
DAZN Weekend Preview: Week 5
And then there were two. Heading into Week 5 of the 2024 season, only two teams are yet to face defeat. The Minnesota Vikings – heading to London in Week 5 – and the Kansas City Chiefs are both 4-0. A Vikings win over the New York Jets at Tottenham on Sunday will see them move to 5-0 for the fifth time this century, while a Chiefs win over the New Orleans Saints will see them earn the fifth 5-0 start in franchise history.
The 2024 NFL season has seen some of the closest matches to start a season in the history of the league. 39 games have been decided by eight points, 38 by seven and 32 by six, the most by these margins through the first four weeks of a season ever. It makes for compelling viewing, even if offenses are not lighting up scoreboards in a way that fans – and fantasy managers – would like to see.
The Week 5 action gets underway on Thursday night, with the 3-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers travelling to NFC South rivals the Atlanta Falcons, who sit at 2-2. The Falcons have won of the last three meetings between the sides, but the Bucs hold the overall lead in the series 31-30. Baker Mayfield, coming off the 14th 300-yard passing game of his career in Week 4, has enjoyed himself on Thursday nights, with seven touchdown passes in five games and a 90+ rating in each. Buccaneers running back Rachaad White has 95+ yards from scrimmage in his last three games against the Falcons and rushed for 102 yards in their last meeting. Mike Evans has gone over 75 receiving yards in four of his last five games in this series. Chris Godwin leads the Bucs with 27 receptions for 322 yards and is the only player in the NFL with at least six receptions in every game. Godwin has six or more catches and 50+ receiving yards in his last five games against the Falcons. The ageless Lavonte David leads the team with 2.0 sacks this season and will look to add to his record of at least five tackles in 21 games against the Falcons in his career.
Kirk Cousins hasn’t had the most electrifying start to his Falcons career, with a 64.7% completion rate and four touchdowns to go with four interceptions. Like his opposite number Mayfield, Cousins has a track record of putting up serious numbers on Thursdays. He averages 316 passing yards per game over his last eight and has multiple touchdowns and a 100+ rating in four of his last five primetime starts. Bijan Robinson is averaging 17.5 touches per game through the first four weeks of the season, earning him 89.8 yards from scrimmage per outing. Robinson has 50+ yards from scrimmage in 19 of his first 21 career games and has eclipsed the half century in every one of his home games. Drake London will be looking to repeat the fun he had the last time these two sides met, in a game in which he set career-highs with 10 grabs for 172 yards.
The Vikings “host” the 2-2 Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the early game on Sunday. This will be the 13th regular season meeting between these two sides, with the Jets holding an 8-4 lead. The Vikings have won the last three meetings, however. For fans of NFL history, this clash is between two sides that the legendary Buddy Ryan coached before his epic run as the defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears. Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers was a terror for the Vikings during his time with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers has 7,157 passing yards in 29 games against them, the most pass yards versus any opponent in his career. Breece Hall, one of the last standing true bellcow backs this season, is one of four running backs in the AFC with at least 300 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns this season. He averages 92.1 yards per game in career games against NFC opponents. Garrett Wilson leads the Jets with 20 receptions, and like Hall Wilson has been productive in inter-conference games in his short NFL career. Wilson has 50+ receiving yards in nine of his last ten games against NFC teams. Allen Lazard had a touchdown on his last trip to London back in 2022 and has found the endzone in two of his last three games against the Vikings.
The Vikings are only the second unbeaten team to play a regular season international game since the series began in 2007. In games outside the United States, the Vikings own a 3-0 record, and are one of four teams with an unbeaten record in multiple overseas games. Quarterback Sam Darnold will be looking to continue his hot start to the season against his old club. Darnold passed for 8,097 yards and 45 touchdowns for the Jets between 2018-2020 and has two or more touchdowns and 105+ rating in every game so far this season. Aaron Jones has been everything the Vikings hoped he would be when they signed him as a free agent this past offseason. Going back to last season, Jones has 100+ yards from scrimmage in six of his last seven games. Justin Jefferson, one of the elite players at any position in the league, has at least 50 receiving yards and a touchdown in every game this season, and has fond memories of his last trip to Spurs. He had 10 catches for 147 yards against the Saints back in 2022. Another Viking who has enjoyed his games in London is safety Harrison Smith. He has at least six tackles in his last three trips.
The Chiefs put their unbeaten record on the line on Monday Night Football with a home game against the 2-2 New Orleans Saints. The Chiefs have won the last three meetings between the sides and own a 7-5 advantage in the series. The Saints got off to a hot start to the season but have lost their last two games. Quarterback Derek Carr has completed 72% of his passes this season and went 28 of 36 in Week 4. This was the 27th game in his career with a completion rate more than 75%. Carr has two touchdowns and a 95+ rating in four of his last five games against the Chiefs. Alvin Kamara has enjoyed something of a resurgent start to the 2024 season and leads the NFL with 536 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns. He’s just the fifth player this century with 350+ rushing yards, 150+ receiving yards and six touchdowns in the first games of a season. Wide receiver Chris Olave has 20 receptions for 265 yards this season and has 80+ receiving yards in his last three games. Rashid Shaheed set career-highs with eight catches and 97 yards from scrimmage in Week 4. The Saints defense, a unit allowing just 17.5 yards per game this season, is led by safety Tyrann Mathieu, who will be going up against his former team on Monday night. Mathieu recorded 253 tackles, 31 pass break ups and 14 interceptions for the Chiefs between 2019-2021.
