Niners-Seahawks put us on the edge of our seats, while Commanders-Giants left us … shaking our heads in disbelief.

In Packers land, the arrow is pointing up after a whooping of a fierce division rival. Then there’s Nashville, where hopes keep lowering for the Titans. 

In my Best and Worst superlatives coming out of Week 5, I focus on game play, defenses and overall team quality: 

   Best Game This Week: 49ers-Seahawks Thriller

Monday night was fantastic, with the Bills besting the Rams to close NFL Week 5. I’m still going with Sunday’s 49ers-Seahawks catchup, which added to the many thrilling games we’ve seen between these NFC West rivals over the years.

Niners kicker Eddy Piñeiro hit the go-ahead 44-yard field goal with 1:56 left and San Francisco’s defense forced a turnover on downs on the Seahawks’ final possession to escape Seattle with the 32-29 win. Seahawks star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a stunning drop on third-and-10 that would’ve set Seattle up in field goal range and Cooper Kupp was ruled short of the line to gain on the ensuing fourth-down play. 

The game featured four lead changes, two ties and an NFL season-high seven combined turnovers. There wasn’t a touchdown drive longer than 24 yards until early in the fourth quarter, when 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and wide receiver Mike Evans caught fire, connecting four times for 75 yards and a two-point conversion on a go-ahead possession with 11:02 left. 

The ejection of Dre Greenlaw in the second quarter was a pivotal moment as well — the 49ers’ veteran linebacker headbutted the Seahawks’ Ernest Jones IV after delivering a late hit to Sam Darnold by Seattle’s sideline. San Francisco managed to overcome that for its biggest win of the season yet, improving to 5-0. 

What did we learn from this spectacular slugfest? Both heavyweights reaffirmed that they’re among the top Super Bowl contenders this season. While sloppiness defined Sunday’s showdown, both squads showed high-level play in all three phases. 

The Niners carry a two-game lead in the NFC West entering Week 6, but the division feels destined to go down to the very end. The Rams will factor into that as well.  

   Worst Game This Week: Giants-Commanders Tie

This 27-27 game provided a masterclass in terrible late-game execution and clock management. 

In overtime, the Giants blew their chance for the game-winning field goal when running back Cam Skattebo fumbled and lost the ball after a strip by Commanders nose tackle Daron Payne inside the 25-yard line. 

Washington then botched its opportunity to win as well. Despite having no timeouts, quarterback Jayden Daniels scrambled and took a sack with 12 seconds left in overtime and the Commanders couldn’t spike the ball before time expired, preventing them from kicking the potential game-winning field goal.  

In many ways, this overtime tie defined what the NFC East is becoming this season: a massive disappointment, with whoever is the least bad coming out on top. 

The Giants (3-1-1) currently lead the division, but their upside is capped with QB Jaxson Dart out for the season with a knee injury. The Eagles (2-3), with their terrible offense, could be barreling toward a rebuild. The Cowboys (2-3) have a massive liability in their defense, which can’t stop anybody. And the last-place Commanders (1-3-1) constantly have Daniels’ health concerns hanging over their heads.

Washington didn’t need to add insult to injury with abysmal game management.

 

Best Defense This Week: Green Bay Packers

The Packers suffocated their hated rival in the Bears, forcing a season-high five turnovers — Green Bay’s most takeaways in a game since 2016. Four of the five came on consecutive possessions in the second half. 

Chicago had been managing without star quarterback Caleb Williams (hamstring) the past couple of weeks, winning its previous two games, but Green Bay provided a reality check. The Packers had two interceptions off Tyson Bagent (12-of-21, 87 yards), who was benched after three quarters, then added two more takeaways off Case Keenum (11-of-19, 108 yards, INT, lost fumble). Wide receiver Rome Odunze also lost a fumble, with linebacker Zaire Franklin forcing the ball out and safety Evan Williams recovering it. Safety Xavier McKinney had a team-high two picks. 

The Packers also held the Bears’ No. 1-rated rushing attack to 81 yards, by far a season low, and limited Chicago to 3.6 yards per play.

Xavier McKinney (No. 29) had two interceptions against the Bears, who turned the ball over a total of five times on Sunday. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

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Not only did Green Bay’s defense make Chicago miss Williams, but the performance was the former’s season best ahead of Micah Parsons’ eventual return. The star edge rusher hasn’t started practicing yet, but he’s been eligible to come off the physically unable to perform list since last week. 

Earlier this month, the Packers looked like a team in danger of missing the playoffs. The past couple of weeks have shown us that we can’t count them out. They’re starting to find themselves. 

 

Worst Defense This Week: Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders weren’t the only team to allow 45 points this week — the Cardinals are in that party, too — but Las Vegas’ defense was worse across the board. In their 45-17 win, the Patriots went 6-of-12 on third down, had 536 yards of offense, averaged 8.1 yards per play and scored six touchdowns against the Raiders. 

Patriots receiver Kyle Williams scores one of New England’s six touchdowns against a beleaguered Raiders defense on Sunday. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

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We’re starting to learn that Las Vegas’ effectiveness defensively may be reliant on the ability to force turnovers. The Raiders are 3-0 when they have two-plus takeaways and now 0-2 when they have no more than one. Las Vegas’ defense couldn’t get off the field Sunday, as New England had a time of possession of 34:27. 

It’s part of the reason why I’m not yet buying the Raiders as a contender. They’ve had just one bad loss — they went down to the wire with the Chiefs in Week 4 — but haven’t shown consistency on defense from start to finish against good teams. The Raiders gave up 30 points and 189 rushing yards to Kansas City last week. And Las Vegas’ 3-0 start came against the Dolphins, Chargers and Saints — teams that are a combined 1-14. 

 

Best Overall Team This Week: New England Patriots

The Patriots beat the Raiders by 28 points, the NFL’s largest margin of victory in Week 5. 

Highlighting the dominance was quarterback Drake Maye, whose funk just a couple of weeks ago feels like an alternate reality. A week after winning AFC Offensive Player of the Week, Maye played lights out against Las Vegas: a 76.5% completion rate for 374 yards, five total touchdowns (four passing) and a 150.9 passer rating, the latter of which is the third-highest mark of his career. 

It was all the more impressive given that New England was without two of its top wide receivers — A.J. Brown and Mack Hollins. We are starting to see that the Patriots’ offense can be as explosive as any in the league. 

But credit to New England’s defense as well in Week 5. The Raiders scored at least 26 points in each of their first four games, but the Patriots kept them under 20. New England erased the run game (Vegas had a season-low 38 rushing yards) and held up well when the Raiders reached scoring position. Las Vegas had just 17 points to show for six possessions that reached plus territory. 

After a big win over the Bills last week and a dominant showing against the Raiders this week, the Patriots are back as serious AFC contenders. 

 

Worst Overall Team This Week: Tennessee Titans

The Titans keep finding ways to create new lows. Facing a fellow 0-4 team in the Texans, Tennessee scored just a field goal en route to a 23-point loss to a division rival at home. 

Former No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward (23-of-36, 170 yards, 0 TDs, INT) took several steps back after an encouraging performance against the Ravens in Week 4, reigniting questions about his standing as the Titans’ quarterback. Tennessee’s offensive line, which has largely been solid this season, fell apart against Houston — Ward was sacked a season-high four times and the Titans produced a season-low 57 rushing yards. 

Titans QB Cam Ward was sacked a season-high four times against the Texans, who won their first game of the season. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

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Tennessee’s defense was fine through two quarters — Houston had just 12 points to show for four drives that got inside the Titans’ 35-yard line — before unraveling down the stretch, giving up back-to-back touchdowns to start the second half. 

Nothing will change in the Titans’ outlook until they can get something going on offense, where they rank dead last in both scoring and yards produced per game. Former Giants head coach Brian Daboll has been a massive disappointment as the offensive coordinator hire to this point, and Ward’s development has been headed backward. 

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TROPICANA Field (St. Petersburg, Fla.) — Talk about an upset.

Facing the Tampa Bay Rays, the best team in the American League, it was the tough and tired Cleveland Guardians who came through and remarkably took Game 1 of the ALCS with a 7-3 win on Monday night at Tropicana Field.

The odds were against them after going the distance in the ALDS. Cleveland spent all its energy storming back from the brink of elimination against the White Sox, only to still have some fight left in the tank. No matter that Tampa Bay’s indomitable ace was on the mound. No matter that the Rays were recharged after four days off following their sweep of the Yankees. No matter that Tropicana Field was rocking with a sold-out crowd waving yellow towels and creating extra pressure. 

