NFL Week 5 Sunday: Ravens visit Falcons on SNF as unbeaten Vikings and 49ers defend 4-0 starts

From Cotton Bowl euphoria to NFL Sunday

The football weekend began with collegiate thunder at Fair Park in Dallas. In the 122nd edition of the Red River Rivalry, the Texas Longhorns claimed the iconic Golden Hat trophy with a commanding 34-20 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners. Quarterback Arch Manning delivered three total touchdowns before a split crowd of 92,100, handing Steve Sarkisian’s program another monumental SEC triumph.

Now, attention pivots squarely to the professional ranks, where Week 5 delivers an action-packed Sunday slate headlined by undefeated contenders and a heavyweight Sunday Night Football duel in Atlanta.

Ravens at Falcons under the dome

At 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC, the Baltimore Ravens (3-1) collide with the Atlanta Falcons (1-3) inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. John Harbaugh’s Ravens have coalesced around an overwhelming rushing attack, with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry wearing down opponents in the second half. Baltimore’s defense has generated key takeaways in three consecutive wins, establishing them as the frontrunners in the AFC North.

For Raheem Morris and the Falcons, Sunday night represents a crossroads. Despite dynamic performances from Bijan Robinson and Drake London, Atlanta has struggled to finish fourth-quarter possessions. Facing a physical Baltimore roster under the primetime glare, young quarterback Michael Penix Jr. must navigate Baltimore’s blitz schemes to pull off a season-defining upset.

The race for perfection at 4-0

Across the afternoon window, two unbeaten powers fight to remain flawless while the Kansas City Chiefs rest on their Week 5 bye at 4-0. The Minnesota Vikings put their 4-0 record on the line against an AFC foe, riding Brian Flores’ confusing defensive packages that lead the league in quarterback pressures.

Simultaneously, the San Francisco 49ers (4-0) look to preserve their perfect start behind Brock Purdy’s clinical distribution and Christian McCaffrey’s versatile ground attack. With Tampa Bay having claimed Thursday’s opener 24-16 against Dallas, Sunday’s results will reshape the playoff hierarchy across both conferences.