Grading All 32 NFL Teams Defenses After Week 5 Games Of The 2024 Season
Week five had some very close and wild NFL games, which came down to the wire, resulting in teams getting their respective wins while other NFL teams suffered painful losses in those critical last seconds.
On a positive note, every team in the NFL officially has won on their schedules, as the Jacksonville Jaguars finally earned their first win of the season in nail-biting fashion. Week five truly lived up to the hype of the NFL season, which has us craving more wild action in the weeks to come.
Here are the grades for all 32 NFL teams after week five.
Which teams had the highest grades in the NFL after week five?
Arizona Cardinals: B
Despite being down 23-10 at halftime, the Cardinals mounted a comeback and stunned the San Francisco 49ers 24-23. Kyler Murray threw a touchdown against an interception and scored a rushing touchdown. James Conner ran for 86 yards on 19 carries, Michael Wilson had 78 receiving yards, and Elijah Higgins scored a touchdown. On defense, the Cardinals had two sacks, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery in their upset road win. It was a great afternoon for the Red Birds as they stunned the 49ers with a comeback victory.
Atlanta Falcons: A-
The Falcons played a neck-and-neck competitive battle, ending with an impressive 36-30 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kirk Cousins threw for over 500 yards and threw four touchdowns against four interceptions, Bijan Robinson rushed for 61 yards, Drake London scored a touchdown, Darnell Mooney scored two touchdowns, and KhaDarel Hodge scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime. On defense, the Falcons had a sack and fumble recovery but no interceptions on the night. A great Thursday night for this NFL team as they made a statement on why they should control the NFC South.
Baltimore Ravens: A-
The Ravens played a very close neck-and-neck battle with the Cincinnati Bengals and won 41-38 in overtime. Lamar Jackson threw four touchdowns against no interceptions, Derrick Henry scored a rushing touchdown, Charlie Kolar scored a touchdown, Rashod Bateman scored a touchdown, and Isaiah Likey scored two touchdowns. On defense, the Ravens had three sacks and an interception. The Ravens’ passing attack started to come to life, while the run game and defense played very strong against their AFC North rivals.
Buffalo Bills: B-
Despite starting the game slow, the Bills attempted a comeback only to fall 20-23 to the Houston Texans in the final seconds. Josh Allen threw a touchdown against no interceptions, James Cook scored a rushing touchdown, and Keon Coleman scored a receiving touchdown. On defense, the Bills had a sack, an interception, and a fumble recovery. The Bills almost won it, and if it wasn’t for Ka’imi Fairbairn’s game-winning field goal, the game would’ve gone into overtime, and the Bills possibly would’ve won it all with a field goal of their own, but alas, that wasn’t the case. However, Allen looked like he suffered a concussion during the game as he was seen using smelling salts on the sidelines instead of going into the blue medical tent, which was a bad look for the Bills during the afternoon.
Carolina Panthers: D
The Panthers fell back to earth as they were crushed on the road 10-36 against the Chicago Bears. Andy Dalton threw an interception against no touchdowns and was sacked three times, while Bryce Young was sacked once. Chubba Hubbard scored the team’s only touchdown, and Jalen Cooker had a decent afternoon. On defense, the Panthers had a sack and no interceptions. A rough afternoon for the Panthers, as their defense failed to stop Caleb Williams from having a good game. There was also a brawl that broke out between the Bears and Panthers in the fourth quarter, which led to multiple ejections.
Chicago Bears: B+
The Bears had a very strong afternoon as they defeated the Carolina Panthers 36-10. Caleb Williams threw two touchdowns against no interceptions and was sacked once, D’Andre Swift scored a rushing touchdown, Roschon Johnson scored two rushing touchdowns, and DJ Moore scored two touchdowns. On defense, the Bears had four sacks and an interception against the Panthers. It was a great afternoon in the Windy City, as this NFL team is slowly finding its identity, with a young signal caller and a fierce defense, despite a brawl breaking out in the fourth quarter of the game, which led to multiple ejections.
Cincinnati Bengals: B-
Despite a very strong effort by the Bengals, they fell 38-41 to the Baltimore Ravens in a thriller. Joe Burrow threw five touchdowns against one interception, Chase Brown had an alright game and scored a receiving touchdown, while Zack Moss left the game with an ankle injury, and Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins both scored two touchdowns. On defense, the Bengals had a sack and fumble recovery but no interceptions. A tough afternoon for the Bengals, as they played an intense game. Kicker Evan McPherson missed the kick, which would’ve won them the game. The Bengals will find a way to turn things around as they get prepared for their week six matchup against the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football.
