NFL Week 5 Surprises: 49ers, Denver, Colts

Through five weeks, the NFL season has produced several surprising storylines, with Denver's defense leading the league in sacks under coach Vance Joseph's 'smart bully' approach. The San Francisco 49ers sit 4-1 despite a hurt starting quarterback, a revolving cast of receivers, zero defensive interceptions and no rushing touchdowns, drawing comparisons to the patched-up 2011 team and aided by Alfred Collins's game-saving forced fumble. The Indianapolis Colts have quietly emerged into an elite offense, paced by a resurgent Daniel Jones who leads advanced IMPACT metrics. Sam Darnold's move to Seattle has paid early dividends, as he ranks among the top quarterbacks in multiple grading systems through Week 5. Across pro and college football, analysts are debating whether personnel moves—especially at quarterback—are the right answers after a small sample of games.