TeamFB7 has thoughts and predictions for every game on the Week 5 NFL slate.
The NFC West was the best division in football last year, and it might just be even better in 2026.
In our latest NFL Power Rankings, the San Francisco 49ers (No. 2), Seattle Seahawks (3) and Los Angeles Rams (4) held three of the top four spots.
Which makes the 49ers’ clash with the Seahawks in Seattle on Sunday afternoon the biggest game of the week — even bigger arguably than a potential Super Bowl preview with the Buffalo Bills visiting the Rams on Monday night.
The margin for error in the NFC West is so slim and divisional battles like this so pivotal to the big picture.
Last year, the Seahawks and 49ers played in Week 18 with the NFC’s No. 1 seed on the line. Seattle won 13-3, enjoyed the bye week to start the playoffs, beat the ailing Niners again in the divisional round (41-6 that time) and then took on the Rams in the NFC championship game.
It felt in the moment, and even more so in retrospect, that whoever won that NFC title match would likely win the Super Bowl. The Seahawks prevailed 31-27 and indeed went on to win it all two weeks later.
Meanwhile, MVP Matthew Stafford and the Rams were left feeling they came that close to potentially winning another ring if not for a muffed punt in the third quarter leading to a Seattle TD that changed the complexion of the game.
Might that one have gone differently if the Rams had secured home-field advantage?
That’s why the NFC South race is so compelling again this year — because the stakes of each of these inter-division matchups feels real, even in mid October.
So while Bills-Rams could well be a Super Bowl matchup, 49ers-Seahawks is our game of the week Sunday.
The 49ers (4-0) are one of just three undefeated teams left in the NFL (along with the Chiefs and Vikings). The Seahawks (3-1) probably should be in that group but they stumbled to a stunning 33-31 loss at Washington against Commanders backup QB Marcus Mariota in Week 3.
That was QB Sam Darnold’s first game back from a glute injury, and despite throwing for 379 yards and 4 TDs he also threw 2 INTs — including a decisive pick-6 late.
Darnold then threw for just 168 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT in a 30-23 win over the Chargers last week, so he’ll need to be sharper moving forward for Seattle. The ceiling will always be high for the Seahawks’ passing offense, though, with reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba after to another blazing start with 32 catches for 481 yards (second-most in the league entering the week) and 6 TDs.
On the other side, San Francisco’s Brock Purdy is playing as well as any QB in the league with 1,007 passing yards, 11 TDs and 1 INT. In fact, Purdy is off to a historically great start despite weathering mounting injuries to the WR corps with prized free agent Mike Evans (17 catches for 213 yards and 2 TDs) playing through a painful injury to his ribs and TE George Kittle (16-244-4) surprising being the team’s top target in his remarkably quick return from a torn Achilles sustained last January.
If San Francisco wins this one, having already beaten the Rams, the 49ers could be in the driver’s seat for the NFC’s No. 1 seed with a two-game lead in the division.
Or, a Seahawks win levels the field in the NFC West and sets up one heckuva race the rest of the way.
As for our prediction for this game, it’s down below …
(All game times are ET; all point spreads via DraftKings Sportsbook)
Thursday Night Result
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24, Dallas Cowboys 16: Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and a TD while Bucky Irving rushed for his most yards since 2024, racking up 165 and a TD to down the Cowboys. Dallas dropped to 2-3 while the Bucs scored their first win of the season. We had many more thoughts on it all here.
