The New England Patriots will try to kick-start their first win streak of the season on Sunday. Hosting the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium, they hope to add a second straight victory after beating the Bills last week. Doing so would improve their record to 3-2 on the year.
Theirs is only one of 15 games to be played in Week 5. Here is who to root for in the other 14.
Sunday
9:30 a.m. ET
Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1): Go Eagles! The Jaguars hold the head-to-head advantage over the Patriots,
meaning that New England will need to win at least one more game to finish ahead of Jacksonville in the standings. A loss against an NFC team is therefore very welcome. | NFL Network
1 p.m. ET
Chicago Bears (3-1) at Green Bay Packers (2-2): Go good game! As previously mentioned, the fifth-round pick obtained by Garrett Bradbury is not really a factor here given that the higher of the Patriots’ two selections will eventually transfer to Philadelphia via the A.J. Brown trade. And with both teams on the Patriots schedule as well, it really matters little who wins this one. | FOX
Cincinnati Bengals (2-2) at Miami Dolphins (0-4): Go Dolphins! The Dolphins are one of the worst teams in the NFL, and them making any playoff noise seems unlikely even at this point. Therefore, rooting for them over a potential direct playoff competitor makes the most sense in this matchup even if it seems counterintuitive at first glance. | FOX
Cleveland Browns (3-1) at New York Jets (1-3): Go Jets! Different teams, same scenario as with the Bengals-Dolphins game. | CBS
Minnesota Vikings (4-0) at New Orleans Saints (1-3): Go Vikings! Not only will a Minnesota win improve the Patriots’ strength of schedule, it also could help push the Saints’ sixth-round draft pick obtained from the Ja’Lynn Polk trade closer to the top of the round. | FOX
Indianapolis Colts (2-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2): Go Steelers! Somebody has to win this one, so it might just be the team we know has a head-to-head disadvantage against the Patriots in the playoff picture. | CBS
Houston Texas (0-4) at Tennessee Titans (0-4): Go Titans! The Texans are on the brink of their season slipping away, which would be good news for the Patriots: they own their sixth-round draft pick from the Marte Mapu trade. | CBS
New York Giants (3-1) at Washington Commanders (1-3): Go good game! This all-NFC East matchup matters little from a Patriots perspective. | FOX
4:05 p.m. ET
Denver Broncos (2-2) at Los Angeles Chargers (0-4): Go Chargers! It’s quite simple: worse-ranked AFC West team over better-ranked AFC West team. | CBS
4:25 p.m. ET
Detroit Lions (2-2) at Arizona Cardinals (1-3): Go Lions! It’s all about. the Patriots’ strength of schedule with this one. They will play the Lions in Munich next month. | FOX
San Francisco 49ers (4-0) at Seattle Seahawks (3-1): Go Seahawks! Once again, strength of schedule decides who to root for here. | FOX
8:20 p.m. ET
Baltimore Ravens (3-1) at Atlanta Falcons (2-2): Go Falcons! The classic NFC over AFC battle. | NBC
Monday
8:15 p.m. ET
Buffalo Bills (3-1) at Los Angeles Rams (2-2): Go Rams! There is a scenario that, if both the Patriots’ own game and this one go as planned that New England takes the lead in the AFC East on Monday night. | ESPN/ABC
The following games have already been played:
Thursday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-4) at Dallas Cowboys (2-3) | TB 24, DAL 16
