NFL Week 5 Upsets, Taylor Swift’s Showgirl Album and the Horror Film Weapons

NFL Week 5 was the year of the Comeback! We break down four impossible upsets and award Game Balls to Baker Mayfield, Rico Dowdle, and Emeka Egbuka. Plus: Our full review of Taylor Swift’s new album, The Life of a Showgirl, and a look at Zach Cregger’s ‘Weapons’ film. Listen now to hear the analysis recorded after the host got staples in his head!

Welcome to the Torg Stories Podcast. Anne, I’ve got a list of a bunch of stuff that went on this week. You pick one you want to talk about first: I’ve got staples in my head. We’re doing NFL Week 5. Anne and I both watched the horror film Weapons. Taylor Swift has a new album. Bad Bunny is playing the Super Bowl and hosted SNL. I went to Wilmington, NC. Mark Sanchez got stabbed, and it looks like he’s going to be charged with a felony. Anne, what a week! 

NFL Week 5 was the Week of the Comeback! We break down four impossible upsets, BAKER MAYFIELD’S comeback magic, T. Swift’s new album, and the film Weapons.

🎙️ Episode Breakdown & Show Notes

This week, we recap the wildest Sunday of upsets this season and dive deep into the cultural moments that tied the NFL, film, and music worlds together.


🏆 GAME BALL NOMINEES & STATS

NomineeKey Performance StatWhy They Got a Game Ball
Baker Mayfield (Bucs QB)4th Qtr Comeback King!Led the league with his 4th game-winning drive (4-1 record), throwing for 379 Yds, 2 TDs, 0 INTs.
Rico Dowdle (Panthers RB)206 Rushing YardsCarried the Panthers to a historic 17-0 comeback by dominating the ground game.
Emeka Egbuka (Bucs WR)163 Yds, 1 TDThe rookie continued his stellar run, including a 57-yard snag on 3rd-and-13 during the final drive.
Zach Cregger (Film Director)“Weapons” DirectorHonored for channeling the profound grief over his friend’s death into the film’s screenplay.

🏈 CHAOS & THE COMEBACK COUNT

Four teams overcame double-digit deficits yesterday. We break down the dramatic plays that made each rally possible:

TeamBiggest Deficit OvercomeFinal ScoreCraziest Play
Titans18 Points (Trailed 21-3)W 22-21The impossible “Interception-Fumble-Touchdown” sequence.
Panthers17 Points (Trailed 17-0)W 27-24Rico Dowdle’s 200-yard day and the franchise-record-tying comeback.
Broncos14 Points (Trailed 17-3)W 21-17Bo Nix’s successful Go-Ahead Two-Point Conversion.
Commanders10 Points (Trailed 10-0)W 27-10Forced turnovers that led to 27 unanswered points.

Bill Torg Top 10 NFL Teams as of Monday Oct 7, 2025 Afternoon

  1. Lions (4-1) Lead NFL in Points Per Game
  2. Bills (4-1) Josh Allen is one of the best players in the league.
  3. Colts (4-1) Offensive efficiency, top 5 scoring defense, and Jonathan Taylor a leading offensive player of the year candidate
  4. Eagles (4-1) Jalen Hurts only starting quarterback with 0 interceptions.
  5. Buccaneers (4-1) What do you do with this team?!!! Four last minute comebacks to win. The clutch team!
  6. 49ers (4-1) Great start and one of the easiest schedules in the league.
  7. Patriots (3-2) Coming off a big win in Buffalo the Patriots might be coming together with young talent and a strong coaching staff.
  8. Rams (3-2) Some key turnovers have hurt their record but it’s a strong team.
  9. Seahawks (3-2) Played some tough teams tough but haven’t gotten over the hump. Quarterback Darnold looks good!
  10. Jags (3-1) They’ve been playing well with a big game coming up against the Chiefs. If the Chiefs beat the Jags, I’ve got to move them up here.
  11. Okay top 11. Put the Steelers here!

🎬 CULTURAL DEEP DIVE

🎶 Taylor Swift’s New Album: The Life of a Showgirl

We talk about our first impressions and want to know if you’d like us to go in depth on lyrical analysis.

