NFL 2019 Week 5 Recap

Hello readers! The fifth week of the National Football League's regular season ended. The week that was brought some drama, some surprises, and some games that weren't surprises. The surprises might've costed me big in terms of picks this week, we shall have to see how much damage there was as well as if Cardinal Viking beat me this week. In this post, I'll talk about a rather chilly NFL 100 spotlight, and a recap of the games.

NFL 100: A Spotlight

This past Sunday was the 27th all-time meeting between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys. The two teams throughout their history have produced some great games. Games like, Rodgers to Cooks, The Dez Catch Game in 2015, or Favre vs The Triplets matchups in the 1990's. By the time the two teams met in the 5th overall meeting, the rivalry would be etched into NFL lore. 

Head coaches Tom Landry and Vince Lombardi were assistant head coaches for Jim Lee Howell of the New York Giants in the 1950's. Landry was the defensive coordinator while Lombardi was the offensive coordinator. Lombardi left a powerhouse in the Giants for the head coaching job at Green Bay in 1959. Landry would leave the Giants to become the first head coach of the Cowboys in 1960. The two coaches played in games that were mostly dominated by Green Bay but by the mid 1960's the Cowboys were starting to catch up. The first meaningful matchup was the 1966 NFL Championship game held in the Cotton Bowl. Lombardi would outlast his counterpart in a 34-27 game, en route to a Green Bay victory in Super Bowl I. 

The Packers 1967 campaign was a harder road to travel. They lost Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung to the expansion draft, they lost many key people to injury throughout the regular season, and age was starting to catch up to the Packers. The Packers finished the year with a 9-4-1 record. 

The 1967 Dallas Cowboys season remained as a building off of the year before. They finished the year with a 9-5 record under the arm of Don Meredith and a powerful running game. They held a 7-2 record before finishing the season winning two of their last five games. 

The NFL that year moved to a 4-team, four division, two conference system where the winners of the four divisions would play in the playoffs. There was the Eastern Conference that had the Capitol and Century divisions, and the Western Conference that had the Coastal and Central divisions. The four division winners were: Dallas (Capitol), Cleveland (Century), Green Bay (Central), and Los Angeles (Coastal). The Packers would beat the Rams 28-7 at Milwaukee County Stadium and the Cowboys beat the Browns 52-14 at the Cotton Bowl. 

The game was played on December 31st 1967, the place was Lambeau Field. It would be the coldest New Years Eve in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The game itself would be dubbed the Ice Bowl because of its adverse weather conditions. The weather that day was sunny with a -15 (-26 celsius) temperature at kickoff. The temperature would get to around -12 but the weather conditions would deteriorate as the game would go on. There was a tarpaulin put in around the field that was removed before gametime. The $80,000 heating coil system underneath the field would malfunction and while there was moisture on the field, the field would succumb to the cold and crust over as the game would go on. 

Green Bay would strike first, with some help from two Dallas penalties, on a 8-yard pass play from Bart Starr to Boyd Dowler, giving the Packers a 7-0 lead. The Packers drive was a 16-play, 83 yard drive that included a 17-yard reception from Starr to Donny Anderson. It was the only scoring in the first quarter. 

The Packers scoring would continue after a defensive stop. The drive included a 13-yard run from Ben Wilson and a six-yard run from Travis Williams before Bart Starr found Boyd Dowler again for a 43-yard score giving Green Bay a 14-0 lead. 

Dallas' famed Doomsday Defense would step up and cause two turnovers that would lead to 10 points for Dallas. George Andrie would cause a Starr fumble that would end in a seven-yard touchdown. Dallas would recover another turnover on a Willie Wood fumble that would end up with a Cowboys field goal that would cut the lead to 14-10 Packers at halftime. 

While there was no scoring in the 3rd quarter, the Cowboys would finally have some success in sustaining drives as they had yet to get a first down on an offensive drive. The Packers just didn't find ways to close out Dallas for good. The obvious homefield advantage of playing in the cold wasn't totally an advantage when its colder than hell. 

