CNN
—
Football gets an early start Sunday as the NFL kicks off its yearly international tour with the NFL London Games.
With some preseason favorites struggling, and a couple of surprise teams sitting atop the standings, Week 5 will be a chance for those contenders to right the ship, while other teams will look to prove their staying power.
With a full slate of football from morning to night, here are the three games you don’t want to miss.
The NFL’s first game of the day has a variety of intriguing storylines to follow, the first being where the match-up takes place – in London.
As the NFL continues its expansion as a global brand, fans can take in the game at the home of Tottenham Hotspur or at local bars featuring an American football takeover.
Wherever fans watch the game, count on it being loud – Sky Sports NFL analyst Phoebe Schecter said she received a call from Buffalo tight end coach Rob Boras following last year’s game saying the noise was comparable to a Bills home game.
Minnesota will be looking to use some of that noise as fuel as the Vikings have never lost in London – a perfect 3-0 in their visits to England’s capital.
What’s more surprising is Minnesota’s 4-0 start to the season, given that ESPN had them 23rd in their preseason power rankings.
A major reason has been the play of quarterback Sam Darnold, who got the starting job after first round pick JJ McCarthy had season-ending surgery. Darnold, originally drafted by the Jets with the third overall pick in 2018, leads the league in touchdown passes (11).
Darnold is enjoying playing winning football with his Vikings teammates, notable as the Jets finished 2-14 in 2020 – Darnold’s final season with the team.
“At the end of the day, we believe in each other more than anyone else believes in us,” Darnold said. “To have all these pieces we can use – it’s special, it makes our offense really tough and (I’m) going to continue to learn and grow and continue having fun playing ball with these guys.”
CNN’s Coy Wire believes that Darnold could he in line for a “big revenge game” against his first team in the NFL.
“As someone who’s been cut by one team in the NFL, then picked up by another, and given the chance to play against the team that let me go, I can say that Darnold is going to do everything in his power to show the his former team, the Jets, what they’re missing,” the former Buffalo Bills and Atlanta Falcons linebacker said.
“He looks like he’s finally found a home in Minnesota. He’s playing more relaxed, confidently, and like a man on a mission. He now leading the NFL in touchdown passes, ahead of Brock Purdy, Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen in completion percentage, and a major part of the reason the Vikings are undefeated. He actually has the third-best odds behind Mahomes and Allen to win league MVP heading into the Jets game.”
John Froschauer/AP
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel makes a catch during his team's
36-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle on Thursday, October 10. Samuel
became the first wide receiver in NFL history with 20 touchdown receptions and 20 touchdown runs after scoring on a 76-yard touchdown catch.
Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch, center, celebrates an interception with his teammates during a game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, October 13. The Lions trounced the Cowboys 47-9.
Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs dives for a touchdown in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on October 13. The Packers beat the Arizona Cardinals 34-13.
AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post/Getty Images
Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II stands for the national anthem ahead of the Broncos' 23-16 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Denver on October 13.
Matt Rourke/AP
Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson stops Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku in Philadelphia on October 13. The Eagles won 20-16.
Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Carolina Panthers linebacker Claudin Cherelus pressures Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins in Charlotte, North Carolina, on October 13. The Panthers lost 38-20.
Zac Goodwin/PA Images/Getty Images
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams walks down the tunnel after his team
beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 35-16 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on October 13. Williams completed 23 of his 29 pass attempts and throwing for 226 yards and four touchdowns.
Steven Bisig/USA Today Sports/Reuters
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Isaac Yiadom and safety Ji'Ayir Brown break up a touchdown pass intended for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf in Seattle on Thursday, October 10.
Ed Zurga/AP
New Orleans Saints linebacker Willie Gay Jr. signs autographs for a young Kansas City Chiefs fan before the start of the game between the teams in Kansas City, Missouri, on Monday, October 7. Gay played for the Chiefs for four seasons before signing with the Saints during the offseason.
The Chiefs beat the Saints 26-13.
Steve Luciano/AP
Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum celebrates after a play during a game against the New York Jets in London on Sunday, October 6. The Vikings extended their win streak with a 23-17 victory.
Eric Gay/AP
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman scores on a 49-yard touchdown reception during the Bills' 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans in Houston on October 6.
