It has been an enthralling opening five weeks to the 2025 NFL season, a stretch which has already seen resounding wins, late comebacks, miraculous performances, and thrilling upsets.
Some sets of fans in particular will be very surprised by the start to the season their franchise has made, whether that be pleasantly or unpleasantly surprised.
So, let's take a look at the most notable overachievers and underachievers through five weeks of the NFL season.
Overachievers
Indianapolis Colts
It has been six seasons since the Indianapolis Colts last won a playoff game, and very few believed that making the playoffs this year would be a realistic goal for Shane Steichen's team. However, through five games, the Colts are 4-1 and have been one of the most efficient and dynamic teams in the NFL.
Their point differential of +74 ranks highest in the league, their offense ranks fourth in the league in Yards Per Game (381.2 yards), and their defense ranks fourth in Points Allowed Per Game (17.8).
One of the NFL's biggest success stories so far has come from quarterback Daniel Jones, whose time with the New York Giants concluded last season with him being cut after being benched in favour of Tommy DeVito. Now, Jones is playing with unwavering confidence and is already being regarded as an early MVP candidate, ranking third in the NFL in passing yards (1,290) and boasting a QB Rating of 79.7 - highest of all quarterbacks in the league.
The Colts' schedule has been favourable thus far with their wins coming against the Miami Dolphins (1-4), the Denver Broncos (3-2), the Tennessee Titans (1-4) and the Las Vegas Raiders (1-4), and with their next three games coming against the Arizona Cardinals who have lost their last three games, the Los Angeles Chargers who have lost their last two games, and the Titans who have won just one game so far this season, it is not inconceivable to think that the Colts could find themselves 7-1 through eight weeks should they continue their impressive form.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Another AFC South team who makes the overachievers list is the Jacksonville Jaguars, who, like the Indianapolis Colts, are also sitting at 4-1 - the franchise's first 4-1 start since the 2007 season.
The Jags have already managed to match their win total for last season after just five games and are certainly turning heads around the NFL under new head coach Liam Coen.
Their defense has been stellar thus far as the Jags lead the NFL in turnover differential (+8) having already forced 10 interceptions (1st in NFL) and 4 fumbles (tied 2nd in NFL), while also conceding only 20 Points Per Game (8th in NFL). The offense has been humming also, with seven different players having already recorded touchdowns, while Trevor Lawrence is being protected by his offensive line and is taking much better care of the football than he has done in recent seasons.
The Jaguars' last two wins have been particularly noteworthy. Coen's men picked up a 26-21 road win over the San Francisco 49ers (4-1) before they came from 14-0 down to secure a memorable 31-28 win over last year's Super Bowl runners-up, the Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) on Monday Night Football. Things do not get easier for Jacksonville with their next two games coming against the Seattle Seahawks (3-2) and the Los Angeles Rams (3-2), but given the confidence and the buzz surrounding the franchise, playing the Jaguars is no longer a simple task for opposing teams.
New England Patriots
The Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era is a distant memory in New England, and as of recently, the Patriots have struggled to replicate even a fraction of the success they were so accustomed to producing on a yearly basis.
Despite coming off the back of three-straight losing seasons, there was some optimism among Patriots fans heading into the season with their young quarterback Drake Maye, their new head coach Mike Vrabel, and their star offseason acquisition Stefon Diggs, and that optimism looks to have been fully justified five weeks into the season.
After a nervy opening three games which saw them lose to the Las Vegas Raiders (1-4) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1), the Patriots have bounced back in emphatic style. They demolished the Carolina Panthers (2-3) 42-13, before putting the rest of the NFL on alert with a stunning 23-20 win over the then-unbeaten Buffalo Bills (4-1).
Maye and Diggs look to have forged a brilliant partnership, with the former racking up 1,261 passing yards (5th in NFL) and completing 73.9% of his throws (2nd in NFL) so far, while the latter has posted back-to-back 100-yard receiving games and looks to be a real leader in the locker room since his arrival in the offseason. The season is still young, but with their next three games coming against the New Orleans Saints (1-4), the Tennessee Titans (1-4), and the Cleveland Browns (1-4), New England have the chance to build on their statement wins and strengthen their grip on a provisional Wildcard spot.
Underachievers
Baltimore Ravens
For Baltimore Ravens fans, it has been an exceptionally grueling season so far. After going 12-5 last season, the Ravens have almost matched their five losses from last season through just five weeks this season as they currently sit at 1-4.
The defense has particularly struggled this season, conceding 35.4 Points Per Game (Most in NFL) and allowing 408.8 Yards Per Game (2nd most in NFL), becoming the third team in NFL history to allow 35+ points in four of their opening five games.
In the midst of the defensive issues, the offense at least looked somewhat functional through the first four weeks of the season, that was until their star quarterback Lamar Jackson picked up a hamstring injury before their Week 5 defeat to the Houston Texans. It means that Cooper Rush will be the starting quarterback for the foreseeable future, and the Ravens have lost one of the biggest playmakers in the NFL.
Furthermore, both Roquon Smith and Marlon Humphrey are also currently sidelined to compile their injury issues. Baltimore will be desperate to get their All-Pro level players back sooner rather than later so they can get their season back on track before their playoff hopes evaporate for good.
Kansas City Chiefs
After a blowout 40-22 loss at Super Bowl LIX at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles, many expected the Kansas City Chiefs to bounce back and respond in their customary manner, by winning the AFC West for what would be the 10th-straight season.
However, things have not gone to plan for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs so far this season as they opened their season with defeats against the Los Angeles Chargers (3-2) and the Philadelphia Eagles (4-1). It looked as though crisis had been averted after the three-time Super Bowl champions bounced back with wins against the New York Giants (1-4) and the Baltimore Ravens (1-4), however disaster struck once again on Monday Night Football in Week 5 as they squandered a 14-0 lead and succumbed to a 31-28 defeat against the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1).
Last season, the Chiefs managed to win 11 one-score games - the most in NFL history - on their way to a 15-2 record, but their fortunes have flipped this season. All three of their losses have ironically been by a single score, and it is only the second time in the Mahomes era that the Chiefs have lost three of their first five games.
Their season is by no means over yet, but they already have ground that they need to make up on the Chargers and the Broncos in the AFC West if they are to make the post-season for the 11th-straight season.
Cincinnati Bengals
After back-to-back 9-8 seasons which saw the Cincinnati Bengals miss the playoffs in 2023 and 2024, the organisation took drastic measures in the offseason to ensure they reemerged as contenders once again this season. The Bengals agreed to new long-term deals with their star wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, they reworked their star edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson's contract to give him a pay rise, and they hired a new defensive coordinator, Al Golden.
The pressure was on Zac Taylor and his squad to end their two-year playoff drought and get themselves back in the post-season this year, but their season already looks to be falling apart after just five games.
After narrowly edging the Cleveland Browns (1-4) in Week 1, Bengals fans endured a nightmare the following week against the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1) as Joe Burrow was forced to leave the field due to a turf toe injury and did not return. The Bengals went on to win the game with Jake Browning taking over at quarterback, but the Bengals season has since taken a turn for the worse.
Defeats to the Minnesota Vikings (3-2), the Denver Broncos (3-2), and the Detroit Lions (4-1) have followed in the last three weeks, and the Bengals have taken drastic measures by trading for 40-year-old veteran quarterback Joe Flacco in a desperate attempt to salvage their season and provide cover until Burrow is able to return from injury. With the Baltimore Ravens also struggling, the Bengals are not out of the race for the AFC North crown just yet, but they will need to see a dramatic upturn in performances if they are to turn their season around and stay in contention to return to the playoffs.