Dallas would finally have an offensive touchdown on a 50-yard pass play from Dan Reeves to Lance Rentzel on a halfback option play. The Packers defense wasn't ready for it. It was the first play in the 4th quarter giving Dallas a 17-14 lead. The Packers had a chance to tie the game with a Don Chandler field goal, but would miss from 40 yards.

Dallas would get two first downs before the Packers defense held its ground on the Cowboys 38-yard line, forcing Dallas to punt on 4th down. Willie Wood recovered the punt for a nine-yard gain. The ball was spotted at the 32-yard line with 4:50 left on the clock. The wind chill was now at -50 Farenheit with both teams under fatigue and the field conditions deteriorating. 

The first play was a six-yard pass from Starr to Anderson. Recent acquisition Chuck Mercein would gain seven yards on a run play to the Packers 43 yard line. Bart Starr found Boyd Dowler for a 13-yard pass play to the Dallas 44 yard line. Dowler would leave the field after a Cornell Green tackle, Max McGee would replace him. An attempted halfback option from Donny Anderson resulted in a nine-yard loss. Anderson would answer back with a 12-yard and a nine-yard pass plays that moved the ball to the Dallas 30-yard line. Chuck Mercein would get a reception that resulted in a 20-yard gain to the Dallas 11-yard line. Mercein would again find an open spot on 54-Give, a play that made Dallas linebacker Bob Lilly follow Gale Gillingham. Lombardi called it "the sucker play," the result was a eight-yard run to the Dallas 3-yard line. Donny Anderson would attempt to get into the endzone but was stopped short on the Cowboys 1-yard line. Anderson attempted twice to get into the endzone. With 3rd and Goal looming, the Packers called their final timeout, with 16 seconds left. 

The play was Brown Right 31 Wedge, a run play that was designed to be given to Chuck Mercein, but to some Packers players, they knew that Starr would keep the ball. It was a risky play, if the Packers failed they would have a clock that was counting down as they used their final timeout, and there was no guarantee that the Packers could get a play off in time on 4th down. Success on the play would be determined on a double team. Once the play got off, right guard Jerry Kramer and center Ken Bowman made a key block on Jethro Pugh that would give Starr enough space to give the Packers a 20-17 lead. Don Chandler would get the extra point that would give the Packers the 21-17 lead. The Packers were once again NFL Champions for the 3rd consecutive year, their 11th overall. 

Super Bowl II would end up being a cake walk for the Packers who would romp on the AFL's Oakland Raiders 33-14, giving the Packers their 2nd Super Bowl championship. Bart Starr would win his 2nd consecutive Super Bowl MVP. The game was the end of an era in Green Bay and the beginning of futility would result in two playoff appearances from 1968 to 1991. 

In the aftermath, the game would be Vince Lombardi's last home playoff win as Super Bowl II would be his last win in his career with Green Bay. Green Bay would return to the playoffs in 1972 but would lose to the eventual NFC champion Washington Redskins. They made an appearance in the "Playoff Bowl" in 1982 getting a playoff win against the St. Louis Cardinals before losing to the Dallas Cowboys. Their fortunes wouldn't change until 1992 when Mike Holmgren and Brett Favre entered the scene, and the rest is history. 

For the Cowboys they would return to the playoffs in 1968 and 1969 but would lose to the Cleveland Browns. In 1970, they made their first Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl V but would lose to the Baltimore Colts. They finally got the monkey off their back with a victory in Super Bowl VI against the Miami Dolphins, giving Dallas their first championship. They would be a force to be reckoned with ever since. 

While most of the original CBS broadcast of the Ice Bowl is lost to time, the original radio broadcast of the game still very much exists. The video I'm including has footage of the game for the NFL's Game of the Week, the audio features the radio talents of Ted Moore and Chuck Johnson of WTMJ, the Packers flagship network, with some audio of the Cowboys radio broadcast of KLIF featuring Bill Mercer and Blackie Sherrod. 

