• Philly’s loss to Denver left just one NFL team with a perfect record … for about seven hours.
• Conversely, there’s now only one team without a win in 2025.
• Sunday featured one fantastic game, in terms of points scored and the uniforms worn.

The 32 things we learned from Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season:

0. The number of wins for New York Jets rookie coach Aaron Glenn, whose team was embarrassed at home 37-22 by the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. With Kellen Moore’s New Orleans Saints getting off the mat against the New York Giants, Glenn is the only first-year coach among this year’s seven to remain winless – and his team is now the only one league-wide without a victory.

1. As in who’s the No. 1 contender to win Super Bowl 60 after the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles lost their first game of the season Sunday a few hours before the previously unbeaten Buffalo Bills also went down? It seems like an unusually large field at the moment given the number of questions that abound around the league, so let’s explore.

2. As in the number of losses Philly has now suffered over the last 365 days. The Eagles obviously remain a bona fide championship threat, yet they also have issues to redress – particularly on offense. WR A.J. Brown had another quiet game (5 catches for 43 yards) Sunday, and even RB Saquon Barkley undermined Philadelphia. On a day when he rushed for 30 yards (on a mere six carries), Barkley also committed an illegal shift infraction that nullified a fourth-down conversion in the fourth quarter and forced the team to punt on its penultimate possession.

2a. The Bills also remain right there, even if their icy ‘Cold Front’ uniforms won’t get them closer to any championship ice at season’s end. The sky isn’t falling in Western New York, though the New England Patriots’ win there Sunday night was a clear announcement that the AFC East probably won’t be a walkover. For a change.

3. The number of wins for the Denver Broncos, who beat the Eagles on Sunday for their first win in Philadelphia since 1986. That’s two impressive victories in six days for Denver, which added six more sacks to what was already a league-leading total of 15 entering Week 5. And with QB Bo Nix belatedly settling into his second season, the Broncos look like a team that could make a deep run.

4. The number of 2024 first-team All-Pros, including QB Lamar Jackson, inactive Sunday for the spiraling Baltimore Ravens, who were crushed 44-10 at home by the Houston Texans. Now 1-4, their Super Bowl aspirations in serious crisis, the Ravens face the Rams in Week 6 before reaching a badly needed bye week.

5. The 34-point loss matched the Ravens’ largest in Baltimore, the differential also equaling the Texans’ most lopsided road win in their 24-season history.

6. The number of red-zone touchdowns – in six attempts, no less – scored by the Indianapolis Colts in their 40-6 beatdown of the Las Vegas Raiders. Still feels like a stretch to consider Indy a bona fide championship contender, but a 4-1 squad is increasingly taking on the look of a potential division titlist – and, yes, the AFC South counts.

7. In an odd turnabout to that game, the Colts played most of the day without injured K Spencer Shrader, forcing them to attempt four consecutive two-point conversions in the blowout. Meanwhile, the Raiders lost P AJ Cole, forcing K Daniel Carlson into his role.

8. The number of times the Texans scored at Baltimore, which also coincided with the number of drives played by QB C.J. Stroud, whose four TD passes were one shy of his career high. With two consecutive wins following an 0-3 start, Houston is re-emerging as a team that could win a third straight division title – and, yes, the AFC South counts.

9. The game of the day also featured the best (throwback) uniforms of the day, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beating the Seattle Seahawks at the gun 38-35 in a fitting celebration of two organizations in the midst of their 50th NFL seasons. Could it have been an NFC championship game preview? Very well within the realm of possibility … despite Seattle’s surprising defensive letdown Sunday.

10. The Bucs aren’t blowing anyone out, all four of their victories occurring on game-winning scores in the final minute of regulation – something no team has ever done on the way to its first four wins. The perennial NFC South champs remain a resilient bunch that can beat you in a variety of ways.

11. How about the matchup of former Ohio State first-round wideouts in Seattle on Sunday? The Bucs’ (née Bucks’) Emeka Egbuka and Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba combined for 15 catches, 295 yards and a TD apiece.

12. The Cowboys (mostly wearing white) and Jets (mostly wearing black) provided the worst-looking game of the day – visually and stylistically (21 combined penalties).

13. How crazy has the scoring been so far? There have been 14 40-burgers posted this season, already the most through five weeks since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger … and Week 5 ain’t done yet.

14. As in tied for 14th place all time with 173 regular-season wins – that’s where Denver coach Sean Payton stands after Sunday’s win, which broke a tie between him and his mentor, Hall of Famer Bill Parcells.

15. Payton is now deadlocked with Jeff Fisher and Ravens coach John Harbaugh, whose team doesn’t appear as if it’s going to keep pace with Payton’s Broncos, not in the near term anyway. Mike McCarthy is alone in 13th place − for now − with 174 wins.

16. How about Carolina Panthers RB Rico Dowdle, who rushed for a league-wide season-high 206 yards in relief of injured starter Chuba Hubbard in his team’s 27-24 defeat of the Miami Dolphins on Sunday?

17. Still boggles the mind that the Cowboys didn’t re-sign Dowdle, who rushed for nearly 1,100 yards last year, or that no other team saw fit to offer him even $3 million for 2025 (though he could eclipse that figure by reaching certain escalators). Heck, even Jerry Jones would be willing to pay that.

18. The jersey number, one that might be retired one day, of Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson. With 123 receiving yards in Sunday’s defeat of the Cleveland Browns in London, “Jettas” now has 7,881 in his career – third most by a player in his first six seasons. And he still has 12 games to play in a bid to overtake Randy Moss’ standard (8,375 yards) over a half-dozen years.

19. The Los Angeles Chargers might have lost some juice lately, but don’t blame veteran WR Keenan Allen. Making his 159th career appearance, he hauled in his 1,000th career catch – eight games quicker than Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, who’d previously set the standard for speed to that benchmark.

