Thwarted expectations, surprising upsets, and comebacks; Week 5 had a little bit of everything. And as we head to Week 6 now, the first impacts of October have left the MVP leaderboard shaking. The biggest names are jockeying for position, but it’s still too soon for anyone to be running away with it yet. From veterans staking claims to rising stars challenging the order, Week 5 blew the MVP race wide open. Here’s the latest EssentiallySports MVP ladder, with a quick look at players lurking just outside.
5. Patrick Mahomes
Last week, Patrick Mahomes held the 4th slot on our MVP ladder. But no one expected a 31-28 loss at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sure, a lot of that had to do with the penalties the Kansas City Chiefs faced (13 flags, with 10 of them in the second half). But Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd hauled in a 99-yard touchdown as Mahomes’ Pick-6, and that wasn’t pretty. But Mahomes’ magic has still kept him in the race.
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Five weeks into the season, Mahomes ranks 6th in passing yards (1,257) and 4th in QBR (75.1). His 8:2 TD:INT ratio doesn’t quite do justice to the severity of those picks, but he has married the run game with the passing game beautifully in Week 5, rushing for 60 yards and a touchdown. The O-Line is also finding synergy around him, making this the only game so far where Mahomes wasn’t sacked.
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The odds on Mahomes have tightened for now. But with a key weapon like Xavier Worthy back and Rashee Rice’s return on the horizon, too. Mahomes could push back higher on the leaderboard. When he’s on, he’s almost impossible to stop. For now, it’s just a matter of finding that old spark.
4. Dak Prescott
Last week, Dak Prescott was on the cusp of our MVP talk. Not anymore. Dak’s locked in at the right time. If you need a reason to believe that, just watch him running down the field after handing the ball to Javonte Williams. Dak’s got the wheels, he’s showing an elite level pre/post-snap reads, and even without his most trusted target on the field, there are fireworks.
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Let’s talk stats for a bit. Prescott now ranks second in passing yards (1,356), holds the 3rd spot (tied) with 10 passing touchdowns, and is third in QBR (76.5). If there was anything else that could make his case this week, it was his season-best passer rating of 127.4. With that old injury in the rearview, Prescott’s looking like he means business every single week. If the team can keep up with his elite plays, he’s only going to climb higher on the leaderboard.
3. Jared Goff
The Detroit Lions look sharper than ever, and with a 4-game win streak under his belt, Jared Goff makes the third spot on our MVP rankings. Week 5’s 258 yards and three touchdowns against the Cincinnati Bengals have reinforced his solid start. While he did take 4 sacks, he still managed to go 19 for 23 and carved out a 153 passer rating. But that’s just the numbers from Week 5. Goff has been more surgical than ever before. And with no shortage of targets, the mismatches will probably continue to bring the Lions more victories.
Overall, Goff now leads the league with 12 passing touchdowns. And with just two picks holding him down, Detroit’s offense has soared to new heights with Goff’s calm decision-making and growing chemistry with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs. Detroit is currently leading the league in points per game with its average now at 34.8. Goff’s steady start now paints him as a prime MVP candidate riding a surge few saw coming.
2. Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield is smashing expectations with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 4-1 ride. With 10 touchdowns, just one interception, and 1,283 passing yards, Mayfield leads the league with four game-winning drives in the fourth quarter. His Week 5 masterclass against the Seattle Seahawks has reasserted him as a clutch performer. Mayfield showed extreme precision with a 29-for-33 pass game for 379 yards and two touchdowns. And then there’s the matter of Emeka Egbuka’s explosions…
Mayfield’s rise is as much about his attitude as his stats. The swagger, combined with Tampa’s grind-it-out wins on the road, has lit a fire in the Bucs. When Mike Evans and Bucky Irving return, Mayfield’s numbers could level up and maybe even carry the team deep into January.
1. Josh Allen
Not undefeated anymore, but still the one to beat. Josh Allen remains the favorite atop the MVP ladder, carrying the Buffalo Bills with an unrelenting blend of arm strength and agility. He’s piled up nine touchdown passes, three rushing touchdowns, and 1,429 total yards through five games, guiding Buffalo to a 4-1 record. Despite the team’s recent stumble against the New England Patriots (those turnovers really cost them), Allen’s impact is unmistakable, as he combines pinpoint passes with bruising runs.
Granted, the Bills have not been the best when it comes to the wide receiver room, with tight end Dalton Kincaid leading the team in receiving yards (287). But Allen’s connection with running back James Cook has helped the Bills log 153 points so far (just behind the Lions and the Colts). That’s enough to keep him as the frontrunner as the season moves into mid-October. The only hitch? It’s not 100% guaranteed anymore.
Players on the cusp
Daniel Jones, Sam Darnold, Trevor Lawrence, Matthew Stafford, and Drake Maye lurk just outside the top five, ready to stake their claim in the coming weeks. Jones’ command has the Indianapolis Colts racking up wins above expectations. Darnold’s sturdy leadership makes it look like the Seahawks are ready to take flight this season. Meanwhile, Lawrence’s late-game heroics against Mahomes are pushing the Jaguars into the conversation.
Stafford was making a strong case for himself last week. But his 26-23 loss against the San Francisco 49ers has hurt his stock a little now. But he leads the league with 1,503 passing yards right now and holds second place behind Goff with 11 passing touchdowns. We might just see him back on the board soon enough.
Maye, for one, has made some absolutely beautiful plays with Stefon Diggs. His progression in New England and the fact that he defeated the last remaining undefeated team in the NFL in Week 5, has drawn eyes. Each of these players needs a string of dominant performances to leap into conversation, but their posture signals the MVP race won’t just be about the usual suspects.
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Every game until now has shifted the narrative. As we head into Week 6, the MVP chase has no clear runaway favorite. Whether Josh Allen can maintain his lead, or if Mahomes, Prescott, Goff, or Mayfield shift into another gear, is going to be the story we look out for.
Stay locked in. The next week promises highlight moments, madness, and, of course, more MVP-worthy magic.

NFL sideline reporter Erin Andrews added a playful twist to her usual football coverage after sharing her latest “Calm Down” podcast episode with co-host Charissa Thompson.
The two reporters celebrated Taylor Swift’s brand-new album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” by unboxing Swift’s “T.S.” collector’s boxes, all while dressed in sparkly, showgirl-inspired outfits.
“LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL💃🏼 A huge congratulations to Taylor Swift & her team for an amazing album and THANK YOU for the incredible gifts,” the official “Calm Down” Instagram account posted a short clip of the episode with the caption.
Andrews later reshared the post on her Instagram Story, clearly showing her excitement for Swift’s music.
In the episode, the duo opened their T.S. album boxes like two kids on Christmas morning. They admired every detail, from the glossy cover to the packaging.
“She looks great,” Andrews said, smiling as she looked at the album art. Thompson agreed, pointing out how shiny the album was before the two revealed their favorite songs from the record.
When Thompson suggested they each name their top track on the count of three, the two hosts answered almost at once: “Canceled,” said Thompson. “Father Figure,” replied Andrews, a song Swift’s fans have noted reflects themes of strength and personal growth.
Taylor Swift’s ‘Showgirl’ Era Wins Over Fans
Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl” has become a global sensation since its October 3 release. The album, which dives into the idea of women reclaiming power, creativity and control in their careers, has been praised for its mix of storytelling and modern pop flair.
Swift’s fiancé, Travis Kelce, even joined in the celebration. On his “New Heights” podcast, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end called the album “absolutely amazing.”
“She’s done it again. She’s put the world on tilt,” he added.
For Andrews, who recently interviewed Kelce after his romantic proposal to Swift, the album’s success feels extra special. Just weeks ago, she was one of the first to ask Kelce about how the pop star has changed his life. Kelce told her Swift had “brought excitement and joy” that made him a better person.
Now, with Andrews herself joining the fan excitement, the sports and pop culture worlds seem more connected than ever.

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Odell Beckham Jr. has ambitions of playing in the NFL in 2025. But if the free-agent wide receiver does sign with a franchise this year, he will have to sit on the sidelines for at least six weeks.
During a recent sitdown on

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Herschel Walker as U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas.
Walker, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump who unsuccessfully ran for a Senate seat in Georgia three years ago, was confirmed along with more than 100 other nominees in a 51-47 vote that fell along party lines.
Walker will be the first U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas in nearly 15 years. The U.S. embassy there has been led by a series of chargés d’affaires since 2011.
Walker is a former NFL player who played with Dallas, Minnesota, Philadelphia and the New York Giants. He won the Heisman Trophy while at the University of Georgia.
He lost his Senate campaign in 2022 to Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock in a runoff. Walker’s campaign was marked by turbulence and scandal, including financial troubles, micromanaging and questions about Walker’s past that he struggled to address. Weeks before the election, a report revealed that Walker, who ran on an anti-abortion platform, had paid for an abortion in 2009.
He acknowledged having given a $700 check to an ex-partner, but denied knowing it was for an abortion, in a 2022 interview with NBC News.
Trump defended Walker amid the abortion report that rocked his campaign. Walker later stumped for Trump in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.
Trump nominated Walker for the diplomatic post in December 2024, praising him in his announcement as “an Ambassador to our Nation’s youth, our men and women in the Military, and athletes at home and abroad.”
The ambassadorship has been vacant since Nicole Avant, who was nominated by former President Barack Obama, left in 2011.
Obama nominated Cassandra Butts, who had served as deputy White House counsel during his presidency, to the post in 2014, but the Senate did not act on the nomination. He re-nominated Butts a year later, but she died while her nomination was pending.

