PostScript Sports

Coming off a 6-10 Week 4, we look to get back on track in Week 5 and improve the current season total of 31-32-1!

So what did we learn? I felt coming away from Week 4 so differently than I did after Week 1. Injuries are running wild, especially at the quarterback position. Teams that looked great in the first few weeks are now having the narratives flipped.

Time for concern in Baltimore? Sitting at 1-3 with their lone win against the Browns, the Ravens head into Week 5 without Lamar Jackson. Following an epic collapse in Week 1 against the Bills, in which they led 40-25 deep into the 4th quarter, this offense and Ravens team looked to be the team we have grown used to seeing. But the last two weeks have shown glaring holes on the defensive side of the ball, and without Lamar healthy it concerns me that this team won’t be able to score enough to make up for that.

What happened to Green Bay? Following a 2-0 start where everyone was putting them in the highest tier of teams in the league, Green Bay has looked lost. Coming off a 13-10 choke job against the Browns, you would think this Packers team—and especially the defense—would get back to the team of the first two weeks. But it was the offense that came to play last Sunday night. Dallas and Green Bay ended in a 40-40 tie that leaves you wondering what exactly this Green Bay team is. They have struggled to score in weeks prior. A defense that was staunch through the first few weeks looked lost against a Cowboys team that was missing CeeDee Lamb. After beating the Lions in Week 1, the script of the NFC North already seems to be shifting back to the Lions.

Philly keeps on winning, but it feels a little 2024 “Chiefs-ish.” What I mean by that is we have a 4-0 team with players and personnel that we are familiar with—Pro Bowlers and even future Hall of Famers. The record looks great, but the eye test raises questions. Coming off a dramatic comeback and blocked-kick cover by the Eagles in Week 3, the game script flipped on the Eagles, and after getting out to a strong lead, they almost let the Buccaneers back in one that felt like a comfortable lead midway through the third quarter. The Eagles got out to a weird start last year as well, and you figure they do improve, but it is definitely something to keep an eye on.

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San Francisco at Los Angeles (R) -7.5
San Francisco +7.5

Just feels like too many points for a game that, yes, the 49ers are missing a lot of players, but these Thursday night games are always weird. Add on top the familiarity of these division foes and these coaching staffs. Rams probably take this one, but getting over a touchdown in this division game feels like too much.

Minnesota vs. Cleveland +3.5
Minnesota +3.5

London game! After a competitive loss in Dublin against the Steelers, I think the time spent overseas helps this Vikings team against a Browns team sending out rookie quarterback Dillion Gabriel. I’ll say it again: I would stay away from betting any Europe game, as they seem to add a wildcard factor that stateside neutral-field games don’t seem to have. Though I do like the Browns defense against Wentz, I just can’t take a third-round rookie quarterback in his first game—and in London.

Dallas at New York (J) +2.5
New York (J) +2.5

Both of these teams are very flawed. Yes, Dallas just hung with Green Bay at home and New York just gave Miami its first win of the season. But I just don’t trust this Dallas defense on the road at all. Their defense is bad, and the Jets offense has been sneaky putting up points in these losses. I’ll take the extra 2.5 and the home team.

New York (G) at New Orleans -1.5
New York (G) +1.5

Coming off their first win of the season, I think the Giants are able to overcome the devastating Malik Nabers injury and get another one on the road against this Saints team that I will continue to say: show me something before I take you. New Orleans did cover their huge 13.5 line against the Bills last week, but Spencer Rattler didn’t even put up 150 passing yards. This Giants defensive front feels like it is taking form. There will likely be mistakes from this offense and Dart, but I think the Giants leave New Orleans with a victory.

Las Vegas at Indianapolis -6.5
Indianapolis -6.5

Indy is coming off a loss in which, if a walk-in touchdown isn’t fumbled through the end zone and they don’t give up a huge touchdown to Tutu Atwell, we probably get two points added to this line. The Raiders can’t stop anyone on defense right now, and their offense can’t take care of the ball. Add in that Indy is returning home off a loss. I’ll eat the 6.5 and take the Colts to win convincingly.

