NFL week five analysis: Five things we learnt as Andy Dalton continues to surprise for the Bengals

Week five of the NFL season is complete, and Sunday produced some truly memorable games. Zander Swinburne examines which team’s season is falling to pieces, who staged another wild comeback, as well as why the Patriots look better than their 2007 side.

(2015 Getty Images)

The Bengals are the real deal

Despite being a team that has continually made the off-season over the last four years, the Cincinnati Bengals have struggled to be considered an elite NFL team. Four first round play-off exits in a row have added to this stigma, but the Bengals are now a real contender, and it is not just their 5-0 record that proves this.

The Bengals’ 27-24 overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks was the type of victory that only the best teams in the NFL ever pull off. Trailing 17 points in the fourth quarter, the Cincinnati offence (and special teams) came alive, forcing overtime with a last second field goal, and then securing the win with the same score. Quarterback Andy Dalton is gradually proving he deserves to be considered one of the best in the league. Whilst some may argue that through three quarters the Bengals offence was completely inept; his ability to win the game in fourth quarter far outweighs the criticism he would have received earlier in the game.

The mere fact that Cincinnati’s unbeaten record is somewhat surprising shows that the Bengals are yet to be taken seriously in their division. This is partly due to their post-season record, but also because the other teams in the AFC North have won more consistently in the past. Nevertheless, the unbeaten run speaks for itself, and if it continues then look for the Bengals to finally make it past the wild card round come January.

Detroit’s season is disintegrating fast

Every year in the NFL, fans of at least one franchise will watch their team go from a pre-season pick to be play-off contenders or Super Bowl hopefuls to the laughing stock of the league with next to no chance of a post-season berth. Despite making the play-offs in 2014, the Detroit Lions in 2015 remain winless and have already equalled the total number of losses they sustained last year.

Despite being a team with plenty of talent at the skill positions, Detroit have been unable to secure a win, and with each passing week the losses appear to get worse. Last week’s 13-10 loss to the Seahawks showed that Detroit’s poor start could have just been a blip and that a recovery was imminent. This, however, was a theory made defunct on Sunday when Detroit lost 42-17 against the Arizona Cardinals, at home.

The loss was a truly horrific showing and surely brought back memories of the 2008 winless Lions to the Detroit crowd. Matthew Stafford, regarded by most as a franchise quarterback, was dropped (albeit temporarily) for Dan Orlovsky after a series of terrible throws and three interceptions. Stafford was a complete mess under centre and the decision to drop him was more than justified. To make matters worse, Detroit’s defence had no answer for the Cardinals offence, making the game virtually unobtainable before half time.

With a trip to London for Detroit less than three weeks away, don’t be surprised to see another head coach lose his job on the back of a Wembley loss.

Good health key to the Patriots’ success

As the weeks roll by in the 2015 season, comparisons to the 2007 New England Patriots team become more vocal. With a 30-6 rout of the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, New England maintained their unbeaten record and are now widely seen as a team that can recreate their 16-0 season once more.

What is most terrifying is that as each week progresses, the 2015 Patriots do not only look like their 2007 selves, but in many ways look better. Even with Tom Brady eight years older than he was during that almost perfect season, he looks sharper, more accurate, and can even throw the ball with an equal amount of zip.

What has been key to the Patriots’ success has not just been Brady, but also the team’s overall ability to stay healthy. With Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelmen, and Dion Lewis all routinely active on Sundays, the Patriots are ensuring their best side takes the field, something they have missed in recent years.

The real test will come when the weather starts to turn and injuries mount up. Brady has been quick to point out that the real football season starts in late November and December, and he is right in the sense that only the great teams continue to win through the cold weather. Nevertheless, with a first choice starting line-up that has so far played each and every week for the Patriots, New England should continue to assert their dominance in the NFL through the next month.

Eli Manning proves his worth in the fourth quarter

Less than a month ago it appeared as though the New York Giants were descending into irrelevancy following an 0-2 start. The fourth quarter looked to be the downfall of the Giants’ season right from the start, but it appears that the last two minutes of any game can now be the saviour for this New York team.

Sunday’s 30-27 win over the San Francisco 49ers was evidence that New York have finally addressed their fourth quarter woes, and could once again be seen as a clutch comeback team with Eli Manning at the helm. With less than two minutes to go in the game, Manning calmly led his team down the field to negate a San Francsico score just minutes earlier. It was a performance that deserves to be recognised as a superb two-minute drill. By no means was it a perfect drive, with Manning throwing one horrific pass that was nearly picked off, yet his last second touchdown pass to Larry Donell was a play that will no doubt be long talked about in the bars of New York City.

Manning’s ability to succeed under such enormous pressure is one to be marvelled at, and the performance has placed the Giants back in the driving seat of the NFC East. Manning has had his critics, and at times deservedly so, yet when the game is on the line, Eli has proven he can win Super Bowls under such circumstances. This game served as a reminder.

The Bills are trying to win ugly

In what was a game devoid of any significant highlights, the Buffalo Bills showed on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans that winning ugly reaps the same reward as any other type of win.

In a 14-13 win for the Bills, Buffalo showed that although they are not the most skilled team in the league, they still have the ability to win tough, low scoring games. Rex Ryan became synonymous with the Jets for winning these types of games, and clearly this is a culture he has tried to bring over to Buffalo. Interestingly enough, it seems to be working as Buffalo are now 3-2 and in the hunt for a wild card spot.

By keeping the score low with his talented defence, Ryan has been able to reduce the pressure on his young and inexperienced quarterback, Tyrod Taylor. Taylor was effective at running the ball and showed glimpses of prowess when in the pocket. Yet, his inability to put a high number of points on the board against a Tennessee team that has routinely allowed touchdowns this season will no doubt have a number of Bills fans concerned.

In a division where Buffalo is forced to play the Patriots twice, as well as the gradually improving Jets; the Bills will surely be forced into an offensive fire fight, and only then will this team’s true calibre be visible.