Bing Predicts NFL Week 5

Indianapolis Colts @ New England Patriots

Game time: Thursday, Oct. 4, 8:20 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: New England Patriots lead series 51-29-0

After agreeing to contract terms this past off-season to become the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, Patriots’ offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels eventually opted to stay in New England, leaving the Colts in total disarray. Indianapolis will have its shot at revenge this Thursday night when the team travels to Foxborough.

The Colts, after being spurned by McDaniels, hired Frank Reich away from Philadelphia, but Reich’s decision making has been called into question this week after a failed fourth down attempt in overtime gave the ball to the Houston Texans in Colts’ territory. The Texans would go on to kick a game-winning field goal.

The first-year head coach stood behind his decision, saying he’d make the move “10 times out of 10.”

Indianapolis is in danger of falling to 1-4. The Patriots are back on track after a 38-7 blowout victory over the previously undefeated Miami Dolphins. Unfortunately for Indianapolis, no one beats Tom Brady on a short week. Brady is 6-0 when both he and his opponent play with limited rest. To make matters worse, Colts’ QB Andrew Luck is 0-5 against New England, and Patriots’ receiver Julian Edelman will be back after his four-game suspension.

Bing Predicts Winner: New England Patriots (80% chance)

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New York Giants @ Carolina Panthers

Game time: Sunday, Oct. 7, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Carolina Panthers lead series 6-4-0

After a much-needed Week 4 bye, the Panthers welcome the New York Giants Sunday. Carolina made headlines last week after signing Pro Bowl safety Eric Reid, who famously had the NFLPA file a grievance against the NFL on his behalf, alleging collusion that previously denied him a job.

The move, which the Panthers regard as purely a “football decision,” helps fill a void in the secondary—the team placed Da’Norris Searcy on injured reserve after he suffered his second concussion in a month.  

The Giants lost 33-18 to the surging Saints, and now could be staring at a 1-4 start to the season. Star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was held to just 60 yards on seven receptions Sunday and hasn’t had the production the Giants hoped for after the $95 million contract he received in the off-season.

The Panthers are favored at home and have won their last three games coming off of bye weeks.

Bing Predicts Winner: Carolina Panthers (70% chance)

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Jacksonville Jaguars @ Kansas City Chiefs

Game time: Sunday, Oct. 7, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Jacksonville Jaguars lead series 6-5-0

The magic of Patrick Mahomes II lives on. While he didn’t produce the gaudy numbers fans have grown accustomed to on Monday night in a 27-23 victory over the Broncos, he did engineer a heroic game-winning drive to erase a 10-point fourth quarter deficit.

The league’s young record-setting quarterback will face his toughest challenge of the season when the #1 defense in the NFL (Jacksonville) visits K.C. The Jags used a dominant defensive performance last week to topple the New York Jets 31-12, but it was quarterback Blake Bortles who stole the show. He threw for two touchdowns and a career-high 388 yards. Unfortunately for Jacksonville, they’ll be without running back Leonard Fournette who was officially ruled out with a hamstring injury.

An effective Bortles spells big trouble for a Chiefs’ team that ranks last in yards surrendered this season (451.8 yards-per-game). The Chiefs have a slew of offensive weapons: All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey can’t cover them all. This has game-of-the-week written all over it.

Bing Predicts Winner: Kansas City Chiefs (67% chance)

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Tennessee Titans @ Buffalo Bills

Game time: Sunday, Oct. 7, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Tennessee Titans lead series 28-17-0

The Tennessee Titans are one of the NFL’s surprise teams through the first four weeks. Last Sunday’s back-and-forth overtime thriller—a game the Titans won 26-23 over defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles—has us wondering if Tennessee is for real. Marcus Mariota, who continues to recover from an elbow injury, played his best game of the season, going 30-of-43 for 344 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 46 yards on the ground.

Titans wide receiver Corey Davis had a breakout game with nine receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown.  

After a shocking blowout victory over the Vikings in Week 3, the Bills followed up their first victory of the season with a 22-0 loss to the Packers. Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen was sacked seven times, threw two interceptions, and lost a fumble in the dismal performance.

