The Silcoff Selections: NFL Week 5 Predictions – Straight Up & Against the Spread Picks

The Silcoff Selections are here for Week 5 of the 2026 NFL Season! Below are my records for my straight up and against the spread picks for the season thus far.

Records Last Week:

Straight Up: 7-9

Against The Spread: 6-9-1

Season Records:

Straight Up: 37-27

Against The Spread: 29-34-1

Thursday Night Football: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-4) @ Dallas Cowboys (2-2) I Line: Cowboys -8.5

The Cowboys are coming off one of the more impressive wins they’ve had in recent memory, going on the road to beat their state rival Texans in a game where CeeDee Lamb just dominated.

Meanwhile, the Buccaneers are already 0-4, and they’re going to be without Baker Mayfield. I just don’t think they have much of a shot here.

I actually expect a big game from George Pickens, who, while he’s been quiet to start the year, I think this Tampa Bay secondary is a good place for him to get right. CeeDee Lamb should dominate as well.

Dak and the boys dominate the Buccaneers to kick off the week.

Score Prediction: Cowboys 30, Buccaneers 18

ATS Pick: Cowboys -8.5

Sunday Slate:

Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) vs Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1) I Line: Jaguars -7.5

The Jaguars and Eagles head to London, and I think I just have to go with the healthier and better team at this point.

I do think the seven-and-a-half-point line is a bit disrespectful on the surface, but when you really look at it, the Eagles are going in there with what feels like a preseason roster and just having Jalen Hurts play quarterback with their offense. Also, the defense hasn’t been as great as I thought it would be to start the year.

Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars are just finding ways to win games. They’re also used to making this long flight to London, so I think that gives them another advantage here.

Give me the Jags in a comfortable win over the Eagles, who will suffer their third straight loss.

Score Prediction: Jaguars 23, Eagles 13

ATS Pick: Jaguars -7.5

Chicago Bears (3-1) @ Green Bay Packers (2-2) I Line: Bears -2.5

The Bears travel to Lambeau to take on the Packers in a game where they’re favored for the first time in 20 years in a road game against Green Bay.

And they’re doing this with their backup quarterback in Tyson Bagent, as Caleb Williams is out for a third straight game. While the Packers have not looked good to start this season, I think they’re desperate here, Green Bay fighting for their season.

I just don’t see them dropping a second straight home game to start the year, especially with how bad they played in Week 3 against the Falcons on a Thursday night. And I just think Ben Johnson’s coming in a bit arrogant here.

The Bears, I don’t think they’re going to be undefeated with their backups; the running backs are a bit banged up.Obviously, Green Bay doesn’t have any running backs right now, but I think that’s okay because I think Jordan Love and the receivers can cook this Chicago defense.

I don’t think the Bears' defense is as great as they’ve looked over the last three weeks. Green Bay has the offensive weapons to take advantage of that, and I think this is a spot where Jordan Love and the Packers offense finally put together the type of performance we expected from them coming into the year.

I don’t see Green Bay losing a third straight time to the Bears. I think they protect home field and get themselves right back into the NFC North and the NFC playoff picture.

Give me the Packers to somewhat pull off a home upset against the Bears, which is something you don’t hear often in the 21st century of the NFL.

Score Prediction: Packers 24, Bears 23

ATS Pick: Packers +2.5

Cincinnati Bengals (2-2) @ Miami Dolphins (0-4) I Line: Bengals -6.5

The Bengals could be without their two best receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, on Sunday in Miami, who are injured, but I don’t think that’s going to matter.

The Dolphins showed some fight last week against the Vikings, and I was impressed that they were able to stay in that game, but give me Joe Burrow and company to go on the road and handle business.

Chase Brown should have a huge game against this weak Dolphins defense, and I think Cincinnati gets the job done.

Score Prediction: Bengals 26, Dolphins 16

ATS Pick: Bengals -6.5

Cleveland Browns (3-1) @ New York Jets (1-3) I Line: Jets -1.5

The Browns are off to one of their best starts in years, while the Jets had some hope to start the year, but over the last couple of weeks, the offense has really started to struggle.

