Bama in the NFL Tracker: Jets Defense Shines, Alabama QBs Split the Day

C.J. Mosley keyed a much-needed win for the Jets, while Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins continued their record-setting pace in NFL Week 5.

NFL Week 5 Recap

• The New York Jets got a much-needed win in Denver before their bye week. Eight-year NFL veteran C.J. Mosley led the team in tackles with 13 and had two tackles for loss and one pass defended, as the Jets overcame a five-point halftime deficit to secure their second win of the season. Quinnen Williams had one tackle on the game, but his production came while pressuring the quarterback, not necessarily hitting him. Things may be turning around for the Jets, while the same can not be said for the Broncos, who fell to 1-4. Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy had six catches for 50 yards. Safety Kareem Jackson led the team in tackles with 10, while Patrick Surtain II had five tackles, one pass breakup, and an interception. 

• Tua Tagovailoa had 308 yards passing and two touchdowns, and has thrown for more yards through the first five games of a season than any quarterback in Dolphins history. One of Tagovailoa's touchdowns went to a familiar face: Jaylen Waddle, who had five catches for 35 yards and the score. However, the quarterback also had two passes picked off including a pick-six (with Waddle making the subsequent tackle). Defensive lineman Raekwon Davis had three tackles and one tackle for loss, while Da'Shawn Hand had one quarterback hit. For the Giants, safety Xavier McKinney had eight tackles and a pass breakup. 

• Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles still aren't playing to their standard, and yet they're still undefeated. Hurts threw for 303 yards, one touchdown, and had one pass picked off by the Rams. Hurts was also the leading rusher for the Eagles, with 72 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. DeVonta Smith was not very involved in the offense, with just one catch for six yards. Defensively for Philadelphia, Eli Ricks had two tackles. 

• Demeco Ryans' Houston Texans fell to 2-3 with the loss to the Atlanta Falcons, but it was not due to a lack of effort.

Bama in the NFL: Week 5 Tracker

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NFL Week 5 Preview

• The Chicago Bears will be without a key part of their secondary, safety Eddie Jackson, who left the Week 3 game against Kansas City with a foot injury and has not practiced ahead of the Thursday matchup with the Washington Commanders. The Washington defensive line including Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen will have the task of trying to contain Justin Fields and his rushing ability. Neither lineman put up flashy stats, but their influence on the field and in the pass rush is certainly noticed. Brian Robinson Jr. is the leading tailback for the Commanders, totaling 261 yards and three touchdowns.

• Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers are still searching for their first win of the season, but it won't be easy to get at Detroit. The Lions are a gritty, tough team, coming off an extended rest after beating the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football, while the Panthers came up short against the previously-winless Vikings. Young will see some familiar faces including Jahmyr Gibbs, Jameson Williams, and Brian Branch. Gibbs is averaging 4.69 yards per touch, but has been getting fewer than 15 touches per game. Williams will see his first action in 2023, coming off a gambling suspension that was reduced from six weeks to four thanks to the NFL changing its suspension policy. Branch is off to a great start, with 25 tackles, four passes defended, and a pick-six on the season.

• The Miami Dolphins are looking to rebound after a blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills. Tua Tagovailoa will attempt to get back in his rhythm this week against the New York Giants, and it starts with getting wide receiver Jaylen Waddle more involved in the offense. Waddle had just four catches for 46 yards in the loss at Buffalo. The Giants secondary, including safety Xavier McKinney, will likely focus on trying to stop Tyreek Hill, which could open up space for Waddle. Defensively, linemen Raekwon Davis and Da'Shawn Hand will be up against a struggling Giants offensive line that includes former Alabama tackle Evan Neal. Meanwhile, A'Shawn Robinson and the Giants defensive line will have a tall task to try and stop the Dolphins run game that's suddenly explosive.

• The New England Patriots are, effectively, in a landslide. After starting the season 1-2, they got blown out by the Dallas Cowboys 38-3 in a game that saw Mac Jones pulled before the end of the third quarter. The receivers struggled to create separation and to score, and things probably won't be any easier against the New Orleans Saints. The Patriots defense will be without two stars: pass rusher Matthew Judon and rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez. With the Patriots already thin in the secondary, they traded for Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson, who spent four seasons in New England prior to signing with the Chargers. Anfernee Jennings and Mack Wilson Sr. could see some playing time in Judon's absence.

• The Philadelphia Eagles are one of two remaining undefeated teams in the NFL (the 49ers being the other). Jalen Hurts and the Eagles will look to continue their streak against the Los Angeles Rams, who are expected to get wide receiver Cooper Kupp back from injured reserve. The Eagles have scored more than 20 points in every game, and AJ Brown is averaging more than 100 yards per game. The Rams defense is led by Aaron Donald who won't make it easy for Hurts to keep that streak alive.

• Alabama's strong reputation of churning out superstar defensive players will be on display when the New York Jets visit the Denver Broncos. Quinnen Williams and C.J. Mosley for the Jets gave Patrick Mahomes problems on Monday, with Mosley picking off the Chiefs signal caller. Williams can easily get to the quarterback while Mosley can wrap up almost any offensive player, and can read the quarterback's eyes to force him into mistakes. For the Broncos, they're coming off their first win of the season thanks to the comeback by Russell Wilson on offense, and an interception by Kareem Jackson on defense. Jackson is in his fifth season starting in the Broncos secondary, while Patrick Surtain II is one of the best young cornerbacks in the NFL. Surtain has 13 tackles and five passes broken up on the season. He'll line up against Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson: a must-watch event. For the Broncos offense, Jerry Jeudy contributed 52 yards to the comeback win in Chicago. He'll often line up against another one of the league's best young cornerbacks: Sauce Gardner. 

How to Watch NFL Week 5

Thursday's Game

Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders, 7:15 p.m. CT, Prime Video

Sunday's Games

Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills, (London, England), 8:30 a.m., NFL Network
Houston Texans at Atlanta Falcons, noon, FOX
Carolina Panthers at Detroit Lions, noon, FOX
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts, noon, CBS
New York Giants at Miami Dolphins, noon, FOX
New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots, noon, CBS
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers, noon, CBS
Cincinnati Bengals at Arizona Cardinals, noon, FOX
Philadelphia Eagles at Los Angeles Rams, 3:05 p.m., FOX
New York Jets at Denver Broncos, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Kansas City Chiefs at Minnesota Vikings, 3:25 p.m., CBS
Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers, 7:20 p.m., NBC, Telemundo

Monday's Game

Green Bay Packers at Las Vegas Raiders, 7:15 p.m., ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes

Bye: Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

See Also:

Bama in the NFL: Active Alabama Players by Team, Position