Afederal court has denied the NFL’s request to force the Brian Flores discrimination case into arbitration, meaning the case is set to be litigated in open court.
In August, a three-judge panel ruled that Flores’ claims against the New York Giants, Denver Broncos, and Houston Texans could not be compelled to arbitration overseen by the NFL, though his claims involving the Miami Dolphins could proceed through that process. But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on Tuesday declined to grant a full-court rehearing, affirming that those claims must move forward to trial.
The NFL has been involved in a number of legal battles lately, but the ramifications for Flores’ suit going to open court could cause major shockwaves among the league’s majority-Black players.
What is Brian Flores Alleging in His Lawsuit?
Flores filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL and three teams in 2022. In the suit, he accused the league of being “rife with racism” in its hiring practices and claimed he faced racial discrimination during his tenure as head coach of the Dolphins. Flores alleged “systemic racial discrimination in the hiring, retention, and termination of NFL coaches and executives.” He further contended that the Broncos and Giants subjected him to “sham” head-coaching interviews, and that the Dolphins and Texans retaliated against him. The Texans were later added to the case after coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton joined the lawsuit as co-plaintiffs.
After filing the lawsuit, Flores acknowledged that taking legal action against the NFL could have jeopardized the coaching career he loves. Still, he said the risk was worth it if his efforts could help bring lasting change and challenge systemic racism in the league for future generations.
The NFL has rejected Flores’ allegations as “without merit” and maintained that his claims should be resolved through arbitration under the league’s constitution. That provision grants Commissioner Roger Goodell the authority to decide certain disputes or appoint an independent arbitrator to handle them. Because coaches agree to the NFL constitution when signing their employment contracts, the league argued the arbitration clause applies to Flores’ case.
In 2023, Judge Valerie Caproni’s ruled that the clause does cover Flores’ claims against the Dolphins, since he was employed by the team at the time. However, she determined it does not extend to his claims against the NFL or the other teams. The appeals court upheld that decision, finding the arbitration process unfair because it allows Goodell to influence who oversees disputes involving the league—or even himself personally.
In the ruling, Caproni wrote that the coaches’ accounts of racial discrimination within the NFL were “deeply troubling,” noting the league’s “long history of systemic discrimination against Black players, coaches, and managers.”
“Although the clear majority of professional football players are Black, only a tiny percentage of coaches are Black,” she said.
Flores’ Attorneys Argue the NFL Stalling
In September, Flores’ legal team filed a motion asking the court to reconsider the 2023 order that had sent parts of the case to arbitration.
At the time, Flores’ attorneys told ESPN that “Any attempt by the NFL to further delay and avoid litigation of these claims should respectfully be rejected.”
But the arbitration process has not moved since legal briefs were exchanged in December 2024. “As such,” Flores’ attorneys said, “the entire arbitration has been in a complete standstill and effective stay.”
Flores Considered One of Best Coordinators in NFL
Flores spent the 2022 season as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers before taking over as the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator in 2023. Under his leadership, Minnesota’s defense has ranked among the league’s best this year, allowing just 1,449 yards through five games—the sixth-fewest in the NFL. Known for his highly aggressive play-calling, Flores has turned the Vikings into one of the league’s top blitzing defenses. After the 2024 season, he interviewed for head coaching jobs with the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New York Jets but did not advance past the initial round of interviews.
Flores has had two former quarterbacks publicly express disdain for him. Tua Tagovailoa characterized him as a “terrible person” who frequently told him that he “suck[ed].” Based on this account, it appeared that Tagovailoa viewed Flores’ termination as linked to his performance rather than his race. While Ryan Fitzpatrick said Flores had become a “dictator” by the end of his tenure with the club and that he “broke” Tagovailoa. Both quarterbacks could be witnesses if and when the case goes to trial.

There have been quite a few bottle jobs this season in the NFL. But no one has yet thrown the game away like the Arizona Cardinals did in what resulted in a 21-22 loss to the Tennessee Titans. What made the loss even uglier was Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon losing his cool and punching his own running back Emari Demercado on the sideline. Naturally, the Cardinals were not going to let that slide.
According to reporter Adam Schefter of ESPN, Gannon is going to get hit with a 6-figure fine. “Cardinals are fining HC Jonathan Gannon $100,000 for his sideline altercation with RB Emari Demercado, who dropped the football before crossing the goal line Sunday on what would’ve been a 72-yard touchdown run. There will be no further discipline for Gannon,” he wrote on X.
The incident went down early in the fourth quarter.
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Demercado broke loose and sprinted 72 yards downfield, untouched, seemingly about to give his team a 27-6 lead. Then came the disaster.
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Just before stepping into the end zone, he let go of the football before what would’ve been a touchdown that would’ve given the Cardinals a 27-6 lead. You could argue that would’ve ended the game right there. Instead, everything unraveled from there. The Titans possessed all the momentum, scored 16 points to the Cardinals’ zero, and won it on a last-second field goal. It was just the latest meltdown for the Cardinals, who’ve now managed to lose three straight games in the same fashion.
Following the play, Demercado was on the sideline exchanging words with left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. and guard Will Hernandez. Johnson later said he was trying to cheer him up, telling him to “wipe it off” and get on with it. That’s when Gannon came in. After yelling at Demercado’s face, Gannon punched near his right shoulder pad as he stormed away.
Now, we’ve seen fiery coach-player moments before. Even Andy Reid and Travis Kelce were practically nose-to-nose earlier this season. But a head coach punching his player out of frustration? That’s a different level. To his credit, Gannon owned up to it the next morning.
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“I woke up this morning and didn’t feel great about it, honestly, so in the team meeting I addressed it,” Gannon said. “I apologized to Emari, I apologized to the team, and I just told them I kind of let the moment of what happened get the better of me there.” Now, punching your own guy is never going to look good, but you could tell why frustration was boiling over. And it won’t get any easier.
Jonathan Gannon faces a difficult road ahead
Sunday’s game was basically a highlight reel of self-destruction: a fumble off Kyler Murray’s facemask in the red zone, an interception that turned into a Tennessee touchdown after the ball got kicked loose in the end zone… it was chaos. The Titans pulled their first win of the season. As for Jonathan Gannon and the Cardinals, the road ahead is only going to become harder.
The season started off looking like a redemption arc for Arizona after an 8-9 finish last year: two straight wins against the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers, and it felt like maybe, just maybe, the Cardinals had figured something out. But that optimism didn’t last long. Three straight losses later (all by field goals), it all fell apart.
And it won’t get any easier next week. Because next up? The Indianapolis Colts. Quarterback Daniel Jones, whose 1,290 passing yards have him at 3rd in the league, has led them to 163 total points (2nd behind the Detroit Lions). They are, as things stand, legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
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Defensively, the Cardinals are still holding up their end of the bargain. They’re allowing just 19.2 points per game, which ranks fourth in the league. But there’s a clear split personality issue with this team. The offense? Not so much. They’re averaging 20.6 points per game, which puts them all the way down at 23rd.
Gannon and Murray have to figure things out fast.

The Big Ten conference added four teams, UCLA, USC, Washington and Oregon, to its roster before last season in hopes of shaking up the college football landscape.
What followed was seismic shift in conference perception that had fans proclaiming commissioner Tony Petitti’s conference as the best in all the land with the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in second place, a wholly unfamiliar spot.
The success of the Big Ten’s expansion has carried over into 2025-26 with Oregon, Ohio State, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and other Big Ten teams experiencing a high level of success.
The Big Ten isn’t guaranteed more than one spot in the College Football Playoffs this season, but one former NFL and current league coach thinks that should change.
Matt Rhule Speaks Out on CFP
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule spoke out on his own personal proposal for the Big Ten and the College Football Playoff going forward.
“In the Big Ten, we have to go into someone else’s stadium in our league five times and duke it out,” Rhule said.
“But I think we’ll have a lot of access to the College Football Playoff. I think four teams should get in every year because this is the best league. This is the NFL of college football in my mind. It stretches from coast to coast, different time zones, different weather.”
Nebraska Building Case for Playoff Berth
Nebraska knocked off the visiting Michigan State Spartans last weekend in Lincoln, Neb., giving Rhule’s team its fourth win in five tries so far this season.
The Cornhuskers will next travel to College Park, Maryland to take on coach Mike Locksley’s Terrapins in what should be a challenging but winnable game.
Rhule’s team doesn’t play Ohio State or Oregon this year, widely regarded as the top two teams in Petitti’s conference, giving them a potential inside track to the Big Ten Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, December 6.
Rhule’s plan isn’t likely to drum up a whole lot of support but it speaks to the confidence that Big Ten coaches have in their league.
The Cornhuskers boast a former five-star QB in Dylan Raiola and several talented playmakers including running back Emmet Johnson, who starred against MSU, but still aren’t being seen as a legit College Football Playoffs favorite because of the logjam of strong teams ahead of them in the standings.

The Philadelphia Eagles lost their much-coveted unbeaten streak in the NFL on Sunday when they fell to the Denver Broncos.
Coming into the year, the Eagles were looking to rebuild their edge-rushing corps with young, ascending talents like Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith, both of whom came of massively during last postseason’s Super Bowl run, as Josh Sweat and Milton Williams both departed in free agency, and Brandon Graham retired after a behemoth 15-year career in the NFL – the entirety of which was spent in Philadelphia.
Now facing season-ending injuries to Smith, in addition to offseason addition, Ogbo Okoronkwo, the team are having to go with more of a committee-style approach to the position.
This past weekend, four outside linebackers played at least 1/3 of defensive snaps, Hunt, Azeez Ojulari, Josh Uche and Za’Darius Smith, with Patrick Johnson also chiming in on 11%.
Howie Roseman Encouraged To Find Another Edge Rusher
However, according to The Philly Special’s Anthony DiBona, writing on Monday, the team – i.e. general manager, Howie Roseman, should look to make additions to the unit before the trade deadline in a month’s time.
“Philadelphia’s edge rusher rotation has shown signs of life, yet it hasn’t been nearly consistent enough.” DiBona wrote. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman likely isn’t happy with the lack of pressure that Philadelphia’s pass rush has generated through the first five weeks of the regular season.
The Eagles have recorded just seven sacks in 2025, which is 25th in the NFL. Za’Darius Smith is the only edge rusher that has registered a sack for the Eagles this season. Philadelphia’s pass rush off the edge needs to improve and Roseman likely has to make a trade to fix the issue.”
The Eagles’ Pass Rush Has Not Lived Up To Expectations In 2025
Part of the disparity between the Broncos and Eagles in week 5 was in getting to the quarterback. The Eagles – sans Nolan – managed just 2 sacks, whilst the Broncos got to famously mobile Jalen Hurts 6 times, in what is admittedly one of the better defensive fronts in football.
If the Eagles are to compete, they will need to up their game up front despite having lost key players in free agency in March, and more recently to injury over the past few weeks.
Philadelphia are ranked joint 25th in the league in sacks per game, tied with teams like the New York Jets and the Tennessee Titans, who have a combined 1-9 record to start the season. And whilst their grading out by ESPN’s “pass rush win rate” metric is a little better than their sack totals, coming in at 41%, it still has them as only an average team in the league (17/32).