20. Minus both of their starting offensive tackles, the Bolts seem to be reverting to title pretender – and quite likely the third-best team in the AFC West – after suffering a second straight loss.

21. The Chargers’ defeat came courtesy of the Washington Commanders, who had QB Jayden Daniels back in the lineup. Yet the emergence of rookie RB Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt, who had a career day Sunday – five games into his career anyway – with 150 yards and two TDs from scrimmage, could be the key to returning the Commanders to the league’s elite ranks … to the degree they ever really left.

22. Would the Cincinnati Bengals just trade for Giants QB3 Jameis Winston already?

23. But not really a surprise that the Jake Browning-led Stripes couldn’t handle the Detroit Lions, who also have an increasingly strong case to supplant Philly atop the league throne with a four-game heater erasing memories of their Week 1 flop at Green Bay.

24. Detroit got TDs Sunday from RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery – the 14th time both scored in the same game, tying Emmitt Smith and Daryl Johnston for the most games among RB teammates each scoring a touchdown in the Super Bowl era (since 1966).

25. The Los Angeles Rams didn’t win Thursday, but WR Puka Nacua caught 10 balls, giving him 52 receptions the season – most ever by a player after five games. Nacua bypassed his former teammate, Cooper Kupp, who had 49 grabs at the same point in 2022.

26. These might be the early stages of what could be a historic year for Nacua, who’s on pace to snag 177 balls – which would smash the NFL single-season record (149) established by Michael Thomas six years ago (in 16 games). Nacua could also become the first-ever 2,000-yard receiver. He’s currently on pace for 1,999 yards.

27. Dillon Gabriel became the Cleveland Browns’ 41st QB1 since their 1999 rebirth – but the first in the NFL to make his starting debut in an International Series game. He was solid Sunday in London but didn’t do quite enough to guide Cleveland past the Minnesota Vikings.

28. Meanwhile, the Vikes improved to 5-0 all time in London … though they’re 0-1 record in Dublin made their two-week European vacation something of a wash.

29. But Minnesota did make a bit of history in the Old Country thanks to WR Jordan Addison’s game-winning TD catch with 25 seconds on the clock. The victory was the first ever played internationally to feature a decisive TD in the final minute of regulation or overtime.

30. When will NFL players – especially ones running free to pay dirt – learn to keep the ball secured until they cross the goal line? Arizona Cardinals RB3 Emari Demercado, whose team really needed him to show up after losing James Conner and Trey Benson to injuries, was the latest to dump the rock prematurely, his would-be 72-yard TD bolt instead a 71-yard run punctuated by a turnover – one that led to his team’s downfall against the previously winless Tennessee Titans.

31. Second to last, but not penultimately least, congratulations to Titans QB Cam Ward, the No. 1 pick of this year’s draft, who notched his first career win Sunday at Demercado’s expense. We sass.

32. Last, but not least, congratulations to Saints QB Spencer Rattler. We’ve noted, more than once, the bagel he’s carried for more than a year in his personal NFL win column. But he got his first, in his 11th professional start, in Sunday’s defeat of the Giants.

Week 5 of the fantasy football season tested everyone. It marked the start of NFL bye weeks, and many managers were still reeling from the season-ending injuries to Malik Nabers and Tyreek Hill. To make matters worse, Bucky Irving and Trey Benson were surprise additions to the injury list, leaving fantasy managers scrambling for replacements.

Now that Week 5 is in the books, your team’s strengths and weaknesses should be clear. Trading is the best way to fix those weaknesses. The smart approach is to trade from a position of strength, usually depth, to a team that’s struggling in that same area but has depth where you’re thin.

Even if your team sits at 5-0, don’t get too comfortable. Sometimes a hot start can be misleading. A few players might be overperforming. Savvy fantasy managers will recognize that and sell them before the production dips.

To help, here are four players to sell high and four players to buy low as we head into Week 6.

Week 6 fantasy football players to buy

WR Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers

T-Mac managers might be getting frustrated with his lack of production and could be ready to move on to someone scoring more points. Take advantage.

McMillan is seeing an elite 27% target share with no fewer than eight targets per game. One issue has been the lack of help around him, but that should change soon with Jalen Coker expected to return this week. That addition should help open up the field and give McMillan more room to make plays.

RB Woody Marks, Houston Texans

The hype around Marks was sky-high after his breakout performance in Week 4. Many believed he had taken over the backfield, but that’s not entirely the case.

In Houston’s shocking blowout win over the Ravens, Marks played more snaps than Nick Chubb but carried the ball four fewer times. He finished with just 24 rushing yards and one target.

Marks may never be the true bell cow, but his talent is undeniable. Trust that will turn into him getting more work in the future. This down week creates a prime buy-low opportunity.

WR A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

It feels like the Eagles have finally realized they need to lean more on their passing game. Defenses are stacking the box to stop the run, and Philadelphia is adjusting, finally.

The results haven’t fully shown up for Brown yet, but they’re coming. He saw nine targets in Week 4 and 10 more this week. That kind of volume, combined with Brown’s talent, make it only a matter of time before he delivers more fantasy-friendly results.

WR CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

If the Lamb manager in your league has a losing record, now’s the time to make an offer. Lamb is not guaranteed to return Week 6, which could push his manager to panic and sell low.

There’s no denying Lamb’s elite ability. If you can afford to stash him for a week or two, you’ll be in a great spot when he returns.

Week 6 fantasy football players to sell

RB Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers

Dowdle is coming off one of the best games we’ll see all season, rushing for 206 yards and a touchdown. It’s unlikely he’ll come close to that again.

If someone in your league believes Dowdle has suddenly become the Panthers’ featured back, cash in. At best, he turned what was a 60/40 split with Chuba Hubbard into a 50/50 split once Hubbard returns.

WR Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints

Four catches, 114 yards, and a touchdown looks great on paper, but don’t be fooled. Shaheed’s problem has not been corrected. That problem is inconsistency.

