PMT DB
PMT DB
NFL Week 5 Recap: Deshaun Watson's Bench-ability, Jaden Daniels' Dominance, and Playoff Baseball
NFL Week 5 was an absolute heater that delivered everything from overtime shootouts to weather delays that kept the crew in the office until past midnight. The energy in the studio was a tale of two couches, with Big Cat riding high on a dominant Bears performance while PFT tried to process the reality of his Commanders being a legitimate NFC powerhouse. The early slate was particularly chaotic, starting with a London game that proved once again that the NFL will put anything on television at 9:30 AM and we will all collectively watch every snap regardless of how many interceptions Aaron Rodgers throws.
The AFC North Shootout and the Bengals' Hole
In what might be the game of the year so far, the Ravens outlasted the Bengals 41-38 in an overtime thriller that featured Lamar Jackson making a play so spectacular it looked like he was playing a different sport. Joe Burrow played nearly perfect football, throwing five touchdowns, but one mistimed interception and a botched hold on a field goal attempt dropped Cincinnati to a devastating 1-4. Despite the record and the historically bad defense, Big Cat isn't ready to bury Joe Cool just yet.
Big CatThe 1-4 Bengals will still make the playoffs
I'll say it. [The Bengals] are gonna make the playoffs. Fuck it. I'm gonna bet it on DraftKings make the playoffs.
On the other side of that division, the Browns have reached a point of no return with Deshaun Watson. After a 34-13 dismantling at the hands of the Commanders, the conversation has shifted from "when will he get better" to "why is he still on the field." Watson looked completely lost, at one point walking off the field on a fourth-down attempt while his coach stood in disbelief.
Big CatDeshaun Watson has to be benched
Deshaun Watson has to be benched. There was a moment in this game where I was like, holy fuck. How is this guy still playing? He doesn't want to go for it on fourth down... he stinks at football.
Jaden Daniels is the Real Deal
PFT is currently dealing with a severe case of "quarterback imposter syndrome" as Jaden Daniels continues to look like a top-tier veteran in a rookie's body. Even in a game where he wasn't statistically perfect, Daniels made clutch throws and used his legs to dismantle the Browns' defense. The Commanders are now 4-1 and sitting at the number two seed in the NFC, forcing PFT to reconsider exactly where his young star ranks among the league's elite.
PFT CommenterJaden Daniels is the fourth best quarterback in the NFL
I think that Jaden Daniels is the [fourth] best quarterback in the NFL. It's around fifth... it's fourth.
Meanwhile, the Vikings stayed undefeated in London, surviving a shaky Sam Darnold performance thanks to a defense that seems to have every quarterback in the league seeing ghosts. Big Cat is officially a believer in what Kevin O'Connell is building in Minnesota, ranking them as the clear threat to the Super Bowl favorites.
Big CatThe Vikings are the second best team in the NFL behind only the Chiefs
The Vikings, I think are like, they're the most besides the Chiefs. They're probably the team I believe in the most as of right now... Five and oh, best team in football going into the bye week.
The Mid-Season Grind and Betting Trends
The guys also broke down a massive win for the Texans over the Bills. While Josh Allen struggled with one of the worst completion percentages of his career, CJ Stroud managed to navigate a tough Bills defense even after losing Nico Collins to a hamstring injury. It wasn't the prettiest win, but it signaled that Houston has another gear they haven't even hit yet.
Big CatThe 2024 Texans haven't even played their best football yet despite a 4-1 start
The crazy thing about the Texans, I don't think the Texans played their best game and they're four and one and look for real... it doesn't feel like they've put together a full four quarters yet and they're four and one.
Speaking of teams with another gear, the 49ers suffered a brutal loss to the Cardinals in 100-degree heat. While the vibes are low in San Francisco, Big Cat reminded everyone that Kyle Shanahan's teams are notorious for starting slow and peaking when it actually matters.
Big CatThe 49ers will eventually win the NFC West because they get better as the season progresses
The good news is for the 49ers... Kyle Shanahan teams... the teams get better as the year goes along. [In games 13 through 16, they are 20 and 8]. Still a bad loss... but you can still very much win the NFC West.
PFT has also identified a new betting phenomenon known as the "Lions Hangover." After looking at the data, it appears that playing Dan Campbell's squad leaves teams so physically and mentally depleted that they almost always fall flat the following week.
PFT CommenterThe 'Lions Hangover' is a real betting trend where teams lose the week after playing Detroit
Lions hangovers. I think it's a real thing... Rams played the Lions, then lost. Buccaneers beat the Lions, then lost. Cardinals lost to Lions, then lost. Seahawks lost to Lions, now they lose to the Giants.
Playoff Baseball and Who's Back
Max was back in the booth after a weekend of emotional highs and lows following the Phillies. After a devastating Game 1 loss to the Mets, Nick Castellanos delivered a walk-off hit in Game 2 that might have saved Philadelphia's season and Max's sanity. The Padres and Dodgers are also locked in a high-voltage series that features fans throwing trash on the field and players hitting home runs in response, which is exactly what October baseball should be.
To wrap things up, the crew looked ahead to a massive Week 6 and debated whether the Patriots should already be looking at the 2025 NFL Draft order. Hank, who is now officially a "Tankathon" enthusiast, has his eyes on a Heisman hopeful to save the franchise.
HankThe Patriots should draft Travis Hunter with the number one overall pick
If the season ended today, the mighty New England Patriots would be on the clock... I think you probably got to go with the best player in college football, Travis Hunter. [The scouts] know.
If the season ended today, the Patriots would have the number one pick, which is the only thing keeping New England fans from a total mutiny.
At least the weather delay gave us a reason to drink six more coffees and watch Dak Prescott save Mike McCarthy’s job for one more week.
