This Week in the NFL: Week Five Kickoff, Best Bets, Odds, Lines, and More

Week 5 kicks off today, and we’ve got you covered at betJACK. Whether you are looking for odds and spreads, game storylines, or you’re a new member looking to get some insight on this weekend's slate of games. Speaking of new members, first-time signups can get up to $500 in bonus bets. But don’t worry, current users, we’ve got you covered with a Happy Hour bonus bet offer EVERY THURSDAY before the Thursday Night Kick Off!

San Francisco 49ers (+245) @ Los Angeles Rams (-315):

Spread: Los Angeles Rams -7 Over/Under: 46.5

Storyline: Brock Purdy looked rough in his first game back from injury, as he threw two INTs as well as a fumble. Add in a poor performance from Christian McCaffrey, a fumble, and 49 yards on 17 carries. Unfortunately, they face a tougher challenge in the Rams this week. Matthew Stafford has been leading this team nearly flawlessly as they took the win against the Colts last week and look to continue that streak. Stafford, despite going 29-41 and threw 4 TDs on top of it. Though they received some late-quarter help via an Adonai Mitchell fumble, they still managed to pull out the win. The 49ers' defense is a tough matchup, but if the Rams can play fast and Brock Purdy is questionable to start, a win here will catapult them to the top of the standings. 

Standings:

- San Francisco 49ers 3-1 (1st in the NFC West)

- Los Angeles Rams 3-1 (3rd in the NFC West)

Minnesota Vikings (-195) @ Cleveland Browns (+160):

Spread: Minnesota Vikings -3.5 Over/Under: 36

Storyline: It seems like Dublin forced Carson Wentz to return to form as the Vikings fall to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite having one of the best defensive units in the league, Minnesota couldn’t get meaningful stops until the 4th quarter. Unfortunately for Wentz, their overseas road trip doesn’t get any easier as they look to face one of the best defensive units in the league as the Browns take them on in London. With McCarthy doubtful to start and the Browns finally benching Flacco for promising rookie QB Dillon Gabrial, the Browns are looking to right the ship as interdivision injuries pile up. A win here will definitely help their postseason hopes, but it will also give their rookie QB the confidence he needs. But while Carson will face a top 3 defense, Gabriel will be going up against the #1 defense in the league. If Gabriel can keep the turnovers minimal and Stephanski keeps himself from doing too much in terms of play calls, the Browns could very well find themselves getting the win this week. 

Standings:

- Minnesota Vikings 2-2 (3rd in the NFC North

- Cleveland Browns 1-3 (4th in the AFC North)

Dallas Cowboys (-152) @ New York Jets (+125):

Spread: Dallas Cowboys -2.5 Over/Under: 47

Storyline: Dallas’ defense forgot to show up, it seems, as the Cowboys tied their last game 40-40, the first tie in the NFL since the Commanders and Giants in 2022, and the highest scoring tie in the NFL since overtime was introduced. The Cowboys will have a tough road ahead as they will need to bounce back against the New York Jets. Justin Fields looked much better this week, as he showed flashes of his dynamic ability and managed to play a clean game. However, even that wasn’t enough to take the dolphins down, who were without Tyreek Hill in the second half. The Jets just can’t seem to get over that hump, defensively and offensively. They are on pace to be 0-6 again this week. Even with how bad Dallas has been playing this year, it’s hard to see the Jets walking away with a win in this one.

Standings:

- Dallas Cowboys 1-2-1 (3rd in the NFC East)

- New York Jets 0-4 (4th in the AFC North)

Denver Broncos (+180) @ Philadelphia Eagles (-220):

Spread: Philadelphia Eagles -4 Over/Under: 43.5

Storyline: Bo Nix and JK Dobbins lead the Broncos to a dominant win over the Bengals, but the defense is the highlight of the game. They held the explosive Bengals to just 3 points in the 4th quarter and held Ja’Marr Chase to just 23 yards despite having 5 receptions. The Broncos' defense seems to have found good momentum to carry into their matchup against Philly this week. If they can ride that momentum, then they might just hand the Eagles their first loss of the season. A fake tush push and a blocked FG for a TD launched the Eagles ahead of Tampa Bay last week, handing Baker and the Bucs their first loss. Starting the season 4-0, despite Hurts playing good but not great ball, and AJ Brown still having under 20 catches on the season. This team has been showing the league that they can win without having to rely on their superstars every play. This will make for an interesting matchup against a defense that is finally showing some life. 

Standings:

- Denver Broncos 2-2 (3rd in the AFC West)

- Philadelphia Eagles 4-0 (1st in the NFC East)

Houston Texans (-121) @ Baltimore Ravens (-103):

Spread: Houston Texans -1 Over/Under: 40.0

Storyline: The Texans have finally gotten their first win of the season, and Houston’s Defense got their first shutout in 15 YEARS… All it took was them playing THE WORST team in the league. I’m still not convinced that this Texans team is a playoff team. They’ll have a chance to show that they belong as they take on the Ravens defense this week, who, while shaky this season, still can dominate when it matters. Unfortunately for the Ravens, they will have to find a way to win without superstar Lamar Jackson, as he is expected to miss multiple weeks due to a hamstring injury. Cooper Rush will helm the Ravens offense, which is an interesting choice as he lacks the dual-threat ability of Jackson. So the offense will look very different this week than it has in the past, and maybe that’s just what Baltimore needs to find their footing in a practically QB-less division. 