Shaheed has three single-digit fantasy games already this season and two double-digit games. This week, it required an 87-yard touchdown to get there. If you’re relying on those long plays for fantasy relevance, disappointment will follow more often than not.

TE Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys

Ferguson currently leads all tight ends in targets and sits atop the fantasy rankings at the position. That volume won’t last.

When CeeDee Lamb returns, Ferguson’s target share will dip, making him more volatile week to week. If you can flip him for a tight end with steadier usage, do it before the regression hits.

RB Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans

Pollard played around 90% of snaps through the first four weeks, but with Tyjae Spears returning, that dropped to 73% in Week 5 and it’s likely to decline further.

Pollard’s early-season workload produced 328 yards and two touchdowns, ranking him as the RB28 in points per game.

The selling point: even with Spears back, Pollard saw 17 total touches and found the end zone. That makes this the perfect time to move him before his volume shrinks.

AI-assisted summary
• The Philadelphia Eagles lost 21-17 to the Denver Broncos, marking their first defeat of the 2025 season.
• Philadelphia’s offense struggled, running the ball only 11 times despite leading 17-3 in the second half.
• Quarterback Jalen Hurts passed 38 times, while star running back Saquon Barkley had just six carries.
• Head coach Nick Sirianni acknowledged the team needs to run the ball more and reduce self-inflicted penalties.

The Philadelphia Eagles either can’t run the ball or won’t run the ball. One of those things alone would be unideal. The combination of the two, however, is the most glaring aspect of their 21-17 loss to the Denver Broncos at home Sunday. 

Philadelphia managed to generate plenty of positives in the downfield passing game, as quarterback Jalen Hurts passed 38 times; he only took off twice.   

“We want to get them all the ball as much as we can,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said of his star skill players, which obviously includes Barkley. “Obviously we want to run the ball more than what we did today. You always want to come out of that game with Saquon getting as many touches (as he can) because of the player he is.” 

It marked the Eagles’ first loss of the 2025 season and left the Buffalo Bills as the lone undefeated team remaining in the NFL. Hurts – who didn’t complete a pass in the second half of last week’s 31-23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – looked better and finished with 280 passing yards on 23-of-38 passing and two touchdowns.

Hurts threw that many passes in a game just once last season. Barkley entered this contest averaging 3.1 yards per carry and the Eagles’ total offense ranked 30th. Their 3.47 yards per rushing play was 29th. 

But the Eagles led 17-3 in the second half, and with Barkley and that offensive line, the Eagles aired it out. Patullo called eight straight passes across two drives and Philadelphia punted twice while three minutes and six seconds came off the clock. Their next two possessions weren’t much better, with two more punts accounting for a total of 4:39 of clock. 

Doing that against the Broncos’ defense known with reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain locking down a receiver on the outside and a stout front-seven – anchored by Nik Bonnito, who had 2.5 of the Broncos’ six sacks (even more passing plays that didn’t result in throws) – seems paradoxical. 

Philadelphia’s defense stayed on the field, Bo Nix went off in the fourth quarter, and the Eagles lost for the first time since Dec. 22, 2024, when Hurts exited in the first quarter against the Washington Commanders.

Barkley now has 267 rushing yards through five games –  he had 255 on the ground Week 12 against the Los Angeles Rams last season. His game-best for 2025 is 88 yards, which came in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Playing from behind the sticks as often as the Eagles did, Sirianni said, didn’t make it easier. Philadelphia was flagged nine times for 55 yards, half of the 121 yards on 12 penalties the Broncos surrendered.

“Those are some self-inflicted things that we did,” Sirianni said. “When those happen, I put that on myself.” 

The offensive line’s health has been an underlying issue. Left guard Landon Dickerson tore his meniscus in training camp and recovered for Week 1 but has remained banged up. He left with an ankle injury against Denver. Lane Johnson, the right tackle, left the Bucs game but started Week 5 despite a shoulder injury. Replacing Mekhi Becton has been more of a challenge than planned. 

Wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith ended up in a heap on the final play of the day, but at least their stat lines didn’t mirror that entirely. Smith caught eight balls (10 targets) for 114 yards. Brown was targeted eight times and had five catches for 43 yards. 

“We started off really good. We were throwing the ball around the yard,” Brown said. “Just didn’t finish in the second half, just the inconsistency showed up again. 

“We got to put in four quarters. We have to stop putting a lot of pressure on our defense.” 

The Eagles can find coping mechanisms within the defeat. The overturned intentional grounding call on Nix and the lack of communication will be ridiculed. The late hit called on linebacker Zack Baun as the Broncos’ ballcarrier fought for the first down in the fourth quarter.

Last but not least, the game’s penultimate play that featured a pass breakup that could have been called pass interference on Broncos safety JL Skinner.

But the loss was their own doing – from the play calling to the execution. Hurts missed Brown on a deep shot in the third quarter for what would have been a walk-in touchdown. Another perspective, when it comes to the Eagles’ offensive woes, is that this is a no-win situation.

If Barkley goes out and pummels the Broncos and Brown posts cryptically again on social media when the passing game goes MIA, then it’s another week of a “what’s wrong with the air attack?” news cycle. 

It’s definitely not a capability issue, Hurts said. 

“We’re just not doing those things yet,” he said, “but we will.” 

The Eagles have a short turnaround to find balance, with a “Thursday Night Football” date with the New York Giants next up. There’s no reason to think the NFC East, as of this writing, would not be safely in their hands. But the blueprint is out on how to beat the Eagles. Going back to their strength would go a long way to wrecking those best-laid plans. 

The Dallas Cowboys blew out the New York Jets in their Week 5 meeting at MetLife Stadium.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones took a victory lap during the resounding, 37-22 win despite being on the road.

A video shared by former Cowboys wide receiver showed Jones briefly raising a middle finger to the crowd on hand in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The 82-year-old owner did so with a smile on his face before pointing to the crowd.