Miami at Carolina +1.5
Carolina +1.5

Can I just pretend like this game isn’t happening? In a game that feels more important for who has the higher draft pick than playoff chances, I’m just going to roll with the home team getting points. Both of these teams flat out stink. But I don’t think one game for Miami, where they don’t even look good, justifies them being favorites on the road—even against this bad Panthers team.

Denver at Philadelphia -4.5
Philadelphia -4.5

I’ll take Philly here. Denver just hasn’t really impressed me all year, and Nix hasn’t looked great. I don’t love this pick, especially with a banged-up Jalen Carter, but neither side is jumping out to me, so I’ll take the team I think will just win the game outright. And I have a harder time believing the Eagles lose this one at home.

Houston at Baltimore +1.5
Houston -1.5

I don’t love taking Stroud and the Texans as road favorites, but this Ravens team might not be very good. Without Lamar to carry them offensively—especially against a Texans defense that is starting to look like the defense we thought we’d see from them before the season—I think the Texans make Cooper Rush be the one that has to beat them, and I don’t think he gets it done. The Ravens move to 1-4.

Tennessee at Arizona -8.5
Arizona -8.5

Arizona has had one of the easiest schedules to start a season that I can remember in a while, and they still only sit at 2-2. With wins against New Orleans and Carolina, a Mac Jones-led 49ers team, and a home game on a Thursday night, the Cardinals have not been able to take advantage and sit in last in the NFC West. I feel like I’ve said a few times already this year: I’m taking the Cardinals, but I don’t think they’re a playoff team. It’s a lot of points, but Tennessee just looks lost and looks to be in a race against the Saints to see who gets the #1 pick.

Tampa Bay at Seattle -3
Seattle -3

This is probably the best game of the weekend. I like Seattle again, and I’m also betting against a Tampa team that is catching a ton of injuries. Pair those injuries with the fact they just played a slugfest of a game in the Florida heat and now travel as far as they can to play a game on the West Coast against a Seattle team that is coming off extra rest after playing a Thursday night, and I just think it’s a tough one for the Buccaneers. I think Seattle is really putting things together and takes this one at home.

Detroit at Cincinnati +9.5
Detroit -9.5

This line would have to get to 14 before I would flinch at taking the Lions. It’s still a lot of points, but the Lions showed last week their offense can make up for that. My two biggest reasons for taking Detroit and eating the 9.5 are: I think their defensive line is healthy and getting after the quarterback right now, and we’ve seen all season the Bengals’ offensive line is atrocious. The other thing I’m seeing with the Bengals is just quit and letting games get out of hand. This just feels like the season from hell for the Bengals, and I’m going to ride with the Lions this week.

Washington at Los Angeles (C) -2.5
Washington +2.5

It’s looking like we will get the return of Jayden Daniels this week, and I think that makes a huge difference. The Commanders didn’t look bad in his absence, and Mariota really steered the ship well, but there is an obvious gap in offensive explosiveness without Daniels. Pair that with this Chargers team’s injuries on the offensive line, with now Joe Alt missing time, and I just like Washington to win this one outright.

New England at Buffalo -8.5
Buffalo +8.5

New England really put it to Carolina last week, and the Bills looked like they sleepwalked to a victory against the Saints. But I think Buffalo just shows up in this one. 8.5 is a lot to lay in a divisional game against a Mike Vrabel-led team, but I think Buffalo just cruises on offense in this one. I don’t know if I trust Drake Maye and this Patriots offense enough after one big scoring game against a bad Carolina team.

Kansas City at Jacksonville +3
Kansas City -3

Kansas City looked like the Kansas City of old last week in a beatdown of the Ravens. Jacksonville got a surprising road win in San Francisco last week, but their 3-1 record feels pretty empty to me. They are winning the turnover battle like crazy and have won a few games where they just haven’t looked great or played pretty inferior teams. I think KC rides last week’s momentum, kills the Jags’ momentum, and wins pretty comfortably.

Super 5
SEA
WAS
IND
DET
KC