Jets plummet after brutal loss

Sam Darnold is holding elite firm.

The journeyman joined all-time greats Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rogers, former NFL MVP Matt Ryan and nine-time Professional Bowler Russell Wilson as the one quarterbacks in NFL historical past to throw at the very least two landing passes and report a passer ranking of 105 or increased in every of his group’s first 4 video games of a season.

Picked to complete no increased than third within the NFC North by most specialists, Darnold’s Vikings are one among two unbeaten groups remaining, together with the much-less-surprising, back-to-back Tremendous Bowl champion Chiefs

The Vikings aren’t beating up on cupcakes, both, including a 3rd win in opposition to a playoff group from final season (Packers, Texans and 49ers).

It took bouncing to 4 groups, however Darnold is lastly displaying the promise that led him to be the No. 3 choose by the Jets within the 2018 NFL Draft.

Listed below are The Publish’s energy rankings for Week 5:

1. Chiefs 4-0 (1)

Welcome again, Travis Kelce.

After a quiet three-game begin to the season, Kelce had a season-high seven catches for 89 yards in a 17-10 win in opposition to the Chargers.

One other previous dependable, Chris Jones, added two sacks.

Rookie receiver Xavier Worthy scored on a 54-yard landing catch, however Rashee Rice is feared to have suffered a season-ending torn ACL.

2. Vikings 4-0 (3)

Darnold threw three landing passes to construct a 28-point lead level that almost evaporated in a 31-29 win in opposition to the Packers.

Jordan Addison returned from a two-game absence to attain two touchdowns.

The Vikings, who recovered a late onside kick, have trailed for lower than 4 minutes all season whereas beginning 4-0 for the primary time since 2016.

3. Lions 3-1 (6)

Jared Goff set an NFL report by changing into the primary quarterback to finish 18 or extra passes in a sport with out an incompletion, throwing for 292 yards and a landing in a 42-29 victory in opposition to the Seahawks.

Not impressed?

He additionally caught a landing move thrown by Amon-Ra St. Brown.

The Lions had misplaced to the Seahawks in every of the previous three seasons.

4. Texans 3-1 (8)

Dare Ogunbowale’s first landing since 2022 couldn’t have come at a greater time — with 18 seconds left to seal a 24-20 win in opposition to the Jaguars.

C.J. Stroud threw for 345 yards and two touchdowns, together with the 1-yarder to Ogunbowale after the Texans had punted on their earlier 5 possessions.

Stefon Diggs scored his first profession dashing landing.

5. Ravens 2-2 (13)

Derrick Henry set the tone by dashing for an 87-yard landing on the Ravens’ first play from scrimmage in a 35-10 rout of the Payments.

The 2-headed backfield monster of Henry and Lamar Jackson lived as much as its billing as Henry scored two touchdowns and rushed for 199 yards whereas Jackson handed for 2 and ran for an additional.

6. Payments 3-1 (2)

Properly, that was ugly.

The Payments trailed, 21-3, at halftime and any likelihood of a comeback was thwarted when a trick play failed miserably and Josh Allen fumbled on one among Kyle Van Noy’s two sacks.

Ty Johnson scored the Payments’ solely landing.

A 43-game streak of not dropping by 10 or extra factors is over.

7. Buccaneers 3-1 (11)

Identical to once they met within the playoffs, the Buccaneers dominated the Eagles.

This time, Baker Mayfield threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-16 win.

The primary of these two landing passes was to Mike Evans, ending the Bucs’ 20-game drought of not scoring a landing on the primary possession and making Evans the franchise’s all-time main scorer.

8. Steelers 3-1 (4)

Longtime nemesis Joe Flacco did it once more, coming off the bench for the Colts to resolve a protection that beforehand was permitting 8.7 factors per sport and sending the Steelers to a 27-24 defeat.

Justin Fields handed for 312 yards and ran for 55 — combining to account for 3 touchdowns — however misplaced a fumble and botched a snap that killed the ultimate possession.

9. Seahawks 3-1 (10)

Kenneth Walker III’s three dashing touchdowns, Geno Smith’s 395-yard passing efficiency and D.Ok. Metcalf’s 100-yard receiving sport weren’t sufficient in opposition to the Lions as a result of the protection got here up just about empty with 5 key gamers injured.

Smith additionally threw an end-zone interception within the remaining minute whereas making an attempt to make it a one-score sport and arrange an onside kick.

10. Commanders 3-1 (18)

There isn’t any hotter offense proper now.

The Commanders have scored on 20 of twenty-two possessions throughout a three-game successful streak, together with most just lately a 42-14 rout of the Cardinals that allowed offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury to get amusing on the group that fired him as head coach.

Jeremy McNichols, Brian Robinson Jr. and Jayden Daniels mixed for 4 dashing touchdowns.

11. 49ers 2-2 (12)

12. Falcons 2-2 (16)

13. Eagles 2-2 (5)

14. Packers 2-2 (7)

15. Jets 2-2 (9)

Yuck.

And we aren’t simply speaking concerning the gloomy climate throughout a 10-9 residence loss to the Broncos.

Greg Zuerlein missed a 50-yard area aim within the remaining minute, after Aaron Rodgers couldn’t get the offense ultimately zone even on first-and-goal from the 1-yard line.

Garrett Wilson fumbled, and Breece Corridor ran 10 occasions for 4 yards.

16. Saints 2-2 (15)

17. Chargers 2-2 (14)

18. Cowboys 2-2 (17)

19. Colts 2-2 (21)

20. Broncos 2-2 (22)

21. Bears 2-2 (24)

22. Raiders 2-2 (30)

23. Cardinals 1-3 (19)

24. Rams 1-3 (20)

25. Bengals 1-3 (27)

26. Patriots 1-3 (25)

27. Giants 1-3 (28)

With a golden likelihood to finish the Cowboys’ reign of dominance within the rivalry, the Giants kicked 5 area targets and misplaced, 20-15, for the 14th time within the final 15 conferences.

The dashing assault averaged simply 1.1 yards per carry, providing no assist for Daniel Jones (281 passing yards) and Malik Nabers (12 catches for 115 yards).