Key takeaways and analysis from Week 5 in the NFL

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.

49ers a cut above Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Jerry Jones knew what Dallas was up against this week.

The 49ers had been the NFL's most consistent powerhouse over an undefeated first month, leading the Cowboys owner to suggest that San Francisco was the team most likely to win this year's Super Bowl. Nobody will be arguing that point after the 49ers sent Dallas back home with a 42-10 beatdown.

Here's where he went wrong:

"I like our defense," Jones said. "I think we're playing better than we played, and we've been playing some pretty good defense last few years. ... And frankly, this is the best I've felt about our offense this year."

Making sweeping conclusions based on a single game is a risky proposition, but what else are we supposed to do when the Cowboys get so thoroughly embarrassed in front of the entire country? These teams simply aren't all that close.

The 49ers' offense is essentially the NFC equivalent of the Dolphins'. There's less speed, to be sure, but opponents just don't have the ability to match up with so many superstar playmakers in such a masterfully designed system. That's especially the case for the Cowboys' defense, which, as it turns out, had been wildly overrated after starting the year against four of the worst offenses in football.

I've been reluctant to give Brock Purdy too much credit for the offense's production, instead pointing to the favorable environment that this team creates for its quarterbacks, but I have to admit that he's been balling. A seventh-round pick so quickly mastering Kyle Shanahan's offense, making aggressive, anticipatory throws while avoiding costly mistakes, is incredibly impressive.

Purdy's four-score effort against the Cowboys gives him nine touchdowns against no interceptions for the season. While there may be quarterbacks who do more to elevate their offenses, there's no denying that this level of play, combined with continued team success, will put him in the MVP conversation.

And we know the story on other side of the ball. The defense made one heck of a statement against America's Team on Sunday night, limiting Dak Prescott to 153 yards while getting to him for three sacks and three interceptions.

The Cowboys, who were thoroughly outmatched in all phases, have a long way to go before they are in the 49ers' class. With all due respect to the Eagles and the Lions, that may be the case for the rest of the NFC, too.

Only six teams in the Super Bowl era have started the season with 5 straight games of 30+ points scored

2000 Rams (lost WC)
2007 Patriots (lost SB)
2011 Patriots (lost SB)
2013 Broncos (lost SB)
2018 Rams (lost SB)
2023 49ers (???)

- Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) October 9, 2023

Could this finally be the year for San Francisco?

End of an era in New England Winslow Townson / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Patriot Way is dead.

Maybe the Patriots' fate was sealed the moment Tom Brady walked out the door. Looking back, that always was the logical point for everything to start falling apart. But how could anyone have anticipated this team, with this coach, ever looking like ... this?

Last week's 38-3 loss in Dallas marked the most lopsided defeat in Bill Belichick's head coaching career. Evidently, it was only a sign of things to come. He came dangerously close to setting a new personal worst in Sunday's astonishing follow-up act, with the Patriots getting run off their own field by the sputtering Saints in a 34-0 rout.

The offense, most notably, is an anemic unit that just keeps getting worse. While the nuts and bolts seem more professional with Bill O'Brien replacing last year's dynamic duo of Matt Patricia and Joe Judge, the results have been no better. That Belichick doesn't trust his offense enough to attempt a fourth-and-3 play from the Saints' 40-yard line trailing 24-0 in the third quarter tells us everything we need to know.

New England's defensive shortcomings are more so a result of mounting injuries, with both Matthew Judon and Christian Gonzalez out long term, but those excuses aren't likely to fly with ownership. The Patriots are already headed for a third non-playoff season of the post-Brady era after missing the postseason just twice from 2001-2019.

This team needs a full-scale rebuild, and it's fair to wonder whether a 71-year-old coach, no matter his resume, is still the man for such a job - especially given the rumored tension within the organization. It's starting to feel like the beginning of the end for Belichick in New England.

Speed kills Megan Briggs / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Dolphins' offense has the most ridiculous collection of track stars this league has ever seen. Those unteachable traits were on full display in Sunday's win over the Giants, with Next Gen Stats providing one of the craziest statistical leaderboards you'll ever see.

On a 76-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, star rookie running back De'Von Achane reached a top speed of 21.76 mph. That gave him the NFL's second-highest ball-carrier speed of the season, second only to himself.

Tyreek Hill wasn't going to let him have the top spots for long, though. The superstar wideout showed off his burners on Miami's next offensive play, exceeding the 22-mph mark as he ripped off a 64-yard catch-and-run.

Hill's latest trademark explosive play made this season's ball-carrier speed leaderboard a Dolphins-only club.

The Dolphins offense is currently responsible for the five fastest speeds by ball carriers this season @MiamiDolphins | #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/KwPQVh4x07

- Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 9, 2023

It's one thing to have a skill group with physical abilities rivaled only by your greatest Madden dream teams. The raw talent alone is difficult enough to handle. Add in the schematic genius of Mike McDaniel, who gets his gifted playmakers in space as well as any coach in the league, and this offense becomes impossible to defend.

Here's a look at how well the Dolphins were drawing up the run game en route to Achane and Mostert's combined 216 yards against the Giants.

The Dolphins' expected yards per carry at the time of handoff today is 5.5.

No other team in Week 5 is over 4.6.

