NFL Update: Vincent Taylor Continues to Show Out, Carson and Flowers Win Abroad

We start our orange-tinted look at the NFL’s Week 5 with a former late-round pick who just continues to impress in South Beach.

Vincent Taylor Picks Up Second Career Sack

Taylor ran down Chicago QB Mitch Tribusky during the second quarter of Miami’s 31-28 overtime win over the Bears.

Vincent Taylor, who has two sacks on the season, is the feel good story of the year for the Miami Dolphins. He’s got this afterburner button he pushes when he’s close to making a play. It is fun to watch. pic.twitter.com/EsmEGvPcej

— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) October 15, 2018

So not only is he making plays in special teams — he blocked his third career kick a week ago — he’s earning more and more reps on defense and continues to out-perform his sixth-round draft selection.

And this seems pretty good too.

#Dolphins Vincent Taylor (@BallOut_96) is the team's highest-graded defensive player & our 15th-ranked interior defender through 6 weeks at 81.0 ovr

Taylor has racked up 15 stops with 0 missed tackles this season after recording 13 stops with 0 missed tackles in 2017#FinsUp pic.twitter.com/OxWIHpUSxt

— PFF MIA Dolphins (@PFF_Dolphins) October 15, 2018

After saying goodbye to Pro Bowl DT Ndamukong Suh this past offseason and cutting former Sooner Jordan Phillips earlier this year, the Miami D-Line is somehow holding its own, if not improving, through its young core. And Taylor is huge reason why.

I'd argue with you that Vincent Taylor has been more impactful to the Dolphins defense as a backup at this point than Ndamukong Suh was as a starter last year after 5 games. Now, Suh did draw way more attention. But….

— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) October 14, 2018

Carson and Flowers Get the Win across the Pond

After back-to-back 100-yard outings, Chris Carson totaled just 59 yards on 14 carries in London over the weekend. But that was plenty as the Seahawks routed the hapless Raiders 27-3.

His teammate, Tre Flowers grabbed two tackles during the win but had to leave the game early. Doesn’t appear serious though.

Pete Carroll told reporters that CB Tre Flowers left the game because of cramps and that TE Nick Vannett's back worsened later in the week, which is why he was inactive. Carroll said TE Ed Dickson should be back after the bye; didn't mention LB K.J. Wright.

— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) October 14, 2018

The Prez Taking a Back Seat in Pittsburgh

The Steelers earned the 28-21 win over the Bengals, but with little thanks to James Washington. The rookie didn’t make a catch for the second-straight week and appears to be trending in a downward trajectory in terms of opportunities. He saw his lowest snaps on offense (16) and targets (one) since his debut with 11 and zero during the season opener.

That’s not to say those things won’t change, but with the likes of Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and others, Washington is quite a ways down the receiver pecking order in the Steel City.

But he and Mason Rudolph did have time for a photo op with

Patmon, Jags Struggle in Dallas

Tyler Patmon racked up four tackles, a tackle for loss and batted down a Dak Prescott pass during the Jaguars surprising blowout loss to the Cowboys. But the fifth-year pro got pretty much torched by slot receiver Cole Beasley who caught nine of 11 targets for 101 yards and two scores with Patmon shouldering the brunt of his cover.

One-Liners

• Emmanuel Ogbah grabbed three tackles in the Browns’ reality check game against the Chargers. Cinderella was sent home from the ball early 38-14.
• Across the line of scrimmage, Russell Okung earned the W, even though it appears he got away with one.

It sure looked like officials missed a blatant false start by Russell Okung on that TD pass from Philip Rivers to Tyrell Williams. Blatant missed call. Browns down 21-3 with 51 seconds left in the half. https://t.co/W09aJXXiSd

— PatMcManamon (@PatMcManamon) October 14, 2018

• Blake Jarwin went catchless with one target during the Cowboys’ 40-7 rout of the Jaguars.
• Lane Taylor and the Packers rode Aaron Rodgers and his bum knee to a comeback 33-30 win over the 49ers.
• Dan Bailey made both of his field goal attempts as the Vikings took care of the Cardinals 27-17.
• With the Raiders apparently shopping rangy wideout Amari Cooper, that could provide an opportunity to Marcell Ateman who is currently stashed on Oakland’s practice squad.