NFL picks, Week 5 predictions: Cardinals crush 49ers; The Steelers stop bleeding; Browns win thriller
The Week 5 schedule features a pair of top-tier playoff revenges from last season and a potential West Coast thriller on Sunday afternoon.
The Rams and Seahawks meet Thursday night in a rematch of last year’s NFC first-round game. Los Angeles are a 1.5 point favorite on the road, and it’s Matthew Stafford’s chance to secure his first Seattle victory as a starting quarterback.
The AFC Championship rematch between the Chiefs and Bills is huge on Sunday Night Football, which produced some of the best games of the season. This trend continues in a battle of two teams hoping to seed the AFC.
Also keep an eye out for the 4:05 p.m. ET game between the Browns and the Chargers. Both teams try to stay in tough division races, and the quarterback match between Justin Herbert and Baker Mayfield should produce a thriller.
Each week, Sporting News will select matches directly. Here’s a look at our season totals:
- Week 4: 12-3 (before Monday’s game)
- Season Total: 41-22 (before Monday’s game)
With that in mind, here are our picks and predictions for Week 4:
POWER RATINGS:
The cardinals fly to the top; Packers, Cowboys, Seahawks flex; The Titans are falling
NFL picks, predictions for week 5
- Los Angeles Rams (-1.5) vs. Seattle Seahawks
Thursday, 8:20 p.m., FOX / NFL Network
The NFC West shredder continues. The Rams suffered their first loss and the Seahawks are coming off a big win. Sean McVay is 6-3 against Pete Carroll, and that includes a 3-2 record at Lumen Field. It will be a close game and Seattle starts the week with a surprise upset.
To take: Seahawks 27, Rams 24
- New York Jets vs. Atlanta Falcons (-3.5)
Sunday, 9:30 a.m., NFL Network
The Jets entered the table last week and Atlanta is allowing the most points in the NFL at 32 points per game. New York is still committing too many turnovers, and without a racing game that’s going to be tough to win on the road.
To take: Falcons 30, Jets 20
- Green Bay Packers (-3.5) to Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
The Packers have lost their last two trips to Cincinnati. In 2005, a fan steals the ball from Brett Favre. In 2013, Terence Newman scored on a fumble return for a touchdown. This is our way of saying that strange things could happen if the Packers start slowly. Joe Mixon (ankle) and Jaire Alexander (shoulder) are key injuries in what should be another close encounter for the Packers.
To take: Packers 28, Bengals 25
- Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings (-7.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
We tried out the Lions for an NFC North upset last week. It did not work. It won’t happen in Minnesota either. Both teams are battling the race, so Kirk Cousins and Jared Goff should have some great games. The Vikings need to put Dalvin Cook on the right track if they are to stay in NFC North.
To take: Vikings 26, Lions 22
- Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (-1.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
Teddy Bridgewater (concussion) could miss this game, and that has an impact on our choice. The Steelers are a brutal watch on offense at times, but the defense should be able to force a few turnovers from Drew Luck. Pittsburgh takes a nasty win with late training from Ben Roethlisberger, but it’s not pretty.
To take: Steelers 23, Broncos 21
- Miami Dolphins at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-10.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The dolphins are in a toboggan at the start of the season. Miami has yet to have a game with at least 200 passing yards, and that’s bad news against Tom Brady and a versatile attack from the Buccaneers. Miami had some memorable upheavals involving Brady when he was in New England. It won’t be one of those times.
To take: Buccaneers 30, Dolphins 19
- New Orleans Saints (-1.5) to Washington football team
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Saints have been inconsistent for four weeks, and the pass defense was a mess against the Giants in Week 5. Taylor Heinicke played well enough in three starts to keep the ball moving at home, and the defense will force a few. interceptions.
To take: Washington 24, Saint 23
- Philadelphia Eagles vs. Carolina Panthers (-3.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
The Eagles are another NFC East underdog that can rock the road. Philadelphia has issues against the run, but will the Panthers stick around long enough? Jalen Hurts extends the Panthers defense and avoids the big turnover, and Miles Sanders scores the winning TD in the fourth quarter.
To take: Eagles 28, Panthers 21
- Tennessee Titans (-4) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Jaguars are still chasing that first win under first-year coach Urban Meyer, and Tennessee proved vulnerable without starting receivers AJ Brown and Julio Jones in Week 5. The bad new to Meyer? Mike Vrabel will feed Derrick Henry early and Jacksonville’s pass defense will again be exploited.
To take: Titans 30, Jaguars 26
- New England Patriots (-9) vs. Houston Texans
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Pats lost the Brady Bowl, but Mac Jones’ self-confidence as a rookie quarterback continues to be a surprise early in the season. Houston has scored a total of nine points in its last two losses, and New England should be able to clinch a road victory. The gap is still too high.
To take: Patriots 20, Texans 14
- Chicago Bears vs. Las Vegas Raiders (-5.5)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS
Despite all the criticism about Matt Nagy, the Bears are 2-2 and have a record-winning chance in a home game against the Packers in Week 6. The Raiders have just had a short week. . Despite the questions from the Chicago quarterback, the recipe for an offbeat thriller is there.
To take: Bear 26, Raiders 24
- Cleveland Browns vs. Los Angeles Chargers (-1)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS
Baker Mayfield didn’t play well in Week 4 at Minnesota and the Browns won. Hint: It’s not always Mayfield. The Browns have the best rushing offense in the NFL and the defense has faltered over the past two weeks. The Chargers will offer a glimpse of what to expect in the playoffs, but championship-caliber teams win on the road. Mayfield rebounds in another clutch road win.
To take: Browns 31, Chargers 24
- New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys (-7.5)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX
The Cowboys have the second-best running game in the NFL, and the Tony Pollard-Ezekiel Elliott combination helped Dak Prescott, who was seasonally lost in that game in 2020. The Cowboys hype is coming, and it’s building. with another NFC East victory at home.
To take: Cowboys 28, Giants 19
- San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals (-4.5)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX
It’s tempting to take on the 49ers if Trey Lance starts, especially with the hype surrounding the undefeated Cardinals. Kliff Kingsbury is 3-3 against San Francisco, and Kyler Murray will continue the hot start with another effective performance at home.
To take: Cardinals 28, 49ers 24
- Buffalo bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs (-3)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC
The Chiefs have question marks, and defense becomes a concern. Buffalo can win this AFC Championship rematch. The Bills lead the league with a +7 turnover rate, and the Chiefs have been loose with football. Josh Allen was great too. The spotlight of Sunday Night Football gives us another fantastic finish, however, and Patrick Mahomes is leading the winning race this time around. Kansas City reaffirms its place in the AFC hierarchy.
To take: Counts 31, Bills 28
- Indianapolis Colts vs. Baltimore Ravens (-7)
Monday, 8:15 p.m., ESPN
The Colts finally took their first win, but now it’s a road trip to Baltimore. The Ravens have won four of the last five games in this series, and Lamar Jackson is just playing his first 300-yard game of the season. Baltimore remains warm at home before another big game against the Chargers in Week 6.
To take: Crows 30, Foals 18
