NFL 2024 Week 5 Prequel
Thursday, October 3, 2024, 8pm
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons (-1 1/2) — Baker Mayfield and Kirk Cousins can both sling the ball. These teams are evenly matched, and the spread reflects that. Home field is normally not a big deal in this series, but with the devastation of Hurricane Helene in the background for both teams, football will be a welcome respite. Look for the Falcons to give the home crowd a brief interval from their pain. Falcons cover
Sunday, October 6, 9:30am
New York Jets at Minnesota Vikings (-2 1/2) — The Vikings can score at will, although they almost blew a 28 point lead last week. The Jets have underachieved all year or are just overrated to begin with. The Vikings are unbeaten for a reason. Vikings cover
1pm
Baltimore Ravens (-2 1/2) at Cincinnati Bengals — The Ravens got a big win against previously unbeaten Buffalo. The Bengals finally got their first win against doormat Carolina. Whatever ails the Bengals, playing a good Baltimore team is not the answer. The Ravens would love to put a dagger in their division rival early in the season. Ravens cover
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars (-3) — The Jaguars are a winless mess but the Colts will be without injured Anthony Richardson. The Jaguars lost a heartbreaker in the final seconds last week. They have been competitive. Against a wounded Indianapolis team, look for the Jaguars to finally win. Jaguars cover
Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots (-1 1/2) — Without Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins are done. The Patriots have lost three straight after an opening day win. The Dolphins have more overall talent but the Patriots have the home field and can run the football. Patriots cover
Cleveland Browns at Washington Commanders (-3) — Jayden Daniels has been as terrific as the Browns have been terrible. Deshaun Watson has regressed. Washington is quietly starting to believe. Go with the confident team over the demoralized one. Commanders cover
Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans (-1 1/2) — Despite being pummeled out of the ranks of the unbeaten, the Bills still have elite talent on both sides of the ball. The Texans won a thriller last week, but that was against winless Jacksonville. The Texans are a good team, but the Bills are an elite team that will be playing angry after last week. Upset special, Bills win outright,
Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears (-4) — The Panthers have improved since Red Rifle Andy Dalton replaced Bryce Young, but they are still bad. Caleb Williams has shown some flashes, but he has little to work with as well. Go with the home crowd, but the Bears lack the talent to blow teams out, even weak ones such as Carolina. Bears win but fail to cover
4pm
Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos (-3) — The Raiders have beaten the Broncos eight straight times but expect that streak to end here. The Broncos have a defense. The Raiders have a bad offensive line and cannot run the ball. The Raiders tried to lose last week but Cleveland would not let them. The Broncos gutted out a tough win at the Jets in bad weather. Expect the Denver defense to tee off. Broncos cover
Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers (-7 1/2) — After an impressive start to the season, the Cardinals have regressed. The 49ers have suffered devastating injuries but still have far more talent on both sides of the ball. Even without Christian McCaffrey, the 49ers have too many weapons. This is a mismatch. Kyler Murray is exciting, but that is not the same as effective. 49ers cover
Green Bay Packers (-3 1/2) at Los Angeles Rams — The Rams are 1-3, while the Packers nearly overcame a 28 point deficit against unbeaten Minnesota. The Packers held it together when Jordan Love was out injured. Love should have success against the Rams, although they can turn it around at any moment. Packers win but fail to cover
New York Giants at Seattle Seahawks (-6 1/2) — Despite being knocked from the unbeaten ranks, the Seahawks have been playing well. Geno Smith has a rapport with his receivers. The Giants are just terrible. This game could be over by halftime. Seahawks cover
8pm
Dallas Cowboys at Pittsburgh Steelers (-2 1/2) — Both of these teams are overrated. The Steelers were knocked from the unbeaten ranks. They win games by pounding the ball, grabbing a lead, and playing defense. The Cowboys offense has not delivered what its highest paid stars Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb were paid to deliver. From a pure talent standpoint, the Cowboys should have enough offense to take care of a Pittsburgh team that only seems to win ugly defensive games. Upset special, Cowboys win outright
Sunday, October 7, 8pm
New Orleans Saints at Kansas City Chiefs (-5) — The Chiefs have suffered horrific injuries but stay unbeaten under walrus Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. The Saints have cooled after a hot start, although Derek Carr has had success against Kansas City. The Chiefs do not blow teams out. They win close games. Therefore, the spread is too high against a very competent Saints offense. Chiefs win but fail to cover