A lot happened during Week 5 of the NFL season. There were upsets, multiple double-digit comebacks, a ton of close games, and now even a trade involving an AFC contender.

Can Joe Flacco lead the Cincinnati Bengals to the playoffs? Can Justin Herbert still win MVP? Will the Eagles’ offense ever get on the same page?

The EssentiallySports NFL staff reacted to and gave our opinions on all of those overreactions and more.

Joe Flacco will lead the Bengals to the playoffs

NFL Senior Writer, Luke Hubbard: Fair reaction. Percent on board: 69 percent

Joe Flacco is a capable quarterback at this stage of his career when he’s in the right situation. Last year, we saw a little bit of magic from the 40-year-old, but with guys like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, he should be able to lead an at least average offense.

Will it be enough to make the playoffs? I’m not 100 percent sold, but I think with the talent they have on the offensive side of the ball, it would be hard for Flacco to not win at least five or six more games, which would put them right on the bubble.

NFL Content Chief, Tim Wood: Fair reaction. Percent on board: 68 percent.

So the feeling inside the Cincinnati Bengals’ war room is clearly that we have the talent, but we need a steady leader who rallies the talent. 

I LOVE THIS MOVE. We all zeroed in on Jameis Winston as the most realistic option. But this is why none of us are GMs. 

Winston was way too risk-reward. Flacco will make smart decisions and inspire leadership in the locker room that Jake Browning was not able to instill on the field and off it. 

Don’t expect to see Flacco against the Packers. This is all about salvaging the AFC North run and it starts Week 7, Thursday Night Football versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.

NFL Content Manager, Abhishek Singh: Overreaction. Percent on board: 30

Flacco is great but he’s not Joe Burrow. Burrow is great at hiding the team’s flaws and Flacco can’t be expected to deliver the same. Still, he might just do enough to keep Zac Taylor employed.

Stefon Diggs is back to being an elite receiver

Hubbard: Fair reaction. Percent on board: 50 percent.

Stefon Diggs has had back-to-back games of 100+ yards receiving. He’s looked revitalized with the New England Patriots this season, and with Drake Maye really coming into his own, Diggs will be the main beneficiary. I might hold back on saying he’s elite, but he’s back to being very good receiver.

Wood: Fair reaction. Percent on board: 65 percent

Even for me as a Patriots diehard, I need to keep it in perspective. This is Diggs’ first back-to-back 100-yard weeks since 2023. I see so many small things watching All 22 on Diggs. So much of the burst, the YAC type moves that make a receiver elite. But the Red Sox losing to the Yankees in the Wild Card was a harsh reality check on New Englanders getting too hyped on any one thing.

Singh: Fair reaction. Percent on board: 60

10 receptions for 146 yards against his former team, a statement performance. With Maye getting back on track, Diggs can be the go-to guy for the QB this season: a duo to keep an eye on. 

Drake Maye is the next Josh Allen

Hubbard: Overreaction. Percent on board: 10 percent

Drake Maye is going to be a very good quarterback in this league, don’t get me wrong, but the next Josh Allen might be pushing it. I understand the comparison, though. They’re both mobile and have big arms, but Allen is a unique talent. Maye has the ability to be a top 10 or even top five QB in the league, but let’s hold off on comparing him to Allen for now.

Wood: Overreaction. Percent on board: 30.94 percent

I’m stopping just short of putting this in the fair reaction category. I was so skeptical of a UNC quarterback being the next big thing given what we made of Mitch Trubisky and how that turned out. But again, I watch All 22 and I just see an evolution on an Allen trajectory. “You have to beat The Man to be The Man.” Maye did that Sunday. He and the Pats overall and how Mike Vrabel has all the little things on lockdown that lead to success … it has me excited. 

Singh: Overreaction. Percent on board: 15 

It’s still early to assume that, but he’s on the path to greatness. Josh Allen is yet to win the Super Bowl but he’s already among the best right now and May has a long way to go.

