A Look Back at the NFL's Week 5

McNabb Leads Eagles, Broncos Beat Patriots, Vikings Undefeated

Oct 12, 2009

Here's a look at the storylines from the NFL's 2009 Week 5.

It's amazing what three weeks of rest can do for an NFL QB. After missing Weeks 2 and 3 with a rib injury and enjoying his team's bye week last week, Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb took little time to show he's fine against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. On the Eagles' first play from scrimmage McNabb scrambled for 13 yards. One play later, McNabb went deep for rookie WR Jeremy Maclin (starting for the injured Kevin Curtis) and connected on a 51-yard TD pass, the first TD reception of Maclin's career. McNabb would throw a 20-yard score to FB Leonard Weaver and find Maclin again on a 40-yard TD pass before the half to give Philadelphia a 21-7 lead.

Equally as sharp as the Eagles' offense was its defense. Using heavy blitzes, the team forced Bucs rookie QB Josh Johnson to throw 3 INTs and sacked him 3 times. Johnson finished 26/50 for 240 yards and 2 TDs to go along with the 3 picks.

McNabb finished the game 16 for 21 for 264 yards and 3 TDs. As much of a comeback game as Sunday's match was for McNabb it was a breakout game for Maclin, the Eagles' #1 pick in this year's NFL draft. He caught 6 passes for 142 yards - third most for an Eagles rookie - and 2 TDs. Michael Vick also made an appearance for the Eagles, completing his first NFL pass in 33 months and scrambling for an 11-yard run. RB Brian Westbrook also returned from injury, rushing 6 times for 18 yards and a TD.

With the 33-14 victory the Eagles move to 3-1 while the Bucs remain winless at 0-5.

It was protege vs master in Sunday's game between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots. Josh McDaniels, who spent 8 seasons on the Patriots coaching staff and is in his first season as head coach of the Broncos, bested his former boss, Bill Belichick, on the foot of Matt Prater. There was also the assistance of his QB, Kyle Orton, who finished 35/48 for 330 yards and 2 TDs (both to Brandon Marshall), and his rookie RB, Knowshon Moreno, who ran 21 times for 88 yards and helped move the ball into position for Prater's game-winning 41-yard FG with 20 rushing yards on the extra period's only possession. The 20-17 overtime loss was the first of Tom Brady's career (7-1).

The Broncos are 5-0 for the first time since 1998, the last year they went to, and won, the Super Bowl. The Patriots drop to 3-2.

Favre, Vikings Stay Unbeaten at 5-0

As long and storied a career as Brett Favre has carved out in the NFL there are still things left undone for the 40-year-old QB. But he scratched another item off of his "things to do" list on Sunday as he moved to 5-0 for the first time in his career with a 38-10 win against the St. Louis Rams (0-5). Favre, on the heels on his miracle game against the Green Bay Packers last Monday, rode the wave of RB Adrian Peterson (15 carries for 69 yards and 2 TDs) and his defense (3 fumble recoveries, 1 INT) in Week 5. Favre finished 18/24 for 232 yards and 1 TD.

Week 5's Best Performances (by position)

QB - Tim Hasselbeck (Seattle Seahawks 41, Jacksonville Jaguars 0): 18/30, 241 yards, 4 TDs

RB - Cedric Benson (Cincinnati Bengals 17, Baltimore Ravens 14): 27 carries, 120 yards, 1 TD

WR - Miles Austin (Dallas Cowboys 26, Kansas City Chiefs 20): 10 receptions, 250 yards (franchise record), 2 TDs

Defense - New York Giants: forced 3 fumbles, collected 6 sacks and held the Raiders to 124 total yards in their 44-7 victory

Other Week 5 NFL Scores:

The copyright of the article A Look Back at the NFL's Week 5 in National Football League (NFL) is owned by Justin Harrington. Permission to republish A Look Back at the NFL's Week 5 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.