NFL PLAYS IN REVIEW: Week 5

Billed as the NFC championship game preview, the Dallas Cowboys embarrassed in San Francisco, Texans see win streak slip away; check out Week 5 highlights and Week 6 previews for Cowboys & Texans

All of the pre-game hype quickly fell flat as the undefeated San Francisco 49ers (5-0) humiliated the Dallas Cowboys (3-2) in what many called the NFC Championship Game preview.

Despite their surprising early season success, the Houston Texans (2-3) and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud could not keep their winning streak alive against the Atlanta Falcons (3-2).

Across the NFL, the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles (5-0) joined San Francisco as the only two undefeated teams remaining in the league.

WEEK 5 RECAPS:

at SAN FRANCISCO 49ers 42, DALLAS Cowboys 10

San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy threw three of his four touchdown passes to George Kittle, San Francisco’s defense hounded Dak Prescott all night and the 49ers extended their dominance over the Dallas Cowboys with a 42-10 victory Sunday.

The Niners (5-0) knocked the Cowboys out of the playoffs in tight games the past two seasons, adding intrigue to this early season matchup between perceived contenders, but the rematch wasn’t even close.

The Niners led 14-0 before the Cowboys (3-2) got their initial first down of the night and were never really threatened on the way to matching a franchise record with their 15th straight regular-season win and earning their fifth 5-0 start. Purdy calmly picked apart the league’s stingiest defense to improve to 10-0 as a starter in the NFL and San Francisco’s defense made life difficult on Prescott all night.

Prescott was sacked three times and heaved one of three interceptions into double coverage after Dallas fell behind 28-10 in the third quarter. It proved to be Dallas’ most lopsided defeat since losing 49-17 to New Orleans in 2013.

Watch the NFL highlights here:

at ATLANTA Falcons 21, HOUSTON Texans 19

Atlanta quarterback Desmond Ridder delivers last minute drive, Younghoe Koo kicks last-second field goal as the Falcons edge the surprising Houston Texans, 21-19, last Sunday.

Ridder passed and ran for touchdowns, providing a response to those who had called for him to be benched, Koo kicked a go-ahead 37-yard field goal as time expired, and the Falcons snapped a two-game skid halt Houston’s two-game winning streak.

After Houston (2-3) took a 19-18 lead with 1:49 remaining, Ridder completed each of his five passes on the final drive to set up Koo’s game-ending kick.

After throwing a pick-six among his three turnovers last week against Jacksonville in London, Ridder took care of the ball against the Texans.

Houston rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud gave the Texans a 19-18 lead with 1:49 remaining with an 18-yard scoring pass to tight end Dalton Schultz. Stroud completed 20 of 35 passes for 249 yards and a score.

Stroud set an NFL record by starting his career with 177 pass attempts without an interception. He broke the record previously held by Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott. Stroud set the NFL record for rookies a week earlier when he reached 151 attempts without an interception.

Watch the NFL highlights here:

NFL SCOREBOARD – WEEK 5

Thursday, October 5

Chicago Bears 40, at Washington Commanders 20

Sunday, October 8

Jacksonville Jaguars 25, at Buffalo Bills 20 (London)

Houston Texans 19, at Atlanta Falcons 21

Carolina Panthers 24, at Detroit Lions 42

Tennessee Titans 16, at Indianapolis Colts 23

New York Giants 16, at Miami Dolphins 31

New Orleans Saints 34, at New England Patriots 0

Baltimore Ravens 10, at Pittsburgh Steelers 17