Week 5 Takeaways for the 2025 NFL Season

We’ve reached our first byes of the season, so no Falcons, Packers, Steelers, or Bears this week. Even without them, we witnessed plenty of action. Baltimore and Cincinnati are watching their seasons slip away without QBs Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow, respectively. Two winless teams finally got on the board, while the last two 4-0 teams lost (one case was shocking). We even treated the international audience to a good game for once in the first London contest of the year. That one featured a rookie QB’s debut for good measure. With all that and much more happening, here are my week 5 takeaways for the 2025 NFL season!

TNF: Injured 49ers Upset Rams in OT with Help from LA Mistakes

It might be easier to state who the 49ers DID have for this game, but I’ll quickly run through their main absences: QB Brock Purdy; WRs Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall, and Jauan Jennings; TE George Kittle; and DE Nick Bosa. I expected a Kyle Shanahan-coached team to still be competitive, but beating the Rams? That felt unlikely. Right away though, San Francisco made it clear that they came to play. They marched for a TD, forced a punt, and then scored again on a 91-yard drive to take a quick 14-0 lead. Backup QB Mac Jones started 8/8, and the defense allowed zero 1st-quarter points for the 5th straight game.

As we’ve seen so many times, LA would not let a deficit discourage them. QB Matthew Stafford (30/47, 389 yards, 3 TDs) played a second consecutive fantastic game, but his teammates really let him down. I’m not talking about WRs Puka Nacua (10/85/1) and Davante Adams (5/88), who were stellar as usual. Already down 14, RB Blake Corum lost a fumble just as the commentators were singing his praises. The Rams’ first drive of the 3rd quarter was stymied by two drops (WR Jordan Whittington and RB Kyren Williams were the culprits), and K Joshua Karty missed the subsequent 53-yard FG. The defense also struggled.

San Francisco used plenty of short passes to dice up the Rams’ coverage and neutralize their powerful front. RB Christian McCaffrey (22/57; 8/82/1) had 18 touches in the 1st half alone, but the Niners averaged only 2.2 yards per carry (they oddly also have 0 rushing TDs this year). As a receiver, he excelled, as did former and current 49er Kendrick Bourne (10/142), who had a career day. The team did, however, go through a rough patch. Driving to extend a 17-7 lead in the 3rd quarter, Jones aggravated his prior knee injury on 3rd and goal and stayed down in pain. He fortunately jogged off a minute later, but SF only added 3 points.

Stafford and the Rams charged all the way back to tie the game at 20, but Karty had the go-ahead PAT blocked, bringing back memories of their week-3 collapse against Philadelphia. 49ers K Eddy Pineiro hit a career-long 59-yard FG to retake the lead, but even then, LA appeared primed to snatch this game. However, Williams (14/65; 8/66/2 receiving) lost the ball at the goal line on a great punch-out by rookie DT Alfred Collins. The Rams did get another shot but only had enough time for an FG to force OT. Karty connected on that one, but he kicked short of the landing zone to start the extra period, setting SF up at the 40.

More short passing, this time with TE Jake Tonges (7/41/1) as the focus, led to a field goal, giving the Niners a 26-23 lead. Stafford once again led the Rams into the red zone, but on 4th-and-1 at the 11, HC Sean McVay made a grave error. Following a timeout by each team, he left the offense out there, and Williams got stuffed to lose the game. If anything, the ball should’ve been put in Stafford’s hands. LA will rue this divisional loss. Meanwhile, Jones (33/49, 342 yards, 2 TDs) is now 3-0 as SF’s starter and is keeping them afloat. Should this team ever get healthy, they’ll be very dangerous. They might just be a tough out as-is.

London Game: Vikings Steal Win Over Browns in Gabriel’s Debut

I feel for Vikings QB Carson Wentz. He knew that he’d be facing Myles Garrett and the #1 Browns defense with 3 backup offensive linemen. That would be the least of his problems early, as RB Jordan Mason (13/52/1) fumbled on Minnesota’s first possession, handing Cleveland a short field for an easy TD. Fellow RB Zavier Scott (5/18) would also lose a fumble in Browns’ territory. Meanwhile, WR Jordan Addison was benched for the first quarter due to missing a walkthrough. Even weirder, K Will Reichard shanked a 51-yard FG, but it apparently hit a Skycam cable and nobody noticed. By rule, a re-kick should’ve been awarded.

As the game continued, Wentz did indeed take 3 sacks and plenty of hits. At one point, he briefly left with a shoulder injury but did not miss a snap. Two things aided the Vikings from there: creative play calling and Justin Jefferson. The former included a 32-yard TD pass by RB Cam Akers, while the latter is self-explanatory. Jefferson (7/123) produces with just about anyone at QB, and he willed the offense forward. Luckily for Minnesota though, the defense also did their part. Browns rookie RB Quinshon Judkins (23/110) had himself quite a day, but Dillon Gabriel only had an average day in his starting debut.