The Bills lost wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin to a head injury and safety Micah Hyde to a groin injury, whereas the Titans will likely miss two key members of their defense in safety Kenny Vaccaro and linebacker, and the team’s leading tackler Wesley Woodyard. Vaccaro has already been ruled out, while Woodyard remains questionable for their visit to Buffalo.

Bing Predicts Winner: Tennessee Titans (66% chance)

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Miami Dolphins @ Cincinnati Bengals

Game time: Sunday, Oct. 7, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Miami Dolphins lead series 16-6-0

A battle between two teams atop their respective AFC divisions will be a good indication if either are legitimate contenders this season. The Cincinnati Bengals came away with a thrilling 37-36 victory over the Falcons last week after Andy Dalton found A.J. Green for a last-second touchdown pass. Dalton finished with an impressive 337 yards and three touchdowns, but the Bengals lost one of their best targets in Tyler Eifert, who suffered a broken ankle and will miss the rest of the season.

It appears there will be no changing of the guard in the AFC East—Miami may have shown its true identity after a 38-7 loss to the Patriots. The Dolphins, who were undefeated entering the contest, could not muster any offense (172 total yards). A meaningless fourth quarter touchdown catch by Frank Gore was Miami’s only score of the day.

Cincinnati will look for another big offensive output and to exploit a Dolphins’ team that currently ranks #26 in total defense. These squads may possess identical records, but they appear to be trending in different directions.

Bing Predicts Winner: Cincinnati Bengals (63% chance)

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Atlanta Falcons @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Game time: Sunday, Oct. 7, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Pittsburgh Steelers lead series 13-2-1

Atlanta and Pittsburgh are both reeling after tough home losses on Sunday. It’s early to call any game a “must-win,” but neither of these squads thought they’d have just a single win through five weeks, and that will be the case for one of these Super Bowl-hopefuls.

Atlanta had its heart ripped out in Week 4 after Andy Dalton and A.J. Green connected on a last-second game-winning touchdown to give the Bengals a 37-36 victory. Every loss for the Falcons has come down to the wire: They have not trailed by more than one possession all season and have led in the fourth quarter of every game.

The Steelers were knotted up with the Ravens on Sunday night, but Pittsburgh failed to score in the second half, eventually losing 26-14.

While it will have no impact this week, the Steelers should look forward to the fact that star running back Le’Veon Bell will report to the team during the Week 7–8 time frame according to reports.

Expect offense and a lot of it in this contest. Both teams are ranked in the top seven in total yards and in the bottom five in yards given up.

Bing Predicts Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers (55% chance)

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Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns

Game time: Sunday, Oct. 7, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: 29-9-0

The AFC North battle should be closer than it has been in years past. The Ravens have dominated the series since head coach John Harbaugh was hired a decade ago, winning 18 of the last 20 games. The Browns are looking to put a halt to that. Despite their record not indicating as much, these are not the same Browns that fans have been forced to suffer through in recent years.

In breathtaking fashion, rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield emerged from the bench in Week 3 to bring Cleveland back from a two-touchdown deficit against the Jets and seal the franchise’s first win in 635 days. The Browns would have won last week if not for a reviewed first down that became fourth—and inches after a controversial overturned spot, leading to a Raiders’ successful drive that turned into the winning score.

The Browns will face a red hot Baltimore team currently ranked fifth in scoring offense and third in scoring defense. The Browns must play mistake-free football if they want to earn their second win of the season, a feat they haven’t accomplished since 2015.

Bing Predicts Winner: Baltimore Ravens (60% chance) 

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Denver Broncos @ New York Jets

Game time: Sunday, Oct. 7, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Denver Broncos lead series 20-15-1

The Jets, after an impressive Week 1 victory, have been anything but impressive since then. The offense scored four touchdowns and surrendered only one in their opener. Over the next three weeks, the offense scored four touchdowns and conceded eight. Rookie quarterback Sam Darnold has been introduced to the difficulties of succeeding in this league—he has four touchdowns and five interceptions, and has been sacked 10 times through the first quarter of the 2018 season.

The Broncos have lost two straight games, but to two of the best teams in the NFL—the Ravens and the Chiefs, respectively. They did almost everything right against Kansas City on Monday night, but with 16 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Denver quarterback Case Keenum misfired on a throw to Demaryius Thomas that would have been the go-ahead touchdown.

