Deciding which games to feature in this column is often simple. Every once in a while, the narratives leaving a weekend coalesce in front of your eyes; sometimes there’s a paucity of interesting storylines to sink your teeth into. Sometimes, there’s simply too many games to cover off. This week was one of them.

So, here’s a few of the storylines we have had to leave on the cutting room floor:

• Drake Maye and the Patriots bested Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in upstate New York. And in prime time, no less.
• The Detroit Lions continue their offensive dominance, belittling the idea they would crater without the guidance of Ben Johnson. Their output was enough to withstand a pissed-off Ja’Marr Chase, as the triple crown winner channelled his frustration to the tune of two touchdowns in the Bengals 37-22 loss.
• The Carolina Panthers overcame maddening delay-of-game penalties and a truly inexcusable fumble from Bryce Young to beat the Miami Dolphins 27-24 in Charlotte; their second win in a row.
• Jayden Daniels and a suddenly rejuvenated Washington Commanders defense have staved off their status as prime candidates for regression, handing the Los Angeles Chargers their second consecutive loss.

Now we’ve covered off (pretty much) all bases, here’s what we found to be the most compelling action on the NFL gridiron this week.

WEEK 5 SCORES

(excl. Monday 6th October)

Thursday

San Francisco 49ers 26 @ Los Angeles Rams 23 OT

Sunday:

Minnesota Vikings 21 @ Cleveland Browns 17 (London)

Dallas Cowboys 37 @ New York Jets 22

New York Giants 14 @ New Orleans Saints 26

Las Vegas Raiders 6 @ Indianapolis Colts 40

Miami Dolphins 24 @ Carolina Panthers 27

Denver Broncos 21 @ Philadelphia Eagles 17

Houston Texans 44 @ Baltimore Ravens 10

Tennessee Titans 22 @ Arizona Cardinals 21

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 38 @ Seattle Seahawks 35

Detroit Lions 37 @ Cincinnati Bengals 24

Washington Commanders 27 @ Los Angeles Chargers 10

New England Patriots 23 @ Buffalo Bills 20

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GAME OF THE WEEK

Cleveland Browns 17 @ Minnesota Vikings 21 (London)

This tilt between the Browns and Vikings was the 40th regular season game to be played in London since the International Series started way back in 2007. As always, the UK fans showed up, making for a great atmosphere to welcome these two franchises with plenty of question marks after the first month of the season.

Both sides have established themselves as some of the league’s best defenses. Brian Flores and his exotic scheme promised to make Dillon Gabriel’s first start in the NFL a nightmare, but the rookie demonstrated poise beyond his years, turning in a respectable statline of 190 yards for two scores. He seemed to build a rapport with his tight end room, hitting both Harold Fannin Jr. and David Njoku in the endzone. His connection with Jerry Jeudy and the wide receiving corps was less natural, however. Gabriel connected on just five of the 13 targets sent his receivers way; at times, Jeudy appeared unsure of the play call as the rookie looked to check at the line. That’s far from ideal when Flores was sending his trademark blitzes; Gabriel was sacked twice on the day.

The Vikings struggled at times too, with Carson Wentz temporarily exiting the game in the second quarter to receive treatment for a shoulder after a punishing hit by Cody Schwesinger. Wentz was sacked three times on the day.

In Justin Jefferson, the Vikings found a means to bail them out of tricky situations. Jefferson logged seven catches for 123 yards in London, becoming the leading receiver in International Series games. The former LSU Tiger has now gained 452 yards in five regular season games overseas.

It was Jefferson’s partner, Jordan Addison, that came up with the crucial play, however. Addison sat the first quarter of the game for disciplinary reasons. On the final drive, he made his presence felt, making three catches including a 21-yard toe-tapping touchdown grab after Wentz delightfully lofted a ball over Denzel Ward’s head to win the Vikings the game.

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MVP OF THE WEEK

Shane Steichen (Head coach, Indianapolis Colts)

Make no mistake, the Indianapolis Colts’ dominance over admittedly weak opposition is the story of this young NFL season so far. Steichen’s side have faced three of the worst through the first four weeks of the season: Miami (25th), Las Vegas (26th) and Tennessee (32nd). It’s often said that the best teams in the league prove their quality by how they deal with such opponents. Well, the Colts’ average margin of victory against those three franchises is an eye-popping 22.3 points.

This week, they overcame an injury to their rookie kicker Spencer Schrader by steamrolling an abject Oakland Raiders defense, winning 40-3. Daniel Jones, Jonathan Taylor, Tyler Warren and the deep wide receiver corps led by a rejuvenated Michael Pittman removed the need for any meaningful special teams support from the equation. The Colts punted on their first and last possession (by which point Jones had been sat for Anthony Richardson); they scored a touchdown on their six other drives, dominating the time of possession and sucking the life out of the silver-and-black.