While this could be a trap game for the Browns after a big win last week, and they do have the rest advantage. I think they have the deeper team, and I think they’re the better-coached team.

Give me Cleveland to go on the road and win a tight battle against the Jets.

Score Prediction: Browns 20, Jets 17

ATS Pick: Browns +1.5

Houston Texans (0-4) @ Tennessee Titans (0-4) I Line: Texans -7.5

A huge game in the AFC South between two 0-4 teams.

The Titans we expected to maybe be here, they're rebuilding. The Texans, I thought, at the very least, would be a Super Bowl contender. The fact that we’re in October and they don’t have a win yet is shocking.

But give me the Texans to go on the road and dominate. I think this is the first time we see this defense look like the unit we expected against an obviously not very good Titans team.

Score Prediction: Texans 27, Titans 14

ATS Pick: Texans -7.5

Indianapolis Colts (2-2) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) I Line: Steelers -2.5

The Colts are coming off two straight wins after starting 0-2, while the Steelers are coming off 10 days of rest after a loss in Cleveland.

This is actually a big game for two potential AFC Wild Card teams. While I do think the Colts are the more talented team on paper and have probably been more impressive to start the year, my gut just tells me to take the Steelers in this one.

They have the rest advantage, and they just win these weird games where they’re out-talented, especially at home. I don’t know what it is, but every time the Steelers look like one of the worst teams you’ve ever seen, they always bounce back and find a way to win.

Give me the Steelers to win at home and get back on track.

Score Prediction: Steelers 24, Colts 21

ATS Pick: Steelers -2.5

Las Vegas Raiders (3-1) @ New England Patriots (2-2) I Line: Patriots -3.5

There aren’t many moral victories in sports, but the Raiders had one last week, showing they’re a real football team after going toe-to-toe with the Chiefs.

Meanwhile, the Patriots are coming off a huge win for them as they try to get their season back on track after winning in Buffalo to get back to .500. Drake Maye looks like the quarterback we saw most of last year, where he was an MVP candidate.

And while I do think the Patriots will start to look a bit better, I don’t know why, but my gut is just telling me to go with the Raiders on this one.

The Pats still aren’t healthy on offense, while the Raiders are coming in with some positive momentum. We still don’t know the status of Christian Gonzalez and Christian Barmore, and we know A.J. Brown isn’t going to be there for New England.

The Raiders have been impressive to start this year, and I think they find a way to go into Gillette and win for a second straight year.

Score Prediction: Raiders 23, Patriots 20

ATS Pick: Raiders +3.5

Minnesota Vikings (4-0) @ New Orleans Saints (1-3) I Line: Vikings -1.5

The Saints, I thought, would be so much better on Monday night against the Falcons, especially in the 20th anniversary game of Hurricane Katrina. But that was just pathetic. The coaching staff has been really underwhelming to start this year, while the Vikings, even though their offense hasn’t been impressive, have a legit defense.

Kyler Murray, I think he eventually will get this thing handled. I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt. It’s his first couple of games in a new system, and in the first game of the year, he got knocked out with a concussion.

We still don't know if Justin Jefferson is playing for the Vikings, and even if he doesn’t, I just think this is a coaching mismatch at this point. So I think the Vikings go on the road and win and somehow move to 5-0.

But again, I would not be shocked if the Saints found a way to pull this off after looking so bad. It might be the classic overreaction to a game on Monday night, and it might be a good thing they have short rest to get right back at it.

Score Prediction: Vikings 19, Saints 17

ATS Pick: Saints +2.5

New York Giants (3-1) @ Washington Commanders (1-3) I Line: Commanders -3.5

The Giants, ever since using Jaxson Dart in Week 2, have gone 2-0. In Weeks 3 and 4, obviously not against great competition in the Titans and Cardinals, but hey, they found a way to come back from behind against Arizona last week early on.

If Dart were healthy, they may have been my pick to win this division at this point, based on what we’ve seen throughout this season from the teams in their division. It just sucks that we won’t get a fully healthy Giants team.

But with Jayden Daniels back in the lineup for the Commanders, I think at home, Washington gets a win and moves to 2-3 while also getting themselves somewhat back into the division race.