‘Quit playing with Mr. Jerry Jones,’ Bryant’s post to X read, in part. ‘Go Cowboys.’

It wasn’t immediately clear what – if anything – prompted Jones’ gesture. The video showed many in the crowd looking back at Jones, with some waving and others holding their phones out to record him.

Jones did not speak about that moment after the game when he spoke to reporters for a few minutes.

The octogenarian did, however, praise his team for their ‘big victory’ over the Jets.

‘This was a great win for [the] team,’ Jones said. ‘Not a win for an individual, or four or five All-Pros. This was done with a lot of guys that wouldn’t have even been dressed or been out there today. There are several of them. So, my hat’s off [to them].’

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Harold Terens, a 102-year-old World War II veteran who made international headlines last year for getting married near Normandy on the 80^th anniversary of D-Day, has plenty of items he wants to cross off his bucket list before his next birthday.

He checked one off by attending his first soccer match with his grandson, Apple TV play-by-play announcer Tyler Terens, when the Chicago Fire beat Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 5-3 at Chase Stadium on Sept. 30.

“I’ve never seen a soccer game. It’s my first one ever. I’ve never seen Messi or anybody. I’ve seen soccer on TV, but never live – until now with my grandson,” Harold Terens said before the match. “I’m getting to like soccer. I’m not thrilled with it yet, but I’m getting to like it.”

Hey, it’s a start.

Terens was a U.S. Army Air Force corporal, who first enlisted in 1942 serving as a radio repair technician for a four-pilot P-47 Thunderbolt fighter squadron. He helped repair planes flying from France so they could rejoin the fight during D-Day on June 6, 1944, then helped transport captured Germans and freed American prisoners of war from Normandy to England 12 days later. He also served in parts of Africa and Eastern Europe.

“I was all over,” he said.

On the 80^th anniversary of D-Day last June, Terens married Jeanne Swerlin in a ceremony in Carentan, France. They were invited to the Elysee Palace for a state dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Joe Biden on their wedding day.

“It was quite an event,” said Terens, who has also met Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.

Tyler Terens vividly remembers how Biden treated his grandfather.

“He was a global celebrity for like 72 hours,” Tyler said. “He introduced himself to President Biden, and President Biden said ‘of course, I know who you are! You’re the most famous person in the world right now.’”

After the soccer game, Harold Terens will turn his attention to the other items on his bucket list.  

He’s going to attend Tyler’s wedding to fiancée Shannon in Cincinnati next month.

He wants to take a 10-day transatlantic trip to see an opera in Milan, a ballet in Paris, and the London Philharmonic. 

He plans to close off the bucket list by celebrating his 103rd birthday next year with a long-awaited bar mitzvah ceremony at the Pentagon.

He also has some writing to do, hoping to publish a book next spring about his life story. He’s about halfway done.

“It’s a page turner,” he said. “I’ve read half of it 12 times already. I find it interesting, what I’ve written so I can imagine what others will think of it.’

When Tyler got the assignment to cover the Inter Miami game, it was his chance to deliver on his grandfather’s wish to watch Messi play.

“To have him here, it’s literally the coolest thing in the world,” Tyler said. “He’s the reason, along with my dad, why I’ve became such a sports fanatic and got into this industry. It’s a dream come true to have him here.”

“Every day is an experience for me. It’s probably the highlight of my young life to be here,” Harold added. “I’m so proud of him.”

AI-assisted summary
• Jayden Daniels returned from a knee injury to lead the Washington Commanders to a 27-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
• The Southern California native passed for 231 yards and a touchdown in his hometown return.
• Washington’s defense held the Chargers scoreless for the final three quarters of the game.

INGLEWOOD, CA — Sunday’s game was poetic for Jayden Daniels.

After missing the past two games due to a sprained knee, Daniels returned Sunday to his native area and was instrumental to the Washington Commanders’ 27-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.

“It was gonna be hard to keep him out tonight,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. “Coming back to this area where he grew up, not too far from here. Where his football career began.”

Daniels grew up roughly 70 miles from SoFi Stadium in San Bernardino, California. He had a large contingent of family and friends at the venue for Sunday’s contest. They witnessed the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year pass for 231 and one touchdown, plus run for 39 yards on the ground.

Most importantly, he helped the Commanders get back in the winner’s column and earn their first victory of the year against a team over .500.

“It means a lot. I’ve dreamt of moments like this to be able to play in front of my family back in my hometown,” Daniels said postgame. ‘Whether that was here or wherever else I was blessed to get drafted to. So for my first return game back to be at home means a lot.’

The game didn’t start pretty for Daniels and the Commanders. They were down 10-0 in the second quarter. Momentum swung in Washington’s direction when safety Quan Martin jarred the football loose from Chargers wideout Quentin Johnston and cornerback Marshon Lattimore recovered.

Daniels led the Commanders on a nine-play, 74-yard touchdown after the change of possession in the second quarter. The score was part of a string of an astounding 27-unanswered points by the Commanders against a mistake riddled Chargers club that had 10 total penalties and two turnovers.

“That’s a really good offense over there with a really great quarterback (and) good running back. So, to be able to keep them under wraps in that second half, I think was big for us,” Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner, who had a game-high 14 tackles, told USA TODAY Sports.

Washington’s scoring barrage was bookended with a rainbow pass by Daniels to wide receiver Deebo Samuel that resulted in Chargers fans headed toward the exits late in the fourth quarter.

Rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt tallied career-highs in rushing yards (111) and touchdowns (2) in the win. Washington’s defense held the Chargers scoreless for the final three quarters. It was a total team effort by the Commanders.

Week 5 was about the Commanders getting their MVP back, and resembling the squad that advanced to the NFC championship game last season.

“It meant everything. He was able to give us a spark,” Wagner said. “He had some really good plays, and that touchdown on the last play was money.”

