NFL: Week Five preview – Copybet
Week 4 of the NFL season saw dramatic finishes in London, a shootout in Baltimore and a statement win for the Los Angeles Rams over the previously-undefeated Indianapolis Colts.
Four teams are on a bye this week, but there should be no shortage of fireworks as divisional races heat up and contenders look to separate from the pack.
Thursday’s spotlight falls on SoFi Stadium, where the Los Angeles Rams host the San Francisco 49ers in a pivotal NFC West clash.
London’s first NFL game of the year kicks off Sunday’s slate while Monday Night Football sees the Kansas City Chiefs travel to Jacksonville.
Here are our best bets for Week 5.
San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams
Thursday Night Football kicks off with a battle of 3-1 teams in the NFC West.
The Rams have won three straight against the 49ers and looked dominant in last week’s win over Indianapolis, with Matthew Stafford throwing for 375 yards and three scores.
San Francisco are coming off a 26-21 loss to Jacksonville and have injury concerns at quarterback and running back. Brock Purdy is questionable, and Christian McCaffrey was bottled up for just 49 yards last week.
LA’s defence ranks top-10 in yards per play and has allowed just 98.5 rushing yards per game. This matchup could be ripe for Stafford and Puka Nacua to exploit a vulnerable 49ers secondary and cover the spread.
Minnesota Vikings vs Cleveland Browns
The Vikings make the short trip from Dublin to London with their heads held high after rallying from a 21-6 deficit to force a nail-biting conclusion at Croke Park.
They remain beset by injuries but should be able to cope against a Browns team that’s struggled to find any offensive rhythm.
Cleveland are averaging just 14 points per game and have yet to score more than 20 in a single outing. Minnesota, meanwhile, have Justin Jefferson back to full fitness and Carson Wentz settling in nicely under center.
The Browns’ defence has been solid, but fatigue and transatlantic travel could be big factors at play. The Vikings are 7-1 in international games and should bounce back with a comfortable win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
New York Giants vs New Orleans Saints
The Giants are riding high after a home victory over the Los Angeles Chargers and now face a winless Saints team on the road.
A couple of exciting rookies took centre stage for Big Blue last week with quarterback Jaxson Dart thrilling the fans at MetLife Stadium on his first NFL start and young running back Cameron Skattebo showing plenty of promise too.
But winning on the road, and particularly in a noisy dome like the one in New Orleans, is a different story and may be beyond the Giants at this stage of their rebuilding process.
The Saints may rank a lowly 22nd for total offence, but they can play stout defense and were not far away from beating the 49ers at home last month.
Kansas City Chiefs vs Jacksonville Jaguars
Kansas City evened their record at 2-2 with a commanding 37-20 victory over the Ravens, led by a vintage Patrick Mahomes performance. Meanwhile, Jacksonville pulled off a surprise road win, edging the 49ers 26-21 in Santa Clara.
The Jaguars’ resurgence has been fuelled by dominant offensive line play, consistently winning at the line of scrimmage. Their front five have provided Trevor Lawrence with a clean pocket and paved the way for a top-tier rushing attack.
They’ll need to maintain that level - or raise it - to keep pace with the Chiefs.
With Mahomes heating up and both teams capable of explosive plays, the 46-point total could be in danger. The over has cashed in two of Jacksonville’s last three outings, and this matchup has all the ingredients for another high-scoring affair.