NFL Week 5 shakes up the power rankings — no team is safe anymore

Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season reminded fans of a timeless truth: no one stays unbeaten forever. Both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Buffalo Bills — the two early-season favorites — fell on Sunday, shaking up the championship picture and opening the door for new contenders.

The Eagles lost their first game in nearly a year, while the Bills stumbled in prime time. Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos found new life, the New York Jets continued to sink, and several mid-tier teams suddenly looked like real threats. Here are the biggest takeaways from a thrilling Week 5.

ALSO READ : Shohei Ohtani finally pitches in MLB playoffs after 2,746 days… will this be the moment that defines Dodgers vs Phillies?

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The Eagles are mortal after all

The Eagles’ 365-day winning stretch ended in dramatic fashion. Despite their elite defense, the offense looked out of sync — and key players like A.J. Brown and Saquon Barkley failed to deliver in critical moments.

Brown was limited to just five catches for 43 yards, while Barkley, who managed only 30 yards on six carries, committed an illegal shift penalty that wiped out a crucial fourth-down conversion. That mistake forced Jalen Hurts and the Eagles to punt on their penultimate drive — a turning point in their first loss of the season.

Even so, Philadelphia remains a genuine Super Bowl 60 contender. But Week 5 exposed the offensive inconsistencies that head coach Nick Sirianni must fix fast if they want to stay ahead of surging teams like Kansas City and Detroit.

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The Bills’ loss opens up the AFC East

In Western New York, the Bills suffered a surprising defeat to the New England Patriots under the Sunday night lights. The upset ended Buffalo’s unbeaten run and signaled that the AFC East may be far more competitive than expected.

Wearing their “Cold Front” alternate uniforms, the Bills failed to match the Patriots’ energy and discipline. Josh Allen threw two interceptions, and the offensive line collapsed late in the game — giving New England new life and sending a clear message: “This division won’t be a walkover anymore.”

While head coach Sean McDermott downplayed the loss, fans couldn’t help but notice the cracks. The Bills have all the tools, but they’re missing the consistency of a champion right now.

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Broncos shock the league with back-to-back wins

The story of the week belongs to the Denver Broncos. After years of inconsistency, Denver’s defense is looking ferocious again — recording six sacks in Philadelphia to add to their league-leading total of 15 entering Week 5.

Second-year quarterback Bo Nix seems to have finally found his rhythm, leading the Broncos to their first victory in Philadelphia since 1986. With two wins in six days and a resurgent defensive line, Denver suddenly looks like a team no one wants to face.

As head coach Sean Payton said post-game: “We’ve been patient, we’ve been tough, and now we’re seeing the results.”

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Rookie coaches feeling the heat

For Aaron Glenn, it’s been a nightmare start. The New York Jets were blown out 37–22 by the Dallas Cowboys at home, leaving Glenn as the only first-year head coach still searching for a win this season.

Meanwhile, Kellen Moore and his New Orleans Saints bounced back, taking down the New York Giants and showing resilience after a rough Week 4.

The Jets, however, remain the only winless team in the league — a tough pill to swallow for fans who expected the post–Aaron Rodgers rebuild to show progress.

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The contenders list just got crowded

With both the Eagles and Bills taking their first losses, the Super Bowl 60 picture feels wide open.

The San Francisco 49ers continue to look dominant, while the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins remain legitimate threats. The Detroit Lions, powered by Jared Goff, are quietly emerging as NFC dark horses.

Week 5 proved that no single team has all the answers — and that’s what makes this season thrilling.

What We Learned, via @Eric_Edholm: Raiders might have to consider QB change after blowout loss to Coltshttps://t.co/ZlgG8Do5Fx pic.twitter.com/fvDfWF7JqD

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) October 5, 2025

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Defensive lines are ruling the league

Across the NFL, defenses are dominating. Denver’s front seven, Cleveland’s Myles Garrett, and San Francisco’s Nick Bosa are redefining pressure in 2025.

The Eagles’ once-feared defense still ranks among the league’s elite, but with offenses struggling under complex blitz schemes, Week 5 may have marked the season where defense truly takes over again.

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Who’s trending up and down?

Trending Up:

• Denver Broncos – Bo Nix is settling in; the pass rush is terrifying.
• New England Patriots – Statement win over Buffalo breathes life into Foxborough.
• Detroit Lions – Jared Goff’s efficiency and leadership are turning heads.