Also Read: Grading All 32 NFL Teams Running Backs After Week 4 Games Of The 2024 Season
Cleveland Browns: D
A very painful afternoon for the Browns, as they lost a tough 13-34 battle on the road against the Washington Commanders. Deshaun Watson threw a touchdown against no interceptions and was sacked seven times, Jerome Ford rushed for 47 yards on nine carries, Amari Cooper caught four receptions for 60 yards, and Jordan Akins scored a touchdown. On defense, the Browns had three sacks, a fumble recovery, and an interception. A very rough afternoon for the Browns. Something has to change, and fast, if they want to end what has turned into a three-game losing streak.
Dallas Cowboys: B
The Cowboys won a very close neck-and-neck battle with the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road and continued to show fight and resilience in their ongoing effort to regain control of the NFC East. Dak Prescott threw two touchdowns against two interceptions, Rico Dowdle rushed for 87 yards and scored a receiving touchdown, and Jalen Tobert scored the game-winning touchdown. On defense, the Cowboys had three sacks and a fumble recovery but no interceptions. A good night for the Cowboys despite the game experiencing some weather delays. The next stop is a home game in Dallas for their week six matchup against the Detroit Lions.
Denver Broncos: B+
The Broncos played very well at home, as they defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 34-14. Bo Nix threw two touchdowns against no interceptions and scored a rushing touchdown, Javonte Williams rushed for 61 yards on 13 carries, Jaleel McLaughlin scored a touchdown, and Josh Reynolds scored a touchdown. On defense, the Broncos had three sacks and two interceptions, and one of those interceptions was returned for a 100-yard pick-six by Pat Surtain II. A great afternoon for the Broncos, as they earned another impressive win at home against their division rivals.
Detroit Lions: Bye Week
The Lions’ played a very impressive game against the Seattle Seahawks back in week four. Now, the Lions need to keep that momentum as they hit the road for their week six matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
Green Bay Packers: B+
The Packers earned a great win on the road, as they defeated the Los Angeles Rams 24-19 in a close and competitive game. Jordan Love threw two touchdowns against an interception, Josh Jacobs finally scored his first rushing touchdown as a Packer, Tucker Kraft scored two touchdowns, and Jayden Reed had 78 receiving yards. On defense, the Packers had three sacks, and Xavier McKinney had an interception and a fumble recovery. A good afternoon for the Packers as they pulled off the road win in Hollywood.
Houston Texans: B
The Texans started their matchup against the Buffalo Bills on a high note, with a 14-6 halftime lead, but the Bills made a comeback run that tied the game up until Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked the game-winning field goal with seconds on the clock in the 23-20 victory. C.J. Stroud threw a touchdown against an interception, Cam Akers scored a rushing touchdown, Stefon Diggs had 82 receptions, and Nico Collins scored a touchdown but left the game with a hamstring injury. On defense, the Texans had a sack but no interceptions or fumble recoveries. Despite the Texans almost blowing it to the Bills, they held their own and were able to defeat the leaders of the AFC East at home and maintain control of the AFC South- for now.
Indianapolis Colts: B-
Despite playing a very competitive game, the Colts fell to the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road in a 34-37 loss. Joe Flacco threw three touchdowns against no interceptions but was sacked four times, Trey Sermon scored a rushing touchdown, Alec Pierce scored a touchdown, Michael Pittman Jr. scored a touchdown, and Mo Allie-Cox scored a touchdown. On defense, the Colts had an interception and a fumble recovery but no sacks at all. A tough afternoon for this NFL team as they continue their road trip for a week six matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
Jacksonville Jaguars: B+
The Jaguars finally earned their first win of the 2024 season as they narrowly defeated the Indianapolis Colts 37-34. Trevor Lawrence threw two touchdowns against an interception, Tank Bigsby scored two rushing touchdowns, Brenton Strange scored a touchdown, and Brian Thomas Jr. scored a touchdown. On defense, the Jaguars had four sacks and a fumble recovery, but no interceptions on the afternoon. A solid day in Duval County as the Jaguars can relax and get prepared for their week six matchup against the Chicago Bears in London.