Summary points:
The Lions have a tough four-game stretch coming up
Terrion Arnold is out but the Lions have a strong defense
Detroit is out for revenge against the Commanders
The Detroit Lions have won four of their first five games to start the 2025-26 NFL season and are coming off of a solid road showing in Cincinnati.
The Lions’ win over the Bengals didn’t come without a cost as starting quarterback Terrion Arnold went down with a shoulder injury that was initially feared to be season ending.
Arnold posted a positive message (‘God is good…’) on Tuesday as he sparked hopes of a return at some point this season.
The former first round draft pick won’t play in the Lions’ next game against the Kansas City Chiefs, but Detroit still has a strong chance to win considering their impressive road performances so far this season.

When the Chicago Bears first announced their $5B vision for Arlington Heights, they weren’t just drawing up blueprints for a football stadium. They were trying to redraw the playbook for what an NFL team could be. But every big plan comes with a big ask.
To turn this dream into a 21st-century reality, the Bears now want $855M in public funds to cover infrastructure upgrades. And that’s where the state of Illinois finds itself, in the familiar tension between big vision and bigger bills.
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The $855M ask: What’s it for?
Team President Kevin Warren calls it transformational. “The Chicago Bears belong to more than just Chicago. We belong to the entire state of Illinois,” Warren said. “We are at a pivotal juncture of the Chicago Bears franchise to build a new stadium,” and it’s hard to argue with the ambition. The plan centers on a 65,000-seat domed stadium (expandable to 77,000) built on the old Arlington Park racetrack, designed to host everything from Super Bowls to international soccer. Despite the scale, the Bears insist the stadium itself, projected to cost $2B, will be entirely privately financed.
But the stadium is just the anchor. Surrounding it would rise a live-work-play neighborhood:
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1,150 apartments
300,000 sq. ft. of retail
200,000 sq. ft. of office space
Two hotels with 400 rooms
Arlington Heights expects $15M in annual local tax revenue, while Warren projects a $10B economic impact during construction and $256M annually once it opens. Yet every delay costs $10M a month, turning ambition into anxiety. The question is: can this investment become a win, or will taxpayers be left holding the playbook?
Here’s where the math gets messy.
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If the Bears stay at Soldier Field, taxpayers stand to earn roughly $259M over 40 years in rent, plus $240M more from state and local taxes. That’s about $67M a year in steady revenue, money that Arlington Heights may never match. Yet the Chicago Bears insist their shiny new deal will net the community $28M annually, conveniently overlooking what taxpayers already earn. But the question arises: when did the game start favoring the owners over the fans?
Why every NFL owner is suddenly in real estate
Across the league, billionaire owners are realizing the real money isn’t inside the stadium, it’s in everything around it. The modern playbook isn’t just about selling tickets; it’s about owning the entire experience, from where fans park, eat, shop, and sleep, to where they stream the highlights later. Stadiums are no longer standalone arenas; they’re anchors for billion‑dollar entertainment districts that never take an offseason. For instance:
SoFi Stadium & Hollywood Park (Rams/Chargers): A $5.5B mega‑project privately funded by Stan Kroenke, surrounded by 2,500 homes, offices, retail, and parks. Estimated annual revenue: $139.4M.
Allegiant Stadium (Raiders): A $1.9B venture split between $1.15B private and $750M public funding. The Raiders pay just $1 a year in rent while pulling in $77.9M annually.
For owners, the logic is simple: eight home games can’t sustain a billion‑dollar business, but 365 days of shopping, dining, concerts, hotels, and office leases can. These developments turn stadiums into living, breathing cash machines that fund themselves long after the final whistle. And if the returns are this lucrative, one has to wonder: why is the public still being asked to play investor when the owners have already scored?
The public debate: Dream or handout?
The Chicago Bears are asking for $855M in public funding to support roads, utilities, and transit access around their new Arlington Heights stadium, about 17% of the overall $5B project. Naturally, this has sparked a debate.
Supporters say:
Infrastructure serves the community, not just football fans: smoother roads, better transit, and modern utilities help everyone.
Bears project 56,000 construction jobs, 9,000 permanent jobs, 370 events per year, up to $1.3B in new state tax revenue over 40 years.
Hosting global events (Super Bowl, Final Four, World Cup games) could cement Chicago as a true sports capital.
Skeptics say:
Taxpayers are footing the bill while a mega-wealthy team and league reap the most profit.
The Bears’ last stadium deal (Soldier Field in 2003) still costs the city: over $525M in debt remains.
Historical evidence suggests public investments in stadiums often fail to deliver promised returns. For instance, the Marlins’ stadium was funded with $2.4B in public money but faced criticism for not delivering the expected returns.
It’s a debate Chicago knows well and one Washington, D.C. is living through right now. The Commanders’ $3.7B RFK redevelopment, with $1B in city funds, drew heavy backlash but still passed an 11-2 Council vote this year. History says stadium math rarely adds up. And yet, history keeps repeating itself.
Beyond the scoreboard
Forget wins and losses, what’s happening in Arlington Heights is about building empires, not just end zones. The Chicago Bears aren’t settling for football glory; they’re auditioning for the role of urban powerhouse, flipping the script on what it means to own an NFL franchise. With the team’s value sitting at $8.2B (and climbing), they’re proving that stadium districts can be as transformative to a skyline as they are to a balance sheet. Just ask the LA Rams.
In 2025, Forbes tagged them at $6.6B, more than double their worth a decade ago, not because of touchdowns, but thanks to a playbook heavy on real estate savvy. Stadiums used to mean eight blockbuster Sundays and a long off‑season. Now, they’re year‑round ATMs: apartments with skyline views, office leases, shopping plazas, hotel nights, and even streaming deals that keep the scoreboard glowing in the offseason. The question is: can the Bears pull off the same play without fumbling public trust?
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For the Bears, leaving Soldier Field isn’t just a move up the road. It’s a leap into the next era of sports, real estate, and round-the-clock entertainment. But before the ribbon cutting, there’s the October 14 state legislature showdown. The Bears want lawmakers to greenlight public funding, part of $855M ask. Infrastructure help? Fine. A taxpayer‑backed fortune for a private venture? That’s a Hail Mary that taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to catch. This isn’t civic love, it’s a cash grab dressed in team colors.
If Arlington Heights works, the Bears won’t just build the next great NFL stadium. They’ll set the template for building the next great American city, one with a football team at its heart.

The first time the Jacksonville Jaguars got to the Kansas City Chiefs 1-yard line on Monday night, quarterback Trevor Lawrence fumbled away the football on fourth down.
The last time, Lawrence fell down. But this time, with the Jaguars out of timeouts, he got up and ran for a touchdown with 23 seconds to play to lift Jacksonville to a 31-28 victory.
Right guard Patrick Mekari stepped on Lawrence’s foot, causing him to sprawl onto the backfield turf on the Jaguars’ final snap. But the quarterback’s quick recovery around left end capped a seven-play, 60-yard drive that featured Lawrence’s 33-yard completion to wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and a pass-interference penalty in the end zone against Kansas City.
Jacksonville’s final drive countered the Chiefs’ 12-play, 86-yard series that running back Kareem Hunt ended with his second touchdown run of the fourth quarter for a 28-24 Kansas City lead with 1:45 remaining.
Lawrence completed 18-of-25 passes for 221 yards with one touchdown and one interception and led the Jaguars with 54 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries.
Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes also led his team in passing and rushing. He completed 29-of-41 passes for 318 yards with one touchdown and one interception and topped the Chiefs with 60 yards and one touchdown on six carries.
The victory improved Jacksonville to 4-1, tied for the best record in the AFC. Kansas City slipped to 2-3. The Jaguars have gone to the playoffs twice in the previous 17 seasons. The Chiefs have played in the past seven AFC Championship Games and the past three Super Bowls.
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One player from an Alabama high school or college got on the field during the Kansas City-Jacksonville game:
Jaguars quarterback Carter Bradley (South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Josh Hines-Allen (Abbeville) started at defensive end for the Jaguars. Hines-Allen made two tackles and registered one tackle for loss.
Chiefs defensive lineman Brodric Martin (Northridge, North Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Jaguars linebacker Jalen McLeod (Auburn) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens (Spain Park) dressed for the game but did not play.
Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun (Samford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
Jaguars defensive back Caleb Ransaw (Sparkman, Troy) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Jaguars safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig (Fultondale) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Kansas City stays in prime time for its next game when it takes on the Detroit Lions at 7:20 p.m. CDT Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
Jacksonville plays the Seattle Seahawks at noon Sunday at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.

