Week 5 brings a full 15-game slate, and our predictions cover every one, from the Thursday night opener in Dallas through Monday night in Los Angeles. Below you will find our pick for each game against the spread, two upset picks we are willing to stand behind, a few best bets and leans, the storylines worth your Sunday, and a free printable pick sheet you can take to your pool. Spreads and totals come straight from our Week 5 pick’em with odds page and are current as of publish; lines move all week, so check before you lock anything in.
Quick Facts
- Week: NFL Week 5, 2026 season
- Games: 15, from Thursday October 8 through Monday October 12
- Byes: Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers
- Upset picks: 2 flagged (Colts and Bills, both road underdogs)
- Lines: sourced from our Week 5 pick’em with odds page, current as of publish
- Printable: free pick sheet with every game, spread, over/under and blank columns for your pick and the final score
Week 5 Predictions: Every Game
Our pick is the side we expect to cover the spread. Two games are flagged as upset picks, where we like the road underdog to win outright. Home team is listed second in every matchup.
| Matchup | Spread | Our pick |
|---|---|---|
| Buccaneers at Cowboys (Thu Oct 8) | Cowboys -3.5 | Cowboys |
| Eagles at Jaguars (Sun Oct 11) | Eagles -1.5 | Eagles |
| Bengals at Dolphins (Sun Oct 11) | Bengals -6.5 | Bengals |
| Browns at Jets (Sun Oct 11) | Jets -1.5 | Jets |
| Texans at Titans (Sun Oct 11) | Texans -3.5 | Texans |
| Colts at Steelers (Sun Oct 11) | Steelers -2.5 | Colts UPSET |
| Raiders at Patriots (Sun Oct 11) | Patriots -8.5 | Patriots |
| Vikings at Saints (Sun Oct 11) | Vikings -1.5 | Vikings |
| Giants at Commanders (Sun Oct 11) | Commanders -2.5 | Commanders |
| Broncos at Chargers (Sun Oct 11) | Chargers -2.5 | Chargers |
| Bears at Packers (Sun Oct 11) | Packers -3.5 | Packers |
| Lions at Cardinals (Sun Oct 11) | Lions -8.5 | Lions |
| 49ers at Seahawks (Sun Oct 11) | Seahawks -3.5 | Seahawks |
| Ravens at Falcons (Sun Oct 11) | Ravens -4.5 | Ravens |
| Bills at Rams (Mon Oct 12) | Rams -3.5 | Bills UPSET |
Upset Watch
Colts at Steelers (Steelers -2.5). Pittsburgh is a short home favorite, but Indianapolis has been the more balanced team through the first month, moving the ball on the ground and protecting the quarterback. A field-goal spread is thin enough that we will take the Colts to win it straight up, not just cover.
Bills at Rams (Rams -3.5). The Monday night headliner is close to a coin flip in our eyes, and getting a team as complete as Buffalo as a road underdog is value we will not pass up. The Rams are tough at home, but we lean Bills to steal it late and send the pick sheet pools into chaos.
Best Bets and Leans
These are opinions, not locks. They are the angles we find most interesting on the Week 5 board:
- Browns at Jets under 39.5: the lowest total of the week, and for good reason. Two offenses still finding their footing and two defenses that travel.
- Lions -8.5 at Arizona: Detroit has been rolling, and this is the kind of spot where a hot favorite keeps its foot down. We lean Lions to cover.
- Bengals -6.5 at Miami: a touchdown is a lot on the road, but Cincinnati looks the sharper team right now. A lean, not a best bet.
- Buccaneers +3.5 at Dallas (Thursday): Tampa Bay keeps games close; we like the points in the opener.
For entertainment only. Odds and predictions are opinion, outcomes are never guaranteed, and nothing here is financial advice. If you choose to wager, bet within your means and play responsibly. If gambling stops being fun, help is available at 1-800-GAMBLER.
Storylines to Watch
Monday night heavyweight. Bills at Rams is the matchup of the week, two contenders with real Super Bowl aspirations closing the slate under the lights. It is the game most likely to swing playoff seeding math down the road.
Thursday in Dallas. Buccaneers at Cowboys opens Week 5 with two offenses that would rather trade scores than grind, which is why the total sits up at 52.5.
NFC West on the coast. 49ers at Seahawks is a division game with tiebreaker weight, and Seattle has been stingy at home. Expect a tight, physical afternoon.
Bears at Lambeau. The oldest rivalry in the league renews with Green Bay favored by a field goal. Chicago has closed the gap, and a road upset here is not far-fetched.
Bye-week note. Kansas City and Carolina are off, so double-check your fantasy lineups before Sunday.
Printable Week 5 Pick Sheet
Running an office pool or just want to track your own picks? Grab the free printable sheet below. It lists every Week 5 game with the spread and over/under, plus blank columns for your pick and the final score. It opens in a new tab so this page stays put behind it.
More from Sports Brackets
- 2026 NFL Week 5 pick’em with odds: the full spreads, totals and moneylines these picks are built on.
- NFL Week 5 TV coverage map: which game airs in your market and when.
- 2026 NFL standings: where every team sits heading into Week 5.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Week 5 upset picks?
We flagged two: the Indianapolis Colts to win outright at Pittsburgh, and the Buffalo Bills to win outright at the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night. Both are road underdogs we believe are live to win straight up, not just cover.
Where do the spreads come from?
Every spread and total on this page is pulled from our Week 5 pick’em with odds page so the two stay consistent. Lines move throughout the week, so the numbers here are current as of publish and may differ by kickoff.
Is there a printable pick sheet?
Yes. The free printable sheet above lists all 15 Week 5 games with the spread and over/under, plus blank columns for your pick and the final score. It opens in a new tab and is built for a single sheet of paper.
Which teams are on bye in Week 5?
The Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers are on bye in Week 5, so they do not appear in the predictions table or the pick sheet.