The Chiefs are seriously banged up on offense, with star wide receiver Rashee Rice joining fellow wideout Marquise Brown and running back Isaiah Pacheco on the sidelines last week. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is not putting up video game numbers this season, but he has led his side to a 4-0 start while completing 65% of his passes and throwing a touchdown pass in every game this season. Mahomes boasts a 6-2 record on Monday Night Football and has 21 passing scores in those games, with another two on the ground. The Chiefs revolving door at running back has led to a return to the team for Kareem Hunt. Hunt was drafted by the Chiefs back in 2017 and led the NFL in rushing in his rookie season. He managed 85 yards from scrimmage on his second debut in Week 4 and averages 109.5 yards from scrimmage per game in six games on Monday Night Football in his career. Travis Kelce was quiet through the first three weeks of the season but was more like his old self against the Chargers in Week 4. Kelce caught seven balls for 89 yards, both season highs. Kelce has 13 receiving scores on Monday Night Football in his career, a record for tight ends he shares with Jimmy Graham. Chris Jones, arguably the best defensive lineman in the game since the retirement of Aaron Donald, had 2.0 sacks in Week 4 against the Chargers, marking the 15th game in his career with at least 2.0 sacks. Jones has at least one sack in four of his last five appearances on Monday Night Football.
The 1-3 Carolina Panthers travel to the Windy City to take on the 2-2 Chicago Bears. The Bears have won six of the last seven meetings between these sides. Chuba Hubbard has looked like a different player since Andy Dalton assumed the starting quarterback gig for the Panthers, with 120+ yards from scrimmage in the last two games. Diontae Johnson has also found a new lease of life with Dalton under center, with at least seven receptions, 80 receiving yards and a touchdown in his last two games. Caleb Williams became the first quarterback taken with the first overall pick to win his first two home games last week in the Bears win over the Rams. His leading receiver D.J. Moore spent the first five seasons of his career as a member of the Panthers, catching 364 balls for 5,201 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns between 2018-2022.
The surging Baltimore Ravens take a two-game winning streak with them on the road in Week 5, with a 1-3 Cincinnati Bengals side waiting for them. The Ravens lead the series 30-26 with victories in three of the last four meetings. The Ravens have a combined 881 rushing yards in four games this season, the most by any team in their first four games since the 2006 Atlanta Falcons racked up 937. Running back Derrick Henry helped himself to 209 yards from scrimmage in the Ravens victory over the Bills in Week 4, marking the eighth game in his career with at least 200 yards from scrimmage. Only Hall of Famer LaDanian Tomlinson (10) has more games. Henry averages 120.7 yards from scrimmage in his last three games against the Bengals. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has passed for at least two touchdowns in four of his last five home games, and averages 320.7 passing yards in home games against the Ravens in his career.
NRG Stadium is the setting for a clash between two 3-1 squads, as the Houston Texans welcome the Buffalo Bills. This series is tied at five wins each, with the home side coming out on top in each of the last five meetings. Bills quarterback Josh Allen is the only quarterback in the league this season with 100 pass attempts and zero interceptions. Allen is second in the NFL with a 116.5 rating and tied for third with seven touchdown passes. His opposite number C.J. Stroud racked up 345 yards and two touchdowns in the Texans Week 4 win over the Jaguars, marking the fifth time in the first 20 games of his career he accounted for 300 passing yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. On of his favourite weapons this season is Stefon Diggs, who was acquired via trade from the Bills this offseason. Diggs is fourth in team history with 445 receptions, 5,372 receiving yards and 37 receiving touchdowns.
The sole remaining winless team in the NFL, the Jacksonville Jaguars, will look to get one in the win column this week as they welcome the 2-2 Indianapolis Colts to EverBank Stadium. Anthony Richardson looks like missing this game, put the grizzled veteran Joe Flacco under center for the Colts. Going back to last season, Flacco is on six-game streak with at least two touchdown passes, and he has 300 passing yards and three touchdowns in his last two games against the Jaguars. Flacco’s insertion into the lineup in Week 4 was a boost to Michael Pittman’s productivity, as the wide receiver set season-highs with six catches for 113 yards. Pittman has eight or more catches and at least 95 receiving yards in his last three games against the Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence is 4-1 in his last five starts against the Colts and has five passing touchdowns and a 98.6 rating in his last four home games.
Sunday sees a clash between two AFC East sides with identical records, as the 1-3 Miami Dolphins travel to face the 1-3 New England Patriots. The Dolphins own a 61-53 series lead and have won six of the last seven meetings. Tyler Huntley looks like getting his second start for the Dolphins at quarterback. Running back De’von Achane has been a road warrior for the Dolphins, with 104.5 yards from scrimmage and five total touchdowns in his last four games away from Miami. Tyreek Hill has a receiving touchdown in his last two games against the Patriots, have has 80+ yards and a touchdown grab in three of his last four games against AFC East opponents. Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett started five games for the Dolphins in 2021, going 2-3 while passing for 1,283 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions. In his only career start against the Dolphins, for the Browns in 2022, Brissett passed for 212 yards and rushed for another 40.