Week 5 Recap:

LA Rams 29, Seattle 30: TW: Rams; CV: Rams

The game itself was less dependent on Jared Goff's arm but the Rams defense has to be certainly suspect now. Jared Goff threw the ball for 395 yards for a touchdown and an interception. Todd Gurley was more involved in the game, getting 51 rush yards for two touchdowns. Russell Wilson had the game of his life, completing 17 of 23 passes for 268 yards for four touchdowns. Chris Carson had 118 yards from the ground for zero touchdowns. The game came down to a missed field goal from Greg Zuerlein. It was a 44-yard attempt. 

All-time series: Seahawks lead series 24-19

Next week: LA Rams: vs San Francisco; Seattle: @ Cleveland

TW: 0-1; CV: 0-1

Chicago 21, Oakland 24: TW: Bears; CV: Bears

The game was a surprise to most as the classic Bears defense was supposed to stomp out the Raiders offense. Chase Daniel threw the ball for 231 yards for two touchdowns and two interceptions. David Montgomery could only muster 25 yards from the ground. Derek Carr would throw for 229 yards for zero touchdowns but it would be Josh Jacobs who would run over the Bears defense, getting 123 yards from the ground for two touchdowns. The Raiders are a good road team, in spite that they had to go play the game in England. 

All-time series: Raiders lead series 8-7

Next week: Chicago: Bye week; Oakland: Bye week

TW: 0-2; CV: 0-2

Buffalo 14, Tennessee 7: TW: Titans; CV: Bills

The "Titans Picking Carousel" continues. I pick the Titans, they lose, when I pick against them, they win. Josh Allen had a bounceback game with 217 yards from the air for two touchdowns and an interception. Frank Gore put up some good numbers with 60 rushing yards. Marcus Mariota could only get 183 yards passing for zero touchdowns. Derrick Henry would get the only touchdown for the Titans on a 1-yard play, giving him 78 yards from the ground. Seriously, Fuck Tennessee! 

All-time series: Titans lead series 28-19

Next week: Buffalo: bye week; Tennessee: @ Denver

TW: 0-3; CV: 1-2

Jacksonville 27, Carolina 34: TW: Jaguars; CV: Panthers

I probably drank too much of the Minshewmania kool-aid (probably had too many hairs from Minshew's mustache) but the Jaguars couldn't stop the McCaffrey machine. Gardner Minshew threw the ball for 374 yards for two touchdowns. Leonard Fournette had another 100-yard plus rushing day with 108 yards for a touchdown. Kyle Allen for the Panthers threw the ball for 181 yards for a touchdown. It would be Christian McCaffrey's 176 rushing yards and 61 receiving yards (2 rushing touchdowns and 1 receiving touchdown) that would give the Panthers the edge in the game. He has to be in the MVP consideration. Let alone being a fantasy football star!

All-time series: Panthers lead series 4-3

Next week: Jacksonville: vs New Orleans; Carolina: vs Tampa Bay (London)

TW: 0-4; CV: 2-2

New England 33, Washington 7: TW: Patriots; CV: Patriots

The Redskins kept this to a close game but eventually the Patriots got this to a score that most people thought they would get to. Tom Brady threw the ball for 348 yards for three touchdowns and an interception. Sony Michel was the leading rusher for the Patriots with 91 yards and a touchdown. Colt McCoy started for the Redskins but wouldn't amount to much with 119 passing yards for zero touchdowns and an interception. Steven Sims would score the only Redskins touchdown on a 65-yard running play. 

