Week 5 is almost over.
For the first time this season, byes arrived, as the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs each got a much-needed break after four punishing weeks of action. For the rest of the teams, however, the grind continued, with 14 games being played across Thursday and Sunday.
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Only one contest remains: Monday Night Football between the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills. In the meantime, here are the biggest winners and losers after Sunday…
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Biggest Winner #5: Houston Texans
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The Houston Texans’ clash against the Tennessee Titans drew plenty of interest, though not for the reasons most expected.
Both teams were 0-4, so the winner could breathe a sigh of relief. Luckily for head coach DeMeco Ryans, it would be his squad, as Ka’imi Fairbairn drilled four straight field goals before CJ Stroud took over with two touchdowns – one passing and one rushing.
Biggest Winner #4: Todd Bowles
Entering Week 5, Todd Bowles was among the coaches most at risk of being fired early. Now, he can at least breathe a sigh of relief.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach sorely missed the services of an injured Baker Mayfield, but he got to watch Jalon (not Jaylen) Daniels finally break out, throwing for 189 yards and a touchdown. He also wisely focused on the running game, knowing that the Dallas Cowboys had struggled against the run, with Bucky Irving scoring twice – once rushing and once receiving.
Biggest Winner #3: San Francisco 49ers
Heading into the season, many predicted that the NFC Championship would come down to a Seattle Seahawks-Los Angeles Rams rematch. Five weeks in, however, the San Francisco 49ers may have just destroyed that script.
Their defense coaxed arguably the worst game of the Seahawks’ Sam Darnold era so far – four turnovers, including two interceptions and a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. Meanwhile, the offense capitalized by turning them into 21 points – quite the feat against the “Dark Side”.
Biggest Winner #2: Jahmyr Gibbs
Back in 2023, the Detroit Lions caught much criticism when they drafted Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round. After all, teams increasingly prioritized the passing game over spending high draft picks on running backs.
The critics were eventually proven wrong then, and they continue to be proven wrong now. Against the Arizona Cardinals, Gibbs passed Lions legend Barry Sanders for the most touchdowns before turning 25, with the 58th of his career. Another major milestone remains: the single-season record for total touchdowns, held by LaDainian Tomlinson (31 in 2006).
Biggest Winner #1: Tyler Huntley
No Lamar Jackson, no problem.
With his star teammate sitting on the sidelines, Tyler Huntley put up the game of his life against the Atlanta Falcons, throwing two touchdowns in the second half before Derrick Henry ran in the game-tying two-point conversion. He then followed it up by sneaking in the decisive score on the ground in overtime.
Thanks to him (and Tyler Loop, who drilled three field goals in the first half), the Baltimore Ravens have created separation from the rest of the AFC North.
Biggest Loser #5: Tua Tagovailoa
Speaking of the Falcons, they now know who their QB1 is, and it is not the man who received the mantle during the preseason.
Tua Tagovailoa finally made his team debut on Sunday, initially subbing in for Michael Penix Jr. in the fourth quarter. However, his interception to Kyle Hamilton in overtime sealed Atlanta’s 30-23 defeat.
It is over – he should “Turndaballova” to Penix Jr. and maybe even retire. His history of injuries and mental lapses is no longer worth burning $1.215 million on.
Biggest Loser #4: Tennessee Titans
This was not what Robert Saleh signed up for.
The Tennessee Titans made aggressive roster and coaching overhauls during the offseason. Unfortunately, those changes haven’t delivered a win in five games.
Joey Slye’s field goal opened the scoring, but it was their only points against the Texans, as Cam Ward threw an interception in a 26-3 blowout. Meanwhile, they allowed four field goals and two touchdowns – an absolute disaster for a heavily revamped unit.
Biggest Loser #3: Nick Sirianni
Nick Sirianni has had his low moments as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles – losing Super Bowl LVII, the 2023 collapse from 10-1 to a wild-card exit, and the 2025 struggles that led to another wild-card defeat as defending Super Bowl champions. However, what transpired on Sunday in London is nearly without compare.
A 19-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars dropped him to 2-3 – his first time falling below .500 in nearly five years. The only other time it happened? In 2021, aka his HC debut. That is a dangerous situation for a Super Bowl winner – one that could lead to player mutiny.
Biggest Loser #2: Jim Harbaugh
Speaking of coaches with poor starts, Jim Harbaugh is under pressure after the Chargers fell to 0-5 for the first time since 2003.
Harbaugh hired Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator in January 2026, but the Los Angeles Chargers’ offense has struggled through five games. After a 23-17 loss to the Denver Broncos, the former Super Bowl runner-up and college national champion now faces the challenge of ending the Chargers’ losing streak.
Biggest Loser #1: Washington Commanders
The image above sums up how Commanders fans are feeling after Sunday.
After forcing a fumble against the New York Giants in overtime, all Dan Quinn had to do was orchestrate a walk-off field goal. Naturally, that meant quarterback Jayden Daniels either spiking the ball or throwing it out of bounds to stop the clock.
Instead, Daniels tucked the ball on a passing play and was tackled for no gain, allowing the clock to expire in a 27-27 tie. If Quinn isn’t fired after this, that will be a massive black mark for Adam Peters and Josh Harris.
Marvin Harrison Jr. trade adds to Week 5 intrigue
In-game action hasn’t been the only thing creating intrigue in Week 5, though.
One of the biggest developments is the trade sending third-year wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. from the Arizona Cardinals to the Houston Texans. The reported terms include a 2027 second-round and sixth-round pick going to Arizona, with Harrison and a 2027 seventh-round pick heading to Houston. In preparation for this move, he sat out the Cardinals’ 45-21 loss against the Lions.
He will now be the third big name to switch allegiance midseason, after now-Dallas Cowboys cornerback and fellow second-generation player Joey Porter Jr. and now-Baltimore Ravens center Cam Jurgens. More names should join them in the coming weeks…
Edited by Shardul Sant
