The NFL's return to London, Rondale Moore magic, Tom Brady stuff, Justin Herbert brilliance and field goal carnage - we look back on Sunday's action.
Monday 11 October 2021 15:23, UK
A somewhat traditional rainbow of NFL jerseys gazed upwards as the thunder of RAF fighter jets prompted fireworks in sync with Marisha Wallace during her performance of the Star-Spangled Banner on top of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It was a goosebumps moment, and a fittingly-spectacular welcome for the New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons amid the league's return to the UK following a year away due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Coming days before the NFL is expected to announce its three-city shortlist in its search for a German host partner, Sunday proved a timely reminder of just how special the game's relationship with Europe has grown to become.
We look back on some of the big talking points from Week Five in the NFL, including a Kyle Pitts show at Spurs...
New York Jets 20-27 Atlanta Falcons
Philadelphia Eagles 21-18 Carolina Panthers
Denver Broncos 19-27 Pittsburgh Steelers
Green Bay Packers 25-22 Cincinnati Bengals
Miami Dolphins 17-45 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
New England Patriots 25-22 Houston Texans
New Orleans Saints 33-22 Washington Football Team
Detroit Lions 17-19 Minnesota Vikings
Tennessee Titans 37-19 Jacksonville Jaguars
Cleveland Browns 42-47 Los Angeles Chargers
Chicago Bears 20-9 Las Vegas Raiders
New York Giants 20-44 Dallas Cowboys
San Francisco 49ers 10-17 Arizona Cardinals
Buffalo Bills 38-20 Kansas City Chiefs
Los Angeles Rams 26-17 Seattle Seahawks (Thursday)
*Copy and paste Tom Brady line here*. Five touchdowns, 30 of 41 passing for 411 yards and another addition to the win column for the Buccaneers quarterback, who helped the reigning champions beat the Dolphins 45-17 ahead of Miami's trip to the UK. A branch to his dominance was a big night for wide receiver Antonio Brown as he finished the game with seven catches for 124 yards and two scores.
From one passing and catching duo to another, Justin Herbert starred yet again as he threw for 398 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Chargers to a 47-42 win in an epic against the Browns. Wide receiver Mike Williams made eight catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Austin Ekeler had 119 total yards and three scores from scrimmage. There was also notably a career game for Cleveland tight end David Njoku, who finished with seven catches for 149 yards and a score.
Josh Allen threw for three touchdowns and ran in another to out-duel Patrick Mahomes and help the Bills inflict the Chiefs' third defeat this season, while Buffalo's rookie defensive end Gregory Rousseau flourished with five tackles, one sack and one interception.
After weeks of frustration rookie Steelers running back Najee Harris finally got to show what he can do with 122 rushing yards and one touchdown against the Broncos, and in a backfield elsewhere in Jacksonville Derrick Henry ran riot with three touchdowns from 130 yards on the ground to lead the Titans past the Jaguars.
That man Davante Adams was irrepressible with 11 catches for 206 yards and a touchdown in the Packers' thrilling overtime win against the Bengals, for whom Ja'Marr Chase continued his outstanding rookie year with six receptions for 159 yards and a trip to the end zone.
Matt Judon underlined why the Patriots splashed out to add him to their pass rush in free agency with four tackles and two sacks against the Texans, and Eagles cornerback Darius Slay recorded three tackles, one tackle for loss, two interceptions and two pass defenses against the Panthers.
Red-hot Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs came up with his sixth interception of the season as he beat Giants receiver C.J. Board to the ball on a deep shot from Mike Glennon. Kadarius Toney was a flashpoint on an injury-stricken night for Big Blue, the rookie receiver reminding just how electric he can be after the catch with 10 receptions for 189 yards in the absence of Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton and Kenny Golladay before being ejected late on for throwing a punch at Damontae Kazee.
Jameis Winston threw four touchdown passes to one interception in the Saints' victory over Washington, with Alvin Kamara managing 122 total yards and two touchdowns from scrimmage.
With no Calvin Ridley in London due to a personal matter and Russell Gage also missing, much of the talk in Atlanta's camp during the build up to Sunday's game had surrounded an opportunity for others to step up. Kyle Pitts took that opportunity, producing a career game with nine catches for 119 yards and a touchdown, including a crucial 39-yard completion to help set up Mike Davis' decisive touchdown on the Falcons' final drive.
Aside from Pittsburgh's Harris and Cincinnati's Chase, there was also an impressive outing for Texans quarterback Davis Mills as he went 21 of 29 for 312 yards and three touchdowns in Houston's loss to the Patriots.
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who lost just four games throughout his entire high school and college careers combined, fell to his fifth straight defeat in the NFL. The No. 1 overall pick finished 23 of 33 for 273 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Having officially been named starter, Justin Fields threw for 12 of 20 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown to help the Bears to victory over the Raiders. And making his first NFL start in the absence of Jimmy Garoppolo, Trey Lance threw for 192 yards and one interception alongside 89 rushing yards from 16 carries in the 49ers' loss to the Cardinals.
It would be no understatement to suggest Rondale Moore's toe-tap catch against the 49ers is one of the best you will ever see. The readjustment, the strength to wrestle off Dontae Johnson, the footwork to stay inbounds, the catch radius. Just incredible.
And now over to one of the wildest finishes to an NFL game you will see, Mason Crosby kicked the Packers to victory against the Bengals in overtime after he and Bengals kicker Evan McPherson had missed five straight field goals between them, the Cincinnati man on one occasion celebrating prematurely only to realise his effort had struck the upright. Brutal.
Giants quarterback Daniel Jones was carted off during his side's loss to the Cowboys after sustaining a concussion as a result of a helmet-to-helmet hit on an attempted touchdown run late in the first half. Earlier in the game the Giants had also lost star running back Saquon Barkley to an ankle injury, before wide receiver Kenny Golladay was later ruled out with a knee problem.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was taken to hospital with a possible throat contusion after Cincinnati's dramatic defeat to the Packers, while linebacker Jordan Evans suffered a season-ending torn ACL.
Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire exited Sunday night's defeat to the Bills in the third quarter with a knee injury, before it was noted after the game that offensive lineman Joe Thuney had suffered a fractured hand, wide receiver Tyreek Hill was nursing an unspecified knee injury and tight end Travis Kelce had a stinger following a hit late in the game.
Browns rookie linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was taken to hospital with a throat contusion after Cleveland's defeat to the Chargers, during which cornerback Denzel Ward (neck), safety M.J. Stewart (hamstring) and offensive lineman Jack Conklin (knee) were all forced off.
Saints quarterback Taysom Hill was ruled out of New Orleans' win over Washington with a concussion in addition to wide receiver Deonte Harris (hamstring), Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (shoulder) and linebacker Devin Bush (leg) left Pittsburgh's victory against the Broncos, Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David picked up an ankle injury against the Dolphins and Texans offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil saw his night end early against the Patriots due to a hand injury.
Washington lost also wide receiver Curtis Samuel (groin) and offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi (ankle) against the Saints.
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