Ten snap reactions from the fifth Sunday in the NFL
— Not even five full weeks in the books and the last unbeaten has fallen – fittingly, in blowout fashion against a team that six nights earlier was on the other end of a blowout. The Patriots' 43-17 rout of the Bengals was just another reminder the NFL is a week-to-week league driven by matchups, health and, perhaps in New England's case, motivation. They've done it many times, with a 36-4 record in games following a loss since 2003. But the hug and handshake between coach Bill Belichick and QB Tom Brady made clear this one meant something to them. Hours earlier, the Cardinals lost their first game and second quarterback against the Broncos. They'd better hope QB Carson Palmer's shoulder allows him to return next week. Otherwise, with backup QB Drew Stanton going through concussion protocol, it could be rookie fourth-round pick Logan Thomas, who was 1-for-8 passing in relief Sunday (though that one went for an 81-yard TD).
— The Cowboys hadn't won four games in a row since 2011. They hadn't started 4-1 since 2008. They hadn't done a lot of things they're doing right now, matching the Eagles and Chargers for football's best record with a 20-17 win over the Texans. RB DeMarco Murray continues to lead the way with five straight 100-yard efforts. WR Dez Bryant provided another reminder he's one of the NFL's best with a juggling 37-yard snag over Texans CB Johnathan Joseph to set up PK Dan Bailey's winner. Offensively, the Cowboys have plenty going for them when QB Tony Romo's on his game. But is the way RB Arian Foster broke out Sunday (23 carries, 157 yards, two TDs) a sign of trouble to come for a defense that has exceeded expectations? The Cowboys will get a better idea next week in Seattle against RB Marshawn Lynch and the Seahawks.
— The Bears seemed determined to screen the Panthers to death, using their aggressive pressure plan against them and daring them to keep up with RB Matt Forte and others in space. There were plenty of times it worked in the first half – WR Alshon Jeffery's 25-yard TD came on a screen, and Forte ran over LB Thomas Davis for a 56-yard gain on another. But give the Panthers credit for being more gap aware, getting off blocks and funneling those plays back to the inside as they erased a 14-point deficit to win 31-24. Star MLB Luke Kuechly can't do it all himself. It was the second straight lousy finish for the Bears, who now have five turnovers in their last 11 second-half possessions.
— At Jim Schwartz's request, two Bills defenders carried their coordinator off the field after a 17-14 triumph at Detroit – quite a scene for a guy who's still getting paid by the Lions for leading them to a 29-52 record over five seasons. Absolutely, the Bills defense did an impressive job holding QB Matthew Stafford and company to a pair of touchdowns. But wouldn't it have been more fitting to find Lions PK Alex Henery and hoist him instead for missing his three field-goal attempts, all in the second half? Heck, the Bills could've carried Henery out of the stadium and dropped him into a cab on Brush Street, saving the Lions a step in making their latest change at the position.
— It's hard to believe two quarterbacks in the modern NFL could combine for less than 100 passing yards in a game that commanded them to pass the entire second half. Yet there Jets QBs Geno Smith and Michael Vick were, combining to finish 12-of-31 passing for 74 yards with an interception (by Smith) and a 33.4 rating in a 31-0 shutout loss at San Diego. The Jets aren't just losing. In coach Rex Ryan's words, Sunday "was a complete ass whipping, and it was me that was getting my ass kicked." This looks nothing like the team that rallied to win three of its last four games in 2013 and save Ryan's job. This is a mess, and it won't take long for Ryan's job to be on the line again if it continues.
— Remember when players (and occasionally officials) using naughty words was the NFL's biggest controversy? Well, now the reminders come only when somebody gets flagged and inevitably denies saying anything. (See: Kaepernick, Colin.) The latest player busted was Buccaneers WR Louis Murphy, who chirped at somebody on the Saints defense as he left the field after teammate Bobby Rainey's touchdown. File this under the same category as celebration penalties born out of officials trying to determine whether a guy is praying. Aiming for improved sportsmanship is a noble enterprise. But is it really a good use of officials' focus to eavesdrop on trash talk and try to determine in real time what's over the line?
— The Saints rallied to beat the Bucs 37-31 in overtime. But it's disconcerting New Orleans could even be in that position – down 11, in the fourth quarter, at home, to a Tampa Bay team a couple weeks removed from getting shellacked by six touchdowns in Atlanta. With the way their Jairus Byrd-less defense continues to struggle, the Saints may well have been a coin flip away from 1-4. Instead, they're 2-3 entering their bye, which gives TE Jimmy Graham extra time to let his banged-up shoulder heal. Coach Sean Payton is as smart with offense as anybody, and that unit has been less consistent than expected, with QB Drew Brees already halfway to his interception total from last season after tossing three more Sunday. The self-scout during the off week should be interesting.
— The Titans hoped this would be the week QB Jake Locker finally would get into a flow. Instead, Locker left twice – once to be evaluated for a concussion, then later with a hand injury – and it was backup QB Charlie Whitehurst under center as everything fell apart in a 29-28 loss to the Browns. The Titans' receivers have been struggling to get open, and implementing first-year coach Ken Whisenhunt's offense remains a work in progress. The quarterback can't fix all of that. But Locker's seemingly never-ending string of injuries has impacted his reps overall since he entered the league in 2011. Whitehurst is a backup, nothing more. Rookie sixth-round pick Zach Mettenberger is a project. The Titans' quarterback for 2015 probably isn't on the roster. All they can do now is try to patch things together and hope a favorable schedule – continuing with the Jaguars and Redskins the next two weeks – helps them stay afloat. It won't be easy after becoming the first team ever to choke away a 25-point lead at home.
— Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. was the last rookie first-round pick to make his NFL debut, and it was worth the wait. He had four catches for 44 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown that gave the Giants their first lead in a 30-20 win over the Falcons. Beckham is a pure speed athlete who's fluid in pattern and can stretch the field outside the numbers – the type of complement the Giants have needed for slot machine Victor Cruz. Things are looking up for QB Eli Manning, who has posted three straight 100-plus passer ratings with eight TD passes and just one interception in the Giants' winning streak. They'll find out exactly how they stack up in the NFC East in prime time next week at Philadelphia.
— Speaking of tests, the Colts passed one Sunday, outlasting the Ravens 20-13 on the strength of a defense – yes, the undermanned, often overmatched Indianapolis defense – that held Baltimore to 287 yards and one third-down conversion in 11 tries. No team had it tougher out the gate than the Colts, who lost to the Broncos and Eagles in prime time. Since, they've dismantled the Jaguars (44-17) and Titans (41-17) and beaten a solid, physical Ravens team. Can the Colts recover quickly enough to take down the defense-driven Texans in Houston on a short week? They're two teams that couldn't be constructed much differently at this stage, making for an intriguing AFC South showdown – if it doesn't end up be the latest in a line of Thursday night washouts.