All-time series: Redskins lead series 6-5

Next week: New England: vs NY Giants; Washington: @ Miami

TW: 1-4; CV: 3-2

Arizona 26, Cincinnati 23: TW: Bengals; CV: Cardinals

Kyler Murray got his first win in his career in the epicest of of epic Toilet Bowl games. I made up that word by the way. Kyler Murray finished the game with 253 yards for zero touchdowns while throwing zero interceptions. He also ran the ball for 91 yards with a touchdown and Chase Edmonds ran the ball for 68 yards for a touchdown as well. Andy Dalton had a better game with 262 yards passing for two touchdowns. Joe Mixon got 93 yards on the ground for the Bengals. The game came down to a Zane Gonzalez 31-yard field goal that gave the Cards a win. 

All-time series: Series tied 6-6

Next week: Arizona: vs Atlanta; Cincinnati: @ Baltimore

TW: 1-5; CV: 4-2

Minnesota 28, NY Giants 10: TW: Vikings; CV: Vikings

The Vikings offense got back on the right foot against an average Giants defense. Kirk Cousins threw for 306 yards for two touchdowns. Dalvin Cook ran the ball for 132 yards for zero touchdowns. The Vikings would also score on a safety. Daniel Jones threw the ball for 182 yards for a touchdown and an interception. The Giants didn't get much help from their running backs as Jon Hilliman was the leading rusher for 20 yards. At least one Minnesota named team can beat a New York named team (sorry Twins fans, I had to do it). 

All-time series: Vikings lead series 17-12

Next week: Minnesota: vs Philadelphia; NY Giants: @ New England

TW: 2-5; CV: 5-2

Baltimore 26, Pittsburgh 23 (F/OT): TW: Steelers; CV: Steelers

A rivalry was reborn today. The game was a classic Baltimore-Pittsburgh battle, with tough defense and scoring not by the 50's. Lamar Jackson had 161 yards passing with a touchdown and three interceptions. He also had 70 rushing yards. Mark Ingram got a touchdown while running the ball for 44 yards. Before he left the game in the 3rd quarter after a vicious hit from Earl Thomas, Mason Rudolph threw the ball for 131 yards for a touchdown. James Conner got 55 rushing yards for a touchdown. Craig Boswell would hit three field goals in the game. Justin Tucker would score the game-winning field goal in overtime on a 46-yard field goal. 

All-time series: Steelers lead series: 28-23

Next week: Baltimore: vs Cincinnati; Pittsburgh: @ LA Chargers

TW: 2-6; CV: 5-3

Atlanta 32, Houston 53: TW: Texans; CV: Texans

The game lacked defense but for those who enjoy high-scoring games, then this was the cream of the crop. Matt Ryan threw for 330 yards for three touchdowns and an interception. The Falcons running attack was somewhat limited in the game as Devonta Freeman would only get 30 yards on 11 carries. DeShaun Watson however had a really good game with 426 yards passing with five touchdowns. Carlos Hyde got some scoring with a rushing touchdown as well as his 60 yards rushing for the game. The Falcons managed to keep DeAndre Hopkins at bay but they forgot to cover Will Fuller who had 217 receiving yards for three touchdowns. Ouch Atlanta.

All-time series: Texans lead series 3-2

Next week: Atlanta: @ Arizona; Houston: @ Kansas City

TW: 3-6; CV: 6-3

Tampa Bay 24, New Orleans 31: TW: Saints; CV: Buccaneers

Any chance of Teddy Bridgewater faltering back to sub-par play was diminished in this one. Jameis Winston threw the ball for 204 yards for two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Ronald Jones was the leading rusher for the Bucs with 35 but Peyton Barber would get 32 yards rushing and a touchdown. Teddy Bridgewater threw the ball for 314 yards for four touchdowns and an interception. Alvin Kamara provided some spark in the running game with his 62 yards from the ground. I started the Saints defense in fantasy, but much like most of this week, it was a dud.