Steichen has been completely vindicated in his decision to start Jones over Richardson. The much-maligned signal caller has hardly put a foot wrong behind a dominant offensive line that hasn’t exactly missed the talents of Will Fries and Ryan Kelly. Quentin Nelson was an unstoppable force on Sunday, creating gaping running lanes for Taylor as he showcased his preternatural mobility, pulling from his guard position to land punishing blocks on linebackers in the second level. Taylor’s three touchdowns, to go with Jones’ two passing scores, demonstrates a well-balanced offensive arsenal that is excellent value for its rank as the league’s second-best unit according to DVOA. Thanks to their relatively soft slate of games, a deep roster and quality offensive coaching, the Colts have all the markings of a playoff team.

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Loser: Emari Demarcado

The Colts arguably should be sitting pretty at 5-0, as their 27-20 loss to the Rams in Week 4 was swung by Adonai Mitchell’s calamitous fumble on the goal line, chalking off a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.

I’m sure running back coaches the league over showed that clip to their ball carriers, reminding them that the play isn’t dead until the pigskin crosses the whitewash. That message clearly did not get through the brain of Emari Demarcado. The third-down back had something to prove to his bosses, as he was kept in his passing-down role despite injuries to Trey Benson and James Conner, as Arizona instead brought Michael Carter off the practice squad to start, while also giving meaningful snaps to Zonavan Knight. Both Carter and Knight scored as the Cards raced to a commanding 21-6 lead with just 12:41 remaining in the fourth quarter. Demarcado, getting his chance, burst through a hole, seemingly icing the game as he trotted in for a 72-yard touchdown. His deceleration allowed L’Jarius Sneed to get back into the play, but it wasn’t the cornerback’s intervention that separated the rock from Demarcado’s hand, as the running back simply let the ball slide out of his grasp and through the endzone for a touchback.

That precipitated a scarcely believable come-from-behind victory for the ailing Titans; the first of Cam Ward’s career. The Miami alum led a scoring drive immediately after Demarcado’s boo-boo, setting Tony Pollard up for a one-yard plunge. It appeared the game was over when Ward’s tipped throw on the ensuing drive was corralled by Dadrion Taylor-Demerson but, stumbling after his pick, the safety jarred the ball loose from his own hand. A college of Cardinals (the collective noun for the North American Cardinal can be college, conclave or deck; an interesting tidbit for the aspiring ornithologists out there) failed to fall on the ball, giftng Tyler Lockett a bizarre touchdown to bring the Titans within two.

As the Cardinals struggled to regain their composure, a lacklustre drive gave Ward the chance to position his side for a go-ahead score. Joey Slye had more than enough leg, giving the Titans a 22-21 win on the road. According to Next Gen Stats, the Titans averaged a win probability of just 12.1% during the course of the action, the second lowest mark for any winning team since building their model in 2016.

Loser: Kevin Patullo

Who are the 2025 Philadelphia Eagles? To be more specific: What is the philosophy of Nick Sirianni and Kevin Patullo’s offense?

Last week, the Eagles failed to complete a pass in the second half. That inevitably brought rumblings of displeasure from the franchise’s star wideout tandem, as A.J. Brown posted cryptic messages to his social media accounts, while reports of Devonta Smith’s mood were leaked to the press. All of the buzz heading into this match-up with the Broncos was that the Eagles were a pass-first team, with a view to driving a stake through the heart of the opposition in the second half through punishing run blocking and the deployment of Saquon Barkley.

Well, the first part of the plan went swimmingly against the Broncos. Patullo expanded his playbook significantly, dialling up deep shots to Smith and feeding Brown early. The Eagles took a 17-3 lead over Denver early in the second half on a beautifully designed wheel route to Barkley, that saw the reigning Offensive Player of the Year arc his route past a stationary Broncos defender, whose eyes had been transfixed by Brown and Smith running in-breaking routes to clear space. Jalen Hurts dropped one in the bucket, allowing Barkley to race in for his first touchdown of the season from 47 yards out. All was seemingly well.

Bo Nix and the Broncos sparked into life early in the third quarter, as Sean Payton dialled up a patented mix of quick-developing pass plays and well-designed runs to set up a J.K. Dobbins plunge to the endzone. With just over 10 minutes left on the clock, now was the time for Barkley and his lineman to ice the game. What followed were two consecutive drives where the Eagles failed to generate a first down, as Barkley was routinely stuffed, forcing Hurts into long third down situations. Sandwiched between those two efforts was a go-ahead drive by the Broncos, as Nix found Evan Engram over the middle for an 11-yard-score. Payton went for the jugular, opting for two. A craftily worked play action call saw Troy Franklin race to the pylon, generating an easy pitch-and-catch for Nix to convert.

The Broncos added a short Will Lutz field goal on their next possession, requiring the Eagles to score a touchdown on the game’s final drive. A back-breaking sack on first down — one of Nick Bonitto’s 2.5 sacks on the game — essentially iced the outcome.

Much of the focus of the Eagles’ woes has centred on Patullo’s play-calling. The lack of a clear idea over the first five weeks of the season have been damning, but it’s also true that this offensive line which has set the table for so long has taken a step back in 2025. Last year, the Eagles averaged 4.9 yards per carry, but have regressed to just 3.5 yards per tote through five weeks of the season. While the defense has largely held up its side of the bargain, they are not without reproach too. Zach Baun’s unnecessary hit on R.J. Harvey, when the running back had essentially been stopped short of the marker on a 3rd-and-1 ate more clock for Hurts’ futile game-saving attempt in the final moments.

