NFL Week 5 Winners and Losers: Breakthrough Performances and Crushing Defeats

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October 8, 2025

Week 5 of the NFL season delivered dramatic swings in fortune, with unexpected heroes emerging and established teams suffering devastating setbacks. With only 17 games per season, each week's performances dramatically alter perceptions of teams and players. Here are the biggest winners and losers from Week 5's action.

Winners

Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers

The preseason narrative positioned Chuba Hubbard as a fantasy sleeper with minimal backfield competition. That narrative is dead after Rico Dowdle's explosive 206-yard, one-touchdown performance on 23 carries in Carolina's 27-24 victory over Miami.

The Dolphins entered allowing the fourth-most yards per carry in the league, and the Panthers exploited that weakness mercilessly. Dowdle's performance ranks among the most unlikely 200-yard rushing games in recent memory.

Context matters here - Carolina was essentially playing for their season. Coming off a brutal 42-13 loss to New England, another defeat would have dropped them to 1-4. Instead, they sit at 2-3, within one game of .500 with upcoming matchups against Dallas and the New York Jets.

For Carolina to remain relevant, they must build around this ground-and-pound approach. While Dowdle can't be expected to rush for 200 yards weekly, the Panthers need effective rushing to relieve pressure on Bryce Young. This performance likely cost Hubbard his starting job.

Betting Impact: Dowdle becomes a must-add in fantasy leagues and offers value in player props moving forward. The Panthers' improved rushing attack makes their games more competitive than betting lines might suggest.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos entered Week 5 at 2-2 despite not trailing for a single second in any fourth quarter - both losses came as time expired. Bo Nix's sophomore campaign had started inconsistently, and Denver's defense couldn't close games.

Things looked bleak when the Broncos trailed 17-3 in the fourth quarter against defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia. Then Nix orchestrated back-to-back touchdown drives, the second ending with a two-point conversion to take the lead.

The second drive should excite Broncos fans most. Philadelphia forced Nix to win with his arm, and he delivered. He completed four passes of 10+ yards on that drive alone, including an 18-yard strike to Evan Engram. Denver added a field goal for the 21-17 victory.

This was the Bo Nix Denver has been waiting to see. If he builds on this fourth-quarter performance, the Broncos become a legitimate AFC threat.

For Philadelphia, it was another game lacking the explosiveness from their championship run. They've found ways to win ugly (including one game where Jalen Hurts didn't complete a second-half pass), but couldn't against Denver. Perhaps this loss shakes the offense from its Super Bowl hangover and reinforces that beating quality opponents requires downfield playmaking.

Betting Impact: Nix's development makes Denver increasingly dangerous as underdogs. Their ability to compete with elite teams suggests value betting on Broncos spreads.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield continues finding ways to win despite missing key players like Mike Evans and Bucky Irving. Facing an impressive 3-1 Seattle team, the Buccaneers engineered another late-game victory.

All four Tampa Bay wins this season have come by three points or fewer. Sunday's triumph came via Chase McLaughlin's 39-yard field goal as time expired, set up by Lavonte David's interception of Sam Darnold with under a minute remaining.

The Buccaneers have flown under the radar as a consistently excellent team. With clutch performances from Mayfield, dynamic rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka (163 yards, one touchdown), and talent throughout the roster, they'll factor prominently in NFC playoff races.

Betting Impact: Tampa Bay's four wins by three or fewer points suggest betting the under in their games offers value. Their ability to win close games makes them dangerous in any matchup.

Losers

Giants Rookies

Last week, Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo were New York's toast after leading an upset over the Los Angeles Chargers. This week provided harsh lessons about NFL ball security.

Facing a previously winless New Orleans Saints team, Dart turned the ball over three times, including a fumble where he simply lost the ball while running. That carelessness won't produce wins. Spencer Rattler, the more experienced quarterback, led the Saints to a 26-14 victory.

The turning point came when Skattebo fumbled and Jordan Howden returned it 86 yards for a touchdown. The Giants trailed 19-14 and appeared poised to take the lead. Instead, they faced a 26-14 deficit that became the final score.

Both players showed enough flashes to maintain optimism, and this game serves as a learning experience. But it was a tough regression after last week's excitement.

Betting Impact: Rookie inconsistency makes Giants games unpredictable from a betting standpoint. Their volatility suggests caution on spread bets until they demonstrate consistency.

Arizona Cardinals

Few losses in NFL history match the Cardinals' Week 5 collapse against Tennessee. The Titans looked like the league's worst team through three quarters, with Arizona leading 21-6 entering the fourth quarter.

Emari Demercado appeared to seal the game with a 72-yard touchdown run extending the lead to 28-6. Except he dropped the ball before crossing the goal line. Replay confirmed the ball came out before the end zone, wiping out the touchdown and giving Tennessee possession.

This should have been a cautionary tale - AD Mitchell committed the same error just last week. Instead, Demercado kept the Titans alive.

Tennessee scored on the ensuing drive but missed the extra point, leaving Arizona ahead by two scores. After a Cardinals three-and-out, Tennessee drove again, but Cam Ward threw a red-zone interception that seemingly ended the comeback.

Except Dadrion Taylor-Demerson fumbled the interception, and Tyler Lockett recovered in the end zone for a Titans touchdown.

Arizona managed one first down before punting with 1:53 remaining. Ward led a 71-yard drive capped by Joey Slye's 29-yard field goal, completing Arizona's meltdown.

Among all Cardinals losses throughout franchise history (and Denny Green could tell you about some memorable ones), this ranks near the top of most devastating defeats.

Betting Impact: Arizona's collapse raises serious questions about their mental toughness and ability to close games. Until they prove they can finish, betting on Cardinals leads becomes extremely risky.

Conclusion

Week 5 reinforced the NFL's unpredictability. Rico Dowdle emerged as a legitimate starting running back, Bo Nix showed he can win with his arm in crucial moments, and Baker Mayfield added another clutch victory to his Tampa Bay resume.

Conversely, the Giants' rookies learned painful lessons about ball security, while Arizona suffered one of the most crushing defeats in recent memory. These performances don't just impact standings - they reshape narratives and alter betting markets.

As we move toward Week 6, these winners and losers provide valuable context for evaluating teams and identifying betting value. Dowdle's emergence changes Carolina's offensive identity, Nix's development makes Denver dangerous, and Arizona's collapse raises red flags about their ability to finish games.

The NFL's 17-game schedule means every week matters immensely. Week 5's winners and losers have potentially set trajectories that will define entire seasons.

Thanks to Stats Perform for the data

Photo:nfl.com

More information:24live.com