NFL Week 5 storylines to watch: Can Cowboys finally beat 49ers? Plus, do-or-die time for 8 teams

The Athletic has live coverage of Eagles vs. Rams and Ravens vs. Steelers in NFL Week 5 action

It’s NFL Week 5. Let’s go! Once again, the league’s schedulers have treated us to another round of must-see matchups, including potential playoff previews, games with early divisional implications and plenty of desperation scenarios.

The action kicks off in London, as the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills meet at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, kicking off at 9:30 a.m. ET.

From there, the slate features six 1 p.m. ET games and four more in the 4 o’clock hour, followed by what may be the best matchup of the week: Dallas at San Francisco on “Sunday Night Football.”

Here’s a breakdown of five of the most compelling storylines of the weekend. (Find the NFL Week 5 schedule here.)

1. Measuring stick for Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars are supposed to use last year’s playoff appearance (and wild-card round upset of the Chargers) as a springboard for more growth. Instead, they’re 2-2 with wins over Indianapolis and Atlanta and losses to Kansas City and Houston — the latter of which was an embarrassing blowout. Lawrence and the offense haven’t taken a leap. Instead, they’re middle of the pack in yards and points, and rank among the worst on third downs and in the red zone.

The Jaguars did start slow last season before winning seven of their final nine games. If they want to make their dreams a reality this season, they’ll need to find that next gear soon. Sunday represents the perfect opportunity for the Jaguars to measure themselves against a Bills team that 1) ranks among the best in the league, and 2) could wind up hosting them in the playoffs — if the Jags can make it back. Quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills are coming off an authoritative win over the Dolphins and want to keep the momentum going. Can Jacksonville find a way to prove it belongs in the big boys club this year? (Jaguars vs. Bills in London, 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday.)

Read more: NFL bye week schedule for 2023 season: When is every team off? 

The 3-1 Cowboys visit the 4-0 49ers in a game that represents both a playoff rematch and a potential postseason preview. The 49ers have spoiled the Cowboys’ Super Bowl aspirations in each of the past two postseasons, winning 19-12 in January’s divisional round and a 23-17 wild-card game the year prior. That’s why Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said this week the road to the Super Bowl runs through San Francisco.

Coach Kyle Shanahan’s team definitely represents the toughest test Dallas has faced during this young season. The 49ers boast top-five units on offense and defense while led by one of the best game-planners/play-callers in Shanahan and a well-respected defensive mind in Steve Wilks. The Cowboys are good, and they can get after the quarterback with the best of them. But we’ve seen their defense struggle against the run: The Cardinals racked up 222 rushing yards against them and gashed Dallas for plays of 69, 45, 44, 26, 23, 22 and 20 yards.

Few teams establish the ground game like the 49ers, and they build off of that with a smart passing attack. The Cowboys definitely have their work cut out for them. (Cowboys at 49ers, 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday.)

3. The other remaining unbeaten

The Eagles put their 4-0 record on the line as they travel to Los Angeles to play the Rams, who are eyeing a resurgence after last year’s injury-plagued 5-12 season. The Rams to start this season beat a playoff team in the Seahawks, lost narrowly to the 49ers and Bengals, then edged the Colts in overtime. They aren’t back to full Super Bowl contender force yet, but the Rams do boast a top-10 defense, which means the Eagles’ offense again will find itself tested.

Philadelphia’s coaches and players have faced many questions about why the offense has yet to regain its 2022 excellence. The pass game is inconsistent, as is the red-zone production. But Nick Sirianni’s team has opened the season with a who’s who of defensive minds (Bill Belichick, Brian Flores, Todd Bowles, Jack Del Rio), and the Eagles are still top five in total yards and points per game. So, should these “struggles” be taken with a grain of salt?

Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris will no doubt cook up a game plan intended to neutralize Jalen Hurts and explosive wideouts A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. So far, a potent run game has bailed out the Eagles’ uneven passing attack. Can D’Andre Swift rip off a third 100-yard rushing day to keep Aaron Donald and his defensive linemates honest? (Eagles at Rams, 4:05 p.m. ET.)

The Falcons aren’t a bad team. They have a lot of promising young players, they’re well-coached, and they play hard. But they’re not getting the offensive production they need, and a lot of that has to do with quarterback Desmond Ridder. The second-year pro, who now has eight games of starting experience, ranks among the league’s worst in nearly every major passing category. Coach Arthur Smith said this week, however, that Ridder remains his starter.

But for how long? The Falcons signed Taylor Heinicke as a backup this offseason, and the scrappy former Commanders starter has proven that although he has limitations, he can be a playmaker. Losers of two straight, the Falcons belong to a very winnable NFC South division, which features 3-1 Tampa Bay, 2-2 New Orleans and 0-4 Carolina. If Ridder has another anemic outing against the Texans and their impressive rookie QB C.J. Stroud, you have to wonder if Smith will make a change. (Texans at Falcons, 1 p.m. ET.)

5. The do-or-die club

Eight teams find themselves in dangerous territory: The Bengals, Broncos, Cardinals, Giants, Jets, Patriots, Raiders and Vikings are all 1-3. If they’re going to pull off season-saving turnarounds, they’d better start making their moves now, because Elias Sports Bureau reports only 11 of the 390 teams to reach the playoffs since 1990 have done so after starting 1-4.

Things look bleak for Belichick’s Patriots, who lack playmakers on both sides of the ball and have a quarterback in Mac Jones whose days as a starter may be numbered. But they’re hosting the Saints, whose quarterback, Derek Carr, isn’t 100 percent. … The Vikings may have the best chance to rebound because they play in the NFC North, currently led by the 3-1 Lions. But the visiting Chiefs are 6-point favorites, and without a cure for the league’s worst turnover rate, Minnesota isn’t rebounding anytime soon. … Did quarterback Daniel Jones peak last season? It sure looks like it. The Giants travel to face a Dolphins team that’s grumpy after a 48-20 loss to the Bills. … The Cardinals have given teams problems this year, and with Joe Burrow still hobbled, it’s hard to feel great about the Bengals in any matchup. … Which Zach Wilson shows up versus Sean Payton, whose Broncos rallied to win last week’s Toilet Bowl against the Bears? The Jets surely want to win this one for Nathaniel Hackett. … Will a revenge-seeking Davante Adams be able to summon enough magic to carry the Raiders past the Packers? Eh …

(Photos of Kyle Shanahan and Mike McCarthy: Steph Chambers and Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)

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