Judging biggest overreactions for NFL Week 5 games - ESPN

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — I stopped by MetLife Stadium on Sunday to cover Cowboys-Jets, and I don't think it's an overreaction to say the 2025 Jets probably aren't going to contend for a playoff spot. «Work in progress» is probably the most charitable way to describe coach Aaron Glenn's bunch. But the Cowboys will take the win, and it's not an overreaction to say that Dallas' defense played its best game of the season so far. Or that quarterback Dak Prescott is playing at an extremely high level.

But that's enough from that game. This is Week 5, and the outlines of the overreactions are starting to get a little bit clearer. By now it's safe to believe the Colts are good, the Lions are still a top contender and the Ravens are in a heap of trouble. We have enough evidence now that we can talk with some confidence about what these teams are and what they aren't.

With that in mind, let's start the Week 5 overreactions column — where we sort through the weekly overreactions to try to figure out which ones might hold up and which ones are mirages — with the first game of the week, a thrilling overtime NFC West matchup from Thursday night.

Jump to:
Are 49ers true NFC contenders?
Is Nik Bonitto the DPOY favorite?
A.J. Brown will force a midseason trade?
Baker Mayfield in the MVP mix?
Patriots a playoff team?
Fantasy overreactions!

If you spent Thursday afternoon and early evening wondering whether the 49ers would be able to come up with 11 players to suit up against the Rams that night, you probably weren't alone. San Francisco rolled into Week 5 as beaten up as any team in the league, missing its starting quarterback, top three receivers, Pro Bowl tight end and star edge rusher, to name a few.

Backup quarterback Mac Jones was