Sunday is here once again, and it’s time for a full day of NFL football. Week 5 has already treated fans to a massive upset on Thursday Night Football, and today will surely bring the same excitement.
The Sunday slate for Week 5 is loaded, but some games are bigger than others. Here are the biggest storylines in NFL Week 5.
The Miami Dolphins are hanging on by a thread, and every win matters more than ever. They finally earned a W against the New York Jets last Monday night, and the offense finally looked productive.
The addition of tight end Darren Waller proved worthwhile, as he hauled in both of Tua Tagovailoa’s touchdown passes. Running back De’Von Achane rushed for 99 yards and a score of his own.
Now, Miami is without superstar receiver Tyreek Hill. Head coach Mike McDaniel might be coaching for his job, and the entire offense needs to step up. Jaylen Waddle will likely become Tagovailoa’s top target without Hill’s deep threat ability.
The Dolphins’ defense will need to elevate today as well. They’re facing the Carolina Panthers, one of the NFL’s least productive offenses. Miami has yet to record an interception on the season. Stealing one today could turn the tide of this game.
The New York Giants turned to quarterback Jaxson Dart in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers, and it paid off in spades. The rookie QB led Big Blue to a 21-18 victory over a previously undefeated team. The week flew by, though, and it’s time for Dart to do it again.
The 1-3 Giants are facing the 0-4 New Orleans Saints. Their QB, Spencer Rattler, is 0-10 in his career as a starter, and they’re likely to land a top-three draft pick in 2026. This would feel like a trap game, but the Saints are the current favorites in the betting odds.
New York’s defense generated over 20 pressures on Justin Herbert last week. With all due respect, Rattler is no Herbert. The Giants’ pass rush should be able to tee off here, setting Dart up for success.
The Giants are without star receiver Malik Nabers for the rest of the year, leaving Wan’Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton to extend the field. Running back Cam Skattebo is breaking out in his rookie year and will play a key role today. The Dart hype train is gaining momentum, but a loss today might cause everyone to hit the brakes.
The Philadelphia Eagles are 4-0, but something is off about this team. In 2024, Philly started the year 2-2 before their Week 5 bye. They came back from the break and have only lost one game since.
Jalen Hurts didn’t throw a touchdown pass until Week 3, and didn’t complete a single pass in the second half of Philly’s Week 4 victory. It’s worth noting they’re not making mistakes, though. Hurts has yet to throw an interception, and the team has only lost one turnover so far.
Philly’s new offensive coordinator, Kevin Patullo, seems to be playing it safe with a loaded offense. A.J. Brown has less than 200 receiving yards and one touchdown in four games. Saquon Barkley failed to break 50 rushing yards in a game twice and has yet to hit 100 in a game this year.
It feels like Patullo was handed the keys to a Lamborghini, but is afraid to actually drive it. This offense is loaded and should have more than a +5.0 average scoring margin. They’re facing the Denver Broncos today, a defense that will likely put up a fight. It’s time for the Eagles to hit the gas.
There are so many stories to track across the NFL beyond these. The Detroit Lions are looking to continue their dominance against the Cleveland Browns. The Kansas City Chiefs are turning a corner and will face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday Night Football.
Check out my full preview and predictions for Week 5 here!
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