Standings:

- Houston Texans 1-3 (3rd in the AFC South)

- Baltimore Ravens 1-3 (3rd in the AFC North)

Las Vegas Raiders (+250) @ Indianapolis Colts (-315):

Spread: Indianapolis Colts -7 Over/Under: 48

Storyline: Ashton Jeanty shines in the Raiders' loss to Chicago last week, and he seems to have finally found his footing in the league. 138 yards on 21 carries (6.6 yards on average). Granted, the spotlight is on Geno Smith as he continues to struggle to lead this offense. Kenny Pickett sits behind him as Aidan O’Connell is still on IR, and one has to wonder how long they’ll continue with Geno, because if they don’t shake things up, it is doubtful they’ll find success. On the flip side, Daniel Jones also struggled to perform as the Colts played their first opponent that is over .500. 2 INTs and an inexcusable fumble by Adonai Mitchell at the goal-line handed the Colts their first loss of the season. But even with a coming back down to earth game last week, they have a much easier challenge ahead of them with a Raiders defense that has surrendered 20+ points in all but their week 1 contest. This is a win the Colts will need as their schedule ramps up in challenge. 

Standings:

- Las Vegas Raiders 1-3 (4th in the AFC West)

- Indianapolis Colts 3-1 (1st in the AFC South)

Miami Dolphins (-118) @ Carolina Panthers (-104):

Spread: Miami Dolphins -1 Over/Under: 44.5

Storyline: Miami has finally secured its first win of the season; however, with that win, they lost their number one WR as Tyreek Hill left the second quarter with a season-ending knee dislocation. Granted, with that being said, they shouldn’t have much of a challenge this week as they take on the Carolina Panthers. Jaylen Waddle and Darren Waller will have to continue to step up as Tua’s 1 and 2 with Hill being absent. The Panthers will look to bounce back after a tough loss against the Patriots, after dismantling the Falcons the week before. Incompletions continue to plague Bryce Young as he only completed 18 of his 30 passes. This team has fight in them, and they have potential, but again, Young continues to be inconsistent under center, and the defense is struggling to keep up against their opponents. Even without having to worry about Tyreek Hill, the Panthers' defense has their work cut out for them. 

Standings:

- Miami Dolphins 1-3 (3rd in the AFC East)

- Carolina Panthers 1-3 (3rd in the NFC South)

New York Giants (+104) @ New Orleans Saints (-125):

Spread: New Orleans Saints -2 Over/Under: 40.5

Storyline: Giants fans REJOICE! Jaxson Dart looked excellent against the Chargers as he led them to their first win of the season. Which is no easy feat, considering how well this Chargers defense has played to start the season. He’ll look to continue and build on this performance as they head to New Orleans to take on a floundering Saints. Odds are in their favor, despite Spencer Rattlers' solid performance against the Bills. Speaking of the Saints, this team seems to mirror the Jets; they show so much promise and are on the younger side, but they just can’t get over the hump even when their QB plays well. Vegas favors the Saints, likely due to the flashes they’ve shown on defense, but the Giants have been hindered by Wilson's poor play to start the season, and I wouldn’t be shocked that with Dart under center, this Giants team starts to look wildly different than we’ve seen in the past.  

Standings:

- New York Giants 1-3 (4th in the NFC East)

- New Orleans Saints 0-4 (4th in the NFC South)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+150) @ Seattle Seahawks (-182):

Spread: Seattle Seahawks -3.5 Over/Under: 45

Storyline: Tampa Bay felt the absence of veteran WR Mike Evans last week as Baker Mayfield failed to achieve another 4th quarter comeback against their NFC opponents. Bucky Irving and rookie Emeka Egbuka, however, continue to shine in this Buccaneers offense. They’ll look to bounce back against a tough Seattle defense, and with Sam Darnold playing hot and riding a win streak, that might prove to be a challenge. If Baker can get the offense going, though, they’ve proven that they can score and score quickly. Seattle, though, has won 3 in a row, granted a lot of that is because of their defense, but it’s hard to ignore that Darnold is playing much like he did last season. This offense looks different now that DK Metcalf is no longer with them, but that absence seems to have done more good than bad for the team, especially for young WR Jaxon Smith-Njiba. The offense runs through him, and if Seattle wants to continue to find success, then they’ll need to continue to build on his production. 

