Week 4 of the NFL season came and went, and took with it a few key star players. In Miami, the Dolphins handled the Jets easily, but it came at a cost as they lost veteran wideout Tyreek Hill for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, the Giants couldn’t fully enjoy Jaxson Dart’s pro debut as their victory was of the “Pyrrhic” variety with the season-ending knee injury suffered by their superstar wideout, Malik Nabers. In Kansas City, Lamar Jackson went down with a hamstring injury against the Chiefs and will be on the shelf for the Ravens for the next 2-4 weeks. Let’s take a look at how these and some other injuries around the league will affect their respective teams. We run down a week 5 slate that will be without the Falcons, Packers, Steelers, and Bears as we enter the first of this season’s bye weeks.
San Francisco 49ers @ L.A. Rams (-6.5)
The Rams host their division rivals on the Thursday Night game this week after handing Daniel Jones and the Colts their first loss of the young season. The 49ers limp into SoFi Stadium after a rough Week 4 loss to Jacksonville that included Brock Purdy reaggravating his turf toe injury and both Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings leaving the contest with injuries of their own. The short week typically favors the team with more talent on the field. Ironically, Christian McCaffrey is the only 49er that is fully healthy heading into this matchup, and that just isn’t going to be enough to keep pace with Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and company.
Rams 26 – 49ers 16
Minnesota Vikings @ Cleveland Browns (+3.5)
Minnesota will remain in the U.K. as they come off a week 4 loss at the hands of Pittsburgh in Dublin, Ireland. This week, they will be the road team in London as they take on the Browns defense and whichever uninspiring quarterback coach Stephanski decides to play. Carson Wentz will likely get another start for the Vikings, as J.J. McCarthy continues to rehab from an ankle injury sustained in week 2. Check updates, but it makes the most sense for McCarthy to take the extra week off, as Minnesota will have their bye in week 6. Expect the second-year QB to be back under center in week 7 when they host the defending champion, Eagles, at U.S. Bank Stadium. In this matchup, expect a low-scoring affair as both teams have very capable defenses. The Browns D is just smothering teams right now, and if they can control the ball, they have a great chance at pulling out the victory. Look for Quinshon Judkins to have a better day for Cleveland than Jordan Mason will be able to have for Minnesota as the Browns pull out a close one.
Browns 19 – Vikings 17
Houston Texans @ Baltimore Ravens (+2.5)
Lamar Jackson’s injury has definitely had an effect on how we’re looking at this game. The Ravens open up as an underdog at home to a previously winless Texans team that managed a 26-0 victory over Tennessee in week 4. That game was closer than the score appears, and Houston is by no means a team I would be comfortable backing on the road. Jackson’s injury is concerning, but the injuries on defense are even more of an issue for a Baltimore team that has been allowing well over 30 points per week. If you take out the one game that they played against Joe Flacco, that number is closer to 40. Houston may have found something in rookie RB Woody Marks, and their defense should be able to corral Derrick Henry for the most part. If fullback Patrick Ricard is able to make it back, the Ravens may be able to pull this out by just smashing the rock all game, but it seems he’s still at least a week away
Texans 19 – Ravens 16
New York Giants @ New Orleans Saints (-1.5)
When the schedules are released, most fans go through the games and circle the ones they feel like will be easy victories. For these two franchises, this is a game that both fan bases likely circled in hopes they would be able to lock down one of their few victories this season. The Giants shocked the world last week by knocking off the Chargers in Jaxson Dart’s pro debut. For the Saints, it was business as usual as they couldn’t keep up with the Bills for a full 4 quarters. This game will come down to which team makes the fewest mistakes and can get off to the best start. The Saints will be relying on their home crowd in what might be the last game before the paper bags come out in full force. It should be close, but we’re going with the home team.
Saints 23 – Giants 20
Denver Broncos @ Philadelphia Eagles (-3.5)
The Eagles just keep on rolling along, somehow. They aren’t doing it with style, but they just keep piling up the W’s. This past week, they were able to defeat the Bucs in Tampa without completing a pass in the second half of the game. The Broncos look like things are coming together as Bo Nix and the Denver backfield tandem of JK Dobbins and RJ Harvey looked great on Monday night. While we should temper expectations as the Bengals aren’t exactly a powerhouse, it still feels like Denver has things going in the right direction. The Denver D will make it tough for Jalen Hurts and Saquon, and I’m putting the Eagles on upset alert this week. I’m expecting a low-scoring, close game with Denver pulling it out in the end.
Broncos 20 – Eagles 19
Dallas Cowboys @ New York Jets (+2.5)
Both of these teams have looked like a mess so far this season. The Cowboys have been so bad that last week’s tie at home against the Packers seemed like a Herculean feat. The Jets just kept shooting themselves in the foot with dumb penalties and turnovers as they fell to the Dolphins to remain winless on the season. The Jets have too much talent on this roster to go winless the whole season, and Dallas isn’t a team that should be laying points on the road. I’m not sure if Justin Fields is the right QB to take advantage of the Cowboys leaky secondary, but the Jets will score enough and control the clock enough to win this game. All they have to do is not turn the ball over. Easy, right? We’ll see.