Sunday
9:30 A.M. In London
Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1): In Progress
1 P.M.
Chicago Bears (3-1) at Green Bay Packers (2-2): Ben Johnson has had a different starting QB in each of the Bears’ wins, but he’ll try to double up Sunday with backup Tyson Bagent making what is likely his final start before the return of injured starter Caleb Williams. The Bears leaned heavy on their rushing attack last week to beat the Jets, but after a career-best performance (146 rushing yards and 2 TDs) Kyle Monangai is now sidelined by a turf toe injury. Just when it looked like D’Andre Swift’s fumbling may cost him opportunities in the backfield, the Bears should be leaning heavily on him Sunday. The Packers, meanwhile, are just a mess in general with two three-point wins over the lowly Jets and Buccaneers and a lot of disappointment otherwise as coach Matt LaFleur’s seat heats up. Chicago is a 1.5-point favorite. This is huge game for LaFleur and Green Bay, and it’s a good reminder not to assume anything in rivalry matchups. Prediction: Packers 23, Bears 21
Houston Texans (0-4) at Tennessee Titans (0-4): Only one 0-4 team has ever made the NFL playoffs — the 1992 Chargers — and the Titans certainly won’t be the next to pull off the feat. But the Texans are hoping they can be. Houston overcame an 0-3 start last year to make it all the way to the divisional round and will try to start another season-long rally Sunday vs. overmatched second-year QB Cam Ward (726 passing yards, 3 TDs and 2 INTs in four games) and the hapless Titans. Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans is taking over defensive play-calling duties after the Texans once-vaunted defense has regressed mightily while giving up the fifth-most points in the league so far at 27.3 per game. This is a good week to reset as Tennessee ranks dead-last offensively at 261.3 YPG and second to last at 13.8 PPG. Houston is a 6.5-point favorite. Prediction: Texans 28, Titans 14
Cincinnati Bengals (2-2) at Miami Dolphins (0-4): WRs Ja’Marr Chase (concussion protocol) and Tee Higgins (groin/neck) are both expected to play for the Bengals. That’s a boost to QB Joe Burrow and bad news for a Dolphins team that scores the fewest points in the league (11.5 per game). Miami QB Malik Willis has thrown for just 712 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs in four games. Cincinnati is a 7-point favorite. Prediction: Bengals 31, Dolphins 13
Las Vegas Raiders (3-1) at New England Patriots (2-2): Nobody told first-year head coach Klint Kubiak that this was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Raiders or veteran QB Kirk Cousins that he was merely meant as a stop-gap solution until top draft pick Ferenando Mendoza is ready. Las Vegas took its first loss last week, but it was a competitive 30-27 defeat to the unbeaten Chiefs. Cousins has passed for 1,126 yards, 11 TDs and 4 INTs. The Raiders are hoping that RB Ashton Jeanty (ankle/foot) is able to play Sunday. Meanwhile, the Patriots are hoping that their win over the Bills last week was a turning point in a season that got off to a rocky start. Drake Maye played his best game — rather, his first good game — of the season while throwing for 269 yards, 3 TDs and an INT along with 54 rushing yards. But he still has just 4 TDs to 7 INTs this year and needs to build some positive momentum. This is a very important game for the Patriots on multiple levels. New England is a 3.5-point favorite. Prediction: Patriots 27, Raiders 20
Minnesota Vikings (4-0) at New Orleans Saints (3-1): Based on records, this looks like a mismatch, but not so fast. The Saints’ weakness has been on defense as they’re giving up the most points in the league (32.0 per game). Well, the Vikings have one of the worst offenses in football and may not be equipped to fully take advantage of the matchup. Minnesota ranks 31st offensively at 262.8 YPG, albeit more middle of the pack in scoring at 21.5 PPG. QB Kyler Murray hasn’t found his footing yet after a Week 1 concussion with 433 passing yards, 1 TD and 2 INT in 2.5 games overall. But star WR Justin Jefferson (ankle) is back this week, which should help. What Minnesota does very well is play defense, giving up the fourth-fewest yards (289.3/game) and fewest points (12.8/game). New Orleans has been a fun team offensively with second-year QB Tyler Shough (1,203 yard, 9 TDs, 3 INTs) and Chris Olave (35 receptions for 491 yards and 1 TD) forming a potent tandem. This is an oddly compelling matchup as it stacks up. Minnesota is a 1.5-point favorite. Prediction: Saints 26, Vikings 24
Cleveland Browns (3-1) at New York Jets (1-3): Deshaun Watson and the Browns have won three straight games, exceeding all expectations so far. Can they keep it going? New York has looked more competitive at times this season but not so much last week in giving up 492 yards (232 rushing yards) to the Bears and their backup QB while scoring a season-low 12 points. New York is a 2.5-point favorite. Prediction: Jets 23, Brown 19
Indianapolis Colts (2-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2): The Colts have won two straight since an 0-2 start (with one of those losses coming in OT to the Chiefs). Shane Steichen has done one of the better coaching jobs of the season so far with a pretty underwhelming roster, especially with QB Daniel Jones throwing for just 754 yards, 3 TDs and 4 INTs so far in his return from a torn Achilles. Expect the Colts to continue to lean heavily on Jonathan Taylor (353 rushing yards, 6 TDs). For Pittsburgh, the storyline of the week is whether QB Aaron Rodgers and coach Mike McCarthy can get their reunion in sync and looking more like their days in Green Bay. They were sniping at each other throughout a 27-24 loss to the Browns in Week 4. Pittsburgh is a 3-point favorite. Prediction: Steelers 24, Colts 20
New York Giants (3-1) at Washington Commanders (1-3): QB Jayden Daniels is back for Washington after missing just two games with his latest left elbow dislocation. The 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year will look to spark at a Commanders team already at a season crossroads with a 1-3 start. The Giants have been a surprise at 3-1, meanwhile, despite losing starting QB Jaxson Dart for the season. Backup Jameis Winston came to life a bit last week with 250 yards, 3 TDs and 2 INTs while getting star receiver Malik Nabers going with 6 catches for 112 yards and a TD. Washington is a 3.5-point favorite. Prediction: Commanders 26, Giants 24
4:05/4:25 P.M.
