Five Wide: 2024 Week Five

By Thomas Willoughby

Welcome back to the London games, folks. Four games, over three weeks, in two stadiums, all in one city. The Vikings beat the Jets in a game that got really interesting towards the end. Yesterday evening, the NFL Academy were defeated by the De La Salle Spartans 31-9 in the very same ground. Next, the Jaguars begin their two week excursion, facing the Bears and Patriots at Spurs and Wembley respectively.

We are truly blessed. I say something like this every year, but these weeks are special. Actual in-season games that matter, in world class stadia, that’s just unique. I’m not sure we’re likely to see more than 3 a year for a good few years, if ever. It feels like the NFL are focussing on more territories rather than more games in individual territories.

Anyway, week five was a classic. Don’t believe me? Just watch.

Week Five out of Five

What a banger of a weekend. If you weren’t watching Redzone, you were missing out. Absolute classics at every turn. Only 4 of the 10 6pm/9pm games ended were decided by more than one score, and one of those games finished 29-20 thanks to a last second blocked field goal returned for a touchdown. Amazing.

The main event took place in Ohio, where the Bengals hosted the Ravens in what felt like a must-win for both sides. And they played like it, too. The level of QB play from Burrow and Jackson was on another level. The pair of them seemingly setting a new bar with every drive. There can, of course, only be one winner, but it’s cruel that 392 yards and 5 touchdowns isn’t enough to win your side the game. That’s just how it goes when you’re playing one of the best in the league.

Jacksonville and Houston did their best to blow big old leads. The listless Jags found themselves up 34-20 late in the 4th, and allowed the Joe Flacco(!) led Colts to come all the way back. They needed a last gasp field goal to get their first win of the season. Houston, on the other hand, were up 20-3 into the 3rd quarter and coasting. The Bills fought back, to 20-20, and it looked for all the world we’d be getting overtime. Until the Bills ran 3 straight passing plays in their own endzone, and gave the ball back to Houstin with enough time to get into field goal range for another last second winner.

That’s honestly just a snippet from the early slate. It carried over into the late window, too. Seven hours of ad-free belters. A delight.

Andy Lyons-Getty Images

We are top of the league, say we are top of the league

They might be 5-0 in 2024, but the Minnesota Vikings’ victory this weekend put them atop the NFL International Series standings by themselves. 4 holidays, 4 wins. Prolific.

Only six other sides (Giants, 49ers, Chiefs, Eagles, Panthers, and Cowboys) can boast an unbeaten international record, and none of them have made as many trips abroad as the Vikings. Minnesota have beaten the Jets this weekend, Saints in 2022 (28-25), Browns in 2017 (33-16), and Steelers in 2013 (34-27) are unparalleled across the league. A very impressive achievement.

Comparatively, the Jets sank to 1-3, with their sole victory coming over the Miami Dolphins at Wembley in 2015 (27-14). I’ll keep you posted on how the league table moves and shakes as the final 3 games play out.

Graphic horror

Won’t spend too much time on the first of this years London games, but I do need to bring attention to the utterly atrocious attempt at coverage ITV gave us on Sunday afternoon. Not for the first time, ITV elected to go with a British commentary crew consisting of Darren Fletcher, Jason Bell, and Osi Umenyiora. I’m over that, by the way. In the words of the great Lando Calrissian; I don’t like it, I don’t agree with it, but I accept it. What I could not accept, however, was ITVs attempt at bringing their own graphics to the fray.

I mean look at this. No clock, no play clock, no time out indicator, no down and distance indicator. I put it on for 10 minutes during half time of the United game, and was lost. Considering these broadcasts feel like the plays to get more eyeballs from a wider audience, I do not understand how this is helpful for anyone.

Now, to their credit, they resolved the issues mid-game. Out went that monstrosity, in came the same graphics being used on the NFL Network broadcast. I commend that. How it slipped through the net the first time, however, I’ll never know. Fingers crossed we don’t have the same issues moving forward

Kicking themselves

The 49ers were defeated in the later slate, in a game I never thought they’d lose. They looked in total control, until they weren’t. And when they realised they were about to lose, they panicked, and Purdy saw a pass tipped and picked on the final drive of the game.

It is worth mentioning, however, they were somewhat hamstrung. Jake Moody, their kicker, suffered an ankle sprain which left him unable to kick. Mitch Wishnowski, the punter, stepped up for a short field goal in the first half, but it was clear it was unreasonable to rely on him over much more than 20 yeards. So, every single inch of the Cardinals half became four down territory. And that played in the Cardinals favour.

Like I said, at no point did it feel, to me, like the 49ers would lose. And they did. They’ll almost certainly carry a 2nd kicker on their practice squad for the rest of the season, but might this be the moment we see multiple kickers on game-day squads? Not for me to say.

But yes, that would be funny.

Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

Kyler of Duty

Enjoy it while you can, though, Cardinals fans. In week two, I stated that Arizona could mix with the best of the NFC until the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Murray’s love of the game has (ALLEGEDLY) affected his ability to take his off-field work seriously. To the point where the Cardinals wanted Murray to sign a contract committing him to 4 hours of “independent study” a week, which just feels insulting. 

Their worst fears may have been realised.

Look, it’s been a while since I played a Call of Duty. I don’t know what this means. But, what I do know, is that Murray now gets paid to play his favourite game. And I think that’s something we can all aspire to. With that, if any of you fine readers work at, or know someone who works at, Nintendo, please ask them to get in contact. Thank you.

Features Image Credit: Paul Childs-Action Images

Thomas Willoughby

NFL ANALYST & SOCIAL MEDIA

THOMAS IS A WRITER, AND REGULAR GUEST ON THE TOUCHDOWN REVIEW SHOW PODCAST, FOR THE TOUCHDOWN. YOU CAN FIND HIM @WILLO290592 ON TWITTER

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