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2025 NFL Week 5 Winners and Losers and Top Takeaways
Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season concluded with a thrilling playoff-caliber matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Bleacher Report's team of NFL analysts—Brent Sobleski, Gary Davenport, Kris Knox and Moe Moton—followed along with all of the week's action to provide the top winner and loser from each contest and the biggest takeaways.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
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Score: Jaguars 31, Chiefs 28
Jaguars Takeaway: Trevor Lawrence Still Learning but Trending in Right Direction
The Jags got a huge win at home on Monday night, thanks in large part to a handful of jaw-dropping plays by quarterback Trevor Lawrence, including a go-ahead touchdown run with less than 30 seconds remaining.
However, the 2021 No. 1 overall pick is still making the sorts of mistakes that young QBs make. He fumbled at the goal line, threw an interception near his own end zone, and was twice called for delay of game.
The good news is he's showing growth under Liam Coen, and if Lawrence can clean everything up, the Jags could be poised for a deep run.
Coming through in the clutch against Patrick Mahomes in prime time is a good start.
Winner: LB Devin Lloyd, Jacksonville Jaguars
For the second straight week, we have to highlight linebacker Devin Lloyd, who was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for September.
Lloyd, who is in a contract year and rapidly earning an extension, had the single most impactful play of Monday's game. He picked off Mahomes at the goal line and returned it for a touchdown and a 14-point swing.
Chiefs Takeaway: The Chiefs Won't Go Far Playing Sloppy Football
We've become accustomed to seeing the Chiefs winning games with less talent than the opposition because they've consistently done the little things right.
Kansas City has lost to all three winning teams it has played this season, and it did plenty of things wrong against Jacksonville.
The Chiefs' 13 penalties, 109 penalty yards, and various other mistakes—including Mahomes' pick—cost them a road win they would have stolen in years past.
Loser: Chiefs Special Teams
There were too many mistakes on Monday to single out any one, but Kansas City's overall play on special teams was terrible.
The Chiefs were called for four special teams penalties, including a holding call that cost them 17 yards right before their final desperation drive.
Harrison Butker also botched the kickoff following Kansas City's final score, putting it out of bounds and putting Jacksonville at their 40-yard line. The Jags drove it 60 yards and scored with only 23 seconds left in regulation.
New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills
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Score: Patriots 23, Bills 20
Patriots Takeaway: New England Wisely Gambled on Stefon Diggs in Free Agency
Back in March, the Patriots signed Diggs to a three-year, $63.5 million contract while he recovered from a torn ACL, which is a risky investment in a 31-year-old receiver.
Yet Diggs looks like he's in pre-injury form, almost a year since the injury. The 11th-year wideout has eclipsed 100 receiving yards in consecutive games, the first time he's done so since October 2023.
As the Patriots' lead receiver in multiple categories, he has shown he's worth the gamble coming off injury at his age.
Winner: WR Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots
During this game, Diggs passionately encouraged his teammates. He vocally expressed his leadership on the sideline and delivered between the white lines, hauling in 10 of his 12 targets for 146 yards.
The ex-Bills star still gets fired up to face his former team, and he used that emotional fuel to help knock off the league's last unbeaten club.
Bills Takeaway: Bills Can Shake Off First Loss, But They Must Clean Up Penalties
Not even the reigning MVP can salvage a sloppy performance with late-game heroics. The Bills committed a season-high 11 penalties that cost them 90 yards.
While they have no reason to panic following defeat, head coach Sean McDermott must urge his team to tighten up its execution. Josh Allen is one of the league's best quarterbacks, but he shouldn't have to put on a Superman cape to save an undisciplined squad.
Loser: Buffalo Bills Secondary
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye's first pass went to Diggs. At that point, the Bills should have known he would see a heavy dose of targets in a revenge game against his former team.
Yet Buffalo didn't have an answer for Diggs in coverage Sunday night. He torched the Bills' pass coverage and had his most productive outing in yardage since the 2022 term.