Charger’s injured OL leaves Justin Herbert’s MVP odds in tatters

Hubbard: Fair reaction. Percent on board: 62 percent

The Los Angeles Chargers had such a promising start to the season. They started 3-0 with wins over the Kansas Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos, but have since fallen to 3-2, largely due to their offensive line. Injuries have plagued them this season, and it has completely derailed their offense, which is averaging 14 points in their last two games. Unfortunately for Justin Herbert, this could end up being another “what if” season. I think Herbert will be fine, but he won’t be in the MVP conversation by the end of the year if they don’t get healthy soon.

Wood: Overreaction. Percent on board: 22 percent.

I’m disappointed that the Chargers have “Chargered” the opportunity to take hold of the AFC West and the first window of 2025 to exceed the league’s expectations. Omarion Hampton is hurt. That next window is upon us for Herbert. He will have to carry the load heavily over the second quarter of the season. 

Singh: Overreaction. Percent on board: 25 

Herbert will manage to turn it around. The Chargers missed their chance to emerge as clear leaders in the AFC West, but Herbert still has plenty of time to bounce back.

Jalen Hurts, AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith will never get on the same page

Hubbard: Fair reaction. Percent on board: 49 percent

It really makes no sense how the Philadelphia Eagles‘ passing attack has struggled so much this year. Last year, DeVonta Smith and AJ Brown combined for 135 catches, 1,912 yards and 15 touchdowns in the regular season. This year, they’re on pace to catch 149 passes, but for just 1,584 yards and seven touchdowns. It’s hard to say they’ll never get on the same page, because they were successful together last year, but they’ve shown no sign of turning things around anytime soon. Still, all it takes is one week to get back on track.

Wood: Fair reaction. Percent on board: 56 percent.

Brown was a collective non-factor once again in the Eagles’ first official loss of 2025 (I’m a believer that when it comes to the Eagles, there are demoralizing wins.). Smith was a stud but there is still too much being said to reliable insiders to believe this is salvageable. Too much emotional plaque buildup. The dentist (GM) has to come in for a root canal at this point.

Singh: Overreaction. Percent on board: 35

AJ Brown getting back on track could solve a lot of the Eagles’ problems, on and off the field. Nick Sirriani refused to blame AJ Brown for the misses against Broncos and continues to trust him in the offense.

Cowboys are truly playoff contenders, even without Micah Parsons

Hubbard: I approve this message. Percent on board: 71 percent

Everyone thought the loss of Micah Parsons was going to be the Dallas Cowboys‘ downfall, but that hasn’t been the case. Dallas’ defense is so bad that, even if they had Parsons, another 0.8 sacks per game wouldn’t change much. Their offense was always going to be the X-factor. If they play well, like they have early this year, they can make the playoffs. They need to keep their foot on the gas, though, because their defense is going to give up 28+ per game, but so far, they’ve shown they’re capable of winning (or tying) shootouts.

Wood: Fair reaction. Percent on board: 52 percent.

Dak Prescott is having an MVP-level season. I’d arguably give him the quarter-season award if the ‘Boys could have turned that tie into a win. I look at the division first and foremost. The Eagles and Commanders can be had, period. It’s just a matter of how much Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus can get the defense coached up. If I judge him by his Bears head coaching stint – which may or not be fair – I’m leery. But I’m glass-half-full overall here.

Singh: Overreaction. Percent on board: 40 

They’ve only beaten the Jets. Cowboys still have a long way to go. I do not trust a defense without Micah Parsons.

Bryce Young has proven he’s the Panthers’ present and future

Hubbard: Fair reaction. Percent on board: 40 percent

I have always been a believer in Bryce Young. I think he’s very gifted, but his size and situation have held him back. He’s always shown flashes of what he can become; he just hasn’t been in a good situation yet. If the Carolina Panthers can actually put a competent team around him, he can be a franchise quarterback. He showed that on Sunday when he helped erase a 17-point deficit to beat the Dolphins. I’m just afraid the Panthers are going to give up on him too early. But if they stay patient with him and build around him, I firmly believe he can be the guy in Carolina.

Wood: Extreme overreaction. Percent on board: 3 percent.

I’m just not riding this rollercoaster. I live in South Carolina, I watch this team and how the region DESPERATELY wants this statement to be true. And after the smackdown of the Falcons, I was there. I just need to see it for a legit six-game stretch and I’m in.