Sunday was Daniels’ 20th career regular-season game. His performance in Week 5 put him at 4,232 passing yards and 1,015 rushing yards in his first 20 career NFL games. He’s first player in NFL history to have at least 4,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in his first 20 career games.

Daniels returned, sparked a Commanders victory and made history in the process – a Hollywood script homecoming game for the Southern California native.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

• The Broncos rallied from a 14-point deficit to upset the defending Super Bowl champions on the road.
• Sean Payton’s gutsy decision to go for a two-point conversion late in the game epitomized the Broncos’ vibe.
• The Eagles’ streak of 12 consecutive home wins was snapped in Week 5.

It was a lot more than merely the NFL’s biggest upset on Sunday. When the Denver Broncos rallied from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter — at The Linc, of all places — to stun the Philadelphia Eagles it went down as a quintessential statement win.

Bold. Gritty. Resilient. Clutch.

Those were surely markers on the 21-17 smackdown against the defending Super Bowl champion, but they also represent the identity of a team that has served notice that it intends to keep stacking signature victories.

“The one thing our team is never going to do is quit,” Nik Bonitto, the star linebacker who collected 2 ½ of the six sacks on Jalen Hurts, said during his postgame news conference.

“We have some very resilient people in that locker room. I feel like we’ve been in that spot so many times where we’ll be down a score or two and just find a way to fight back and continue to keep playing. So, hat’s off to everybody.”

Until Sunday, though, the Broncos (3-2) were on the wrong end of the close ones this season. Both of their losses, at Indianapolis and at the Los Angeles Chargers, came on walk-off field goals as time expired. The Broncos entered Sunday’s game with the weird distinction of having never trailed in the fourth quarter — before the clock struck zeroes.

This time, it came down to a Hail Mary pass into a pack of players falling incomplete.

Instead of a miracle, the Broncos shut out the Eagles in the fourth quarter while the Bo Nix-led offense that had previously punted on six consecutive drives came to life.

It’s no wonder that Broncos coach Sean Payton said he was most encouraged that his team managed to finish the job. To some degree, Denver undoubtedly learned something from the tough defeats. Yet in another sense, it might have been more about a gut-check.

When Saquon Barkley zipped 47 yards with a Hurt pass for a touchdown that made it 17-3 early in the third quarter, conditions seemed ripe for a rout. Except that they weren’t. Never mind that the Eagles (4-1) had won 12 consecutive games on their home turf. Something happened.

“When you play somebody like that, you’re going to get punched,” Payton said. “It’s not going to be easy, but we kept fighting. That’s what I was most encouraged about. Just the fight, the grit, you felt — that’s the funny thing — that momentum shifted.”

Payton praised his young quarterback, Nix, for his leadership in crunch time — and it came with poise and performance. Nix didn’t commit a turnover and in completing 9 of 10 passes in the fourth quarter, came up with one clutch play after another. On a third-and-15 from the Eagles 45, he found Courtland Sutton over the middle for 34 yards, setting up his 11-yard TD dime to Evan Engram. On the next drive, he coolly took a one-yard sack rather throwing the ball away on a third-down scramble, forcing the Eagles to take their final timeout with 1:14 remaining, before the Broncos extended the lead to four points with a Will Lutz field goal.

Yet Payton’s gutsy decision to go for a two-point conversion after the Engram TD — Nix found Troy Franklin on a flat pass that made it 18-17 — put another stamp on the signature win.

Yes, it’s a team built by Payton, in his third season with the Broncos, with a resume that includes once calling for a surprise onside kick in the Super Bowl that helped his New Orleans Saints win a crown. On a day when he notched his 173rd career regular-season victory, which surpassed his mentor, Bill Parcells, for 15th place all-time, it was fitting that Payton came up aces on a critical game-management decision.

Payton could’ve opted for the PAT to tie the game, but in going for two, he went for seizing the lead on a play that was, of course, specially designed for such a situation. And not only did it underscore the bold statement that went a step further than an impressive rally from 14 points down, it ultimately took away the option for Philadelphia to tie the game and force overtime with a field goal on its final drive. It was masterful strategy.

“We came here to win a game, and I had two or three calls that I loved,” Payton said, referring to plays inside the 5-yard line.

“We felt … let’s do that. Let’s keep being aggressive.”

Parcells would be so proud. It worked. And it added so much to the statement the Broncos made in scoring what has been the rare victory against a quality opponent.

Since the start of last season, the Broncos were 1-10 against teams with a winning record — until Sunday.

Add that to the statement. After hearing all week about the measuring stick that awaited them — the other wins this season came against a rookie quarterback making his first NFL start for Tennessee and against a battered Cincinnati team missing Joe Burrow — they proved that can indeed measure up. It led to the perfect question for Payton’s postgame locker room address, as he asked his team: “Who are you afraid of?”

No, there’s nothing to fear.

“We talked about it,” Payton said. “I said, ‘Look, you don’t get a chance to play these games that have a ton of upside.’ Now, don’t get me wrong. There’s downside, but there’s a ton of upside relative to defining what you become.”

Here’s to a bold, confident identity that could ultimately develop into something special.

Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on social media on X and Bluesky.

The New England Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills on ‘Sunday Night Football’ in Week 5, knocking off the last of the NFL’s unbeaten teams in a 23-20 victory on the road in Orchard Park.

The victory wasn’t easy. The Patriots nearly squandered a 10-point fourth-quarter lead after allowing back-to-back scoring drives to the Bills.

However, Drake Maye orchestrated an excellent final drive for the Patriots. He capably led the Patriots 37 yards over seven plays and set up rookie kicker Andy Borregales for a 52-yard field goal attempt. Borregales’ kick split the uprights with 15 seconds left, leaving no time for Josh Allen and Co. to make a comeback.

