• The Broncos rallied from a 14-point deficit to upset the defending Super Bowl champions on the road.
• Sean Payton’s gutsy decision to go for a two-point conversion late in the game epitomized the Broncos’ vibe.
• The Eagles’ streak of 12 consecutive home wins was snapped in Week 5.

It was a lot more than merely the NFL’s biggest upset on Sunday. When the Denver Broncos rallied from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter — at The Linc, of all places — to stun the Philadelphia Eagles it went down as a quintessential statement win.

Bold. Gritty. Resilient. Clutch.

Those were surely markers on the 21-17 smackdown against the defending Super Bowl champion, but they also represent the identity of a team that has served notice that it intends to keep stacking signature victories.

“The one thing our team is never going to do is quit,” Nik Bonitto, the star linebacker who collected 2 ½ of the six sacks on Jalen Hurts, said during his postgame news conference.

“We have some very resilient people in that locker room. I feel like we’ve been in that spot so many times where we’ll be down a score or two and just find a way to fight back and continue to keep playing. So, hat’s off to everybody.”

Until Sunday, though, the Broncos (3-2) were on the wrong end of the close ones this season. Both of their losses, at Indianapolis and at the Los Angeles Chargers, came on walk-off field goals as time expired. The Broncos entered Sunday’s game with the weird distinction of having never trailed in the fourth quarter — before the clock struck zeroes.

This time, it came down to a Hail Mary pass into a pack of players falling incomplete.

Instead of a miracle, the Broncos shut out the Eagles in the fourth quarter while the Bo Nix-led offense that had previously punted on six consecutive drives came to life.

It’s no wonder that Broncos coach Sean Payton said he was most encouraged that his team managed to finish the job. To some degree, Denver undoubtedly learned something from the tough defeats. Yet in another sense, it might have been more about a gut-check.

When Saquon Barkley zipped 47 yards with a Hurt pass for a touchdown that made it 17-3 early in the third quarter, conditions seemed ripe for a rout. Except that they weren’t. Never mind that the Eagles (4-1) had won 12 consecutive games on their home turf. Something happened.

“When you play somebody like that, you’re going to get punched,” Payton said. “It’s not going to be easy, but we kept fighting. That’s what I was most encouraged about. Just the fight, the grit, you felt — that’s the funny thing — that momentum shifted.”

Payton praised his young quarterback, Nix, for his leadership in crunch time — and it came with poise and performance. Nix didn’t commit a turnover and in completing 9 of 10 passes in the fourth quarter, came up with one clutch play after another. On a third-and-15 from the Eagles 45, he found Courtland Sutton over the middle for 34 yards, setting up his 11-yard TD dime to Evan Engram. On the next drive, he coolly took a one-yard sack rather throwing the ball away on a third-down scramble, forcing the Eagles to take their final timeout with 1:14 remaining, before the Broncos extended the lead to four points with a Will Lutz field goal.

Yet Payton’s gutsy decision to go for a two-point conversion after the Engram TD — Nix found Troy Franklin on a flat pass that made it 18-17 — put another stamp on the signature win.

Yes, it’s a team built by Payton, in his third season with the Broncos, with a resume that includes once calling for a surprise onside kick in the Super Bowl that helped his New Orleans Saints win a crown. On a day when he notched his 173rd career regular-season victory, which surpassed his mentor, Bill Parcells, for 15th place all-time, it was fitting that Payton came up aces on a critical game-management decision.

Payton could’ve opted for the PAT to tie the game, but in going for two, he went for seizing the lead on a play that was, of course, specially designed for such a situation. And not only did it underscore the bold statement that went a step further than an impressive rally from 14 points down, it ultimately took away the option for Philadelphia to tie the game and force overtime with a field goal on its final drive. It was masterful strategy.

“We came here to win a game, and I had two or three calls that I loved,” Payton said, referring to plays inside the 5-yard line.

“We felt … let’s do that. Let’s keep being aggressive.”

Parcells would be so proud. It worked. And it added so much to the statement the Broncos made in scoring what has been the rare victory against a quality opponent.

Since the start of last season, the Broncos were 1-10 against teams with a winning record — until Sunday.

Add that to the statement. After hearing all week about the measuring stick that awaited them — the other wins this season came against a rookie quarterback making his first NFL start for Tennessee and against a battered Cincinnati team missing Joe Burrow — they proved that can indeed measure up. It led to the perfect question for Payton’s postgame locker room address, as he asked his team: “Who are you afraid of?”

No, there’s nothing to fear.

“We talked about it,” Payton said. “I said, ‘Look, you don’t get a chance to play these games that have a ton of upside.’ Now, don’t get me wrong. There’s downside, but there’s a ton of upside relative to defining what you become.”

Here’s to a bold, confident identity that could ultimately develop into something special.

Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on social media on X and Bluesky.

The Seattle Mariners coughed up a two-run lead in the eighth inning but recovered to notch a late 3-2 win in Game 2 over the Detroit Tigers to even the best-of-five American League Division Series.

Jorge Polanco’s two solo homers off Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal had been the game’s only scoring until the top of the eighth, when Spencer Torkelson hit a two-run double against Matt Brash to make it a 2-2 game.

The Mariners bounced right back in the bottom of the eighth with Julio Rodriguez hitting an RBI double to score Cal Raleigh and restore Seattle’s lead. Andrés Muñoz shut the door in the ninth to pick up the save.

Game 3 is at Comerica Park on Tuesday, Oct. 7.

Here’s how Sunday’s game unfolded:

Julio Rodriguez RBI double puts Mariners back in front

Having given up a two-run lead in the top of the eighth, the Mariners stormed back in the home half, with Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez lacing back-to-back doubles, the latter bringing home the go-ahead run against Kyle Finnegan.

Spencer Torkelson ties it in the eighth

Spencer Torkelson delivered a two-run double with two outs in the top of the eighth to tie the game against Mariners reliever Matt Brash.

