Five Wide: 2025 Week EIght

By Thomas Willoughby

God we’re flying through the season aren’t we? Eight weeks in, we have NO teams on 0 wins, and only 3 with one. That feels pretty decent, to me. The league has never been healthier.

At the other end, only two teams have only lost once. And one of them got a tie. The Colts and the Packers are leading the way in the NFL right now, and fair play it’s tough to really argue against either not deserving to be there. Will it last? Dunno mate, but I’ll be the first to tell you if anything changes.

Big old Five Wide this week you lucky pups, let’s get into it.

Comeback of the millenium

Didn’t expect to have to return to this man so quickly, but Justin Fields! Take a bow young man. In the face of slight criticism from me, and harsh criticism from his own employer, Justin Fields was once again thrust back in the Jets starting line up following a Tyrod Taylor injury. He lined up against one of the worst, if not the worst, defenses in the NFL, in the shape of the Cincinnati Bengals. And, my god, they did it.

In a thriller, too. 39-38, down multiple scores at multiple times. Fields managed 244 passing yards and a touchdown. He still doesn’t have an interception this season, and that’s made all the more impressive after this week given he attempted 32 passes. This felt like a man feeling comfortable in himself. And he let himself open up after the game, too.

I’m not gonna get into the whole God aspect of what he’s talking about, but good for him for getting back up and knocking it out the park. What a win. Cleveland, next. Imagine if they slapped a 10 win season together after all this. Would be funny.

Two of the Quarterbacks of all time

We’ve got a quarterback controversy brewing in the most unlikely of locations. The New Orleans Saints, going into this weekend 1-6, hosted the all conquering Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and, despite themselves, were in the game. But, offensively, nothing was happening. Spencer Rattler has looked pretty good in spells this season, but the lack of wins is breaking the camels back. And so it came, after 15 complete passes, 136 passing yards, and an interception, they would turn to their new rookie QB for a spark.

In steps Tyler Shough. 

Look, this is a fairly normal thing to happen in the NFL. A rookie QB represents fresh hope, based off nothing but a lack of precedent. You and I have no idea what Tyler SHough will look like in the NFL, because he’s never played in the NFL before. You and I can comment on the fact that Tyler Shough is 26 years old, however. A full year older than the man he’s replacing. Yes, it is very funny that the Saints drafted a quarterback exactly one year older than their current starter.

Shough wasn’t good either. Going 17/31, 128 yards, and 1 interception. The Saints lost 23-3. But at least they have renewed hope. In the shape of a man old enough to be playing on his second contract. Good stuff, guys.

Kitwatch 2025: Part V

Got a lot this week, so strap in. We’ll start on Thursday Night Football, where the Los Angeles Chargers sought to wash the horrid taste of their banana yellow uniform combo out with a blast from the past. In comes the “Super Charger”, an all-navy affair that’ll make you swear you’re watching Philip Rivers connecting with Antonio Gates again. I love this get up, and, clearly, so do the Chargers. For the record, I think the old color rush jerseys were nice, too.

Jessie Alcheh-AP Photo

We got a nice little throwback in Philadelphia, where the Eagles opted for their “Kelly Green” uniforms. Their comeback over the past few years has been a joy to witness, and it’s even immortalised on the cover of the latest edition of the Madden series. It’s a real majesty of a uniform, up there with the best. Twin that with the club going all in on the retro feel (old logos, old field design), and you’ve got a winner. My one complaint? Silver pants are not for me. Think we can do something a little better.

Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

The Houston Texans hosted the San Francisco 49ers donning their alternate “H-Town” uniforms. Which I can’t make my mind up about. On the one hand, black uniforms are always a winner. On the other, I’m not sure there’s a louder black uniform in the league. The red numbering and Oilers blue (that’s what we’re calling it) detailing properly pops off the jersey, but as a complete package it feels like a wearable Laser Quest site. Pop it in the “maybe” pile. Those 49ers uniforms are wonderful, still.

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Out came the Broncos with their own throwbacks on Sunday evening, and these are classic. Orange Crush is clearly a fan favourite, but the old-style logo and field design really elevates it. The blue helmets are really really nice too. Just a beautiful combination. We’re having fun this week, aren’t we! There’s not a jersey that could ruin that run.

David Zalubowski-AP Photo

Oh. Nevermind. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ previous throwbacks weren’t very nice at all, but these are somehow even worse. I’m not into yellow with black detailing most of the time, so they’re off to a losing start with me to begin with. But what’s going on here? All yellow, with a single black chevron across the chest, and a bunch of black stripes of different length over the stomach? And you’re pairing it with chinos? The Packers came out the big winners this weekend by wearing something coherent to this game. Bin it off and never do it again, Pittsburgh. I’m warning you.

Sue Ogrocki-AP Photo

They never left

It pains me to say it, but the New England Patriots might well be back, people. All those years in the wilderness have finally come to an end. They’ve got themselves a quarterback, a damn good one at that, something their fans have been starved of for too long now. A sleeping giant has awoken. God help us.

You know the score. The Patriots are the evil Empire. For about 20 years, they tormented both the AFC and the NFC, with only the Giants and the Eagles, apparently, getting a grip on how to get one over them. But the Empire fell, and, since 2020, barring a little glimmer of hope in Mac Jones’ first season, they’ve been pretty rubbish. Drake Maye suffered through a tough year one, but the Patriots brought in Mike Vrabel, brought back Josh McDaniels as OC, and he’s thriving. They’re thriving. It sucks!

The Patriots sit 6-2, are on a 5 game winning streak, and have a +75 point differential across those 5 games. They play the Falcons next, and I’m sure there’ll be minimal references to their previous meetings. We never left the horrible timeline.

Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

M.V.T.

I don’t pay too much attention to the end of the season award stuff. And neither should you, frankly. How often is the MVP actually the most important player in the league that season? Rarely. It’s the QB award. If it wasn’t Saquon would have won one, Justin Jefferson would have probably won one, Cordarelle Patterson DEFINITELY would have won it in 2021. With that in mind, he won’t win it this year but he almost certainly should be in the conversation. Because Jonathan Taylor is unbelievable.

Through eight games, the Colts’ running back has; 850 rushing yards, 206 receiving yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, and 2 receiving touchdowns. On Sunday, he managed 153 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, and 1 receiving touchdown. If this trend continues, my calculations suggest he’s going to end the season with 500 touchdowns. Unprecedented. 

The Colts, to this point in the season, are the best team in the league, They’ve got it going on the ground, in the air, and their defense is having some fun, too. They’re 7-1, and I feel comfortable saying they’ll be hosting at least one playoff game in January. And none of it would be possible without Jonathan Taylor. The most important player on the best team in the league ought to be the league’s MVP, right? We’ll circle back to this in December.

Features Image Credit: Derick E. Hingle-NewOrleans.Football

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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