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Best NFL games of Week 5: Pats, Bucs meet in Color Rush showdown

By Joe Schiller

SEATTLE, WA - OCTOBER 01: Head coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks looks on against the Indianapolis Colts at CenturyLink Field on October 1, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - OCTOBER 01: Head coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks looks on against the Indianapolis Colts at CenturyLink Field on October 1, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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Looking for some good football to watch this week? Week 5 of the NFL regular season has you covered. Here’s a look at the five best games of the week.

We’ve officially made it through the first quarter of the NFL regular season. With 12 games left to play, it’s been a wild ride. Week 5 gives us our first round of true bye weeks as the Falcons, Broncos, Saints and Redskins are all off. But don’t worry, there are still plenty of great games to keep you occupied this week.

Here are the five best NFL you’ll come across in Week 5.

5. Carolina Panthers at Detroit Lions

I like this matchup, a lot. Two of the top NFC teams this season face off in a game that’s going to feel like an early playoff matchup. The Panthers are riding high off a last minute win in Foxborough and are on the road again in a tough game against the Detroit Lions.

Cam Newton has been able to survive without two of his top offensive weapons in Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen. That worked against a suspect Patriots defense, but won’t be the same coming up against the Lions. The Panthers offensive line has to be able to hold the pass rush of Ziggy Ansah and Anthony Zettel on the outside. Matt Kalil is familiar with the two from his days with the Vikings and is going to be tested the entire game. Keeping Cam Newton clean in the pocket is the only way the Panthers have a chance.

Not only are the Lions one of the best teams in the NFC, but they’re legitimate contender for a Super Bowl title this season. Matthew Stafford is playing like a $135 million quarterback and is determined to get his team over the playoff hump.

I expect this to be a low scoring game. It’s a matchup between two very stout defenses that haven’t given up a ton of points this season. Two straight road games will be too much for the Panthers as the Lions have the edge here.