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
