NFL Week 5 takeaways: Chargers rally to edge Browns in wildest game of the year … so far

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The NFL’s recreation of the 12 months to date, a minimum of as much as Sunday evening?

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There have been actually dozens of shut video games not determined till the top. However should you prefer to be dazzled by offence, and hate punting, then the Los Angeles Chargers’ wild 47-42 comeback win over the Cleveland Browns must be it.

Begin with this: The lead adjustments (9, sure 9) far outnumbered the punts (six mixed).

Add to that 1,024 whole yards, 52 first downs, 75 go makes an attempt, six landing passes and no interceptions between these AFC offensive powers, and also you get the thought. The defences might do little greater than gradual the opposite guys down.

For all that defensive ineptitude, it’s both one way or the other becoming or simply ironic that the successful factors — Chargers working again Austin Ekeler’s three-yard landing run up the center with 1:31 remaining — had been unintended.

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Significantly, Ekeler was attempting NOT to attain. He already had given himself up on a run round finish on the Cleveland three-yard line moments earlier, in order to attempt to eat up as a lot of the clock as doable earlier than the Chargers (hopefully) went forward, as they had been down 42-41 on the time.

However savvy Browns defenders weren’t having that. On Ekeler’s tentative run up the center from the three (it regarded like he was deliberately attempting to wind up wanting the top zone), a gaggle of the Browns gamers bear-hugged Ekeler and pulled him upright into the top zone.

Proper, defenders scrum-dragged the opposing working again into the top zone for the go-ahead factors — all to attempt to go away Cleveland QB Baker Mayfield as a lot time as doable wherein to reply with a game-winning drive.

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It turned out to be not sufficient time anyway. Mayfield might advance the Browns solely to their very own 46, earlier than 4 desperation deep passes all fell incomplete.

Each younger quarterbacks had been spectacular, particularly Herbert. The second-year phenom threw for 398 yards and 4 TDs with out a turnover (for a 122.0 passer ranking) within the face of fixed collapsing pockets, because the Browns’ go rush is as dominating as any within the league.

Mayfield — who was coming off a pair of disappointing performances as he battles a torn labrum in his left, non-throwing shoulder — performed considered one of his greatest video games in 4 years as a professional.

With Nick Chubb (161 yards) and Kareem Hunt (61) continually gashing the dizzy and bruised Chargers defence, Mayfield supplied a virtually good aerial complement. Earlier than his final 4 incomplete desperation heaves, Mayfield was 23-of-28 (82%) for 305 yards, two TDs and a 122.5 passer ranking.

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The tip-of-game timing favoured the Chargers. That was the distinction.

“To win a recreation like this,” Chargers head coach Brandon Staley mentioned afterward, “you need to have a celebrity quarterback.

“I felt like (offensive coordinator) Joe Lombardi was implausible at present … We would have liked it at present. Video games like this occur within the NFL.”

Los Angeles improved to 4-1, now on their lonesome atop the AFC West, with each Denver and Las Vegas dropping Sunday and falling to 3-2.

Cleveland fell to 3-2, tied with Cincinnati behind 3-1 Baltimore within the AFC North; the Ravens play host to Indianapolis on Monday evening.

ANOTHER MILESTONE FOR TOM THUMB

Tom Brady was icing his throwing hand after being pulled, late, together with his Tampa Bay Buccaneers up on Miami by 28 factors.

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Was it simply to chill off his red-hot hand after throwing for 411 yards and 5 touchdowns?

No. Whereas sitting on the bench, the 44-year-old appeared to be caressing the thumb on that hand, in between dunking it in what regarded like ice water in a delicate cooler field. Tampa Bay received 45-17.

The seven-time Tremendous Bowl champion confirmed as much as his post-game information convention with that thumb wrapped.

“It’s simply form of a soccer damage,” Brady mentioned. “So I’ll do my greatest to prepare for the following recreation, and see what occurs.

“In my youthful days I most likely by no means would have confirmed you guys that I wrapped it up. I most likely would have tried to maintain it a secret. However (I’m older now) so I don’t care as a lot.”

It was Brady’s first profession recreation with 400-plus go yards and 5 landing throws.

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LIONS WILL BE LIONS WILL BE LIONS

We did say two weeks in the past that in case your crew ever finds itself trailing the Detroit Lions 17-16 and also you want a last-play, 60-plus yard area objective to win, count on to make it.

As New Orleans’ Tom Dempsey did in 1970 with a then-NFL-record-long 63-yarder.

And as Baltimore’s Justin Tucker did two weeks in the past with a brand new NFL-record-long 66-yarder.

