Five Wide: 2025 Week Fourteen
By Thomas Willoughby
This season’s mental, isn’t it? Like, who is the best team in the league right now? It’s not either side who played out last season’s Super Bowl, I can tell you that much. The usual suspects of Baltimore/Buffalo/Cincinnati all find themselves arift in their respective divisions in the AFC. Is it the Rams? I can’t have a team that lost to the Panthers as the best side in the league.
Texans? They’re on a tear. Broncos have won 10 in a row, but I’m still not convinced! Only four weeks left for everyone to earn my approval. Who’ll win my heart in that time? Only time will tell.
Whoever it is, of course, needs to dress to impress. And that’s where we start this weeks edition of Five Wide.
Kitwatch: Part X
After last week’s bumper effort, the NFL have taken a step back on the alternate uniforms this week. Your headliner: the New York Jets debut their Rivalries uniforms. “Gotham City Football” is the name of the game, and we’ve got the murkiest kit I think I’ve ever seen. I’m calling it monochrome-green, but what you’re getting is the same colour as the sea at Weymouth beach or something. Pure sludge. Hardly the worst effort from this collection of uniforms, but certainly not the best. Not for me, thanks.
Apparently they’ve worn them twice already this season, and we’ve not touched on them as of yet. The Jacksonville Jaguars routed the Indianapolis Colts in their throwback uniforms this week. Teal jerseys, black helmets, white pants. A really well balanced ensemble, imo. The old logo is a nice touch, too. Good uni.
The New King of Catch
Michael Wilson isn’t a brilliant receiver. His numbers across his nearly three year career reflect that. He’s a complimentary option, really, to an offense that’s been geared towards Marvin Harrison Jr. And that’s fine! You don’t expect to be building a passing attack around a 3rd round receiver. Except, here’s the thing; when Harrison isn’t there, Michael Wilson disappears with him. And, in his place, possibly the greatest wide receiver of all time.
Michael Wilson’s stats when Harrison is out are unbelievable. Against the 49ers, he was 15/18 for 185 yards. Against the Jaguars, 10/15 for 118 yards. On Sunday, against the Rams, 11/16 for 142 yards and two touchdowns! They played the Buccaneers last week! He only had 3 catches!
I’m obviously not an offensive coordinator, but there has to be a reason why his normal receiving yard numbers with Harrison available (61 vs Dallas is the highest this season) are so much lower than when he’s available. Why can’t Drew Petzing, the Cardinals’ OC, get more from him when Harrison is available? You can’t tell me it’s because they’re forcing touches to Marvin; he has nearly 30 fewer targets than Wilson has this season! Bizarre. Either way, enjoy the greatest WR the game’s ever seen while you can. He might not be here next week.
Monsters, Int.
Speaking of the greats: Monday Night Football served up one of the all time greatest individual performances. The Los Angeles Chargers downed the Philadelphia Eagles, they couldn’t have done it without the efforts of James P. Sullivan.
Sulley ended the night with one sack on Jalen Hurts, and FOUR interceptions, including in overtime to seal the win for the Chargers. I mean, just look at this.
SULLEY ICES IT ‼️
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 9, 2025
His fourth INT of the night seals the OT win for the Chargers ⚡ pic.twitter.com/uHSKYgrfir
If you thought that was impressive, you’ve not heard anything yet. Sulley dominated both sides of the ball, getting a heavy dose of receiving work, and adding an offensive touchdown to his impressive stat line. It was the sort of performance that makes you think that Jacksonville really can make Travis Hunter work at multiple positions.
This was seriously impressive work from a player who’s still furthering his legend some 24(!) years after his breakout in 2001. Surely one of the best to ever do it, at this stage.
Rewriting History
Congratulations to the Minnesota Vikings, who achieved something that hasn’t been achieved for over 30 years this weekend. You may recall that last week, under the watch of Max Brosmer, they travelled to Seattle and got slapped 26-0 by the Seahawks. JJ McCarthy shook off a concussion and stepped up against the Washington Commanders, where he hoped to reintroduce himself as a quarterbacking prospect.
He was fine. But, to be fair, he didn’t have to be much more than fine. The Commanders were bad, and injured, and the Vikings enjoyed a 30-0 victory. “Wait!” I hear you cry. “The Vikings were shut out last week, and got a shut out this week?!?” Correct! Not since the 1992 Denver Broncos has a side been shut out one week (30-0 vs Eagles), and got a shut out the next (12-0 vs Browns). John Elway was the quarterback of the Broncos that season. So, congratulations to JJ McCarthy for sitting aside Elway in the record books. As I’m sure we all expected from him.
I'll be honest, I didn't see it coming
When it rains it pours, and nowhere is that truer than in Indianapolis right now. The Colts, who only a few weeks ago were the apple of everyone’s eye, are at risk of seeing their season completely collapse in on itself. They left the Berlin Olympiastadion at 8-2, feeling extremely good about themselves and their prospects this season and beyond. They’re now 8-5, 3rd in the AFC South, and have suffered major injuries to the superstar cornerback they acquired a month ago, and to the quarterback they hoped would be the answer to a question that’s plagued them since Andrew Luck retired.
Yes, Indiana Jones’ season is done. He was already playing on a fractured leg, which explains his spotty play over the past few weeks. But an achilles tear on his other leg has ended his fine season prematurely. With Anthony Richardson still out with an orbital bone fracture, up stepped Riley Leonard in deputy. He was fine, but suffered a knee injury himself. The Colts find themselves navigating an unexpected injury crisis at the most important position on the field. How do they overcome this sudden bout of injury? The answer’s obvious when you think about it.
That’s right, they dip into their phonebook and call up a man who retired nearly 6 years ago. Who’s been coaching a High School team since 2021. Philip Rivers, who turned 44 years old this week, has rejoined the team he ended his playing career at in 2020. Did the one day contract you signed with the Chargers in the summer mean nothing to you, Philip? Apparently not! I have no idea how this would work in practice. But you have to imagine he can’t be worse than any of the current free agent QB options out there. What a story in prospect, though. I hope he ends up starting.
Features Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-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