The Bills came into this matchup with the No. 1 pass defense in yards allowed. So, Diggs' performance may be an outlier against Buffalo's secondary, but it's a unit to monitor ahead of a Week 6 Monday Night Football matchup with Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London.
Washington Commanders vs. Los Angeles Chargers
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Score: Commanders 27, Chargers 10
Commanders Takeaway: It's Jacory "Bill" Croskey-Merritt's' Backfield Now
Jayden Daniels' return to action boosted the Commanders to victory, though his rookie teammate, Croskey-Merritt, put the offense on his back with 111 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Washington has rotated three running backs in its backfield, but after Croskey-Merritt's breakout performance against the Chargers, he'll likely continue to take on the lion's share of touches.
Winner: Washington Commanders Defense
The Commanders defense overwhelmed the Chargers' injury-riddled offensive line. Washington registered six tackles for loss. Dorance Armstrong recorded two sacks. Cornerback Mike Sainristil forced a key turnover with an interception midway through the fourth quarter.
Though Los Angeles has its issues with questionable depth up front, credit to Washington for taking full advantage of a clear weakness in the trenches.
Chargers Takeaway: Justin Herbert Is Vulnerable Behind a Makeshift Offensive Line
Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz should spend Monday calling teams in search of an offensive tackle. Without Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, Justin Herbert is a pocket pinata for opposing pass-rushers.
Slater is out for the season. Although Alt could return to left tackle soon, Trey Pipkins has struggled at right tackle. Mekhi Becton may undergo tests on his hand, another injury to monitor for the front line.
Loser: QB Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Herbert made poor decisions on his own account. At times, he tried to do too much on extended plays, which led to errant throws and left him prone to big hits. On Sunday, he threw for just 166 yards, a touchdown and an interception and took four sacks.
After a hot start in the first two games of the season, the 2021 Pro Bowler is struggling with his completion rate and turnovers while under duress.
Tennessee Titans vs. Arizona Cardinals
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Score: Titans 22, Cardinals 21
Titans Takeaway: Cam Ward Can Be Great If He Gets Help
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Tennessee Titans coaches are concerned about their job security. Sunday's win should help a little, but it won't completely alleviate concerns.
Rookie QB Cam Ward faces challenges behind a struggling offensive line and a receiving corps that has yet to impress. Despite these issues, he continues to flash a high ceiling.
Winner: QB Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
Ward got little help throughout Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals. However, he still finished with 265 passing yards and the first win of his NFL career.
The first overall pick in April's draft also led three fourth-quarter scoring drives that began at or inside Tennessee's own 20-yard line—though one of them came with a major caveat.
Cardinals Takeaway: The Cardinals Can't Be Contenders Until They Figure Out How to Close
The Cardinals were on the doorstep of a 28-6 lead with just under 13 minutes left in regulation. Then, they fell apart.
Emari Demercado dropped the ball before crossing the goal line, while Dadrion Taylor-Demerson picked off Ward only to fumble the football, which was recovered for a Titans touchdown.
For the third straight week, the Cardinals have allowed the opposition to score at the end of regulation in a one-score game. Until Arizona figures out how to reverse its fourth-quarter trend, it can't be considered a real contender.
Loser: RB Emari Demercado, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona's loss was the result of a team-wide collapse, but Demercado is going to catch plenty of blame throughout the coming week.
He should have had a 72-yard touchdown run that would have essentially sealed it for the Cardinals. However, he let go of the ball just before crossing the goal line. It resulted in a touchback, Tennessee's football and, eventually, the Titans' first touchdown of the game.
What's worse is Demercado's mistake came a week after Indianapolis Colts receiver Adonai Mitchell did the same thing, also leading to a one-score loss.
Detroit Lions vs. Cincinnati Bengals
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Score: Lions 37, Bengals 24
Lions Takeaway: Detroit Avoided the Trap But Has Plenty to Clean Up
The Detroit Lions' win over the Cincinnati Bengals never felt as close as the final score might indicate. However, it was by no means a clean outing for Detroit.
