For nearly a decade, the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens — led by star quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson — have dominated the AFC. But Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season brought a rare sight: all three teams lost in the same week.
Mahomes threw a costly interception as Jacksonville rallied to beat Kansas City. In Buffalo, rookie quarterback Drake Maye led New England past Josh Allen and the Bills in prime time. Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson sat out injured as his Ravens were routed by Houston.
It was the first time since Week 9 of the 2017 season that all three franchises lost in the same weekend — back when Mahomes was still a backup and both Allen and Jackson were in college. Since becoming starters, the trio has combined for five of the last seven NFL MVP awards and consistently led their teams to the top of the league.
While it’s too early to call it a power shift in the AFC, the losses were notable. The Chiefs (2-3) now have a losing record for only the second time in Mahomes’ career. The Ravens (1-4) haven’t been three games under .500 since 2015, and the Patriots, led by Maye, may finally be a real threat to Buffalo in the AFC East. Still, according to BetMGM, the Bills remain Super Bowl favorites, with the Chiefs close behind. Baltimore, though a long shot, is still favored to win the AFC North.
Late-Game Drama:
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Arizona Cardinals have experienced opposite fortunes in close games. Tampa Bay (4-1) has won four of its first five contests by three points or fewer — all decided in the final minute. Their latest victory came via Chase McLaughlin’s 39-yard field goal as time expired against Seattle.
Arizona, on the other hand, has suffered three consecutive heartbreaking defeats, each on the final play of regulation. On Sunday, Tennessee’s Joey Slye sealed a 22–21 comeback win with a last-second field goal. According to Sportradar, the Cardinals are the first team in NFL history to lose three straight games on the final play.
Quarterback Duel:
Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold — both top picks from the 2018 draft — put on an offensive show in Tampa Bay’s win over Seattle. Mayfield went 29-for-33 with 379 yards and two touchdowns, while Darnold threw for 341 yards and four scores. The two combined for 720 passing yards with just 10 incompletions, the most ever in an NFL game with that level of accuracy.
Unusual Touchdown:
A bizarre sequence in Tennessee’s win over Arizona saw a defensive interception turn into a Titans touchdown. Cam Ward’s pass was picked off by Arizona’s Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, who then fumbled the ball. It bounced into the end zone, where Tennessee’s Tyler Lockett recovered it for a touchdown. It marked only the third time since 2000 that a team has scored on its own interception return.
Dolphins Celebrate Again:
The 1972 Miami Dolphins remain the only team to complete a perfect NFL season after both Philadelphia and Buffalo fell in Week 5. The Eagles lost a 14-point lead against Denver, and the Bills suffered their first defeat at the hands of New England. For the first time since 2014, no team has started 5-0.
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