Jorge Polanco homers again in the sixth

In the bottom of the sixth, Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco took Tarik Skubal deep for the second time in three innings, another solo shot that extended Seattle’s lead to 2-0.

Jorge Polanco home run gives Mariners the lead

With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Jorge Polanco hit a solo home run off Tarik Skubal to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead. The reigning Cy Young winner bounced back to strike out Eugenio Suarez and Josh Naylor to end the frame.

Tigers and Mariners scoreless through three

Victor Robles reached on a walk to lead off the bottom of the third for the Mariners. Shortstop J.P. Crawford, who entered the game 4-for-5 against Skubal, then struck out for the first out of the inning. Randy Arozarena flew out to left field for the second out, and Cal Raleigh tried to jump a first-pitch changeup but lined out to shortstop Javier Báez to end the inning.

Tarik Skubal has four strikeouts on 44 pitches through three innings.

Tarik Skubal whiffs two in the first

Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena led off the bottom of the first inning with a single grounded up the middle. Skubal then struck out Cal Raleigh with a nasty 3-2 changeup and got Julio Rodríguez to strike out after a long-at bat.

His next batter faced got out on the first pitch, however, with Jorge Polanco popping out to third baseman Zach McKinstry to end the inning.

Tigers lineup for Game 2

1. Gleyber Torres (R) 2B
2. Kerry Carpenter (L) RF
3. Riley Greene (L) LF
4. Spencer Torkelson (R) 1B
5. Colt Keith (L) DH
6. Dillon Dingler (R) C
7. Zach McKinstry (L) 3B
8. Javier Báez (R) SS
9. Parker Meadows (L) CF

Mariners lineup for Game 2

1. Randy Arozarena (R) LF
2. Cal Raleigh (S) C
3. Julio Rodríguez (R) CF
4. Jorge Polanco (S) 2B
5. Eugenio Suárez (R) 3B
6. Josh Naylor (L) 1B
7. Mitch Garver (R) DH
8. Victor Robles (R) RF
9. J.P. Crawford (L) SS

Tarik Skubal has run out of clothes on this road trip

SEATTLE — Tarik Skubal is just a regular guy who faces regular-guy problems. While the Tigers have been on the road for seemingly forever – traveling from Cleveland to Boston to Cleveland to Seattle – Skubal has run out of clothes.

“I’ve already worn all the underwear once,” he said, smiling. “I had to take those in and have the clubbies do some stuff. I’m wearing the same shirt I wore in Cleveland already because I had to run it through and get it washed. That’s fun, though. Socks. Ran out of socks too. … But I don’t think anyone’s complaining about being on the road for however many days it’s going to be.” — Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press

Tigers vs. Mariners schedule for ALDS

Tigers lead series 1-0

• Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 4 – Tigers 3, Mariners 2 (11 inn.)
• Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 5 – Tigers at Mariners, 8:03 p.m. ET
• Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 7 – Mariners at Tigers, Time TBA
• Game 4: Wednesday, Oct. 8 (if necessary) – Mariners at Tigers, Time TBA
• Game 5: Friday, Oct. 10 (if necessary) – Tigers at Mariners, Time TBA

Tigers vs Mariners TV channel, how to watch

Game 2 of the American League Division Series is being televised on FS1. Adam Amin will handle play-by-play duties with A.J. Pierzynski and Adam Wainwright as analysts and Tom Verducci reporting from the field.

• TV: Fox Sports 1
• Streaming: Fox Sports app, Fubo (free trial)

Watch Tigers vs Mariners on Fubo

What time is Tigers vs. Mariners game today?

First pitch is scheduled for 8:03 p.m. ET (5:03 p.m. PT) in Seattle.

Eric Collins had maybe the most memorable debut of the 2025 NFL season. 

For announcers, at least, there is no debate. 

He left it all out there during his call alongside Mark Schlereth for Fox as the Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins traded fourth-quarter scores in an eventual 27-24 win for Carolina. 

His first moment came with the Panthers trailing 17-0 in the second quarter. Carolina quarterback Bryce Young found Xavier Legette for a touchdown and Collins reached for a healthy helping of enthusiasm with his call. That continued all the way through the fourth quarter, when Collins really went for it on a Rico Dowdle rush up the middle.

Tua Tagovailoa’s touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle with 4:42 left in the game felt inspired by Gus Johnson.

And for the actual game-winner, when Young hit Mitchell Evans with 1:59 remaining, well see (and hear) for yourself: 

By the grace of the football gods, Collins was the one calling that game, which needed life – Collins properly obliged until it went bonkers-mode; Collins excelled then as well. 

Collins calls Charlotte Hornets games and calls college football and basketball for Fox Sports. He’s also an inaugural member of Amazon Prime Video’s NBA coverage. We’ll definitely be tuning in for those games.

Here are some more moments from the booth that caught our eye in Week 5. 

Kevin Harlan gets game of the week

Anytime CBS’ Kevin Harlan is on a back-and-forth points-fest, the viewer is the winner. During the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 38-35 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, Harlan had many opportunities to go full throttle. Baker Mayfield and Emeka Egbuka supplied the setting once or twice, but it was Seahawks signal-caller Sam Darnold’s interception with less than a minute remaining that was Harlan’s highlight. 

The way he enunciates ‘Lavonte David’ after the interception is perfect.

Spero Dedes stays with Titans-Cardinals craziness

The assignment of calling the Arizona Cardinals’ chokejob against the Tennessee Titans fell to CBS’ Spero Dedes and Adam Archuleta. 

Their first dose of lunacy came when Emari Demercado dropped the ball (allegedly) before crossing the goal line, thus negating what would have been a 72-yard touchdown and turning it into a touchback.

Then Dedes and Archuleta had to stiff through arguably the most ridiculous touchdown you’ll see this season. A Cam Ward pass was deflected, intercepted by the Cardinals, fumbled, knocked backward multiple times and recovered by Titans wideout Tyler Lockett to make it 21-19.

The duo delivered on the game-winning kick by Joey Slye, which snuck in closer than it looked and the booth made sure the viewers at home knew it without detracting from the magnitude of the moment. Quality stuff. 

