending champs, who come into the tilt at 2-2. Philadelphia has to get something going offensively, with Carson Wentz a bit rusty and his receivers dropping catchable passes all over the field. The loser still has a chance to make a deep run, but any kind of home-field advantage would be in serious jeopardy.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs
This is the best game of the year to this point. Kansas City has the highest-scoring offense in football and Jacksonville counters with the stingiest defense, allowing 14 points per game. Something has to give on Sunday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium, with Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Travis Kelce, Kareem Hunt and Patrick Mahomes going against Jalen Ramsey, A.J. Bouye, Calais Campbell and others. If you love football, this is a must-watch.