The Lions committed eight penalties, allowed four sacks, turned it over once, and allowed Cincinnati to climb back from a 28-3 fourth-quarter deficit.
Detroit avoided a potential trap game on the road, but it can't play so inefficiently and hope to beat the Kansas City Chiefs next week.
Winner: QB Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Quarterback Jared Goff has rebounded nicely since Detroit's Week 1 disaster against the Green Bay Packers. He entered Sunday with an impressive 113.0 passer rating, and he had the sort of game that could push him toward the MVP conversation.
Goff struggled with pressure on a couple of occasions but was an efficient 19-of-23 for 258 yards and three touchdowns.
Bengals Takeaway: The Bengals Haven't Quit on the Season Yet
Playing at home for just the second time this season did seem to help the Bengals find some motivation. After looking lifeless for the better part of their last two road games, they did their best to make things interesting in the fourth quarter.
Granted, most of Cincinnati's positives came in garbage time, but it could have simply rolled over and didn't. This doesn't mean head coach Zac Taylor called a good game—he continues to pretty much ignore Chase Brown and the ground game—but his players actually seemed to care.
Loser: QB Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals will eventually stop caring if, at some point, they appear headed toward a lost season. That's going to happen if A.) they can't fix Jake Browning's turnover problem or B.) they start considering some QB alternatives.
Yes, Browning made some big throws late—and he helped return Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to fantasy relevance. However, he also made some baffling decisions, threw a trio of interceptions, and put Cincinnati too far behind for a comeback to be realistic.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Seattle Seahawks
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Score: Buccaneers 38, Seahawks 35
Buccaneers Takeaway: Tampa is a Team That Simply Won't Go Away
For the fourth time this season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' go-ahead points came within the final minute of regulation. Anyone expecting injuries or adversity to knock them out of the playoff mix should keep waiting.
Despite injuries to starters Mike Evans, Bucky Irving and Luke Goedeke, Jamel Dean and Benjamin Morrison, the Bucs managed to outlast a talented Seattle Seahawks team on the road.
Winner: LB Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In a game that featured little defense—in part because of the injuries in Tampa's secondary—the team that got the critical stop was always likely to win. Linebacker Lavonte David provided it when he corralled an errant Sam Darnold pass for the interception with less than a minute left in a tied game.
While Tampa is built to lead with Baker Mayfield and its offense, it will need a few defensive playmakers to make any real postseason noise. At 35 years old, David remains one of those.
Seahawks Takeaway: Sam Darnold is the Right QB for Klint Kubiak's Offense
Darnold made a bad decision while trying to make something happen late in the game. He also threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns while regularly buying time in the pocket and identifying mismatches down the field.
The loss hurts, but it does nothing to suggest Seattle's offseason pairing of Darnold and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak was a mistake.
Loser: Seattle's Defense
Again, the Bucs didn't have three of their top offensive players. Baker Mayfield still went throw-for-throw with Darnold, and Tampa stole a win in Seattle.
Seattle's defense had looked to be much improved in Year 2 under Mike Macdonald, but, as a group, it let the Seahawks down on Sunday.
New York Giants vs. New Orleans Saints
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Score: Saints 26, Giants 14
Saints Takeaway: These Saints are Scrappy
The New Orleans Saints entered Week 5 in search of their first win, but outside of a Week 3 blowout in Seattle, they had managed to stay in games despite a roster that's not exactly choked with talent.
Sunday in the Superdome, the Saints were finally able to get over the hump. And while it may not mean a whole lot in the big picture, New Orleans at least has a little momentum heading into next week's home tilt with the Patriots.
Winner: Saints Defense
The Saints aren't a terrible defense in terms of yards allowed—New Orleans ranked in the middle of the pack entering Week 5. Takeaways had been another matter, though, with just three in four games.
New Orleans made up for that against the G-Men, logging five takeaways: two interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
Giants Takeaway: Jaxson Dart is a Rookie Quarterback
Quite the observation, isn't it?
After Dart's performance in last week's upset of the Los Angeles Chargers, the enthusiasm surrounding him was at a fever pitch.
