The San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings both achieved perfect 5-0 records during a chaotic week five of the National Football League, marked by dramatic finishes, controversial moments and defensive masterclasses across the league.
Week five delivered unpredictability from its opening moments in London through to overtime contests across multiple time zones. The action began at Tottenham with a disallowed touchdown and two player ejections on the very first play, before the Jacksonville Jaguars secured a narrow victory over the Philadelphia Eagles with two field goals in the final eight seconds. This pattern of frantic finishes persisted throughout the weekend, culminating in a farcical overtime stalemate between the Washington Commanders and New York Giants.
The 49ers and Vikings became the first teams to reach 5-0 this season, joining an exclusive group. The Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots and Detroit Lions each improved to 3-2, while three teams—the Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins—fell to 0-5.
How did San Francisco and Minnesota reach perfection?
San Francisco defeated the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks 32-29 in a bruising divisional matchup that exemplified the intensity of their rivalry. The 49ers' defence proved dominant, forcing seven turnovers—a season high—and converting three of them into touchdowns. The 21 points scored from turnovers represented the most Seattle had allowed in a decade.
Defensive star Dre Greenlaw was ejected early in the contest for a headbutt on Ernest Jones, who was not wearing a helmet, on the sidelines. Despite this setback, quarterback Brock Purdy guided the team to victory, aided by new wide receiver Mike Evans, who accumulated 113 receiving yards and one touchdown with several crucial late-game catches.
The 49ers rank among the league's elite with a top-five scoring offence and defence combined. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has now led the franchise to 5-0 records on three occasions, with all four previous instances resulting in NFC Championship appearances. The team's next challenge came in week six against Tampa Bay, though injury concerns continue to plague the roster.
Minnesota's Vikings achieved their unbeaten record through defensive excellence under coordinator Brian Flores, defeating the struggling New Orleans Saints 23-13. The Vikings' defence has allowed just 13 points per game, a metric that provides a foundation for sustained success. However, their schedule to date—victories over the Saints (1-4), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-4) and Miami Dolphins (0-5)—leaves questions about their true strength. Minnesota enters a bye week before facing Philadelphia on October 19, which will provide a clearer picture of their credentials.
What happened in the Commanders-Giants overtime debacle?
The Washington Commanders and New York Giants played to a 27-27 tie in a contest defined by catastrophic play-calling and execution from both teams. The Giants scored two late touchdowns to force overtime but squandered their opportunity when running back Cam Skattebo fumbled while attempting to advance the ball near field goal range.
Washington then controlled the game in overtime's final moments but elected to run a play rather than attempt a field goal, and the clock expired before they could execute. Kicker Dominic Zvada had missed a 46-yard field goal attempt earlier in overtime, and quarterback Jayden Daniels went down with 12 seconds remaining, preventing Washington from spiking the ball before time expired.
Neither team's coaching decisions merited victory. In contrast, the Baltimore Ravens demonstrated superior execution in their 30-23 overtime victory at the Atlanta Falcons. Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley threw a touchdown pass with 40 seconds remaining in regulation before scoring the game-winning rushing touchdown in the extra period, improving Baltimore to 4-1.
The New York Jets also benefited from late-game miscues, defeating the Cleveland Browns 17-12 despite poor execution. The Browns missed an extra point, and punter Corey Bojorquez fumbled a late punt that the Jets converted into the winning touchdown. Despite the messy nature of their victory, the Jets demonstrated defensive prowess with eight sacks of Deshaun Watson.
How did the Packers dominate the Bears?
The Green Bay Packers' 31-7 demolition of the Chicago Bears in their 201st meeting showcased the value of elite quarterback play. Jordan Love completed 367 passing yards with two touchdown passes—one covering 42 yards and another 53 yards to Christian Watson—as Green Bay controlled the contest throughout.
Chicago's offence struggled without starting quarterback Caleb Williams, who remained sidelined with a hamstring injury. The Bears cycled through Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum at the position, neither capable of mounting an effective challenge. Williams had stunned the Packers twice during the previous season with fourth-quarter comebacks, including one in the playoffs, but his absence proved decisive. The team's priority remains his swift return to health.
Which other teams impressed with dominant victories?
The New England Patriots rebounded from a difficult start with a 45-17 rout of the Las Vegas Raiders, building momentum following their previous week's victory over the Buffalo Bills. Quarterback Drake Maye delivered 374 passing yards, four touchdown passes and one rushing score against a Raiders defence that had previously allowed 21 points per game.
The Detroit Lions similarly dominated, posting 45 points against the Arizona Cardinals behind a dominant performance from running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who accumulated 207 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Both teams improved to 3-2.
The Pittsburgh Steelers joined the 3-2 group with a 34-22 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, reaching 582 for his career and surpassing Peyton Manning into third place on the all-time list. Only Tom Brady (737) and Drew Brees (608) have thrown more touchdown passes in NFL history. Rodgers, with 166 regular-season wins, ranks fifth on that list but more importantly, his team appears competitive in what he has indicated may be his final season.
Which teams are struggling at 0-5?
Three franchises have already reached 0-5, signalling potential interest in top draft selections for next year. The Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins all suffered defeats in week five.
The Chargers represent the season's biggest disappointment under head coach Jim Harbaugh. They surrendered their lead to the Denver Broncos through poor play-calling and execution, marking their first 0-5 start in 23 years. The Dolphins, despite preseason expectations, continued their struggles by being outclassed by Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's team. The Titans managed only three points in their loss to the previously winless Houston Texans, a result that provided Houston with momentum before their scheduled trip to London.
What developments followed week five?
The 49ers' unbeaten record proved short-lived, as they fell to Tampa Bay 30-19 on October 12, dropping to 5-1. The Giants, meanwhile, rebounded from their tie with a 34-17 victory over the Eagles on October 9, improving their record to 2-4 and demonstrating resilience following their controversial overtime result.
Key Facts:
- San Francisco and Minnesota became the first teams to reach 5-0 in 2025
- The Commanders and Giants played to a 27-27 tie in a contest marred by poor decision-making from both coaching staffs
- Aaron Rodgers moved into third place on the all-time NFL touchdown passes list with 582, behind only Tom Brady and Drew Brees
- Three teams—the Chargers, Titans and Dolphins—fell to 0-5, with Los Angeles marking their worst start in 23 years
- The Ravens improved to 4-1 with backup quarterback Tyler Huntley leading them to overtime victory at Atlanta