If you hadn’t heard, Cleveland benched veteran Joe Flacco for Gabriel this week. I like this decision. The Browns’ offensive line cant protect Flacco, and he gives them the best chance to win when they should be tanking. In the interim, they can see what they have in their 3rd-rounder ahead of a potentially superior QB class in the 2026 draft (for those wondering, Shedeur Sanders is still QB3). Gabriel (19/33, 190 yards, 2 TDs) was solid, but he’s a limited passer from a physical standpoint. He didn’t make any big mistakes, which was a huge plus, but he left the door open for Minnesota by only providing a 17-14 lead.

Something clicked, as Wentz (25/34, 236 yards, TD) went 9/9 on his last-chance drive. He shredded the Browns’ good secondary in 2:40 and led his team 80 yards for a go-ahead score with just 25 seconds left. Fittingly, Addison (5/41/1) caught that game-winning TD. Those disciplinary decisions by coaches are asinine. Why punish the entire team because you’re having a hissy fit over one player? Anyway, Minnesota moved to 5-0 all-time in London, and Cleveland kept on losing. Gabriel is unlikely to be the Browns’ answer, so I’m wondering when we’ll get to see Sanders. At least he comes with a bit of upside.

Eagles and Bills Lose, Leaving Us with Zero Undefeated Teams

The ’72 Dolphins can pop their champagne, as nobody will be going unbeaten in 2025. Philadelphia seemed to be headed toward a 5-0 start in the early goings against Denver. The Broncos spent most of the first half punting (5 times) as the Eagles opened a 17-3 lead early in the 3rd quarter. RB Saquon Barkley (6/30; 3/58/1 receiving) was finally in a good rhythm, and QB Jalen Hurts (23/38, 280 yards, 2 TDs) teamed with WR DeVonta Smith (8/114) to produce some big plays. Cracks were showing though, and as they have done too often this year, the offense fell asleep at the wheel for reasons unknown.

You can credit Denver’s defense for a lot of it. They batted an insane 9 Hurts passes and sacked the mobile QB 6 times. Philadelphia played a weird game though, running the ball just 11 times total. Philly’s own defense kept Denver out of the end zone for 3 quarters, but they allowed the Broncos to hang around. Denver erupted for 18 fourth-quarter points, with QB Bo Nix (24/39, 242 yards, TD) and WR Courtland Sutton powering a rejuvenated attack. HC Sean Payton made a seemingly odd move to go for 2 after his team got within 1 of the Eagles, but Denver converted, and that decision paid off in a big way.

Upon adding one more field goal, Denver forced Philadelphia to go for a TD to beat them. With a field goal out of play, the Eagles had to hoist a Hail Mary, which fell incomplete. The Broncos celebrated their 21-17 win, but each team has a consistency issue. For Denver, these slow starts need to stop. They’re a very good team and perhaps even contenders. The Broncos aren’t going to win a Super Bowl though unless they play 60 minutes of good football. Philly can make the same claim. Talent-wise, they’re still among the NFL’s best. Their offense, the passing game and play calling in particular, can’t sleepwalk through quarters at a time.

Buffalo began their Sunday Night Football game against the Patriots as the least undefeated team. Nobody expected them to fall, but New England didn’t care. They forced the Bills into uncharacteristic turnovers; Buffalo had 1 all season, but QB Josh Allen (FUM, INT) had two and WR Keon Coleman (FUM) had one in this game alone. New England also completely throttled RB James Cook (15/49), putting the Bills behind schedule. That put the onus on the offense to take advantage, and an old friend answered the call. Former Bills WR Stefon Diggs (10/146) had his best game since undergoing ACL surgery last year, providing a huge lift.

Second-year QB Drake Maye (22/30, 273 yards) didn’t throw any TDs, but he made no errors and consistently made magic when it seemed like he’d be sacked. RB Rhamondre Stevenson (7/14/2) lost yet another fumble, but he also scored the team’s only two touchdowns. Still, Allen (22/31, 253 yards, 2 TDs; 9/53 rushing), with help from TE Dalton Kincaid (6/108), managed to make magic and tie the game at 20 late in the 4th. Maye calmly led his team down the field, and rookie K Andres Borregales kicked a game-winning 52-yard FG. The victory snapped a 14-game home winning streak for Buffalo and tightened the AFC East.

Are there cracks in the Bills’ armor? The defense continues to look like a liability, and despite the 4-0 start, Buffalo has faced a very easy schedule. I still trust Allen and the offense, but this isn’t the guaranteed #1 seed that they appeared to be a short while ago. Shifting focus to the Patriots, HC Mike Vrabel got his signature win. His team is a rebuilding project, yet despite losses to the Raiders and Steelers, they’re 3-2. They may not truly contend in 2025, but they’re making strides. It’s amazing what a competent coach can do for an organization. New England’s days at the bottom of the conference appear to be over.