David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence eats a cupcake to celebrate his birthday after his team beat the Indianapolis Colts 37-34 at home in Jacksonville, Florida, on October 6. It was the Jaguars' first win of the season.
Gregory Bull/AP
Green Bay Packers punter Daniel Whelan grabs a high snap during a game against the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood, California, on October 6. The Packers won 24-19.
Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Indianapolis Colts running back Trey Sermon runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Florida, on October 6.
Eric Gay/AP
Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn celebrates with teammates after kicking a 59-yard field goal on the last play of his team's victory over the Buffalo Bills in Houston on October 6.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir runs for a touchdown after a blocked field goal during a game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, California, on October 6. The Cardinals came back to narrowly upset the 49ers 24-23.
Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss celebrates after an interception in Denver on October 6. The Broncos beat the Las Vegas Raiders 34-18.
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels passes in the first half of the team's 42-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, September 29.
Seth Wenig/AP
Denver Broncos cornerback Tremon Smith celebrates as a field goal attempt by New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein misses in the fourth quarter in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 29. The Broncos won 10-9.
Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders fights off the tackle attempt by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 29. The Bengals beat the Panthers 34-24.
Eric Gay/AP
Houston Texans safety Eric Murray celebrates after sacking Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence during the Texans' 24-20 victory in Houston on September 29.
Jed Jacobsohn/AP
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle catches a touchdown pass in the end zone in Santa Clara, California, on September 29. The 49ers beat the New England Patriots 30-13.
Brad Penner/USA Today Sports/Reuters
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton bobbles the ball as he runs against Dallas Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks during the Giants' 20-15 loss to the Cowboys in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Thursday, September 26.
Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images
Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills celebrates an interception during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Orchard Park, New York, on Monday, September 23. This was his first career interception and latest milestone since he suffered from a cardiac arrest on the field in early 2023.
Brandon Sloter/Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III runs with the ball for a touchdown during the Steelers' 20-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Pittsburgh on Sunday, September 22.
Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold throws the ball to tight end Johnny Mundt in Minneapolis on September 22. The Vikings beat the Houston Texans 34-7.
John Amis/AP
Kadeem Telfort of the Green Bay Packers takes a selfie with a fan after the Packers beat the Tennessee Titans 30-14 on the road in Nashville on September 22.
Stacy Bengs/AP
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones lands in the end zone for a touchdown in Minneapolis on September 22.
Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescotts sits on the field after a play during the team's 28-25 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Arlington, Texas, on September 22.
Brad Penner/USA Today Sports/Reuters
New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard runs past New England Patriots cornerback Alex Austin for a touchdown in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Thursday, September 19. The Jets won 24-3.
Matt Slocum/AP
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney scores a touchdown during the team's 22-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia on Monday, September 16.
Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes runs the ball against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dax Hill during the Chiefs' 26-25 victory in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday, September 15. The defending Super Bowl champs moved to 2-0 on the season.
Abbie Parr/AP
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. catches a pass over Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum and linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. during a game in Minneapolis on September 15. The Vikings would go on to win the game 24-17.
Tim Heitman/USA Today Sports/Reuters
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara runs the ball during the Saints' 44-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, on September 15. Kamara had four touchdowns in the game.
Jasen Vinlove/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Miami Dolphins players attend to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after
he took a hit to the head in the second half of a game against the Buffalo Bills in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Thursday, September 12. Tagovailoa was later ruled out with a concussion.
Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and teammates wait in a tunnel before a game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, California, on Monday, September 9. This is the first game back for Rodgers since tearing his Achilles tendon last year after his first game of the season.
Caroline Brehman/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Los Angeles Chargers players and Las Vegas Raiders players clash after a play during the second half of their game in Inglewood, California, on Sunday, September 8.
Ken Blaze/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. breaks a tackle from Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker K.J. Britt in Tampa, Florida, on September 8. The Buccaneers beat the Commanders 37-20.
Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service/Getty Images
Miami Dolphins wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle celebrate a touchdown during a 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Miami Gardens, Florida, on September 8. Hill was
detained for a short time by police after a traffic incident earlier in the day. Miami-Dade Police Department Director Stephanie V. Daniels said Sunday that an investigation has begun into the incident and one of the officers involved is being placed on administrative duties.
