The NFL Roundup 2017 - Week 5

Written by John Edward Betancourt

(Mark Zaleski/Associated Press)

A quarter of the NFL season is now in the books and as we look toward the next four weeks, one has to wonder what other surprises will be in store for us. After all, the Patriots and Cowboys, a pair of teams that were completely and utterly elite last year, are mediocre at best through four weeks and other teams, like Buffalo, suddenly find themselves firmly in control of their destiny when it comes to the playoff race. Which means, I'm certain we can expect another wild weekend of football, one filled with thrills and chills and fascinating storylines and here the top stories from the field we are keeping an eye upon in Week 5.

Is Mitch Trubiksy the answer at quarterback for Chicago? 
When you're a top ten draft pick in the NFL, you start and you start quickly, because to go that high in the draft means you're pro ready and set to contribute. But sometimes, players chosen that early in the draft don't quite see the field right away, and people question if they should have been picked that high and well...that sums up Mitch Trubisky's brief career in a nutshell. The number two overall pick, was an unpopular choice when it comes to Chicago fans and was relegated to carrying a clipboard once the season started, but thanks to Mike Glennon's awful play, and the fact that the season is slipping away, his fortunes have changed. The fans that spurned him have called for him to start and this Sunday, their wish will be granted, but the big question hanging over this whole ordeal is whether or not Mitch is the answer at QB in Chicago and honestly I think he is. He showed poise and command of the offense in the preseason, and while I fully understand the regular season is a different beast, the calm he exudes and the natural abilities he's demonstrated thus far should help salvage Chicago's dismal season. 

What will it take for the Miami Offense to finally be successful?
When Adam Gase was hired a couple of years ago to coach the Miami Dolphins, his number one priority was to bring new life to the normally stagnant Miami offense, something he excelled at as a coordinator around the league. But since his arrival, that invigoration of the offense simply hasn't happened yet, to the point where even Gase has publicly expressed frustration around a lack of performance when it comes to that side of the ball and when all is said done, I think it's safe to assume that everyone is wondering what the heck it will take to get the O rolling in Miami and quite frankly, the answer is simple, they have to get the run game going. Currently, the Dolphins are averaging 66.3 yards per game on the ground which means that opposing teams know it's going to be a fancy passing play when they line up on defense. So if Miami wants to make some magic happen, they need a heavy dose of the ground game to set up the pass for Jay Cutler, and they can't abandon it either, and if they can accomplish that, perhaps Gase's vision for a powerhouse offense will come to fruition at last.

Is this the week where San Francisco finally wins a game? 
Growing pains are a part of life in the NFL when you change up your entire front office, but I'm fairly certain that General Manager John Lynch and Head Coach Kyle Shanahan expected to be in a far better place than 0-4 to start the season, which begs the question...when will the 49ers finally win a game? Well, my money is on this week and here's why. First and foremost, this team is far better than people give them credit and I say that, simply because outside of a Week 1 blowout, this team has managed to hang in there until the bitter end, they simply struggle with closing out games and drives on defense. Enter the Indianapolis Colts, a team that quite frankly, is far worse than people give them credit. They still struggle on offense despite some impressive play from QB Jacoby Brissett and that defense is downright ugly. Which means, if the 49ers can come together on the field, execute on defense and close out drives, they'll earn that all important first win of the season.

Can the Patriots and Cowboys rebound this week?
When it comes to New England and Dallas, the first word one that comes to mind when I think of them is talent, because these teams are indeed loaded to the gills with it at just about every single level on their rosters. They have great quarterbacks, great receivers, the list goes on and on. Yet...both of these teams are 2-2 and in danger of letting their season slip away and their fans are not only wondering what the heck is going on, but whether or not they can right the ship this week and honestly, I'm not sure at this point. The real problem with both of these teams, is that they believe in their own hype over fundamentals at this point in the season and that's quite the shame since both of these teams could be 4-0 right now. So, if the Patriots finally figure out that Super Bowl LI is over, and if the Cowboys remember that work and execution matters more than star power, they should rebound nicely this week with a win. 

Are the Kansas City Chiefs walking into a trap game against Houston? 
Houston is a team that most fans write off week after week simply because, they're okay but rarely great. J.J. Watt is usually the only good thing they have going for them on defense and often times the offense is nothing to write home about. But something special has been brewing at NRG Stadium all season long. The defense is making strides as a unit, and Deshaun Watson is finding his groove, and last week, they put it all together in stellar fashion. Which makes you wonder, is Kansas City walking into one big time surprise on Sunday Night? Honestly, it's possible. With their confidence on the rise and their 'nothing to lose' attitude firmly in place, there's a chance that the Texans can beat the Chiefs, provided they can slow the run, contain Alex Smith and isolate his receivers, which is quite the tall order. But considering how well this team is suddenly playing, don't be shocked if Houston stuns Kansas City and walks out of this game with a big time win. 

---