NFL 2017: Who plays on Sunday Night Football in Week 5?
By Nick Sparrow
Taking a look at which two teams will end the weekend in the NFL as they play in Sunday Night Football for Week 5 of the 2017 season.
In what should be one of the best games of Week 5, Sunday Night Football will feature an AFC matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans. Both of these team were division-winners last season that made it to the second round of the playoffs. Each team also seems to have improved thanks to a talented rookie class.
Rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson continued to impress for the Texans last week. The Texans improved to 2-2 as Watson led Houston to a dominant 57-14 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Watson was 25 of 34 for 283 and four touchdowns. Watson also rushed four times for 24 yards and another touchdown.
In Week 4, Watson became the second rookie in NFL history to throw for four touchdowns and rush for another. The only other quarterback to do so was Fran Tarkenton, who had did so in his NFL debut in Week 1 of the 1961 season. The 57 points scored by Houston in this game also set a franchise record for most points scored in a game.
We will have to wait until Monday to see if the Chiefs remain the lone unbeaten team in the NFL. However, we already know how talented they are as a team. Rookie running back Kareem Hunt currently leads to league in rushing with 401 yards, averaging 43.2 yards per game more than the next best running back. Hunt has proven to be this effective despite not getting an insane workload as well, ranking only 14th in rushing attempts per game.
Hunt has also proven himself to be an effective receiver out of the backfield. Despite having not played their Week 4 game yet, Hunt currently ranks second in both combined yards from scrimmage and combined rushing and receiving touchdowns. With only 59 total yards and a touchdown on Monday, Hunt would lead the NFL in those categories as well.
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Both of these teams are looking to compete in divisions full of talented teams so every win matters. It will be fascinating watch this game as Watson and Hunt will likely be the final two names for Rookie of Year by season-end.