USA: The San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings improved to 5-0 in the NFL season after securing victories in Week Five, while the Washington Commanders and New York Giants played out a 27-27 tie in a dramatic overtime finish. The week also featured wins for the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots and Detroit Lions, while the Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins remained winless.
San Francisco defeated the defending Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks, 32-29 in a game marked by seven turnovers. The 49ers capitalised on Seattle’s mistakes to score three touchdowns from turnovers, while wide receiver Mike Evans contributed 113 receiving yards and a touchdown.
49ers and Vikings Maintain Perfect Records
The Minnesota Vikings also reached 5-0 with a 23-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Minnesota’s defence restricted New Orleans to 13 points, continuing a strong start to the campaign. The Vikings will face tougher tests as the season progresses, but their defensive performances have helped establish them among the early contenders.
Elsewhere, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Chicago Bears 31-7, with quarterback Jordan Love throwing for 367 yards and two touchdowns to Christian Watson. The New England Patriots beat the Las Vegas Raiders 45-17, while the Detroit Lions recorded a 45-24 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, powered by running back Jahmyr Gibbs’ 207 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
The Pittsburgh Steelers also secured a 34-22 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, taking his career total to 582 and moving into third place on the NFL’s all-time passing-touchdown list, behind Tom Brady and Drew Brees.
Commanders-Giants Tie Highlights Costly Mistakes
The Washington Commanders and New York Giants finished 27-27 after both teams failed to secure victory in overtime. New York forced overtime with two late touchdowns but lost possession when running back Cam Skattebo fumbled while the Giants were in range for a potential winning field goal. Washington subsequently failed to attempt a decisive kick before time expired.
The Baltimore Ravens avoided a similar outcome, defeating the Atlanta Falcons 30-23 in overtime. Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley threw a late touchdown during regulation before running for the winning score in the extra period, improving Baltimore’s record to 4-1.
The New York Jets defeated the Cleveland Browns 17-12 after capitalising on a late punt fumble, while the Denver Broncos handed the Los Angeles Chargers another defeat. The Chargers fell to 0-5 for the first time in 23 years, joining the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins among the league’s winless teams.
The Titans lost to the Houston Texans, who secured their first victory of the season, while the Dolphins were beaten by the Cincinnati Bengals. With Week Five producing narrow finishes, major scoring performances and continued struggles for several teams, the early NFL standings are beginning to take shape.