If Thursday Night Football is any indication, we are in for a special Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season.
Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons began the week in dramatic fashion, using a last-minute drive to force overtime against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and then winning in walk-off fashion when KhaDarel Hodge turned a quick hitch route into a 45-yard touchdown.
That was just how Week 5 began. How might it end? That we do not know, but here are our weekly upset specials.
Indianapolis Colts over Jacksonville Jaguars
Two things up front.
One, does this truly count as an upset? Technically, with Jacksonville favored, it does.
Second, you might not want to listen to me. Since we have started these weekly upset selections I am 0-for-2. That’s what happens when you ask the F1 writer to start writing about the NFL.
However, the Jaguars are absolutely struggling right now. They put a scare into the Houston Texans last weekend, but vibes remain low. As for the Colts, they are coming off a win over the previously undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers, thanks to Joe Flacco delivering a bit of magic in relief of an injured Anthony Richardson.
Whether it is Anthony Richardson, Joe Flacco, Joe Richardson, Anthony Flacco, or me under center — maybe not that last option — give me the Colts this weekend. — Mark Schofield
Carolina Panthers over the Chicago Bears
This feels like one of those games that will end up 36-10 and I couldn’t possibly tell you who is going to score the 36. That means it’s totally up in the air and ripe for an upset.
Everything in this matchup hinges on offensive line play on both sides of the ball. The Bears have an atrocious OL when it comes to protecting Caleb Williams, but thankfully for Chicago the Panthers have a poor pass rush that’s become terrible without Derrick Brown in the lineup.
On the other side we have the Panthers, who have quietly assembled the best offensive line in the league. Andy Dalton is going to have time back there, and the bizarro Panthers have started to score in bunches since the switch at QB. I think Carolina can pull this one off and stun a lot of people despite being +3.5 dogs. — James Dator
Cleveland Browns over the Washington Commanders
You are right to assume that the Producer at Dawgs By Nature is slightly biased toward the 1-3 Browns knocking off the 3-1 Commanders on the road.
Cleveland’s offensive line is a mess, the defense has regressed far beyond “the mean” after a great season last year and QB Deshaun Watson has been mostly bad while Washington has excelled this season.
On the other hand, the expensive Browns roster is in must-win mode, Watson had his best game in Week 4 and HC Kevin Stefanski has lost three or more games in a row just twice in his four-plus season in the NFL.
RB Brian Robinson’s knee injury also plays a role in this prediction. — Jared Mueller
Miami Dolphins over the New England Patriots
The Dolphins looked pretty awful last Monday, so I get why people would pass on them. But I think whatever QB situation we see gets a little better this week. Add in the potential return of running back Raheem Mostert to the lineup and I think even a Skylar Thompson or Tyler Huntley could do some things.
On the other side of the ball, the Patriots lost center David Andrews to a shoulder injury and with him on injured reserve, that shakes things up in a big way. Miami doesn’t have a particularly good defensive line, but they’ll be in a much better position against a Patriots offensive line that is missing a key starter. — David Fucillo