Broncos vs. Jets (+7½)
Former Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is facing felony charges after a bloody encounter with a grease truck driver in Indianapolis. Upon hearing the shocking news, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt recommended Sanchez for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Pick: Broncos by 14
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Bears at Commanders (-4½)
It’s the rematch of last year’s infamous Hail Mary Game. They’ll mark the occasion in a touching pregame coin toss, where Chicago’s Tyrique Stevenson will run out onto the field late, then bat the coin to Noah Brown.
Pick: Commanders by 3
FILE – Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown (85) catches a 52-yard touchdown pass in the end zone as time expires to give the Commanders an 18-15 win over the Chicago Bears in an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
Seahawks at Jaguars (+1½)
Jacksonville upset the mighty Chiefs on Monday night when QB Trevor Lawrence scrambled after falling down for the winning touchdown. Kansas City defensive star Chris Jones said it was the most amazing play he had ever witnessed while standing still on the field.
Pick: Seahawks by 3
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (95) reacts to play against the Buffalo Bills during the second half of the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lions at Chiefs (-1½)
Taylor Swift has vehemently denied she will be giving up her music career when she marries Travis Kelce. In contrast, the Kansas City tight end has not denied that he has given up on this season.
Pick: Lions by 7
Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs attend the Men’s Singles Final match between Taylor Fritz of the United States and Jannik Sinner of Italy on Day Fourteen of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 08, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Browns at Steelers (-4½)
Former Browns wideout Odell Beckham Jr. revealed this week that he has been suspended six games for use of performance-enhancing drugs. NFL insiders report that nobody’s interested, and nobody cares.
Pick: Steelers by 7
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) on the sideline against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Chargers at Dolphins (+4½)
The once perfect 1972 Dolphins toasted the demise of the two remaining undefeated teams on Sunday. While many significant members of that 17-0 team have passed away, those Dolphins in 2025 would still wipe the floor with this Miami mess.
Pick: Chargers by 7
FILE- Former Miami Dolphin’s quarterback Bob Griese, left, holds a signed jersey with President Barack Obama and Hall of Fame coach Don Shula, forty-one years after their perfect football season as President Barack Obama honors the Super Bowl VII Champion Miami Dolphins in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013. The 1972 Miami Dolphins remain the only undefeated team in NFL history. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
Cowboys at Panthers (+3½)
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was fined $250,000 for flipping off Jets fans last Sunday in New Jersey. Jones said his middle fingers were “inadvertent,” which is the same adjective he uses to describe how the Johnnie Walker keeps finding its way into his coffee mug.
Pick: Cowboys by 7
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stands on the sidelines prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Denver Broncos, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Rams at Ravens (+7½)
Injury-riddled Baltimore has dropped to 1-4 but is still the betting favorite to win the AFC North on both FanDuel and DraftKings. It’s the surest sign yet that bettors on FanDuel and DraftKings are mostly clueless.
Pick: Rams by 11
Derrick Henry #22 of the Baltimore Ravens is tackled as he rushes with the ball during the first quarter against the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium on Oct. 05, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Cardinals at Colts (-6½)
Arizona’s Emeri Demercado became the latest NFL pariah to drop the football in celebration in front of the end zone and cost his team a victory against then-winless Tennessee. The Cardinals’ running back was subsequently named an honorary Indianapolis Colt.
Pick: Colts by 3
Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado (31) reacts on the sideline after fumbling the ball out of the end zone on a touchdown run during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Titans at Raiders (-4½)
Vegas coach Pete Carroll and QB Geno Smith are struggling mightily at 1-4. It’s a cautionary tale for teams looking for a coaching-quarterbacking combo with a combined age of a hundred and eight.
Pick: Raiders by 7
Head coach Pete Carroll of the Las Vegas Raiders talks with Geno Smith #7 during the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Las Vegas Raiders and Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on Aug. 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Other games
Bills at Falcons (+3 ½)
Pick: Bills by 7
Patriots at Saints (+3 ½)
Pick: Patriots by 7
49ers at Buccaneers (-2½)
Pick: Buccaneers by 3
Bengals at Packers (-14½)
Pick: Packers by 14
Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills makes a pass during the third quarter of the game against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium on Oct. 05, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
Bye week
Texans, Vikings
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell leaves the field after a win over the Cleveland Browns in an NFL football game in London, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Adam Bettcher/AP Content Services for the NFL)
Record
Week 5
4-10 straight up
4-10 vs. spread
Season
44-33-1 straight up (.571)
36-42 vs. spread (.462)
All-time (2003-25)
3863-2134-15 straight up (.644)
2946-2921-145 vs spread (.502)
Another proud Northwestern moment. (File photo)
You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X– @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.
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