Maye showed during Sunday’s contest that he could hold his own against Allen, as the second-year quarterback completed 22 of 30 passes for 273 yards and a 101.1 passer rating. He showed a strong connection throughout the contest with Stefon Diggs (10 catches, 146 yards) as the two carried a Patriots offense that averaged a disappointing 3.2 yards per carry against a porous Bills run defense.

Meanwhile, Allen had a solid showing for the Bills. The reigning NFL MVP completed 22 of 31 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns while also leading the team in rushing yards (53).

However, Allen was also responsible for two turnovers, an interception and a lost fumble, a microcosm of an uncharacteristically sloppy game for the Bills. Buffalo turned the ball over three times in total after doing so just once over its first four games.

USA TODAY Sports provided updates, highlights and more from the Bills vs Patriots on Sunday night below.

Bills vs. Patriots instant takeaways

• Drake Maye is continuing to make strides in his second season: The 23-year-old still has room for improvement but was impressive Sunday, going toe-to-toe with Josh Allen in a hostile road environment. His steady performance on New England’s game-winning drive should inspire hope among the Patriots faithful that the UNC product can continue to develop into a star under Josh McDaniels’ tutelage.
• Stefon Diggs is healthy and balling: The veteran is looking fully healthy after posting 10 catches for 146 yards against his former team, the Bills. The 31-year-old has now posted back-to-back 100-yard outings and is building chemistry with Maye. Expect him to continue to make strides as he gets further removed from the ACL tear he suffered in October of last year.
• No panic in Buffalo: The Bills’ loss is more of a bump in the road than a reason for panic. Buffalo endured its sloppiest game to date, losing the turnover battle 3-1 and committing 10 penalties for 90 yards, so the Bills should bounce back quickly if they can avoid mistakes in a Week 6 ‘Monday Night Football’ battle with the Atlanta Falcons.

Stefon Diggs stats vs. Bills

• 10 receptions
• 12 targets
• 146 receiving yards
• 0 touchdowns

Drake Maye stats vs. Bills

• 22-of-30 (73.3% completion rate)
• 273 yards
• 0 passing touchdowns
• 0 interceptions
• 101.1 passer rating
• 3 rush attempts for 12 yards and 0 rushing touchdowns

Josh Allen stats vs Patriots

• 22-of-31 (70.9% completion rate)
• 253 yards
• 2 passing touchdowns
• 1 interception
• 103.3 passer rating
• 9 rush attempts for 53 yards and 0 rushing touchdowns

James Cook stats vs. Patriots

• 15 rush attempts
• 49 rushing yards
• 0 touchdowns
• 0 receptions
• 1 target

Dalton Kincaid stats vs. Patriots

• 6 receptions
• 6 targets
• 108 receiving yards
• 0 touchdowns

TreVeyon Henderson stats vs. Bills

• 6 carries
• 24 rushing yards
• 2 receptions
• 3 receiving yards
• 0 touchdowns

Rhamondre Stevenson stats vs. Bills

• 7 carries
• 14 rushing yards
• 2 receptions
• 13 receiving yards
• 2 total touchdowns (both rushing)

Bills vs. Patriots highlights

Bills vs. Patriots final score: Patriots 23, Bills 20

Bills vs Patriots score: Andy Borregales 52-yard field goal to take the lead

The Patriots drive 37 yards, resulting in a 52-yard game-winning field goal by Andy Borregales.

Patriots 23, Bills 20

Matt Prater ties game with 45-yard field goal

The Bills have overcome a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to tie the Patriots. Prater’s 45-yard attempt snuck inside the right upright, so with 2:17 left in regulation, Buffalo and New England are tied at 20.

Bills 20, Patriots 20

Patriots go 3-and-out after key false start, sack

The Patriots had a third-and-inches on the drive following Buffalo’s touchdown, but backup offensive lineman Vederian Lowe was whistled for a false start before a QB sneak to back New England up. Then, on third-and-5, Drake Maye was flushed from the pocket and forced out of bounds for a short loss.

That forced the Patriots to punt the ball back to the Bills, who are trailing 20-17. Bryce Baringer’s kick went into the end-zone, so Buffalo will need to go 80 yards to take the lead with 5:52 left in regulation.

Bills vs. Patriots score: Bills respond quickly with Keon Coleman TD

The Bills respond quickly down two scores and make it a three-point game yet again. Keon Coleman hauls in a two-yard score in the back of the end zone. Buffalo drives down the field 74 yards on just eight plays thanks to two 15-yard penalties against New England. First a roughing the passer penalty on Cory Durden followed by an unnecessary roughness penalty on the next play on rookie Joshua Farmer.

New England will aim to answer with 7:37 to go.

Patriots 20, Bills 17

Bills vs. Patriots score: Rhamondre Stevenson scores second TD, Patriots extend lead

The Patriots dive 90 yards on 11 plays that resulted in Rhamondre Stevenson’s second touchdown of the night on a seven-yard scamper. Stefon Diggs has exploded in the second half and accounted for 53 yards on four catches throughout the 5:43 scoring drive.

The Bills find themselves down two scores with just over 12 minutes remaining.

Patriots 20, Bills 10

End of third quarter: Patriots driving into Bills territory

New England holds a 13-10 lead after forcing a turnover deep in its own territory on the Bills’ last drive. Now, the Patriots are driving into Bills territory at the start of the fourth quarter looking to extend their lead.

Stefon Diggs drags toes on sideline catch for third down conversion

The former Bill, continues to make a mark on tonight’s game against his former team. This time, he shows us some toe-drag swag on a 10-yard catch on third down, which resulted in a new set of downs for the Patriots.

Bills penalties today

The Bills have struggled with penalties in their Week 5 game against the Patriots. Buffalo has been penalized for 10 accepted infractions, which have resulted in a total of 80 yards in penalties.

By comparison, the Patriots have committed four penalties for 40 yards.

Marcus Jones intercepts Josh Allen, marking third Bills turnover

The Bills continue to struggle with turnovers after committing just one in their first four games. Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones undercut an Allen throw intended for Khalil Shakir and brought it in before being tackled at the 10-yard line.

