NFL Nation
Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season kicked off with an extra time showdown between the 49ers and Rams on Thursday evening. San Francisco secured the 26-23 win after stopping Los Angeles operating again Kyren Williams on fourth-and-1 on the 11-yard line.
Sunday's motion started in London, because the Vikings salvaged their street journey due to a 12-yard landing within the fourth quarter that lifted Minnesota to a 21-17 win towards the Browns.
Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all of the motion, answering lingering questions popping out of every sport and detailing every part else it's essential to know for each workforce. Let's get to it.
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Compensate for the motion: Field rating | Recap
Vikings
Would the Vikings do a visit like this once more? The workforce was keen to simply accept the NFL's supply to change into the primary workforce in NFL historical past to play consecutive worldwide video games in several international locations, believing it will neutralize the home-field benefit of what would in any other case have been two AFC North street video games. In addition they had been assured that their inner infrastructure may plan nicely for the problem. In the long run, after shedding to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin, they salvaged the journey with a landing with 25 seconds remaining to beat the Browns. However given the challenges they confronted abroad with an injury-ravaged offensive line, amongst different points, it is honest to imagine the Vikings will not be signing up for an additional 10-day street journey anytime quickly.
Most stunning efficiency: Receiver Jordan Addison did not play within the first quarter, lacking all 14 of the Vikings' performs over two collection, earlier than taking his first snap on the primary possession of the second quarter. The workforce attributed his absence to a coach's choice. Addison performed almost the entire Vikings' 24-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4, his first sport again from a three-game suspension. Addison is likely one of the workforce's finest playmakers, and having him sidelined for any a part of a sport has an affect on the Vikings' offense. His three consecutive catches within the fourth quarter, capped by a 12-yard landing for the win, was greater than sufficient proof. — Kevin Seifert
Subsequent sport: vs. Eagles (Oct. 19, 1 p.m. ET)
Browns
What's subsequent for Dillon Gabriel after his first NFL begin? Although his first begin led to a loss, Gabriel was decisive and composed. He bought the ball out shortly (2.54 seconds common time to throw) and tossed two touchdowns. Most significantly, he did not flip the ball over like Joe Flacco did in his first 4 begins. Mixed with a robust operating effort (140 yards) and a stingy protection (two takeaways), the Browns have one thing to construct round, albeit in a defeat, as Gabriel will get extra comfy operating the offense.
Key stat to know: With 110 speeding and 18 receiving yards Sunday, operating again Quinshon Judkins is the primary Browns rookie with 100 scrimmage yards in consecutive video games since Nick Chubb in 2018. — Daniel Oyefusi
Subsequent sport: at Steelers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Compensate for the motion: Field rating | Recap
49ers
At 4-1 and 3-0 within the division, how good can these 49ers be? The fact is the 49ers won't ever be “absolutely” wholesome this season, but it surely's not exhausting to examine this workforce taking part in significant soccer late within the season. It is a huge if, but when the 49ers do have a bit higher damage luck, get their stars (tight finish George Kittle, quarterback Brock Purdy, in addition to receivers Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall) again, and the younger expertise on protection continues to ascend at a speedy tempo, there is not any motive they should not be positioned to return to the postseason discipline.
Most stunning efficiency: WR Kendrick Bourne. Given all of the accidents at receiver, Bourne got here up big. He had a few hiccups, together with a third-down drop within the first half, however he bounced again sturdy after his three-drop efficiency towards Jacksonville on Sunday. Bourne emerged as Mac Jones' prime possibility within the passing sport, ending with 10 catches for 142 yards, a profession excessive, and solely his second time reaching triple-digit yardage in a sport.
Finest quote from the locker room: 49ers linebacker Fred Warner mentioned a win like Thursday's is a credit score to Kyle Shanahan, Robert Saleh and the teaching workers for getting an undermanned workforce able to play and compete no matter who is on the market. “They're the perfect within the sport,” Warner mentioned. “A sport like [Thursday] speaks to that fully, proper? You are on a brief week, you are wounded, you are down a bunch of men, and to get your gamers ready sufficient to go on the market and compete on the stage that we did, I feel the depth was there from the primary snap.” — Nick Wagoner
Subsequent sport: at Buccaneers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Rams
How involved ought to the Rams be about their kicking unit? With a missed discipline purpose and a blocked further level try Thursday, it is undoubtedly a priority for a Rams workforce whose different loss this season got here in a sport with two blocked discipline targets. Rams kicker Joshua Karty has 5 missed kicks this season. In accordance with ESPN Analysis, that's tied with the Chiefs' Harrison Butker for essentially the most within the NFL. 4 of the kicks by Karty have been blocked, essentially the most for any kicker.
Development to observe: Rams broad receiver Puka Nacua continued his torrid begin, catching 10 of 12 targets for 76 yards and a landing. With 50 catches this season, he handed former teammate Cooper Kupp (49 in 2022) for essentially the most receptions by a participant in his workforce's first 5 video games of a season in NFL historical past, in keeping with ESPN Analysis.
Finest quote from the locker room: Working again Kyren Williams mentioned he felt he let his workforce down together with his fourth-quarter fumble. “I simply bought to carry onto the ball,” Williams mentioned. “I really feel like I let the workforce down on the 1-yard line, not securing the one factor that issues and scoring the landing. So for me, I put this all on me, truthfully.” In accordance with ESPN Analysis, Williams' seven fumbles misplaced because the begin of 2023 are essentially the most amongst operating backs over that span. — Sarah Barshop
Subsequent sport: at Ravens (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
