Look, the NFL season is a marathon, not a sprint, but by the time the week 5 nfl schedule rolls around, things usually start getting weird. Teams that looked like world-beaters in September suddenly can't find the end zone. Star players are nursing turf toe. And fans? Well, we’re all just trying to figure out which "lock" is going to ruin our parlays this time.
The 2025 iteration of Week 5 was no exception. It wasn't just another Sunday; it was a logistical puzzle spanning from London to the West Coast. If you missed the live action, or if you're just looking back at the carnage, you've got to understand the context. This was the week the "early bye" hit four major fanbases—Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, and Pittsburgh—leaving a lot of people with nothing to do but watch other teams beat each other up.
Honestly, the schedule was top-heavy, but it had these strange, localized pockets of drama that defined the middle of the season.
The London Wake-Up Call and Thursday Nights
The week didn't even start in America. It started in North London.
Before we even got to the Sunday morning coffee, we had the San Francisco 49ers visiting the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night, October 2nd. It’s always a bit of a coin flip when these two meet, but this one felt heavier. Brock Purdy was dealing with that lingering turf toe issue he picked up against Jacksonville. It’s one of those injuries where you can play, but you’re basically a statue in the pocket. Mac Jones ended up taking some snaps, and let's be real—the Rams at SoFi are a different beast.
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Then came Sunday morning. 9:30 a.m. ET.
If you aren't a morning person, the London games are a nightmare. But for the rest of us, it’s basically breakfast with the Minnesota Vikings and the Cleveland Browns. They met at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Vikings have this weird luck in London—it’s like they thrive on jet lag. They squeezed out a 21-17 win in a game that was, frankly, a bit of a defensive slog. Kevin Stefanski returning to face his old team in a different country? That’s the kind of script the NFL loves.
Breaking Down the Sunday Early Slate
The 1:00 p.m. ET window is usually a mess of red zone channel hopping. But certain games on the week 5 nfl schedule stood out because of the stakes.
You had the Dallas Cowboys heading to MetLife to face the New York Jets. This was a big "prove it" game. The Cowboys were dealing with life after CeeDee Lamb’s injury, and Jake Ferguson was essentially the entire passing offense. Meanwhile, the Jets were just trying to keep their heads above water. Dallas ended up taking that one 37-22, mostly because the Jets' offense looked like it was stuck in a mud pit.
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Then there was the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Houston Texans. This was a rematch of the playoffs from the year before, and people expected a shootout. Instead, it was a Baltimore beatdown. Lamar Jackson and Co. put up 44 points. Houston only managed 10. Sometimes the hype just doesn't match the reality on the field.
Other 1:00 p.m. Results
- Carolina Panthers 27, Miami Dolphins 24: A total upset. Mike McDaniel’s seat started feeling a little warm after this one.
- Indianapolis Colts 40, Las Vegas Raiders 6: Total dominance. The Raiders looked like they forgot there was a game scheduled.
- New Orleans Saints 26, New York Giants 14: Just a standard, gritty Saints win.
- Denver Broncos 21, Philadelphia Eagles 17: A shocking result given how strong Philly looked in the weeks prior.
The Late Afternoon and Prime Time Finish
Once the 4:00 p.m. window hit, the geography shifted West.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went into Seattle to face the Seahawks. This was actually the game of the day. High scoring, lead changes, and Baker Mayfield looking like a guy who’s finally found a permanent home. The Bucs walked out with a 38-35 win. It was a heartbreaker for Seattle fans, especially with Jaxon Smith-Njigba putting up massive numbers (he's basically their entire offense now).
Over in Cincinnati, the Detroit Lions continued their warpath. They handled the Bengals 37-24. It’s wild to see the Lions as the "safe bet" in these matchups, but that’s where we are now.
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Sunday Night: The AFC East Grudge Match
Sunday Night Football on NBC featured the New England Patriots at the Buffalo Bills. This was supposed to be a measuring stick for Drake Maye. Playing in Buffalo at night is basically a rite of passage for AFC East quarterbacks. The Patriots actually played them tough, winning 23-20. It was one of those "Josh Allen had a bad night" games, but New England’s defense deserved the credit.
Monday Night: The Final Act
The week wrapped up in Jacksonville with the Jacksonville Jaguars hosting the Kansas City Chiefs.
Normally, you’d expect Mahomes to just do Mahomes things, but Jacksonville has become a bit of a house of horrors for visiting teams lately. The Jags pulled off the 31-28 upset. It was the perfect cap to a week that saw several heavyweights fall. Trevor Lawrence played one of his cleanest games, and the Chiefs' defense just couldn't get off the field in the fourth quarter.
Actionable Tips for Following Mid-Season NFL
When you're looking at a slate like the Week 5 schedule, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Here is how to actually digest it:
- Watch the Bye Weeks: When four teams go on bye at once, the player pool in fantasy and the betting lines get thin. This is where "trap games" happen because the league’s depth is tested.
- Trust the London Factor: Teams that travel to London often struggle the following week if they don't get a bye. Always check the Week 6 schedule for the Vikings and Browns to see if they’re scheduled for a "hangover" game.
- Monitor "Turf Toe" and Soft Tissue: By Week 5, these nagging injuries start becoming a trend. If a QB like Purdy is "day-to-day" with a toe injury, expect the playbook to shrink significantly.
- Ignore Early Season Hype: By now, the "0-4" or "1-3" teams are desperate. Desperation in the NFL is a powerful motivator. Look at how the Panthers and Jags played this week—they were playing for their seasons.
The week 5 nfl schedule proved that parity is very real. You can't just look at a roster and decide who wins; you have to look at the travel, the injury report, and the sheer desperation of a team trying to avoid a losing record before November hits.
Keep an eye on the injury reports heading into next week. The fallout from the Seahawks-Bucs game and the status of the Bills' offense will be the main talking points as the league moves toward the mid-season mark. Check the Wednesday practice participation reports for the most accurate read on which stars will actually be on the field for Week 6.