Week 5 of the 2026 NFL season delivered a string of late-game breakdowns, quarterback turnarounds and a costly special-teams decision in London, with the NFC East enduring one of its roughest Sundays. The Giants and Commanders played to an overtime tie after Washington squandered a chance to win, while the Eagles’ kickoff choice helped Jacksonville steal a last-second victory.
Washington lets overtime opportunity disappear
The Commanders appeared to have survived their own fourth-quarter collapse when they forced a Cam Skattebo fumble in Giants territory with less than two minutes left in overtime. Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels, returning after missing two games, promptly moved the offense into range with a 13-yard completion to Treylon Burks at the New York 26-yard line.
That should have put rookie kicker Drew Stevens in position for a deciding field goal. Stevens entered the game perfect on attempts from inside 50 yards, making all seven of his tries.
- Washington had no timeouts remaining after using two in overtime while the clock was already stopped.
- The Commanders handed the ball to Rachaad White after the Burks reception rather than immediately setting up the kick.
- After the run, Washington allowed the clock to drain before snapping the ball with 12 seconds left.
- Daniels scrambled and was sacked, then remained down briefly as the final seconds disappeared.
- Washington attempted to spike the ball, but time had expired, sealing the tie.
Head coach Dan Quinn and Daniels accepted responsibility after the game. A cleaner sequence would have had the Commanders quickly position the ball on Stevens’ preferred hash mark and spike it with enough time for the field-goal unit. The fact that receivers ran routes on the final snap and Daniels moved around in the pocket suggested the operation never reached a clear final plan.
Daniels carried Washington into scoring territory throughout the game, but his inability to immediately kill the play once the sack occurred turned a difficult situation into a missed winning chance. Quinn also faced scrutiny for the overall management of the possession and for Washington’s timeout usage earlier in overtime.
The Commanders were fortunate simply to reach extra time. They had led by 14 points with fewer than eight minutes left in regulation before the Giants rallied behind Jameis Winston, who completed 33 of 54 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns. Washington’s offense could not produce a first down to halt the comeback, and its defense again struggled after halftime.
The result fit an ugly division-wide day: NFC East teams went 0-2-2 in Week 5.
Eagles’ London finish exposes special-teams problem
Philadelphia also paid for a late-game decision in London. After driving into position for Jake Elliott’s go-ahead field goal with eight seconds remaining against the Jaguars, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni chose a kickoff that stayed in play rather than sending the ball into the end zone.
Jacksonville then had a path to a dramatic final-seconds win. Philadelphia had already seen a large kickoff return erased earlier in the game, and special-teams contributor Jeremiah Trotter Jr. had been ejected for fighting. Those factors made the decision to give Jacksonville a return opportunity even more consequential.
Sirianni took responsibility for the call afterward. The thinking may have been influenced by Baltimore’s rapid Week 3 game-winning sequence against Dallas, when a touchback gave the Ravens enough time to get into field-goal range. Jacksonville, however, did not have a timeout. Had the kick reached the end zone, the Jaguars would have needed a boundary completion to stop the clock after starting at the 35-yard line.
Philadelphia also failed to manage the final offensive possession as efficiently as possible before Elliott’s kick.
- An incompletion on first down after reaching Elliott’s range stopped the clock.
- Makai Lemon got out of bounds on the following play, leaving 17 seconds on the clock.
- Jacksonville preserved its remaining timeout rather than being forced to watch the clock run down.
- The Eagles’ offense produced only five first downs after halftime and went three-and-out four times in seven second-half possessions.
The Eagles’ defense played well, but the stagnant offense and the kickoff decision combined to turn a potential marquee win into another damaging loss. Jaguars coach Liam Coen also made several questionable calls during the game, but Jacksonville escaped with the result.
Evans powers unbeaten San Francisco
Mike Evans continued to show why San Francisco brought him in as a primary outside target. Playing through a rib injury at age 33, Evans caught seven of 10 targets for 113 yards and a touchdown in the 49ers’ 32-29 victory over Seattle.
San Francisco’s other receivers combined for 76 yards and one score. Evans was not merely finding open space created by busted coverages; five of his seven receptions came with less than one yard of separation.
His ability to win contested catches and provide Brock Purdy with a reliable one-on-one option has added a dimension to Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Shanahan said Evans’ performance illustrated precisely the reason the 49ers signed him.
Evans’ role could become even larger after Samuel left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. With the receiver room continuing to lose players, the undefeated 49ers will need their veteran star to remain a central piece of the passing attack.
Quarterbacks find form while Tennessee stays with Ward
Several quarterbacks used Week 5 to show that early-season problems do not always define a season. Drake Maye, Jordan Love and Kyler Murray each delivered standout performances, while Tennessee remained committed to Cam Ward despite another difficult afternoon.
Maye, Love and Murray provide answers
- Drake Maye: The Patriots quarterback tore apart Las Vegas in a 45-17 win. Across his past six quarters, Maye has thrown for 532 yards and six touchdowns with a 71.4 percent completion rate, while adding a rushing touchdown. After Buffalo let New England off the hook in Week 4, Maye has looked far more like the player he was in 2025.
- Jordan Love: Love led Green Bay past Chicago by connecting on six of eight deep throws of at least 20 air yards. Those passes produced a career-best 258 yards and two touchdowns, the second-highest single-game deep-passing yardage total in the Next Gen Stats era, which began in 2016. Under pressure, Love went 7-for-9 for 127 yards and a 155.8 passer rating, including a deep completion to Matthew Golden while taking a hit.
- Kyler Murray: Murray completed 80 percent of his 24 attempts for 229 yards and a touchdown in Minnesota’s 23-13 win at New Orleans. He added 51 rushing yards on 10 carries and appeared more accurate after early issues following his Week 1 concussion. Justin Jefferson, back from an ankle injury, made two spectacular catches as the Vikings moved to 5-0.
Murray’s performance offered encouragement that he is becoming more comfortable in Kevin O’Connell’s system. Minnesota returns from its bye to face Indianapolis, Detroit and Buffalo, a stretch against defenses that have struggled and could give Murray an opportunity to build on Sunday’s progress.
Saleh backs Ward after Tennessee falls to 0-5
The Titans, meanwhile, are not considering a quarterback change after their 26-3 loss to Houston. Tennessee coach Robert Saleh said Ward remains the club’s starter and will continue to receive every chance to improve during the season.
Ward, the first overall pick in the previous year’s draft, completed 23 of 36 passes for 170 yards and an interception against the Texans, who had also entered Week 5 without a win. He was especially ineffective when pressured, going 9-for-16 for 70 yards and an interception while taking four sacks in those situations. Houston edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter created consistent problems.
Ward has thrown for fewer than 200 yards in four of Tennessee’s five games and owns three touchdown passes against three interceptions. The offensive line and running game have offered little help, but the Titans need their second-year quarterback to lift an offense that has struggled in every phase.
New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll has seen occasional positive flashes from Ward, but not sustained development. Still, Tennessee intends to give Ward the rest of 2026 to show he can be the franchise quarterback the organization expected. If the problems continue through the end of the season, the Titans can revisit the position then rather than turning to Mitchell Trubisky now.
