2021 NFL Week Five: Biggest Storylines and Takeaways
2021 NFL Week Five is in the books. The Bills look like the team to beat in the AFC, Raiders, and Broncos came back down to Earth and there might be a new MVP favorite. Check out more storylines and takeaways from week five below!
2021 NFL Week Five- “Tompa Bay” In Full Stride
At 44 years old, Tom Brady just threw his first 400 yard, five-touchdown game in his illustrious career. The Dolphins made the quick trip to Tampa to play the Bucs, unfortunately for the Dolphins, the game was not competitive. The Bucs offense dismantled the Dolphins scoring 45 points, Antonio Brown and Mike Evans had huge games but all eyes were on Brady. The Bucs make-shift defense also held their own against Jacoby Brissett and company holding them to 17 points.
Once the Bucs get their starting secondary back and healthy they should be right there in the NFC battling for the one seed. Brady now leads the league in passing yards with 1,767 is second in touchdowns with 15 and has the Bucs atop the NFC south. Could Brady take home MVP at 44?
2021 NFL Week Five- Disaster In Vegas
After three years and five games, Jon Gruden announced he was resigning as the LV Raiders head coach. Earlier last week, emails surfaced from ten years ago where Gruden use a racial trope when referring to NFLPA executive, DeMaurice Smith. Yesterday more emails surfaced of Gruden’s which included the denouncing of females officials, the drafting of a gay player, bad things said about Rodger Goodell and criticisms regarding national anthem protests. Ahead of the MNF game last night, Tom Pelissero reported that Gruden informed his staff that his time in Vegas was over.
After the emails came out last week there was a weird feeling around the Raiders but after Gruden’s terrible comments regarding Michael Sam, that felt like the nail in the coffin. Carl Nassib is the first openly gay player on an NFL roster and he happens to be on the Raiders. After Gruden’s homophobic comments, the end seemed inevitable.
The Raiders have had as bad of a week as an NFL franchise has had. Not only do they not have a head coach anymore but they have dropped the last two games after starting 3-0. This past weekend the Bears and Justin Fields went into Vegas and really pushed the Radiers around all day. The final score was 20-9 but that does not do justice to the beatdown the Bears gave LV with a rookie QB.
2021 NFL Week Five- Bills Get Huge Win In Arrowhead
Similar to Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, Josh Allen and the Bills got the monkey off their back. The Bills went to Arrowhead and beat the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, this Chiefs team may not be as good as previous years but they still have Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill. Their defense is suspect but their offense is still one of the league’s best.
Josh Allen got his revenge for the 2020 AFC Championship throwing for 315 yards, three touchdowns, and added 59 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. The Bills ran up and down the field against Kansas City’s defense and beat them by a score of 38-20.
The Bills got a huge win after people like myself doubted if they were really as good as their record. After two blowout wins versus Washington and Houston, the Bills got one of their biggest wins in a couple of years.
2021 NFL Week Five- Lamar Jackson Is Electric
After going down 19 points to the Colts on MNF, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens mounted a huge comeback to save their season. Jackson set an NFL record for the highest completion percentage (86%) in both a 400-yard game and a 40-attempt passing game, per Adam Schefter. If you don’t like watching Jackson play football then I truly believe you are not a real NFL fan. His combination of speed and elusiveness is something we have never seen.
The Ravens sit at 4-1 and atop the AFC North. I predicted the Ravens would win the division and five weeks in, my prediction looks pretty solid. They play the Chargers next week which should be a great game.
2021 NFL Week Five- Brandon Staley Is The COTY
The Chargers are 4-1, they are first in the AFC West, Justin Herbert looks like an elite NFL QB and Brandon Staley seems to be a home run hire at head coach. After spending time under Vic Fangio and Sean McVay, Staley was hired by the Chargers ahead of the 2021 season. He has brought a young, dynamic, analytical vibe to a franchise that has suffered some heartbreaking losses over the years. Watching the trust that Staley has in Justin Herbert is special, the yardage on fourth down may as well be irrelevant. On Sunday, the Chargers went for it numerous times on fourth and long without any hesitation.
With the Chiefs’ defensive woes and a reality check for Denver and LV, the Chargers are first in the AFC West. Staley has made this team a real threat in the AFC and they should be on their way to the playoffs and a possible division title.
2021 NFL Week Five- Lions Lose Another Heartbreaker
Dan Campbell and the Lions are 0-5 and have lost some tough games. After Justin Tucker hit the longest field goal in NFL history to beat the Lions, the Vikings beat the Lions in a similar fashion as Greg Joseph hit a 54-yard field goal as time expired. I don’t know what Detriot did to curse the football gods but they are paying the price and I feel for Dan Campbell. After the loss, Campbell took to the podium and showed his “true football guy colors.” If you have not seen the video, Campbell starts to take about the grit of his team and with tears running down his face, expressed how he feels for his players.
I truly want Dan Campbell to succeed in the NFL, guy cares so much. Maybe Urban Meyer can take a page out of Campbell’s book and win back his locker room.
Check out week four here and come back for week six!
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