Jets 31 – Cowboys 27
Las Vegas Raiders @ Indianapolis Colts (-6.5)
The Colts dropped their first game of the young season in LA last week and now return home to face a Raiders team that fell at home against Chicago. The Raiders wasted Ashton Jeanty’s coming-out party as they were unable to connect on a game-winning field goal as time expired. The Colts have looked great in 4 games so far in 2025, and Daniel Jones has been the main reason. Laying 6.5 at home seems a bit rich as the Colts haven’t exactly locked down opposing run games so far. Geno Smith has been up and down, and if the pattern continues, this should be an “up” game. I can’t see the Raiders making the trip from Vegas to Indy and winning outright, but they will keep the game close. Look for Jonathan Taylor to get back on track and post 100+ yards.
Colts 28 – Raiders 26
Miami Dolphins @ Carolina Panthers (+1.5)
Here’s another matchup of two teams competing for a top draft pick next year. Miami got their first win of the year on Monday night, but that win cost them Tyreek Hill. The Panthers followed up their shocking 30-0 win over Atlanta with an absolute dud in New England, losing 42-13. This game can honestly be anything from a shootout to a 3-3 tie. It just feels like both teams are rudderless, and whichever team manages to win this game will likely regret it come draft season. The Panthers feel like a team that can make a good thing turn into a bad thing, so we’re backing them to pull this one out. Watch for Malik Washington to be more involved with the Dolphins passing attack, while Tetairoa McMillan should get into the end zone for the first time in his career for the Panthers.
Panthers 17 – Dolphins 16
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Seattle Seahawks (-3.5)
This is an interesting matchup between two 3-1 teams. Baker Mayfield has been great so far this season as he’s been working without all-pro lineman Tristan Wirfs and various missing receivers. This week, things may get even tougher as Bucky Irving was dinged up last week and may miss this contest. The Seahawks are basically healthy on offense as they got Zach Charbonnet back last week alongside Kenneth Walker in their backfield behind Sam Darnold. Darnold has been fantastic, getting the ball to Jaxon Smith-Njigba regularly. The home crowd should make things tough for Baker and the Bucs, as Seattle should be able to take advantage of the Tampa secondary.
Seahawks 27 – Bucs 23
Tennessee Titans @ Arizona Cardinals (-7.5)
The Titans had the first pick in last year’s draft, and the way things are going, they may make it two years in a row. It really seems like a coaching issue thus far, as their talent just isn’t this bad. Cam Ward has really struggled so far, and there are some questions as to his ability to truly read defenses. While he’s learning the game at the pro level, it’s surprising they haven’t allowed him to use his legs more to possibly open things up for Tony Pollard. The Cardinals haven’t looked especially crisp yet this year, and while they should be able to win this game at home, they just aren’t good enough to be favored by more than a TD against anybody. These games can get away late, but I expect Tennessee to keep it close in the desert.
Cardinals 23 – Titans 19
Washington Commanders @ L.A. Chargers (-3.5)
Both teams are coming off close losses on the road in week 4. They dropped their respective games as road favorites and will try and regroup in week 5 as they travel to the West Coast for this late window matchup. The Commanders should be getting back both Jayden Daniels and Terry McClaurin in a game they must win to stay above .500 and maintain any hopes of competing for the NFC East top spot. The Chargers were dealt a tough blow as they lost left tackle Joe Alt for at least a few weeks with a high ankle sprain. Alt had slid over from right tackle right before the season opener after pro bowler Rashan Slater was lost for the season. Justin Herbert will have to figure out a way to get the ball out quickly, as he will be without his top two protectors in what should be a very tough matchup. We’ve liked a lot of underdogs so far this week, and this game is no different. Take the Commanders for the upset.
Commanders 24 – Chargers 20
Detroit Lions @ Cincinnati Bengals (+9.5)
Joe Burrow, where have you gone? That’s been the general sentiment of most Bengals fans, as well as Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and anybody who drafted Bengals players on their fantasy teams. The sad truth is, Joe is gone, and he’s likely not coming back in time to save this season. The Lions have just too much firepower against this already weak Cincy defense for this game to have any chance of being competitive. Crazier things have happened, but I’m expecting Detroit to hang a fat number on the scoreboard, and anything over 14 seems to be too much for Jake Browning and the Bengals right now.
Lions 41 – Bengals 12
New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills (-7.5)
The Bills are the class of the AFC right now after 4 weeks. This will be a good test for both teams as the Pats hope to compete for a playoff spot while Buffalo will try to keep it rolling towards a 1 seed for the playoffs. Drake Maye has looked very good, and Stephon Diggs had a little coming-out party last week as New England had their way with the hapless Panthers. The Bills defense can be run on, and we expect both Rhomandre Stephenson and Trevyeon Henderson to get plenty of touches on Sunday Night. The Patriots will have to play a perfect game to keep it close, and that might be a bit too much to ask of Maye and company in the hostile environment of Highmark Stadium. Josh Allen and James Cook should be able to pace the Buffalo offense in a game that might be a little closer than the spread suggests.
Bills 30 – Patriots 24
Kansas City Chiefs @ Jacksonville Jaguars (+3.5
The 3-1 team is a home underdog to the 2-2 team? It actually makes sense when you look at who these teams have played so far, but the Jags shouldn’t be taken lightly. Their defense has been flying all over the field, and they have been turning over opponents with abandon as they lead the league in takeaways after 4 weeks. Patrick Mahomes got one of his big weapons back last week as Xavier Worthy was able to suit up and torch the Ravens with 121 total yards on 5 catches and 2 carries. The Chiefs should be able to muddle through this game if they can keep Travis Ettiene in check. Look for the KC defense to turn over Trevor Lawrence at least once and pull out a close win on the road.
Chiefs 24 – Jaguars 22
