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Free NFL betting picks for every Week 5 matchup in 2025. Expert analysis and predictions for NFL Week 5. Who should you bet in Week 5? Analysis for every game on the slate.
Week 4 of NFL season is now in the books, and with it came a string of injuries, most notably to superstar Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson, as well as elite receivers Malik Nabers and Tyreek Hill.
Speaking of injuries, the Week 5 slate kicks off with a divisional matchup between the Rams and 49ers with San Francisco expected to be down multiple starters.
From the good to the bad, the ugly, and the injured, we'll dive into all the unique spots on this slate, as we go through every Week 5 game in this article, offering picks, predictions, and analysis for each and every one. Thanks for joining us here at RotoBaller; let's dive in!
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Los Angeles Rams 27, San Francisco 49ers 20 (Thursday Night)
In what seems like an annual rite of passage at this point, the Niners enter this one as an extremely injury-plagued squad. Quarterback Brock Purdy returned in the team's Week 4 loss to the Jaguars, but didn't look completely healthy, and Mac Jones will get the start in this Thursday night divisional clash against the 3-1 L.A. Rams.
Brock Purdy (toe), Ricky Pearsall (knee), Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs) are out Thursday night vs. the Rams.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 1, 2025
In addition to Purdy, San Fran remains without George Kittle, Nick Bosa, and Brandon Aiyuk, while both Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall have been ruled out for Week 5. The experienced Rams are a tough opponent for a team at full-strength, and a road win on a short week is a big ask of a depleted Niners squad that's been surviving, not thriving, through the first month of the season.
Minnesota Vikings 17, Cleveland Browns 13 (International Series - London)
If the first month of the season has taught us anything, it's that this Vikings squad is going to be largely unpredictable. That's largely due to the ongoing issues at the QB position, and it will again be Carson Wentz under center for this Week 5 matchup against the Browns in London.
Cleveland has had their own quarterback issues, and will make the switch to Dillon Gabriel this week. The decision to toss a rookie QB into the fire against Brian Flores' exotic defensive scheme is an interesting one - even if this abysmal Browns offense is in desperate need of a spark. Look for the Minnesota defensive to create confusion for Gabriel, which could lead to some game-changing mistakes in what should be a low-scoring affair.
Dallas Cowboys 31, New York Jets 27
Though there are no moral victories in the NFL, Dallas will likely take some positives from Sunday night's 40-40 tie against the heavily-favored Green Bay Packers. Even without CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys racked up 436 yards in Week 4, and lead the league with an average of 413.0 total yards per game.
They'll travel to New York to face a Jets squad that's had trouble slowing down any opponents through the first month of the season. Gang Green has coughed up an average of 30 points per game, as first-year head coach Aaron Glenn has yet to see his defensive scheme take hold with this group.
While the Jets offense has been far from good, Justin Fields and company should be able to keep this one close against a Cowboys defense that ranks dead last in the NFL in total yards allowed per game.
Philadelphia Eagles 23, Denver Broncos 20
While the Eagles are one of just two remaining undefeated teams in the NFL, it still doesn't feel like the Birds have hit full flight yet, as they've been content to win by any means necessary over a list of stout opponents. Things don't get any easier for the defending Super Bowl champs in Week 5, as they host the upstart Denver Broncos.
Denver's most recent win - a 28-3 domination of the Bengals on Monday Night Football - was their most impressive of the season. Close losses to the Colts and Chargers have landed them with a middling 2-2 record, but Sean Payton's team is a talented one that has the tools needed to compete with Philadelphia. I expect a hard-fought, competitive game, the type that the experienced Eagles have proven they can win.
Baltimore Ravens 21, Houston Texans 20
One of the biggest stories of the week is Lamar Jackson's health, and with him doubtful as of this writing, we'll assume Baltimore's superstar QB won't suit up for this Week 5 matchup with the Houston Texans.
Ravens HC John Harbaugh on Lamar Jackson’s injury:
“How about we just leave it alone.”
HC Harbaugh visibly frustrated that reporters kept questioning Jackson’s injury status.
Time is ticking in Baltimore, and the tension is visible. pic.twitter.com/qvxSfePNEn
— Ravens Nation 𝙇𝙄𝙑𝙀 (@LIVERavenNation) October 1, 2025
Both of these teams slink into this tilt sporting surprising 1-3 records and each with their own very clear issues. For the Ravens, a defensive unit that was expected to be one of the NFL's best has been one of its worst through the first month of the season, as the Ravens are allowing a league-worst 33.3 points per game.
It's been the opposite issue for the Texans, as DeMeco Ryans' defense is allowing the NFL's fewest points per game, but the Houston offense has mustered just 16 points per game through their first four.
While Jackson's absence is of the utmost importance here, I'm going to resist the instinctive urge to immediately hop on Houston, as I'm still not a believer in the Texans offense. Baltimore's Cooper Rush is a capable back-up who started and played well for most of the 2024 season in Dallas, and this is a team that still has Derrick Henry lurking in the backfield.
New York Giants 20, New Orleans Saints 17
It's tough to discuss the Giants without bringing up the season-ending injury that superstar wide receiver Malik Nabers suffered last week. His absence will create even more pressure for rookie NY quarterback Jaxson Dart, who helped spur an upset of the Chargers in his first NFL start last week.
Even against a talent-deficient Saints squad, a trip to New Orleans to play in the Superdome is no easy task. Spencer Rattler has adequately filled the role of game manager for this Saints squad and enters this matchup sporting a 5:1 TD-to-INT ratio.
However, that's not translated to success for an offense that's averaging a paltry 16.5 points per game. G-Men rookies Dart and Cam Skattebo should provide enough cushion for a NY defense that played its best game of the season last week.
