Week 5 of the 2024 season has come to an end, after a wild weekend across the league with multiple upsets and thrilling games. Sportswriter Jonathan Chekol recaps the best of the action:
Baltimore Ravens – 41 (3-2) Cincinnati Bengals – 38 (1-4) OT
It was a shootout in Cincy with AFC North divisional rivals the Ravens and Bengals squaring off in a thriller of a game. After a wild series of events in overtime, including a turnover by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson that led to a missed 53-yard field goal by Bengals kicker Evan McPherson, a 51-yard run by Derrick Henry led to a short field goal by Justin Tucker to win the game for Baltimore.
Jackson had 4 touchdowns, completing 26 of his 42 passing attempts, and had 348 passing yards including an 11-play, 70-yard drive capped off by an impossible 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Isaiah Likely. Jackson had to recover after dropping the snap, scrambling before stiff-arming Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard and firing off the TD pass. Ravens RB Derrick Henry had 15 rushing attempts, 92 rushing yards and 1 rushing touchdown, with the highlight being the aforementioned 51-yard run to set up the win.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow finished with 30 completions in 39 passing attempts and a career-high 5 touchdowns, including a 70-yard bomb to wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase that increased the Bengals’ lead to 10 points in the fourth quarter with 8:54 left. However, on the first drive after a late Ravens touchdown score, Cincy dropped the ball on their last possession of regulation as Burrow was intercepted, which set up the tying field goal kick by Tucker.
The Ravens will host a beltway clash this Sunday when they take on the Washington Commanders (1.00 p.m.) while the Bengals will be in New York to play the Giants on Sunday Night Football (8.20 p.m.).
Arizona Cardinals – 24 (2-3) San Francisco 49ers – 23 (2-3)
After leading by as many as 13 points at the half, the 49ers squandered their lead, resulting in an upset in the Bay Area as the Arizona Cardinals stunned the defending NFC champions at home.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray threw for 195 yards and one touchdown, with 182 yards rushing, including a 50-yard touchdown run at the beginning of the game. He spearheaded a drive late-on that included a successful pass to rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. on a fourth-down, getting the Cards into FG position and resulting in the game winning 35-yard kick by Chad Ryland. Cardinals running back James Conner ran for 86 yards, including scoring on a 2-point conversion.
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy completed 18 of his 33 passing attempts for 229 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The 49ers managed to only get one offensive touchdown, with the other TD coming on a blocked field goal return.
Overall, it was an uncharacteristic performance by the 49ers in a game that they really should have won after leading by 13 at the half, but an inability to capitalize on their chances to close the game – including an interception by Cardinals linebacker Kyzir White – secured the upset for Arizona. The Cardinals made a spectacular bounce back after their embarrassing 42-14 loss at home to the Commanders in Week 4.
Arizona is set to travel to Green Bay this Sunday (1.00 p.m.) while the 49ers will be in Seattle to take on the Seahawks on Thursday night (8.15 p.m.).
Dallas Cowboys – 20 (3-2) Pittsburgh Steelers – 17 (3-2)
After a 90-minute weather delay due to a line of thunderstorms across downtown Pittsburgh, two of the league’s most historic franchises clashed in the Steel City.
Dallas prevailed in the wee hours of Monday morning, thanks to a throw by Dak Prescott to wide receiver Jalen Tolbert with 20 seconds remaining, to give the Cowboys a 20-17 lead, despite being without two of their best defensive players in linebacker Micah Parsons (ankle) and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (Lisfranc) due to injuries. Prescott finished with 352 yards and 2 touchdowns – including the aforementioned game winner – and managed to take the Cowboys to 3-2, despite Dallas being penalized 11 times for 87 yards.
Steelers quarterback Justin Fields had 131 yards for two scores, including a 6-yard shovel pass from Fields to tight end Pat Freiermuth to give the Steelers the 17-13 lead in the fourth quarter. Fields also added 27 yards rushing, but struggled with passing accuracy, completing only 15 of his 27 passing attempts. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is now considering starting veteran signal caller Russell Wilson, who has been injured for five weeks due to a calf injury he suffered in Week 1, but could make a return this weekend against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Cowboys will host the Detroit Lions (4.25 p.m.) while the Steelers will travel to Las Vegas for their Week 6 matchup (4.05 p.m.).
What will Week 6 have in store for us? Enjoy this weekend’s games everybody!
