Through the first five weeks of the 2015 regular season, the Arizona Cardinals find themselves in the same place they were at this time last year - on top of the NFC West.
Arizona (4-1) owns a two-game lead in the division over the St. Louis Rams (2-3) and Seattle Seahawks (2-3). The team's fourth win came against the winless Detroit Lions (0-5) this past Sunday, a victory Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald said they don't plan on celebrating for long.
"It's far too early," said Fitzgerald, who hauled in an NFL-high sixth receiving touchdown over the weekend. "At this point of the season last year, we had a two-game [lead] and we didn't win it."
After starting last season with a 9-1 record, injuries to key players derailed the Cardinals' season late, which is exactly when the Seahawks, a team that started that year 3-3, began to take control of the division with a win against Arizona. Seattle went on to claim the NFC West crown and appear in a second straight Super Bowl.
That said, here's a closer look at how the Seahawks' division opponents fared in Week 5 around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals (4-1)
The Result
Arizona picked up a 42-17 win at the home of the Detroit Lions (0-5) on Sunday.
What Happened
Quarterback Carson Palmer completed 11 of 14 passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns, adding to his 2015 total of 13 (T-1st NFL) ... Tight end Darren Fells and wideouts Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown were each on the receiving end of Palmer's three touchdown passes, with Brown leading all Arizona pass catchers with four grabs for 73 yards ... Veteran running back Chris Johnson carried the load against the Lions, rushing 11 times for 103 yards, including bursts of 25 and 40 yards that helped up his 2015 total to 405 yards (T-2nd NFL) ... Andre Ellington (knee), the team's leading rusher last year, saw his first action since the regular-season opener and ripped off a 63-yard run for a touchdown ... Rookie running back David Johnson received touches in short yardage, turning in touchdown runs of four and two yards ... The Cardinals picked off Detroit's quarterbacks four times, two from safety Rashad Johnson and one apiece from cornerback Patrick Peterson and defensive end Cory Redding.
Who's Hurt
Linebacker Kenny Demens suffered a torn ACL in the game and will be put on injured reserve according to Bruce Arians. The Arizona head coach also said his team is awaiting the results of MRIs on linebacker Alex Okafor (calf) and safety Chris Clemons (hamstring).
What's Next
The Cardinals travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers (3-2) in Week 6.
San Francisco 49ers (1-4)
The Result
The Niners dropped a 30-27 game to the New York Giants (3-2) in the final minute of play at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium.
What Happened
The 49ers were done in by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Giants quarterback Eli Manning to tight end Larry Donnell that came with 21 seconds to play in regulation ... Quarterback Colin Kaepernick finished 23 of 35 for 262 yards and two touchdowns, good for a season-best 107.1 passer rating ... Running back Carlos Hyde carried 21 times for a team-high 91 yards and a touchdown against what was the NFL's top-ranked run defense heading into Week 5 ... Wideout Anquan Boldin led all Niners pass catchers with eight grabs for 107 yards and a touchdown ... Tight end Garrett Celek was on the receiving end of Kaepernick's other touchdown toss, a connection that came from five yards out early in the fourth quarter ... San Francisco linebackers NaVorro Bowman (16) and Michael Wilhoite (16), as well as safety Antoine Bethea (10) finished with double-digit tackles.
Who's Hurt
Running back Reggie Bush was sidelined by tightness in his calf, according to 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula.
What's Next
The 49ers host the Baltimore Ravens (1-4) in Week 6 at Santa Clara's Levi's Stadium.
St. Louis Rams (2-3)
The Result
The Rams lost 24-10 to the Packers (5-0) at Green Bay's Lambeau Field.
What Happened
Rams quarterback Nick Foles was sacked three times during a tough day against the Packers defense, completing 11 of 30 passes (36.7 percent) for 141 yards, a touchdown, and a career-worst four interceptions, two of which came in the fourth quarter from inside the Packers' 10-yard line ... Running back Todd Gurley carried 30 times for 159 yards to become one of just three rookies to put up 140-plus rushing yards in consecutive games in the past 40 years ... Wideout Tavon Austin had the Rams' lone touchdown on a 5-yard pass from Foles in the second quarter .... The Rams defense put an end to Aaron Rodgers' run of mistake-free football at Lambeau Field, as linebacker James Laurinaitis picked off the Packers quarterback in the opening quarter, Rodgers' first interception in 587 pass attempts at home.
Who's Hurt
Defensive end Chris Long is week-to-week with a hyperextended knee. Rodger Saffold suffered a shoulder injury in the game, and according to Rams head coach Jeff Fisher, is questionable for the team's next contest.
What's Next
St. Louis is the first NFC West team to enter its bye week, so the club will be off in Week 6. The Rams face the Cleveland Browns (2-3) at home in Week 7.