Danny Karnik/AP
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields signals during the second half of a game against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta on September 8. The Steelers defeated the Falcons 18-10.
David Banks/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo, right, and Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson tumble in the end zone in Chicago on September 8. Okonkwo made the catch for a touchdown, but the Titans ultimately fell 24-17 to the Bears.
Jason Mowry/Getty Images
Rhamondre Stevenson of the New England Patriots runs the ball against Cincinnati Bengals defenders in Cincinnati on September 8. The Patriots beat the Bengals 16-10.
Vincent Carchietta/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, center, celebrates his interception return for a touchdown during the Vikings' 28-6 victory over the New York Giants in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 8.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars players pray together at the end of the game in Miami Gardens, Florida, on September 8.
Matt Slocum/AP
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir, top, dives for the end zone for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Justin Jones is unable to make the tackle in Orchard Park, New York, on September 8. The Bills won 34-28.
Brooke Sutton/Getty Images
Green Bay Packers quarterback
Jordan Love walks off the field after taking a hit in the final seconds of a game against the Philadelphia Eagles in São Paulo early Saturday, September 7. The Eagles won 34-29.
Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Brazilian and American flags are presented on the field at Neo Química Arena – also known as Corinthians Arena – in São Paulo ahead of the game between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, September 6.
It was the first NFL game in South America.
Ed Zurga/AP
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely catches a pass with his toe out of bounds as time expires at the end of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 5. The Chiefs won 27-20.
Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes scrambles during the game against the Baltimore Ravens in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 5.
Charlie Riedel/AP
Fans enter Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, ahead of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens on September 5.
Meanwhile, the Jets are wondering if they’ll be at the peak or valley of the London Eye on Sunday as their season of ups and downs continues.
After a 24-3 dismantling of divisional rival New England, the Jets turned in a lackluster performance against the Broncos in which they failed to score a touchdown. The 10-9 loss was especially difficult to swallow, as the Jets only allowed the mediocre Denver offense to gain a paltry 186 yards of offense.
A frustrated Rogers took to the podium following the game and gave a frank assessment.
“I think we were kind of killing ourselves,” said Rodgers.
“We had way too many mental mistakes … we just missed some easy stuff. Our focus wasn’t as sharp as it was the first three weeks.”
With a rueful smile, Rodgers added: “When your defense holds them to 10, you gotta win the game 100% of the time.”
It will be up to Rodgers and his playmakers to improve their performance after the New York defense held consecutive opponents under 200 yards of offense.
Josh Allen and the Bills got roughed up by the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday night, halting a three-game win streak to start the season.
From the time Derrick Henry took the first Ravens snap and went 87 yards to score, it seemed like it would be a long night for Buffalo. While there looked to be a glimmer of hope in the third quarter, a fumble by Allen on a botched trick play led to another Ravens score.
Allen, who has compiled a 63-30 record going into his seventh season with the Bills, knows that every now and then, a good old fashioned beatdown comes to even the best of teams.
When asked about his team’s resiliency, Allen pointed to “that no blink mentality.”
“We were down and out early on, and we kind of stopped the bleeding,” said Allen, pointing to that moment of hope in the third quarter. “We could have done more to put a band-aid on it, but we kind of let it slip away.”
However, he’s not concerned about any long-term effects.
“The guys who make up this locker room understand who we are, what we are. We’re not going to let this avalanche … the guys in this building understand the ebbs and flows of an NFL season,” he said.
Wire believes that his former side have looked like one of the teams to beat so far this season.
“Buffalo looked scary good through the first three weeks before getting humbled on the road by the Ravens,” Wire said.
“The Bills’ perennially powerful defense will be put to the test once again, they were already down three starters going into the Ravens game last week. Then they lost starting safety Taylor Rapp in the first half of that game too.”
The Texans are leading the AFC South with a 3-1 record, but their wins haven’t come against elite teams, with all victories coming against opponents who are .500 or worse. The Bills will serve as the first real test for C.J. Stroud and company.
The former Ohio State standout had a spectacular rookie season last year, leading the Texans to the playoffs after three straight seasons of winning four games or less. A win against the Bills would further prove that Houston can compete with the NFL’s elite.
And no stranger to being elite is wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who earned all four of his Pro Bowl nods with the Bills before moving to the Texans this offseason.