Kansas City Chiefs: B+
Despite the Chiefs’ recent struggles at wide receiver and nagging injuries to key guys, they still managed to find a way to dominate the New Orleans Saints 26-13. Patrick Mahomes threw an interception against no touchdowns, Kareem Hunt scored a touchdown, and Xavier Worthy scored a touchdown. On defense, the Chiefs had a sack and an interception, and they held the Saints’ rushing attack to 46 yards all game long. Give defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolos a lot of credit for helping make the Chiefs’ defense one of the best units in the NFL as they keep their undefeated season alive.
Las Vegas Raiders: D+
The Raiders tried to put up a fight against the Denver Broncos but fell flat in their 18-34 loss. Gardner Minshew threw a touchdown against two interceptions, Aidan O’Connell threw an interception, Ameer Abdullah scored a rushing touchdown, Brock Bowers scored a touchdown, and Jakobi Meyers had a good afternoon in the passing attack. On defense, the Raiders had three sacks but no defensive turnovers. A very tough afternoon for the Silver and Black as they look to rebound and get prepared for their week six matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Los Angeles Chargers: Bye Week
The Chargers need to keep that offensive spark going in key games instead of losing it in the second quarter like what happened in their week four matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chargers will face a tough road test in the desert as they square off against the Arizona Cardinals in week six.
Los Angeles Rams: C-
The Rams let a 13-10 halftime lead slip away, as they ended the day falling to the Green Bay Packers 19-24. Matthew Stafford threw a touchdown against an interception, Kyren Williams scored a rushing touchdown, Jordan Whittington had 89 receiving yards, and DeMarcus Robinson scored a touchdown. On defense, the Rams had two sacks and an interception returned for a four-yard pick-six. A tough afternoon for the Rams as they need to rebound after their week six bye week.
Miami Dolphins: D+
It may not have been pretty, but the Dolphins earned their second win of the season in a 15-10 victory over the New England Patriots. Tyler Huntley threw an interception against no touchdowns, Alec Ingold scored the team’s only touchdown on the day, and Tyreek Hill caught six receptions for 69 yards. On defense, the Dolphins had two sacks but no defensive turnovers. An ugly game for both NFL teams, even as the Dolphins came out on top at the very end of the game.
Minnesota Vikings: B
The Vikings had a good afternoon abroad, at the London matchup, as they defeated the New York Jets in a competitive battle. Sam Darnold threw an interception against no touchdowns and was sacked four times. The Vikings’ rushing attack was held to 82 rushing yards all game, but Aaron Jones suffered a hip injury in the game, and Justin Jefferson caught six receptions for 92 yards. On defense, the Vikings had three sacks and three interceptions, while Andrew Van Ginkel scored a 63-yard pick-six. Despite a tough day for the Vikings’ offense, the defense truly shined, thanks to Van Ginkel’s performance. The win must be all the sweeter from across the pond.
New England Patriots: D
The Pats continue to implode, as they lost to the Miami Dolphins in a very tough and painful 10-15 clash. Jacoby Brissett threw no touchdowns or interceptions, Rhamondre Stevenson scored a rushing touchdown, and DeMario Douglas caught six receptions for 59 yards. On defense, the Patriots had three sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery. An ugly game the Pats surely would like to forget, as they have to move on to week six and get prepared for their matchup against the Houston Texans at home.
New Orleans Saints: C-
The Saints started their Monday night matchup okay but unraveled as they fell to the Kansas City Chiefs 13-26. Derek Carr threw two touchdowns against an interception and was sacked once but left the game with an oblique injury. The Chiefs’ rushing attack was held to 46 yards all game long. Foster Moreau scored a touchdown, and Rashid Shaheed scored a touchdown. On defense, the Saints had two sacks, and Khalem Saunders had an interception that returned for 37 yards. The Saints better hope Derek Carr isn’t seriously hurt because it’ll be felt moving forward when they return home and take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week six.
New York Giants: B
After a very back-and-forth battle with the Seattle Seahawks, the Giants pulled off a wild blocked kick, returned it for a touchdown, and won 29-20. Daniel Jones threw two touchdowns against no interceptions, Tyrone Tracy Jr. rushed for 129 yards on 18 carries, Darius Slayton scored a touchdown, and Wan’Dale Robinson scored a touchdown. On defense, the Giants had seven sacks and a fumble recovery but no interceptions against Geno Smith. The Giants played well and kept things very close until they managed to get the blocked kick, which was returned by Bryce Ford-Wheaton for a 60-yard touchdown, leading to the upset victory in hostile territory.