Standings:

- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-1 (1st in the NFC South)

- Seattle Seahawks 3-1 (2nd in the NFC West)

Tennessee Titans (+320) @ Arizona Cardinals (-420):

Spread: Arizona Cardinals -7.5 Over/Under: 41.5

Storyline: Honestly, there is no hope for this Titans team. Cam Ward continues to struggle, and this defense is nearly nonexistent as they have allowed 30+ points on average. When your offense can only score an average of 12, you have no chance to find success. After being drafted number 1 overall, success isn’t guaranteed, but you need to be able to produce at a professional level, which Ward has just not been able to do. It’s starting to look hopeless for Tennessee fans, and a QB switch might be looming, especially as their schedule looks to get even tougher as the season progresses. Kyler Murray has been equally as disappointing after showing so much promise at the start of the season. After another heartbreaking loss and losing yet another RB, this team will have to rely on that passing game even more. Though that puts more pressure on struggling WR Marvin Harrison Jr., which may prove to be detrimental to their team. He’s been a flash in the pan to start his career, which isn’t the performance you’d want from a player with so much promise.

Standings:

- Tennessee Titans 0-4 (4th in the AFC South)

- Arizona Cardinals 2-2 (4th in the NFC West)

Detroit Lions (-590) @ Cincinnati Bengals (+410):

Spread: Detroit Lions -10.5 Over/Under: 49.5

Storyline: The Lions looked rocky at first as they struggled to begin the game against the tough Browns' defense, but ultimately they pulled away and secured a 34-10 victory over Cleveland. Fortunately for Detroit, they face a struggling Bengals offense, and they’ll look to continue their win streak. Their defense has played much better, and they’ll need to, especially with Ja’Marr Chase looking to find some chemistry with backup QB Jake Browning. Speaking of Browning, he will need to play significantly better if the Bengals have any hope of finding success during Joe Burrow’s extended absence. The team has scored a total of 13 points, which is unacceptable considering how explosive they’ve been in the past. They’ve managed to maintain a solid spot in the standings thanks to Cleveland’s and Baltimore’s poor starts to the season, but that will only continue for so long. They’re schedule doesn’t get any easier, and if they are aiming for a playoff spot, then he’ll need to step up to the occasion. 

Standings:

- Detroit Lions 3-1 (1st in the NFC North)

- Cincinnati Bengals 2-2 (2nd in the AFC North)

Washington Commanders (+125) @ Los Angeles Chargers (-150):

Spread: Los Angeles Chargers -3 Over/Under: 47.5

Storyline: Marcus Mariota got out-dueled last week by the Falcons as they fell to 2-2 after a tough 34-27 loss last week. Jayden Daniels will look to right the ship this week as they take on a stingy Chargers defense and their explosive offense. Unfortunately, he may be doing it without his WR1, Terry McLaurin, who is still questionable with a hamstring injury. Their opponent, however, is looking to bounce back after a tough loss to the Giants last week. Justin Herbert will have to play better if he wants to lead this team to a win, especially with Kansas City starting to heat up. If Herbert can keep the turnovers to a minimum, this will be one of the better matchups this week, especially with rookie Omarion Hampton heating up. 

Standings:

- Washington Commanders 2-2 (2nd in the NFC East)

- Los Angeles Chargers 3-1 (1st in the AFC West)

New England Patriots (+295) @ Buffalo Bills (-385):

Spread: Buffalo Bills -7.5 Over/Under: 49.5

Storyline: The Bills escaped closer than it should’ve been for them playing a horrendous Saints team. Josh Allen continues to play fantastic ball, but just as years prior, this defense is a GLARING hole. If they can’t perform and perform consistently, then it is more likely than not that this year will end the same as years passed. However, if they can find their groove, then this team becomes easily the top team in the league. The Patriots, however, seem to have found their identity. Drake Maye threw the ball 17 times for 2 TDs, and the ground game found its legs. They dismantled the Panthers 42-13; however, they face a more competent team this week in the Bills. They’ve been dominated by Buffalo in recent years, so Drake Maye will look to turn that narrative around, while the Bills look to continue their undefeated stretch. 

Standings:

- New England Patriots 2-2 (2nd in the AFC East)

- Buffalo Bills 4-0 (1st in the AFC East)

Kansas City Chiefs (-182) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (+148):

Spread: Kansas City Chiefs -3.5 Over/Under: 46

Storyline: Patrick Mahomes played a game of his life against the Baltimore Ravens, 4 TDs, 25-37-270. It seems the Chiefs have found some footing after starting off the season 0-2. Granted, this was a shaky Ravens team that hasn’t played up to par with the talent they have on their team. Even with them winning 2 in a row, I would be hesitant to take the Chiefs over Jacksonville, as a performance like he had against the Ravens will be hard to replicate. Jacksonville has been riding a win streak and looks to extend that to 3 games as they host the Chiefs. This team has seemed to have found a rhythm and identity these last two weeks after Trevor Lawrence struggled to find consistency. If they can take down Mahomes, then this Jags team might be more dangerous than we expected.

Standings:

- Kansas City Chiefs 2-2 (2nd in the AFC West)

- Jacksonville Jaguars 3-1 (2nd in the AFC South)

Bye Week Teams:

- Atlanta Falcons 2-2 (2nd in the NFC South)

- Chicago Bears 2-2 (4th in the NFC North)

- Green Bay Packers 2-1-1 (2nd in the NFC North)

- Pittsburgh Steelers 3-1 (1st in the AFC North)