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 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.

Fubo will also carry Bills vs. Patriots. Fubo has NBC, as well as CBS, Fox, ABC, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action all season long with the streaming service. Fubo also offers a free trial.

Watch 2025 NFL action with Fubo (free trial)

4th & Monday: Our NFL newsletter always brings the blitz  

Do you like football? Then you’ll enjoy getting our NFL newsletter delivered to your inbox.   

Get the latest news, expert analysis, game insights and the must-see moments from the NFL conveniently delivered to your email inbox. Sign up now! 

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.

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 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

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

Mariners lineup for Game 2

Randy Arozarena (R) LF
Cal Raleigh (S) C
Julio Rodríguez (R) CF
Jorge Polanco (S) 2B
Eugenio Suárez (R) 3B
Josh Naylor (L) 1B
Mitch Garver (R) DH
Victor Robles (R) RF
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.

That makes researching potential waiver wire candidates to add all the more important, as it’s critical to beat your league mates to finding quality bye-week and injury fill-ins.

Ahead of Week 6, there are plenty of intriguing players who could join starting lineups. There are a handful of running backs stepping into larger roles thanks to injuries in front of them, while numerous tight ends are emerging as potential fantasy factors at a fickle position.

Here’s a look at the best players to target on the waiver wire ahead of fantasy football Week 6, from a near-record-breaking running back to a little-known receiver who topped his team in receiving yardage in Week 5.

Week 6 fantasy football waiver wire targets

RB Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers (Rostered in 58% of Yahoo leagues)

OK, Dowdle is a bit more than 50% owned, so he may not be widely available. Still, if he is on the waiver wire in your league, you need to add him immediately.

Dowdle recorded 206 rushing yards in the Panthers’ Week 5 win over the Miami Dolphins, good for the second-most in franchise history. He handled 26 total touches and should continue to see a lion’s share of the Carolina workload as long as Chuba Hubbard (calf) remains out of action.

And given how well Dowdle performed Sunday, it shouldn’t surprise anyone if the 27-year-old eats into Hubbard’s workload, especially if the Panthers decide to slow-play the Oklahoma State product’s return.

RB Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals (Rostered in 39% of Yahoo leagues)

Many anticipated Emari Demercado would emerge as the top replacement for Trey Benson after the second-year back was placed on IR with a knee injury. Instead, Carter emerged as Arizona’s top back while Demercado was used sparingly – and critically fumbled away a potential touchdown – in the Cardinals’ loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Carter racked up 23 touches for 73 yards against the Titans and found his way into the end-zone in the first half. He should remain the Cardinals’ lead back as long as Benson is injured, though Demercado – Arizona’s preferred third-down option – could see more action in games where the Cardinals need to pass more or are playing from behind.

RB Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers (Rostered in 36% of Yahoo leagues)

Hey, don’t forget about Gainwell just because the Steelers were on bye in Week 5. He had 134 total yards and two rushing touchdowns in Pittsburgh’s win over the Minnesota Vikings. He should continue to be involved in the Steelers’ backfield even if Jaylen Warren returns from a knee injury in Week 6.

Gainwell has a tough matchup against the Cleveland Browns in Week 6 but will have great flex potential in Week 7 against a weak Cincinnati Bengals defense. Stash him now as a matchup-based flex who should be a great bye-week fill-in.

QB Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (Rostered in 31% of Yahoo leagues)

Darnold is starting to establish himself as an ideal streaming quarterback. The Seahawks quarterback has now logged multiple passing touchdowns in three of his last four games and just posted 341 yards, four touchdowns and an interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Darnold entered Week 5 leading the NFL in yards per attempt (9.1), further demonstrating his ability to push the ball downfield consistently and effectively. Feel free to target him if you’re thin at quarterback or are looking for less volatility at the position.

RB Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints (Rostered in 31% of Yahoo leagues)

Miller saw his ownership balloon ahead of Week 5, and it should rise again heading into Week 6. Alvin Kamara only out-touched Miller 12-11 against the Giants and Miller saw more carries (10) than Kamara did (8) during Sunday’s game.

Miller was more effective between the tackles, averaging 4.1 yards per carry compared to Kamara’s mark of 3.5. The TCU product could be vultured by Taysom Hill in the red-zone, but it still looks like the 23-year-old will have a significant role in New Orleans’ rushing attack as the season continues.

TE Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints (Rostered in 14% of Yahoo leagues)

Hill’s numbers against the Giants won’t jump off the page, but the 35-year-old did carve out a gadget role in his first game back since suffering a torn ACL during the 2024 NFL season. He handled six carries and completed his lone pass for 19 yards in limited action.

