We're a month into the NFL season, and we've already had to reevaluate some of our preseason priors.
That process will likely continue in Week 5, as we have quite a few interesting showdowns between playoff contenders. That won't be the case on Thursday night, when the 0-4 Bucs look to get in the win column against the Cowboys, but the Sunday slate has some games of higher import.
The Jaguars head to London as a touchdown favorite to take on what could be a potential sinking ship in the Philadelphia Eagles, while the early afternoon slate features a couple of matchups between potential postseason hopefuls like Vikings-Saints and Colts-Steelers.
The best game of the Sunday slate may be an NFC West showdown between the undefeated San Francisco 49ers
and the defending champion Seattle Seahawks, though the primetime game between the Ravens and a resurgent Falcons team on Sunday night could certainly be interesting as well.
That's also true for the Monday night showdown between the Bills and a Rams team that is a bit of a surprising 2-2 squad a month into the season.
Our panel of experts is back to give you their picks against the spread for every matchup on the Week 5 slate.
All odds via BetMGM
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys (Thursday Night Football)
Opening Line: Cowboys -3.5
Grimes: Bucs +9
Tampa's defense has been solid this year.
Curtis: Buccaneers +9
That is one giant spread for a Cowboys team that can't stop anyone.
Zeglinski: Cowboys -9
I'm hesitant to give the Cowboys' defense this much benefit of the doubt, but man, the vibes around the Buccaneers are RANCID.
D'Andrea: Bucs +9
Todd Bowles' defense is good enough to slow Dak Prescott. Brian Schottenheimer's defense is bad enough to let Jalon Daniels stick around.
Nettuno: Buccaneers +9
The Bucs are bad, but even Jalon Daniels can probably score enough on this defense to cover.
Philadelphia Eagles at Jacksonville Jaguars (in London)
Opening Line: Eagles -1.5
Grimes: Eagles +7.5
Philly is so banged up right now, but this is a lot of points.
Curtis: Eagles +7.5
The Jags are good but the Eagles are good enought to keep this close.
Zeglinski: Jaguars -7.5
The Eagles just traded away their Pro Bowl center the same week their future Hall of Fame right tackle retired. They are going to quit on Sunday and it will not be pretty.
D'Andrea: Eagles +7.5
Too many points!
Nettuno: Eagles +7.5
Jacksonville is the better team right now and probably wins, but this many points make me cautious.
New York Giants at Washington Commanders
Opening Line: Commanders -2.5
Grimes: Giants +3.5
Jayden Daniels gives Washington a good shot to win, but the Giants have good momentum.
Curtis: Giants +3.5
Shouldn't this spread be flipped?
Zeglinski: Commanders -3.5
The Giants are fake good, which means the Commanders are plenty good enough to hang around with them.
D'Andrea: Commanders -3.5
Jayden Daniels returns and gets a Jameis Winston matchup upon arrival? Nice.
Nettuno: Giants +3.5
New York is the better team here? I appreciate the points, I guess.
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans
Opening Line: Texans -3.5
Grimes: Texas -7.5
Can Houston finally get a break?
Curtis: Texans -7.5
A get-right game for a team that needs it.
Zeglinski: Texans -7.5
If DeMeco Ryans' defense can't stop Cam Ward, he should probably just go ahead and deactive his key card by himself to get into Texans headquarters.
D'Andrea: Texans -7.5
This is going to be a gratifying and emphatic first win for Houston.
Nettuno: Texans -7.5
Surely Houston's winless start ends against the hapless Titans. Right?
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints
Opening Line: Vikings -1.5
Grimes: Vikings -2
Brian Flores could give Tyler Shough some trouble.
Curtis: Vikings -2
The Vikes' defense is no joke and their offense can do just enough to win on the road.
Zeglinski: Vikings -2
Not sure what to make of the Vikings just yet but it does seem like the Saints kinda just stink overall.
D'Andrea: Saints +2
New Orleans falls behind early, Tyler Shough rallies late and I continue to be unable to figure out what the Saints are.
Nettuno: Saints +2
Good bounce back opportunity for New Orleans against an offense that has some major problems.
Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins
Opening Line: Bengals -6
Grimes: Bengals -7.5
It sounds like one of Chase or Higgins may have a shot to play. Cincy only needs one to cover.
Curtis: Bengals -7.5
Sorry Fins fans. Doesn't matter that Cincy could be missing its top two wideouts.
Zeglinski: Bengals -7.5
The Dolphins are so bad that I expect Cincy to blow them without both of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
D'Andrea: Bengals -7.5
Even with a banged-up offense, Cincinnati should thrive (and snap a two-game losing streak).
Nettuno: Bengals -7.5
Speaking of bounce backs, the Dolphins are just what the doctor ordered for 2-2 Cincinnati.
Cleveland Browns at New York Jets
Opening Line: Jets -1.5
Grimes: Browns +2
The Browns are playing with confidence.
Curtis: Browns +2
The Browns are actually not a bad team!
Zeglinski: Browns +2
Deep sigh. The Browns are an AFC playoff contender, aren't they?
D'Andrea: Browns +2
A good defense is going to end a very gross Deshaun Watson redemption arc. The Jets do not have a good defense.