Denver Broncos (2-2) at Los Angeles Chargers (0-4): This has been a nightmare season for the Chargers, who are not just winless but are again down both offensive tackles as Joe Alt (neck) and Rashawn Slater (high-ankle sprain) are out after the team lost starting center Tyler Biadasz in the preseason. They’ll be starting four rookies on the offensive line today in front of QB Justin Herbert, who is already off to the worst start of his career (814 passing yards, 4 TDs and 6 INTs). Denver has had its struggles offensively as well, ranking 28th offensively at 280.3 YPG and 27th in scoring at 18.5 PPG, with head coach Sean Payton reclaiming play-calling duties this week. The bigger concern for the Broncos in Week 5 is that starting cornerbacks Pat Surtain II (ankle) and Riley Moss (ribs) have both been ruled out for this game. Denver is a 3.5-point favorite. Prediction: Broncos 27, Chargers 20
Detroit Lions (2-2) at Arizona Cardinals (1-3): The Lions have been far and away the worst defensive team in the NFL, giving up 423.8 YPG and 31.8 PPG (second-worst behind the Saints). And the Cardinals are well-equipped enough offensively to take advantage of that with Jacoby Brissett (818 yards, 6 TDs and 4 INTs) surrounded by a decent cast of playmakers in WR Michael Wilson (25-258-1) and TE Trey McBride (33-242-2) while rookie RB Jeremiyah Love is finding footing in the NFL (223 rushing yards and 1 TD). But this might as well be a must-win game for the Lions given their remaining schedule and their expectations for this season. Jahmyr Gibbs has been one of the best players in the league so far with 353 rushing yards, 187 receiving yards and 7 total TDs while Amon-Ra St. Brown is as steady as any WR in the NFL (31-303-5). Detroit is a 5.5-point favorite. Prediction: Lions 33, Cardinals 30
San Francisco 49ers (4-0) at Seattle Seahawks (3-1): We covered this game up top — it’s a pivotal one in the NFL’s best division and one of the two biggest games on the Week 5 slate. Seattle is a 3-point favorite. Prediction: Seahawks 27, 49ers 21
8:20 P.M.
Baltimore Ravens (3-1) at Atlanta Falcons (2-2): Star QB Lamar Jackson is out for Baltimore with an ankle injury, meaning backup Tyler Huntley will fill in. The Ravens were a shell of themselves last year when Huntley played in place of Jackson, so the onus will be on RB Derrick Henry (374 rushing yards and 7 TDs) to carry the load for Baltimore. This is a bad matchup for the Ravens to have with Jackson sidelined, as the Falcons have been the highest-scoring team in the league the last two weeks since Michael Penix Jr. returned at QB. Not that it’s been Penix necessarily leading the way, but the upgrade at QB from third-stringer Cooper Rush has opened things up for RB Bijan Robinson (494 rushing yards, 120 receiving yards and 5 TDs) and WR Drake London (20-370). Atlanta is a 3-point favorite. Prediction: Falcons 31, Ravens 24
Monday Night Football (8:15 P.M.)
Buffalo Bills (3-1) at Los Angeles Rams (2-2): A potential Super Bowl matchup in Week 5! The Bills are coming off their first loss of the season, at home vs. the Patriots, and concerns about Buffalo’s defense are mounting. The Bills rank 25th in scoring defense (26.8 PPG) and are now going against a potent Rams offense that was the best in the NFL last year with MVP QB Matthew Stafford and is back to full-strength now with WR Puka Nacua making his return last week (9 catches for 125 yards and a rushing TD). Buffalo may well need MVP-level Josh Allen in this one. Allen has cooled a bit from his strong start with 3 INTs and just 1 passing TD (but 3 rushing TDs) over the last two games. Overall, he’s thrown for 1,039 yards, 6 TDs and 3 INTs while rushing for 118 yards and 7 scores. He may be without his top wideout as DJ Moore (shoulder) is listed as questionable, but third-year WR Keon Coleman had a breakout game last week with 6 catches for 116 yards and a TD and RB James Cook remains at the peak of his powers this season (421 rushing yards and 3 TDs on 6.0 YPC). This is as good a primetime matchup as it gets. Los Angeles is a 3-point favorite. Prediction: Rams 31, Bills 29