The Guardians, on the strength of their MVP-caliber stars, stole Game 1 on the road. 

Here are my takeaways:

1. Cleveland’s Counterpunch Was An Uppercut

(Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) –>

The Guardians were waiting for their unofficial team captain, Jose Ramirez, to make some noise all night. If their epic comeback in the ALDS was any indication, these Guardians go as Ramirez goes. 

He finally got his moment and started a rally when he led off the top of the eighth inning with a hustling infield single to Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, who tried and failed to barehand the grounder. Ramirez reached first base safely with the spark that Cleveland needed to get going.

Guardians rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter picked up where Ramirez left off by lacing a double to right field off Rays right-hander Tyler Wells. Suddenly, after catcher Patrick Bailey tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth on a solo homer, the Guardians had the go-ahead runs in scoring position. 

First baseman Nathaniel Lowe, acquired by Cleveland at the trade deadline for his postseason experience, delivered when his team needed him the most. Lowe ripped a single up the middle, past Tampa Bay’s diving infielders and into center field, scoring Ramirez and DeLauter and completing yet another epic comeback just two days after their last one.

“It’s hard to hit solo homers and win games,” Lowe said after the win. “And the guys that did it tonight deserve all the credit for doing it, for keeping us in the game. But when we build momentum, the way that we play, when runners get into scoring position, it’s when we can capitalize. I’m so thankful that I’m the guy that got to do it first tonight.”

Cleveland scored seven of the game’s last eight runs between DeLauter’s solo shot in the sixth, Bailey’s game-tying homer in the seventh, Lowe’s two-run single in the eighth, and Jo Adell’s two-run double in the ninth to put them over the edge with a 7-3 lead over the Rays. This would have been unthinkable just days ago, when the Guardians trailed the White Sox two games to none in the ALDS before clawing back, winning the series and advancing to the ALCS.  

The Rays seemed stunned. The Guardians put on a show and reminded us why they shouldn’t be.

“That’s a very good team over there,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said of the Guards. “They put a lot of pressure on pitchers and can foul balls off and lengthen out at-bats. And then you add the component that they’re good hitters.”

2. Cash Gets Greedy With Rasmussen

(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) –>

Cash is one of this year’s favorites to win the American League Manager of the Year award. It would be his third time receiving the honor, and the first time since he won it back-to-back in 2020 and 2021, pointing to his consistency and longevity as one of the game’s best skippers.

That being said, Cash’s decision to leave his ace on the mound for one more batter won’t make it onto his career highlight reel. 

Tampa Bay right-hander Drew Rasmussen was dominant against the Guardians on Monday, though not as untouchable as he was against the Yankees in Game 1 of the ALDS. Rasmussen had limited Cleveland to one run through six solid innings, with his only blemish up to that point coming on a DeLauter home run to lead off the sixth inning. He had racked up seven strikeouts and did not allow a walk. It was everything the Rays could’ve asked from their ace. 

After the top of the sixth inning was over, Rasmussen was walking around in the Rays dugout like his night was over. There were two relievers warming up while the Rays batted in the bottom of the inning. Especially with Tampa Bay’s well-rested bullpen, since they swept the Yankees in the ALDS and haven’t played a game since Wednesday, it seemed like the ideal time to end Rasmussen’s night.

But Cash got greedy in a tight one-run game. The Rays were leading the Guardians, 2-1, and Cash went back to Rasmussen for the top of the seventh inning to try and preserve their lead. 

Rasmussen picked a bad time to throw his worst pitch of the night: a hanging cutter. Instead of burying it in on the hands, he missed his target and threw it up and in the middle to Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey, who crushed it 436 feet to center field for a game-tying solo home run. 

Though it was one batter too late, Cash promptly removed Rasmussen from the game, his mistake evident in the tens of thousands of fans who were silent as their ace walked back to the dugout with his tail between his legs. After the loss, Cash indicated he would’ve let Rasmussen finish the seventh inning if not for the Bailey home run. 

“A little bit,” Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan said when I asked if he was surprised Rasmussen came back out for the seventh inning. “But that’s more a reflection of today’s baseball climate as opposed to how he was doing. You have an ace. You want to ride him out as long as possible. But I’m happy with that. I like that decision.”
 

3. Retribution For Diaz & Caminero

(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) –>

The Rays didn’t waste any time giving the Guardians a headache, and it might have hurt them more knowing which players did the early damage. 

Rays designated hitter Yandy Diaz, who on Tuesday will set the franchise record for the most games played in the postseason (31), was all over Guardians left-hander Foster Griffin in the first inning. Diaz, leading off as usual, ripped a 114.6 mph double to left field to set the table for the big boppers behind him. Slugger Jonathan Aranda surprised everyone by putting down a perfect sacrifice bunt that advanced Diaz, 90 feet from home plate. Then Junior Caminero smacked an RBI single to left, and just three batters into the bottom of the first, the Rays had a 1-0 lead. 

Call it retribution.

Diaz played for Cleveland from 2017-18, though he only played in 88 games in that two-year span. Before the 2019 season, Diaz was part of a three-team trade that sent him to Tampa Bay, where he played mostly at third base until Caminero took over in 2023.

Caminero signed as a free agent with Cleveland in 2019. He was traded to the Rays in 2021 for right-handed pitcher Tobias Myers, and Caminero finally made his major-league debut in 2023 as one of the Rays’ highly-touted top prospects. 

“Thank you to Cleveland for making me a professional,” Diaz said through an interpreter ahead of Game 1 on Monday. “I started my career there. I signed my first pro contract there. But also, I’m happy with the way things worked out. I’m happy that I was traded over here to Tampa Bay, in my opinion, the best organization in the league. I’ve made my career here. So that’s something I’m really proud of.”

The Guardians, who were stymied by the Rays early, remembered that they didn’t need two big boppers like Diaz and Caminero in their lineup. They had their own way of manufacturing power. 

3 ½. What’s next?

It will be Rays right-hander Freddy Peralta versus Guardians left-hander Parker Messick for Game 2 of the ALCS on Tuesday. Peralta, who said he prepared for the Guardians to be “very disciplined at the plate,” will try to set the tone with a much-needed win for Tampa Bay before the team goes on the road for Game 3.

Messick, who has a 5.40 postseason ERA after giving up four runs in two abbreviated starts against the White Sox in the ALDS, grew up in Orlando, Fla. The rookie southpaw went to high school in Plant City, which is about 45 minutes northeast of Tropicana FIeld, and he went to college at Florida State University. He’s expecting a large contingent of family members for his pivotal start on Tuesday.

“Pretty large group of people coming,” Messick said. “Mostly family. I know my hometown is throwing a little bit of a watch party. So that may keep a lot of people over there. It’s going to be fun.”

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SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California) — In a battle between the last two players to win MVP, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills emerged victorious over Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams in a 37-34 overtime win in a game widely billed as a Super Bowl preview. 

And the win helped Allen get at least one monkey off his back. It served as his first career overtime win. He had gone 0-7 in overtime games prior to Monday, including the postseason, as Buffalo improved to 4-1.

As for Los Angeles, it’s back to the drawing board as its underwhelming start has continued. It’s now 2-3 on the year. 

Here are my takeaways from Monday’s thriller. 

1.

No Healthy WRs? No Problem For Superman Josh Allen

With the team’s No. 1 receiver in DJ Moore out with a shoulder injury and Joshua Palmer (shoulder) also unavailable, Buffalo needed to rely on Khalil Shakur and Keon Coleman to fill the void. Neither wide receiver stepped up for much of the game, though. 

However, the lack of healthy receivers didn’t matter, as Josh Allen once again put the Bills on his back in the fourth quarter and overtime. He finished with a game-high 121 rushing yards and a score, and also threw for 210 passing yards, basically serving as the offense for the Bills. 

That was evident on the Bills’ final drive. Allen ran for a total of 32 yards on back-to-back plays, leading Buffalo to get into field goal range. 

Along with Allen, James Cook also helped the Bills grind out the game on the ground, totaling 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries.  

2.

Rams’ Special Teams Highlights Sloppy Play

In a game expected to be a Super Bowl preview with two of the top four favorites to make the Super Bowl, we instead got a sloppy affair.  The two teams combined for 24 penalties and missed kicks by both kickers.

In fact, Los Angeles continues to find new ways to give up game-changing plays on special teams. Kicker Harrison Mevis had the game on his foot, but his 48-yard game-winning attempt was blocked in overtime. That came after a 50-yard miss earlier in the game, and a 70-yard return for the Bills on the opening kickoff that immediately turned into points for the Bills. 