A surprising voice has entered the conversation surrounding Mark Sanchez’s legal troubles. After the former Jets quarterback was involved in a violent parking lot incident and charged with multiple misdemeanors, fellow NFL veteran Kurt Warner spoke out publicly.
Warner’s tweet didn’t name Sanchez directly, but the timing and message made his support clear. He urged the media and fans to show compassion. “So today the media is going to fire a young man for one mistake (albeit a BIG one)!!! Can we just be better & remember that BIG mistake we made that we learned from so it wouldn’t happen again & made us who we are!!!,” he wrote on X.
Following the incident, Sanchez was replaced on FOX’s broadcast by Brady Quinn. There are talks that Sanchez might not return to on-camera duties, though FOX has yet to make an official statement.
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Former NFL quarterback and FOX analyst Sanchez was in Indianapolis to call the Raiders vs. Colts game on Sunday, October 5. But on Friday night, he got into a physical fight with a 69-year-old truck driver over a parking spot near a hotel loading dock.
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According to police reports, Sanchez appeared intoxicated and confronted the man about where his truck was parked. When the man tried to call his manager, Sanchez allegedly blocked him and entered the truck without permission.
The situation escalated, Sanchez shoved the man, who then used pepper spray in self-defense. The fight continued, and the man stabbed Sanchez multiple times, fearing for his safety.
Sanchez was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. After being treated, he was arrested and charged with three misdemeanors. Now, there’s a new development.
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Sanchez faces new & serious charges
On October 6, prosecutors added a Level 5 felony charge against Mark Sanchez for battery causing serious bodily injury. If convicted, he could face 1 to 6 years in prison.
This new charge came after graphic photos of the 69-year-old victim were released publicly, raising concerns about the severity of the incident. Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears confirmed the felony was added based on a new affidavit from police.
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Before this, Sanchez had already been charged with three misdemeanors: Battery causing injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication.
He has waived his initial court hearing, which was scheduled for Tuesday. With the felony now added, the legal case has taken a much more serious turn. It’s no longer just about Sanchez’s future in broadcasting but also about whether he could face time behind bars.

Mark Sánchez, el ex quaterback de la NFL, ahora enfrenta un cargo de delito grave por agresión debido a lo que las autoridades dijeron el lunes fue una pelea por una disputa de estacionamiento, además de los cargos menores que el analista de Fox Sports ya enfrentaba por el incidente del fin de semana en Indianápolis.
El fiscal del condado de Marion, Ryan Mears, anunció el nuevo cargo de agresión que involucra lesiones corporales graves, lo que conlleva una posible sentencia de uno a seis años de prisión, durante una conferencia de prensa con el jefe del Departamento de Policía Metropolitana de Indianápolis, Chris Bailey. Mears dijo que la investigación está en curso y que se podrían presentar cargos adicionales.
“Literalmente estamos hablando de personas peleando por un espacio de estacionamiento y/o una disputa sobre dónde están estacionando, y resultó en que alguien recibiera lesiones increíblemente significativas”, dijo el fiscal a los periodistas.
Una declaración jurada de la policía alega que Sánchez, de 38 años, con olor a alcohol, acosó a un conductor de camión de 69 años que se había estacionado en la zona de carga de un hotel en el centro de Indianápolis, lo que llevó a una confrontación el sábado temprano fuera del vehículo que llevó al conductor a sacar un cuchillo para defenderse.
El ex mariscal de campo de los Jets de Nueva York fue rociado con gas pimienta y apuñalado varias veces durante el altercado, según los registros judiciales presentados el domingo.
Se hizo evidente después de que los investigadores supieron más sobre la condición médica de la víctima que el cargo más grave de delito grave estaba justificado, dijo Mears.
“Esta fue una situación que no necesitaba ocurrir”, dijo el fiscal. “Las acusaciones involucran a un hombre de 38 años involucrándose en un altercado con un hombre de 69 años que sufrió lesiones significativas y muy graves como resultado de ese altercado”.
Sánchez fue hospitalizado con heridas de arma blanca en la parte superior derecha del torso, según la declaración jurada inicial firmada por un detective de la policía. El conductor del camión, identificado como P.T., tenía un corte en la mejilla izquierda, se indicó.
Las autoridades no han dicho si el conductor del camión también podría enfrentar cargos, pero Mears señaló que el estado de Indiana “tiene algunas de las leyes de defensa propia más sólidas del país”.
Sánchez tenía programada una audiencia el martes por los cargos menores originales, pero se reprogramó para el 4 de noviembre. Sánchez permanecía hospitalizado y estaba en condición estable el lunes por la mañana.
Uno de los abogados de Sánchez, James Voyles, declinó comentar sobre el caso.
“Este ha sido un momento profundamente angustiante para todos los involucrados. Mark y nuestra familia estamos increíblemente agradecidos por la preocupación, el amor y el apoyo que hemos recibido en los últimos días”, dijo el hermano de Sanchez, Nick, en un comunicado emitido el lunes. “Mark sigue bajo atención médica por las lesiones graves que sufrió y está enfocado en su recuperación mientras el proceso legal continúa. Nos gustaría extender nuestro más sincero agradecimiento a los primeros en responder y al personal médico”.
Sánchez estaba en Indianápolis para la cobertura de la cadena del juego del domingo entre los Colts y los Raiders de Las Vegas.
El fiscal dijo que la policía todavía está recopilando información y tiene varias órdenes de registro pendientes. También dijo que el video de vigilancia capturó el incidente desde múltiples ángulos.
“No me importa quién seas. No me importa a qué te dediques. No me importa dónde vivas”, dijo el jefe de policía. “Si vienes a nuestra ciudad, cometes violencia, usaremos todas las herramientas a nuestra disposición para hacerte responsable”.
Sánchez tuvo una carrera de 10 años en la NFL antes de retirarse en 2019. Pasó cuatro temporadas con los Jets y también apareció en juegos con Filadelfia, Dallas y Washington.
Apareció en ABC y ESPN durante dos años antes de unirse a Fox Sports como analista de juegos en 2021.

Though he had a workout with the San Francisco 49ers last month, rookie safety Shilo Sanders is still unemployed.
The undrafted free agent out of Colorado was cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after their preseason finale back at the end of August, and despite showing some promise during training camp and the preseason — he totaled 83 defensive snaps, 46 coverage snaps, four tackles, one QB pressure, and allowed one reception for eight yards in coverage — he has yet to catch on with another NFL team.
Though he still films videos for his YouTube channel, Sanders is seemingly still holding out hope he gets a second chance in the NFL.
In fact, a video recently emerged on social media of Sanders recently admitting to one fan who asked for a donation for his youth program that he’s struggling financially since he got released.
More Football: Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs Could Face NFL Punishment After Swinging on Jets WR
“Bro, I just got cut from the NFL,” Sanders said. “I don’t got no money, bro. You got to go ask like Shedeur (Sanders). [My NIL money] is gone, bro. Y’all got to ask Shedeur. But look, if I get back in the league, I got you.”
While Sanders isn’t collecting an NFL paycheck, his response about being broke seems to have been a tongue-in-cheek reply.
Sanders’ dad, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, is one of the highest-paid head coaches in college football, having signed a five-year, $54 million contract this offseason, so it’s unlikely Sanders is living hand to mouth.
If Sanders really wants to continue playing professional football, he could join the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. The team owns his CFL negotiating rights, along with his brother Shedeur.
More Football: Cardinals Head Coach Involved in Heated Sideline Altercation With Player
More Football: John Harbaugh Decides Fate of Ravens Defensive Coordinator Fans Want Fired
After being cut by the Bucs more than four weeks ago, Sanders posted a video to his YouTube channel implying he would be fine financially given the other interests outside of football he planned to pursue if he didn’t get another shot in the NFL.
“The NFL, I mean, they call it the ‘not for long’ league, nothing is ever certain,” Sanders stated. “Even if you make the team, it’s not certain. So you always want to, not really have a backup plan, but you want to have other interests that that you’re interested in. I’ve always done that my whole life playing football with music, acting, modeling — I’m well-versed, and my parents made sure of that.”

The Jacksonville Jaguars held on for a thrilling win against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night, but the game was marred by some questionable calls that appeared to benefit the Chiefs.
Before his unlikely touchdown run to secure the 31-28 victory, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw a costly interception deep in his own territory earlier in the fourth quarter. The turnover allowed the Chiefs to complete a short drive to tie the game, but replays showed that the Chiefs appeared to get away with pass interference — one of several calls that led to backlash against officials.
Critical Call Flips Momentum
After the Chiefs opened up a 14-0 lead to start the game, the Jaguars clawed back with three unanswered touchdowns. They held a 21-14 lead and had the ball early in the fourth quarter when Lawrence was picked off.
Replay showed that Chiefs defensive back Jaden Hicks ran into Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington well before the ball arrived, knocking him down and allowing teammate Trent McDuffie to intercept the ball.
The ESPN broadcast called out officials for missing the penalty.
“That’s a big miss. That should’ve been pass interference,” said ESPN rules analyst Russell Yurk.
“I mean, a huge, huge miss,” added announcer Joe Buck.
Many fans and reporters joined in criticizing officials for missing what seemed to be a clear penalty.
The Chiefs come through with what they badly needed, a pick of Trevor Lawrence that gives them the ball back inside the red zone,” wrote NFL reporter Curt Weiler in a post on X. “Looked like uncalled pass interference? Trevor certainly thought so and the broadcast just called it a huge missed call.”
Chiefs Benefitted From Another Close Call
Many fans were also upset at another questionable call that benefited the Chiefs earlier in the game. Officials had initially thrown a flag for offensive pass interference on a two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce to open the scoring in the first quarter.
Officials determined that the contact to a Jaguars defender took place within one yard of the line of scrimmage, making it legal contact, but many disagreed.
The Jaguars were able to overcome the questionable calls, getting a late drive after the Chiefs took a 28-24 lead on a two-yard touchdown from Kareem Hunt with 1:45 remaining in the fourth quarter.
After the kickoff went out of bounds to put the ball on Jacksonville’s 40-yard line, Lawrence drove the Jaguars into the red zone and scored after a botched play where he tripped and fell after taking the snap. Lawrence got up and found a lane into the endzone, securing the 31-28 victory.
The final scoring drive did get some help from the officials, with the Chiefs getting flagged for pass interference in the endzone to set up Lawrence’s final touchdown scramble.