Hill’s rushing ability gives him a uniquely high floor compared to other fantasy tight ends. The 6-2, 211-pound playmaker has also typically been heavily utilized in the red-zone, which could give him plenty of opportunities to record touchdowns.

Add in NOLA.com’s report that Hill was serving as the team’s backup quarterback ahead of second-round rookie Tyler Shough on Sunday, and the veteran could provide an oasis for fantasy managers seeking an answer at the wasteland that is the tight end position.

TE Theo Johnson, New York Giants (Rostered in 11% of Yahoo leagues)

Jaxson Dart targeted three different players seven times in the Giants’ Week 5 loss to the Saints. They were Wan’Dale Robinson, Cam Skattebo and Johnson.

Johnson was able to turn his targets into six receptions, 33 yards and two touchdowns. Nobody will confuse the second-year tight end with a downfield game-breaker, but his 6-6, 264-pound frame is clearly making him a red-zone weapon. He should continue to be targeted frequently there by Dart, which will make him an intriguing pickup in PPR leagues.

WR Ryan Flournoy, Dallas Cowboys (Rostered in 0% of Yahoo leagues)

Where did that come from? Flournoy tied for the team lead in targets in the Cowboys’ 37-22 Week 5 win over the New York Jets with nine and racked up six catches for a team-high 114 receiving yards.

Flournoy’s productivity may have been a direct result of KaVontae Turpin’s absence due to a foot injury, as Flournoy also handled two carries for 10 yards. His production could dry up upon Turpin’s return, but the 25-year-old could still be worth adding, given that Dallas sports a high-volume passing offense and has a good-looking Week 6 matchup against the Panthers.

Fantasy football lineups might have been slightly depleted in Week 5 with the first set of byes taking place, but fortunately there was no shortage of interesting fill-ins ready to pick up the slack.

Hopefully, if your team was missing the likes of Bijan Robinson, Josh Jacobs or Rome Odunze, you were able to slide in one of this week’s unsung heroes. On the flip side, surprisingly subpar efforts from some usually reliable players could have sent your team down to a painful defeat.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest fantasy winners and losers from Sunday’s NFL action:

Fantasy football winners for Week 5

RB Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers

The fantasy hero of the week, Dowdle stepped into the starting role when Chuba Hubbard was ruled out and put up the first 200-yard rushing day of the season. The five-year veteran carried 23 times for 206 yards and a touchdown in singlehandedly leading many fantasy teams who picked him up off the waiver wire to victory. Even if Hubbard is 100% next week, Dowdle’s performance should certainly earn him a greater share of the workload.

QB Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Even without top wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, Prescott continues to put up QB1 numbers. He accounted for four touchdowns for the second week in a row, throwing for 237 yards and rushing for 28 more. Prescott has turned Jake Ferguson into a top-tier tight end, and on Sunday even made Ryan Flournoy (6-114) productive.

QB C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Is Stroud back … or did he just take advantage of the injury-ravaged Baltimore Ravens defense? Whatever the reason, Stroud hit on 23 of 27 passes for 244 yards and four TDs. He even added a 30-yard scramble to finish Sunday as the fantasy QB1 on the week. Nico Collins’ fantasy managers were happy to see him on the receiving end of one of those touchdowns. The only problem: the Texans are on bye in Week 6.

RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders

A crowded Washington backfield showed few signs of sorting itself out since Austin Ekeler’s season-ending injury in Week 2. That might have changed with Croskey-Merritt’s dominating effort against the Chargers. He carried 14 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns in an upset win. Having QB Jayden Daniels back and healthy after missing two games certainly helped, but Croskey-Merritt now seems to fit the bill as a lead back.

WR Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

The season-ending injury to Tyreek Hill has put more pressure on Waddle and also raised expectations on him. In a shootout against the Panthers, Waddle had a season-high nine targets, catching six of them for 110 yards, including a 46-yard TD. He ran the entire route tree and even came back from what looked like (yet another) in-game injury. The emergence of TE Darren Waller as a legitimate receiving threat could open things up for Waddle going forward.

Fantasy football losers for Week 5

RB Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

Barkley was either the first or second running back taken in most fantasy drafts this season. And he seemed like one of the safest possible bets, coming off a 2,000-yard season on the ground in 2024. However, this season has been a major disappointment with Barkley averaging under 60 rushing yards per game for the first four weeks. Against the Denver Broncos, he carried the ball just six times for 30 yards. Although Barkley salvaged his fantasy day with a 47-yard touchdown reception, his lack of rushing production is a major concern.