Mevis is now 5 of 9 on field goal attempts this season for the Rams. 

The Bills had their sloppy moments, too. Allen threw an interception for a third straight game, which doubled as Jaylen Watson’s first pick as a member of the Rams. And as we alluded to earlier, Bills kicker Tyler Bass missed an extra point that could’ve wound up proving costly and Buffalo committed 13 penalties in the win. So, not all wins are pretty. 

3.

Give The Ball To Puka Nacua And Move Out Of The Way

The BYU product posted his best game statistically of the season, finishing with a career-high 17 catches that went for 138 yards and a score on 21 targets. Rams head coach Sean McVay used Nacua in different ways, on jet sweeps, bubble screens and passes down the field.

But why didn’t McVay go to Nacua again on a third-and-5 from the Bills’ 30 in overtime? The team opted to run Kyren Williams up the gut for no gain, leading to Mevis’ blocked field goal as they could’ve marched the ball further down the field.

Still, Nacua’s performance on Monday goes to show how vital he is to this offense. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford finished 40 of 54 for 383 yards, three touchdowns, with no interceptions, posting a 111.9 passer rating.  

The Rams leaned on Nacua and the passing game because they couldn’t get the running game going consistently. The Rams finished with just 77 rushing yards. Williams led the charge with 49 yards on 16 carries. Tight end Tyler Higbee added five catches for 83 yards.

3 1/2.   What’s Next

The Rams face the bottom dwellers of the NFC West, the Arizona Cardinals, on a short week at SoFi Stadium on Sunday. It’s a much-needed matchup for the Rams as they look to stay alive in the NFC West race. 

The Bills stay on the West Coast to face the Las Vegas Raiders, who are looking to break a two-game losing streak of their own.

 

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It’s been a weird start to the NFL season. Nobody could have predicted the Vikings and Giants would be among the teams with the best records. And few would’ve thought the Texans and Chargers would be down near the bottom. 

There’s a long way to go, of course, but there are at least some certain truths that are beginning to emerge about 2026. And the biggest might be this:

The NFC West is still really, really good.

How good? You’ll find out in my Week 6 power rankings. 

*Super Bowl odds courtesy of DraftKings

Record: 0-5

Previous ranking: 32

Super Bowl odds: +100000 (tied for 31st-best)

I actually felt a little bad dropping the Titans to the bottom last week, considering they had almost beaten the Eagles and the Giants. But then they went out and proved I was right. I know the Texans have a tough defense, but if you’re the Titans, you have to at least show up against 0-4 teams. Right now, they look like a team that should be very worried. 

QB Cam Ward has too many weapons around him to be as bad as he’s been. They should be more competitive than they currently are. But right now, they’re only competitive for the No. 1 pick in the 2027 draft, where they’re going to have to think long and hard about taking a QB … again.

Next game: @ Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Titans have started 0-5 for the first time since 2009. 

Record: 0-5

Previous ranking: 31

Super Bowl odds: +100000 (tied for 31st-best)

The Dolphins head into their bye week 0-5, which is exactly what everyone expected. Head coach Jeff Hafley’s defense has been OK, but they’re one of the worst offenses in the league and there isn’t a quarterback anywhere playing as poorly as Malik Willis. 

Bright sides? There are a few. RB Ollie Gordon has 188 yards and two TDs in two starts since they lost De’Von Achane. And on Sunday, they scored a season-high 24 points and out-gained the explosive Bengals 331 yards to 307. Want another one? When they come out of the bye, they get the Jets twice in a month span, which might be their only two chances for wins this season.

Next game: BYE

Stat To Know: The Dolphins’ minus-62-point differential is the worst in the NFL through the first five weeks of the season. 

Record: 1-4

Previous ranking: 27 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +50000 (30th-best)

Back in the preseason, the Cardinals looked like they were headed towards a 0-13 start. Their QB was that shaky and their schedule was that tough. Now, I’d like to amend that to 1-12, but only because they beat the Chargers back on opening day. They are showing who they are: a promising, young team with no quarterback and not enough overall talent. 

Maybe trading WR Marvin Harrison Jr. wasn’t a white flag on the season, but it was definitely an indication that they know next year matters more. A big reason for that is that their remaining schedule is absolutely brutal. If they win more than one game before their Week 14 bye, it would be a huge surprise.

Next game: @ Rams (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Cardinals are now 2-18 in their last 20 games dating back to last season. 

Record: 0-5

Previous ranking: 28 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +20000 (27th-best)

Here’s the best thing you can say about the Chargers: They almost won each of their last three games. And considering they played the Bills, Seahawks and Broncos, losing by a touchdown or less isn’t terrible. But alas, they are still terrible. They are 0-5, QB Justin Herbert is having his worst season, they can’t protect him (again) and nobody can hold onto his passes. 

Head coach Jim Harbaugh has even transitioned from looking like a deer in the headlights to looking like an old deer in the headlights. They hit their bye week after they play in Kansas City on Sunday. They’ve got a lot of thinking to do, and maybe a few choices to make, when they’re off.

Next game: @ Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Chargers have now lost eight straight games dating back to last season (including playoffs). This is the longest active losing streak in the NFL currently.

Record: 1-4

Previous ranking: 30 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +12500 (24th-best)

Yes, congratulations, the Buccaneers won and RB Bucky Irving’s 165 yards sparked an impressive offensive performance against the awful Cowboys defense. But boy, did head coach Todd Bowles do a heck of a job trying to give this game away in the final 8.5 minutes, starting with his weird decision to pass up a field goal from the 1-yard line that would’ve put his team up by an insurmountable three scores. 

Don’t expect them to keep treading water with Jalon Daniels at QB with the Steelers, Panthers, Falcons and Bears coming up. Bowles will still be among the most endangered coaches in the NFL after that, when the Bucs head into their bye.

Next game: vs. Steelers (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Buccaneers rank second in the NFL in both rushing yards allowed per game (72.8) and yards allowed per carry (3.28).

Jalon Daniels and the Bucs shocked the Cowboys on Thursday.  (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

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Record: 1-4

Previous ranking: 23 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +15000 (26th-best)

If this were a ranking of the biggest disappointments in the NFL, the Saints would be No. 1, and no one else would be close, because there is no team in the NFL that has disappointed me more. I was sure they had the talent to be a worst-to-first story, one of the surprise teams to make the playoffs this year. And I believed that Tyler Shough was one of the next generation of QB stars. But three losses in a row, including five turnovers by Shough (eight for the team), have me out. 

I know the Vikings defense is good, but come on, just 142 yards of offense on Sunday? Apparently they’re not nearly as good as I thought.

Next game: @ Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Saints have the third-worst turnover margin (11 giveaways against 5 takeaways) in the NFL through five weeks. 

Record: 2-3

Previous ranking: 29 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +30000 (29th-best)

The Jets are exactly who I told you they would be: A more competitive, more professional team that is capable of beating weak teams and mostly incapable of getting over the hump against strong ones. That’s how they got to 2-3 with wins over the Titans and now the Browns. 

Head coach Aaron Glenn’s team does play good defense, WR Garrett Wilson is a star and their offensive line can help them ground out a running game no matter who is in the backfield. 

Winning games? Just like we said with the Dolphins, New York gets Miami twice in a short span soon. Someone has to win those games, right?

Next game: @ Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Jets’ win over the Browns was their first home win since Week 13 of last season. 

Record: 1-3-1

Previous ranking: 24 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +10000 (23rd-best)

What the hell was that? There’s really not much more to say than that after the way the Commanders lost (OK, tied) the Giants on Sunday. It was bad enough that they wasted a triumphant return performance by QB Jayden Daniels that was giving them hope for the rest of their season. It was worse that head coach Dan Quinn’s defense forgot how to play in the second half and let the Giants shove them down the field and almost win the game. 

Letting the clock run out in overtime when you’re staring at a short, game-winning field goal? It’s inexcusable. And it’s on the coach — or more accurately, their soon-to-be-former coach.

Next game: vs. 49ers (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Commanders had an 89% chance to win immediately before the final play of overtime against the Giants. 

Record: 3-2

Previous ranking: 19 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +25000 (28th-best)

If you want to tell people you’re a contender, you can’t then go and lose to the Jets. I’m pretty sure there’s a rule about that somewhere, because now, all the goodwill the Browns built up in their 3-1 start is crumbling like a house of cards in a Nor’easter. 