Indianapolis Colts 31, Las Vegas Raiders 21
Indy's perfect start to the season ended in L.A. last week, as a brutal Adonai Mitchell fumble paved the way for a gut-wrenching 27-20 loss to the Rams.
Despite the Colts' late letdown last week, this still feels to be a team that's trending in the right direction with Daniel Jones under center in tandem with Jonathan Taylor in the backfield. Indy stands third in the NFL at 30.8 points per game through the first month of the season.
Pete Carroll's new-look Raiders have struggled to find any offensive consistency, as offseason acquisition Geno Smith has tossed an NFL-high seven interceptions. Las Vegas will be without their best offensive lineman, left tackle Kolton Miller, this week, which could lead to even more bad decisions from Smith in this road environment.
Miami Dolphins 23, Carolina Panthers 20
The "somebody's-gotta-win" matchup of Week 5 pits the 1-3 Dolphins against the 1-3 Panthers. Miami did pick up its first win of the season on Monday night, though the disturbing season-ending injury to Tyreek Hill likely puts a damper on any potential momentum.
As for the Panthers, it looks as though Week 3's 30-0 win over the Falcons was nothing more than an aberration, as Bryce Young and company were trounced 42-13 in a lifeless loss to New England last week. Expect lots of De'Von Achane against a soft Carolina run defense, and a small 'Fins winning margin.
Seattle Seahawks 28, Tampa Bay Bucs 27
Poor Baker Mayfield and the Bucs...fresh off a matchup against the rugged Eagles, Mayfield's squad now must travel to the Pacific Northwest to face a well-rested Seattle squad that's won three straight behind a defense that's trending towards being one of the NFL's elite units.
While this scrappy Bucs squad doesn't lack fight, they are quickly running out of healthy bodies. Already down multiple starting offensive lineman and star wideout Mike Evans, Tampa could be without dynamic running back Bucky Irving in Week 5.
The injuries are concerning enough to tilt me in an ascending Seattle squad's direction at Lumen Field, though if the Bucs' DNA holds true this one will be decided on the last possession.
Arizona Cardinals 26, Tennessee Titans 13
While it's only Week 5, it feels as though time might be running out on second-year Titans head coach Brian Callahan, who went 3-14 in 2024 and has started this season at 0-4. Tennessee isn't just losing, Callahan's squad has looked downright disinterested over the past couple of weeks, following a 41-20 Week 3 loss to the Colts with another in-division beatdown - at 26-0 shutout to the Texans last Sunday.
The #Titans are 3-18 under Brian Callahan, and the team has changed its power structure since hiring its HC. As vibes worsen in Nashville, the team's coaching staff is growing uneasy about its future https://t.co/bMgvYXO3yz
— Pro Football Rumors (@pfrumors) October 2, 2025
The Titans will now travel cross country to face a Cardinals team that's dropped their last two by a combined four points. Injuries have wiped out the Arizona backfield, but Kyler Murray, Trey McBride, and Marvin Harrison Jr. should find enough easy success through the air to take care of business at home.
Los Angeles Chargers 21, Washington Commanders 20
The Commanders are hopeful that quarterback Jayden Daniels will return to the lineup for this Week 5 clash with the Chargers, though the outlook on Terry McLaurin's availability isn't as optimistic. L.A. is dealing with their own serious injury issues, as starting offensive linemen Joe Alt (doubtful) and Mekhi Becton (questionable) are likely to be sidelined this week.
In short, we'll be looking at a couple of offenses who will be trying to protect their very valuable quarterbacks, which could lead to run-heavy approaches accented by short, quick passes. Despite the talent these teams have on offense, it's not tough to envision a defensive battle in this particular environment. I'll take the Bolts in a low-scoring, coin-flip type of game.
Detroit Lions 42, Cincinnati Bengals 17
You might not want to let small children watch this one, as things could get NSFW in a hurry. Dan Campbell and this Lions offense aren't exactly known for calling off the dogs when things are rolling, and it's tough to forecast any difficulties for Detroit against a lifeless Bengals squad, who thanks to Joe Burrow's absence, now fields one of the league's worst defenses and offenses.
The Bengals have been outscored 76–13 in the two games Joe Burrow didn’t start this year.
If you ever wondered how valuable he is to Cincinnati… there’s your answer. pic.twitter.com/B3Yqu6fvM2
— Joel Moran (@joelvmoran) September 30, 2025
Buffalo Bills 27, New England Patriots 21 (Sunday Night)
The Mike Vrabel era continued its up-and-down nature in Week 4 with the Patriots destroying the Panthers 42-13 in their best effort of the season. Meanwhile, the bulletproof Bills pulled away from the winless Saints in a game that was closer than expected into the fourth quarter.
For as good as the Bills have been - and as bad as the Pats have been - in recent years, this AFC East rivalry has been split evenly across the last four meetings, which makes me reluctant to simply stamp this matchup as a Buffalo blowout. That said, the Bills do have Josh Allen at quarterback - a player who is perhaps the NFL's most reliable offensive producer - as well as the home-field advantage at Orchard Park.
Kansas City Chiefs 23, Jacksonville Jaguars 20 (Monday Night)
While they haven't exactly beaten a murderer's row of opponents, Liam Coen's 3-1 start to his tenure in Jacksonville remains impressive. While Coen was brought to Duval for his offensive genius, it's been the Jaguars defense that's truly impressed over the first month of the season, as the stingy group has allowed just 18 points per game.
The return of Xavier Worthy to the lineup sparked a much-needed Chiefs win in Week 4. Patrick Mahomes put forth a vintage performance in KC's 37-20 rout of the Ravens, throwing for 270 yards and four TDs. The future Hall of Famer will be tested by a scrappy Jags defense in this primetime road matchup, but it feels as though the Chiefs are getting a little healthier - and a little more explosive - each week.
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