Taproom Network

Week five sees two teams on a bye week – the Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) and the Carolina Panthers (2-2). There is also the second of the London Games, as the Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) take on the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1) at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. There are eight games kicking off at 6pm UK time, so let’s get into them…

Las Vegas Raiders (3-1) @ New England Patriots (2-2)

The ‘Tom Brady derby’ sees the Raiders travel to Foxborough to take on the Patriots.

The Raiders lost their last game, and their first real test of the season 30-27 to the Chiefs. It will be important to get back on the winning trail, as after this one, the Raiders have the Bills and the Rams coming to town. The Pats are coming off a great win over a divisional rival, the Bills 29-26, so will want to start a winning run, with the Jets and Dolphins among their opponents over the next three weeks.

Veteran QB Kirk Cousins has been excellent so far this season. He has completed 93 of 144 passes for 1,026 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions. RB Ashton Jeanty, who has been practising with a knee injury, has 78 carries for 264 yards, with 19 receptions for 165 yards and two touchdowns. TE Brock Bowers, who has been limited in practice, also with a knee injury, has only played two games but already has 202 yards on 16 receptions and two touchdowns. WR Tre Tucker also has 233 yards on 15 receptions.

Pats QB Drake Maye, who has been a full participant in practice, despite a shoulder injury, hasn’t lived up to his performances of last season so far. He has completed 73 of 117 passes for 854 yards, four touchdowns, and seven interceptions. RB Rhamondre Stevenson has 44 carries for 163 yards and a touchdown, as well as 12 receptions for 90 yards. WR Romeo Doubs has 12 receptions for 203 yards and two touchdowns, while WR Mack Hollins has 15 receptions for 209 yards.

Who wins and how?

The Patriots have averaged 16 points per game while conceding 19. The Raiders score more, averaging 28, but also concede more at 21. Home advantage is in the Pats’ favour: they beat the Steelers 20-3 in their only home game so far. However, the Raiders’ greater scoring output gives them the edge if New England struggle to keep pace. I think the Raiders win by five points.

Indianapolis Colts (2-2) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2)

The Colts travel to Acrisure Stadium to take on the Steelers in a battle for a leg up in the hunt for the playoffs (yes, I know it’s too early to talk playoffs, but both sides will have hopes of reaching them).

The Colts are on a two-game win streak, having beaten the Texans and the Commanders, while the Steelers lost to the Browns in last week’s TNF game.

Colts QB Daniel Jones has been relying on his RB a lot so far this season. He has completed 84 of 132 passes for 754 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions. RB Jonathan Taylor, who has been rested in practice, has 86 carries for 353 yards and six touchdowns, with TE Tyler Warren getting the receptions with 23 for 130 yards and two touchdowns.

Veteran QB Aaron Rodgers has been his usual self, completing 88 of 153 passes for 999 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions. RB Jaylen Warren has 55 carries for 309 yards, as well as 13 receptions for 143 yards. WRs DK Metcalf and Roman Wilson have been sharing targets, with Metcalf having 16 receptions for 213 yards and a touchdown, and Wilson has 14 receptions for 188 yards and two touchdowns.

Who wins and how?

Both sides sit in the middle of the pack for points scored and conceded. The big thing for the Steelers will be stopping Jonathan Taylor. Pittsburgh have allowed 451 rushing yards on 104 carries, an average of 4.3 yards per attempt, and three rushing touchdowns. Limiting Taylor would put more pressure on Daniel Jones to win the game through the air. Steelers to win by five points.

Chicago Bears (3-1) @ Green Bay Packers (2-2)

This crunch NFC North clash sees the Bears going to Lambeau Field to take on the Packers, where the Bears have only won once in the last ten visits, winning 24-22 back at the end of the 2024 season.

The Bears have won the last two games against the Eagles and the Jets, while the Packers beat the Buccaneers last week, and sit a game back in third behind the Bears.

The Bears have had their issues at QB this season. Caleb Williams returned to limited practice on Friday and is listed as questionable with his hamstring injury, so his availability still needs watching. Tyson Bagent started last week’s win over the Jets. Case Keenum has completed 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns this season, while Bagent has completed 30 of 43 for 322 yards and an interception.

The run game has helped Chicago through those changes. D’Andre Swift has 69 carries for 311 yards and three touchdowns, while Kyle Monangai has 60 carries for 324 yards and three touchdowns. However, Monangai has now been ruled out with a toe injury, taking away a major part of that partnership.

The Packers haven’t had the QB issues their rivals have. QB Jordan Love has completed 87 of 154 passes for 1,041 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions. WR Christian Watson, along with WR Matthew Golden have been the main targets for Love. Watson has 20 receptions for 331 yards and four touchdowns, with Golden having 18 receptions for 274 yards and two touchdowns. Something they need to work on though is the run game, as Love has used three RBs, but all have less than 85 yards each and no touchdowns.

Who wins and how?

The Packers’ run game has been non-existent so far this season, averaging just 58 rushing yards per game. Defensively, they have allowed 139 rushing yards per game and seven touchdowns. Chicago have averaged 196 rushing yards and scored nine touchdowns on the ground, while allowing 102 yards per game and three rushing touchdowns. Monangai’s absence makes the Bears’ task harder, but Green Bay’s difficulty stopping the run still gives Chicago a route to victory. The Packers need to force the Bears to rely on their passing game, whoever starts at quarterback. Bears to win by three points.

Best of the rest…

The Dolphins’ (0-4) struggles continue as the Bengals (2-2) come to town, and I expect the Bengals to win by at least seven points.

The Minnesota Vikings go to New Orleans to take on the Saints, who are ranked last for points allowed per game, while the Vikings are first in the same table. Vikings to win by 10 points.

The Cleveland Browns have been the surprise package this season, winning their last three games, while the New York Jets have lost the last three, and I think their respective streaks continue as the Browns win a close one, by three points.

Two winless teams face off as the Houston Texans make the trip to take on the Tennessee Titans. Both sides concede a few points and don’t score enough, but I see the Texans winning a low scoring game by seven points.

The New York Giants travel to the capital to take on the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium. The Commanders could have starting QB Jayden Daniels back from his elbow injury, while Jameis Winston will be under centre for the Giants. Giants to win by three.

For another angle on Week 5, read my thoughts on when the NFL’s winless and unbeaten runs might end.