Nicely, it seems the recommendation applies to 54-yarders, too. Yup, the Lions misplaced once more in the very same, heart-crushing circumstances on Sunday.

With Detroit up 17-16, and three seconds remaining, Minnesota’s Greg Joseph hustled onto the sector and drilled a 54-yard area objective to beat the Lions, 19-17. However in fact he did. That’s an end-of-game chip shot by Lions’ opponent requirements.

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Unreal. Simply unreal.

MISS-MISS-MISS-MISS-MISS — MAKE!

If at first, at second and at third you don’t succeed, attempt, attempt, attempt once more.

Inexperienced Bay placekicker Mason Crosby did, and — after he and his Cincinnati counterpart, Evan McPherson, mixed for 5 missed area objectives from late within the fourth quarter onward — drilled a 49-yarder to elevate the Packers over the Bengals, 25-22, with two minutes left in additional time.

Crosby had badly hooked left makes an attempt from 36, 51 and 40 yards, after earlier making area objectives from 44, 44 and 22.

McPherson’s misses had been achingly shut for Bengals followers. His 57-yarder with 26 seconds left in regulation was loads lengthy sufficient however doinked off the fitting upright. His 49-yarder with 4:19 left in OT was so shut because it veered left he thought it was good and started celebrating, solely it breezed via the flag atop and blowing left of the left upright, no good.

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Crosby had missed two area objectives in all of 2019 and 2020.

The 37-year-old Crosby was requested afterward if he’d ever been concerned in a recreation like that, with so many missed kicks, late.

“I don’t suppose that anybody has,” he mentioned.

CHUBA HUBBARD HITS A HUNDRED

In a dropping trigger with the Carolina Panthers, Canadian rookie Chuba Hubbard eclipsed the 100-yard threshold for the primary time as a professional working again.

The Edmonton native, beginning rather than injured all-Professional Christian McCaffrey, rushed 24 instances for 102 yards and a 4.2 common. He was not the issue for the Panthers. Quite, QB Sam Darnold had his worst efficiency but in Carolina; the Panthers allowed a late blocked punt that flipped the sport; and the stellar Carolina defence instantly couldn’t cease Philly’s struggling second-year signal-caller, Jalen Hurts. That’s how a 15-3 lead late within the first half became a 21-18 Philly win.

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CANADIANS SCORE TOUCHDOWNS

Houston Texans tight finish Antony Auclair of Notre-Dame-des-Pins, Que., scored his first NFL landing, on an 11-yard go from rookie Davis Mills. Auclair, 28, is in his fifth NFL season, after spending his first 4 in Tampa Bay. He starred at Laval College in Canada.

Chase Claypool of Abbotsford, B.C., scored on an 18-yard landing go from Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh’s badly wanted 27-19 defeat of the Denver Broncos. It was the primary rating of the season for the second-year vast receiver, and his first recreation again after lacking final week with a hamstring damage.

INJURIES, INJURIES, INJURIES

Appears like New York Giants working again Saquon Barkley is sidelined for a very long time once more. He left the sport at Dallas after turning his left ankle on a Dallas Cowboys defender’s foot, and it didn’t look good. Barkley was carted off. NBC reported he was noticed on crutches sporting a protecting boot on his left leg.

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The Giants’ beginning QB, Daniel Jones, left a short time later after getting hit arduous within the head on a burst for the pylon. He acquired up woozy, and stumbled about earlier than being carted off. He’s concussed, the Giants introduced.

Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow acquired hit arduous by Packers defenders, and regarded like he would possibly concussed. He emerged from the sideline blue tent, although, and performed the remainder of the sport.

However Burrow was rushed to hospital afterward with a doable throat contusion.

EXTRA POINTS

Atlanta — sure, Atlanta — made the New York Jets look dangerous on each side of the ball in a decisive 27-20 win within the first of two video games performed in London, England. Rookie Falcons tight finish Kyle Pitts was unstoppable, snaring 9 of Matt Ryan’s passes for 119 yards and a rating … San Francisco rookie QB Trey Lance made his first begin Sunday, and didn’t do a lot aerially in a 17-10 loss on the NFL’s final undefeated crew, Arizona (5-0). He’s tall (6-foot-4) however had a number of passes from the pocket batted down … Dallas’ offence is for actual, all proper. So’s their go protection on defence … Washington simply can’t play defence, nonetheless. New Orleans beat the Soccer Staff, 33-22 … Jacksonville misplaced its 20^th straight recreation relationship again to Week 2 of final 12 months, 37-19 to Tennessee … New England fell behind at Houston 22-9 early within the third quarter, then dominated the remainder of the sport within the battle of in a position rookie quarterbacks, prevailing 25-22.

JoKryk@postmedia.com

@JohnKryk