Buffalo was in scoring range before the interception. Now, New England will have a chance to extend its lead, though it is backed up deep in its own zone.

Stefon Diggs stats today

Thus far, Diggs’ return to Buffalo has been a good one. The veteran is leading the Patriots with five catches for 81 yards and has seen a team-high seven targets during the contest.

With 6:34 left in the third quarter, Diggs may be on his way to his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game.

Bills vs. Patriots score: Patriots answer with Rhamondre Stevenson TD run

After Buffalo opened the second half with its first touchdown, Drake Maye and the Patriots answered. The second-year quarterback went 3 of 3 passing for 64 yards, including two completions for 48 yards to Stefon Diggs, before Stevenson turned his lone touch into a 4-yard touchdown run.

Andy Borregales makes the extra point, and the Patriots are back on top, leading 13-10.

Patriots 13, Bills 10

Bills vs Patriots score: Josh Allen tosses first TD of game to Curtis Samuel

Sean McDermott and Joe Brady dialed up a unique motion for Samuel, who bluffed an orbit-type motion before changing directions. The result? He ended up wide open for an easy check-down and waltzed into the end-zone for the score.

Matt Prater’s extra point is good, and Buffalo has its first lead of the day, 10-6.

Bills 10, Patriots 6

What number is TreVeyon Henderson?

Henderson is No. 32, for those having trouble locating him on the field. For some reason, the font on the second-round rookie’s jersey is smaller than that of his counterpart’s, making it harder for fans and NFL analysts, like Ryan Fitzpatrick, to read. https://x.com/FitzMagic_14/status/1975009599540584949 It isn’t clear why the nameplate font on Henderson’s jersey is smaller, but just know the Ohio State product is wearing the number 32.

Drake Maye stats at halftime

Maye has completed 9 of 16 passes for 89 yards in the first half, good for a passer rating of 72.1. He showed good rhythm on the Patriots’ final drive of the half but has found himself under pressure from Buffalo’s strong defensive front, taking two sacks in the first half.

Maye has also added 12 yards on three carries and could be asked to run more in the second half with Antonio Gibson (knee) ruled out for the game.

Josh Allen stats at halftime

Allen was efficient in the first half, completing 9 of 11 passes for 100 yards, good for a 104.5 passer rating. The reigning MVP is also tied for his team’s lead in rushing yards, racking up 32 on four carries in the first half.

That said, Allen has also made a couple of mistakes, taking an 8-yard sack and losing a fumble. He will look to clean up those errors in the second half.

Bills vs. Patriots score: Patriots settle for field goal, take 6-3 lead into halftime

Drake Maye got the Patriots to the 1-yard line, but Hunter Henry couldn’t catch a quick pass to the flat with 1 second left in the half. Mike Vrabel settled for a 19-yard Andy Borregales field goal, and the rookie was able to kick it through with ease.

Despite the score, the Bills have actually outgained the Patriots 159-135 in the first half. However, the Bills have committed eight penalties for 65 yards, compared to two for 20 yards by the Patriots, while New England is winning the turnover battle 2-1.

The Bills will get the second-half kickoff and will get the next crack at notching the game’s first touchdown.

Patriots 6, Bills 3

Milton Williams helps sack Josh Allen, force Bills punt

Allen was sacked just seven times across the first four games of the 2025 NFL season. The Patriots got to him late in the second quarter, when Milton Williams and Jaylinn Hawkins pressured him and slung him to the ground.

The Bills were forced to punt, and the Patriots regained possession on their own 30-yard line. New England will look to score in the 2:22 remaining before halftime in the 3-3 tie.

Patriots rule out Antonio Gibson with knee injury

The Patriots will play the remainder of their game without Gibson. The running back suffered a knee injury on a kick return and was quickly ruled out by the team.

New England now has just two healthy running backs remaining on its roster: starter Rhamondre Stevenson and second-round rookie TreVeyon Henderson.

Bryce Baringer pins Bills at 10-yard line after another Patriots punt

The bad news for Patriots fans? Baringer has had to punt three times. The good news? He has pinned the Bills inside their own 15-yard line with each kick.

This time, Khalil Shakir opted not to field Baringer’s kick and the Patriots downed it at the 10-yard line. Josh Allen and the Bills will have a long field to cover with 6:24 left in the second quarter.

Antonio Gibson injury update

Gibson, a running back for the Patriots, was injured on a kick return following Buffalo’s field goal. The veteran was upended after being hit hard in the leg by Bills defensive back Cam Lewis, and he fumbled the ball.

Gibson remained down on the field for a couple of minutes before leaving the field gingerly but under his own power. He went to the blue medical tent for further evaluation.

How old is Matt Prater?

Prater is 41 years old, making him the second-oldest active player in the NFL behind only Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. 

Prater is in his 19th season and has played for five different teams during his NFL career.

Bills vs Patriots score: Matt Prater makes 31-yard field goal to tie game

The Bills have answered the Patriots’ game-opening score. Josh Allen marched the Bills down the field with some big passing plays, including a 23-yarder to Joshua Palmer, but the Patriots got a key stop on third down in the red-zone.

Prater’s 31-yard attempt was true, and the Bills and Patriots are tied at 3 with 9:34 left in the second quarter.

Bills 3, Patriots 3

How many fumbles does Rhamondre Stevenson have?

After his latest fumble, Stevenson has put the ball on the turf three times this season. His third fumble came on his 44th touch, meaning he has fumbled roughly every 14.7 touches thus far in 2025.

Stevenson had seven fumbles on 240 touches last season, good for one fumble every 34.3 touches.

Patriots leading Bills 3-0 after sloppy first quarter

Both the Patriots and Bills have gotten off to a slow start in their ‘Sunday Night Football’ battle, but New England is leading thanks to a couple of Buffalo turnovers.