Trending Down:

• New York Jets – Aaron Glenn’s seat is getting hotter by the minute.
• Philadelphia Eagles – Still great, but suddenly human.
• Buffalo Bills – The AFC East isn’t theirs to cruise through anymore.

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What Week 5 really means

Week 5 was the perfect microcosm of the NFL’s unpredictable chaos. No team, no matter how dominant, can escape the league’s parity. The Eagles and Bills learned that the hard way, while teams like the Broncos and Patriots reminded fans that momentum can shift in a single Sunday.

As the season barrels toward midyear, the race for Super Bowl 60 feels more wide open than ever.

The message is simple: Every week is anyone’s game.

It’s the moment baseball fans have waited years to witness — Shohei Ohtani, the two-way sensation who has redefined modern baseball, is finally pitching in the Major League Baseball (MLB) postseason.

For a player who’s been called “the greatest show on Earth,” this debut on the October mound has been a long time coming — precisely 2,746 days since he first stepped into the big leagues on March 29, 2018, with the Los Angeles Angels.

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Back then, the world of baseball looked very different. Bryce Harper was still with the Washington Nationals, Kyle Schwarber was smashing home runs at Wrigley Field, and the Philadelphia Phillies were still buried in a decade-long playoff drought.

Fast forward to now — October 2025 — and Ohtani is the face of baseball, a two-time MVP, a World Baseball Classic champion, and the most captivating athlete the game has seen in generations.

From myth to postseason reality

Ohtani’s postseason pitching debut comes in Game 1 of the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies — a matchup loaded with star power, storylines, and history.

Sure, Ohtani has already delivered countless unforgettable moments as a hitter:

• The first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.
• The man who led the Dodgers to a World Series title over the New York Yankees as a designated hitter last year.
• The national hero who struck out Mike Trout to win the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for Japan’s national team.

But now, with the ball in his hand and October lights shining bright, Ohtani faces perhaps the biggest test of his career — delivering under the pressure of the MLB playoffs.

“Everything about Ohtani has been historic,” said one ESPN analyst. “But this moment — pitching in the postseason — might finally complete his legend.”

Dodgers’ gamble could pay off in gold

The Dodgers, who signed Ohtani to a record-breaking contract, have patiently waited for this moment. They’ve managed his innings, protected his arm, and balanced his dual role as a pitcher and hitter with surgical precision.

Manager Dave Roberts called Ohtani’s return to the mound “a championship-caliber risk.”

“He’s a once-in-a-lifetime player,” Roberts said before the series. “We’ve seen him dominate with the bat, and now we get to see him dominate with the ball in his hand — when it matters most.”

Ohtani’s presence on the mound gives the Dodgers something they haven’t truly had in years: a postseason ace who also provides elite offensive production.

The Phillies, on the other hand, enter the series as one of baseball’s most confident squads — powered by Harper, Schwarber, and Trea Turner — a lineup that thrives on high-stakes chaos.

The stage is set for a baseball epic

Ohtani’s start isn’t just about one player — it’s about a sport evolving in real time. His ability to blur the lines between pitcher and slugger has changed how scouts, teams, and fans view what’s possible on a baseball diamond.

In Japan, his performance will likely stop time. Millions will tune in, just as they did during the WBC final when Ohtani and Trout faced off — a duel now immortalized in baseball history.

Former players like Ichiro Suzuki have praised Ohtani for carrying forward Japan’s baseball legacy into global superstardom. And fans across the United States see in him something rare — a reminder that greatness can still surprise us.

Breaking: Shohei Ohtani will make his MLB playoff pitching debut in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Phillies, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced. pic.twitter.com/fp6Gv7eDwH

— ESPN (@espn) October 2, 2025

As one viral post on X (formerly Twitter) put it:

“Shohei Ohtani pitching in October feels like baseball’s reward for our patience.”

Can Ohtani decide the Dodgers-Phillies series?

It’s possible. Ohtani’s unique combination of power, precision, and poise could swing the entire series. The Phillies’ lineup has power, but few have ever faced a pitcher who can throw 100 mph fastballs one inning and then crush a 450-foot homer the next.

If he’s even close to his best, he could become the difference-maker between another Dodgers heartbreak and a return to World Series glory.