Patrick Mahomes will remember this season forever. After losing the first 2 games of the season and winning the next two, they had high hopes going into the week 5 game. But they committed way too many penalties (13), ultimately losing the game by 28-31. Head coach Andy Reid was disappointed with the loss and called out the officials.
“We had 13 penalties, to their 4. Whether I agree w/ them or don’t agree w/ them, it doesn’t matter. They called them. So, you have that many penalties, you give up field position, you can out stat them to death, but that doesn’t matter. It’s the score that matters,” the coach said during the post-game conference.
Stay tuned! There’s more to this story.

The alleged victim of a late-night alley attack involving Mark Sanchez in Indianapolis is suing the former NFL quarterback and his employer, Fox Corporation.
Among the charges Sanchez faces is felony battery for what court documents say was a drunken attack early Saturday against Perry Tole, a 69-year-old truck driver. According to police, Tole first used pepper spray on the 38-year-old ex-QB. When that didn’t work, Tole pulled a knife in self-defense. The altercation was parking-related, Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears told reporters Monday.
After Tole’s injuries spurred prosecutors Monday to boost the charges up from a misdemeanor, he sued. In addition to suing Sanchez for civil damages in Marion Superior Court, Tole accuses Fox Corporation of negligent hiring, retention and supervision, according to court documents viewed by the Indianapolis Star.
Fox Corporation “knew or should have known about [Sanchez’s] unfitness as an employee, propensity for drinking and/or harmful conduct,” the suit goes on.
Tole is asking for compensatory and punitive damages, court costs, and other necessary relief.
The Daily Beast has reached out to Fox and Sanchez’s lead attorney, Jennifer Lukemeyer, for comment.
Sanchez joined the company in 2021, three years after his retirement. He had been scheduled to work the Las Vegas Raiders—Indianapolis Colts game Sunday.
Sanchez’s family spoke out for the first time Monday about the incident.
“This has been a deeply distressing time for everyone involved,” his brother, Nick, told TMZ Sports. “Mark and our family are incredibly grateful for the concern, love, and support we’ve received over the past few days.”
“Mark remains under medical care for the serious injuries he sustained and is focused on his recovery as the legal process continues,” he added. “We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the first responders and medical staff.”
For what it’s worth, Donald Trump also weighed in on the matter.
“That was too bad. He’s a nice guy,” he told Newsmax’s Greg Kelly. “I don’t know what happened. Something bad happened. Something a little crazy happened… I can only report that he was a nice guy. I know him a little bit.”

The Jaguars come back to defeat the Chiefs on Monday Night Football. And the Buccaneers pull off another last-second win.
Here’s the USA Today Florida Sports Network NFL weekend wrapup.
Jacksonville Jaguars 31, Kansas City Chiefs 28
Trevor Lawrence led the Jaguars to victory on his 26th birthday as Jacksonville defeated Kansas City 31-28 on Monday Night Football.
Lawrence scored the game-winning touchdown with just 23 seconds remaining on a bizarre play. You’ll have to read more about this nail-biter at the Florida Times-Union’s website, jacksonville.com.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 38, Seattle Seahawks 35
Baker Mayfield led his fourth late game-winning drive as the Buccaneers defeated the Seahawks in Seattle, 38-35.
With the Seahawks leading 35-28, Mayfield led the Bucs on a 70-yard scoring drive to tie the game with just over a minute remaining in the game.
On their second play of the ensuing drive, the Seahawks threw an interception, leaving the Bucs in field goal range.
Chase McLoughlin kicked through a 39-yarder for the winas time expired.
Check out more at USA Today’s bucswire.com.
Carolina Panthers 27, Miami Dolphins 24
The Dolphins led by 17 points early, but the Panthers stormed back to win 27-24.
After Carolina scored 20 unanswered points to take a lead, the Dolphins seized the advantage back on a Jaylen Waddle touchdown catch with 4:42 to play in the game.
But the defense couldn’t hold as the Panthers completed an 83-yard drive for a touchdown that ended the game.
For more, go to palmbeachpost.com.
Great statewide coverage
The USA Today Florida Sports Network covers a large chunk of the state with 17 news sites. They include:

Every week this NFL season, we will break down the highs and lows—and everything in between—from the most recent slate of pro football. This week, Drake Maye and Bo Nix pulled off big upsets to knock off the league’s last two undefeated teams, Baker Mayfield outdueled Sam Darnold, Geno Smith’s bad season got worse, the Jets kept making the same mistakes, and more. Welcome to Winners and Losers.
Winners: Drake Maye and Stefon Diggs
Drake Maye is a star. We’d already seen the signs of Maye’s breakout in New England’s first four games, but Sunday night was a national showcase for the talented 23-year-old QB and he delivered in a 23-20 win over the previously undefeated Bills. Maye’s numbers were perfectly fine—he averaged 9.1 yards per attempt and 0.06 EPA per dropback against Buffalo—but don’t capture how well he played down the stretch. Taking what looked like a dirty hit from Buffalo’s Terrel Bernard, who was flagged for unnecessary roughness, seemed to shock Maye’s game to life shortly before halftime. In the second half, after that hit, Maye averaged over 10 yards per dropback with an 86-percent completion percentage. I don’t know if it was a coincidence or a show of Maye’s competitive toughness, but it was an impeccable response on the road against the division favorite in the most watched game of the week.
That’s how narratives are forged.
It was an even bigger night for Stefon Diggs, who ran wild through the Bills secondary in his first game back at Highmark Stadium since he was traded away in the 2024 offseason, and proved he’s still got some juice after a couple of down seasons. He caught 10 of his 12 targets for 146 yards, and while he was held without a touchdown, he made several game-changing plays. Maye set up the game-winning kick with a hole shot to Diggs between two zone defenders.
The pair also hooked up on a few ad-libbed plays that were reminiscent of the Josh Allen-to-Diggs connection that used to power Buffalo’s passing attack.
Maye had his breakout performance, and Diggs is now 2-0 against his former , and yet the Bills have to feel like they let one get away. Buffalo had higher EPA averages on both runs and dropbacks, and they finished the game with a better success rate, per TruMedia. The Bills even won the time-of-possession battle by nine minutes. But they also lost the turnover battle (3-1), the first time they’ve done that all season, as Allen threw his second interception of the season and Buffalo lost two fumbles. New England bottled up a typically strong Bills run game for the most part, but Allen was able to move the ball through the air with relative ease. Even with the turnover issues, the Bills had a shot to win this game.
If Buffalo could have just contained Maye and Diggs on a few more plays, the score may have gone the other way, but the Patriots’ second-year quarterback and veteran receiver ensured it didn’t. This game was decided by a handful of moments in the second half, and Maye and Diggs owned the biggest ones.
Buffalo still sits atop the AFC East standings after its first loss, but New England is only a game back and owns the tiebreaker. The Bills have owned the division for the past five years, but might have a fight on their hands if they want to hold on to it.
Winner: Sean Payton
Payton has his signature win in Denver. And, boy, did he earn it, with one of the best coaching jobs we’ve seen this season. Payton managed Sunday’s game against Philadelphia perfectly with a plan to control the ball and the clock. The Broncos rushed for 127 yards on 27 designed runs (with a 42.9 percent success rate), which allowed them to win the time-of-possession battle and take the teeth out of Philadelphia’s pass rush. It also eventually set up Bo Nix for success in the passing game. Nix couldn’t take advantage for about two and a half quarters, but he found enough of a groove to lead two touchdown drives and erase the Eagles’ lead in the second half. Nix’s best play came with a high degree of difficulty; he connected with Courtland Sutton to move the chains on third-and-15 and extend the eventual game-winning drive.
A few plays later, Nix hit tight end Evan Engram for a touchdown that looked like it would tie the game. But Payton kept his offense out on the field for a two-point attempt that could give his team its first lead. Payton called a sprint-out pass for Nix that attacked the Eagles’ man coverage.
“We came here to win a game,” Payton said afterward. “And I had two or three calls that I loved, … but we got to a call that I had a lot of confidence in, and the guys executed. It was perfect.”
It wasn’t always perfect for Denver, and if the refs had thrown a defensive pass interference flag instead of letting the contact against tight end Dallas Goedert go late in the game, the Eagles might have pulled out the victory to stay undefeated. But Payton and his coaching staff had a good initial plan—during a short week of game prep after playing on Monday night and with a trip to London next on the schedule—and made the right adjustments to steal a win on the road against the defending champs.
Payton and the offense will get a lot of the glory after the big win, but the defense made it possible. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph deserves a lot of credit for turning things around after a shaky start. The Broncos are a man coverage defense at heart, so it’s not surprising that that was a big part of Joseph’s initial game plan. But that scheme played into the hands of Philadelphia’s passing game, which hadn’t seen a lot of man this season. The Eagles went after no. 2 cornerback Riley Moss and inside linebacker Alex Singleton in coverage, and with Denver playing man, it was easier to single them out. Those two were targeted a combined 10 times in man coverage and were burned for 142 yards and two touchdowns on those plays. That includes Saquon Barkley’s 47-yard touchdown catch that extended Philly’s lead to 17-3 early in the third quarter.
Watching Singleton get cooked in the open field seemingly convinced Joseph to adjust his coverage plan. Denver had played Cover 1 on 10 defensive snaps through the Barkley touchdown. But Joseph called it just once more over the rest of the game, turning instead to more two-high zone coverages. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts seemed intent on pushing the ball downfield—he had nine attempts of over 20 air yards—and after the Broncos switched to a shell coverage, they did a better job of taking those passes away and forcing Hurts to hold on to the ball in the pocket. Hurts posted a season-high average time to throw (3.24 seconds) and ended up taking six sacks despite getting solid pass protection from his line.
Eagles Pass Efficiency vs. Denver, by Half (TruMedia)
The Eagles didn’t score again after Barkley’s long touchdown, and they gained only one first down on their next four drives. Payton and Nix took care of the rest, and the Broncos coach landed his biggest win since arriving in Denver in 2023.
Winners: Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold
We should have known the Buccaneers and Seahawks were going to deliver an instant classic based on the uniform matchup alone.
As beautiful as those threads were, the football being played was just as easy on the eyes. Tampa Bay’s 38-35 win is on the shortlist of “game of the year” candidates, thanks in large part to the quarterback performances from Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. The pair of 2018 first-round picks combined for 720 passing yards and six touchdowns with an 85.1 completion percentage. The ball barely hit the turf. Both QBs averaged over 10 yards per dropback! Darnold’s dropbacks generated 25.2 EPA, while Mayfield was right behind him with 22.4 EPA, per TruMedia.
There wasn’t a lot of cheap production on either side. Both guys made several high-level throws, on tight-window passes over the middle and deep balls that hit their targets right in stride. They were both on fire from the pocket but also made a few plays on the move, including the final two touchdowns of a back-and-forth second half.
Darnold gave Seattle the lead after escaping a sack and finding Tory Horton open for a touchdown just in time to avoid the rush.
Mayfield answered that score with a scramble-drill touchdown pass to Sterling Shepard.
Both quarterbacks were great, but Mayfield was the better of the two. This may have been the best game of his career. He was poised in the pocket; he scrambled only when necessary; and he kept the ball out of harm’s way while still hunting for big plays. Darnold put on a comprehensive display of quarterbacking as well, but he was lucky to escape the game without multiple interceptions. The Bucs just missed one near the goal line of Seattle’s first scoring drive. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka let another one slip through his hands near Tampa Bay’s end zone. And Darnold had an interception wiped out by an illegal contact call in the fourth quarter.
Darnold’s luck finally turned on Seattle’s last drive when he bounced a pass off his lineman’s helmet—Blake Bortles style—and into the arms of Tampa linebacker Lavonte David.
Still, Darnold played well enough to win. It’s just that Seattle made too many mistakes early in the game and wasted whatever margin for error they may have had. A holding call stalled a promising opening drive, which ended with Jason Myers shanking a field goal attempt. On the Seahawks’ second drive, an ineligible man downfield penalty negated a third-and-13 conversion, and the team had to punt. And then Seattle’s third drive ended in Tampa Bay territory with a botched option play for backup quarterback Jalen Milroe.
Seattle fell into a 13-0 hole, and with Baker and the Bucs offense rolling, Darnold had to be perfect in the second half in order for Seattle to rally. He nearly was and staked his team to a seven-point lead it couldn’t hold on to.
It was another gut punch for the Seahawks, who have blown fourth-quarter leads in both of their losses this season, but, really, there were no losers in this one
Loser: Aaron Glenn
Two weeks ago, after the Jets lost their third game of the season when the Buccaneers hit a field goal as time expired, Glenn promised that these weren’t the “same old Jets.” And maybe he was right. This team looks even worse than those past iterations of the Jets. After getting run off the field by a banged-up Cowboys team on Sunday, Glenn’s Jets are 0-5, and he’s off to the worst start for a coach in franchise history.
In his comments after this game, Glenn preached patience, saying the rebuild is “going to take time.” But the Jets are repeating mistakes, so it’s understandable if Jets fans, who haven’t seen a playoff run in over a decade, are all out of patience. Poorly timed penalties, busts in coverage, fumbles, and questionable late-game decision-making have all contributed to the team’s first four losses and were once again the problems in the 37-22 loss to the Cowboys. A week after a fumble at the goal line cost the Jets a chance to tie a 10-3 game against the Dolphins, Breece Hall fumbled at the Dallas 13-yard line with his team trailing 10-3.
“I think the only reason it was as deflating as it was is because the exact same thing happened last week,” Justin Fields said after the game. “It was like a damn moment almost.”
Fumbles on offense and special teams have been an issue all season, but Glenn’s defense has been a bigger one. The Jets are giving up over 31 points per game and were just picked apart by Dak Prescott and run over by Javonte Williams, who rushed for 135 yards on 16 carries. The Cowboys back racked up 76 yards after missed tackles by Jets defenders, per Next Gen Stats. Prescott threw four touchdowns and averaged over 8 yards per attempt despite playing without WR1 CeeDee Lamb and four of the five starting linemen, who were out with injuries. Receiver Ryan Flournoy did most of the damage to the Jets defense, getting loose for a couple of deep catches and racking up a career-high 114 receiving yards on his six receptions.
It’s been a dreadful start for Glenn and his defense, but it would be premature to give up on the rookie head coach or start asking questions about his job security. After all, Glenn’s last boss, Dan Campbell, started 0-10-1 before finally winning a game in Detroit. But those Lions teams continued to play hard throughout their winless start. You could see the foundation for a winning team being laid, even in the early stages.
There have been no such signs for Glenn’s Jets so far. If that doesn’t change soon, his seat might get a little hotter.
Loser: Geno Smith
It wasn’t a fun Sunday for every member of the Reclamation Quarterbacks Club. Geno Smith, who started the recent trend of former draft busts turning their careers around, produced another clunker in a 40-6 blowout loss to the Colts. That’s Smith’s third bad game in the last four weeks, and it has even the most ardent Geno supporters (like me) wondering if it’s over. It certainly appeared that way on Sunday. Smith needed 36 attempts to reach his total of 228 passing yards. He tossed a pair of interceptions, and his 41 dropbacks cost the Raiders 9.7 EPA, the worst mark of the week, per TruMedia.
Smith entered Week 5 leading the NFL in interceptions—and he extended his lead with a pair of picks against the Colts. His first came off an unlucky deflection, but his second pick was an inexcusable mistake for a veteran quarterback. Indianapolis dialed up a simulated pressure that set up a trap in the flat. Smith fell right into it, throwing a quick out that was jumped by cornerback Mekhi Blackmon sitting on the route.
As concerning as the interceptions have been, the biggest red flag might be Smith’s accuracy, which has regressed significantly this season. Smith ranks 23rd in both completion rate over expected and accurate throw rate through five weeks after ranking fifth and 12th in those two metrics last season.
Smith hasn’t been the quarterback the Raiders thought they were getting when they gave him a $75 million contract in the offseason. He’s been inaccurate and turnover-prone. And while he’s not the most significant problem plaguing Pete Carroll’s 1-4 team—the Raiders also have a leaky defense and a shaky offensive line—Smith doesn’t appear to be a solution, either.
Winner: Spencer Rattler
I’ve been toying with the idea of becoming a full-on Spencer Rattler guy, and I think Sunday’s win, the first of the 2024 fifth-round pick’s NFL career, might have sealed the deal for me. I’m at least brave enough to say that Rattler probably deserves another year in New Orleans if he can keep this up for the rest of the season.
Rattler turned in another solid performance in the Saints’ 26-14 win over the Giants. He threw for 225 yards on 31 attempts, and he didn’t throw an interception or take a single sack. That’s been par for the course for Rattler this season. He’s had just one game with a negative EPA average—last week’s loss in Buffalo—and he’s thrown just one interception.
In the lead-up to the 2024 draft, Rattler was considered a reckless decision-maker who’d need some significant development time before he could see the NFL field. He’s defied that scouting report with a shockingly polished game over his first 11 starts dating back to last season. And while he’s been a bit conservative at times, he has shown flashes of big-time arm talent, a calm pocket presence, and effective playmaking. I don’t know if Rattler will ever develop into a true franchise quarterback, but it’s in the range of realistic outcomes.
Rattler didn’t have to make too many plays to beat New York, who took an early lead but fell apart, in part because of turnovers on five consecutive offensive possessions. Rattler’s perfectly timed deep shot to Rashid Shaheed for an 87-yard score got the ball rolling on the comeback, and New Orleans never looked back.
And with the victory, Rattler became the first quarterback drafted by the Saints to win a game for them since 1998. I’m sure the front office envisioned second-round rookie Tyler Shough being the quarterback who ended that drought, but if Rattler keeps playing like this, Shough may not get off the bench anytime soon.
Loser: Justin Herbert
Herbert’s MVP campaign has quickly unraveled. The Chargers have lost two in a row, the latest being a 27-10 loss to the Commanders, and Herbert has thrown four interceptions and taken 11 sacks over his past three outings. As a cog in the Herbert propaganda machine, I feel obligated to do a little apologia here. The offensive line has completely fallen apart since Joe Alt was injured in Week 4, and in the past three games, Herbert has been pressured on over 47 percent of his dropbacks, per Next Gen Stats. Only the Jets’ Justin Fields has faced more pressure over that time. Herbert’s interceptions have been unlucky, as well. He has only one turnover-worthy play over the past three weeks, per Pro Football Focus.
His interception on Sunday came on a pass that was tipped at the line of scrimmage:
(He was unlucky last week as well; he had a pass intercepted when his intended receiver was knocked to the ground during the throw.)
The universe seemed to be conspiring against him. Not only was the pick unfortunate, but a Quentin Johnston fumble spoiled one of Herbert’s better throws.
He lost what would have been another ridiculous completion when Washington’s Mike Sainristil knocked Keenan Allen out of bounds before the receiver could get two feet down. And then a conversion on second-and-19 was wiped out by a holding penalty, and a completion on second-and-28 was negated by a penalty on the very next snap.
Four great throws and none of them led to positive gains for the Chargers.
Fortunately for Herbert and Los Angeles’s offense, Alt isn’t going on IR and should be back in a week or two. I don’t know if that will fix the pass protection, but it should improve things and make Herbert’s job a bit easier.
Winner: Cam Ward
The Titans have been upgraded from “ass” to “good” in a week’s time. Those are the words first-round pick Cam Ward has used to describe his team over the last two weeks, with Tennessee following up a 26-0 loss to Houston in Week 4 with a wild 22-21 comeback win over Arizona on Sunday.
I don’t want to take too much from Ward after his first NFL win, but the Cardinals fumbled this one away. Like literally fumbled it away. Arizona was sitting on a 21-6 lead early in the fourth quarter when a 71-yard touchdown run by Emari Demercado turned into a touchback for Tennessee when replay showed Demercado dropped the ball before he crossed the goal line. Ward led a seven-play touchdown drive on the ensuing Tennessee possession.
And then, with under five minutes left in a game the Cardinals were leading by two scores, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson picked off Ward for what should have been a game-sealing play. Instead, Taylor-Demerson fumbled the ball during his attempt to return the pick, and after a teammate knocked the ball into the end zone while trying to recover it, the Titans fell on it for a touchdown.
The Titans forced a stop just before the two-minute warning, giving the ball back to Ward for a chance to win it. The rookie came through with a clutch throw to Calvin Ridley down the sideline that got his team in range for the game-winning kick.
Ward and the Titans got a few lucky bounces, but the rookie was excellent down the stretch outside of the wild interception/touchdown play. He threw for 193 yards in the fourth quarter and led Tennessee on three long scoring drives to hand Arizona a loss that Kyler Murray called one of the worst of his career.