Rookie WR K.C. Concepcion and second-year RB Quinshon Judkins got hurt in the game too, adding to their woes. And Deshaun Watson’s first real stinker reopens the door for Shedeur Sanders at QB. Maybe not literally yet, but if he’s bad against the Ravens on Sunday, don’t rule out Sanders getting a look at Tennessee in two weeks.

Next game: vs. Ravens (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Browns have only allowed one rushing touchdown this season, which is tied for first in the NFL. 

Record: 1-4

Previous ranking: 26 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +4500 (tied for 17th-best)

It says a lot about parity in the NFL that the Texans think they’re still in the race enough to trade a second-round pick for WR Marvin Harrison Jr. Yeah, they’ve got their eyes on the future too, but doing the deal now suggests they think they can climb out of their 0-4 hole this year. 

Blowing out the Titans on Sunday isn’t enough to convince anyone that they can. This week’s game against the Jaguars in London will be a much bigger test. The sooner DeMeco Ryans and QB C.J. Stroud figure out how to tap Harrison’s old potential, the better.

Next game: vs. Jaguars (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Texans have now won seven of their last eight games against the Titans. 

Record: 3-2

Previous ranking: 25 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +4500 (tied for 17th-best)

The Packers’ blowout win over the Bears was certainly out of nowhere, and probably some sweet revenge for Matt LaFleur’s team. It was the first sign of life from their offense since opening weekend, which is really odd since QB Jordan Love has been playing well, and they really do have good receivers. 

The Packers still can’t really run the ball, and that’s going to hold them back. But Love and an improving defense have been enough to get them to 3-2. It doesn’t look pretty, but they have a chance to stay on their offensive roll with the Cowboys, Lions and Panthers up next.

Next game: vs. Cowboys (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Packers have now won 10 of the last 11 meetings with the Bears at Lambeau Field.

Record: 2-3

Previous ranking: 17 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +3000 (14th-best)

I’m sure there have been worse losses in recent Cowboys’ history than their Thursday night debacle at home against the winless Buccaneers, but I can’t think of any right now. It’s pretty clear by now that Jerry Jones’ weird rebuilding of his defense created something worse. But where has the offense gone? 

Quarterback Dak Prescott has a pair of elite wide receivers to throw to in CeeDee Lamb (when he’s healthy) and George Pickens and a solid running game, and they still couldn’t get moving until they were down two touchdowns with 8.5 minutes to go? They’ve got back-to-back primetime games coming up at Green Bay and at Philly. Those are two beatable teams, but even if they win, don’t believe your eyes. This team is too flawed to trust.

Next game: @ Packers (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Cowboys’ defense ranks last in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (168.4) and opponent third-down conversion rate (52.6%). Dallas is also the only team without an interception and is tied with Indianapolis and Tennessee for the fewest takeaways (two). 

Record: 2-3

Previous ranking: 17 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +8000 (20th-best)

The Colts have too much talent on offense to continually come up so empty. QB Daniel Jones didn’t throw a touchdown pass against the Steelers and RB Jonathan Taylor had just 45 yards. Maybe things will start clicking when WR Alec Pierce returns. And at least next week they’ve got a break against the Titans. But head coach Shane Steichen is an offensive guy, and he needs to come up with some answers, because he doesn’t have the defense to prop his team up. If the struggles continue, he’s going to find himself on the hot seat long before he gets to their Week 13 bye.

Next game: vs. Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: Through Week 5, the Colts’ defense is tied for the fewest takeaways in the NFL (two) and allows the third-most yards per play (6.45) and fourth-most total yards per game (384.2). 

Record: 2-3

Previous ranking: 17 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +6000 (18th-best)

The Falcons move up despite losing in overtime to the Lamar Jackson-less Ravens because there is no doubt they’ve turned a corner. They look like a completely different team since Kevin Stefanski got Michael Penix Jr. back at QB. 

The Falcons are much more competitive and have figured out how to use all their big weapons (RB Bijan Robinson, WR Drake London, TE Kyle Pitts) and they’ve even developed a pass rush too. Penix’s rib injury is concerning, but even without him, maybe the Falcons can keep their momentum going for a bit.

Next game: vs. Bears (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: Atlanta ranks second in the NFL in rushing yards per game (166.8) and third in yards per carry (5.05).

Record: 3-1-1

Previous ranking: 20 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +12500 (tied for 24th-best)

The Jameis Winston Experience almost took the Giants on a ride up the rankings on Sunday with an impressive second half against the Washington Commanders. Then RB Cam Skattebo fumbled the game away in the final minutes. Lucky for them, the Commanders were mistake-prone too, because the Giants defense had no answers for QB Jayden Daniels until he and his coach combined on the ultimate brain freeze and somehow forgot to get the game-winning field goal off. 

Getting a tie for a gift isn’t great, but give John Harbaugh’s team credit for being spunky and leading their division at 3-1-1. Also, give them credit for knowing how much time was left on the clock.

Next game: vs. Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Giants have forced eight takeaways this season, tied for the fifth-most in the NFL.

Record: 3-2

Previous ranking: 22 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +9000 (tied for 21st)

The Steelers are the most Jekyll and Hyde team in the NFL, which is why I have been all over the Power Rankings map with them. They are on a win-one, lose-one pace. But more than that, they seem to alternate between looking awful and looking terrific. They were back to mostly terrific against the Colts on Sunday. Aaron Rodgers had the offense humming, and he got a big-time performance from underrated RB Jaylen Warren, too. 

The Steelers have the Bucs, Saints and Browns before their bye week, so there’s an opening there for them to make a more definitive statement, and maybe put themselves in the playoff chase for good.

Next game: @ Buccaneers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Steelers are 3-0 at home, averaging 28 points per game at Acrisure Stadium, compared to 0-2 on the road, where they average just 13.5 points per game. 

Record: 3-2

Previous ranking: 14 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +9000 (tied for 21st)

It was bound to strike midnight on the Raiders’ Cinderella story at some point, and it always figured to happen sooner rather than later. There’s still a lot to like about this growing Raiders team, including the play of veteran QB Kirk Cousins. But their running game, with RB Ashton Jeanty, is still not good, and their defense looked even worse on Sunday. 

Las Vegas was torn apart for 536 yards by a Patriots team that had one good game before this one. Maybe it’s all about Pats QB Drake Maye, who is clearly back, or maybe the Raiders are just what we always thought they were before the 3-0 start. 

Hang on tight, if you’re still a believer, because the Bills, Rams, 49ers, Seahawks and Broncos come up over the next six weeks. Ouch.

Next game: vs. Bills (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Raiders have the eighth-best passing offense and the ninth-best total offense through Week 5. 

Record: 2-3

Previous ranking: 13 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +4000 (17th-best)

The Eagles are a puzzle wrapped inside an enigma. Even with all their injuries, they probably should have beaten the Rams and the Jaguars over the last two weeks. Yet they didn’t. This time they can blame their coach for his terrible late-game management. But this team still has a lot of problems. One is their offense, which is even more dysfunctional than it was last year. The other is injuries that are tearing apart their roster, particularly on the offensive line. 

On talent alone, they can hang with a lot of teams, but they haven’t played well enough to be a real contender. And unless their walking wounded, like RB Saquon Barkley, WR DeVonta Smith, edge rusher Jonathan Greenard and more, return soon, their hopes for a big season are over.

Next game: vs. Panthers (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Eagles are under .500 (2-3) for the first time since 2021, when they were 6-7. At this point in time, Jason Kelce was their center, A.J. Brown was on the Titans, Philly’s OC was Shane Steichen (four OCs ago), Aaron Rodgers was on his way to his fourth MVP and Tom Brady was in his second-to-last season. 

Record: 3-2

Previous ranking: 16 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +2600 (15th-best)

If the MVP wasn’t basically a quarterback award, there would be a heck of a race brewing between Detroit RB Jahmyr Gibbs and Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson. Gibbs scored his eighth and ninth touchdowns on Sunday and added another 207 total yards to his season. And he did it on a day when QB Jared Goff threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns, too. 

As I’ve said before, the Lions can run up the score on anyone. It’s their defense that’s the problem. They did a fine job against the young and QB-challenged Cardinals on Sunday. If they can fix their defensive issues during the bye week, they might be an actual contender when they return.

Next game: BYE

Stat To Know: The Detroit Lions have started 3-2 or better in four straight seasons, which is the first time this has happened since 1968-72 (five straight seasons). 

Record: 3-2

Previous ranking: 15 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +2000 (tied for ninth-best)

The Patriots are such a different team when Drake Maye is playing like Drake Maye. In the first three games of the season, Maye threw just one touchdown pass with six interceptions and averaged 195 passing yards per contest. But in the last two games — both wins — he’s had seven touchdown passes, one interception with an impressive 321.5 passing yards per game.