This focus on Philadelphia’s woes is not to detract from the Broncos’ statement win. Payton delivered a virtuoso playcalling display in the final moments, while the defense, led by the efforts of Bonitto, grew into this game. Still, the unrest in the City of Brotherly Love will be the main talking points in the aftermath of this match-up.

Winners: Sam Darnold & Baker Mayfield

In truth, this shootout probably should have been our game of the week, but instead, we’ll use this space to heap praise on Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, two quarterbacks who have demonstrated remarkable resilience in re-establishing their careers.

First, let’s look at Darnold. The ex-Jets bust entered Week 4 as the ninth-best signal caller in the NFL according to QBR. He continued his rich vein of form, best demonstrated on an eight-play 99-yard drive that was capped by a 21-yard toss to Tory Horton. Darnold escaped two pass-rushers, stepped up in the pocket, kept his eyes downfield and found the open rookie receiver, who waltzed into the endzone. That was Darnold’s fourth touchdown pass of the game, which gave the hosts a 35-28 lead. However, it was his rival who got the last laugh.

Once again, the plucky Mayfield was up to the moment, replying to Darnold’s drive with a game-tying possession of his own. Much like Darnold, the crucial play came when Mayfield evaded pressure, broke free of the pocket and found an uncovered Sterling Shepherd in the endzone.

It was unfortunate that it was a Darnold interception that ultimately decided the game. On a 2nd-and-2 from his 28-yard line, Darnold was faced with a blitz. His attempted throwaway ricocheted off a defender’s helmet into the hands of Lavonte David, setting the Bucs up for their fourth come-from-behind win of the season. Chase McLaughlin’s 39-yard-attempt was a mere formality, icing a helter-skelter game that left the neutral feeling enamored with two quarterbacks that have carved out a fruitful career in the NFL after it appeared they were yesterday’s news.

Winners: Brian Schottenheimer & the Cowboys’ offense

As New York Jets fans trudged out of MetLife Stadium after watching Gang Green fall to their fifth loss of the season, the remaining Cowboys fans started serenading Dak Prescott with MVP chants. It’s a bit of a stretch to imagine Prescott lifting the crown, largely because the Cowboys’ porous defense will likely scupper the team’s chances of a playoff run, but that doesn’t detract from the quality play of the signal caller and his team-mates on offense.

Entering Week 4, the Cowboys ranked 23rd in overall team DVOA, but that paltry mark is misleading, as the offense was dragged down by the league’s worst defense. Schottenheimer’s side were the league’s fifth best unit by that metric, something they backed up in a dominant and balanced display in New Jersey. Javonte WIlliams continued to excel on the ground, scoring a rushing and receiving touchdown on 139 yards from scrimmage. Prescott’s burgeoning relationship with George Pickens has more than made up for the absence of Ceedee Lamb. The ex-Steeler was marshalled well by Sauce Gardner, but still managed to beat the All-Pro corner on a 43-yard bomb. With his premier target limited to a couple of explosive plays, Prescott fed Ryan Flournoy and Jake Feguson consistently. Flournoy, a second-year player that was only promoted from the practice squad in September, eclipsed 100 yards for the first time in his career, while Ferguson continued his stellar season with two receiving touchdowns.

Schottenheimer is severely hamstrung on the defensive side of the ball. The Cowboys unit has been propped up by Micah Parsons over the past couple of years and, without the difference maker, it’s unlikely this under-manned unit will be able to limit their opponents’ output. However, the rapport the head coach has built with Prescott has made the Cowboys one of the best offenses in the league. His team are quickly becoming the 2025 season’s premier entertainers.

Loser: The Baltimore Ravens

I would forgive any Baltimore Ravens fan that retreated behind their sofa to avert their eyes from the gratuitous beatdown meted out on their team by the Houston Texans. The narrative headed into this game was that both sides desperately needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. For the Texans, that would mean a turnaround on offense; for the Ravens, a heroic effort from their backups in the absence of more than $120m-per-year’s worth of talent.

The Texans delivered, while the Ravens wilted under the pressure. C.J. Stroud enjoyed by far the best performance of his 2025 season, throwing four touchdowns against a Ravens defense that is scarcely recognisable. Even for those Baltimore fans that hid from the screen would have heard the damning assessment of Texans legend T.J. Watt on the broadcast.

“This has just become an unrecognisable Baltimore Ravens defense from what they used to be,” said the future Hall-of-Famer. “This just isn’t the Baltimore Ravens that we’ve come to know. It doesn’t feel right.”

Entering Week 4, the Ravens were 31st in both passing and scoring defense. They have conceded more than 30 points in four out of five games, and have allowed 40 points twice. Without Lamar Jackson, the Cooper Rush-led offense simply couldn’t keep pace with a team they boat-raced in a high-profile Christmas Day game just nine months ago.

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