NFL Scores Week 5: Results with Biggest Implications Moving Forward

With only the Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Jets Monday Night Football clash left on tap, Week 5 of the NFL season has nearly reached its conclusion.

Week 5 represents the start of the season's second quarter, which is significant in determining which teams are for real and which aren't.

Sunday's slate went a long way toward answering that question.

One win or loss obviously doesn't make a season, but it can definitely make a statement. Several statements were made on Sunday—both positive and negative—and they could have a significant impact on certain teams as well as the playoff race in the coming weeks and months.

Here is a closer look at three Week 5 games that will have the biggest league-wide implications as the season progresses.

Bengals 13, Patriots 6

After a surprising loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 4, the Cincinnati Bengals entered Week 5 in dire need of a win.

They were lucky enough to have a home game, but they had to overcome the previously undefeated New England Patriots. The Pats weren't always overly impressive during their 4-0 start, but they were 4-0 nonetheless.

New England is undefeated no more, however, as the Bengals protected home field and came out on top in a 13-6 slugfest.

It wasn't necessarily a pretty win for Cincinnati, but that is what made it so good. The Bengals have had some issues offensively, as quarterback Andy Dalton has been very inconsistent and the running game has been hit-or-miss because of BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Those issues remain, but the strength of the Bengals' team stepped up in a big way by shutting down Tom Brady and the New England offense.

While Brady hasn't been his normal self this year, the Bengals really frustrated him and broke his streak of consecutive games with a touchdown.

This game figures to have a major impact on the AFC playoff race, as Cincinnati emerged as a contender. The Bengals are now tied for first in the AFC North with the Browns and Baltimore Ravens at 3-2, so they're in much better shape.

The Pats are still looking good at 4-1, one game ahead of the Miami Dolphins in the AFC East. However, the Bengals exposed their offense. It will be interesting to see how Brady reacts to elite defenses later in the season.

Colts 34, Seahawks 28

In what was perhaps Sunday's marquee game, the Indianapolis Colts hosted the Seattle Seahawks in a potential Super Bowl preview.

It was unclear if the Colts would be able to equal their magical 2012 season after losing to the Dolphins in Week 2, but Indy has been fantastic since acquiring running back Trent Richardson from the Cleveland Browns.

Even though Richardson's stats have been mediocre, his presence has really opened things up on offense.

That was true on Sunday, as the Colts were able to move the ball on Seattle's league-best pass defense. Quarterback Andrew Luck's numbers were modest, as he finished with 229 yards and two scores, but he made a number of timely plays.

Also, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton dominated to the tune of 140 yards and two scores.

All of that added up to a 34-28 score in favor of the Colts. Indianapolis now sits at 4-1, and as Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com noted, everything is set up quite nicely in the AFC South.

The Colts are sitting pretty, as they are now the odds-on favorites to win their division and could be the only team capable of challenging the Denver Broncos in the AFC.

It was a tough loss from the Seahawks' perspective, but they are still 4-1, which puts them one game up on the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals. The Cards aren't really a threat, so the NFC West is essentially a two-horse race.

If nothing else, this will be a learning experience for the Seattle defense.

Packers 22, Lions 9

One of the league's most interesting divisional races is taking place in the NFC North, as the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears are all very much in the mix.

Detroit entered Sunday in first place at 3-1 and Green Bay desperately needed to win after a 1-2 start. According to SportsCenter's Twitter account, the Lions simply haven't been able to beat the Packers on the road over the past two decades and their struggles in Green Bay continued in Week 5.

The win allowed the Packers to move to 2-2, but their play suggests that they are much better than their record reflects. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been on point and was solid once again on Sunday.

The best indicator of Green Bay's success moving forward, however, is the fact that rookie running back Eddie Lacy rushed for 99 yards.

The Packers are a far more complete team on offense this year than they have been since winning the Super Bowl a couple of years ago, so there is reason to believe they are once again championship contenders.

While the loss definitely set the Lions back to a certain extent, they are still tied for first with the Bears at 3-2. The NFC North is going to be nip and tuck all season long, though, as the three teams on top will beat each other up.

The Minnesota Vikings shouldn't be written off either, as running back Adrian Peterson proved last year that he can put the team on his back.

The Lions are going to file this loss away and remember it when they meet the Packers again later in the year.

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