Bills fan gets Mike Tirico moment

Early in the second quarter of ‘Sunday Night Football,’ Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen rolled right and looked for an open receiver in the end zone. Nothing materialized. So he threw it into the first row of Highmark Stadium in western New York.

That’s when Mike Tirico shined.

A fan wearing a Matt Milano No. 58 jersey caught Allen’s pass. ‘He’s in row 10, he’s in row 15, he might get a beer! Where are you going man? It’s your moment!

‘He’s going to take it the distance. Maybe it wasn’t his seat. Maybe he doesn’t want to be on TV.’

The New England Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills on ‘Sunday Night Football’ in Week 5, knocking off the last of the NFL’s unbeaten teams in a 23-20 victory on the road in Orchard Park.

The victory wasn’t easy. The Patriots nearly squandered a 10-point fourth-quarter lead after allowing back-to-back scoring drives to the Bills.

However, Drake Maye orchestrated an excellent final drive for the Patriots. He capably led the Patriots 37 yards over seven plays and set up rookie kicker Andy Borregales for a 52-yard field goal attempt. Borregales’ kick split the uprights with 15 seconds left, leaving no time for Josh Allen and Co. to make a comeback.

Maye showed during Sunday’s contest that he could hold his own against Allen, as the second-year quarterback completed 22 of 30 passes for 273 yards and a 101.1 passer rating. He showed a strong connection throughout the contest with Stefon Diggs (10 catches, 146 yards) as the two carried a Patriots offense that averaged a disappointing 3.2 yards per carry against a porous Bills run defense.

Meanwhile, Allen had a solid showing for the Bills. The reigning NFL MVP completed 22 of 31 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns while also leading the team in rushing yards (53).

However, Allen was also responsible for two turnovers, an interception and a lost fumble, a microcosm of an uncharacteristically sloppy game for the Bills. Buffalo turned the ball over three times in total after doing so just once over its first four games.

USA TODAY Sports provided updates, highlights and more from the Bills vs Patriots on Sunday night below.

Bills vs. Patriots instant takeaways

• Drake Maye is continuing to make strides in his second season: The 23-year-old still has room for improvement but was impressive Sunday, going toe-to-toe with Josh Allen in a hostile road environment. His steady performance on New England’s game-winning drive should inspire hope among the Patriots faithful that the UNC product can continue to develop into a star under Josh McDaniels’ tutelage.
• Stefon Diggs is healthy and balling: The veteran is looking fully healthy after posting 10 catches for 146 yards against his former team, the Bills. The 31-year-old has now posted back-to-back 100-yard outings and is building chemistry with Maye. Expect him to continue to make strides as he gets further removed from the ACL tear he suffered in October of last year.
• No panic in Buffalo: The Bills’ loss is more of a bump in the road than a reason for panic. Buffalo endured its sloppiest game to date, losing the turnover battle 3-1 and committing 10 penalties for 90 yards, so the Bills should bounce back quickly if they can avoid mistakes in a Week 6 ‘Monday Night Football’ battle with the Atlanta Falcons.

Stefon Diggs stats vs. Bills

• 10 receptions
• 12 targets
• 146 receiving yards
• 0 touchdowns

Drake Maye stats vs. Bills

• 22-of-30 (73.3% completion rate)
• 273 yards
• 0 passing touchdowns
• 0 interceptions
• 101.1 passer rating
• 3 rush attempts for 12 yards and 0 rushing touchdowns

Josh Allen stats vs Patriots

• 22-of-31 (70.9% completion rate)
• 253 yards
• 2 passing touchdowns
• 1 interception
• 103.3 passer rating
• 9 rush attempts for 53 yards and 0 rushing touchdowns

James Cook stats vs. Patriots

• 15 rush attempts
• 49 rushing yards
• 0 touchdowns
• 0 receptions
• 1 target

Dalton Kincaid stats vs. Patriots

• 6 receptions
• 6 targets
• 108 receiving yards
• 0 touchdowns

TreVeyon Henderson stats vs. Bills

• 6 carries
• 24 rushing yards
• 2 receptions
• 3 receiving yards
• 0 touchdowns

Rhamondre Stevenson stats vs. Bills

• 7 carries
• 14 rushing yards
• 2 receptions
• 13 receiving yards
• 2 total touchdowns (both rushing)

Bills vs. Patriots highlights

Bills vs. Patriots final score: Patriots 23, Bills 20

Bills vs Patriots score: Andy Borregales 52-yard field goal to take the lead

The Patriots drive 37 yards, resulting in a 52-yard game-winning field goal by Andy Borregales.

Patriots 23, Bills 20

Matt Prater ties game with 45-yard field goal

The Bills have overcome a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to tie the Patriots. Prater’s 45-yard attempt snuck inside the right upright, so with 2:17 left in regulation, Buffalo and New England are tied at 20.

Bills 20, Patriots 20

Patriots go 3-and-out after key false start, sack

The Patriots had a third-and-inches on the drive following Buffalo’s touchdown, but backup offensive lineman Vederian Lowe was whistled for a false start before a QB sneak to back New England up. Then, on third-and-5, Drake Maye was flushed from the pocket and forced out of bounds for a short loss.

That forced the Patriots to punt the ball back to the Bills, who are trailing 20-17. Bryce Baringer’s kick went into the end-zone, so Buffalo will need to go 80 yards to take the lead with 5:52 left in regulation.

Bills vs. Patriots score: Bills respond quickly with Keon Coleman TD

The Bills respond quickly down two scores and make it a three-point game yet again. Keon Coleman hauls in a two-yard score in the back of the end zone. Buffalo drives down the field 74 yards on just eight plays thanks to two 15-yard penalties against New England. First a roughing the passer penalty on Cory Durden followed by an unnecessary roughness penalty on the next play on rookie Joshua Farmer.

New England will aim to answer with 7:37 to go.