RB Emari Demercado, Arizona Cardinals

With injuries to James Conner and Trey Benson, Demarcado looked like the next back up in Arizona. That didn’t prove to be the case. Michael Carter, just activated off the practice squad, had 18 carries to three for Demercado. Carter also caught all five of his targets in the passing game, while Demercado wasn’t targeted. But the one play that had the greatest impact was Demercado’s breakaway early in the fourth quarter when he appeared to score on a 72-yard run, but lost control of the ball just before crossing the goal line.

That’s the second time in as many weeks a player has celebrated too early and cost himself (and his fantasy managers) a touchdown.

WR Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers

Just when we all finally started to believe in Johnston, a great home matchup against the Commanders turned out to be a dud. After having at least seven targets, and 70 yards in each of his first four games, Johnston caught only four for 40 in Week 5. It wasn’t like he was ignored either. Fellow wideouts Keenan Allen and Ladd McConkey have five receptions each and no one topped 60 yards. It’s going to be tough for all three Chargers receivers to thrive every week, but this was a game in which none of them did.

K Spencer Shrader, Indianapolis Colts

Entering the week as the No. 2 fantasy kicker, Shrader and the Colts were eyeing a potential blowout game against the Raiders. While the blowout materialized, Shrader wasn’t able to share in it after he was injured on an extra point attempt following the Colts’ second touchdown. He didn’t return and finished with only two points in a 40-6 win. Hopefully, he’ll be able to return in Week 6.

All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter.

The Toronto Blue Jays administered a historic two-game beatdown against the New York Yankees, unleashing a special rookie and a relentless offensive attack before getting out of Canada with a 2-0 lead in the American League Division Series.

Behind a suffocating no-hit effort from Trey Yesavage, who was making just his fourth major league start, and an offense that lashed five home runs, the Blue Jays defeated the Yankees 13-7 in Game 2 of the ALDS before an overflow crowd of dopamine-addled fans at Rogers Centre.

‘This has got to be cloud nine,’ Yesavage told reporters after the game. ‘I couldn’t imagine a better feeling right now.’

Toronto, the top seed in these AL playoffs, can eliminate New York in Game 3 on Oct. 7. Right-hander Shane Bieber will oppose Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón.

The proceedings in the Bronx almost have to be tenser than the laughers up north.

The Blue Jays won Game 1 10-1 and outscored the Yankees 23-8 in the two games as New York gave up 10 or more runs in consecutive playoff games for the first time in their history.

In Game 2, it was the Yesavage show for the first five-plus innings, as he struck out 11, walked just one and allowed no hits in 5 ⅓ innings. The Yankees were helpless against his split-finger pitch flailing at balls in the dirt and looking at splits he landed in the strike zone.

Meanwhile, Vladimir Guerrero’s grand slam and Daulton Varsho’s two-homer, two-double staked Toronto to leads of 11-0 after four innings and 13-2 after six. They chased Yankee ace Max Fried after three-plus innings and hit four homers off long man Will Warren, who gamely nudged the game into the eighth inning.

New York’s five-run seventh forced Toronto to deploy seven relief pitchers, but only one number mattered in the end: The Blue Jays are up 2-0, with three chances to eliminate the defending AL champs. 

Here’s how Sunday’s game unfolded:

Yankees cut into Jays’ lead, trail 13-7

It’s not getting uncomfortable just yet for the Toronto Blue Jays. Just a little closer than they’d prefer. 

After scoring the first 12 runs of AL Division Series Game 2, the Blue Jays bullpen could not usher the game safely into garbage time, as the New York Yankees scored seven runs in the sixth and seventh innings to cut Toronto’s advantage to 13-7. 

After Blue Jays manager John Schneider lifted rookie sensation Trey Yesavage with one out in the sixth inning, the Yankees pounced on five Blue Jays relievers, with lefty Eric Lauer and right-hander Tommy Nance each recording just one out while combining to give up five runs. 

By the end of five-run seventh, Schneider had to turn to one of his higher-leverage relievers, Mason Fluharty, to record the final out. Yet even if the Blue Jays dig all the way through their bullpen, both clubs are off Monday before Game 3 at Yankee Stadium on Oct. 7. 

Daulton Varsho hits another home run

Blue Jays center fielder Daulton Varsho is putting on a legendary performance, clubbing his second home run of the game in the bottom of the sixth, running Toronto’s advantage to 13-2.

Varsho is 4-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs to go with the homers.

Yankees end no-hitter, Cody Bellinger homers

Trey Yesavage was relieved after 5.1 hitless innings and 11 strikeouts, getting a rousing standing ovation at the Rogers Centre. Justin Bruihl came in for the Blue Jays and gave up a single to Aaron Judge, ending the combined no-hit bid in the bottom of hte sixth. Cody Bellinger followed with a two-run homer for the Yankees’ first runs of the game.