Despite reaching such success with Buffalo, many detractors point to his animated demeanor on the field as detrimental, with one notable incident of irritation as Diggs confronted Josh Allen on the sideline during the Bills 2023 playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Troy Taormina/USA Today Sports/Imagn Images via Reuters
Diggs will face his former team on Sunday.
Following that loss, Diggs wrote on X: “It’s easy to criticize my reaction more than the result.”
For his part, in a profile in GQ last month, the wide receiver issued a variation of Rasheed Wallace’s infamous “ball don’t lie quote”, saying: “You can’t lie to the game. It knows how much time you put in, knows how much effort you put in, knows how good you want to be, knows how much you talking and how much you doing.”
Both the Bills and Allen and the Texans and Diggs will be looking to put their money where their mouth is when they square off.
The Sunday night game features a couple of teams at a crossroads in their respective seasons – the Steelers pondering who will be their starting quarterback for the rest of the season, while the Cowboys are looking to build momentum to return to contender status.
Pittsburgh, for the meantime, is rolling with Justin Fields as QB1. After confirming Fields will start Sunday, Tomlin said that the deciding factor in when to bring presumptive starter Russell Wilson back “is the amount of ball we have in front of us.”
There’s a lot of season left, and both quarterbacks have something to prove. Wilson, a Super Bowl champion and decorated veteran, suffered through a couple of difficult seasons with Denver; while Fields was unceremoniously traded from Chicago after the Bears drafted Caleb Williams with the first overall pick.
Fields has done his part for Pittsburgh so far this season, reeling off three straight wins to start the campaign.
However, Pittsburgh did fall last week to the middle of the pack Indianapolis Colts, and showed some weaknesses despite nearly rallying back from a 17 point deficit.
For Fields, all he can do is focus on what’s right in front of him.
On the other side of the ball, the Cowboys are coming off a win, albeit not a very convincing one, against their division rival.
After two straight losses, the 20-15 victory against the Giants was a step in the right direction – at least in the win column. It did come at a cost – Dallas linebacker Micah Parsons left the game with an ankle sprain, while defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence was placed on the injured reserve list with a foot injury.
James D. Smith via AP
Parsons will miss the game against the Steelers with an injury.
Parsons is not expected to play this week, while Lawrence will miss at least four games - that’s seven combined Pro Bowl appearances the Dallas defense will have to do without.
Parsons, however, feels good about his team’s chances even if he can’t play.
“I’m very confident in these guys - we got a good foundation of guys that can play anywhere on the field,” Parsons told reporters.
The Cowboys themselves are looking to play at the highest level and move into the upper echelon of Super Bowl hopefuls.
Despite strong regular season showings, finishing 12-5 for the past three years, Dallas only has one playoff victory during coach Mike McCarthy’s tenure. Looking to improve from the uninspiring start, the Cowboys know they can play better.
Following last week’s win, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said: “We’re an offense that can finish better and score more touchdowns than we did tonight, so we have to look ourselves in the mirror and go get that done.”
Sunday night will be a great litmus test for the Dallas offense, facing a Pittsburgh defense ranked fourth in total yards allowed and first in touchdowns allowed.
Away vs. home
New York Jets (2-2) @ Minnesota Vikings (4-0) – 9:30 a.m. ET
Carolina Panthers (1-3) @ Chicago Bears (2-2) – 1:00 p.m. ET
Baltimore Ravens (2-2) @ Cincinnati Bengals (1-3) 1:00 p.m. ET
Buffalo Bills (3-1) @ Houston Texans (3-1) – 1:00 p.m. ET
Indianapolis Colts (2-2) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4) – 1:00 p.m. ET
Miami Dolphins (1-3) @ New England Patriots (1-3) – 1:00 p.m. ET
Cleveland Browns (1-3) @ Washington Commanders – 1:00 p.m. ET
Las Vegas Raiders (2-2) @ Denver Broncos (2-2) – 4:05 p.m. ET
Arizona Cardinals (1-3) @ San Francisco 49ers (2-2) – 4:05 p.m. ET
Green Bay Packers (2-2) @ Los Angeles Rams (1-3) – 4:25 p.m. ET
New York Giants (1-3) @ Seattle Seahawks (3-1) – 4:25 p.m. ET
Dallas Cowboys (2-2) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) – 8:20 p.m. ET