Saints and Titans Earn Their Very First Wins of 2025

While some teams were ruing their first losses, a pair of 0-4 squads celebrated their first victories of the year. Truth be told, I earmarked this week’s game against the Giants as New Orleans’ best shot at a win. I didn’t buy the Jaxson Dart hype, but it looked like I might eat my words when he led 2 straight TD drives to build a 14-3 lead early in the 2nd quarter. The wheels completely came off after that, as New York scored 0 points the rest of the way. Dart (26/40, 202 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, FUM) committed 3 turnovers, and his teammates lost two more fumbles. Failure was contagious, as the defense imploded too.

The Saints, without much push in the running game, relied on QB Spencer Rattler (20/30, 225 yards, TD) to move the ball. He had an efficient day and hit WR Rashid Shaheed (4/114/1) on an 87-yard bomb for the year’s fastest TD (21.71 MPH). Defensively, CB Kool-Aid McKinstry nabbed his first two INTs as his unit forced turnovers on 5 straight NYG drives. In fact, the score of 26-14 was only THAT close because K Blake Grupe missed 2 FGs. Rattler and HC Kellen Moore both earned their first career wins. These were well-deserved, as the Saints had been competitive without anything to show for it. Good on them for notching victory #1.

The other upset came out of left field (oops; wrong sport). Arizona had a very easy time against Tennessee in the first half, cruising to a 21-6 lead at the break. They had a fumble return TD and two offensive scores. WR Marvin Harrison Jr (4/98) even had a big day! The Titans did absolutely nothing and looked like the league’s worst team. Nothing fixes a broken squad though quite like an opponent’s meltdown. And boy did the Cardinals implode. A good drive to start the 3rd quarter ended with a Kyler Murray (23/31, 220 yards; 4/25/1 rushing) fumble, but Arizona maintained their lead into the 4th quarter. Then, the game broke.

Apparently learning NOTHING from Colts WR AD Mitchell last week, Cardinals RB Emari Demercado ran for a 72-yard TD, only for it to be overturned to a 71-yard run and a touchback after he dropped the ball before crossing the goal line. I don’t know what it’s going to take for players to figure this out. Fines and releases may be in order. Tennessee capitalized on the turnover with a TD, but K Joey Slye missed the PAT. Arizona punted, and the Titans scored again but in the wildest way possible. QB Cam Ward threw a red zone INT, only for S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson to loose the football. It was recovered in the end zone by WR Tyler Lockett.

Another Arizona punt later, and Ward (21/39, 265 yards) offered up the finest drive of his pro career. It had everything: a deep shot to underperforming WR Calvin Ridley (5/131), command of the offense and the clock, and Ward’s signature poise under pressure. Slye atoned for his PAT miss with a game-winning FG as time expired, giving the Titans a shocking 22-21 win. This is exactly what Tennessee needed, and maybe they can build on it over the rest of the season. For those keeping score at home, that’s 3 straight losses on walk-off FGs for Arizona. They’re the same team year after year. Eventually, something (the QB?) has to change.

Mayfield Outduels Darnold in Battle of 2018 QB Reclamation Projects

The story is common knowledge. Tampa’s Baker Mayfield and Seattle’s Sam Darnold went #1 and #3 overall, respectively, in the 2018 draft. Both flamed out, struggled more in Carolina, and revived their careers under QB gurus. Playing against each other in their newest homes, both signal callers reminded people why you shouldn’t give up on talented players so quickly. Each of these teams has a solid defense, but for nearly 59 minutes, you could safely ignore those units. The action really took off in the middle of the second quarter. With Tampa leading 6-0, the Bucs scored the game’s first TD. Offense exploded from there.

Excluding an end-of-half kick return as the clock expired, 7 straight drives went for TDs. The TEs and WR1s stole the show. For Mayfield, it was Cade Otton (4/81) and rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka (7/163/1) who took over. The first-round pick out of Ohio State is way ahead in the OROY race at this point. For Darnold, TE AJ Barner (7/53/2) and WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (8/132/1) carried the day. Seattle’s own Buckeye receiver has become a top-shelf playmaker, exceeding what DK Metcalf provided last year. Don’t forget the running games! Kenneth Walker (10/86) and Zach Charbonnet (9/36/1) produced for the Seahawks.

Tampa didn’t get nearly as much production on the ground with Bucky Irving out, but they did get the one decisive break. With the score tied at 35 and 1:08 to go, Darnold saw a pass bounce off the helmet of DL Logan Hall and into the arms of LB Lavonte David. That was unfortunately, as Darnold (28/34, 341 yards, 4 TDs, INT) had an otherwise masterful day. The Bucs sat on the ball and kicked a game-winning 39-yard FG as time expired. It was a gutsy effort from K Chase McLaughlin, who played with the flu. All of their wins have come in the final minute of regulation. That doesn’t feel very sustainable, and yet…

Tampa Bay doesn’t look like a team that can only win one-score games. They have an explosive offense despite their injuries, and most of those playmakers are expected back reasonably soon. There’s something to be desired defensively, but HC Todd Bowles schemes about as well as anyone to account for that. I think they’re well on their way to another AFC South title. Let’s not forget Seattle; the Seahawks showed us something despite losing. The defense has been carrying the team thus far, but when they struggled, the offense erupted. Complementary football makes them VERY dangerous as we move forward.