NFL: San Francisco 49ers & Minnesota Vikings Go 5-0
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Niners go 5-0 and a rare tie - five things from NFL week five
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: The San Francisco 49ers went to 5-0 but the New York Giants' game against the Washington Commanders ended in a farcical tie.
By Paul Higham, BBC Sport Journalist
Published 12 minutes ago
Week five in the NFL was a wild one from the very first play in London to overtime in Atlanta 14 hours later.
Sunday started with a disallowed touchdown and two players being ejected on the first play at Tottenham, before two field goals in the final eight seconds helped the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Philadelphia Eagles.
That was a sign of things to come as frantic finishes became a theme, including a farcical overtime climax in Washington as the Commanders tied with the New York Giants.
Big wins for the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots and Detroit Lions moved that trio to 3-2 for the season, while the San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings became the first teams to go 5-0.
Here's the pick of Sunday's week five action.
Niners and Vikings move to 5-0
San Francisco beat Super Bowl champions Seattle 32-29 in a typically brutal contest between divisional rivals, with the Niners having defensive star Dre Greenlaw ejected early on for a headbutt on Ernest Jones, who was not wearing a helmet, on the sidelines.
Both defences are elite and forced a season-high seven turnovers in the game, with the 49ers in particular taking advantage by scoring three touchdowns from theirs. The 21 points off turnovers was the most Seattle have allowed in a decade.
Brock Purdy eventually got San Francisco over the line thanks to new wide receiver Mike Evans, who had 113 yards receiving and a touchdown, taking some great catches late on.
The only team to have a top-five scoring offence and defence, the 49ers again have injury problems this season, but if Evans stays fit he could be the missing piece in the puzzle.
San Francisco are now 5-0 for the third time under head coach Kyle Shanahan. They have made the NFC Championship on all four previous occasions and, if they keep finding ways to win, they have every chance again.
The Minnesota Vikings are also 5-0 after another defensive masterclass from Brian Flores' unit in their 23-13 win at the slumping New Orleans Saints.
With wins over the Saints (1-4), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-4) and Miami Dolphins (0-5), we will know more about the Vikings after their bye, but allowing only 13 points a game will always give you a chance.
Commanders and Giants star in comedy of errors
There was a comedy of errors at the end of the Washington Commanders' 27-27 tie with the New York Giants as both teams fluffed their lines with victory within their grasp.
The Giants scored two late touchdowns to force overtime but, when within range of a winning field goal, they ran the ball with Cam Skattebo, who fumbled to lose possession.
Washington then had the game at their mercy in the dying seconds but, instead of taking the kick, ran a play - and ran out of time.
With play-calling like that, neither team deserved to win.
The Baltimore Ravens showed them both how it is done as quarterback Lamar Jackson's back-up Tyler Huntley earned his first start and led a late comeback for a 24-20 victory.