The Post's Eric Richter shares his picks and predictions for Week 5 of the NFL season.
Sunday
Ravens (-2.5) vs. Bengals
This is the Derrick Henry show in Cincinnati.
The Bengals performed well against Carolina, but their defense continues to struggle.
Baltimore is 7-3 against Cincinnati since 2019, including back-to-back wins.
The Ravens could bury the Bengals in Ohio.
Jets (+2.5) vs. Vikings
For some reason, Aaron Rodgers has never faced a defense led by Brian Flores as a head coach or defensive coordinator.
The Vikings have upset Daniel Jones, Brock Purdy, Stroud and Jordan Love during this 4-0 run.
Rogers is a master of analytical reporting.
That line is an overreaction to the lethargic performance we saw against Denver.
The Jets are in must-win territory.
Seahawks (-6) vs. Giants
Not having Malik Nabors or Devin Singletary is a big problem for Big Blue.
A team lacking offensive talent and mounting injuries suddenly needed Daniel Jones to lead the Giants to victory.
Spoiler alert: he doesn't.
With the Giants on life support, the Seahawks got running back Kenneth Walker to win.
Browns (+3.5) vs. Commanders
Jaden Daniels is the real deal, but his defense isn't.
Since Week 3, they have allowed 6.2 yards per carry, second-worst in the NFL.
Deshaun Watson is a shell of himself, but if Cleveland has the sense, they'll rely on their defense to get the game going and pick up wins.
Texans (-1) vs. Bills
The Buffaloes head to the Great Plains this weekend, but they won't receive a royal welcome.
The Bills are really shattered without top receiver Khalil Shakir, star pass rusher Von Miller (suspended) and defensive tackle Ed Oliver.
Josh Allen vs. CJ Stroud should be interesting enough, but Houston is the best option for the game starting at 1 p.m.
Panthers (+4) vs. Bears
Andy Dalton has breathed new life into the Panthers.
Carolina ranks sixth in the NFL in yards per pass attempt since he was added to the starting lineup.
Chicago's defense is better than advertised and many are expecting a show from D'Andre Swift this Sunday.
I would like to temper my expectations.
The Panthers have allowed just 3.4 yards per carry since Week 3, making them a top-10 unit in that span.
Carolina completely won.
Dolphins (+1) vs. Patriots
Tyler Huntley looked bad, and it's never easy to bet on a team this bad.
Let's be clear: neither of these teams is good. But Raheem Mostert is back in Miami and Odell Beckham Jr. should help as well.
What is the difference between Jacoby Brissett and Huntley? Insignificant at best.
There's too much talent here to bet on New England.
Jaguars (-2.5) vs. Colts
Choose your poison.
Two bad teams who know each other well face off.
The quarterback play isn't the only difference here.
Jonathan Taylor, the Colts' only solid offensive weapon, will be absent for Sunday's game.
Brian Thomas Jr. will put on a show as the Jaguars face his idols Cam Newton and Anthony Richardson.
Cardinals (+7.5) vs. 49ERS
Teams that lose by 20 points or more and then lose by at least a field goal the following week are 333-248-33 against the spread since 2003.
With a winning percentage of 57% and a return on investment of 11%, the Cardinals have enough talent to win this division matchup.
Raiders (+2.5) vs. Broncos
Antonio Pierce has a 9-3-1 record in his coaching career.
Denver has lost the past eight games against the Raiders.
The Broncos' defense has straightened things out and Davante Adams looks like he wants out of Las Vegas, but that doesn't mean Denver should have a three-man advantage on anyone. Don't ride the Broncos in this district game.
Packers (-3) vs. RAMS
Two elite coaches face off in the perfect rebounding spot for the talented Packers.
Green Bay ranks eighth in yards per carry (4.8), while the Rams allow 5.0 yards per carry, fifth-most.
Josh Jacobs had his coming out party after the Packers' big win.
Do you want to bet on the NFL?
Steelers (-2.5) vs. Cowboys
Whenever the Cowboys deal with injuries, they find themselves in trouble.
The top-tier roster means no depth, and Dallas' defense is already bleeding against running backs.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Cowboys' run defense is the worst in the NFL, allowing 300 rushing yards over the past two weeks. Najee Harris and Justin Fields run to victory.
Monday
Chiefs (-5.5) vs. Saints
Derek Carr will soon come back to reality and won't have a reliable run game.
New Orleans ran the ball the fourth most times in the NFL (101 total carries).
Kansas City's defense has been incredibly good against the run, allowing 3.8 yards per carry since Week 2, the third-highest number in the NFL. It's a bad matchup on the road for New Orleans.
last week: 4-11-1
season: 23-36-1.