All-time series: Saints lead series 34-21

Next week: Tampa Bay: vs Carolina (London); New Orleans: @ Jacksonville

TW: 4-6; CV: 6-4

NY Jets 6, Philadelphia 31: TW: Eagles; CV: Eagles

The Eagles kept it close for the first half but began to not toy with its prey and put the beating that most people figured they would. Luke Falk started for New York who would throw for 120 yards for two interceptions. Le'Veon Bell was the leading rusher for them with 43 but it would be Vyncent Smith who would get New York out of their touchdown drought on a trick play. Carson Wentz threw the ball for 189 yards for a touchdown. Jordan Howard got 62 yards from the ground with a touchdown.

All-time series: Eagles lead series 11-0

Next week: NY Jets: vs Dallas; Philadelphia: @ Minnesota

TW: 5-6; CV: 7-4

Denver 20, LA Chargers 13: TW: Chargers; CV: Broncos

The Chargers were off in this game, not sure why though. Denver did well on both sides of the ball and took turnover opportunities to heart. Joe Flacco had 182 yards for a touchdown and an interception. Philip Lindsey had 114 yards rushing for a touchdown. Philip Rivers could only muster 211 yards passing for two interceptions, zero touchdowns mind you. Melvin Gordon returned to the Chargers with 31 yards rushing. Maybe the Chargers defense is not as good as we thought.

All-time series: Broncos lead series: 67-52-1

Next week: Denver: vs Tennessee; LA Chargers: vs Pittsburgh

TW: 5-7; CV: 8-4

Green Bay 34, Dallas 24: TW: Cowboys; CV: Cowboys

In my defense, I thought the Cowboys offense would play angry but instead they reverted back to their last week play. Aaron Rodgers would throw the ball for 238 yards for zero touchdowns and zero interceptions. It would be Aaron Jones that provided the offense for the Packers, with 107 yards rushing for four touchdowns. Dak Prescott would throw the ball for 463 yards for two interceptions and three interceptions. Ezekiel Elliot would run the ball for 12 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown. Should've picked Green Bay if the Cowboys laid an egg.

All-time series: Packers lead series: 20-17

Next week: Green Bay: vs Detroit (Monday night); Dallas: @ NY Jets

TW: 5-8; CV: 8-5

Indianapolis 19, Kansas City 13: TW: Chiefs; CV: Chiefs

The Colts got their revenge on the Chiefs. Jacoby Brissett played game manager with his 151 yards passing with an interception. Marlon Mack ran the ball all over the Chiefs defense with 132 yards though Brissett would score the only offensive touchdown for Indy. Patrick Mahomes still managed to put up 321 yards passing for a touchdown. The Chiefs running game got not much going as Damien Williams got 23 yards rushing.

All-time series: Colts lead series 17-10

Next week: Indianapolis: Bye week; Kansas City: vs Houston

TW: 5-9; CV: 8-6

Cleveland 3, San Francisco 31: TW: Browns; CV: 49ers

Matt Breida got things going a couple of minutes into the game and the 49ers didn't let up. Baker Mayfield had a pretty pitiful game with 100 yards passing and two interceptions. Nick Chubb had a good game with 87 yards rushing. Austin Seibert would get the only points for the Browns with a field goal. Jimmy Garoppolo had 181 yards passing for two touchdowns. Matt Breida and Tevin Coleman combined for 211 rushing yards for two touchdowns. Oh Browns, even when you try to do some good, you fail. It hurts.

All-time series: Browns lead series 12-7

Next week: Cleveland: vs Seattle; San Francisco: @ LA Rams

TW: 5-10; CV: 9-6

The Records (By Week & Year):

Cardinal Viking:

2017: 167-89

2018: 156-98-2

2019:

Week 1: 11-4-1

Week 2: 10-6

Week 3: 10-6

Week 4: 7-8

Week 5: 9-6

Overall: 47-30-1

My record: 

2012: 164-90-2

2013: 162-92-1

2014: 172-83-1

2017: 164-92

2018: 156-98-2

2019:

Week 1: 12-3-1

Week 2: 10-6

Week 3: 11-5

Week 4: 8-7

Week 5: 5-10

Overall: 46-31-1

See you guys on Wednesday for the Week 6 Picks! 

-Tom