The Jets are actually favored at home by Las Vegas sportsbooks, but the eye test says the Broncos should win this contest.

Bing Predicts Winner: New York Jets (63% chance)

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Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions

Game time: Sunday, Oct. 7, 1 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Green Bay Packers lead series 100-70-7

After a tough loss to the Redskins on the road, the Packers responded with a 22-0 shutout over the Bills at Lambeau Field. They’ll head to Detroit this weekend to battle the Lions, an NFC North-rival. Even after the victory, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was not pleased with the performance.

“We were terrible on offense,” said the MVP quarterback, who finished just shy of 300 yards passing.

The Packers were unable to scheme their playmakers open, which was Rodgers’ concern. They’ll need to be more creative against a hungry Lions’ team, especially if Randall Cobb is unavailable as he deals with a hamstring injury. Detroit is in danger of falling to 1-4 and desperately needs a victory to stay in the NFC playoff conversation. It’s hard to pinpoint the Lions’ identity—they were blown out by the New York Jets Week 1, but handled the New England Patriots Week 3.

Detroit swept the Packers last season, but take those victories with a grain of salt: Rodgers didn’t play in either game while recovering from a broken collarbone. Rodgers continues to nurse a different ailment—an injured left knee suffered in Week 1—but is expected to play again this week.

Bing Predicts Winner: Green Bay Packers (60% chance)

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Oakland Raiders @ Los Angeles Chargers

Game time: Sunday, Oct. 7, 4:05 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Oakland Raiders lead series 63-52-2

The Raiders finally captured what had been an elusive first win of the season and Jon Gruden’s first win in nearly 10 years, which to the coach felt like his “first win in 100 years.” Oakland needed overtime, a questionable overturned spot, and a quick whistle on what would have been a Derek Carr fumble to arrive at its 45-42 victory over the Browns, but Carr played exceptional. The fifth-year quarterback threw for four touchdowns and 437 yards.

The Chargers needed to come from behind against the shorthanded San Francisco 49ers. Philip Rivers threw for three touchdowns and spread the ball around nicely, completing passes to eight different receivers. Running back Melvin Gordon had an impressive all-around game, rushing for 104 yards, and catching seven passes for 55 yards and a touchdown.

The Chargers won both contests last season against the Raiders and are favored in Los Angeles on Sunday. If Gruden and the Raiders want their second victory of the season this week, their defense (ranked last in the NFL in sacks with five) must get creative with different packages to generate pressure.

Bing Predicts Winner: Oakland Raiders (39% chance) 

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Arizona Cardinals @ San Francisco 49ers

Game time: Sunday, Oct. 7, 4:25 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: San Francisco 49ers lead series 29-24-0

Despite falling to 1-3 last week, the 49ers proved one thing: Their season is not lost after starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s season-ending torn ACL. Backup C.J. Beathard was productive against the Chargers, going 23-of-37 for 298 yards and two touchdowns, along with two interceptions.

San Francisco will not pursue another high-profile quarterback in hopes that this last off-season under head coach Kyle Shanahan will be enough for Beathard to give the 49ers a shot.

The Cardinals got a glimpse at what their future might look like with quarterback Josh Rosen. The rookie couldn’t help the Cardinals to their first victory of the season, but did throw for 180 yards and a touchdown. Dropped balls and miscues by receivers cost Rosen what could have been a legendary debut.

This NFC West showdown won’t provide much in terms of playoff implications, but will be a look at what the division could look like for years to come, especially with Rosen under center.  

Bing Predicts Winner: San Francisco 49ers (55% chance)

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Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks

Game time: Sunday, Oct. 7, 4:25 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Seattle Seahawks lead series 23-17-0

Through four games, the Los Angeles Rams have been the most impressive team in football. They lead the league in total offense (468.5 yards-per-game), are tied for third in number of touchdowns given up (with only seven), and are one of two undefeated teams remaining. Quarterback Jared Goff has catapulted himself into MVP consideration after a dominant display over the Minnesota Vikings last Thursday night (465 yards and five touchdowns).