Daulton Varsho home run makes it 11-0

Two batters after Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s monstrous grand slam gave the Blue Jays a 9-0 lead, Daulton Varsho hit a two-run homer off Will Warren to push Toronto’s total into double digits.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grand slam blows it open

Trey Yesavage has 10 Ks through four

Making just his fourth MLB start, Trey Yesavage has been utterly dominating, racking up 10 strikeouts through four innings – already a franchise postseason record. The Yankees have only managed one hit against the 22-year-old right-hander.

Blue Jays extend lead to 5-0

The Blue Jays have tagged Max Fried for seven hits, adding three runs in the bottom of the third to extend their lead to 5-0. Alejandro Kirk had an RBI groundout to start the frame’s scoring, then Daulton Varsho hit an RBI double and Ernie Clement added an RBI single.

Ernie Clement home run puts Blue Jays in front

An early home run has once again given the Toronto Blue Jays the upper hand in their AL Division Series against the New York Yankees. 

Ernie Clement, who had not gone deep since Aug. 12, golfed a Max Fried pitch over the wall in left field as the Blue Jays took a 2-0 lead heading to the bottom of the third. 

Daulton Varsho got the first jab in on 19-game winner Fried, pulling a double down the right field line that took a funny hop past Aaron Judge for an error. Clement, who had nine homers in 545 plate appearances this year, took advantage of a first-pitch curveball that hung in the zone. 

Meanwhile, rookie Trey Yesavage, making just his fourth career major league start, struck out seven in his first three innings. 

Trey Yesavage dazzles in first inning

Making just his fourth big league start, 22-year-old Trey Yesavage struck out three Yankees in the top of the first, working around a one-out walk for Aaron Judge.

Toronto’s first round pick in 2024, Yesavage made his MLB debut in September against the Tampa Bay Rays, striking out nine in five innings.

Yankees vs Blue Jays prediction, odds for Game 2

Yankees lineup today

Trent Grisham (L) CF
Aaron Judge (R) RF
Cody Bellinger (L) LF
Ben Rice (L) 1B
Giancarlo Stanton (R) DH
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L) 2B
Ryan McMahon (L) 3B
Anthony Volpe (R) SS
Austin Wells (L) C

Blue Jays lineup

George Springer (R) DH
Davis Schneider (R) LF
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B
Alejandro Kirk (R) C
Daulton Varsho (L) CF
Ernie Clement (R) 3B
Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) 2B
Andrés Giménez (L) SS
Myles Straw (R) RF

Who is pitching for the Yankees today?

Left-hander Max Fried (19-5, 2.86 ERA) starts for the Yankees in Game 2. He tossed 6 ⅓ shutout innings in the firsst game of the AL wild card series against the Red Sox.

Fried signed an eight-year, $218 million free agent deal with the Yankees last winter after pitching eight seasons or the Atlanta Braves.

Trey Yesavage stats, scouting report

TORONTO — In his fourth MLB start, Blue Jays’ right-hander Trey Yesavage draws the Yankees in a playoff game.

It’s Game 2 of the AL Division Series, and the Yankees will try to get even in this best-of-five with veteran lefty Max Fried going against Toronto’s top prospect – a 2024 first-round draft pick out of East Carolina. The 6-foot-4 Yesavage, 22, has pitched just 14 big-league innings, not going more than five innings in any of his three MLB starts – two against Tampa Bay, one against Kansas City.

Veteran starters Chris Bassitt (back) and Max Scherzer (9.00 ERA last 6 starts) are not on the Jays’ ALDS roster, and Yesavage said he was ‘beyond floored” when manager John Schneider told him he’d pitch Game 2.

– Pete Caldera, NorthJersey.com

Aaron Boone on Trey Yesavage

Before Game 2, Yankees manager Aaron Boone discussed facing Trey Yesavage for the first time.

‘He looks tough. He looks good. He’s obviously had some success here to start out his big league career,’ Boone said. ‘Kind of a unique delivery, real over the top, downhill, obviously a very good split-fingered. Typically tough on lefties, and obviously we run a lot of those out there.’

José Caballero talks time with Yankees

The Yankees acquired José Caballero from the Rays at the trade deadline and the speedy infielder delivered down the stretch with 15 steals and an .828 OPS in 40 games.

‘It feels really good to fit in the group with so many stars, so many good players that are being proved in the league,’ Caballero told reporters before Game 2. ‘Just being here is something that I take pride of just because being in this group is such an honor for me.

