Looking at the games for week five, I started to wonder who was going to give teams their first defeat of the season, or where a side was going to get their first win…here are my thoughts.
Where does a win come from?
There are currently five sides without a win, going into week 5. Let’s have a look and see where their first win might come from. Obviously, these are just my own thoughts, and could quite easily be wrong…except for the Dolphins!!
Miami Dolphins
Yes my side, the Miami Dolphins are 0-4 and rightly so. QB Malik Willis is only a stop gap for this team, and with RB De’Von Achane out for the season, the run game will rely on Ollie Gordon and Jaylen Wright, when he is fit…
I have serious concerns with this Dolphins team. They are the only undefeated team ever in the Super Bowl era (1972, for those who don’t know), and we seriously could go without a win this season. But let’s try and be positive – it’s hard for Dolphins fans to be positive after this start. They have been scoring points, nowhere near enough, averaging only 11.5 points a game.
Two defeats by 14 points to the Raiders and the Chiefs, and a 22 point defeat by the 49ers in the first three weeks, but the Vikings only won by five, after restricting them to five field goals…Ok T.J Hockenson decided to slide at the one yard line, rather than score a touchdown at the two minute warning so they could take the knee and finish the game.
Next up is the Bengals, currently at 2-2, but are more than capable of beating the Dolphins. Week six sees their bye, and then their first real opportunity for a win – week seven and a trip to the MetLife and the Jets. If they lose that…who knows?!?! The two games with the Jets appear to be the best chance for Miami to get a win, but I’m not that confident that will happen…
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Some might say the Buccaneers have been unlucky in their losses. Each one has been close, with losses by six, four, seven and three points so far.
However, QB Baker Mayfield is out after dislocating his thumb on his throwing hand in the defeat by the Vikings, and is expected to miss at least three weeks, but could be as many as six weeks!! Mayfield is not the only one missing through injury. WR Chris Godwin, and RB Bucky Irving have had injuries as well, although both have been playing through their injuries.
The Buccaneers have a run of games now, where if they get things right, they can definitely pick up a win or three… starting on Thursday Night Football and a trip to the 2-2 Cowboys. They also have the Steelers, Panthers, Falcons and Bears before their week 10 bye. By that bye week, they could quite easily be looking a lot more positive going into the second half of the season.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers have not won a game since week 16 last season, beating the Cowboys 34-17. Seven straight losses since that win and like the Dolphins, it could be a long season for the Chargers fans.
They have no real injuries to complain about. They have CB Donte Jackson and Derwin James listed as questionable, as well as WR Ladd McConkey. TE David Njoku is on IR, but other than that, no other stand out players.
The Chargers have a week seven bye week, but before then they play the Broncos and the Chiefs. After the bye, it’s the Rams, and then comes what I think could be their best chance of their first win: the Texans. The Jets come to the SoFi in week 12, but that’s about it, looking at their schedule.
There are two other sides who are 0-4 – but that will change on Sunday! The Houston Texans head to Tennessee to take on the Titans. Obviously, one of these sides will be 1-4 and the other 0-5 – I guess it could end up in a tie and neither side has the win…
Where does the first defeat come?
There are only three undefeated teams going into week five, after the Chiefs beat the Raiders and the Patriots beat the Bills in week four. Let’s see where those sides’ first defeat might come…
San Francisco 49ers
Sitting top of the NFC West, and seeded No.2 in the NFC Conference, the 49ers have been really good this season.
Despite injuries to DE Nick Bosa, and having WRs Christian Kirk and Ricky Pearsall, as well as rookie De’Zhaun Stribling all on IR, it has not slowed them down at all. RB Christian McCaffrey has had a good start to the season, and despite having a rib injury, WR Mike Evans has been playing through and making plays.
However their biggest test comes this week. They have to travel to take on the Seattle Seahawks in a divisional battle – and this is where I think they lose their unbeaten record. After the Seahawks game, they play the Commanders and the Falcons, before their week eight bye. The Seahawks pose the biggest threat to the 49ers in the NFC West, so Sunday’s game is a very big game.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are unbeaten – however, they have only scored one touchdown since their week one game with the Packers. Jordan Addison scored in the second quarter of their win over the Buccaneers, and that’s it. As mentioned above, T.J. Hockenson had the opportunity to score but decided to slide and end the game, but still, not great football.
Star WR Justin Jefferson missed the week four game with an ankle injury, but he may well be back for week five and their trip to the Saints. If not, then he should be back after their week six bye. Week seven sees the Colts go to Minnesota, but I think Weeks 8-11 is where the run comes to an end…
That four-game stretch takes the Vikings to Detroit in Week 8, back home to face the Bills in Week 9, then to Green Bay in Week 10 and Mexico City to face the 49ers in Week 11. That’s where I see their first defeat – probably against the 49ers. However, if they can start to score touchdowns…watch out…
Kansas City Chiefs
After Patrick Mahomes’ injury last season, there were always going to be people thinking the Chiefs would struggle…that has not been the case so far this season.
WR Tyquan Thornton dislocated his ankle in the week four win over the Raiders, and is expected to miss a minimum 12 weeks, and could be back for the postseason. Other than that injury, there are no other major injuries. Mahomes and WR Rashee Rice have slight knee injuries, but have been full participants in practice.
So far, the Chiefs have beaten the Broncos, Colts in OT, Dolphins (but all three unbeaten teams have done that…) and the Raiders, ending their unbeaten stretch. They are now on a bye week, and then face the 0-4 Chargers at home, before travelling to the Seattle Seahawks in week seven. Again, I see the Seahawks as the threat to the Chiefs unbeaten record.
The Seahawks may well end two teams’ unbeaten records and Miami fans will be popping corks, celebrating their 1972 undefeated season.
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