And with him rolling, their running game was suddenly working, too. It’s no wonder that they made quick work of the upstart Raiders. And with the Jets and Dolphins coming up in their next three games, they’ve got a shot to get on a little bit of a roll now, too.

Next game: vs. Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Patriots averaged 12 points per game in Weeks 1-3, ranking 31st in the NFL. In Weeks 4-5, they averaged a league-best 37 points per game.

Record: 3-2

Previous ranking: 11 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +1900 (eighth-best)

Yes, the Bengals won and they still dropped, but that’s because they’re starting to shake my faith. They were outgained by the Miami Dolphins, 331-307, and that’s an indictment of both their offense and their defense. 

And sure, Joe Burrow threw for four touchdowns, but only 190 total yards. What happened to the explosiveness in this offense? And where did the running game go? Wasn’t RB Chase Brown supposed to be good? After two straight losses, I was expecting them to bounce back with a little authority before their bye week, not barely hang on against probably the worst team in the entire league.

Next game: BYE

Stat To Know: The Bengals’ 3-2 record is their best start through five games since 2021, the same season they made the Super Bowl. 

Record: 3-2

Previous ranking: 12 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +7400 (19th-best)

Finally, QB Bryce Young is having his breakout season and showing why he was once the No. 1 overall pick. He’s been so good through four games (1,268 passing yards, nine touchdowns, just two interceptions) that he’s been mentioned in a few media conversations about being an early candidate for MVP. That feels premature, but the Panthers feel like they’re here to stay in the playoff chase. 

Yes, their defense has been battered, but keep in mind they were mostly lit up by the Bears and Lions, who light up a lot of teams. And when they come out of their bye week, the immediate schedule isn’t difficult at all.

Next game: @ Eagles (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Panthers are in first place in the NFC South despite being just 2-2. 

Record: 3-2

Previous ranking: 4 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +2000 (tied for ninth)

The Bears were still missing QB Caleb Williams and RB Kyle Monangai was out too, and boy did it show against a Packers team that has been hot and cold all season long. Backup QB Tyson Bagent was terrible and his replacement, Case Keenum, wasn’t much better. And nobody helped out RB D’Andre Swift, who was held to nine carries and 43 yards. 

Really, a Ben Johnson-coached team should never have just 246 yards of offense. He’s clever enough to coax a lot more than that out of whoever he has on the field. Their 31-7 loss was so bad they probably deserve to be out of the Top 10, but hope stays alive with Williams expected back next week.

Next game: @ Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Bears’ five turnovers on Sunday were their most in a game under Ben Johnson. Before that, they hadn’t committed more than three turnovers in any game during his tenure. 

The Bears are 2-1 without Caleb Williams, but they clearly need him back. (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Getty Images)

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Record: 2-3

Previous ranking: 9

Super Bowl odds: +700 (tied for best)

The Rams really drew the short straw on their schedule this season, and it’s starting to take its toll. Their three losses this season are to the 49ers, Broncos and Bills — three legitimate Super Bowl contenders. But at some point, they’re going to have to beat teams like that if they want to realize their Super Bowl dream. 

It would help if their special teams weren’t so awful. It says something about how good they are that they were a blocked overtime field goal away from beating the Bills on Monday night. Los Angeles has a really soft schedule coming up and will need to use that to get on a roll quickly before their dream season turns into a full-fledged nightmare.

Next game: vs. Cardinals (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: In Monday night’s loss to the Bills, the Rams became the only team in NFL history to record 400-plus total yards, 30-plus first downs, five or more touchdowns, convert at least 50% of their third downs and commit zero turnovers, only to lose.

Kicker Harrison Mevis had a game-winning attempt blocked in overtime, further emphasizing the Rams’ spectacular special-teams issues. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)

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Record: 5-0

Previous ranking: 10 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +2000 (tied for ninth)

OK, Kyler Murray finally looked a little like the Kyler Murray of old. He wasn’t necessarily a dynamic passer, but he was very efficient and added a dash of dazzle with his legs. With the way the Vikings’ defense shut down the Saints (142 total yards!), they don’t really need much out of their offense to keep winning. So if Murray becomes Kevin O’Connell’s latest successful reclamation project, then maybe the 5-0 Vikings are for real. As it is, five games are enough of a sample to put them in the top 10 and keep them there through their well-deserved bye week. The offenses of the Colts, Lions and Bills pose some interesting challenges when they come back.

Next game: BYE

Stat To Know: The Vikings have won 10 straight games for the first time since 1999-2000. This is also only the fourth time in franchise history this has happened. 

Record: 3-2

Previous ranking: 8 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +2000 (tied for ninth)

Sean Payton took over the playcalling from OC Davis Webb and, what do you know? The Broncos’ offense is still a mess. They beat the Chargers, so … Hooray! But QB Bo Nix is still struggling, especially in the first three quarters, and the Broncos running backs aren’t doing anything positive at all. Good thing they can play defense, and that Payton is savvy enough to keep them sharp in the fourth quarter of games, especially when they’re behind. 

Also, to be fair to the Broncos, their schedule has been brutal — playing the Chiefs, Jaguars, Rams and 49ers before they finally got the winless Chargers. But that won’t change; they don’t get many soft spots to figure things out.

Next game: vs. Seahawks (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Broncos lead the NFL with eight fourth-quarter comeback wins since 2025 (5 in 2025, 3 in 2026). 

Record: 4-1

Previous ranking: 9 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +800 (tied for third-best)

The Ravens are just not the same team when QB Lamar Jackson is hurt, but they still looked pretty good Sunday night with Tyler Huntley at the helm. Their defense still isn’t what everyone thought it would be, but they can still run the ball better than almost anybody in the league. Getting Jackson back at full strength is really the key to their staying power, though. Maybe not next week in Cleveland, but certainly against the Bengals, Bills and Jaguars in the three tough weeks after that.

Next game: @ Browns (Sunday, 1:20 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The Ravens offense ranks top six in the NFL in completion percentage, passer rating, adjusted net yards per pass attempt, yards per carry, yards per play, turnover margin and points per game. 

Record: 4-1

Previous ranking: 6 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +1200 (seventh-best)

The Jaguars should send a nice bouquet of flowers to Nick Sirianni for the way he botched the end of the game in London, giving the Jags just enough room to pull off a miracle with a long kickoff return and a last-second, 57-yard Cam Little field goal. It should never have come to that in a game where they out-gained the Eagles 408-232. 

Head coach Liam Coen didn’t help his team by passing up two easy field goals because of his over-aggressive nature. He loves his analytics and never met a fourth-down play he didn’t think his team could convert. Maybe at some point he’ll learn that “points are points” and sometimes a coach’s job is just to not take his team out of the game.

Next game: vs. Texans (Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET)

Stat To Know: With their win over the Eagles, the Jaguars are now 12-1 over their last 13 regular season games, the best record in the NFL in that span.

Trevor Lawrence and the Jags stayed hot in their first of two straight games in London. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

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Record: 3-2

Previous ranking: 3 ↓

Super Bowl odds: +1100 (sixth)

There’s no shame in losing a nail-biter to the powerful 49ers, so they’re staying in the top five for now. It’s still hard to find a better defense anywhere in the NFL, and they get more than enough offense out of QB Sam Darnold. Yes, it would be nice if he did something besides just throwing to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. And their running game is getting a little thin with Zach Charbonnet still out and Jadarian Price now sidelined too. 

Don’t get too attached to Seattle being this high. The Broncos, Chiefs and Bears are up next. That’s rough and will tell a lot about where the defending champ really belongs.

Next game: @ Broncos (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: Prior to their loss to the 49ers on Sunday, the Seahawks had won nine straight home games. 

Record: 4-1

Previous ranking: 5 ↑

Super Bowl odds: +800 (tied for third-best)

That was a heavyweight win in Los Angeles on Monday night, and it was mostly thanks to the power of Josh Allen. He had 121 rushing yards, and combined with RB James Cook, for 232 total. When those two are rolling, this Bills team is just impossible to stop, even on a night when they were missing No. 1 WR D.J. Moore. Sure, they needed a field goal block in overtime to pull it off and their defense was generally terrible. 

This was still the perfect bounce-back game from the Bills’ stumble against the Patriots last week. It’s early, but it really is starting to feel like the Bills and Chiefs are headed towards an eventual showdown again in the AFC playoffs. The Bills really need to fix their defense before then.

