NFL Week 5: Expert Picks, Predictions, and Best Bets

NFL Week 5 expert picks, predictions, and best bets feature three underdogs and a home favorite. Check out our NFL week 5 expert picks! 

It’s been a wild ride through the first four weeks of the 2024 NFL season, and now, as Week 5 unfolds, the division and playoff races are beginning to take shape. Every snap, every play now carries a bit more weight. And as Sunday approaches, the NFL’s first London game of the season will set the stage, with the Jets and Vikings clashing across the pond, bringing football fans an early Sunday morning kickoff from overseas.

The Vikings, one of just two undefeated teams remaining, have captured the imagination of the league. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs, the NFL’s other unbeaten squad, will play host to the New Orleans Saints on Monday night to close out Week 5, with all eyes on whether they can remain perfect.

Surprises abound. The Commanders, a team many overlooked, have emerged as the unlikely leaders of the NFC East. The Seahawks, behind steady play, sit atop the NFC West. In a season full of unexpected twists, they’ve made their mark early.

But it’s in Week 5 that things truly begin to heat up. Pivotal division matchups await, shaping the road ahead for so many teams. The playoff picture, while still in its infancy, is beginning to come into focus. And for every team, the stakes are starting to feel just a little bit higher. This is where the NFL season starts to truly find its rhythm and where legacies are forged.

Check out our Week 5 NFL expert picks, predictions, and best bets!

NFL Week 5 Expert Picks, Predictions, and Best Bets

Ravens vs. Bengals Betting Preview

All Ravens vs. Bengals odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Wednesday, Oct. 2.

• Spread
  Ravens -2.5
• Moneyline
  Ravens -150, Bengals +125
• Over/Under
  50.5
• Game Time
   1:00 p.m. ET
• Location
  Paycor Stadium | Cincinnati, OH
• Predicted Weather at Kick
  74 degrees, mostly sunny
• How To Watch
  CBS

The Baltimore Ravens delivered their most complete performance of the season in Week 4, dominating the Buffalo Bills in a decisive 35-10 victory. Everything seemed to click for Baltimore: the offensive line held strong, their ground game battered the Bills, and the defense, relentless and suffocating, made life difficult for Josh Allen and his offense.

For the Ravens, it was the kind of game that showed what they’re capable of when everything falls into place. But now, they face a new challenge in the Cincinnati Bengals, a team that has found itself locked in shootouts all season long. Aside from an odd Week 1 loss to the Patriots, the Bengals have been piling on the points, with their last three games sailing over 50.5 total points and averaging 60 in combined scoring.

While more balanced, the Ravens have flirted with high totals, never dipping below 45 points in any game this year. And after finding his rhythm last week, Joe Burrow is once again playing with precision—completing over 70% of his passes, one of only five quarterbacks in the league to do so. With weapons like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Burrow has the firepower to turn this game into a track meet.

Both teams have been top-six in offensive expected points added, which speaks to their ability to move the ball and score. Defensively, they’re closer to the middle of the pack. The Ravens, in particular, have struggled against the pass, allowing an average of 257.5 yards per game through the air—third most in the league.

With the Bengals desperate and playing at home, where Burrow holds a 3-1 record against Baltimore since 2021, this game has all the makings of a shootout, one where every play could tilt the balance. While everyone praises the Ravens, I think the Bengals remind the league that they’re right in it in the AFC North.

The Prediction: Bengals 33 -Ravens 24

Best Bet: Bengals +2.5

Joe Burrow is playing pissed off. His facial expressions, celebrations, and body language. You can see the fire.

He’s playing the best September football of his NFL career.

If the #Bengals can get competency on Defense, this will be a dangerous team. pic.twitter.com/DS6vQLC2bQ

— 🐅 (@stripe_city) September 30, 2024

Browns vs. Commanders Betting Preview

All Browns vs. Commanders odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Wednesday, Oct. 2.

• Spread
  Commanders -3
• Moneyline
  Browns +140, Commanders -170
• Over/Under
  44.5
• Game Time
   1:00 p.m. ET
• Location
  Northwest Stadium | Landover, MD
• Predicted Weather at Kick
  73 degrees, mostly sunny
• How To Watch
  FOX

The Cleveland Browns head into Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders as +3.5 underdogs, with a 44.5-point total on the line. At 1-3, the Browns could easily have a better record with a bit of luck in recent weeks.

The Commanders, however, are riding high behind rookie sensation Jayden Daniels. The young quarterback has completed 82.1% of his passes for 897 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception while also rushing for 218 yards and four touchdowns. Daniels has brought new life to Washington, but he now faces his toughest test against a physical Browns defense.

Cleveland’s offense, led by Deshaun Watson, has struggled to find its rhythm. A recent loss to the Raiders highlighted their inconsistency, but there’s hope on the horizon with the potential return of star running back Nick Chubb. Chubb, who is expected to come off the PUP list, could immediately boost a Browns offense that needs a spark. Before his 2023 injury, Chubb averaged 6.1 yards per carry, a game-changer when healthy.

But even with Chubb’s return, this Browns offense faces a tough challenge against Dan Quinn’s Commanders defense. While this may be Daniels’ biggest defensive test, Washington’s momentum and Cleveland’s offensive woes leave questions about whether the Browns can keep pace.

Ultimately, the Commanders, with Daniels continuing to impress, seem poised to extend their winning streak, while the Browns will need a near-flawless performance to pull off an upset.

The Prediction: Commanders 23 -Browns 17

Best Bet: Commanders -3

Completion percentage 📈
First downs 📈
Punts 📉 @LRiddickESPN gives Jayden Daniels his flowers after a historic start. #NFLTurningPoint pic.twitter.com/FqRSS21gSg

— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) October 2, 2024

Packers vs. Rams Betting Preview

All Packers vs. Rams odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Wednesday, Oct. 2.

• Spread
  Packers -3
• Moneyline
  Packers -155, Rams +135
• Over/Under
  48.5
• Game Time
   4:25 p.m. ET
• Location
  SoFi Stadium | Inglewood, CA
• Predicted Weather at Kick
  83 degrees, mostly sunny
• How To Watch
  CBS

Jordan Love returned to action last week, rallying the Packers with a strong second-half effort against Minnesota—though it wasn’t enough to avoid a loss. Now, as they head to Los Angeles as road favorites, the question remains: Can Green Bay find a way to bounce back?

Every team deals with injuries, but few have been hit harder than the Rams. Cooper Kupp is sidelined once again, and both Tyler Higbee and Puka Nacua are battling their own ailments, leaving Matthew Stafford with a depleted arsenal. Last week, the Rams managed just 18 points in a six-point loss to the Chicago Bears. Stafford played well but couldn’t find the end zone, throwing for 224 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

Los Angeles’s season has been rough, sitting at 1-3. Their offense is averaging just 18.8 points per game—ranking 22nd in the league—while their defense is giving up a staggering 28.8 points, placing them near the bottom at 31st. Even with so many weapons missing, the Rams will need to find a way to spark an offense that’s struggled to keep pace.

The Packers, despite their ups and downs, are expected to right the ship against a reeling Rams team. But the line isn’t as large as you might expect, suggesting a closer contest. When everyone sees a Packers bounce-back, sometimes the game goes the other way. So, while the odds favor Green Bay, give me Stafford and the Rams to defy expectations and somehow pull out a win.

The Prediction: Rams 27 -Packers 23

Best Bet: Rams +3