Patriots 20, Bills 17

Bills vs. Patriots score: Rhamondre Stevenson scores second TD, Patriots extend lead

The Patriots dive 90 yards on 11 plays that resulted in Rhamondre Stevenson’s second touchdown of the night on a seven-yard scamper. Stefon Diggs has exploded in the second half and accounted for 53 yards on four catches throughout the 5:43 scoring drive.

The Bills find themselves down two scores with just over 12 minutes remaining.

Patriots 20, Bills 10

End of third quarter: Patriots driving into Bills territory

New England holds a 13-10 lead after forcing a turnover deep in its own territory on the Bills’ last drive. Now, the Patriots are driving into Bills territory at the start of the fourth quarter looking to extend their lead.

Stefon Diggs drags toes on sideline catch for third down conversion

The former Bill, continues to make a mark on tonight’s game against his former team. This time, he shows us some toe-drag swag on a 10-yard catch on third down, which resulted in a new set of downs for the Patriots.

Bills penalties today

The Bills have struggled with penalties in their Week 5 game against the Patriots. Buffalo has been penalized for 10 accepted infractions, which have resulted in a total of 80 yards in penalties.

By comparison, the Patriots have committed four penalties for 40 yards.

Marcus Jones intercepts Josh Allen, marking third Bills turnover

The Bills continue to struggle with turnovers after committing just one in their first four games. Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones undercut an Allen throw intended for Khalil Shakir and brought it in before being tackled at the 10-yard line.

Buffalo was in scoring range before the interception. Now, New England will have a chance to extend its lead, though it is backed up deep in its own zone.

Stefon Diggs stats today

Thus far, Diggs’ return to Buffalo has been a good one. The veteran is leading the Patriots with five catches for 81 yards and has seen a team-high seven targets during the contest.

With 6:34 left in the third quarter, Diggs may be on his way to his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game.

Bills vs. Patriots score: Patriots answer with Rhamondre Stevenson TD run

After Buffalo opened the second half with its first touchdown, Drake Maye and the Patriots answered. The second-year quarterback went 3 of 3 passing for 64 yards, including two completions for 48 yards to Stefon Diggs, before Stevenson turned his lone touch into a 4-yard touchdown run.

Andy Borregales makes the extra point, and the Patriots are back on top, leading 13-10.

Patriots 13, Bills 10

Bills vs Patriots score: Josh Allen tosses first TD of game to Curtis Samuel

Sean McDermott and Joe Brady dialed up a unique motion for Samuel, who bluffed an orbit-type motion before changing directions. The result? He ended up wide open for an easy check-down and waltzed into the end-zone for the score.

Matt Prater’s extra point is good, and Buffalo has its first lead of the day, 10-6.

Bills 10, Patriots 6

What number is TreVeyon Henderson?

Henderson is No. 32, for those having trouble locating him on the field. For some reason, the font on the second-round rookie’s jersey is smaller than that of his counterpart’s, making it harder for fans and NFL analysts, like Ryan Fitzpatrick, to read. https://x.com/FitzMagic_14/status/1975009599540584949 It isn’t clear why the nameplate font on Henderson’s jersey is smaller, but just know the Ohio State product is wearing the number 32.

Drake Maye stats at halftime

Maye has completed 9 of 16 passes for 89 yards in the first half, good for a passer rating of 72.1. He showed good rhythm on the Patriots’ final drive of the half but has found himself under pressure from Buffalo’s strong defensive front, taking two sacks in the first half.

Maye has also added 12 yards on three carries and could be asked to run more in the second half with Antonio Gibson (knee) ruled out for the game.

Josh Allen stats at halftime

Allen was efficient in the first half, completing 9 of 11 passes for 100 yards, good for a 104.5 passer rating. The reigning MVP is also tied for his team’s lead in rushing yards, racking up 32 on four carries in the first half.

That said, Allen has also made a couple of mistakes, taking an 8-yard sack and losing a fumble. He will look to clean up those errors in the second half.

Bills vs. Patriots score: Patriots settle for field goal, take 6-3 lead into halftime

Drake Maye got the Patriots to the 1-yard line, but Hunter Henry couldn’t catch a quick pass to the flat with 1 second left in the half. Mike Vrabel settled for a 19-yard Andy Borregales field goal, and the rookie was able to kick it through with ease.

Despite the score, the Bills have actually outgained the Patriots 159-135 in the first half. However, the Bills have committed eight penalties for 65 yards, compared to two for 20 yards by the Patriots, while New England is winning the turnover battle 2-1.

The Bills will get the second-half kickoff and will get the next crack at notching the game’s first touchdown.

Patriots 6, Bills 3

Milton Williams helps sack Josh Allen, force Bills punt

Allen was sacked just seven times across the first four games of the 2025 NFL season. The Patriots got to him late in the second quarter, when Milton Williams and Jaylinn Hawkins pressured him and slung him to the ground.

The Bills were forced to punt, and the Patriots regained possession on their own 30-yard line. New England will look to score in the 2:22 remaining before halftime in the 3-3 tie.

Patriots rule out Antonio Gibson with knee injury

The Patriots will play the remainder of their game without Gibson. The running back suffered a knee injury on a kick return and was quickly ruled out by the team.

New England now has just two healthy running backs remaining on its roster: starter Rhamondre Stevenson and second-round rookie TreVeyon Henderson.

Bryce Baringer pins Bills at 10-yard line after another Patriots punt

The bad news for Patriots fans? Baringer has had to punt three times. The good news? He has pinned the Bills inside their own 15-yard line with each kick.

This time, Khalil Shakir opted not to field Baringer’s kick and the Patriots downed it at the 10-yard line. Josh Allen and the Bills will have a long field to cover with 6:24 left in the second quarter.

Antonio Gibson injury update

Gibson, a running back for the Patriots, was injured on a kick return following Buffalo’s field goal. The veteran was upended after being hit hard in the leg by Bills defensive back Cam Lewis, and he fumbled the ball.

Gibson remained down on the field for a couple of minutes before leaving the field gingerly but under his own power. He went to the blue medical tent for further evaluation.

How old is Matt Prater?