Next game: @ Raiders (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: Allen earned his first career overtime win, improving to 1-7 in overtime games with the Bills.

It was a Hollywood ending for the Bills, who got a game-winning field goal from kicker Tyler Bass on Monday night. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)

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Record: 4-0

Previous ranking: 2

Super Bowl odds: +950 (fifth-best)

The most impressive part about this Chiefs resurgence is how RB Kenneth Walker has given them the steady, powerful running game they’ve often seemed to lack. That’s given QB Patrick Mahomes room to breathe and not have to carry the offense. That will really help with the injuries to WRs Tyquan Thornton and Rashee Rice. Those are two big ones to watch as they come out of their bye week and have a huge swing through Seattle and Denver beginning in Week 7.

Next game: vs. Chargers (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: Since Patrick Mahomes became the full-time starter in 2018, the Chiefs have started 4-0 in four completed seasons (2018, 2019, 2020 and 2024), reaching the Super Bowl in three of those seasons. 

Record: 5-0

Previous ranking: 1

Super Bowl odds: +700 (tied for best)

The 49ers barely hung on against the Seahawks and needed an unlikely drop by Seattle WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba to seal it, but don’t get bogged down by the details: They’re still undefeated and they’ve now beaten the defending champs, the Broncos and the Rams. They’re doing it with a stingy defense and an offense that’s hard to stop. They have it all, at least more than any other team in the NFL can say. And if you’re waiting for them to fall, don’t expect it to happen until they face the Seahawks again right after Thanksgiving. If they can hold their battered roster together, they could be 10-0 by then.

Next game: vs. Commanders (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: The 49ers are 3-0 against the Broncos, Seahawks and Rams this season, becoming the first team since the 1981 Broncos to record three wins in their first five games against teams that reached a conference championship game the previous season. 

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AMERICAN FAMILY FIELD (Milwaukee) – The scene was understandably quiet in the visiting clubhouse Monday night, save for the clanking of silverware from the kitchen in the back and the zipping of bags as the Dodgers prepared to return home in unfamiliar territory. 

For the first time since getting swept out of the 2023 National League Division Series, the defending back-to-back champions are staring at a 2-0 deficit in a postseason series. 

And after going 15 up, 15 down to end Game 2 against a Brewers bullpen that has a 0.31 ERA this October, and watching playoff sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto fail to escape the third inning in Milwaukee, the Dodgers seemed almost incredulous. 

“If there is a positive, you can say that a lot of our guys are starting to get looks at their back-end guys,” said third baseman Max Muncy. “But when they’re as good as they are, I don’t know how much that helps.” 

Muncy, of course, still said he likes the Dodgers’ chances. 

“Things are going to turn,” Muncy claimed. 

The rest of the room followed suit. 

“There’s never a doubt, at least for me,” said Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández. “I know what I’m capable of. I know what this team is capable of. Just because we lose two games doesn’t mean it’s over.”

The Brewers are two wins away from the World Series. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) –>

“It’s gonna be a great series,” added Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman. “They know they’ve got a lot on their hands, too.” 

So far, though, the Dodgers have yet to show it. 

Through two games, it’s the Brewers withstanding and countering every punch. 

“There’s a reason why they won 103 games, whatever it was,” Hernández told me. “They play good baseball. They don’t make a lot of errors. They have a really good bullpen, and their starters are doing their job.” 

Freddie Freeman is struggling … (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) –>

Including the postseason, Milwaukee has a winning record this year in games in which its opponent scores first. Four of the Brewers’ five wins this postseason have come in comeback fashion, including in Game 2 of the NLCS, when the Dodgers jumped ahead on three different occasions. 

Each time, the persistent Brewers offense responded, teetering the Dodgers’ dynasty with every swing. 

In the aftermath of Milwaukee’s latest fusillade Monday night, the stillness inside the visiting clubhouse, and the blank stares ahead following a 7-4 loss, might have spoken louder than the words of optimism. 

“There’s still a lot of series left,” Muncy said. “We’re still a really good team. We can easily go out there and win three or four in a row.” 

… as is Max Muncy. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) –>

That was supposed to start Monday night, though. 

Losing Game 1 wasn’t staggering. On Sunday, the Brewers countered defending two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal with National League Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski. Given the depth advantage the Dodgers have in the rotation, it was a game Milwaukee had to have. 

Game 2 was a different story. 

The Dodgers, after all, were turning to their October star, Yamamoto, against a rookie in Milwaukee’s Logan Henderson. Split the road trip, and they would head home in fine shape. 

Only, even the reigning World Series MVP couldn’t save them. 

“It was tough, but he’s a human being, too,” Mookie Betts said. “I think everyone is so used to him being a robot that if he didn’t go eight innings with no hits or whatever, then it wasn’t Yamamoto.”

Yoshinobu Yamamoto had a bad outing. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) –>

Even half of that would have put the Dodgers in better shape. 

Yamamoto had won each of his last five playoff appearances entering Game 2, including a complete game against the Brewers in last year’s NLCS, and had a 1.42 postseason ERA dating back to last season. 

He had handled the Brewers effortlessly during the regular season, beating them both times he faced them and allowing a combined two runs over 13 innings of work, and was coming off a career-high, 10-strikeout performance in Game 3 of the NLDS. 

There’s arguably no pitcher in Major League Baseball that a team would feel more confident winning a game in October than Yamamoto.  

Which made the result so stupefying. 

Even Yamamoto, the latest victim of “Brewer Ball,” struggled to explain it. He needed 75 pitches to record eight outs before departing. 

“I don’t know the exact reason yet,” Yamamoto said through his interpreter. “I need to check the videos, and then I can reflect on what happened today.” 

The Dodgers looking to regroup in Los Angeles. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) –>

“He just didn’t have it tonight,” added Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. 

And, for the second straight night, neither did the Dodgers’ bats. 

“It’s hard to win games when you only get three hits,” Freeman said. 

Through two games, they’ve been outhit, outpitched and, perhaps most surprisingly, outhomered. 

They’ve still yet to go deep in the series, while a Brewers team that ranked last in the National League in home runs has homered twice. 

Shohei Ohtani is nowhere near being effective. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) –>

The Dodgers’ four-time MVP, Shohei Ohtani, looks completely out of sorts, their starting pitching advantage has been neutralized, their bullpen is losing the relief battle and the Brewers’ relentless offensive barrage continues to overwhelm opponents. 

The Dodgers haven’t lost a postseason series since their 2023 debacle. They were pushed to the brink each of the last two Octobers and found a way out. 

But if they want to make history, becoming the first National League team ever to win three straight championships, time is running short. 

These Brewers don’t look fazed. 

“The mindset can’t really change,” Betts said. “We can’t add more pressure. There’s already enough as it is.” 

MLB Related Stories

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Remember when we were pressing the panic button on Drake Maye two weeks ago? Maybe we did that too soon.

The New England Patriots quarterback had one of the best performances of his young career in his team’s dominant win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. He looked like the version of himself that nearly won MVP last year, and he’s now one of a handful of players to make our weekly All-Star on multiple occasions through the first five weeks of the year. 

Maye isn’t the only player this week making the list for the second time this season. There’s a strong Offensive Player of the Year candidate emerging at running back, while one of the most noteworthy free-agent pickups of the offseason has proven his worth in San Francisco.

Here are my Week 5 All-Stars. 

Two weeks in a row? Drake Maye was arguably better Sunday than he was in last week’s win over the Buffalo Bills, throwing for 374 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions, running for 25 yards and another score in the New England Patriots’ blowout win over the Las Vegas Raiders. It’s been two very different Mayes in 2026. In the first three weeks, he had one touchdown and six interceptions. In the last two weeks, Maye has seven touchdowns and one interception. 

We certainly considered Jordan Love for leading a domination of the Chicago Bears in a big win for the Green Bay Packers, as well as Joe Burrow for an efficient four touchdowns and no picks in the Cincinnati Bengals’ win, though you lose points doing it against the Miami Dolphins.

Jahmyr Gibbs had over 200 yards of total offense in the Detroit Lions’ rout of the Arizona Cardinals, rushing for 151 and two scores and adding another 56 yards receiving. The Lions’ offense under Drew Petzing has been impressive, averaging nearly 33 points per game and getting at least 26 points in all five games. Gibbs has jumped ahead of Atlanta Falcons star Bijan Robinson for the lead the NFL in yards from scrimmage and put himself on pace for 2,540 over a 17-game season. 

Bucky Irving was a huge part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally getting their first win, with a 72-yard run that sparked them on the drive that put them ahead against the Dallas Cowboys. He finished with a career-best 165 yards and two total touchdowns.

