KANSAS CITY, MO – OCTOBER 02: Tight end Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after catching a pass for a touchdown during the game against the Washington Redskins at Arrowhead Stadium on October 2, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

Heading into Week 5 of the 2017 NFL season, the legitimacy of some team’s success around the league is beginning to become more and more valid. We’re finding out that the New York Jets are not actually terrible this year (but the Cleveland Browns still are), the Oakland Raiders road back to the playoffs is not going to be that easy for them, and the Kansas City Chiefs upset of the New England Patriots in Week 1 was no fluke.

So what can be expected from this week’s schedule of games around the NFL?

Thursday, October 5

(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

New England Patriots (2-2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1)8:25pm ET, CBS

Patriots notes New England’s defense is beyond horrid this season. Despite allowing the eighth-least total yards per game just a year ago, the Patriots’ defense has allowed more yards to their opponents than any other NFL team so far in 2017. At their current pace, New England will easily break the league record for most yards allowed in a single season (currently held by the 2012 New Orleans Saints).

Bucs notesIf Tampa Bay is able to get a win this Thursday, it will be their first win at home on a Thursday since 1980. Since 2012, the Bucs are 1-4 during Thursday games, with their only win coming in 2012 on the road against the Minnesota Vikings. A win for Tampa Bay this week will also give them their first 3-1 start since the 2011 season.

Sunday, October 8

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

New York Jets (2-2) at Cleveland Browns (0-4) – 1:00pm ET, FOX

Jets notesThrough four weeks, New York has allowed 17 more points to their opponents than they have scored themselves this season. The only time the Jets have made the playoffs with a negative scoring differential was in 1986. In regards to this specific Week 5 matchup with the Browns, New York has won their last four games against Cleveland and has not lost on the road to the Browns since 2006.

Browns notesThis year’s first overall draft selection, defensive end Myles Garrett, is expected to make his regular season debut for Cleveland on Sunday. He has some ground to make up after missing the team’s first four games this year, but 11.5 sacks is all that is needed from Garrett this season to set Cleveland’s all-time record for most sacks by a rookie in a single-season.

Carolina Panthers (3-1) at Detroit Lions (3-1)1:00pm ET, FOX

Panthers notesAs much as some think Carolina is better off utilizing more of Cam Newton’s running ability, the Panthers are actually 1-6 during the last seven games in which the quarterback has had a rushing touchdown. On the flip side, Carolina is 6-1 in the last seven games where Newton finished with at least 300 passing yards.

Lions notesIt has been 56 games since the last time a player in a Detroit uniform finished their day with at least 100 rushing yards (last was Reggie Bush in 2013). Current Lions running back Ameer Abdullah came close last week to breaking that streak as he ended with 94 yards on the ground against the Minnesota Vikings.

San Francisco 49ers (0-4) at Indianapolis Colts (1-3)1:00pm ET, FOX

49ers notesWith a loss this week, San Francisco could be off to their first 0-5 start to a season since 2010. You know, the 2010 season when Mr. “Can’t do it” Mike Singletary was the head coach of the 49ers.

Colts notesAndrew Luck was seen back on the practice field in Indianapolis this week and that is huge news for the Colts. In games without Luck starting under center since he came into the NFL back in 2012, Indianapolis’ record is 7-7 (including 1-4 in the last five without him).

(Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

Tennessee Titans (2-2) at Miami Dolphins (1-2)1:00pm ET, CBS

Titans notesTennessee’s only two losses this season have come in games where their offense has failed to gain at least 100 rushing yards (Week 1 and Week 4). But when they actually are able to finish a matchup with at least 100 yards on the ground, the Titans are 11-3 since Week 1 of the 2016 season. Their opponent for Week 5, the Miami Dolphins, have only allowed 100 rushing yards or more to opposing offenses once so far in 2017.

Dolphins notesLast week’s 20-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints was the first time Miami has been held scoreless in a game since 2013. After scoring 19 points in their first game this season, the Dolphins have scored a grand total of six points in the last two weeks. It likely has a lot to do with their rushing attack, which has yet to find the end zone this year.

Buffalo Bills (3-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-3)1:00pm ET, CBS

Bills notes – For only the third time since 2008, Buffalo has won at least three of their first four games to start a season. The last two instances saw the Bills miss out on the playoffa, a mystical place where they have not ventured to since the 1999 season.

Bengals notesIn last week’s win over the Cleveland Browns, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton threw for at least four touchdowns for the fourth time in his NFL career. If he does it once again, Dalton will tie the franchise’s record for those types of performances with Carson Palmer. The Bengals are also undefeated when Dalton decides to play at such a high level (go figure).

Los Angeles Chargers (0-4) at New York Giants (0-4)1:00pm ET, CBS

Chargers notesWith a loss this week, Los Angeles could begin a season 0-5 for the first time since 2003. To realize how long ago that was, the quarterback who started the most games for the Chargers that year was none other than Drew Brees.

