It’s formally spooky season.
If there was any doubt, a number of groups and gamers delivered frights on Sunday, and these are those that left the most important mark.
Listed here are the 5 worst performances of Week 5.
How do Cardinals followers put up with this?
Arizona suffered essentially the most dumbfounding lack of the season, falling 22-21 at residence to the beforehand winless Tennessee Titans (1-4). The Cardinals led by as many as 18 and blew a 21-6 fourth-quarter lead because of a comedy of errors.
Working again Emari Demercado turned the most recent participant to foolishly drop the soccer earlier than the aim line on a future, leading to a touchback as a substitute of a landing that will have given Arizona a 27-6 lead pending the additional level.
The Titans turned that miscue into an 80-yard landing drive, they usually pulled nearer after Cardinals defensive again Dadrion Taylor-Demerson fumbled an interception, and the ball trickled into the top zone earlier than being recovered by Tennessee for the rating.
It’s arduous to see how Arizona, which has misplaced three consecutive video games after a 2-0 begin, recovers. That is the type of loss that may sink a season and result in large modifications. That is perhaps precisely what the Cardinals want.
Three fourth-quarter landing passes saved Browning from a really horrific stat line, but it surely wasn’t sufficient to maneuver him exterior of the 5 worst performances of the weekend.
As with Arizona, Cincinnati dropped its third recreation in a row after profitable its first two on Sunday, shedding at residence, 37-24, to the Detroit Lions (4-1), and Browning confirmed why the Bengals should improve at quarterback to outlive till starter Joe Burrow returns.
Browning was 26-of-40 for 251 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. He made poor selections on his turnovers, throwing a deep ball with no probability of being caught within the second quarter that was simply plucked from the air by security Kerby Joseph. On the opening possession of the second half, Browning threw the soccer on to linebacker Alex Anzalone, and the Lions transformed the takeaway right into a landing and a 21-3 lead.
Browning was so dangerous that at one level, Chase was among the many group’s main tacklers, developing with stops after every of Browning’s interceptions.
It’s time for Raiders quarterback Geno Smith to choose up the pen.
After memorably denouncing his critics en path to being named 2022 Related Press Comeback Participant of the Yr, saying “They wrote me off, I ain’t write again although,” after a Week 1 win, Smith has taken a serious step again. He had his worst recreation of the season in Sunday’s 40-6 highway loss to the Indianapolis Colts (4-1), going 25-of-36 for 228 yards and two interceptions. When accounting for sacks and rush makes an attempt, Smith accounted for 198 yards on 43 touches (4.6 yards per play).
The Raiders (1-4) signed Smith to a two-year, $75 million extension after buying him from the Seattle Seahawks in March for a 2025 third-round choose, however his days as a beginning quarterback might be numbered. With the season shortly going sideways, Las Vegas might have a primary first-round choose within the 2026 draft, permitting it to choose Smith’s alternative, regardless that it might most likely use one sooner.
The Dolphins squandered a three-possession lead in opposition to the Carolina Panthers, thanks largely to their lack of ability to manage the road of scrimmage. Carolina outplayed Miami up entrance, exhibiting the place the Dolphins have essentially the most room for enchancment.
The offensive line allowed three sacks, and Miami averaged 1.4 yards per carry, gaining 19 yards on 14 rush makes an attempt. By way of their first 4 video games, the Panthers allowed 129.3 speeding yards per recreation and ranked No. 27 in rush yards per try (4.7). The Dolphins’ defensive entrance was even worse, permitting Rico Dowdle, who entered Week 5 final amongst qualifying backs in rush yards over anticipated per try (h/t NFL Pro), to realize a career-high 206 speeding yards on 23 carries because the Panthers erased a 17-point deficit to win, 26-24. Till Miami is ready to impose its will on the line of scrimmage, the group can overlook about being a playoff contender.
Is it too early to fret in regards to the first-year Jets head coach’s job safety? Most likely not.
New York fell to 0-5 following a 37-22 residence loss to the Dallas Cowboys (2-2-1). Per ESPN Jets reporter Wealthy Cimini, Glenn turned the primary coach in franchise historical past to start his profession with the group with 5 consecutive losses.
The Jets made extra unlucky historical past within the defeat, failing as soon as once more to notch a takeaway, turning into the primary group in NFL historical past to start out a season 0-5 with no turnovers on protection.
That’s a foul search for any group, particularly one which employed a defensive-minded head coach, Aaron Glenn, this offseason. Whereas few anticipated New York to compete for a playoff spot this season, it additionally has no enterprise being one of many league’s final two winless groups. With every passing week, Glenn seems as if he might go one-and-done.
