Matt Youmans – NFL Week 5 Best Bets:
It’s fitting that the NFL’s longest-running rivalry is renewed Sunday in Green Bay, where there will be a moment of silence to remember Mike Ditka, a legendary player and coach for the Chicago Bears who died Friday at age 86. Ditka was among the most colorful characters and toughest men in league history.
The first tight end to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Ditka played for Chicago’s 1963 NFL championship team and the Dallas Cowboys team that won Super Bowl VI. He coached the 1985 Bears, with their historically dominant defense, to the franchise’s only Super Bowl title.
As the coach of the Bears, Ditka had a 15-5 record against the Packers. Green Bay has dominated the rivalry from the 1990s until recently thanks to the long careers of quarterbacks Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, but the Packers are currently dealing with all kinds of problems and the Bears are favored at Lambeau Field for the first time since 2006.
Bears coach Ben Johnson will likely give an impassioned, Ditka-type motivational speech, but his team will be without its starting quarterback and leading rusher to injuries. I’ll pass on the game and recommend some other best bets for Week 5.
It’s been 10 days since we’ve seen Aaron Rodgers blame a coach or teammate for a problem on the field. The heated exchange between Rodgers and coach Mike McCarthy in the Steelers’ 27-24 loss at Cleveland could have been a good thing. The offense needs to show improvement in Pittsburgh, and Rodgers needs to be better. Rodgers completed just 57.5% of his passes with seven touchdowns and four interceptions while picking up 13 sacks. Running back Jaylen Warren has been a consistent weapon with 220 total yards over the past two games. It won’t be easy to put up points in Pittsburgh, but rain in the forecast should favor the home team against a dome team. And the Colts, who played in London last week and are away from home for the third time in four weeks, are a pedestrian team aside from running back Jonathan Taylor. Indianapolis is 2-9 in its last 11 games.
Best Bet: Steelers -2.5
The Raiders are real, in terms of being more competitive this season, but they have to prove it on the road against one of the AFC’s top teams. Drake Maye and the Patriots bounced back nicely in the win at Buffalo as Maye racked up 323 total yards (269 passing, 54 rushing) and three touchdowns while avoiding the costly mistakes that plagued him in the playoffs that carried into September. New England’s defense, ranked No. 5 in yards allowed (293.8 per game) and sixth in scoring (19.3 ppg), held his own against Bills quarterback Josh Allen and is now getting an easier task against unhinged veteran Kirk Cousins.
In the 2025 season opener, Las Vegas pulled off a strange 20-13 upset over Foxborough. It turned out to be a very disappointing result as the Raiders finished the season 3-14 and in the toilet bowl while the Patriots went 14-3 and reached the Super Bowl. New England should get revenge, but laying 3.5 is risky and I bet the favorite at -185 on the moneyline.
Best Bet: Patriots -3.5
Josh Allen is a do-it-all quarterback who can cover up many of his team’s flaws, but Buffalo’s defense continues to be exposed. The Bills rank 27th in yards allowed (372 per game) and 25th in scoring (26.8 ppg). The Rams are more than capable of taking advantage of Matthew Stafford pulling the trigger while complementing running back Kyren Williams and receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. On their recent two-game road trip, the Rams outgained Denver (482-257) and Philadelphia (415-172) in total yards by large margins. Allen is usually attractive as an underdog, but the Rams must take care of business Monday night.
Best Bet: Rams -3 (-120)
Two more plays for Sunday:
Eagles +7.5 vs Jaguars (London)
Ravens +3.5 over Falcons
Last week: 4-2 against the spread
Season: 16-11
For more NFL Week 5 best bets, visit the NFL Week 5 betting hub, exclusive to VSiN.
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