Win or lose, this moment feels bigger than baseball. For seven years, fans have watched Ohtani redefine what it means to be a player. Now, he finally gets the stage he deserves — the postseason mound.

And if history is any indication, Shohei Ohtani won’t just play the game. He’ll transform it.

The tension between Cathy Engelbert and WNBA players has reached a breaking point — and the commissioner’s latest remarks haven’t helped her case.

As the WNBA Finals tipped off on Friday night, all eyes weren’t just on the court but on the press conference podium. Engelbert, who once stood as the league’s transformative figure, is now facing the biggest credibility crisis of her tenure.

The controversy erupted earlier this week when Napheesa Collier, forward for the Minnesota Lynx, revealed during an interview that Engelbert allegedly told players they should be “on their knees, thanking their lucky stars” for the league’s upcoming $2 billion media rights deal.

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It was a bombshell accusation — one that sent shockwaves across locker rooms, fan spaces, and social media.

When asked to address the claim during her pre-Finals press conference, Engelbert’s response only deepened the distrust.

“There’s inaccuracy in what’s been reported,” Engelbert said, refusing to elaborate on what exactly was inaccurate or in what context her words were used.

Instead of clarifying, Engelbert pivoted toward her own emotional toll.

“I’m a human, too. I have a family. I have two kids who are devastated by these comments,” she said.

The reaction? A wave of disbelief — and anger — from players who expected accountability, not sympathy.

Players feel disrespected and unheard

To the athletes who’ve carried the WNBA through years of underfunding, low pay, and constant battles for recognition, Engelbert’s remarks symbolized something deeper: disrespect.

“Knowing the commissioner who’s supposed to champion us doesn’t respect us is devastating,” one player told ESPN anonymously.

Players like A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart have publicly pushed for fairer pay, better charter travel, and improved resources. Under the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the average WNBA salary remains drastically lower than that of their NBA counterparts — a gap many players view as emblematic of a deeper structural bias.

And now, with the league’s commissioner accused of downplaying player value amid billion-dollar negotiations, trust has evaporated.

A growing disconnect at the top

When Engelbert was appointed in 2019, she was hailed as a business-savvy leader who could bridge the gap between athletes and corporate power. A former CEO at Deloitte, she brought experience, polish, and big ambitions to the WNBA.

Yet, players now accuse her of becoming too corporate — more aligned with sponsors and broadcast partners than with the athletes who built the league’s foundation.

At this year’s All-Star Game, a closed-door meeting between Engelbert and players reportedly ended in frustration. Collier later described it as “fruitless,” saying there was “no real dialogue” or “sense of progress.”

“She’s supposed to be our advocate, but it feels like she’s negotiating against us,” one veteran player told The Athletic.

Social media reacts

On X (formerly Twitter), fans and analysts have been relentless.

Sports journalist Sheryl Swoopes reposted Collier’s comments, writing:

“Players built this league with sweat and sacrifice. They don’t owe anyone gratitude for a deal that finally values their worth.”

Meanwhile, WNBA legend Sue Bird liked a post that read:

“When your commissioner tells players to be grateful instead of being proud — that’s a leadership problem.”

The $2 billion question

The $2 billion media rights deal, reportedly negotiated with ESPN and other networks, was meant to be a victory lap — proof that women’s sports were finally being valued commercially.

Instead, it’s now at the center of a trust crisis.

Players are questioning how much of that windfall will reach their pockets or translate into tangible improvements — like charter flights, better healthcare, or year-round salaries.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert addressed player criticism ahead of the WNBA Finals:

“If the players in the W don’t feel appreciated and valued by the league, then we have to do better and I have to do better.” pic.twitter.com/80FCeivwYu

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) October 3, 2025

While Engelbert has highlighted the “historic nature” of the deal, many feel her tone was dismissive of the athletes who made such growth possible.

What happens next

As the Finals continue, with Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty battling for the championship, the off-court drama threatens to overshadow the game itself.

A new CBA negotiation looms on the horizon, and the league’s future stability could depend on whether Engelbert can rebuild trust — or if players demand new leadership altogether.

For now, one thing is clear: The commissioner’s words, or lack of them, have turned what should’ve been a celebratory moment into a credibility crisis.

And as the spotlight shifts back to the Finals, many fans are left asking: how can a league that’s finally thriving afford a commissioner who’s lost the locker room?