Week 5 NFL Winners & Losers: NFC East’s Gaffes, Surprising Upsets and Some Bright Spots

When the NFL rolls into Week 5 you usually expect a few storylines to settle in, but this Sunday turned that expectation on its head. The Buccaneers finally shook off a winless start by knocking the Cowboys off their perch on Thursday night, while the Eagles, fresh off a dramatic comeback in London, slipped away in the final seconds against the Jaguars. Those two moments alone hinted that the rest of the week would be anything but ordinary.

Perhaps the biggest drama unfolded in the NFC East. The Giants and Commanders ended their game tied 20‑20, a result that feels more like a loss for both sides. Washington’s clock‑management blunder in the fourth quarter—choosing to let the clock run instead of running a quick play—will be replayed in highlight reels for weeks to come. Meanwhile, New York’s defense folded at the worst possible moment, allowing the Commanders to march downfield and settle for a field goal that erased what should have been a win.

On the other side of the division, the Eagles’ night was a textbook case of “so close, yet so far.” After pulling ahead 24‑14 late in the fourth, Philadelphia watched Jacksonville orchestrate a flawless two‑minute drive, capped off by a game‑winning field goal as time expired. Coach Nick Sirianni’s decision to go for it on fourth‑and‑2 earlier in the quarter instead of taking the safer punt drew a chorus of boos from the broadcast booth and, more importantly, cost the team a chance to control the clock.

While the NFC East was stumbling, the NFC North was having a field day. The Packers turned the Bears into a sack of lint, winning 38‑10 and giving quarterback Jordan Love his first win as a starter. Christian Watson’s early touchdown and a string of big plays on special teams made the game look like a preseason scrimmage for Green Bay.

Out West, the 49ers kept their perfect start alive, edging the Seahawks 27‑24 in a nail‑biter that saw Brock Purdy connect on a clutch fourth‑down pass. The game reminded everyone that San Francisco’s offense still has a lot of ammunition left, especially with Christian McCaffrey still finding open lanes.

Even the Patriots, who have been under the radar all season, sparked some optimism. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye tossed a crisp 45‑yard strike for a first‑quarter touchdown against the Raiders, giving New England a 14‑7 lead that they never relinquished. Maye’s poise in the pocket may be the best news for Boston’s fanbase after a rocky start.

And let’s not forget the surprise of the week: the Jacksonville Jaguars. Their quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, orchestrated a late‑game rally against the Eagles that will be talked about in Jacksonville bars for months. The victory moved them to 3‑2 and showed that the team can hang with the league’s elite when they finally click.

All told, Week 5 handed us a handful of clear winners—the Packers, 49ers, Patriots and Jaguars—while the NFC East collected a stack of “what‑ifs.” If the division wants to stay relevant, they’ll need to tighten up coaching decisions, improve clock management, and maybe—just maybe—stop handing the ball to the opposition in the final minutes.