Nettuno: Browns +2
Cleveland still isn't getting much respect, huh?
Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers
Opening Line: Steelers -2.5
Grimes: Colts +2.5
I get why Pittsburgh is favored at home, but I'm not totally convinced they're better.
Curtis: Steelers -2.5
A tough spread to figure out, so I'll lean toward the home team.
Zeglinski: Steelers -2.5
Pittsburgh is playing at home and I don't know what the Colts' identity is. They might not even have one.
D'Andrea: Colts +2.5
I hate this line, but I love the odds for "one quarterback runs face first into a strip sack" at +2500.
Nettuno: Colts +2.5
The Colts are far from good, but I think they can score enough to win here.
Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots
Opening Line: Patriots -8.5
Grimes: Patriots -3.5
I believe in whatever is happening in Vegas now, but New England is home and coming off a big win.
Curtis: Patriots -3.5
Last week's win was good for morale. I think they keep it going at home this week.
Zeglinski: Patriots -3.5
The new Raiders are real, but I think the Patriots are feeling themselves a little bit again after winning in Orchard Park.
D'Andrea: Raiders +3.5
Las Vegas is competent enough to keep this close (and has won three straight against New England).
Nettuno: Patriots -3.5
New England continues to get back on track at home this week.
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
Opening Line: Packers -3.5
Grimes: Bears -2.5
Case Keenum, Tyson Bagent, Jim McMahon. Heck, throw me in there. I'm not picking Green Bay.
Curtis: Bears -2.5
Chicago is a darn good squad no matter who is under center.
Zeglinski: Bears -2.5
Forget the uncertainty of Tyson Bagent in Lambeau. Ben Johnson has his guys LATHERED up for this one. There hasn't been a decisive multi-score victory in this rivalry in over three years. I expect Johnson's Bears to change that on Sunday.
D'Andrea: Bears -2.5
I look forward to Green Bay taking a double-digit lead before falling apart in the second half.
Nettuno: Bears -2.5
No matter who is starting at quarterback for the Bears, they may still be the better team.
Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers
Opening Line: Chargers -2.5
Grimes: Broncos -3.5
The Chargers won't catch me lacking again.
Curtis: Broncos -3.5
Can't bet the Chargers until further notice.
Zeglinski: Chargers +3.5
I'm not saying the Chargers are good. I'm saying Bo Nix looks like a mid quarterback ripe to be taken advantage by an 0-4 team desperate for a win.
D'Andrea: Broncos -3.5
Normally this would be a hope-building exercise for a Chargers team that needs to raise its fans expectations before expertly dashing them. But I don't think anyone is stupid enough to have hope in LA this year.
Nettuno: Broncos -3.5
The 0-4 Chargers have to get on the board at some point, but I'm not sure it's coming this week against the Broncos' defense.
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
Opening Line: Seahawks -3.5
Grimes: 49ers +3
I can't in good confidence lay a field goal against San Francisco right now.
Curtis: 49ers +3
I think the Hawks win this one by one.
Zeglinski: 49ers +3
The 49ers are better and I don't even know who's playing running back for the Seahawks right now.
D'Andrea: Seahawks -3
It's all gonna depend on Sam Darnold gettin gback on track, but the Seahawks have the more complete roster.
Nettuno: 49ers +3
I think the defending champs may be a little vulnerable here.
Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals
Opening Line: Lions -8.5
Grimes: Lions -5.5
Detroit will put up some points here.
Curtis: Cardinals +5.5
Seems like the spread's too big for a Lions defense in shambles.
Zeglinski: Lions -5.5
Dan Campbell will want to walk home of his own accord if Detroit can't pummel the lowly Cardinals.
D'Andrea: Lions -5.5
Detroit should be able to outgun Arizona on the road.
Nettuno: Lions -5.5
Detroit's defense is a mess, but its offense can probably still overpower Arizona.
Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons (Sunday Night Football)
Opening Line: Ravens -4.5
Grimes: Ravens +3.5
I think Atlanta wins, but Snoop Huntley has played enough for me to confidently take the points.
Curtis: Ravens +3.5
I love what I see out of Atlanta, but the Ravens can keep up even with Snoop at QB.
Zeglinski: Falcons -3.5
The Falcons seem like they're riding a wave and no Lamar Jackson makes this dicey for Baltimore.
D'Andrea: Falcons -3.5
The Ravens' run defense ranks 24th in the NFL. That's nowhere near as bad as the Saints, but the brothers Robinson (not brothers) should do enough to thrive.
Nettuno: Ravens +3.5
Betting on some regression to the mean for the Falcons after they've looked like the best team in the league in back-to-back weeks.
Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams (Monday Night Football)
Opening Line: Rams -3
Grimes: Bills +3
And they might just win outright.
Curtis: Bills +3
Rams win this one by two.
Zeglinski: Rams -3
Have you SEEN that Bills secondary? Fantasy managers of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams will be over the moon on Monday night.
D'Andrea: Rams -3
Los Angeles finds ways to live up to its potential, typically after you've written it off (see Week 4).
Nettuno: Bills +3
Something just doesn't quite feel right about the Rams.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: NFL picks against the spread for Week 5 from our expert staff
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