Week 5 of the NFL season did not disappoint. On Thursday night, fans were treated to a thrilling matchup between the 49ers and Rams. Then on Sunday, the Vikings, Panthers, Broncos, Saints, and Titans all mounted double-digit comebacks to secure wins. And to think, we still have a Monday Night game ahead.
It was a wild week of football, and here are my 10 takeaways from Week 5 of the NFL season.
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The Ravens are in serious trouble
If you had told me before the season that the Ravens would be 1-4 through the first five weeks, I would’ve told you you’re crazy. But here we are, five weeks into the season, and the Ravens are in serious danger of missing the playoffs.
Only 16 teams have started the season 1-4 and gone on to make the playoffs. The Rams did it a year ago, winning nine of their last 12 to make it as a Wild Card, but that was with a fairly healthy team. Right now, the Ravens are down a ton of players, including star QB Lamar Jackson, and it’s unclear when he’ll return.
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The Ravens’ defense has also become completely unrecognizable. They used to be one of the best units in the league, but have given up 37+ points in four of their five games this season.
With two games against the Steelers and matchups against the Rams, Packers and Vikings left on their schedule, it’s going to be hard for them to claw back into playoff contention. Luckily, the AFC North isn’t nearly as strong as it typically is, and their only win thus far has come against the Browns, so winning the AFC North is not out of the question.
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Dillon Gabriel should start for at least a few more weeks
Joe Flacco missed Sunday’s game with an injury, opening the door for Browns third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel to get his first career start. While the offense was pretty mundane and they kept things simple for him, I thought Gabriel played well and deserves to start for at least a few more weeks.
On Sunday morning, Gabriel completed 19 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers. He was decisive and did a good job of avoiding pressure against a very stingy Vikings defense. The Browns will travel to Pittsburgh before returning home to face the Dolphins. I believe Gabriel should start both of those games, and they can decide where to go from there.
Colts are contenders in the AFC
Not too many people had high expectations for the Colts this season. Once Daniel Jones won the quarterback battle, a lot of people wrote them off, but after five weeks of the season, the Colts are legitimate contenders in the AFC.
Offensively, Daniel Jones has been efficient and hasn’t made too many mistakes, but the run game has been the X-factor. Jonathan Taylor has been dominant, rushing for 480 yards and six scores behind a 5.1 average. Shane Steichen has done a great job with this offense, and after five weeks, they’re averaging 32.6 points per game.
The Colts have also been very good defensively. They came into the week allowing 21 points per game, and they just held the Raiders to six points and 296 total yards on Sunday. If they keep playing like this, the Colts could make a serious run in the playoffs.
The Texans’ defense is legit
I know we just talked about the Ravens missing Lamar Jackson and a handful of other players, but we need to talk about the Texans‘ defense. DeMeco Ryans has this unit playing with their hair on fire, and through five weeks, they’re allowing just 12.2 points per game.
They have a strong pass rush with Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. Their talented linebacking core is led by Azeez Al-Shaair. Derek Stingley anchors one of the league’s best secondaries. This defense shows up every week. They look ready for a Super Bowl run, if the offense can catch up.
Spencer Rattler is not the problem in New Orleans
Despite the fact that Spencer Rattler is now 1-10 as a starter, he is not the problem in New Orleans. The second-year man out of South Carolina has taken huge steps since entering the league last year, and has managed the Saints‘ offense very well, especially in recent games.
This week, Rattler earned his first career win while throwing for 225 yards and a touchdown. The 25-year-old has only turned the ball over one time this season, and has thrown for 200+ in four of his five games this year.
Is he ever going to be a top 10 quarterback? Probably not. But if the Saints aren’t in love with any of the top quarterbacks in 2026, they can stay afloat with Rattler until they find their franchise guy.
QB controversy in San Fran?
The 49ers might have themselves a QB controversy. Brock Purdy has played two games this season – Week 1 and Week 4 – and has thrown for 586 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. He’s 1-1 as a starter, and normally there wouldn’t be a conversation about who the starter should be, but Mac Jones has balled out in his place.
The 27-year-old has opened three games this season and has thrown for 905 yards and six touchdowns with just one interception. He is unbeaten in his appearances this year, having defeated the Saints, Cardinals, and Rams.
Purdy just signed a five-year, $265-million contract in May, so it’s hard to believe that, if Purdy’s healthy, they won’t play him. But if the first five weeks of the season are any indication, Jones may be the man for the job until he proves otherwise.
Game of the year candidate
We were gifted one of the best games of the season on Sunday afternoon when the Buccaneers took a trip across the country to face the Seahawks. This game was a track meet from the opening kickoff to the final whistle, and man was it entertaining.
These two teams combined to score 73 points and totaled 889 yards of offense. Both quarterbacks threw for over 320 yards while completing over 82 percent of their passes. We also got to see two of the best young receivers in the league – Emeka Egbuka and Jaxon Smith-Njigba – combine for 295 yards and two touchdowns.
This game had it all, and of course, it ended in theatrics. Sam Darnold committed the first turnover of the night in the closing minutes, and the Bucs won on a game-winning field goal. There’s still a lot of football to be played, but this was one of the best games of the year.
Get ready for a Broncos win streak
The Broncos were one of the most disappointing teams through the first four weeks of the season. Some were picking them to dethrone the Chiefs in the AFC West, but they started 2-2 and just didn’t look good. They started slow in their Week 5 game, but were able to scratch and claw their way back into it and escape with a 21-17 win over the undefeated Eagles.
Get ready for the Broncos to go on a win streak. Bo Nix looked fantastic in the second half, completing 13 of his 16 attempts for 163 yards and a touchdown. He’s got some of his swagger back, and with a couple “easy” games against the Jets and Giants coming up, the Broncos could be 5-2 by the time they host the Cowboys.
Are the Jets really the worst team in the league?
After their loss to the Cowboys on Sunday, the Jets are the only winless team in the NFL this season. The Saints and Titans both got their first win of the season this week, and the question has to be asked, are the Jets the worst team in the league?
I don’t think so. Despite what their record says, I think the Jets are definitely better than the Titans. There’s also a case to be made that they’re better than the Giants, Saints, Raiders, Dolphins and Browns, who all have one win.
For starters, the Jets offense is actually pretty good. Justin Fields has led the Jets to 32, 21 and 22 points in his three starts this season. When he plays, they are capable of putting points on the board. The same can’t be said for the Titans, Raiders, Browns and Dolphins, who have completely unreliable offenses.
The kicker is their defense, which is arguably the worst in the league. They can’t stop a nosebleed, which is obviously a massive problem. But I still believe that if they were to play the Titans, Raiders or Browns, they’d win. And they’d have a shot against the other teams I mentioned earlier.
The Patriots are building something special
The Patriots are building something special in New England. They’ve found their franchise quarterback in Drake Maye and have assembled a defense that’s capable of shutting down their opponents. They’re still a couple years away from being real contenders, but they’ve got something special brewing.
On Sunday night, the Patriots went on the road to face a red hot Buffalo team that they had no business hanging around with. And yet, they marched into Orchard Park and took it to the Bills for 60 minutes and handed them their first loss of the season.
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Drake Maye was great, throwing for 273 yards and leading the Pats on a 37-yard drive to set them up for a game-winning field goal. The defense held the Bills to just 20 points on the night, which is by far their lowest total of the season.
The Patriots are cooking something special, and it’s only a matter of time before they’re back in contention for a Super Bowl.

