Five Wide: 2025 Week Five

By Thomas Willoughby

I’ve been pretty stunned the past two weeks. Not by the quality of football on display in our own back gardens (two close, competitive games in a row!), but by the quality of the half time performances. I’ve heard of both Myles Smith and Raye, but I can’t say I actually know too much by them. Both pretty good! I enjoyed the ten minutes they both had! And both legitimately big! Raye’s doing arenas on her next tour! Massive!

This weekend, Giggs takes to the stage. Bit of a career pivot from what he used to do, but it’ll be cool to watch him do a few tee up’s on the 50 yard line, I suppose. 

This week was a belter. Nailbiters across the league, Redzone came in clutch this weekend. As you’d expect, though, we’re starting in London, where a brand new scenario was unlocked before a ball was even snapped…

Dillon Gabriel: History Maker

History seems to get made every time a ball is snapped in London, and this weekend was no exception. Earlier this week, the Cleveland Browns announced that veteran QB, Joe Flacco, would be benched, in favour of Dillon Gabriel. Hardly newsworthy; rookie quarterbacks get the call up all the time, especially when you’re looking for something to spark your struggling offense. What’s the big deal?

The deal is that Gabriel’s first start would be in the UK, rather than the US. He became the first quarterback in the history of the NFL to get their first ever NFL start in an international game. After 18 years of regular season games outside of the US, this is the first time it’s happened. 

Not only will he forever be the first, he might genuinely be the only player to enjoy that stat for the next 18 years. Given we’ve only started to see week one fixtures in Brazil (and likely Australia next season), the chances of it happening again have increased slightly. Regardless, I hope the parents of every college QB currently slated to enter the NFL draft this season gets their passport renewed. Poor Dillon saw empty seats where his parents might have sat when he looked up to the stands.

Julian Finney-Getty Images

Where in the world is Jordan Lee Addison?

Speaking of London, one man enjoying the city more than others this week was Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison, who spent the entire first quarter on the bench. The reason? He missed a team walkthrough, and Kevin O’Connell was not happy.

At least he had a good view the offense running Oliver Twist (can’t believe he’s not credited me for that). Listen, I’m not gonna defend Addison too much here. You’re there to work, and a walkthrough is literally part of that. Plus, the Vikings were here last year, and Addison would have had a decent opportunity to see the sights then. Though, I guess he would have had a few more days in London, having flown in straight after their defeat in Dublin. He must have been SO DESPERATE to go to Shrek’s Adventure on the Southbank that he was willing to risk the wrath of O’Connell.

Addison repaid his team with the game winning touchdown catch, and they all had a laugh about it on the flight home, I suspect. It could have become a much, much larger story had the Vikings lost.

Kitwatch 2025: Part II

A second kitwatch in a row? The NFL is treating us well through the early weeks of the season. During the 9pm slate, a fashion fixture for the ages. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers travelled to the Seattle Seahawks, both sides wearing a throwback jersey each. For the Bucs, “white creamsicle”; all white everything with orange numbering. For the Seahawks, bright blue, silver pants. Both sporting the logos from the day they were formed. Both sides are enjoying their 50th season in the NFL, and, as a treat, we got to witness the modern game played out in yesterday’s threads. Do. This. More. Often.

Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

On Monday night, we got our third “Rivalries” unveiling, with the Buffalo Bills wearing their “Cold Front” uniform. Now this is clean. All white everything. Even the numbers are white (sort of). A nod to the typical snowstorms in Buffalo during football season, these are really smart. I especially like the diamond buffalo logo on each arm. A wonderful touch. The best of the collection so far, I’d say. 5/5.

Bryan M. Bennett-Getty Images

Oh, mate

I genuinely didn’t expect to have to cover this again this season, let alone having talked about it last week, but if you’re an NFL player and you’re reading this: DON’T LET GO OF THE BALL UNTIL YOU’RE IN THE ENDZONE. Two weeks in a row we’ve got some bozo dropping the ball at the one yard line, and letting the ball go through the back of the endzone for a touchback. Emari Demercado, we’ve let a clown suit for you in your locker.

Just like with Adonai Mitchell last week, this flipped the entire game on its head. The Cardinals were well ahead of the hapless Titans, leading 21-6 at the start of the 4th quarter. Had Demercado taken one more step, that score likely balloons to 28-6, well out of reach for a Titans side incapable of doing anything. Instead, the Titans get the ball back, score less than 5 minutes later, and manage to pull off the most unlikely comeback of the season so far.

And it gave Cam Ward his first win in the NFL. Good for him! And bad for Emari Demercado. You know for a fact he’s spending the next week running 105 yards before and after each training session to trick his body into thinking a field is longer than it is.

The Voice of a Generation

My Falcons-less Sunday allowed me a full day of NFL action, with the London games from 2.30, with RedZone all the way through to midnight. Wonderful. I wouldn’t say I was watching it too closely (until the end of the Buccaneers/Seahawks fixture), but every few minutes my attention was demanded back by some of the most incredible commentary I’ve ever heard.

This wasn’t in isolation, either. Every other play, regardless of how meaningless, was met with sheer, unbridled excitement. Eric Collins was having the time of his life, and him soundtracking and improbable comeback win for the Panthers made the experience all the better. Get this man on full time. I want to hear his voice breaking as Spencer Rattler completes a 2 yard checkdown.

Features Image Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

Thomas Willoughby

NFL ANALYST

THOMAS IS A WRITER, AND REGULAR GUEST ON THE TOUCHDOWN REVIEW SHOW PODCAST, FOR THE TOUCHDOWN. YOU CAN FIND HIM @WILLO290592 ON TWITTER

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