Singh: Overreaction. Percent on board: 10

Panthers still haven’t fixed their slow starts, and Bryce Young will have to be the one to change that. 

Carson Wentz should be the full-time starter in Minnesota, regardless of JJ McCarthy’s health

Hubbard: Complete overreaction. Percent on board: 0 percent 

The Minnesota Vikings are in a tricky spot. They drafted JJ McCarthy in the top 10 and let Sam Darnold, who threw for 4,000+ yards and 35 touchdowns last year, walk because they wanted to start him. Now he gets hurt, and Carson Wentz steps in and immediately outplays him. If I’m the Vikings, I think I go back to McCarthy.

Wentz is not their future, and they’re not contending for a Super Bowl with him in the lineup. I’d rather get my young QB some reps and hope that within the next two or three years the team can compete for a championship. Benching him while he’s healthy only hurts his confidence and stifles his development.

Wood: I approve this message. Percent on board: 94 percent.

This alone is what makes this exercise so fun, to see the extreme waves of thought from thoughtful people. I like JJ. I in general feel like Wentz has spurts but ultimately lets every team down. It just hasn’t happened yet. I don’t think McCarthy has done anything to earn the job, being his automatically when he’s healthy, while Wentz has this team in legit contender mode.

Singh: Overreaction. Percent on board: 5

Wentz can hold the reigns till McCarthy returns. Kevin O’Connell would agree.

Dillon Gabriel showed enough to start for the Browns until they’re eliminated from the playoffs

Hubbard: I approve this message. Percent on board: 85 percent

I thought Dillon Gabriel played well in his NFL debut. He didn’t try to force things and just took what the defense gave him. It wasn’t necessarily pretty, but it was efficient and he didn’t make mistakes. I think his performance should earn him at least a few more starts, if not more than that. If they think they have anything in Gabriel, giving him as many in-game reps as possible is what’s best for his development.

On the other hand, I know everyone wants to see Shedeur Sanders take the field for the Browns, and given the fact they just traded Joe Flacco away, that could be on the horizon, but I don’t think you pull a well-performing Gabriel to do it. If Gabriel starts to struggle, sure, bench him. But don’t start Sanders if Gabriel is playing good football just to get them both out there.

Wood: Fair reaction: Percent on board: 64 percent.

Let’s take you behind the curtain. And I say this as someone who has taken the pulse of collective NFL media on this topic – both in behind-the-scenes chatter and judging coverage. 

NFL FANS WANT SHEDEUR SANDERS. NFL Media does not. 

The collective NFL Think Tank does not and NFL Media – after lobbying for Sanders so hard pre-draft – have fallen in line. The Think Tank made their judgment on him at the Draft, and they don’t want to be proven wrong so quickly.

We at ES are the fans’ perspective overall. We want Sanders in. But the reality is Gabriel rose to the moment in London in every fair assessment of the All 22. 

Singh: Fair reaction. Percent on board: 70

Dillon Gabriel is their best bet right now and Shedeur is a decent backup when needed. However, it’s clear that it wasn’t Stefanski’s decision to draft Shedeur, so Gabriel can be expected to start this season. 

The Lions are the clear-cut team to beat in the NFC

Hubbard: I approve this message. Percent on board: 70 percent

Do I think the Detroit Lions are the best team in the NFC right now? Yes. Do I think it’s clear and obvious? No.

Detroit is playing better football than anyone else in the NFC. There’s no question about that. But I think the Eagles are just as good, if not better, on paper. Philly proved last year that they have the best roster in football, they just aren’t clicking right now. So while Detroit is playing the best ball, Philly can easily surpass them if they can iron out some of their offensive issues.

Wood: Fair reaction. Percent on board: 42 percent

I’ve been at this long enough to know there can be no clear-cut anything at this stage of the season. Have the Lions shown this over the last four weeks? Heck yeah. But the Bucs have some aura around them this season that may be above any logic. The 49ers are winning with a “fight for the No. 1 draft pick” level roster right now. I’m just happy for head coach Dan Campbell that it’s being proven that this wasn’t all about 

Singh: Fair reaction. Percent on board: 60

Eagles and 49ers may be 4-1, but their records hide plenty of flaws. Bucs, meanwhile, are right on Lions’ heels.