Prater is 41 years old, making him the second-oldest active player in the NFL behind only Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. 

Prater is in his 19th season and has played for five different teams during his NFL career.

Bills vs Patriots score: Matt Prater makes 31-yard field goal to tie game

The Bills have answered the Patriots’ game-opening score. Josh Allen marched the Bills down the field with some big passing plays, including a 23-yarder to Joshua Palmer, but the Patriots got a key stop on third down in the red-zone.

Prater’s 31-yard attempt was true, and the Bills and Patriots are tied at 3 with 9:34 left in the second quarter.

Bills 3, Patriots 3

How many fumbles does Rhamondre Stevenson have?

After his latest fumble, Stevenson has put the ball on the turf three times this season. His third fumble came on his 44th touch, meaning he has fumbled roughly every 14.7 touches thus far in 2025.

Stevenson had seven fumbles on 240 touches last season, good for one fumble every 34.3 touches.

Patriots leading Bills 3-0 after sloppy first quarter

Both the Patriots and Bills have gotten off to a slow start in their ‘Sunday Night Football’ battle, but New England is leading thanks to a couple of Buffalo turnovers.

The Bills had just one turnover across their first four games. In one quarter Sunday, they fumbled twice, losing both and setting the Patriots up for their chip-shot field goal near the end of the first quarter.

The Patriots had a turnover of their own after the fumble-prone Rhamondre Stevenson lost his third of the 2025 NFL season. However, New England’s defense has done a good job limiting Josh Allen and James Cook, who have just 15 combined rushing yards on five carries.

Allen has performed well as a passer, completing 5 of 7 passes for 61 yards, but the Bills have often been behind the chains. Buffalo has been called for five penalties and lost 29 total yards because of them.

The Bills will need to clean up their operation to get on the board, but they have plenty of time to figure things out in this divisional rivalry.

Bills vs Patriots score: Andy Borregales makes 30-yard field goal to put Patriots ahead

The Patriots get on the board first on ‘Sunday Night Football.’ They weren’t able to gain any yardage after recovering Keon Coleman’s fumble, but Borregales was able to make a chip-shot 30-yarder with ease.

Keon Coleman loses fumble, giving Patriots ball in red-zone

The Bills entered their Sunday night game against the Patriots having committed just one turnover on the season. They now have two turnovers in the first quarter after Keon Coleman fumbled after a short catch.

The Patriots jumped on the ball at Buffalo’s 11-yard line. That puts New England well within scoring range as the first quarter winds down.

Stefon Diggs drops potential first-down catch, forcing Patriots punt

Diggs caught his first target of the day, but he couldn’t do the same on his second. Drake Maye’s throw was placed on Diggs’ back shoulder slightly behind the veteran, but Diggs couldn’t reel it in.

Rather than go for it on fourth-and-3, the Patriots decided to punt. The Bills will once again start from inside their own 15-yard line in a 0-0 tie.

Why Josh Allen says ‘Go Pokes’ in SNF intro

Allen’s ‘Go Pokes’ message is a nod to his alma mater, Wyoming. The Cowboys use ‘Go Pokes’ as their rallying cry – much like Alabama fans say ‘Roll Tide!’ to honor the Crimson Tide – so consider the message Allen’s way of honoring his roots.

Bills stall out, punt for first time

Thus far, the Bills and Patriots have traded punts and fumbles across their ‘Sunday Night Football’ game’s first four possessions.

Buffalo has been able to move the ball a bit better than New England, with Josh Allen completing 4 of 6 passes for 59 yards, but his last two passes have fallen incomplete.

Rhamondre Stevenson fumbles ball right back to Bills

One play after recovering a fumble, the Patriots fumbled it right back to the Bills. Stevenson caught a dump-off from Drake Maye before having the ball punched out of his hands by Shaq Thompson.

Stevenson has now fumbled three times on 44 touches across five games for the Patriots in 2025.

Patriots recover fumble after Dawson Knox knocks ball out of Josh Allen’s hands

The Bills got the ball near midfield on their first drive before giving the ball back to the Patriots. Josh Allen was under center when he took the snap with tight end Dawson Knox coming across on jet motion.

Knox bumped into Allen, jarring the ball out of his hands and allowing Patriots defensive tackle Joshua Farmer to pounce on it with ease.

Bills force punt on first possession

The Patriots got off to a good start, as Drake Maye completed his first pass to Stefon Diggs for 15 yards. However, New England couldn’t get another first down after that and were forced to punt the ball to Buffalo.

Josh Allen and the Bills will begin their first offensive possession of the night from their own 14-yard line after a Khalil Shakir fair catch.

Stefon Diggs catches pass on first play from scrimmage

In the veteran’s first game back in Buffalo, he reeled in a 15-yard pass from Drake Maye on the first play of the game.

What time does Bills vs Patriots game start?

• Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. ET

The Bills and Patriots game will start at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 5.

What TV channel is Bills vs Patriots on?

• TV channel: NBC

NBC will broadcast the Bills vs Patriots ‘Sunday Night Football’ matchup. Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth will be on the call, with Melissa Stark providing updates from the sideline.

Stefon Diggs takes the field in Buffalo wearing Patriots uniform

Bills uniforms tonight vs Patriots

The Buffalo Bills are unveiling their ‘Cold Front’ uniforms tonight against the Patriots. It marks the debut of the all-white alternates, and Buffalo is hosting a white-out event at Highmark Stadium to commemorate the occasion.

Bills inactives vs. Patriots

Patriots inactives vs. Bills

Josh Allen arrives for Week 5 vs. Patriots

The reigning NFL MVP arrives for the Bills’ Week 5 matchup and is wearing the fourth of nine custom hats designed by patients at Buffalo’s Oishei Children’s Hospital. After each home game, his hat will be auctioned off to support the Patricia Allen Fund.

Bills 2025 schedule

Patriots 2025 schedule

Bills vs Patriots live stream

• Live stream:Fubo | Peacock

Peacock, NBC’s proprietary streaming service, will carry the ‘SNF’ game.

