I don’t mind being wrong in my predictions, especially when it comes to the Cardinals. Once again, it was a tale of two halves, but this time, the Cards played poorly in the first half and turned up the heat in the second.
The Arizona Cardinals pulled off a stunning 24-23 upset against the San Francisco 49ers. Trailing 23-10 at halftime, the Cardinals mounted a second-half comeback, with Kyler Murray playing a pivotal role. Murray rushed for 83 yards and scored two touchdowns, including a 50-yard rushing touchdown early in the game. Cardinals’ kicker Chad Ryland was crucial, hitting three field goals, including the game-winner.
San Francisco’s Brandon Aiyuk had a standout game with 147 receiving yards, while quarterback Brock Purdy completed 19 of 35 passes for 244 yards and one touchdown. The 49ers had a big moment when Jordan Elliott blocked a Cardinals field goal, which Deommodore Lenoir returned for a 61-yard touchdown. However, Arizona’s resilience in the second half, combined with some late defensive stops, sealed the win for the Cardinals.
Denver Broncos Break Streak with Dominant Win Over Raiders
In their Week 5 matchup, the Denver Broncos snapped an eight-game losing streak against the Las Vegas Raiders with a dominant 34-18 victory. Despite falling behind 10-0 early, Denver surged back, thanks to strong performances from QB Bo Nix, who threw for 206 yards and two touchdowns. The game’s momentum shifted dramatically when Broncos CB Pat Surtain returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown.
The Raiders, led by Gardner Minshew, struggled after a solid start, with their offense faltering in the second half. Although the Broncos allowed three sacks, the defense ultimately secured the win, coming up with big plays when it mattered most.
Chiefs Overcome Challenges to Defeat the Saints
On Monday Night Football, the Kansas City Chiefs entered with two key questions: Could they overcome injuries on the offensive line and secure a win that wasn’t a grind? The answer to both was a definitive yes.
In the Week 5 game, the Chiefs defeated the New Orleans Saints 26-13. Patrick Mahomes threw for 331 yards, with JuJu Smith-Schuster shining with seven catches for 130 yards. Despite some red-zone struggles, the Chiefs’ defense dominated, pressuring the Saints’ quarterbacks 21 times. The Saints, missing key defensive players, struggled to contain Kansas City’s offense. While they found some success in the red zone, they were ultimately no match for Mahomes and the Chiefs’ high-powered attack.
With this victory, the Chiefs and the Vikings remain the only two teams sitting at 5-0 in their divisions.