NFL Week 5 predictions: Bears to win without Caleb Williams; Jalen Hurts to struggle in London
We are already through a quarter of the NFL season, and the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles have made shocking starts.
Things won’t get any easier for them. The Eagles face a high-flying Jacksonville Jaguars team in London. And the Packers enter their rivalry with the Chicago Bears as underdogs.
Elsewhere, the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks will battle in a star-studded matchup.
The 49ers are undefeated, but the defending champions might be their toughest challenge yet.
On Monday Night Football, we get an equally star-studded game between the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams as Josh Allen looks to avenge last week’s loss to the New England Patriots.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Josiah Burdsall makes his predictions for 4 big games this week.
Week 5 games broadcast in the UK, October 9-13
Friday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys - Thursday Night Football - 1:15 am on Sky Sports NFL
Sunday
Philadelphia Eagles vs Jacksonville Jaguars - London Game - 2:30 pm on Sky Sports NFL
Las Vegas Raiders vs New England Patriots - 6:00 pm on Channel 5 Action
Minnesota Vikings vs New Orleans Saints - 6:00 pm on Sky Sports +
Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers - 6:00 pm on Sky Sports NFL
Detroit Lions vs Arizona Cardinals - 9:25 pm on Sky Sports +
San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks - 9:25 pm Sky Sports NFL and Channel 5
Monday
Baltimore Ravens vs Atlanta Falcons - Sunday Night Football - 1:20 am on Sky Sports NFL
Tuesday
Buffalo Bills vs Los Angeles Rams - Monday Night Football - 1:15 am on Sky Sports NFL
All games can be viewed on NFL Season Pass on DAZN.
Philadelphia Eagles vs Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville has opened games well this season, scoring at least 10 points in every first half.
What’s even more impressive is that their defense has allowed just nine first half points in four games.
That’s been enough to win three of their matches. The Jaguars look like one of the most balanced teams in the league.
Meanwhile, injuries are mounting for the Eagles. Saquon Barkley, Devonta Smith, and Quinyon Mitchell are all listed as questionable.
Behind a struggling offensive line, Jalen Hurts has been having a poor season. He threw for a career-low 93 yards last week.
All signs point towards a Jacksonville victory across the pond.
Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers
For the first time in 20 years, the Bears will travel to Lambeau Field as favorites.
Despite losing Caleb Williams to injury, they’ve won two games with backups.
The dual threat of Kyle Monangai and D’Andre Swift gives the Bears one the best rushing attacks in the NFL.
Meanwhile their defence has allowed just 16.3 points per game.
The Packers have a lengthy injury list, including Edgerrin Cooper, Jayden Reed, and Micah Parsons.
Unlike the Bears, they have struggled on the ground. They’ve averaged just 58 rushing yards this season, the worst in the league.
Right now the Bears and Packers seem to be going in different directions.
We predict the Bears to win behind enemy lines.
San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks
This is one of the most anticipated matchups of the season.
The 49ers travel to Seattle with a perfect record, picking up injuries along the way. Kyle Juszczyk will be out, and Mike Evans will be managing rib pain.
But San Francisco are no strangers to winning in spite of injuries - and Brock Purdy is playing his best football right now.
In their way stands Seattle, who beat them 41-6 in the playoffs last season.
Affected by injuries of their own, the Seahawks’ famed ‘dark side’ defence has let up 56 points in the last two games.
But the offense is humming and helped them to a 3-1 record.
It’s hard to make a prediction on this one, because these are two great teams. But the 49ers should just about see it through.
Buffalo Bills vs Los Angeles Rams
Despite being billed as a super team to rival ‘the greatest show on turf,’ the Rams have so far underwhelmed.
At 2-2, however, Los Angeles are still favorites to win the Super Bowl.
The Bills are also title contenders, but their defense has given reason for caution.
They rank 30th for opponent EPA, and 28th for opponent success rate. Only the Lions and Cowboys have been worse.
Josh Allen and Matthew Stafford have both been the NFL MVP, and are in the running to win it again this year. This promises to be a great quarterback matchup.
The Bills defense has underperformed against lesser offenses, and now they have to face Stafford and Puka Nacua.
This could be a fun, high-scoring game, but we think the Rams will win it.
NFL Week 5 accumulator
Jacksonville Jaguars to win
Chicago Bears to win
San Francisco 49ers to win
Los Angeles Rams to win
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