New York Jets: D+
Even though the Jets started the game slow, they did attempt a comeback but fell 17-23 against the Minnesota Vikings across the pond in the London matchup. Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdowns against three interceptions, was sacked three times, and suffered a low ankle sprain. The Jets’ rushing attack was held to 36 rushing yards all game, and Allen Lazard and Garrett Wilson both scored touchdowns. On defense, the Jets had four sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery. Despite putting up a fight in the second half of the game, the Jets couldn’t seal the deal and return home to get prepared for their week six matchup against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football.
Philadelphia Eagles: Bye Week
The Eagles were a complete mess in their week four meltdown loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Luckily, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Lane Johnson are expected to return to action for their week six matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
Pittsburgh Steelers: C
Despite playing well, the Steelers lost a close one, in last-second fashion, to the Dallas Cowboys. Justin Fields threw two touchdowns against no interceptions, Najee Harris rushed for 42 yards, Connor Heyward scored a touchdown, and Pat Freiermuth scored a touchdown. On defense, the Steelers had a fumble recovery, two sacks, and two interceptions on the night. A good effort by the Steelers’ defense, even though the offense slightly struggled in the run and passing attack. This NFL team has to move on and get prepared for their week six game against the Raiders.
San Francisco 49ers: C-
The 49ers blew it at home, as they choked away a 23-10 halftime lead to the Arizona Cardinals and lost 23-24 in the end. Brock Purdy threw a touchdown against an interception, Jordan Mason rushed for 89 yards on 14 carries, George Kittle scored a touchdown, and Brandon Aiyuk had a great afternoon with 147 receiving yards. On defense, the 49ers had a sack and a Nick Bosa interception returned for 30 yards. A tough afternoon for the 49ers as they’re currently 2-0 against AFC teams but 0-3 against NFC teams. The 49ers need to rebound from this very quickly if they want to get back on top of the NFC West.
Seattle Seahawks: C
The Seahawks played a close battle with the New York Giants but couldn’t get the win as everything became apart when Bryce Ford-Wheaton blocked a kick in the fourth quarter and returned it for a touchdown, resulting in a 20-29 loss. Geno Smith threw a touchdown against no interceptions, led the team in rushing with 72 yards on the ground, and Tyler Lockett scored a touchdown. On defense, the Seahawks had a fumble recovery and three sacks but no interceptions against Daniel Jones. A brutal loss at home for the Seahawks as they look to maintain control of the NFC West, which may be up for grabs, seeing that the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers both lost, as well.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B
The Buccaneers put up a competitive fight against the Atlanta Falcons but collapsed and lost 30-26 in overtime. Baker Mayfield threw three touchdowns against no interceptions, Rachaad White rushed for 72 yards, Sterling Shepard scored a touchdown, Mike Evans scored two touchdowns, and Chris Godwin had 64 receiving yards. On defense, the Bucs had four sacks, and Lavonte David had an interception. Mayfield showed excellent leadership in the competitive loss as the Bucs look to rebound from this loss when they square off against their other NFC South rivals, the New Orleans Saints, in week six.
Tennessee Titans: Bye Week
The Titans have great veteran talent on both sides of the ball, but Will Levis’ struggles have held them back so far this season. On top of that, the Titans’ defense has been dealing with nagging injuries. The Titans now have to get ready for their week six matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
Washington Commanders: B+
The Commanders played another great game, as they defeated the Cleveland Browns 34-13. Jayden Daniels threw a touchdown against an interception, Austin Ekeler rushed for 67 yards on six carries, Brian Robinson Jr. scored two touchdowns, Jeremy McNichols scored a touchdown, and Dyami Brown scored a touchdown. On defense, the Commanders had seven sacks and a fumble recovery but no interceptions. A great performance by the Commanders as they’re officially 4-1 and look to add to their winning streak in their week six matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
Also Read: Grading All 32 NFL Teams Defenses After Week 4 Games Of The 2024 Season
Grading All 32 NFL Teams Defenses After Week 5 Games Of The 2024 Season
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