The fifth week has now been completed in the National Football League despite some tumultuous times related to coronavirus. Here are five intriguing storylines within the league the past weekend.
5) Chase Claypool delivers a Canadian record. In a remarkable performance, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool set the NFL record for most touchdowns in a game by a Canadian with four. Claypool of Abbotsford, British Columbia, had three receiving touchdowns from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and another major score on the ground as the Steelers defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-29.
4) Tennessee Titans go to 4-0. In a Tuesday night primetime special, the Titans beat the Buffalo Bills 42-16, despite 23 coronavirus cases over the last two weeks. The Bills also entered the game undefeated at 4-0, but had no answers for Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who had three touchdowns passing and another major score rushing. The Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, and Green Bay Packers are the only four NFL teams undefeated so far.
3) Dak Prescott out for the year. Despite a fabulous start to the season where he was averaging an excellent 371.2 passing yards per game, Dak Prescott broke his ankle during a rushing carry in the Cowboys’ 37-34 win over the New York Giants on Sunday. Prescott’s season is done as he needs surgery, and now former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton will be Dallas’s number one quarterback the rest of the way.
2) Atlanta Falcons make a coaching change. After a horrendous 0-5 start, the Atlanta Falcons fired head coach Dan Quinn following Atlanta’s 23-16 loss to the Carolina Panthers. The new Falcons interim head coach is Raheem Morris, who has three seasons under his belt as the head coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011.
1) New York Jets release Le’Veon Bell. The troubles for Le’Veon Bell continues, as the running back was released by the Jets on Tuesday. Two seasons after sitting out the entire season due to a contract dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bell was released by the New York Jets after signing a four-year deal worth $52.5 million, of which $35 million was guaranteed. Bell’s release came after the Jets were hammered 30-10 to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. As a result, 37-year-old Frank Gore will be the Jets number one running back.