INDIANAPOLIS — Former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez was pepper-sprayed and stabbed multiple times during a late-night altercation with a 69-year-old truck driver in a downtown Indianapolis alley, which resulted in criminal charges against the Fox Sports analyst, according to court records filed Sunday.
Based on hotel video footage of the altercation early Saturday and the driver’s statement to police, a police affidavit alleges that Sanchez, smelling of alcohol, accosted the driver of a box truck that backed into a hotel’s loading docks, leading to a confrontation outside the vehicle that prompted the driver to defensively pull out a knife.
Sanchez was hospitalized with stab wounds to his upper right torso, the affidavit signed by a police detective said. Sanchez remained hospitalized early Sunday, according to police. The truck driver, identified as P.T., had a cut to his left cheek, it said.
Sanchez was in stable condition, Fox Sports said Saturday. There was no immediate update Sunday.
His initial court hearing was set for Tuesday in a Marion County courtroom.
Sanchez stabbed multiple times
As the altercation escalated, the driver feared

Athletes’ training routines are on a whole different level, but unless you’re aiming for next year’s NFL combine, they’re not something you need to worry about. That said, it can still be fun to channel your inner athlete in the gym. And since it’s NFL season, here’s a football-inspired strength workout for you to try.
I spoke to NASM-certified trainer and football coach Kendal Fitzgerald to find out what kind of moves football players rely on to perform at their best. A former football player himself and now a coach who trains football athletes for a living, he has put together a football-inspired workout that doesn’t require pads, but you will need access to some gym equipment.
Kendal Fitzgerald
What is the workout?
It consists of eight exercises in total, and as I mentioned above, it’s one to take with you to the gym since it calls for a weight plate, cable machine, long resistance band and some dumbbells.
If you don’t have access to all of that, you can stick to the dumbbell and band moves and adapt the others, though it won’t feel quite the same. If you’re thinking about building a home setup, here are Tom’s Guide’s recommendations for the best adjustable dumbbells and best resistance bands.
Underneath, you’ll find demonstrations and instructions for each exercise, along with tips on why they matter for football, so you can check your form and then channel your inner player when you try it for yourself.
Dumbbell Chest Press (3 sets x 10 reps)
Dumbbell Chest Press – YouTube
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Lie flat on a bench and raise the dumbbells over your chest.
As you lower the dumbbells, make sure your wrists are straight and bend your elbows at a 90-degree angle.
When your arms are at a 90-degree angle, press the weights back up above your chest.
This is a great exercise to strengthen the chest, shoulders, and core muscles in your body. Part of being a good football player is having upper-body strength to help push other players.
Band Face Pulls (3 sets x 8 reps)
Band Face Pulls – YouTube
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Secure a resistance band to a stable anchor point (like a squat rack or TRX station) in the gym.
Place your hands inside the band. Bending your elbows at a 90-degree angle, pull the band to the crown of your nose.
Having balance and control is another important aspect of being a good football player. Along with being able to push people around, you have to be able to absorb the hit as well. Having a strong posterior can help with both taking and delivering a push.
Dumbbell Seated Shoulder Press (3 sets x 12 reps)
Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press – YouTube
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Sit down on a flat bench.
Raise both dumbbells above the shoulders.
As you lower the dumbbells, bend your elbows at a 90-degree angle. Once your arms are at a 90-degree angle, or when the dumbbells are at the top of your ears, raise the dumbbells above your shoulders.
Key positions on the football field require shoulder stability and strength. Shoulder presses increase those attributes. Being able to throw the ball a far distance requires the strength of multiple muscle groups. Shoulder strength is the main component. Shoulder presses help multiple muscle groups in the shoulder area, which can help prevent injuries on the football field.
Single Arm Dumbbell Back Row (3 sets x 8 reps each arm)
Single Arm Dumbbell Back Row – YouTube
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Bend over on a flat bench. Have your left hand and left knee on the bench. Your right hand is going to hold the dumbbell on the bench.
Make sure your back is flat, then row the dumbbell up to your chest. Once all eight repetitions are completed, switch arms.
Being equally strong in both arms is a huge flex! We want to be able to balance throughout our entire body. It is a huge benefit when we can accomplish our strength goals with both our dominant side and non-dominant side. Part of being a great athlete is not having a weakness in any part of your game. Let these unilateral exercises help you increase strength in areas that need improvement.
Plate Waterfalls (3 sets x 8 reps)
Plate Waterfalls – YouTube
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Grab a 10lb or a 25lb weighted plate.
While standing, place the weight in front of your waist.
Raise the plate above your head, keeping your arms slightly bent. Then lower it back down in front of your waist.
A person’s core is the determining factor in how strong a person can really become. There are a lot of movements that can help unlock a person’s full strength potential. A lot of movements on the football field require athletes to make explosive moves in awkward positions. The strength in a person’s core can make that movement possible.
Cable Triceps Extensions (3 sets x 15 reps)
Cable Tricep Extensions – YouTube
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Attach a rope to a cable tower.
Form a 90-degree angle with your arms while holding the rope, then pull down and straighten your arms.
Triceps are a part of that 1% of the body that can truly help someone’s upper body strength. Football players really pride themselves on their arms for their grip strength when they are making tackles. The rope attachment helps target forearm strength, which helps with their grip strength.
Cable Bicep Curls (3 sets x 15 reps)
Cable Bicep Curls – YouTube
Watch On
Attach a rope attachment to a cable tower.
While your arms are straight, grab the attachment in the middle.
Bend your elbows and curl the attachment to form a 90-degree angle.
Having strong biceps makes life a lot easier when players make tackles, blocks, throws, and catches. A lot of

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Drake Maye led the Patriots on a 37-yard drive to set up rookie Andy Borregales’ 52-yard field goal with 15 seconds left, and New England beat the Buffalo Bills 23-20 on Sunday night, leaving the NFL without an undefeated team five weeks into the season.
Stefon Diggs had 10 catches for 146 yards for the Patriots (3-2) in his first game at Buffalo since the Bills traded him to Houston in April of 2024. Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for two touchdowns, the second one set up by Diggs’ 32-yard reception.
Maye went 22 of 30 for 273 yards, and no throw was more impressive than when he began the final drive by eluding the grasp of Bills defensive tackle DaQuan Jones and getting off a 12-yard completion to Diggs.
The Patriots won back-to-back games for the first time since winning three in a row midway through the 2022 season. Under first-year coach Mike Vrabel, New England has a winning record through five games for the first time since opening the 2019 season 8-0.
And the Patriots tightened the AFC East race by moving within one game of the five-time defending division champion Bills (4-1).
Buffalo and Philadelphia entered the day as the NFL’s last unbeaten teams. The Eagles lost to visiting Denver. It’s the first time since 2014 and seventh time since the 1970 merger that no team has started 5-0.
The Bills had three turnovers, two by Allen.
Last season’s MVP finished 22 of 31 for 253 yards and threw touchdown passes to Curtis Samuel and Keon Coleman. Allen was credited with a lost fumble at midfield on a poor handoff exchange with tight end Dawson Knox on Buffalo’s opening drive.
He was intercepted by Marcus Jones at New England’s 10 with Buffalo trailing 13-10 in the third quarter. On second-and-13, Allen forced a pass over the middle intended for Khalil Shakir.
The Patriots turned the interception into a 20-10 lead with 12:10 remaining when Stevenson scored on a 7-yard run on a pitch to the left.
Buffalo’s regular-season home winning streak ended at 14, one short of a franchise record. The Bills’ last home defeat was 24-22 to Denver on Nov. 13, 2023.
Cold front
The Bills wore their all-white “Cold Front” rivalry uniforms, and their “Bring the Storm” rally towel-waving fans responded by also mostly wearing white on a balmy night with a game-time temperature of 66 degrees Fahrenheit (19 Celsius).
Injuries
Patriots: RB Antonio Gibson did not return after sustaining a knee injury while returning a kickoff six minutes into the second quarter.
Bills: C Connor McGovern returned after having tests on his hand. LB Matt Milano did not return after aggravating a pectoral injury that forced him to miss the previous two games. DT Ed Oliver missed his fourth straight game with a sprained ankle.
Up next
Patriots: Continue a three-game road swing at New Orleans next Sunday.
Bills: Play at Atlanta in a Monday night game on Oct. 13.
___

Here are four takeaways from Sunday’s nightcap:
Drake Maye makes a statement against sloppy Buffalo Bills
On a night that saw an uncharacteristic three turnovers and 11 penalties — eight of which were in the first half — from Buffalo, the second-year QB willed his team to victory against a previously unbeaten Bills squad.
Maye was 22-of-30 for 273 yards. He made several key plays on the game-winning drive, but the one that started it all showed his ability to make plays. Maye stiff-armed the defender and somehow made this throw to Stefon Diggs for the first down prior to the two-minute warning.
Maye was sensational in his primetime debut and showed what he and the Patriots are capable of against the best teams in the league. Now 3-2 with both losses coming by one score, New England should not be taken lightly.
Stefon Diggs goes off in return to Buffalo
In his first start against the Bills after spending a year with the Houston Texans and signing a deal with the Patriots in free agency during the offseason, Diggs made sure to leave an impact.
He started the night with a 15-yard reception on the first play from scrimmage and somehow made this spectacular 32-yard grab to set the Patriots up for the go-ahead TD in the third quarter.
Diggs had 10 receptions for 146 yards (both season-highs) and posted his second straight game with at least 100 receiving yards. After a slow start to the season, Diggs seems to be getting comfortable and turning into a go-to option for Maye, like he was expected to.
Josh Allen shines with time to throw
It was not the cleanest game from Allen, with a fumble and an interception, but he still made plays to keep Buffalo around when it needed him most.
Allen was 22-of-31 for 253 yards and two TDs, including 53 yards on the ground. He excelled when he had time to operate in the pocket. According to the NBC broadcast, Allen was 7-of-7 for 94 yards in the first half when he had over 2.5 seconds to throw, compared to only 2-of-4 for six yards with under 2.5 seconds (h/t Next Gen Stats).
That speaks to how efficient he can be when he has time to examine his options down the field. Aside from one Patriots sack, Allen had more time to operate than not on Sunday night, and he made sure to make them pay when he did.
Fumbles continue to be a problem for Rhamondre Stevenson
After some miscommunication from the Bills led to a fumble and put the Patriots across midfield, Stevenson immediately gave the ball right back to Buffalo with a fumble of his own on the next play early in the opening quarter.
It was Stevenson’s third lost fumble of the season. According to StatMuse, he now has 17 fumbles in his career, including a career-high seven last season.
He put those struggles behind him the rest of the game with New England’s only TDs of the night, including this seven-yard score untouched to extend the lead to 20-10 early in the fourth quarter.