‘It’s a complete team. I just add a little more speed. That’s pretty much it. That’s what I can see. But this team is just amazing, and I’m really proud to be here and to be around this group of guys.’

What time is Yankees vs Blue Jays Game 2?

First pitch is at 4:08 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre In Toronto.

Aaron Judge ‘didn’t get the job done’ in Game 1

Aaron Judge had two hits for the Yankees in Game 1, but the superstar struck out with the bases loaded and none out in the sixth with New York trailing just 2-0. Judge flailed at a 3-2 splitter from Kevin Gausman that wound up low and outside.

‘I wouldn’t say overanxious,’ Judge said. ‘If you saw the whole at-bat, I definitely took some tough pitches. But in the end, I didn’t get the job done. That’s why he’s been in this game for a long time and had a lot of success. That’s his bread and butter.’ — Field Level Media

If you’re a ‘Game of Thrones’ fan, then you might like the new uniforms the Buffalo Bills will be wearing Sunday night. The look, not to mention the team’s social media promotion of the new threads, has quite the White Walkers vibe. And if ever there was a team that seems based north of the Wall − heck, the Bills even have a new stadium rising from the frost, much like Winterfell in the famous opening credits of ‘Thrones.’

The undefeated AFC East leaders are also promoting a white-out environment − hopefully more effective than Penn State’s yet as unforgiving a landscape as that of northern Westeros − for a ‘Sunday Night Football’ battle with their longtime divisional foes, the New England Patriots. The Bills are encouraging fans to wear all white to Highmark Stadium for what could be the venue’s final ‘SNF’ showcase.

And whether or not you’re a fan of HBO’s fantasy series, or even a member of Buffalo’s vaunted Mafia, you might appreciate Nike’s latest installment of its new ‘Rivalries’ uniforms − the Bills following the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins as the third team to wear them this season.

What’s new about the Bills’ ‘Rivalries’ uniforms?

Dubbed their ‘Cold Front’ alternates, according to the Bills’ website, they are meant to symbolize ‘the city’s DNA stitched into fabric. When you think Buffalo Bills Football, you think ice in the air, grit in the soul, and a city that thrives in the cold. It’s not just iconic. It’s Buffalo.’

The red trim long associated with Buffalo’s unis is also notably absent. According to the Bills, ‘Every trace of red has been stripped away to unleash the heart of a Buffalo winter. Red means warmth — and there’s no warmth here. This uniform is forged from snow, ice, and the unforgiving cold. It doesn’t just represent winter… it is winter.’

It’s only Oct. 5, guys − throes of autumn − but details, details.

Regardless, this getup is icy, the stripes on the helmets and pants evoking a frozen body of water like the one the unfortunate dragon Viserion crash landed onto in ‘Thrones.’ The numbers and helmet insignia are meant to appear frosty and metallic − though NBC play-by-play man Mike Tirico noted that the shimmery digits were hard to discern from the booth. The team’s legion of supporters should be thrilled to see “Bills Mafia” stitched inside the collar. But the coolest detail is the silvery, texturized charging buffalo logo on the sleeve.

What are NFL ‘Rivalries’ uniforms by Nike?

Think of them as the football version of the sports apparel company’s NBA ‘City Edition’ uniforms or Major League Baseball’s ‘City Connect’ jerseys. Signaled during the NFL draft and unveiled in August, Nike has strived to create something that further strengthens NFL teams’ bonds to their unique civic environments. And, as “rivalries” would suggest, all of them will be worn in intra-divisional matchups.

‘The 2025 Rivalries uniforms will celebrate storied local traditions and unite fan communities with designs unique to select cities and teams,” Nike announced during the rollout.

‘The designs are rooted extensively in the legacies and inspirations true to each team, serving as authentic, competitive expressions of community pride while giving athletes and fans an opportunity to connect like never before.’

Which NFL teams have ‘Rivalries’ uniforms?

Eventually all of them. But for 2025, each team in the AFC East and NFC West is scheduled to wear its “Rivalries” unis one time this season. Two additional divisions will be added to the rotation in each of the next three seasons, and the “Rivalries” option then becomes part of a team’s closet for the following three years.

When will NFL teams wear ‘Rivalries’ uniforms in 2025?

 Los Angeles Rams: Nov. 16 vs. Seattle Seahawks

 New England Patriots: Nov. 13 vs. New York Jets

 New York Jets: Dec. 7 vs. Miami Dolphins

 San Francisco 49ers: Jan. 4, 2026 vs. Seattle Seahawks

 Seattle Seahawks: Dec. 18 vs. Los Angeles Rams