NFL Week 5 winners, losers: Drake Maye continues surge, NFC East takes extra hits

On Philadelphia’s opening drive, Hamilton utilized stress throughout a first-down incompletion on the Jaguars’ 46-yard line. Three performs later, he stopped Eagles working again Will Shipley three inches wanting the road to achieve on 4th-and-1.

On Jacksonville’s remaining play, Hamilton snapped the ball to punter Logan Cooke, who held the ball in place for Little’s profitable kick, whereas filling in for an injured Ross Matiscik (shoulder), the crew’s beginning lengthy snapper.

“He did a phenomenal job,” Cooke mentioned afterward, in line with Jackson Florida Times-Union’s Ryan O’Halloran. “He has his big ol’ mitts … wrapped up in tape. For him to spin the ball and get it to me, that’s all I can ask for.”

Former No. 1 total choose Travon Walker hailed Hamilton as the sport’s MVP.

“For him to go out there and long snap like he did today,” Walker mentioned, “that’s him just being a great athlete, but then again that’s just part of the NFL as well. So, huge shout out to D-Ham.”

Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots. The third-year quarterback has formally put a shaky begin to the 2026 season behind him. In a 45-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders (3-2), Maye completed 26-of-34 for 374 yards, solely the second 300-yard passing sport of his profession. When factoring in carries and sacks, Maye averaged 9.4 yards per play and accounted for 5 whole touchdowns. Yeah, we expect he is again. And Maye is likely to be even higher than earlier than.

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers. The previous man nonetheless has it.

Rodgers, 42, threw three touchdowns for the third consecutive sport in a 34-22 win over the Indianapolis Colts (3-2), marking his longest streak since December 2021, in line with ESPN’s Field Yates.

On his first landing, he moved past Peyton Manning for the third-most passing touchdowns in NFL historical past (together with postseason).

With Pittsburgh nursing a two-point lead on a 3rd down 5 minutes into the fourth quarter, Rodgers evaded stress by escaping the pocket and throwing an on-target cross downfield for a primary down.

Is his play sustainable for a whole 12 months? It’s exhausting to inform. But the Steelers will take pleasure in it so long as it lasts.

Mike Evans, WR, San Francisco 49ers. Already an elite trash talker, Evans added to his biggest hits assortment throughout a back-and-forth with Seattle Seahawks nook Trevon Diggs in a 32-29 49ers win. With Diggs chirping as Evans walked away, the six-time Pro Bowl wideout rotated and checked the again of Diggs’ jersey, as if to say “Who are you?”

The transfer even earned the respect from former NFL cornerback Richard Sherman, who additionally had a historical past of verbally dissing opponents.

“Checking to see the name on the back of the jersey is an all-time Gif and trash talk moment that I wish I would have thought of,” Sherman glowingly wrote on social media.

Evans went on to again up his speak along with his greatest sport as a 49er, ending with seven receptions, 113 yards and a landing.

Matthew Golden and Christian Watson, WRs, Green Bay Packers. The high two Packers wideouts placed on reveals in a 31-7 romp over the divisional-rival Chicago Bears (3-2). Watson led Green Bay with 143 receiving yards and two touchdowns on six receptions. Golden, who additionally had six catches, completed with 123 receiving yards, the a lot of the 2025 NFL Draft No. 23 total choose’s profession. 

The Packers entered Week 5 final in dashing and solely averaged 2.7 yards per carry towards the Bears, making Golden and Watson’s manufacturing much more necessary. The duo might should proceed to steer the cost within the coming weeks, however they need to be greater than as much as the duty.

Houston Texans. The Texans took down the Tennessee Titans (0-5), 26-3, for his or her first win of the season, however that wasn’t the spotlight of the day. Moments afterward, Houston finalized a commerce for former No. 4 total choose Marvin Harrison Jr., sending 2026 second- and sixth-round picks whereas additionally buying a 2027 seventh-rounder.

That second-rounder might develop into extraordinarily beneficial if Houston’s Week 5 win was a mirage, but when it maximizes Harrison’s expertise, including him for a Day 2 and late Day 3 choose can be an unbelievable win.

NFL Week 5 losers

NFC East. After Dallas Cowboys and Eagles losses, the New York Giants and Washington Commanders had an opportunity to be the one NFC East crew to win in Week 5 after they performed on Sunday. Fittingly for a division that is likely to be the NFL’s worst, neither did.

The Giants (3-1-1) and Commanders (1-3-1) performed to a 27-27 tie, aided largely by some terrible teaching from Commanders coach Dan Quinn. In vary to try a 43-yard subject aim, Washington ran the ball on a 1st-and-10 with 55 seconds remaining and no timeouts, then didn’t snap the ball once more till three seconds remained on the play clock. Quarterback Jayden Daniels scrambled, obtained tackled in bounds, and the Commanders had been unable to spike the ball in time for a last-second subject aim try.

Through 5 weeks, nobody has any curiosity in profitable the NFC East. Some crew ultimately will, but it surely will not be fairly.

Tyson Bagent, QB, Bears. Caleb Williams (hamstring) cannot come again quickly sufficient. Bagent flopped in his second consecutive begin earlier than benched for third-string quarterback Case Keenum throughout Sunday’s loss to Green Bay, ending 12-of-21 for 87 yards and two interceptions.

“He’s on track,” head coach Ben Johnson mentioned of Williams, including he might go well with up as quickly as subsequent Sunday on the Atlanta Falcons (2-2). “I think it’s going to be close,” he added. (h/t ESPN)

While it is unclear whether or not Williams will probably be prepared in time for Week 6, Johnson ought to already know that it will not be Bagent getting the following begin.

Malik Willis, QB, Miami Dolphins. Willis ought to have an extended runway, however not by a lot. After a 31-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals (3-2), Willis is trying much less and fewer like a franchise quarterback. As Palm Beach Post Dolphins reporter Joe Schad famous on social media, the five-year veteran ranks final amongst qualifying quarterbacks in passer score (68.4) whereas throwing two touchdowns and accounting for eight turnovers.

On Sunday, he threw two interceptions, fumbled twice (shedding one) and likewise misplaced 23 yards on three sacks. Even with 74 dashing yards on eight carries, Willis solely averaged 4.9 yards on 38 whole performs.

Even on a multi-year contract, the Dolphins could also be out there for his alternative throughout the upcoming draft.