The Seattle Seahawks have had to scratch and claw their way to a 2-2 record. After dropping their first two games to the Broncos and Bears, they found their way back to .500 after topping the Cowboys and winning a narrow 20-17 victory over the now-0-4 Cardinals. Quarterback Russell Wilson has been serviceable, but a meek Seahawks’ offensive line has given the seventh-year Super Bowl-winner virtually no time to throw the ball. Wilson was sacked six times in each of Seattle’s two losses.

Bad news for the Seahawks, in one of the most dizzying injuries of the season, All-Pro safety Earl Thomas broke his leg and subsequently showed his lack of appreciation to a Seahawks sideline that didn’t pay him the money he feels he deserves.

Seattle will be forced to find creative ways to get the ball out of Wilson’s hands early as it faces a tenacious L.A. defense with two of the most dominant pass rushers in the league, Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh. Additionally, the Seahawks were an astonishing 0-of-10 on third downs last week. That’s not going to cut it against the Rams.

Bing Predicts Winner: Los Angeles Rams (74% chance)

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Minnesota Vikings @ Philadelphia Eagles

Game time: Sunday, Oct. 7, 4:25 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Philadelphia Eagles lead series 14-13-0

The two teams that met in the NFC Championship game last year, and two early Super Bowl favorites, have not broken into the season the way they hoped. Both teams lost last week—the Vikings fell 38-31 to the Rams, and the Eagles relinquished a 14-point lead to the Titans and lost 26-23 in overtime.

For Philadelphia, it was the inability to protect young franchise quarterback Carson Wentz. He was sacked four times and endured 11 hits in Week 4 as the Titans blitzed Wentz more than one-third of the time.

The Vikings might take a play out of the Titans’ book and dial up extra pressure as they look to atone for a gruesome 38-7 loss to the Eagles last postseason. On offense, Minnesota hopes running back Dalvin Cook, whose hamstring is still not 100%, will be able to play on Sunday.

The Eagles were pleased to have receiver Alshon Jeffery back in the lineup last week. Jeffery caught his first pass in nearly eight months after returning from rotator cuff surgery and finished with eight catches for 105 yards.

Both teams are desperate to get their season on track, which means this game is one to keep an eye on.
 

Bing Predicts Winner: Philadelphia Eagles (64% chance)

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Dallas Cowboys @ Houston Texans

Game time: Sunday, Oct. 7, 8:20 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Dallas Cowboys lead series 3-1-0

Before the season started, this was a game many had circled on their calendars as an exciting primetime tilt with young and dynamic playmakers. Neither team has lived up to expectations through the first four weeks of the season.

The Texans finally achieved their first win of the season in overtime after one of the more bizarre decisions of the season when the Colts elected to bring their offense out on fourth down in their own territory. After the Colts’ attempt failed, the Texans only needed a few yards to reach kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn’s range.

The Cowboys eked out a 26-24 victory over the Lions in Dallas after relinquishing a 10-point fourth quarter lead. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott used a game-winning drive, punctuated by a 38-yard Brett Maher field goal, to move Dallas back to .500.

This Texas battle features Ezekiel Elliott, the league’s leading rusher, and Deshaun Watson, who is coming off of a 375-yard game and cracked the top 10 in passing. Houston snapped a league-worst, nine-game losing streak last week; it hopes to start the opposite streak in Week 5.

Bing Predicts Winner: Houston Texans (51% chance)

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Washington Redskins @ New Orleans Saints

Game time: Monday, Oct. 8, 8:15 p.m. EST

Historical matchup: Washington Redskins lead the series 17-9-0

After dropping their first game of the season to Tampa Bay, the New Orleans Saints have been one of the hottest teams in football. Future Hall Of Fame quarterback Drew Brees is on the cusp of history. He only needs 201 yards through the air on Monday night to become the all-time league-leader in passing yards, eclipsing Peyton Manning’s record of 71,940.

The Redskins are well rested, coming off of a bye week, and should bring some momentum into New Orleans after a convincing 31-17 victory over the Packers.

Mark Ingram returns for the Saints after his four-week suspension, adding to the already devastating running attack led by Alvin Kamara, who accounted for 181 yards of offense and three touchdowns Week 4.  

If Monday night plays out the way it would in Hollywood, Brees will be the new NFL leader in passing yards, and the Saints will reign victorious in front of their passionate New Orleans fanbase.

Bing Predicts Winner: New Orleans Saints (66% chance)

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