The 1-3 Cleveland Browns travel to take on the 3-1 Washington Commanders. The Browns have the upper hand in this long series, with a 35-12-1 record including victories in each of the last two meetings. Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper has 45 receptions, 755 yards and eight touchdowns in nine career games against Washington, all the most versus any opponent in his career. Defensive end Myles Garrett has played Washington twice in his career and recorded 1.5 sacks in each game. Jayden Daniels became the first player in NFL history to complete 85% of his passes in consecutive games between Weeks 3 and 4, and his 82.1% completion rate through four games is the best by a player in the first four weeks of a season, AND the first four games of a career in NFL history. Daniels is the second rookie quarterback in NFL history with 200+ rushing yards in his first four games and one of only four with four rushing touchdowns in their first four career games.
Empower Field at Mile High is the venue for an all-AFC West clash between the 2-2 Las Vegas Raiders and the 2-2 Denver Broncos. The Raiders own a 72-53-1 advantage in this rivalry with ten wins in the last 11 meetings. Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew has 200 passing yards in three of his four games this season and passed for 213 yards with two touchdowns in his only career start against the Broncos as a member of the Jaguars back in 2019. Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby has at least one sack in his last nine games against the Broncos and has 13.5 sacks in ten games against them. Bo Nix is looking to become the first Broncos rookie quarterback ever to win three straight games, and he’ll look to lean on Courtland Sutton to help them achieve this fear. Sutton has four or more catches in eight of his last nine games against the Raiders, and he has scored a touchdown in five of his last six games against AFC West opposition.
The 1-3 Arizona Cardinals travel to the Bay area to take on the 2-2 San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers have won the last four meetings between the sides and own a 36-29 advantage in the series. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has a passing and a rushing touchdown in each of his last two games against the 49ers but has six passing scores and zero rushing scores so far this season. Rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison has a receiving touchdown in each of his last three games. 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy ranks second in the NFL with 1,130 passing yards this season and has a 130+ rating in each of his last three games against the Cardinals. All-World linebacker Fred Warner has averaged 9.1 tackles per game when facing the Cardinals in his career so far.
The 1-3 Los Angeles Rams host the 2-2 Green Bay Packers at SoFi Stadium on Sunday. The Packers have won eight of the last nine meetings and own a narrow 48-46-2 advantage all time. Packers quarterback Jordan Love is coming off a game in which he set career-highs with 32 completions, 389 yards and four passing scores, and has two or more passing touchdowns in 10 of his last 11 regular season games going back to 2023. Xavier McKinney, a free agent signing from the New York Giants this offseason, has an interception in each of his first four games, making him the fourth player since 1970 with an interception in each of his first four games with a team and the fourth player this century with an interception in each of his teams first four games of a season. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford averages 284.6 passing yards per game against the Packers in his career, and his 40 touchdown passes are the most against any team. Running back Kyren Williams has the longest active streak for games with 50+ yards from scrimmage (16) and games with a touchdown (seven).
The 1-3 New York Giants travel west to take on the 3-1 Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks have won six of the last seven meetings but lead the series by a single game (11-10). Daniel Jones has two touchdown passes and a 100+ rating in his two road games in 2024 and has a 70%+ completion rate in his last two games. Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers has 35 receptions for 386 yards and three touchdowns through four games of the season, the most receptions in the entire league and second for most yards. Geno Smith started one game for the Giants in 2017, the game that ended Eli Manning’s iron man streak of consecutive games started. He passed for 212 yards and a touchdown. Smith has at least one touchdown pass in 18 of his 20 starts for the Seahawks at home. Kenneth Walker is coming off a three-touchdown outing in Week 4 and is looking for his fifth consecutive home game with 75+ yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. Wide receiver D.K. Metcalf has 100 receiving yards in three straight games and has a touchdown in his last two games against the Giants.
Sunday Night Football comes from the Steel City in Week 5, with a 3-1 Pittsburgh Steelers team welcoming a 2-2 Dallas Cowboys side. This is a clash between the two sides with the most and second-most primetime victories since 1970, with Dallas owning 106 primetime wins and the Steelers 98. Dak Prescott is one of only four quarterbacks with 700+ winning percentage in primetime games since 1970, with a 26-11 record. Prescott has only started one game against the Steelers in his career, with 319 yards and two touchdowns back in his rookie year of 2016. Justin Fields amassed 312 passing yards in Week 4 while also rushing for 55 yards with three total touchdowns. Fields is the only quarterback this season to have game with 300+passing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Najee Harris has 70+ yards from scrimmage in seven straight games, the longest streak in the NFL, and averages 90.8 yards from scrimmage in five career games on Sunday Night Football. Pass rusher T.J. Watt needs 0.5 sacks to become the fourth player since 1982 to rack up 100 sacks in their first eight seasons in the NFL.
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