Pick 6: A NFL Sports-ish Recap
Week 5 of the NFL was one for the books, as it saw momentous games filled with old rivals reuniting, incredible touchdown celebrations, game-changing plays, and overtime wins—all the elements needed to have the perfect NFL weekend. If you missed any of the excitement, there's no need to worry. We have gathered all the 411 to catch you up on the six most sports-ish games of the week.
Falcons 36 - 30 Buccaneers
This intense encounter set the stage for an unparalleled series of games. It was a constant power struggle, with the two teams closely following each other. At some point in the fourth quarter, the score was briefly in favor of the Buccaneers, but the Falcons retaliated with a game-tying field goal that sent them to overtime. With a coin toss win, Kirk Cousins handled Atlanta's game swiftly and delivered a 45-yard touchdown pass to KhaDarel Hodge that sealed the deal.
The pick: In a make-it-or-break-it moment, Younghoe Koo was the hero the Falcons needed. With seconds remaining on the clock and just a field goal away from tying the game, the pressure was on Atlanta's stellar kicker. To increase the odds, a penalty set him back 5 yards, extending the distance to the goal post. However, Koo kept calm and carried on, scoring the field goal and allowing his team to tie the game and eventually settle the score in overtime.
The ick: The Bucs had 14 players on injured reserve, which kept some key players off the field. This affected their ability to maintain the lead they had at some point. With the loss, they dropped to second place in their division, conceding the top spot to Atlanta.
The -ish: It's not a party until Kirk Cousins joins! The veteran quarterback, known for his eager participation in any celebratory ritual, has adapted quite well to his new team's celebrations. In a post-game interview, Kirk opened up about leading the fans in the "swag surf" move, saying how among the many celebrations there are, that's the one that "does it" for him.
Vikings 23 - 17 Jets
The first of three London games kicked off with a match between the Vikings and the Jets. The Vikings showed their dominance and remained undefeated this season. As the current leaders of the NFC North, the Minnesota Vikings have maintained their momentum and are strong contenders for this year's playoffs. On the other hand, Aaron Rodgers struggled with the Jets, unable to find his footing and recreate the dynamic partnerships he had formed with the Packers. One of his main allies back then, Aaron Jones, recently joined the Vikings, making this game the first time they played against each other since they both left Green Bay.
The pick: After a field goal opened the score for Minnesota, Andrew Van Ginkel followed up with the first touchdown as he intercepted Aaron Rodgers' pass and secured a pick 6, running unreached for 63 yards while making it look like a light jog in the park.
The ick: One man's pick is another man's ick. In an unsuccessful effort to push through, Aaron Rodgers missed several opportunities that allowed the Vikings to advance adeptly. He had two interceptions in the first quarter, including the pick 6, a career-first for him.
The -ish: While in London… As an ode to the iconic "Parent Trap" handshake, Camryn Bynum and Josh Metellus decided to recreate it as the perfect touchdown celebration.
Commanders 34 - 13 Browns
After enduring several turbulent seasons marked by organizational changes and constant losing records, the Commanders are beginning to emerge from their struggles and embark on a rebuilding process. Under the leadership of rookie Jayden Daniels, they have been formidable, winning four out of their five games this season. There are even early discussions about a potential MVP status, which may be premature but conceivable given the results he is achieving. In their fourth consecutive victory, the Commanders defeated the disorganized and inconsistent Browns, who only managed to score one touchdown.
The pick: Undoubtedly, the star of the show right now is the Commanders' QB Jayden Daniels. An early fumble didn't faze him, recovering quickly and delivering exactly what his team needed, including a 66-yard pass to Terry McLaurin and a 41-yard touchdown pass to Dyami Brown.
The ick: As the Cleveland Browns continue to struggle, it's becoming increasingly difficult for them to mount a comeback. The team's internal issues were on display when Deshaun Watson walked off the field during a critical fourth-and-goal moment, resulting in a delay-of-game penalty. However, even if he had stayed on the field, there would have been too many players, highlighting the team's communication problems and ongoing turmoil.
The -ish: They're flipping out! As the Commanders live out their winning era, they celebrate it by doing literal front flips to leave the field in the most wholesome, celebratory way.
Ravens 41 - 38 Bengals
The AFC North rivals faced each other in a thrilling game, one of the best divisional matches of the season. With two of the league's best quarterbacks, it was bound to be a great game, but it surpassed everyone's expectations as the game finished 38-38 and went into overtime. Joe Burrow fearlessly led the Bengals throughout the game, maintaining a significant lead over the Ravens. However, Lamar Jackson recovered from a slow start to catch up with the Cincinnati team, making it a close race to the end zone.
The pick: Ja'Marr Chase is unstoppable. Literally. The stellar wide receiver and Burrow's best ally scored a 70-yard touchdown after a pass from Joe Cool led him to run off to the end zone, giving the Bengals a momentary advantage over their rivals.
The ick: It was a series of unfortunate overtime events. When the Ravens won the coin toss, giving them the chance to secure a win, Lamar Jackson fumbled the ball, giving the Bengals a saving grace. However, Cincinnati kicker Evan McPherson missed what could have been the winning field goal, giving the Ravens one last chance to eventually take the win.
The -ish: After an emotional rollercoaster of a game, the Ravens celebrated their well-earned win with Marlon Humphrey's short and sweet victory speech. His few words proved just how strong the team's bond really is, reigniting their excitement to become playoff contenders."If y'all feel what's going on in this room, we love each other, man. So tell somebody you love them, enjoy this win, and let's enjoy this fight back."
Packers 24 vs. 19 Rams
After being sidelined for two weeks with a knee injury, Green Bay's QB Jordan Love returned to the field by securing a win in his home state in front of friends and family. Despite a rocky start, including throwing his first-ever pick-six early in the game, he quickly recovered and demonstrated resilience. Although the Rams initially dominated the score in the first half, the Green Bay natives rallied and broke some league records in the process.
The pick: Xavier McKinney, one of the Packers' newest members, is on his way to making history. With his unstoppable performance during the game, he became the third NFL player since 1940 to record an interception in each of his first five games with a team.
The ick: The Rams have been struggling in these first five weeks without their two star wide receivers, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nakua, who are out with injuries. With this loss, their current 1-4 record makes their playoff dreams seem more distant yet not impossible.
The -ish: The LaFleur siblings might be rivals in the field, but they are brothers for life. Matt, as the Rams' head coach, hugged it out before the game with his brother Mike, the Rams' offensive coordinator. No hard feelings there!
Cowboys 20 vs. 17 Steelers
The two teams have a long-standing rivalry, fueled mainly by their previous Super Bowl encounters and two of the most passionate fan bases in the league. As cross-conference rivals, these two teams only face each other every four years, making it an eagerly awaited moment for their fans. To add to the anticipation, the game was delayed by almost 90 minutes due to weather complications, building up the excitement further. The Steelers dominated most of the game, but the Cowboys remained resilient, snatching the win in the last seconds.
The pick: Dak remained tenacious and focused, showing up in the most critical moment of the night. With only 20 seconds left on the clock, the Dallas QB found wide receiver Jalen Tolbert to score the game-winning touchdown.
The ick: While they left Pittsburgh with a win, the Cowboys struggled with inconsistency throughout the game, including two interceptions, several penalties, and a failed field goal that delayed their road to success.
The -ish: As an avid hype man, Snoop Dogg didn't hesitate when it came to supporting his beloved Steelers. He was present during the game and was named the "Towel Twirler", putting him in charge of firing up the crowd and getting them hyped for the game.