Week 5 is where the mask usually slips in the NFL. By now, the "September flukes" have started to fade, and the teams with actual staying power are beginning to separate themselves from the pack. If you've been following the 2025 season, you know exactly what I'm talking about. The standing room is getting crowded, the injury reports are getting long, and the NFL schedule week 5 offers a slate that basically forces everyone to prove they aren't frauds.
Honestly, it’s a chaotic weekend. We’ve got teams heading across the pond, some massive divisional reunions, and a few "get right" games that feel more like "must-wins" than anyone wants to admit in early October.
🔗 Read more: Wisconsin Football 2025 Schedule: Why This Season Is a Brutal Reality Check
The London Opener and the Morning Coffee Kickoff
Everything starts early on Sunday, October 5, with the International Series hitting its stride. The Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns are taking over Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. If you’re on the East Coast, that’s a 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff. Set your alarms or don't—but Kevin O’Connell’s squad has historically played well in London.
The Vikings are coming off a weird stretch. They lost the first-ever regular-season game in Ireland to the Steelers just a week prior (a 24-21 heartbreaker at Croke Park). Now, they have to pivot to London. The Browns, meanwhile, have been struggling to find any offensive rhythm. Watching Jim Schwartz's defense try to contain Justin Jefferson on a soccer pitch is going to be the highlight of your Sunday morning breakfast.
Sunday’s Early Window: Chaos in the 1:00 PM Slate
Once the London game wraps up, the 1:00 p.m. ET window hits like a ton of bricks. There are seven games happening simultaneously. It's a lot.
One of the most fascinating matchups is the Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Usually, the Cowboys-Giants rivalry gets all the Meadowlands hype, but this Cowboys-Jets game feels heavier. CeeDee Lamb has been a monster lately, but he’s running straight into Sauce Gardner. The Jets are acting as a "slot funnel" lately—giving up big yards to tight ends and slot receivers while the outside corners lock everything down. Keep an eye on Jake Ferguson here; he might be the busiest man on the field.
Then you have the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans. Both teams entered the month at a disappointing 1-3. Lamar Jackson has been dealing with the "injury bug" again, and C.J. Stroud is trying to prove that the Texans' slow start was just a sophomore slump. This isn't just a regular game; it's a battle for AFC survival.
Other 1:00 p.m. matchups include:
- Miami Dolphins at Carolina Panthers: A potential track meet if Tyreek Hill finds space.
- Las Vegas Raiders at Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson vs. Maxx Crosby is basically a "who is more athletic" contest.
- New York Giants at New Orleans Saints: The Giants are notably without Malik Nabers, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. That’s a massive blow to an offense that already feels like it’s running on fumes.
- Denver Broncos at Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles are 4-0 but looking shaky. They tend to disappear for entire quarters. If Bo Nix can stay upright against that Philly pass rush, an upset isn't impossible.
The Late Afternoon Hammer
The 4:00 p.m. ET window is smaller but arguably more intense. The Detroit Lions go to Cincinnati to face the Bengals at 4:25 p.m. on FOX. This is a heavyweight fight. The Lions are 3-1 and look like the class of the NFC North, but the Bengals in October are usually a different beast.
Over in Seattle, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are visiting the Seahawks. Tampa is 2-0 on the road so far this year. Baker Mayfield has been playing with a chip on his shoulder the size of a Tesla, and he’s been targeting Chris Godwin relentlessly. Seattle’s defense uses a lot of Cover 4 and Cover 6, which actually plays right into Mayfield’s hands if he takes the underneath stuff.
📖 Related: Oregon Boise State Football: Why This Rivalry Is Still The Most Stressful Game On The Schedule
We also have:
- Tennessee Titans at Arizona Cardinals: Cam Ward vs. Kyler Murray. The Titans finally got their first win last week after a 10-game losing streak dating back to last year. Can they keep the momentum?
- Washington Commanders at Los Angeles Chargers: Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers against a Washington team that is still trying to find its defensive identity.
Primetime Stakes: Bills, Pats, and the Chiefs
The NFL schedule week 5 wraps up with two games that couldn't be more different.
Sunday Night Football features the New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills. It’s the first real AFC East test for Drake Maye. The kid has been impressive—74% completion rate through four games—but Highmark Stadium in primetime is a different world. The Bills are 4-0 and Josh Allen is playing like he wants the MVP trophy delivered to his house by Tuesday.
Monday Night ends the week with the Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars. The Chiefs have been "fine" at 2-2, which for them feels like a crisis. Patrick Mahomes finally looked like himself last week with a four-touchdown performance against Baltimore, but the Jaguars are 3-1 and playing at home. It’s a rematch of that 2022-23 divisional game, and Trevor Lawrence finally has the weapons to go toe-to-toe with KC.
Bye Weeks and Roster Management
Don't forget the teams that aren't playing. If you're looking for the Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, or Pittsburgh Steelers, you won't find them. They are all on bye.
This is a huge week for fantasy managers. Losing stars like Bijan Robinson, Jordan Love, or George Pickens for a week means you’re digging deep into the waiver wire. It also gives those teams a chance to get healthy before the mid-season grind really starts to hurt.
What You Should Actually Watch For
If you’re limited on time and can only catch a few games, focus on these specific dynamics:
📖 Related: Ohio State at Texas: Why This 2025 Matchup is the Biggest Game of the Decade
- The "Pretender" Check: Watch the Eagles and Bills. Both are 4-0, but both have shown major lapses in discipline (penalties, missed tackles). Week 5 is when those small cracks usually turn into giant holes.
- The Rookie QB Progression: Drake Maye (NE) and Bo Nix (DEN) are both facing elite defenses this week. How they handle the pressure will tell us if they're ready for the "big boy" part of the schedule.
- The London Factor: How do the Vikings handle the travel after playing in Ireland the week before? It’s a logistics nightmare that usually shows up in the fourth quarter when legs get heavy.
The 2025 season is moving fast. We're already a quarter of the way through, and the playoff picture is starting to take shape, even if it's still a bit blurry.
Next Steps for Week 5 Prep
To stay ahead of the curve, you should verify the local TV blackouts for the 1:00 p.m. window, especially since the Cowboys-Jets game will take up most of the national FOX map. If you're a fantasy player, check the status of Kenneth Walker III and Joe Mixon, as both have been "game-time decisions" leading into the weekend. Finally, make sure your streaming apps are updated for the London game; NFL Network is the only place to catch the Vikings and Browns.
article>