NFL Week 5 Preview: Survive and Thrive

By Alex Lauzon from the “Course of Life” podcast

Week 5 - You Still Alive?

We’re a month in…does your team have hope? Are you still breathing in your survivor contest or have you joined our $50K Revival Contest yet? These are the quarter pole questions we all need to be asking ourselves to re-prioritize and find winning ways as the fall rolls on. Sadly there’s a couple of fan bases that may already be calling for a tank…let’s call it “Caving for Caleb” Williams. You know where there isn’t any talk of tanking? Right here in the weekly preview as we continue to grab winners off the board!

Week 4's action was chock full of highlights and high scoring outputs by winners, and if you like points then buckle up for the matchups to come. Like I mentioned, survivor contests take on a new level of difficulty as the season progresses, but we’re here to navigate you through the weekend spread so your lock is appropriately honed in.

Games of the Week

Jaguars @ Bills (-5.5) - 9:30am ET - This game reads and is displayed as a Bills home game, but don’t fool yourself - it will be a neutral or Jaguars leaning crowd in London for the second international game of the 2023 season. It’s an interesting matchup that pits a Jags squad that just won in London to the Falcons. They’re well adjusted to the time change, and they’ll need points galore against the Bills to stay in it.

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Ravens @ Steelers (+4.5) - 1:00 pm ET - My lock of the week last week was a slam dunk as the Ravens rolled over Cleveland. I would love to go back to the well, but I’m not feeling this second straight road spot for Lamar and Co…this game is a bit trappy and a MIke Tomlin fueled bounceback effort could be in play here.

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Giants @ Dolphins (-9.5) - 1:00 pm ET - It’s the high powered Dolphins offense that finally got slowed down in Buffalo against a wilting Giants squad that has questions galore on offense. Your heart tells you that the Dolphins regain form and run train on a lifeless team, especially down in the Florida heat and humidity.

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Eagles @ Rams (+4) - 4:05 pm ET - Philly remains unbeaten despite trying to give a game away to the Commanders, and now they head out west for a different type of challenge - the new wideout everyone can’t get enough of, Puka Nacua. It could be a quick study for the Eagles secondary, or a long west coast trip that ends in defeat.

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Chiefs @ Vikings (-5.5) - 4:25 pm ET - You all know exactly why this game is on the board…Kirk Cousins. No…it’s the SWIFTIE takeover and the Taylor watch all week. Does Mother make it to three Chiefs games in a row to see her new man? If she’s desperate enough to travel to Minneapolis it really must be true love, right? In all actuality, this spread tells it could be dicy for KC on the road yet again.

Fishy Lines to Watch

Saints @ Patriots (-1.5) - 1pm ET - Hold up - the Patriots are favored here? The lifeless Pats that benched Mac Jones and can’t find the endzone to save their lives? Vegas is still holding out hope that Belichick rights the ship and steers them back on course at home, but realistically, this should be a pick'em. My Pats are clinging right now and need a W like a pint of blood, so desperation could win out in the end.

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Panthers @ Lions (-9) - 1pm ET - This might be a simple brain thought, but the Lions being favored by 9 is simply too much. They’re good, but they’re not “double digit favorites at home” good in any capacity. I’ll be the minority that like the Panthers this week and die on that island.

The Primetime Pick

Cowboys @ 49ers (-3.5) - 8:20 pm ET - The Cowboys looked near flawless at home against my lifeless Patriots, and now they head out west for a rivalry for the ages against the Niners. There’s yet to be a blip on the Niners radar this season, so I have a funny feeling the Cowboys could be a LIVE underdog this Sunday.

Week 5 Plays To Watch

Dolphins -9.5 - Grab it now at single digits before people realize how hard it will be for the Giants to win in Miami.

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Rams +4 - Feels ripe for an upset out west as Philly is beginning to show chinks in the armor.

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Panthers +9 - I love betting sub par teams getting tons of points, and on the flip side I can’t picture the Lions covering a big number like this.

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Cowboys +3.5 - I am really leaning on some chaos this Sunday - doubling down!

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Broncos -2 - The moment that everyone forgets about Denver is the moment they find life at home? Seems appropriate.

Lock of the Week

Our lock of the week for our $50K Survivor Revival is live! Join the contest here, pick the Dolphins, and if they lose, we'll refund one of your entries. That's a risk-free shot at the $50K grand prize! Now, on to my personal lock.

Bills -5.5 - While I do think the Bills have taken one step back this season, I can still tell you that they will feast on the Jags secondary and score way too much for a matching output from Trevor Lawrence. Lock it up!