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Who are the announcers for Bills vs. Patriots on NBC? 

Mike Tirico will handle play-by-play duties during the game, with Cris Collinsworth providing color commentary and Melissa Stark reporting from the sidelines.

NBC’s weekly ‘Football Night in America’ pregame show will begin at 7 p.m. ET and feature insight from a panel of analysts, including Maria Taylor, Jason Garrett, Chris Simms, Mike Florio, Devin McCourty, Tony Dungy, and more. 

Bills vs. Patriots odds

Bills vs Patriots injury report

How tall is Josh Allen?

Josh Allen is listed at 6-5, 237 pounds on the Bills’ official website. 

Among NFL quarterbacks, only Joe Flacco, Justin Herbert and Trevor Lawrence are taller than Allen. All are listed at 6-6.

The Dallas Cowboys blew out the New York Jets in their Week 5 meeting at MetLife Stadium.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones took a victory lap during the resounding, 37-22 win despite being on the road.

A video shared by former Cowboys wide receiver showed Jones briefly raising a middle finger to the crowd on hand in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The 82-year-old owner did so with a smile on his face before pointing to the crowd.

‘Quit playing with Mr. Jerry Jones,’ Bryant’s post to X read, in part. ‘Go Cowboys.’

It wasn’t immediately clear what – if anything – prompted Jones’ gesture. The video showed many in the crowd looking back at Jones, with some waving and others holding their phones out to record him.

Jones did not speak about that moment after the game when he spoke to reporters for a few minutes.

The octogenarian did, however, praise his team for their ‘big victory’ over the Jets.

‘This was a great win for [the] team,’ Jones said. ‘Not a win for an individual, or four or five All-Pros. This was done with a lot of guys that wouldn’t have even been dressed or been out there today. There are several of them. So, my hat’s off [to them].’

The Detroit Tigers outlasted the Seattle Mariners in 11 innings to take Game 1 of the best-of-five American League Division Series.

Zach McKinstry’s RBI single against Carlos Vargas in the top of the 11th was the difference in Detroit’s 3-2 win at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

The Mariners got on the board first with Julio Rodriguez’s solo home run in the fourth inning, but the Tigers went in front on Kerry Carpenter’s two-run homer off George Kirby in the top of the fifth. Seattle tied the game 2-2 in the sixth on Rodriguez’s RBI single and neither team could score in the final three innings, becoming the first extra-inning game of the 2025 postseason.

Game 2 is set for 8:03 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 5 with the series heading to Detroit for Games 3 and 4 (if necessary).

Here’s how Saturday’s game unfolded:

Zach McKinstry puts Tigers in front in extra innings

Carlos Vargas came in to pitch the 11th for the Mariners, issuing a leadoff walk to Spencer Torkelson and then followed with a wild pitch to put the go-ahead run in scoring position. Vargas struck out Winceel Perez and Dillon Dinger, but Zach McKinstry hit a two-out RBI single to plate Torkelson and give Detroit the lead.

MLB playoff extra innings rules

The Mariners and Tigers remain after nine and will be the first game in the 2025 postseason to extra innings.

Major League Baseball’s extra innings format is different in the playoffs from the regular season, getting rid of the ‘ghost runner’ starting on second base once a game goes beyond nine innings.

Unlike the previous six months of baseball, extra innings in the postseason will not feature the free runner.

Mariners tie it up in the sixth

Clinging to a one-run lead in the top of the seventh, Detroit reliever Rafael Montero issued a leadoff walk to Randy Arozarena then back-to-back singles by Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez, the latter driving in the tying run. Montero was replaced after failing to retire a batter and Tyler Holton got Josh Naylor to ground into a double play then Jorge Polanco to line out to keep the game tied.

Kerry Carpenter home run gives Tigers the lead

Detroit finally got on the board with Kerry Carpenter’s two-run homer off George Kirby in the top of the fifth, taking a 2-1 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

Carpenter set a career high with 26 home runs in the regular season.

Julio Rodriguez home run puts Mariners in front

Julio Rodriguez hit a solo homer off Troy Melton in the bottom of the fourth to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead.

Rodriguez had 32 home runs, 95 RBIs and 30 steals in the regular season, the second 30-30 campaign of his four-year career.

Tigers waste leadoff double in third

Gleyber Torres began the top of the third with a double off George Kirby, but the right-hander got Kerry Carpenter to line out to center and struck out Riley Greene before Spencer Torkelson flew out to left to end the inning. The Tigers are already 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

George Kirby escapes in second inning

Colt Keith singled and Dillon Dingler walked to start the top of the second against George Kirby, but the right-hander struck out Zack McKinstry, induced a Javier Baez groundout and whiffed Parker Meadows to end the threat with runners on second and third.

Tigers ALDS roster

• Catchers (2): Dillon Dingler, Jake Rogers.
• Infielders (7): Javier Báez, Andy Ibáñez, Colt Keith, Zach McKinstry, Trey Sweeney, Spencer Torkelson, Gleyber Torres.
• Outfielders (5): Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Jahmai Jones, Parker Meadows, Wenceel Pérez.
• Right-handed pitchers (9): Kyle Finnegan, Jack Flaherty, Brenan Hanifee, Tommy Kahnle, Troy Melton, Casey Mize, Keider Montero, Rafael Montero, Will Vest.
• Left-handed pitchers (3): Tyler Holton, Brant Hurter, Tarik Skubal

Mariners playoff roster

• Catchers: Harry Ford, Mitch Garver, Cal Raleigh
• Infielders: J.P. Crawford, Josh Naylor, Jorge Polanco, Leo Rivas, Eugenio Suarez, Ben Williamson
• Outfielders: Randy Arozarena, Dominic Canzone, Victor Robles, Julio Rodriguez
• Utility: Luke Raley
• Left-handed pitchers: Caleb Ferguson, Gabe Speier
• Right-handed pitchers: Eduard Bazardo, Matt Brash, Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, Emerson Hancock, Luke Jackson, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, Andres Munoz, Carlos Vargas