Obviously Achane and Mostert have exceeded those expectations, but that 5.5 number is a credit to McDaniel's scheme (and the OL).

- Seth Walder (@SethWalder) October 8, 2023

The rest of the league may soon regret letting Achane fall to the 84th pick in this year's draft. It must be nightmare fuel for defensive coordinators to see an expertly designed offense, which already features the likes of Hill and Jaylen Waddle, also adding a running back with Chris Johnson-like upside.

Quick slants

Bengals showing signs?

Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty

We'll try not to get ahead of ourselves here, but it sure was exciting to see the Bengals' offense make things happen in the passing game again. Joe Burrow had his best performance of the year in Sunday's win over the Cardinals, completing 36 of 46 passes for 317 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Cincinnati finally finding some success in the downfield passing game, highlighted by a 63-yard strike to Ja'Marr Chase - his second of three scores on the day - is a great sign following some early struggles. Could this be the second time in as many years that the Bengals staff figures things out after a difficult first month?

Ravens WRs don't show up

Even the most passionate Steelers fans will tell you their team had no business winning this week - no amount of optimism changes the fact that this offense is, at the very best of times, an excruciating watch. Not to be outdone, the Ravens' receiving corps was seemingly intent on making this a game. Countless drops and misplays from Baltimore pass-catchers, including multiple missed touchdown opportunities - two of which on back-to-back plays from Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman - left a ton of points on the field in the loss. That's certainly one way to drag down your superstar quarterback.

Breece Hall taking off

Zach Wilson won't be carrying the Jets' offense anywhere on his own, even if he does look more composed lately. But a healthy Breece Hall gives this unit the chance to complement its defense with a dominant run game. Hall got his most extensive workload yet in Sunday's win over the Broncos, taking 22 carries for 177 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown. More of that and less of Dalvin Cook, and the Jets' offense could do just enough to give this team a chance.

Ridder's best game

What a difference a week makes. Desmond Ridder put together the best game of his career in leading the Falcons past the Texans, completing 75.7% of his passes for 329 yards and one touchdown while adding another score on the ground. We can't draw any snap conclusions here because Ridder's spotty accuracy is going to lead to some hot and cold stretches, but this was a promising performance nonetheless. He'll have an opportunity to build on it next week against the Commanders' defense, which was just shredded by the Bears.

Stroud makes history

Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / Getty

C.J. Stroud's impressive start continued this week, as he made it five straight games without an interception to start his career. His current run of 186 attempts without throwing a pick surpassed the previous mark of 176 set by Dak Prescott in 2016. Interception totals are often misleading, with varying levels of luck skewing the raw numbers, but there is nothing deceiving about Stroud's accomplishment in this case - he looks every bit the quarterback we saw at Ohio State. The No. 2 pick will face his biggest test yet when the Saints head to Houston next week.

Milano a huge loss

The Bills might have a problem. Tre'Davious White suffering a torn Achilles last week and Matt Milano exiting Sunday's loss with both a fractured leg and a potential major knee injury is a crushing blow to Buffalo's defense. While there's still plenty of talent at all levels of the unit, it's not easy to replace a pair of All-Pro players who have been so critical to this group's success. Cornerback and linebacker should be areas that the Bills look to address at the trade deadline.

Richardson down again

If you've read this column at all this season, you already know what I think of Anthony Richardson as a prospect - there is no ceiling on his potential in this league. The recent injuries, however, are a concern. The early indications are that he suffered an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder in Sunday's win over the Titans. While nobody should be telling a player with this kind of athletic ability to become a pocket passer, he has to do a better job of protecting himself as a runner. Taking such regular contact is not sustainable at this level, no matter how imposing the frame.

Lions' offense endures

There's a reason Ben Johnson is the NFL's hottest head coaching candidate. The Lions' offense didn't miss a beat this week despite being without a pair of key pieces in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs. Detroit simply continued to lean on David Montgomery in the run game and unleash some outstanding designs off play action. A 42-point effort with Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond as its leading receivers demonstrates the incredible foundation of this unit. The offense is a well-oiled machine, and it's only going to be taken to greater heights when Jameson Williams gets up to speed.

Back like he never left

Cooper Kupp made his long-awaited return to the Rams' lineup against the Eagles, and it took him all of five seconds to re-establish himself as the centerpiece of the offense. The star wideout hauled in a team-high eight catches - including five on the opening drive - for 118 yards on the day. Philadelphia made some key adjustments to successfully limit L.A.'s offense in the second half, but it's easy to see how dangerous this passing game will be with a healthy Kupp alongside standout rookie Puka Nacua.

Stat of the week

Dolphins RB Devon Achane is now second in the NFL in rushing yards.

He ranks 37th in rushing attempts

- Steve Palazzolo (@PFF_Steve) October 8, 2023

MNF lookahead

Packers vs. Raiders

Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / Getty

This two-game stretch for the Packers, with the Broncos up next, is the perfect opportunity to get on track after an up-and-down start to the season. The Raiders' defense remains among the league's worst, and the offense is in no way suited to be playing from behind. A fast start from the Packers could put this one away early. If that's how it plays out and the Raiders drop to 1-4, the focus in Las Vegas should shift to the future of Josh McDaniels. It's one thing to have patience with a new regime, but at some point, the staff has to offer a single reason to believe in the team's direction.

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