As so often happens with first-year quarterbacks, though, he came back to earth in Week 5 with 202 passing yards, two touchdowns and three costly turnovers.
There will be more growing pains moving forward.
Loser: Giants Wide Receivers
With Malik Nabers out for the season with a torn ACL, the Giants badly need a wide receiver to step up and provide Dart with a "go-to" target.
It didn't happen Sunday. Tight end Daniel Bellinger paced the team in receiving yards, while wide receivers Wan'Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton and Jalin Hyatt combined for eight catches for 61 yards.
Denver Broncos vs. Philadelphia Eagles
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Score: Broncos 21, Eagles 17
Broncos Takeaway: Denver Is a Legitimate Contender
The Broncos had a nice little run in 2024, which was somewhat unexpected because no one knew exactly how Bo Nix would perform as a first-round rookie.
Now in Year 2, Nix and Co. have proved they can face the league's best and emerge victorious, as they did Sunday against the reigning Super Bowl champs, who owned a 4-0 record entering the contest.
Denver showed an impressive level of resilience against a top-flight opponent after trailing 17-3 entering the fourth quarter.
Winner: Edge Nik Bonitto, Denver Broncos
Nik Bonitto hasn't been mentioned previously in the same category as Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt or even Trey Hendrickson. He needs to be, particularly after Sunday.
The 2022 second-rounder registered 2.5 sacks against the Eagles' vaunted offensive line. He added two tackles for loss and three QB hits. According to The 33rd Team, his 20.5 sacks since the start of the 2024 campaign rank second among all defenders.
Eagles Takeaway: Philadelphia's Offense Must Finish Games
The Eagles offense isn't playing well despite the talent found on the roster. As stated, the team blew a two-score fourth-quarter lead Sunday. A week earlier, Philadelphia didn't score any fourth-quarter points against the Buccaneers.
People can complain about officiating during Sunday's game all they like, but those criticisms overlook the obvious issue that the Eagles' offense hasn't been firing on all cylinders.
Loser: RB Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
Barkley's usage Sunday is a symptom of a much bigger offensive issue.
The NFL's best running back had six carries, with nine total touches, against the Broncos. One came in the second half. That amount is simply unacceptable, which speaks to the Eagles' offensive play-calling.
In order to put games away, Barkley must be featured at all times. He's Philadelphia's most dynamic performer and should be treated as such.
Miami Dolphins vs. Carolina Panthers
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Score: Panthers 27, Dolphins 24
Panthers Takeaway: The Panthers Showed Real Fight
For a good portion of Sunday's win over the Dolphins, it looked like it was going to be another long afternoon in Charlotte.
The Panthers fell behind 17-0 and couldn't get anything going on offense. But they didn't fold.
The Carolina defense stymied the Miami ground game, and thanks to a big afternoon from backup running back Rico Dowdle, it notched its second victory of 2025.
Winner: Panthers RB Rico Dowdle
With Chuba Hubbard sidelined Sunday, it fell to Dowdle to carry the Panthers ground game against Miami. And he did just that.
The South Carolina product carried the ball 23 times for a staggering 206 yards and a score while adding three catches for 38 yards.
Dowdle carried the Panthers to a win.
Dolphins Takeaway: Miami Offense has Problems Moving Forward
We knew the Dolphins had a lot to overcome in Week 5 with Tyreek Hill out for the season. And to his credit, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had a solid game, topping 250 yards with three scoring passes.
However, the Miami ground game was non-existent against a Panthers team that has struggled to stop the run dating back to last year. The Dolphins had 14 carries in the game—for 19 yards.
Loser: Dolphins WR Malik Washington
With Hill out, the belief was Malik Washington would be called on to play a larger role offensively for the Dolphins moving forward. He did see five targets in the game, but the impact of those targets wasn't great.
Washington caught four passes for zero yards.
Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Jets
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Score: Cowboys 37, Jets 22
Cowboys Takeaway: Dallas Offense Must Offset Team's Defense
Plenty laughed when Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Kenny Clark was vitally important as part of the Micah Parsons trade, because the defensive lineman is good against the run.