Tigers lineup

1. Gleyber Torres (R) 2B
2. Kerry Carpenter (L) RF
3. Riley Greene (L) LF
4. Spencer Torkelson (R) 1B
5. Colt Keith (L) DH
6. Dillon Dingler (R) C
7. Zach McKinstry (L) 3B
8. Javier Báez (R) SS
9. Parker Meadows (L) CF

Mariners lineup

1. Randy Arozarena (R) LF
2. Cal Raleigh (S) C
3. Julio Rodríguez (R) CF
4. Josh Naylor (L) 1B
5. Jorge Polanco (S) 2B
6. Eugenio Suárez (R) 3B
7. Dominic Canzone (L) DH
8. Victor Robles (R) RF
9. J.P. Crawford (L) SS

• Teoscar Hernández’s three-run home run helped the Dodgers win Game 1 over the Phillies.
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. helped the Blue Jays batter the Yankees in Game 1.
• The Brewers scored six runs in the first inning to sprint past the rival Cubs in Milwaukee.

You can’t win a best-of-five Division Series in Game 1 – but it’s possible you can lose it.

All four NL and AL division series jumped off with a bang Oct. 4 and while momentum may or may not be a real thing, the joy of getting 33% of the way to moving on cannot be underestimated.

And though there’s time for redemption and also an untimely downfall, going 1-0 on this day can be so important.

With that, USA TODAY Sports breaks down the winners and losers from all the Game 1s of the division series:

WINNERS

Teoscar Hernández

The Life of Teo is simply a never-ending roller-coaster ride – and thankfully for the Los Angeles Dodgers, it crested at just the right time to steal Game 1 of their NL Division Series at Philadelphia.

Hernández’s three-run, go-ahead home run in the seventh inning flipped the game in L.A.’s favor, turning a one-run deficit into a 5-3 lead and eventual winning margin.

And it continued a season in which the beloved Hernández has been far more an enigma than the Dodgers preferred.

Consider the last week:

➤ Game 1, NL wild-card series: A two-homer game to knock the Reds to the canvas before they could get in the fight.

➤ Game 2, NL wild-card series: A dropped fly ball that led to two runs scoring, making their elimination of Cincinnati far more difficult.

➤ Third inning, NLDS Game 1: Hernández simply stopped running his hardest when J.T. Realmuto’s liner rolled up the gap in right center.

Oh, two runs probably would’ve scored eventually anyway, but Hernández’s reticence in cutting the ball off almost certainly resulted in Realmuto reaching third and eventually scoring. And suddenly the Phillies had a 3-0 lead, one that looked insurmountable until … Hernández homered yet again.

And then, an opposite-field blast off Matt Strahm to bring the Dodgers all the way back. Unbelievable.

All this came after a regular season in which Hernández fell into an 81-game funk from late May to early September in which he posted a .207/.250/.361 line and struck out nearly 30% of the time. A .916 OPS over his final 16 games and four hits in 10 at-bats – including two homers – in the wild-card series had the sunflower seeds flying again.

What’s next? Hold on tight.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

You’re forgiven if you can’t recall seeing Guerrero play in the postseason – because he and the Toronto Blue Jays were virtually invisible.

They went 0-6 in wild-card series in 2020, 2022 and ’23, all as Vladdy went 3 for 22 with no home runs. So it was no small thing when Guerrero’s first at-bat of the AL Division Series against the Yankees ended with his moonshot framed against the gorgeous, open-roof sky at Rogers Centre before landing in the left field seats.

The Blue Jays led 1-0 and won 10-1, a game that was still 2-1 in the seventh. Guerrero had three hits and a sac fly – far from invisible, and just getting started.

John Schneider

He was the skipper for the latter two Blue Jays playoff pratfalls and endured both types of managerial nightmares: Leaving a starting pitcher in too long and then yanking another one too early.

Toronto held an 8-1 lead over Seattle in the sixth inning in 2022 Game 2, yet starter Kevin Gausman was allowed to wobble and give up three runs in the inning to get the Mariners back in it. The momentum never left – and Seattle eliminated Toronto in a 10-9 triumph.

A year later, in another Game 2 elimination battle, José Berríos had given up just three hits in three innings and just struck out the side against Minnesota. Yet after a leadoff walk in the fourth, he was yanked after just 32 pitches.

Yusei Kikuchi allowed his inherited runner to score, gave up another run of his own for good measure and Toronto was eliminated, 2-0.

So imagine Schneider’s emotions when Gausman nursed a 2-0 lead in the sixth and loaded the bases – with Aaron Judge coming to the plate.

Schneider stuck with his ace – and Gausman struck out Judge. Even as he walked in a run, Schneider did not waver – and Gausman got Ben Rice to pop up for the second out.

Finally, he lifted Gausman – and reliever Louis Varland struck out Giancarlo Stanton to load the bases.

Just about every button pushed was perfect. And Schneider finally got his first postseason win – and the Jays’ first since 2016.

Extra innings with no Manfred Runner

For those averting their eyes – or turning off the television or computer or radio – during the regular season when games go to the 10^th inning and ersatz baseball is staged, the playoffs are a safe space.

And the Tigers and Mariners taking a 2-2 tie into extra innings of a playoff game was delicious theater.

No bogus runner placed on second. No awkwardness of a three-true-outcomes trying to get a bunt down to get the Fake Guy to third. Just a clash of wills and thrills, capped in the 11^th inning when Zach McKinstry coaxed a single through the Mariners’ infield to break the tie and send the upset-minded Tigers up 1-0 – with Tarik Skubal lurking in Game 2 on Sunday, Oct. 5.

The Brewers’ viability

It can’t be easy cruising through the final few weeks of the season knowing you’ve wrapped up the division while pundits obsess over the fact you typically turn tail come playoff time.

But the Milwaukee Brewers roared out of the postseason gate as if they were fueled by the naysayers.

They won Game 1 for just the second time in their last six playoff series – which can take a lot of the sting out of hearing their home ballpark is ‘Wrigley North.’

