The regular season is nearly a quarter of the way done, as Week 4 wrapped up this past Monday. Week 4 had a little bit of everything, setting the stage for a very important Week 5 slate.
But first, let’s go over some of the top stories from Week 4 before getting into a brief Week 5 preview with our expert’s best bets.
Week 4 Storylines
Week 4 started with a divisional battle between the Cowboys and Giants in the Meadowlands and ended with a shootout between the Seahawks and Lions in Detroit. It was a big week for many teams who fought back to an even record after stumbling out of the gate and also saw the end of several teams’ bids for a perfect season.
Only the Chiefs and Vikings remain undefeated heading into Week 5, which has certainly surprised a few people. Let’s dive into the three biggest takeaways from Week 4.
Chiefs lose another playmaker
The Chiefs won in Week 4 to remain undefeated, but at what cost? Patrick Mahomes accidentally took out his best weapon during a block attempt after throwing a pick. Rashee Rice was carted off the field, and the extent of his injury is unknown.
The Chiefs hope it’s not season-ending, but regardless, Patrick Mahomes is now without Rice and Isiah Pacheco for the next few weeks.
Ravens demolish Bills in AFC clash
Sunday Night Football featured the Bills and Ravens in Baltimore for what was expected to be a close and exciting game. Those hopes went out the window very quickly as the Ravens ran all over the Bills. Well, it was mostly Derrick Henry. Henry finished with 199 rushing yards on just 24 carries, and the Ravens went on to win 35-10. So it begs the question: are the Bills good, or did they just have an easy first few weeks?
The Dolphins are in big, big trouble
Tua Tagovailoa went down in Week 2 with a concussion and doesn’t appear close to returning. That gave Skylar Thompson an opportunity in Week 3, but he had to be replaced by Joe Boyle because of a rib injury.
So the Fins turned to Tyler Huntley in Week 4 against the struggling Titans, and Huntley failed to throw for 100 yards as Miami lost by 19. Without Tua, are the Dolphins going to be able to win?
Week 5 Storylines
A lot is happening in Week 5, like the Jets and Vikings playing in London on Sunday morning. But there is plenty more to discuss, like divisional matchups, trade requests, and a surprising contender. Here are the top stories heading into Week 5.
Jets and Vikings in London
The NFL World Tour continues in Week 5 with the Jets and Vikings across the pond in London. This is the second international game of the year and the first of three games in London during the 2024-2025 season. The people of the United Kingdom are in for a treat with Aaron Rodgers and the Jets trying to hand Justin Jefferson and the Vikings their first loss. For the people in America, what’s better than football for breakfast?
Is the Davante Adams era over in Las Vegas?
Tensions are high in Las Vegas after a questionable decision by head coach Antonio Pierce. Pierce liked a picture on Instagram regarding Davante Adams’ time in Las Vegas, and it sparked immediate tension. Adams went public and said he hadn’t communicated with Pierce or the Raiders since then.
Shortly later, Adams requested a trade from the Raiders. His top destinations are to rejoin Derek Carr in New Orleans or Aaron Rodgers in New York. Wouldn’t that be interesting?
Are the Commanders a legitimate threat?
The Commanders spent their #2 pick in the NFL Draft on Jayden Daniels, the reigning Heisman Award winner from LSU. He was seen as the future of the Commanders, but I don’t think anyone expected the future to arrive so quickly.
Daniels has led the Commanders to a 3-1 record with wins over Giants, Bengals, and Cardinals in the last three weeks and has looked like a veteran in the pocket. Their next opponent is the faltering Browns, so could Washington be 4-1 after 5 weeks?
Week 5 best bets
It’s never too early to lock in some Week 5 bets. Our expert has two best bets for this week, which includes a pick for Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football.
Cowboys +2.5 (-110)
This week’s edition of Sunday Night Football takes us to Pittsburgh in a matchup between the Cowboys and Steelers. Pittsburgh comes into this matchup with a better record at 3-1, but the Cowboys have to feel good in this game as underdogs. Dallas is coming off a five-point win over the Giants last week and is on extended rest since it was Thursday Night Football.
Dak Prescott looked solid through the air in that game, as he was 22/27 for 221 yards and 2 touchdowns. On defense, the Cowboys were unbeatable against the run, but their secondary looked shaky. Still, getting points with Dallas feels like value in Week 5. Especially since the Steelers haven’t been tested yet this season. Their four opponents have been the Falcons, Broncos, Chargers and Colts. This could be a serious reality check for Pittsburgh.
Saints +5.5 (-110)
The Saints dominated the Panthers and Cowboys to open the season, but their offensive pace wasn't sustainable. Regression hit them immediately as they scored just 12 points in Week 3 against the Eagles. However, if it wasn’t for Saquon Barkley ripping off several massive runs in the 4th quarter, the Saints would have won the game. New Orleans went on to suffer back-to-back defeats as they came up 2 points short against the Falcons in Week 4.
Even with two losses in two weeks, I’m not jumping off the Saints bandwagon yet. Their defense has been elite, as they have allowed the 7th fewest rushing yards per game this season. Plus, Derek Carr has looked fantastic in the pocket, and Alvin Kamara has been the MVP of everyone’s fantasy team.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs just lost Rashee Rice and will be without Isiah Pacheco again, leaving Patrick Mahomes with Travis Kelce, Carson Steele and Xavier Worthy. I expected this spread to be closer to a field goal, so take the 5.5 points and run before the oddsmakers adjust the line.