Even with Clark, though, the Cowboys still aren't good against the run, with Breece Hall averaging 8.1 yards per carry during Sunday's contest.
However, the Dallas offense has the firepower to keep the Cowboys in every game, which is where this team can be successful.
Winner: WR Ryan Flournoy
CeeDee Lamb missed his second consecutive game due to an ankle injury. Ryan Flournoy, who was drafted in last year's sixth round, helped fill the void with a career game.
Flournoy gives Dallas yet another weapon if he can build upon Sunday's six-catch, 114-yard performance. He's an explosive athlete to help stretch the field even when Lamb returns.
Jets Takeaway: Head Coach Aaron Glenn Isn't Doing his Job
After an 0-5 start, the idea of Aaron Glenn becoming the NFL's next one-and-done head coach feels like a realistic possibility. The biggest problem is how poorly his defense is doing.
New York surrendered 416 yards to the Cowboys. As a team, the Jets are the first squad in NFL history without a single takeaway during the first five games.
Loser: Entire Jets Defense
A season ago, New York finished top-three in total defense. The unit was supposed to be the team's strength, allowing the offense to play complementary football thanks to its talented run game.
The Jets ran the ball extremely well against the Cowboys, but the defense looks completely uninspired.
The group isn't flying to the football or playing with any intensity. If quarterback Justin Fields doesn't elevate his performance as a passer, the Jets don't have a chance against most opponents, because the defense isn't holding up its end of the bargain.
Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens
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Score: Texans 44, Ravens 10
Texans Takeaway: Houston Got the Offense Going
Granted, this carries half an asterisk given the sad state of the Baltimore defense. But after struggling to generate consistent offense over the season's first month, the Texans did as they pleased against the Ravens—over 400 yards of offense, over 150 yards on the ground and four C.J. Stroud touchdown passes.
Winner: Texans QB C.J. Stroud
It had been something of a bumpy start to the 2025 campaign for Stroud, although he showed some signs of life against the Tennessee Titans in Week 4. But he had easily his best effort of the season against the Ravens with 27 attempts, 23 completions and four scoring strikes.
Ravens Takeaway: Baltimore is Cooked
The Ravens entered 2025 as one of the leading contenders to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LX. Now, just five weeks into the season, they are trying to become one of a handful of teams in NFL history to make the playoffs after a 1-4 start.
It's not going to happen, though.
It's not just a matter of the injuries that have sidelined multiple starters including quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Ravens are awful defensively. Sunday's loss marked the fourth time in five games that Baltimore has allowed at least 37 points.
Loser: Ravens running back Derrick Henry
We could single out just about anyone on the Ravens defense here, but Baltimore's troubles extend to the offense as well.
Since gouging the Buffalo Bills for 169 yards and two scores on the ground in the season opener, Henry has failed to amass more than 50 rushing yards in four straight games.
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Indianapolis Colts
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Score: Colts 40, Raiders 6
Colts Takeaway: Indianapolis Will Hold Kicker Tryouts
Colts kicker Spencer Shrader left Sunday's game because of a knee injury. Raiders safety and special teamer Tristin McCollum drew a flag for roughing the kicker on the play that sidelined him. Schrader didn't return, and Indianapolis attempted two-point conversions in his absence.
Through the first four weeks, Shrader made 13 of 14 field-goal attempts and went a perfect 12-of-12 on extra points. The Colts will likely find a fill-in for their accurate kicker.
Winner: RB Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Taylor had a big day on the ground against the Raiders' 13th-ranked run defense, rushing for 66 yards and three touchdowns.
He didn't rack up a ton of yardage because the Colts forced turnovers deep in Las Vegas territory, which gave the offense short fields to the goal line. Nonetheless, he led the charge in a home blowout victory.
Raiders Takeaway: Special Teams Coach Tom McMahon Should Be on the Hot Seat
Over the last three weeks, the Raiders have allowed long kick and punt returns—rookie Jaylin Lane took one back for a touchdown. Last week, the Chicago Bears blocked their potential game-winning field goal.
