NFL Cover Zero: NFL Week 5 Upsets, Statement Wins & MVP Race

Podcast: KSR (iHeartPodcasts / Sports Talk 790 WKRD-AM)
Hosts: Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, Billy
Air Date: October 6, 2025
Episode: NFL Week 5 Upsets, Statement Wins, and MVP Race

Episode Overview

This Week 5 edition of NFL Cover Zero is a whirlwind through one of the wildest NFL Sundays in recent memory. Matt Jones and Drew Franklin (joined by Billy) dig into shocking upsets, wild comebacks, and the ever-shifting MVP race. The crew brings energy and humor, breaking down how no team remains undefeated, dissecting big-name performances, and celebrating oddities and narratives from around the league.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The NFL Upset Tsunami

• No More Undefeated Teams:

  • Bills, Eagles, and Cardinals—all big favorites at home—lose (06:00).
  • Matt Jones: “There are no more undefeated teams. That tradition where the '72 Dolphins get together and take a drink? This may be the earliest in any season they've gotten to do that.” (05:42)

• Parody and Power Ranking Chaos:

  • Five games featured double-digit comeback wins. Survivor pools decimated—upwards of 70% eliminated due to top upsets (12:23).
  • Drew Franklin: “NFL parody reigns. If we did our power rankings every week… quite a few changes week in, week out.” (07:01)

2. Game-by-Game Highlights

Patriots Upset Bills 20-17 (02:09-12:25)

• Drake May’s Breakout Performance:

  • No TDs but several jaw-dropping throws—including a rollout with a stiff-arm.
  • Drew: "The play that made Chris Collinsworth feel tingly—that’s a Mahomes/Allen-esqe play.” (09:43)
  • Matt: “If I'm a Patriots fan, I'm comfortable knowing we have Drake May for a long time as our quarterback.” (09:31)

• Bills' Struggles:

  • Concerns over their receivers’ lack of separation since Stefon Diggs’ departure.
  • Matt: “Their cast of wide receivers, especially with Diggs on the other team, just don’t have guys who can get separation.” (10:58)

Broncos Rally Past Eagles 21-17 (12:45-16:13)

• Bo Nix Shines in Statement Win:

  • Three scoring drives in the fourth quarter, including a gutsy 2-point try by Sean Payton.
  • Drew: “That was an amazing call in that moment… If they don’t get it and lose by one, you’re opening yourself to a ton of criticism.” (15:09)

• Eagles' Chemistry Issues:

  • A.J. Brown’s visible frustration and apparent quit on a route highlighted.
  • Drew: “A.J. Brown quit on that route. He just quit.” (13:20)
  • Matt: “This is receiver behavior. You’re not having the stats you want? You’re going to pout and call out your quarterback.” (13:52)

Buccaneers Top Seahawks 38-35 in Shootout (18:31-25:25)

• Baker Mayfield’s Heroics:

  • Four comeback wins—all in the final minute.
  • Matt: “They’re just a team that every single game, you’ve wanted to watch their finish.” (20:10)

• Darnold & Mayfield Redemption Game:

  • Both QBs (former Panthers) light up defenses, over 750 combined passing yards.
  • MVP talk: Baker in the top 5 conversation alongside Josh Allen, Mahomes, and Dak Prescott (21:34–23:16).

• Artistic Uniforms:

  • Praise for throwback Creamsicle Bucs and vintage Seahawks looks—hosts plead for permanent return (24:39–25:21).

Vikings Edge Browns 21-17 in London (31:24-36:26)

• Wentz vs. McCarthy Dilemma:

  • Carson Wentz leads game-winning drive; suspense on whether J.J. McCarthy reclaims QB1.

• Jordan Addison’s Night Out:

  • Suspended one quarter after a wild night in London, then scores the game-winner.
  • Matt: “As someone who has an appreciation for what he did—was he out clubbing until 5 a.m.?” (34:47)

• Camera Wire Controversy:

  • Kicked ball hit a camera cable; no one noticed live, but rules allow for a retry.

Texans Rout Ravens 44-10 (38:33-42:17)

• Ravens Defensive Collapse:

  • Once the NFL’s gold-standard D, now lowest-rated.
  • Matt: “Ed Reed and Ray Lewis should be allowed to walk into the locker room and smack all of them in the face.” (39:10)

• Mocking with Ray Lewis Dance:

  • Texans rookie taunts by celebrating with the Ray Lewis dance.
  • Drew: “Why is it disrespectful to do the Ray Lewis dance in Baltimore?” (39:52)