The Bills had just one turnover across their first four games. In one quarter Sunday, they fumbled twice, losing both and setting the Patriots up for their chip-shot field goal near the end of the first quarter.

The Patriots had a turnover of their own after the fumble-prone Rhamondre Stevenson lost his third of the 2025 NFL season. However, New England’s defense has done a good job limiting Josh Allen and James Cook, who have just 15 combined rushing yards on five carries.

Allen has performed well as a passer, completing 5 of 7 passes for 61 yards, but the Bills have often been behind the chains. Buffalo has been called for five penalties and lost 29 total yards because of them.

The Bills will need to clean up their operation to get on the board, but they have plenty of time to figure things out in this divisional rivalry.

Bills vs Patriots score: Andy Borregales makes 30-yard field goal to put Patriots ahead

The Patriots get on the board first on ‘Sunday Night Football.’ They weren’t able to gain any yardage after recovering Keon Coleman’s fumble, but Borregales was able to make a chip-shot 30-yarder with ease.

Keon Coleman loses fumble, giving Patriots ball in red-zone

The Bills entered their Sunday night game against the Patriots having committed just one turnover on the season. They now have two turnovers in the first quarter after Keon Coleman fumbled after a short catch.

The Patriots jumped on the ball at Buffalo’s 11-yard line. That puts New England well within scoring range as the first quarter winds down.

Stefon Diggs drops potential first-down catch, forcing Patriots punt

Diggs caught his first target of the day, but he couldn’t do the same on his second. Drake Maye’s throw was placed on Diggs’ back shoulder slightly behind the veteran, but Diggs couldn’t reel it in.

Rather than go for it on fourth-and-3, the Patriots decided to punt. The Bills will once again start from inside their own 15-yard line in a 0-0 tie.

Why Josh Allen says ‘Go Pokes’ in SNF intro

Allen’s ‘Go Pokes’ message is a nod to his alma mater, Wyoming. The Cowboys use ‘Go Pokes’ as their rallying cry – much like Alabama fans say ‘Roll Tide!’ to honor the Crimson Tide – so consider the message Allen’s way of honoring his roots.

Bills stall out, punt for first time

Thus far, the Bills and Patriots have traded punts and fumbles across their ‘Sunday Night Football’ game’s first four possessions.

Buffalo has been able to move the ball a bit better than New England, with Josh Allen completing 4 of 6 passes for 59 yards, but his last two passes have fallen incomplete.

Rhamondre Stevenson fumbles ball right back to Bills

One play after recovering a fumble, the Patriots fumbled it right back to the Bills. Stevenson caught a dump-off from Drake Maye before having the ball punched out of his hands by Shaq Thompson.

Stevenson has now fumbled three times on 44 touches across five games for the Patriots in 2025.

Patriots recover fumble after Dawson Knox knocks ball out of Josh Allen’s hands

The Bills got the ball near midfield on their first drive before giving the ball back to the Patriots. Josh Allen was under center when he took the snap with tight end Dawson Knox coming across on jet motion.

Knox bumped into Allen, jarring the ball out of his hands and allowing Patriots defensive tackle Joshua Farmer to pounce on it with ease.

Bills force punt on first possession

The Patriots got off to a good start, as Drake Maye completed his first pass to Stefon Diggs for 15 yards. However, New England couldn’t get another first down after that and were forced to punt the ball to Buffalo.

Josh Allen and the Bills will begin their first offensive possession of the night from their own 14-yard line after a Khalil Shakir fair catch.

Stefon Diggs catches pass on first play from scrimmage

In the veteran’s first game back in Buffalo, he reeled in a 15-yard pass from Drake Maye on the first play of the game.

What time does Bills vs Patriots game start?

• Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. ET

The Bills and Patriots game will start at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 5.

What TV channel is Bills vs Patriots on?

• TV channel: NBC

NBC will broadcast the Bills vs Patriots ‘Sunday Night Football’ matchup. Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth will be on the call, with Melissa Stark providing updates from the sideline.

Stefon Diggs takes the field in Buffalo wearing Patriots uniform

Bills uniforms tonight vs Patriots

The Buffalo Bills are unveiling their ‘Cold Front’ uniforms tonight against the Patriots. It marks the debut of the all-white alternates, and Buffalo is hosting a white-out event at Highmark Stadium to commemorate the occasion.

Bills inactives vs. Patriots

Patriots inactives vs. Bills

Josh Allen arrives for Week 5 vs. Patriots

The reigning NFL MVP arrives for the Bills’ Week 5 matchup and is wearing the fourth of nine custom hats designed by patients at Buffalo’s Oishei Children’s Hospital. After each home game, his hat will be auctioned off to support the Patricia Allen Fund.

Bills 2025 schedule

Patriots 2025 schedule

Bills vs Patriots live stream

• Live stream:Fubo | Peacock

Peacock, NBC’s proprietary streaming service, will carry the ‘SNF’ game.

Fubo will also carry Bills vs. Patriots. Fubo has NBC, as well as CBS, Fox, ABC, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action all season long with the streaming service. Fubo also offers a free trial.

Watch 2025 NFL action with Fubo (free trial)

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Who are the announcers for Bills vs. Patriots on NBC? 

Mike Tirico will handle play-by-play duties during the game, with Cris Collinsworth providing color commentary and Melissa Stark reporting from the sidelines.

NBC’s weekly ‘Football Night in America’ pregame show will begin at 7 p.m. ET and feature insight from a panel of analysts, including Maria Taylor, Jason Garrett, Chris Simms, Mike Florio, Devin McCourty, Tony Dungy, and more. 

Bills vs. Patriots odds

Bills vs Patriots injury report

How tall is Josh Allen?

Josh Allen is listed at 6-5, 237 pounds on the Bills’ official website. 

Among NFL quarterbacks, only Joe Flacco, Justin Herbert and Trevor Lawrence are taller than Allen. All are listed at 6-6.