Giants notes On the other sideline, New York is staring at beginning a season 0-5 for the first time since 2013, when Eli Manning threw a mind-boggling 27 interceptions. If the Giants do in fact fall to the Chargers this week, thoughts about finding Manning’s replacement under center this offseason may start to get a little more serious.

(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)1:00pm ET, CBS

Jaguars notesTo understand how bad Jacksonville has been for the last decade, a win on Sunday would only be the second time since 2008 that the Jaguars have won at least three of their first five games in a season. Three wins would also match their second-highest win total for an entire year since 2014.

Steelers notesThere is a reason why Antonio Brown had a temper-tantrum last week and it likely has to do with the fact that he only has one touchdown catch so far this season. At this point last year, the wide receiver already had four. Think Pittsburgh might try a little harder to get him in the end zone this week?

Arizona Cardinals (2-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (3-1)1:00pm ET, FOX

Cardinals notes For whatever reason, Arizona has had success against the Eagles since 2009. In their last six meetings with Philadelphia, the Cardinals have won five of them. However, their lone loss to the Eagles since 2009 did come on the road.

Eagles notes Luckily, Philadelphia will not have to face talented Arizona running back David Johnson this week. But if they were, the Eagles would likely be up to the task. In their last 20 games, only one running back has rushed for 100 yards or more against Philadelphia. (Matt Jones in Week 6 last year).

Seattle Seahawks (2-2) at Los Angeles Rams (3-1)4:05pm ET, CBS

Seahawks notes Despite the success Seattle has achieved in the recent past, they always seem to struggle when playing the Rams on the road. Since 2012, the Seahawks have fallen to Los Angeles in four of their last five meetings away from Seattle. And this was even before the Rams actually had a good offense.

Rams notes With 142 points scored so far in 2017, Los Angeles is on pace to break the franchise’s all-time record for points in a season which is currently held by the Rams squad from 2000. It’s almost as if someone predicted that Los Angeles could be one of this year’s surprise teams.

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Baltimore Ravens (2-2) at Oakland Raiders (2-2)4:05pm ET, CBS

Ravens notes After beginning the year 2-0, Baltimore has now come back down to earth with the rest of the mediocre teams around the NFL this season. Their turnover differential during the past two weeks is really what has lead to them suffering two losses in a row. During their first two games, the Ravens had 10 takeaways and only three giveaways. But in the last two weeks, they have given the ball up six times while only forcing one turnover on defense.

Raiders notes EJ Manuel is expected to start at quarterback this week for Oakland in place of the injured Derek Carr. The best idea for the Raiders would be to not rely on Manuel to carry the team and lead them to a victory, as the quarterback has not won a start under center since Week 2 of the 2014 season.

Green Bay Packers (3–1) at Dallas Cowboys (2-2)4:25pm ET, FOX

Packers notes If it seems a little puzzling that Green Bay is off to a 3-1 start once again this year, it’s probably because they have yet to beat a team with a winning record. In their only matchup against a team whose record was over .500 (Falcons in Week 2), they lost. However, with games against the Cowboys, Vikings, and Saints over the next few weeks, it could be a while until the Packers actually do face a team with a winning record once again this season.

Cowboys notes This Sunday, Dallas will be attempting to get their first win at home over the Packers since 2007. That game also happened to be the very first in which current Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw his first career touchdown. Since then, he has only thrown 306 more (including seven against the Cowboys).

Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) at Houston Texans (3-1) 8:30pm ET, NBC

Chiefs notes Kansas City is this year’s final undefeated team and they are hoping that their fortune will turn out different than that of the last 14 who came before them. Since 2006, the NFL’s final undefeated team in a season has failed to make the playoffs only twice, failed to make it all the way to the Super Bowl 10 times, and been the last team standing with the Lombardi trophy only once (Colts in 2006).

Texans notes To put into perspective of how well rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson has been playing for Houston this season, just know that after three starts this year, he only needs eight more touchdown passes to pass the entire team’s total from a year ago (15).

Monday, October 9

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Minnesota Vikings (2-2) at Chicago Bears (1-3)8:30pm ET, ESPN

Vikings notes It does not matter how good of a season Minnesota is having when it comes time for their annual trip to Chicago, they always seem to struggle when playing the Bears on the road. Since 2001, the Vikings are just 2-14 when they play a game in the Windy City.

Bears notes – After four weeks of Mike Glennon playing catch with the other team, Chicago has decided to go with rookie Mitchell Trubisky at quarterback this Monday against Minnesota. Trubisky will be the first rookie signal caller to start a game for the Bears since Kyle Orton in 2006.

(Bye week: Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins)

About Adam Patrick

Adam has been covering the NFL for the last five years and his work has been published by a number of sports-related websites you may or may not have heard of including USA TODAY, SB Nation, and FanSided. In addition to writing for The Comeback, Adam is also the Co-Editor of The Viking Age. If you want to make him laugh, he's always in the mood for a good Manti Te'o joke.