Other Games in Brief

• Giants-Saints: Jackson Dart throws two picks; Saints notch their first win in 11 tries with a drafted QB (43:36)
• Cowboys Beat Jets: Dak Prescott's MVP season continues; Jets still turnover-less (45:25-47:17)
• Colts Dominate Raiders: Jonathan Taylor with three TDs; concerns about aging coaches like Pete Carroll (49:25-51:12)
• Panthers Upset Dolphins: Rico Dowdle’s 200+ yards, Eric Collins’ raucous announcing debut in the NFL (57:29-60:01)
• Commanders Crush Chargers: Jacory Crosky-Merritt (“Bill”) emerges; postgame sideline kissing debate with Justin Herbert & Madison Beer (69:36-72:25)
• Bengals Struggles: Jake Browning looks lost, prompting speculation about trading for Jameis Winston (73:48-75:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Drake May's Arrival:
  • “This felt like a Drake May prime time party.” —Matt Jones (08:22)
  • “He had at least three throws where you get really excited about him as a quarterback… like a Mahomes/Allen-esqe play.” —Matt Jones (10:32)
• Upset Stats:
  • “You had five different games today, there was double-digit deficits where a team came back and won. That’s a crazy statistic.” —Matt Jones (05:29)
• Survivor Pool Carnage:
  • “I think at the one in Circa, the big one, maybe 70% of all entries went out today.” —Drew Franklin (12:25)
• The Art of Officiating:
  • “It was like a magical ballet moment—all three officials threw the flag in the air in sequence.” —Drew Franklin, on the “artistic” simultaneous flags (23:24)
• "Off the Heasy":
  • Billy's attempt to coin a term for a ball bouncing off a helmet; no one quite buys it. (18:59)
• Eric Collins (Panthers Announcer):
  • Matt: “He’s kind of like Gus Johnson—when something happens, he just loses it.” (58:57)
  • Drew: "If you're giving me that for Panthers-Dolphins, what am I going to get in the Super Bowl?" (60:01)
• Player Practicalities:
  • “If I’m a professional athlete, I don’t care what the shoe looks like. Please protect my feet!” —Matt Jones, on Jaden Blue’s Louis Vuitton cleats/blisters (47:36)
• Ball on the Ground Chaos:
  • “Why is it when a ball hits the ground, they become the clumsiest people on the planet?” —Drew Franklin (65:50)

MVP Race: The Early Pack (21:34-23:19)

• Current Leaders (per the hosts):

  • Josh Allen
  • Jonathan Taylor
  • Patrick Mahomes
  • Dak Prescott
  • Baker Mayfield

• Running Backs Rarely Win:

  • “Here’s what’s going to happen with Jonathan Taylor… there’s going to be a push to include him, but it’s just a quarterback award.” —Matt Jones (22:51)

Other Engaging/Amusing Threads

• Bo Nix & Theo Von Comparison:

  • Drew: “Everything about Theo Von makes me not want to like him—and I feel that way about Bo Nix as a quarterback. And yet, they both win me over.” (16:13-17:47)

• Throwback Uniform Fandom:

  • Strong support for Creamsicle Tampa Bay and old-school Seahawks kits, with a call for full-time returns (24:54–25:25).

• Sideline Kissing & Family Time Debate:

  • Extended riff on whether pre-game PDA is professional for NFL QBs—using Justin Herbert and Madison Beer as the jumping-off point (69:36–71:43).

• Parcheesi Tangent:

  • The panel admits no one actually knows how to play this “old man” board game. Billy gamely reads off play-by-play instructions (51:12–53:00).

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Patriots stun Bills: 07:13–12:25
• Broncos beat Eagles, Bo Nix discussion: 12:45–18:13
• Bucs-Seahawks thriller, uniforms talk: 18:31–25:25
• Vikings-Browns in London, Addison's antics: 31:24–36:26
• Texans thrash Ravens, Ray Lewis dance debate: 38:33–42:17
• Dak & Cowboys dismantle Jets: 45:25–47:17
• Jaden Blue’s LV Cleats/blisters story: 46:33–48:49
• Commanders vs Chargers, kissing debate: 69:36–72:25
• Bengals’ offensive woes and Jake Browning: 73:48–75:40
• AFC North collapse: 76:15–77:07

Closing Notes

• The episode closes with the hosts debating the collapse of the once-vaunted AFC North and teasing a future appearance by Panthers (and NBA Hornets) announcer Eric Collins (“If we have him, I’m going to ask him: ‘Son, do you need to calm down just a little?’” —Drew, 61:44).

• Billy: “You’re talking to the guy that’s gotten a lot of stuff done on this podcast.” (60:52)

• Final tribute to the now-defunct “Meow Mix” Panthers podcast—hosts joke that its end inspired Carolina’s big upset win (77:29–78:12).

Tone & Style

• Conversational, quick-witted, with irreverent sports bar banter
• Spirited debates, personal anecdotes, and lighthearted analogies underpin serious football analysis

Recommended for: Anyone who wants a fast-paced, street-level breakdown of every significant NFL storyline from a wild Week 5—equal parts insight, humor, and highlight reel.