After Sunday's special teams debacle, Las Vegas can't overlook glaring issues on kick coverage and punt setups. As the coordinator of that unit, McMahon must answer for its gaffes.
Loser: HC Pete Carroll, Las Vegas Raiders
Pete Carroll has an absolute mess on his hands. The Colts had their way with the Raiders from start to finish.
For the second time in five weeks, they lost in all three phases of the game.
It's only October, but Carroll and his coaching staff must shake things up all over the roster. The Silver and Black had no punch by the fourth quarter, while the Colts pulled their starters for backups.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Cleveland Browns
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Score: Vikings 21, Browns 17
Vikings Takeaway: Front Office Must Add Depth for Offense
The Vikings' banged-up offense needed a late fourth-quarter drive to score 21 points. Minnesota entered the game with three backup offensive linemen because of injuries. Backup quarterback Carson Wentz played through the second half with a harness on his left shoulder, and he's in the lineup because J.J. McCarthy is out with a high ankle sprain.
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah needs to add reinforcements for the offensive side of the ball until their key players are healthy.
Winner: Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell, Minnesota Vikings
O'Connell had to get creative without multiple starters for his offense, and he went to the back of the playbook in the first half to get the Vikings on the scoreboard.
Running back Cam Akers threw a touchdown pass to tight end Josh Oliver in the first quarter. Without that play, Minnesota is likely pushing to score a late field goal for overtime.
Browns Takeaway: Quinshon Judkins Should Be the Offensive Engine
Dillon Gabriel garnered most of the headline attention ahead of his first NFL start, but Judkins looked like a star in London, rushing for 110 yards.
If Cleveland plans to ride out the season with the rookie quarterback, it needs to design the offense around Judkins, who will force opposing teams to load the box, thereby opening up passing lanes.
Loser: OT KT Leveston, Cleveland Browns
Leveston struggled mightily with penalties, which contributed to the Browns' stalled drives. He's in the starting lineup in place of Dawand Jones, who's out for the season. The Browns need to get Cam Robinson, who was acquired from the Houston Texans, up to speed right away.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams
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Score: 49ers 26, Rams 23
49ers Takeaway: Brock Purdy Should Take Time to Rest
After one game back from a turf-toe injury, Purdy wasn't cleared for Thursday's meeting with the rival Los Angeles Rams. Mac Jones filled in well, with one of the best outings of his career.
The Niners are now 3-0 with Jones as the starting quarterback. Purdy can take his time and properly heal before returning to the lineup.
Winner: QB Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers
Jones efficiently and impressively orchestrated San Francisco's offense throughout the game. His 342 passing yards were the second-most he's ever produced in any contest. He didn't turn the ball over, either.
Mostly, he put the ball where it needed to be with excellent placement and decision-making. All the while, the quarterback battled through a balky knee, which highlighted his toughness.
San Francisco has a quality starter, whether the lineup features Purdy or Jones.
Rams Takeaway: Sean McVay Must Trust Matthew Stafford at All Times
The idea of playing for the win in overtime when the Rams had possession of the ball on 4th-and-1 inside the red zone is a good, aggressive decision.
When the offense's best players are the quarterback and wide receiver, they should have been the ones asked to make a play. Instead, Stafford handed the ball to his running back, who was stopped by the Niners.
In key moments, the ball should always be in Stafford's capable hands.
Loser: RB Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
During the two biggest moments of the Thursday's contest, Williams came up short...literally. In the fourth quarter with 1:07 left to play, the ball-carrier plunged toward the end zone only to have the ball punched out a yard short of scoring.
The Rams did manage a game-tying field goal shortly thereafter, but Los Angeles could have won the game outright with better ball security.
As mentioned, San Francisco stoned Williams on 4th-and-1 in overtime. Sometimes, a running back has to make room for himself by slamming the ball into a wall and still getting some push. He wasn't able to drive his legs and get the first down, thus ending the game.
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