Shohei Ohtani

It looked like the legend of Ohtani would take a hit when he yielded three second-inning runs to Philadelphia, thanks in part to suboptimal defense (see: Hernandez item). But Ohtani, in his first career postseason pitching appearance, simply kept climbing up the mound and dominating the Phillies.

He struck out nine and gave up just three hits over six innings while flashing that little bit of extra exuberance he gets when he’s on the mound (That scream and fist pump after striking out Kyle Schwarber was different, to say the least.)

Oh, he couldn’t quite pull off the dominant daily double, his hitting version getting stymied by Phillies lefties Cristopher Sanchez and Matt Strahm, who struck him out four times. But this playoff pitching thing was something new for the player who’s seemingly done it all – and Ohtani passed that test and enabled the Dodgers to snag Game 1.

Starters in relief

When you spend $72 million on Tanner Scott and pay Kirby Yates $13 million for one season and both turn out to be unviable for the playoffs, what’s a manager to do?

Simply turn two members of your nine-ish man rotation into firemen.

Sure, all bets are off in the postseason, and Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora fully ushered in this era of starting pitchers going in relief back in 2018. Yet what Dave Roberts did in unleashing Tyler Glasnow and Rōki Sasaki for the final three innings of the Dodgers’ Game 1 stunner was on another level.

Glasnow did not pitch during the Dodgers’ World Series-winning run a year ago because he was injured, which unfortunately for Glasnow is a frequent occurrence. But he was upright for this postseason, and with Yoshinobu Yamamoto ensconced as the ace and Blake Snell healthy and Ohtani capable of going six, seven, however many innings the Dodgers need, what’s a guy to do with a 6-8 fireballer?

Throw him in the bullpen – even if he hadn’t thrown a pitch in relief since 2018 in Pittsburgh, two teams and a lifetime ago.

And Glasnow pulled it off, recording five outs to nearly bridge the gap from Ohtani to the new closer. Hey, he gave up a hit and two walks and L.A. had to close its collective eyes when the recently sketchy Alex Vesia needed – and got – one out.

But Glasnow got it done, leaving the ninth to Sasaki, who’s been a relief stalwart for, well, almost two whole weeks now.

The Dodgers barely had time to workshop Sasaki in the bullpen at the end of the year when he returned from myriad health woes, swallowed his pride and forgot that he was supposed to be the runaway Rookie of the Year – as a starting pitcher.

Instead, he went to the ‘pen and emerged onto the Citizens Bank Park mound for the ninth inning – and recorded his first career save to finish an epic postseason tilt.

That’s the third of 13 wins the Dodgers will need to defend their championship. If they do get the chance at a 13^th W this year, who knows what Roberts and the brainiacs in the front office might concoct.

LOSERS

‘Rest vs. rust’

Remember when a pair of wild-card teams made nice postseason runs in the first two iterations of this modern playoff format, sparking discourse that perhaps it was preferable to play an extra round rather than enjoy a few days off?

Yeah, about that.

Teams that earned byes to the Division Series have gone 2-1 in 2025 Game 1s, puncturing the notion raised by the 2022 Phillies and 2023 Diamondbacks’ World Series appearances that it’s better to jump in the fire than chill on the couch.

Nope, it was just an extremely small sample (who could’ve imagined?) that would eventually even out over time. And the advantages of avoiding the wild card were abundant in Game 1s.

Just look at the Yankees, who saw a significant dropoff from starters Nos. 1-2-3 (Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Cam Schlittler) to No. 4 Luis Gil, who couldn’t get out of the third inning at Toronto. Or the Cubs, whose foolhardy decision to start Matthew Boyd on three days’ rest speaks to the fact their pitching depth isn’t sufficient to cover three wild-card games and an NLDS opener.

The Phillies were poised to make it three in a row, until …

Rob Thomson

He’d been on the mildly hot seat after the Phillies’ regression from surprise World Series participants in 2022 to NLCS losers in 2023 to NLDS upset victims in 2024. Now, after a 96-win season put Philly in the driver’s seat once again to reach the World Series, two bad innings undid six months of toil.

Sitting on a 3-0 lead thanks to Cristopher Sanchez’s brilliance, Thomson had David Robertson warming in the sixth as two men reached base and Sanchez’s pitch count reached the 90s. Yet Thomson sent pitching coach Caleb Cotham to the mound rather than coming out with the hook.

Sure, the Dodgers had Max Muncy ready to pinch hit for Kiké Hernández, and it was admittedly a tough call: A tiring Sanchez vs. Kiké or Robertson vs. Muncy?

Well, he stuck with Sanchez and the Dodgers’ clutchest postseason player ever ripped a two-run double cutting the lead to 3-2. Finally, Sanchez was lifted – and Robertson faced Muncy, anyway.

Robertson was signed off the couch in August, and he’d never had a “two-up” – or, sat down and then got up to start another inning – all year. Yet Thomson stuck with Robertson into the seventh and the 40-year-old gave up a single and hit a batter.

That forced lefty Matt Strahm – who performed his primary duty by striking out Ohtani – to face Teoscar Hernandez. And we saw how that worked out.

Now, the Phillies must win three of four against the defending champions – or Thomson faces a very uncertain future.

Luke Weaver

He was the quirky answer to the Yankees’ bullpen prayers a year ago, posting a 0.65 WHIP and going unscored upon in his first five and last five playoff outings as New York reached the World Series.

This year? He’s yet to record an out while allowing all six batters he’s faced to reach base.

The latest debacle came against the Blue Jays, when he entered in the seventh inning of a 2-1 game, promptly went walk-single-RBI single and was yanked, his three-batter minimum satisfied.

Weaver also soiled Max Fried’s gem in Game 1 of the wild-card series, enabling the Red Sox to steal a late lead in the seventh and force New York to burn its top three starters simply to advance.

Now, Weaver will slide further down manager Aaron Boone’s circle of trust – and it’s a lot likelier we’ll see Fried try to complete seven innings if given the chance in Game 2.