Week 5 delivered just about everything an NFL Sunday can throw at you, and the players with Alabama ties were right in the middle of it. From game-changing takeaways to breakout offensive outings and one historic running back performance in Detroit, it was the kind of slate that kept bouncing from one storyline to the next.
The most eye-catching moment may have come from Detroit, where Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams helped the Lions shake off last week’s loss on Sunday Night Football in a big way. Gibbs scored twice against the Cardinals, and his first touchdown tied him with Barry Sanders for the most rushing touchdowns in NFL history with 57 before age 25.
His second score moved him past Sanders and into sole possession of that mark. Williams added two touchdown catches on just two receptions as the Lions found their rhythm again.
Earlier in the day, the Green Bay Packers rolled past the Bears 31-7 behind a pair of picks from former Alabama safety Xavier McKinney. Both interceptions of Tyson Bagent led to Packers scores. Jordan Love also carved up Chicago’s defense, throwing for 367 yards and two touchdowns.
The Texans got their first win of 2026 in Nashville, beating the Titans 26-3. Former Alabama linebacker Will Anderson was everywhere, finishing with a game-high three sacks in the victory. Tennessee slipped to 0-5, and Calvin Ridley had two catches for 33 yards in the loss.
Cincinnati also got a big defensive day from an Alabama product. Former Alabama safety Jordan Battle intercepted two passes in the Bengals’ 31-24 win over the Dolphins, while Joe Burrow threw four touchdown passes in an offense-heavy performance. Even with Miami struggling on offense, former Auburn quarterback Malik Willis made a late push, throwing two fourth-quarter touchdowns, but the Dolphins stayed winless.
Minnesota kept rolling as well, with kicker Will Reichard going a perfect 5-for-5 on field goals and extra points in a 23-13 win over the Saints. The Vikings stayed undefeated, and former Alabama defenders Dallas Turner and Kool-Aid McKinstry each recorded tackles.
The Jets edged the Browns 17-12, and former Alabama safety Minkah Fitzpatrick finished with five tackles as New York pulled off a minor upset against a Cleveland team that had won three straight. Jerry Jeudy had three catches for the Browns in the loss.
Pittsburgh’s 34-22 win over Indianapolis included a career day for Germie Bernard, who caught six passes for 80 yards. The Steelers have now won two of their last three.
The Giants and Commanders played the kind of game that can swallow up a Sunday afternoon all by itself, ending in a 27-27 tie in overtime. Jameis Winston passed for 326 yards and three touchdowns in what may have been the wildest game of the week. Former Alabama running back Najee Harris had nine carries for five yards for the Giants.
Denver got a division win over the Chargers, 23-17, with former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix helping the Broncos get back on track by throwing a touchdown. Jaylen Waddle added two catches for 19 yards in the victory.
Out west, the 49ers topped the Seahawks 32-29 in the week’s biggest game, and former Auburn defender Nehemiah Pritchett came away with an interception of Brock Purdy.
The late window closed with Baltimore’s 30-23 overtime win over Atlanta. With Lamar Jackson sidelined, the Ravens turned to Derrick Henry and Snoop Huntley.
Henry finished with 102 yards, a touchdown reception and the tying two-point conversion that forced overtime. Atlanta had things moving in the right direction until Michael Penix Jr. was injured late in regulation.
Then former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa entered in overtime for the Falcons, and with a touchdown needed to extend the game, he was intercepted by Kyle Hamilton to end it.
In Other News...
Alabama Faces Ugly Fallout After Tense Georgia Finish
Alabama spent the postgame answering for much more than a hard-fought loss to Georgia, as the athletic department moved quickly to address what happened in the stands after the final whistle. Following the close finish and a night already defined by disputed officiating calls, fans threw garbage, including water bottles and beer cans, onto the field, creating an ugly scene that forced a public address announcement and had Georgia players keeping their helmets on as they made their way out.
The schools statement condemned the conduct as unacceptable, said it was gathering information and made clear it will not tolerate that kind of behavior. For Alabama, the fallout from a tense SEC showdown now stretches beyond the scoreboard, with the focus shifting to what comes next for a program that has long prided itself on home-field standards as much as results. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Fans Are Livid Over One Bigger SEC Question
Saturdays Alabama-Georgia game delivered the kind of heavyweight SEC finish that gets replayed and dissected long after the final whistle, but much of the attention afterward drifted away from the scoreboard and toward the officiating. Several moments drew scrutiny across social media, with players and commentators voicing frustration and confusion over how the game was called, a familiar kind of postgame noise in a rivalry game that already carries plenty of emotional weight.
For Alabama fans, the bigger concern now is what the conference does next, or whether it says anything at all. The late-game sequence under the microscope has only sharpened the debate, especially because the SEC has not issued a statement yet, and there is recent precedent for the league taking action after a controversial call in another game. Until the conference addresses it, the frustration around this one is likely to keep simmering. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Just Got Another Painful Reminder Of Where This Program Stands
The Coaches Poll got a fresh shakeup after a wild weekend, and the ripple effects reached well beyond the top of the board. Texas, which had been sitting at No. 1, was one of the biggest losers after falling to Oklahoma, while UCLA climbed after its upset win and teams like LSU and Oregon slid in the other direction as voters reworked the order heading into the next round of games.
Wake Forest also moved into the rankings, a reminder of how quickly the poll can turn when a few key results land the wrong way. For programs like Florida, the bigger takeaway is less about who rose and fell in one chaotic week and more about the gap the rankings still reflect, with the nations elite separating themselves fast and leaving everyone else trying to keep pace. [Read more 🡒]