THE WINNERS
Jerry Jones
The Cowboys may just be for real, with or without their highest paid player. Cooper Rush won his fourth start in a row against the defending champs last week and now the Cowboys will face off against the undefeated Eagles on Sunday Night Football. Winning a primetime game like this to go 5-1 and give the first loss of the season to their divisional rivals all without Dak Prescott may raise the Cowboys’ stock to as high a position as its been in years. That’s never a bad thing for Jerry Jones.
Daniel Jones
The New York Giants are another NFC East team that is surprising the league with a 4-1 start after week 5. The main reason for doubts after getting to 3-1 was their schedule, but they put those to bed with a victory over Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in London. Daniel Jones, who has seen his fair share of criticism in his career, has been everything the team needs him to be. He’s making it work on the ground and through the air with receivers that no one has ever heard of before. Even if he can’t continue this stretch of play throughout the year, it’s been nice to see Jones play some winning football and get the naysayers off his back for a while.
Sean Payton
It was the game that Sean Payton had dreamt about for years. Taysom Hill torched the Seahawks on Sunday, running for three touchdowns and passing for one more in a career defining game. Although you can’t expect this kind of production to repeat itself, it was fun to watch one of the league’s most all around gifted athletes make things happen from everywhere on the field on Sunday. He ended the game with 112 rushing yards on nine attempts and 1 pass attempt completed for a 22 yard touchdown. Not bad for Payton’s brainchild.
THE LOSERS
Matt Rhule
This one’s an obvious one. After going 11-27 through two and a half seasons, the Panthers finally parted ways with Rhule after week 5, who was initially signed to a seven year deal worth $62 million. The Panthers will now try to salvage something out of the season with an injured Baker Mayfield leading an offence that has underperformed for years. For Rhule, it seemed to be an inevitable fate, as the Panthers have never looked like a team turning the corner since his hiring two seasons ago.
Matt Stafford
Something is wrong with the Los Angeles Rams right now and no one is safe from taking on some of the blame. Least of all Matt Stafford, who’s gotten off to a horrible start and has gone three games with one touchdown pass, two interceptions, and three lost fumbles. He’s also been sacked thirteen times in that span. Thankfully, the Rams get to play the Carolina Panthers this weekend in what should be a good opportunity for the offence to gain some confidence back. If they can’t figure it out though, alarm bells should certainly be ringing for the defending champs.
The Referees
No explanation needed on this one, the referees had a terrible week. Roughing the passer calls need to reviewed as soon as possible.
