NFL Week 5 Spreads, Money Lines and Totals
Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season opens with a Thursday night Prime Video matchup of the Atlanta Falcons hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At first glance, this matchup epitomizes the over-saturation of NFL prime time matchups. Yet the Buccaneers and Falcons could be an entertaining affair. Last year, journeyman QB Baker Mayfield resurrected his career by leading the Buccaneers to a surprise championship in the NFC South. The Buccaneers indeed took advantage of a bad division, but take advantage they did. And Mayfield cashed in with a new $100 million contract.
Meanwhile the Atlanta Falcons continue to take a lot of incoming because of drafting Michael Penix Jr after importing Kirk Cousins to take over as the starting quarterback shortly before that. Atlanta rejected the hire of Bill Belichick and instead hired Raheem Morris, who has a career win percentage of .356. Good luck with that, A-Town.
NFL Betting Lines
NFL Week 5 Schedule
TEAMS ON BYE: Lions, Chargers, Eagles & Titans
Sunday action begins in the morning with an NFL Network matchup from London as the Minnesota Vikings meet the New York Jets. Last year, the Jets had their season ruined before it began when Aaron Rodgers was injured in the first series of the season after months of hype. Rodgers is expected back, but at age 40 and having not played regularly in two years, there are plenty of legitimate questions about his ability to lead the Jets into the playoffs.
The Minnesota Vikings have turned the page from Kirk Cousins, who is now with the Atlanta Falcons. Sam Darnold, the number three overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, is the projected Minnesota starter. Darnold was a backup with the San Francisco 49ers last year. Most gamblers expect the Vikings to struggle to keep pace with the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.
NBC Sunday Night Football will take veteran fans back when the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys and Steelers have met in three previous Super Bowls and were the dominant teams of the 1970s. These days, both franchises are in desperation mode. Pittsburgh is going all in with a quick fix gamble on Russell Wilson, who was a miserable flop as QB of the Denver Broncos in the past two years. Pittsburgh gave up on local hero Kenny Pickett, who was shipped to the Philadelphia Eagles. Justin Fields, who was a first-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears, is now backing up Wilson as the QB of the future.
Mike McCarthy arrived in Dallas in 2020, replacing Jason Garrett. McCarthy has proven to be an upgrade, at least in the regular season. But McCarthy’s teams have faired poorly in the playoffs putting him directly on the hot seat. Owner Jerry Jones is close friends with Bill Belichick and there will be plenty of speculation of a change every time that Dallas loses.
ESPN Monday Night Football brings the New Orleans Saints at the Kansas City Chiefs. Kansas City is ratings gold and will be a solid favorite against a Saints team that has lost its edge ever since Sean Payton bailed as head coach after the retirement of Drew Brees. Former Raider Derek Carr will be under center for the Saints, who finished 9-8 last year as a team that liked to tease fans and gamblers. New Orleans flirted with playoff contention but would not get out of its way.
NFL Schedule
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