NFL Week 5 winners, losers: Drake Maye continues surge

On Philadelphia’s opening drive, Hamilton utilized stress throughout a first-down incompletion on the Jaguars’ 46-yard line. Three performs later, he stopped Eagles operating again Will Shipley three inches wanting the road to realize on 4th-and-1.

On Jacksonville’s remaining play, Hamilton snapped the ball to punter Logan Cooke, who held the ball in place for Little’s successful kick, whereas filling in for an injured Ross Matiscik (shoulder), the workforce’s beginning lengthy snapper.

“He did an outstanding job,” Cooke stated afterward, based on Jackson Florida Instances-Union’s Ryan O’Halloran. “He has his huge ol’ mitts … wrapped up in tape. For him to spin the ball and get it to me, that is all I can ask for.”

Former No. 1 total choose Travon Walker hailed Hamilton as the sport’s MVP.

“For him to go on the market and lengthy snap like he did immediately,” Walker stated, “that is him simply being an awesome athlete, however then once more that is simply a part of the NFL as effectively. So, large shout out to D-Ham.”

Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots. The third-year quarterback has formally put a shaky begin to the 2026 season behind him. In a 45-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders (3-2), Maye completed 26-of-34 for 374 yards, solely the second 300-yard passing recreation of his profession. When factoring in carries and sacks, Maye averaged 9.4 yards per play and accounted for 5 complete touchdowns. Yeah, we expect he is again. And Maye is perhaps even higher than earlier than.

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers. The previous man nonetheless has it.

Rodgers, 42, threw three touchdowns for the third consecutive recreation in a 34-22 win over the Indianapolis Colts (3-2), marking his longest streak since December 2021, based on ESPN’s Discipline Yates.

On his first landing, he moved past Peyton Manning for the third-most passing touchdowns in NFL historical past (together with postseason).

With Pittsburgh nursing a two-point lead on a 3rd down 5 minutes into the fourth quarter, Rodgers evaded stress by escaping the pocket and throwing an on-target go downfield for a primary down.

Is his play sustainable for a whole yr? It is exhausting to inform. However the Steelers will get pleasure from it so long as it lasts.

Mike Evans, WR, San Francisco 49ers. Already an elite trash talker, Evans added to his biggest hits assortment throughout a back-and-forth with Seattle Seahawks nook Trevon Diggs in a 32-29 49ers win. With Diggs chirping as Evans walked away, the six-time Professional Bowl wideout rotated and checked the again of Diggs’ jersey, as if to say “Who’re you?”

The transfer even earned the respect from former NFL cornerback Richard Sherman, who additionally had a historical past of verbally dissing opponents.

“Checking to see the identify on the again of the jersey is an all-time Gif and trash speak second that I want I might have considered,” Sherman glowingly wrote on social media.

Evans went on to again up his speak together with his greatest recreation as a 49er, ending with seven receptions, 113 yards and a landing.

Matthew Golden and Christian Watson, WRs, Inexperienced Bay Packers. The highest two Packers wideouts placed on reveals in a 31-7 romp over the divisional-rival Chicago Bears (3-2). Watson led Inexperienced Bay with 143 receiving yards and two touchdowns on six receptions. Golden, who additionally had six catches, completed with 123 receiving yards, the a lot of the 2025 NFL Draft No. 23 total choose’s profession. 

The Packers entered Week 5 final in speeding and solely averaged 2.7 yards per carry towards the Bears, making Golden and Watson’s manufacturing much more necessary. The duo could need to proceed to guide the cost within the coming weeks, however they need to be greater than as much as the duty.

Houston Texans. The Texans took down the Tennessee Titans (0-5), 26-3, for his or her first win of the season, however that wasn’t the spotlight of the day. Moments afterward, Houston finalized a commerce for former No. 4 total choose Marvin Harrison Jr., sending 2026 second- and sixth-round picks whereas additionally buying a 2027 seventh-rounder.

That second-rounder could develop into extraordinarily precious if Houston’s Week 5 win was a mirage, but when it maximizes Harrison’s expertise, including him for a Day 2 and late Day 3 choose can be an unbelievable win.

NFL Week 5 losers

NFC East. After Dallas Cowboys and Eagles losses, the New York Giants and Washington Commanders had an opportunity to be the one NFC East workforce to win in Week 5 after they performed on Sunday. Fittingly for a division that is perhaps the NFL’s worst, neither did.

The Giants (3-1-1) and Commanders (1-3-1) performed to a 27-27 tie, aided largely by some terrible teaching from Commanders coach Dan Quinn. In vary to try a 43-yard subject aim, Washington ran the ball on a 1st-and-10 with 55 seconds remaining and no timeouts, then didn’t snap the ball once more till three seconds remained on the play clock. Quarterback Jayden Daniels scrambled, bought tackled in bounds, and the Commanders have been unable to spike the ball in time for a last-second subject aim try.

By way of 5 weeks, nobody has any curiosity in successful the NFC East. Some workforce finally will, however it will not be fairly.

Tyson Bagent, QB, Bears. Caleb Williams (hamstring) cannot come again quickly sufficient. Bagent flopped in his second consecutive begin earlier than benched for third-string quarterback Case Keenum throughout Sunday’s loss to Inexperienced Bay, ending 12-of-21 for 87 yards and two interceptions.

“He is on observe,” head coach Ben Johnson stated of Williams, including he may go well with up as quickly as subsequent Sunday on the Atlanta Falcons (2-2). “I believe it may be shut,” he added. (h/t ESPN)

Whereas it is unclear whether or not Williams can be prepared in time for Week 6, Johnson ought to already know that it will not be Bagent getting the subsequent begin.

Malik Willis, QB, Miami Dolphins. Willis ought to have an extended runway, however not by a lot. After a 31-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals (3-2), Willis is wanting much less and fewer like a franchise quarterback. As Palm Seashore Publish Dolphins reporter Joe Schad famous on social media, the five-year veteran ranks final amongst qualifying quarterbacks in passer ranking (68.4) whereas throwing two touchdowns and accounting for eight turnovers.

On Sunday, he threw two interceptions, fumbled twice (dropping one) and likewise misplaced 23 yards on three sacks. Even with 74 speeding yards on eight carries, Willis solely averaged 4.9 yards on 38 complete performs.

Even on a multi-year contract, the Dolphins could also be available in the market for his substitute in the course of the upcoming draft.