Christian Watson had two long touchdowns — 42 and 53 yards — and the latter might have been the best catch of the week, leading Green Bay’s offense in a home rout of the Bears. Watson already has six touchdowns, one behind Seattle Seahawks star Jaxon Smith-Njigba for the NFL lead. 

By pure numbers, we could go with Jacksonville Jaguars standout Parker Washington, who had two touchdowns in their close London win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Instead, we’ll go with Mike Evans, who was the biggest star in the weekend’s most anticipated game, finishing with 113 yards and a touchdown in the San Francisco 49ers’ win over the Seahawks.

The New York Giants are 3-1-1, and while it’s hard to cheer much out of a tie, Likely had another huge game, catching two touchdown passes among 11 catches for 94 yards against the Washington Commanders. His 11 catches are one short of the Giants’ record by a tight end, which is shared by Mark Bavaro and Jeremy Shockey. 

Pittsburgh Steelers standout Pat Freiermuth also had two touchdowns, but half as many yards. And we’d be remiss not to mention Brock Bowers going for 110 yards and a touchdown in the Raiders’ loss to the Patriots. Bowers will almost assuredly appear on this list again this season, though.

OL: New England Patriots

It’s hard to lose a left tackle early in the second quarter and still get the weekly O-line nod, but congrats to New England for pushing through after losing Will Campbell to a knee injury. We’ll give a shoutout to six linemen then: both Campbell and first-round rookie Caleb Lomu, who stepped in for him, along with left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, center Jared Wilson, right guard Ben Brown and right tackle Morgan Moses. They protected Drake Maye well, allowing just one sack in 35 dropbacks, zero tackles for loss in 65 offensive plays and a run game that had 165 yards on 31 carries for a neat five yards per carry.

David Bailey and Will Anderson each had three sacks on Sunday. Bailey now has five sacks in his first five games, one off the NFL record, as the No. 2 overall pick helped the New York Jets get their second win of the season, a 17-12 victory over the Cleveland Browns. 

Anderson helped the Houston Texans finally get their first win in 2026, making easy work of the Tennessee Titans. Anderson now leads the NFL with 7.5 sacks, on pace to break the NFL single-season record and finish with 25.5. If we went inside, it would be Philadelphia’s Jalen Carter, who had two sacks and two forced fumbles in the loss to Jacksonville.

You guys will be angry we didn’t give it to Fred Warner, who had 10 tackles and a forced fumble in San Francisco’s big win over the Seahawks. But we appreciate the rarity of Quincy Williams forcing three fumbles, as he did for the Browns in their defensive-struggle loss to the Jets. How rare is that? There’s been only one other game with three forced fumbles in the last five years, with Dolphins safety Jevon Holland getting three in a game in 2023. 

We continue to be impressed by Commanders rookie Sonny Styles, who had 13 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pass defensed in their tie with the Giants.

Renardo Green is in his third year with the 49ers, but had the best game of his NFL career Sunday, picking off Sam Darnold twice in the 49ers’ victory. His first interception set up a short field for the 49ers offense to get their first touchdown. He also had a game-best three passes defended, which shows that he was targeted often and stepped up well. By comparison, he had two total passes defensed in the first four games this season, and just one interception in his first 35 career games before Sunday.

The 49ers and Seahawks meet again in Week 12, and keeping Seattle’s offense in check will be key to any San Francisco success.

We’ll go with co-winners here, with these two combining in the final eight seconds to steal a victory for the Jaguars in London against the Eagles. Two guys had five field goals each this week — Seattle’s Jason Myers and Indianapolis’ Spencer Shrader — but both were in losing efforts, so the Jaguars’ duo gets the nod. 

Ameer Abdullah fielded the Eagles kickoff and returned it 53 yards, getting brought down so late the game clock initially read 0:00 before a single second was added. From there, Cam Little was clutch in hitting a 57-yard field goal to give the Jaguars a literal last-second victory.
 

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TROPICANA FIELD (St. Petersburg, Fla.) – The Guardians improbably defeated the Rays in Game 1 of the ALCS and, soon after, there was nothing short of organized chaos in the visiting clubhouse.

David Guetta’s remix to the song “Love Is Gone” blared from the clubhouse speaker system. While some Guardians players were vibing at their lockers to the upbeat music, most of the room was focused on the NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams, which was playing on multiple TVs in the clubhouse. A few players, holding their green bottles of Presidentes, stood in front of the TV to watch the end of regulation. Others sat at a small table and wolfed down their dinners following their massive 7-3 comeback win against Tampa Bay on Monday night. 

Among all the moving parts in the Guardians’ loud winning clubhouse, designated hitter Jo Adell was one of the reserved ones. His back turned to the mayhem behind him, Adell sat at his locker and neatly gathered together all of his belongings. Before facing the scrum of reporters directly behind him, he quickly walked to the nearest garbage can to throw out his gum. An impressed Guardians’ PR representative told Adell that that was professional. 

Adell’s small gesture of good etiquette stood out because so much of that Guardians clubhouse is made up of young, unproven athletes. Those young players are leaning on battle-scarred veterans like Adell, who joined the team at the Aug. 3 trade deadline, to teach them what it takes to win. It’s part of why the most important moves of the Guardians’ comeback win against the Rays were actually made two months ago. 

Jose Ramirez scoring for the Guardians. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) –>

This past summer, the Guardians broke from their usual cautious trade-deadline approach and acted as aggressive buyers. Though these weren’t the biggest of swings with the key players they acquired, it was still a much-needed change of approach that bolstered their bullpen, rotation, and lineup. All three deadline pickups — first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, right-hander Foster Griffin, and Adell — played huge roles in Monday’s win.

“Those guys have been unbelievable clubhouse guys,” Guardians rookie right fielder Chase DeLauter told me after their win. “Jo, Nate, Griffin, they’ve all been great dudes and veteran leaders. Those are the guys we listen to, and see how they go about their business. They’re super professional, whether things are going well or wrong, and I think that’s a huge thing to see for the rest of the guys, including me, being younger. See how they act. Having those guys lead us has been special.”

Nathaniel Lowe was a midseaon acquisition that’s boosted the Guardians. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) –>

Lowe completed Cleveland’s comeback with a go-ahead, two-run single in the eighth inning Monday night. He was traded from the Reds to the Guardians on Aug. 3, minutes before the bell sounded on the deadline. He was their final acquisition of a busy day for Cleveland, who thought it might have missed out on Lowe by taking so long to finalize a deal. The Guardians sent young right-hander Alejando Rivera to Cincinnati in favor of Lowe’s postseason acumen. 

Lowe, who won a championship with the 2023 Texas Rangers, understands what it takes to go the distance. And, at 31 years old, he might not be considered a veteran by the traditional baseball definition of one, but Lowe is the second-oldest position player on the Guardians, after third baseman Jose Ramirez. That stature has allowed him to share his wisdom in a room full of younger ballplayers. 

“I’ve competed against these guys for such a while now,” Lowe said. “Whether it’s knowing them from off the field or playing golf together or hanging out through friends of friends, it’s such an easy group to get along with. These guys have been great. They’ve been very welcoming. I feel like I’ve had a lane to kind of go out and teach a little bit too while I’m continuing to improve myself.”

In the top of the ninth inning, Adell added much-needed insurance runs on the board with a two-run double to left field that scored Ramirez and DeLauter to give Cleveland a resounding 7-3 lead. Adell, like Lowe, was another trade-deadline acquisition for the Guardians, who sent catching prospect Jacob Cozart to the Angels in exchange for a big bat. 

Adell was coming off a breakout 2025 campaign for Los Angeles. He recorded a 115 OPS+ and hit 37 home runs and collected 98 RBI for the Angels last year. Though the 27-year-old didn’t replicate those standout numbers in the first half of this season, the Guardians were still interested in Adell, believing the change of scenery would only help. 

Cleveland was in luck, because after the Angels fired general manager Perry Minasian in June, the arrival of interim replacement John Mozeliak helped Los Angeles actually move their attractive assets in a pivotal trade deadline for the club. The Angels found a partner in the Guardians, and Adell’s bat was soon injected into Cleveland’s lineup.

Though it had been a slow start to the postseason for Adell, he finally delivered his big hit in the ninth inning on Monday. It all came together in part because the rest of the lineup’s gritty mentality has rubbed off on him.

