Tuesday Takeaways: NFL Week 5 Reactions

It is time for our weekly Tuesday NFL write-up, but this time on Wednesday! We are 5 weeks into the season and we are still being surprised on a game by game basis! Comment below what your biggest takeaways are from this past weekend in the NFL.

1. Potential DPOY History in the Making

It has not been since 2003-2004 that a team has had different players win back to back Defensive Player of the Year with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed winning the award for the Baltimore Ravens. If the season ended right now the Denver Broncos would join the list of teams to have two different DPOY winners in back to back years, after Pat Surtain II won the award a year ago. I believe that Nik Bonitto is the runaway favorite to win the award this year. Bonitto is the most disruptive player in the league. Five weeks into the season Bonitto is on pace to record 24 sacks, which would be an NFL record. Bonitto leads the league in sacks, total pressures, and sack rate, all while being 25th in pass-rush snaps. He has been far and the player creating the most chaos for opposing teams on a per snap basis. If he keeps this up, the DPOY award will be staying in the Mile High City.

2. Top 2018 Draftees Battle it Out

7 years ago Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold were selected in the top three of the NFL draft to save their respective franchises. Both quarterbacks have been on multiple teams and survived some tumultuous seasons where, at times, it seemed like their days in the league were numbered. Fast forward to this weekend, both QBs are leading their teams at elite levels. The Buccaneers and Seahawks had an offensive shootout for the ages, with Darnold and Baker being opposing QBs in NFL history to both have over 320 yards while completing at least 80% of their passes. Not only were they explosive, they were efficient. Mayfield threw for 379 yards and 2 touchdowns while Darnold added 341 yards and 4 touchdowns. Both Darnold and Mayfield are playing at near MVP levels and it is such an awesome story watching these players bounce back from some tough seasons early on in their career.

3. Drake Maye's Coming Out Party

Sunday night felt like the arrival of a future star. The Patriots sophomore QB made his primetime debut against the divisional rivals Buffalo Bills. Not only did Maye play fantastic, he straight up outplayed reigning MVP and league superstar Josh Allen. The Bills defense had no answer for Maye, especially when he was rolling out to his left. He made big plays when the team needed it, including one extraordinary play where he stiff armed a Patriots defensive lineman with one arm, and threw the ball for a completion while being brought down by his horse collar. Maye is seemingly establishing a great connection with Stefon Diggs. If Diggs can continue to show glimpses of his prime self, then the Patriots may have found a true weapon to help develop their blossoming quarterback. This past Sunday night gave Patriots fans hope that Mayebe they have already found their Brady successor. 

4. Nobody is Playing the Quarterback Position Better than Dak Prescott

Right now the quarterback of America's team is playing the position as well as anyone. His last fully healthy season, 2023, Dak had a strong case to be league MVP. He is on pace to have an even better season this year. He is on pace for 4,600 yards and 34 touchdowns. For reference last year's MVP, Josh Allen, threw for 3,700 yards and 28 touchdowns (while acknowledging Allen does add a lot more in the run game). Dak is second in the league in passing yards and third in passing touchdowns. The stats don't truly tell the story either. Prescott is throwing courageous throws, throwing teammates open, and sometimes seemingly creating 20 yard gains out of nothing. His ball placement to start the season has been second to none. Lots of this without one of the league's best weapons in CeeDee Lamb, who has been sidelined in recent weeks with an ankle injury. If and when Lamb returns to full strength, combine that with similar level of play from Prescott, I am not sure that their will be many players who will have a stronger argument for the league's Most Valuable Player than Dak.

5. Jettas is Still WR1

In my recent power rankings post I had Puka ranked as the #1 WR in the league to start the season. I still with stand on that. He has had the most productive start to the season so far. But the BEST wide receiver in the world is Justin Jefferson, and has been for at least 5 years. Nobody has a more well rounded game than Jefferson. Nobody has produced with more inconsistency than Jefferson. Throw Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens, or Carson Wentz out there, Jefferson will produce. This was on display in London against an elite Browns defense. Jefferson had 123 yards on 7 catches, including multiple jaw dropping, clutch, fourth quarter grabs. With 11 minutes left he had a phenomenal 39 yard grab beating multiple Cleveland defenders and a near game winning grab over Pro Bowl corner Denzel Ward. Carson Wentz is smartly figuring out that when in doubt, the best strategy for him is probably to just throw the ball to the greatest football player in the world (I will firmly argue that pound for pound Jefferson is the best player in the league). The last two weeks Wentz has given Jefferson double digit targets. I expect this to continue. No matter who the Vikings throw out at the QB position, expect Jefferson to put up elite numbers.