🎥 Film: Weapons

We review Zach Cregger’s chilling horror epic. Learn why the film is a deeply personal project for the director, serving as his creative process for grief after the loss of his close friend and collaborator, Trevor Moore.

Touchdown passes to INT ratio for quarterbacks this season: 

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Dealing with Doubt, Our Work Personas, and Ted Lasso Season 3 Premiere

Welcome to the Torg Stories Podcast at TheTorg.com. I’m Bill Torg. I’ve got round 3 of North Carolina girls basketball playoffs coming up next Tuesday. It’s the last week before spring break at App State, Gene Hackman his wife and dog are mysteriously dead, and I’ve got more interested in Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy than I usually do. Anne, how do you orient yourself to this time and place?

On this episode we’re talking about dealing with doubt, our work personas, and the Ted Lasso Season 3 Premiere titled “Smells Like Mean Spirit.”

Notes and Discussion prompts for Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 1: “Smells Like Mean Spirit”

  • The episodes always start with a black screen and sound. Ted looks bummed at the airport. Seems like he gets a text from his wife Michelle. Tricking us a bit. Ted’s son Henry flying home. He was playing Super Smash Brothers. What are your favorite Nintendo games?
  • Cut to Ted in the cab talking to Doc Sharon. He has a Ted Lasso lego set. Is a sense of automomy good for Henry at age 10, flying across the earth by himself? What do you remember about childhood play around the age of 10?
  • Sharon saying: Doubt can only be removed by action. Sharon has a young man in her bed.
  • Rebekah sits in her office with Higgins angry about predictions about the upcoming season. Anne, who goes to the NBA finals? Who wins? Ted comes in and talks about his kid flying home. Charlotte two flights to Milwaukee. Megan drove there.
  • “Tinkle on your toenails,” said Ted. “I predict their predictions are wrong.”
  • Gene Hackman is talked about because Roy watched Hoosiers. He liked the drunk geezer. Gene opens our show every week: “Team!”
  • Roy says it’s more important to be solid than clever when you’re the underdogs. This seem true?
  • Nate arrives to coach in his little green car. He doesn’t greet anyone. He’s the anti Ted Lasso. Anne, how are you entering the building?
  • Training. Paddington Bear Twitter pretty funny. Ted decides to take the team somewhere. I remember a story of Coach K having Duke play volleyball.
  • Crying is the best, said Rebecca. Keeley cried all over Rebecca’s shirt. Keeley says, Let Ted be Ted. What would you say that means?
  • Nate at training. “The dumb dumb line.” Then hops to it to go see Mr. Mannion. Just because my name is Disco, doesn’t mean we get to party?
  • The majesty of the London sewer system. Henry wanted to take the tour to face his fears. How are we at facing our fears? Any clown fears?
  • Nathan panics and spits. How would you do at the press conference Anne? He gets a grip and gets back to his snooty, smarter than you self.
  • My biggest laugh from Jaime: “Coach, we’re surrounded by poopy.”
  • A great bottle of wine doesn’t need to be an expensive bottle of wine.
  • Roy was told by the bus driver to ask the earth to help him carry some of his burden. What would that mean? What is Roy’s burden? Does he have a problem to work on? Who else? Jamie: “Lads, remember…it’s just poopy; let it flow.”
  • Rebecca is mad at Ted. Everyone is laughing at us Ted. Rupert is laughing at me, Ted. I am begging you, “fight back.” Emotionally moving.
  • The woman brings in a package for Nate. She says, “It’s a car.” It’s an Aston Martin. Looks like at least 300K.
  • Roy and Keeley are going to try and give Phoebe the talk. Oh, not the talk I expected. They tell her they broke up. She asks why they broke up. Roys says they are both busy. Phoebe says one of her core beliefs is nothing lasts forever.
  • In the car, Phoebe asks, “Are you sure you are doing the right thing?” She’s right? This is his call? She says, “I think you are being stupid.”
  • “Ring the Alarm” by Beyonce plays at the end. I didn’t know that one.

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Torg Stories Podcast!