Jo Adell’s veteran presence has helped the Guardians after arriving ahead of the trade deadline. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) –>

“It’s made me a better ballplayer,” Adell told me of the Guardians’ never-say-die attitude. “I’ve taken some of the best at-bats of my career in the past two and a half months here. Just recognizing the situation and understanding that we’re only one swing away, one good at-bat away from getting a pitch to handle and making something happen. It’s been really gritty team baseball that I know that’s what it takes to win.”

Griffin, who had a terrific first half for the Nationals this season before he was traded to the Guardians, didn’t have his best stuff against the Rays, but he still battled to complete four innings while only giving up two runs. Cleveland gave up a four-player package for Griffin, who they believed would bolster its rotation beyond Gavin Wiliams, Parker Messick and Tanner Bibee. 

Foster Griffin, another key addition at the trade deadline. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) –>

But Griffin posted a 5.19 ERA in nine regular-season starts since joining Cleveland. It was a struggle, until he came up huge for the Guardians in Game 3 of the ALDS against the White Sox. Pitching out of the bullpen in an opener game, Griffin limited Chicago to one run and struck out seven batters over 2 ⅔ strong innings. The Guardians wouldn’t be where they are today without Griffin’s outstanding effort on the brink of elimination in Game 3, and they fully trust him to do more of the same in the ALCS against the Rays. 

“Foster was unbelievable after a rocky first,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. 

With players bonding and sticking to their usual routines in Cleveland’s postgame clubhouse, it looked like a group that had played together for several years. You would never know that so many key additions weren’t even on the Opening Day roster. It can be difficult for contenders to mesh well together and learn from each other after an influx of new faces join an already tight-knit clubhouse at the trade deadline. The Guardians are just the latest example of how much it matters when it works. 

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Don’t ever forget that there is an MVP award sandwiched between regular-season league MVPs and World Series MVP. 

Let’s check out the odds for ALCS and NLCS MVP at DraftKings Sportsbook as of Oct. 13.

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ALCS MVP Odds

What To Know: After going hitless in Games 1 and 2 of Cleveland’s ALDS matchup with the White Sox, Ramirez has at least one hit in four straight games, including Game 1 of the ALCS, in which he had three hits, two runs and an RBI. His RBI single in the top of the ninth gave Cleveland a 5-3 lead, and soon after, he scored on an RBI double from Jo Adell to boost the Guardians’ lead to 7-3.

What To Know: In Game 1 of the ALCS, DeLauter hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth to get the Guardians on the board. He finished the night with three hits, three runs and an RBI.

What To Know: To open up the series with Cleveland, Caminero opened up the scoring for both teams. He hit an RBI single in the bottom of the first that put T.B. up by a run, and then scored soon after, giving the Rays an early 2-0 lead.

What To Know: Diaz went 2-for-5 in Game 1 of the ALCS, crossing the plate on Caminero’s first-inning RBI single and giving the Rays a 1-0 lead.

NLCS MVP Odds

What To Know: Contreras went hitless in Game 1 of the NLCS, but more than made up for it in Game 2. He blasted a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth that tied the game 4-4, before hitting an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth that put Milwaukee up 5-4. The Brew Crew would go on to win 7-4.

What To Know: Through two NLCS games, Turang has three hits, four runs and two RBIs. He hit a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth inning of Game 1 that tied the game 1-1, and in Game 2, he hit an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to put the Brewers up 6-4, before scoring moments later to make the score 7-4.

What To Know: Chourio has two hits through two NLCS games, but he is known as the Brewers’ most-clutch player at the plate. Will his services be needed later in this series?

What To Know: Already a Brewers legend, Yelich has three hits and two RBIs through two NLCS games. In Milwaukee’s 7-4 Game 2 win, he hit a single in the bottom of the third that scored two, giving the Brewers a 3-2 lead.

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The UCLA Bruins are the biggest story in college football right now, but their momentum could be on the verge of slipping.

Following the upset win in Eugene over No. 13-ranked Oregon, the Bruins improved to 5-0 under first-year head coach Bob Chesney. However, winning came at a cost as quarterback Nico Iamaleava exited the game early with a knee injury.

According to ESPN, Iamaleava is expected to remain out indefinitely with the knee injury. While a final timeline remains pending a full medical evaluation, there is a real chance he could miss the rest of the season – Chesney has said as much, stating that there’s “serious concern” that Iamaleava could miss the rest of the year.

“I’m going to wait for our doctors to make the final call,” Chesney said Monday at his weekly news conference. “There is some serious concern at the moment. But at the same point in time, there’s nothing that has been fully ruled at this moment. There’s still other opinions and other people we want to talk to, to make sure everyone sees it the same way.”

Iamaleava’s play on the field has been sub-par this season, but he’s been one of the stabilizing factors in the Bruins’ impressive start. Through five games, he has completed 62.1% of his passes for 982 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions.

With Iamaleava sidelined, Chesney and his staff must turn to either Ty Dieffenbach or Madden Iamaleava, Nico’s younger brother. Nico threw for 162 yards against Oregon before exiting with the injury and being replaced by Dieffenbach.

In relief for Iamaleava, Dieffenbach completed 3-of-6 passes for 43 yards and a touchdown against the Ducks. Madden Iamaleava had been considered the backup earlier this season, but Chesney could now open up a competition or even utilize a two-quarterback system.

During his time at James Madison, Chesney frequently deployed multi-quarterback systems. He often paired primary starter Alonza Barnett III with other options like transfer Matthew Sluka and JC Evans for specialized running and passing packages.

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Managing a mid-season quarterback dilemma is a daunting task, but Chesney’s background proves he is well-equipped for the challenge.

With the Bruins remaining undefeated and ranked No. 12 nationally, the injury couldn’t come at a worse time. Even though Iamaleava hasn’t fully lived up to his five-star recruiting hype, he will still have one year of eligibility remaining for the 2027 season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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The Milwaukee Brewers had Los Angeles Dodgers superstar right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the ropes, and Christian Yelich did the honors.

Following a remarkable 12-pitch walk from Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers that loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the third inning of Game 2 of the NLCS, DH Yelich smacked a two-run single to center field, which gave Milwaukee the lead. It also resulted in Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pulling Yamamoto, who had thrown 74 pitches.

The Brewers went on to win the game, 7-4, taking a 2-0 series lead on the Dodgers.  

“I was preparing on deck to be in that situation. The deeper that at-bat [Bauers’ 12-pitch walk] went, I had a feeling he was getting on base whether that was going to be a walk or a hit. You just want to make sure that you have a quality at-bat following that. Don’t leave the zone. Make sure that you’re swinging at a good pitch,” Yelich said in an interview on the MLB on FOX Postgame show when asked about his go-ahead hit in the third.

“I wasn’t sitting on anything. I just saw it was a good pitch to hit and tried to put a good swing on it.”

Yelich has been raking this postseason.

Through Milwaukee’s six games this October, Yelich has tallied seven hits, two of them coming on Monday afternoon, and driven in three runs, while boasting a .368/.455/.421 slash line.

Yelich was limited to 118 games in the regular season due to groin and back issues, respectively, and finished with a career-low .315 on-base percentage and 0.1 wins above replacement, and a career-low .235 batting average across a full season (the 2020 MLB year was just a 60-game regular season due to the COVID-19 pandemic); the two-time batting champion also missed extensive time in 2024 due to a back injury.

With that said, Yelich totaled 29 home runs and 103 RBIs in 2025. Barring injury, the now-34-year-old Yelich has been Milwaukee’s primary designated hitter over the last two seasons. Yelich, a three-time Silver Slugger and All-Star, won 2018 National League MVP honors and was the runner-up for the award in 2019.

As for the rest of the Brewers’ Game 2 offense, they got RBI singles from William Contreras in the first and sixth innings and a solo home run from the catcher in the fifth. Elsewhere, Bauers and second baseman Brice Turang each had RBI singles in the eighth. Meanwhile, following four innings from rookie right-hander Logan Henderson, Milwaukee got five perfect innings of relief – no baserunners allowed – from its bullpen.

“He’s done a great job with our pitching staff all year,” Yelich said about Contreras. “He keeps everybody going. He makes sure everybody is ready to compete every day. He plays with that passion and flare, and we’ve loved having him, and he’s been great for us.”

Game 2 marked Contreras’ second three-hit performance of the 2026 postseason and his third home run this month. Contreras, a two-time Silver Slugger and three-time All-Star, boasts a .391/.481/.783 slash line this postseason. In the regular season, he blasted 18 home runs and drove in a career-high 94 runs, which led MLB catchers.

Game 3 of the NLCS is on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium (8 p.m. ET on FS1).

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