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Real-time Football Action

Greetings, NFL enthusiasts! Welcome to the fifth week of the National Football League action, as I provide every update from the opening window. This is a convenient mid-morning start on the west coast at 10:00 AM (PST), stretching to an early evening 6:00 PM (BST) in jolly old England. We just saw, the Vikings fought back to beat the Cleveland Browns 21-17 due to a short receiver scoring catch with just 25 seconds left at the London venue. Minnesota move to three wins and two losses, while the Browns fall to 1-4. The Sunday slate is already off and running.

Today features a impressive lineup of 6 matchups to track:

• Baltimore Ravens against Houston Texans

• Carolina Panthers vs Miami Dolphins

• Colts against Las Vegas Raiders

• Saints v New York Giants

• New York Jets against Dallas Cowboys

• Eagles vs Denver Broncos

Featured Matchup: Philadelphia Host Broncos

The marquee matchup is unfolding in Philadelphia with the undefeated Super Bowl champions welcoming from the Broncos. Theoretically, you might anticipate an easy win, but a brief look pops up headlines doubting whether the Philadelphia are the least impressive undefeated squad ever. Who knows. What we do know, is they have benefited from some luck on kick units with multiple blocked attempts, one of which earned a win against the Rams. A crucial factor will be how Denver defense coach Vance Joseph prepares his defense to contain the Eagles' versatile QB Jalen Hurts from charging down the field. If they can make them throw, then a significant victory might follow for the Broncos, now with two wins and two losses, which would have prognosticators, including me, that predicted the Broncos would overthrow the Chiefs in the AFC West looking more optimistic.

Additional Games to Follow

Elsewhere, a host of one-win wonders are keen to edge closer to .500 with a W, or exactly there in the case of the Cowboys after their wild high-scoring draw with Green Bay has them at 1-2-1. Their visit to the Meadowlands to face the yet to win New York Jets should secure a win as they look to keep the scoring outbursts flowing between QB Dak Prescott and receiver George Pickens. In the long run, star pass catcher Lamb's injury might benefit the Dallas as Pickens’ expanded duties since will have accelerated his development, making the offense stronger when he does return. In the here and now, the New York's backfield needs to be on their toes and then some to avoid a sorry slip to zero wins and five losses.

Ravens Face Houston in Surprising Clash

Two of unexpected 1-3 merchants go head-to-head in Maryland as the injury-hit Ravens are led into battle with the Houston Texans by reserve QB Cooper Rush. When these teams met previously, we saw Beyoncé’s amazing performance surrounded by the Texans suffering a horrendous one-sided loss at their stadium on Christmas Day, then a decisive beating in the postseason a few weeks after at Baltimore. However, in the absence of the injured award-winning Lamar Jackson on the field, who passed for multiple scores, scored additional TDs, and racked up 507 total yards in the previous games, the Texans' defense will be prepared.