If Daniels can stay healthy and Washington can look like the team we saw beat Seattle a couple of weeks ago, they might be a factor in this division. But it all depends on if their quarterback can stay upright.

Score Prediction: Commanders 28, Giants 24

ATS Pick: Commanders -3.5

Denver Broncos (2-2) @ Los Angeles Chargers (0-4) I Line: Broncos -3.5

If we want to talk about disappointing teams to start the year, the Chargers have to be at the top of that list, along with the Texans. They’re 0-4, and they’ve just been thoroughly outcoached in all facets in every game. Justin Herbert is getting his ass kicked, and even he hasn’t been good, to say the least.

So while the Chargers are due for a win, they very well could get it this week against a divisional opponent. I just think Denver, at this point, is a more desperate team to keep up with Kansas City. The Chargers, in a way, feel like their season is already done.

The Chargers’ offensive line is already banged up, and while Bo Nix has to be better if Denver wants to reach their true potential, I just can’t go against him here. As long as the game is close, like I expect it to be, he usually finds ways to win in the fourth quarter, no matter how bad he’s played to start a game. Justin Herbert, throughout his career, just hasn’t done that on a consistent basis.

Denver, I think, wins on the road in the division and gets back above .500. Meanwhile, I somewhat fear for Justin Herbert’s health in this one, especially if he’s without Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt.

Score Prediction: Broncos 22, Chargers 16

ATS Pick: Broncos -3.5

Detroit Lions (2-2) @ Arizona Cardinals (1-3) I Line: Lions -5.5

The Lions and Cardinals are just going to have an absolute shootout this week with absolutely zero defense being played. So at that point, just give me the more talented team, which is obviously the Lions.

I think Jared Goff and Jacoby Brissett could combine for almost 800 or 900 yards passing. I think Jahmyr Gibbs is going to have a monster game here again, along with Amon-Ra St. Brown. On the Cardinals side, expect big games from Jeremiyah Love and Trey McBride.

Again, I think this is going to be a shootout-type game where the Lions are somewhat comfortably ahead for most of the way, but there are going to be tons of points here.

Give me Detroit in a must-win spot after losing in Carolina last weekend.

Score Prediction: Lions 30, Cardinals 28

ATS Pick: Cardinals +5.5

San Francisco 49ers (4-0) @ Seattle Seahawks (3-1) I Line: Seahawks -3

One of the games of the week is taking place in Seattle when the undefeated 49ers go down to Lumen Field to take on the Seahawks.

We saw these two teams play three times last year. The Niners won the first game in Seattle in Week 1, while the Seahawks then dominated this team in Week 18 when the NFC West and the number one seed were on the line in a 13-3 win, and then obviously in the Divisional Round, where Seattle dominated 41-6.

I will say that for the 49ers, at that point in the year, they were severely banged up with key players out throughout their lineup. And in the one healthy game for both these teams, the Niners did win, obviously that being in Week 1, but it does have to mean something.

As a Seahawks fan, I want to think that we should win this game. Mike Macdonald has dominated Kyle Shanahan throughout the years, even going back to when he was the Ravens defensive coordinator, and then we saw that on full display in the two key games at the end of last year.

But my gut’s just telling me the Seahawks offense is not playing up to its potential right now. The defense is taking dumb penalties, and the Niners are just humming on all cylinders. I understand they’re once again banged up, but they’re one of those teams that’s not afraid to go into Seattle.

I think the Niners are just playing better football at this point, and you can call me a fake fan or whatever. I like to call myself realistic, and I just think it’s fair to say the 49ers have been the more impressive team to start this season.

So I think San Francisco actually goes into Seattle and wins a nail-biter. It’s also tough for me to see Seattle winning three straight games against this 49ers team going back to last year with how talented and how well-coached they are.

As much as it kills me to say it, while putting my football fan hat on as opposed to my Seahawks hat, I’m going to say the Niners go on the road and beat the Seahawks in what will be a close game.

Score Prediction: 49ers 24, Seahawks 20

ATS Pick: 49ers +3

Sunday Night Football: Baltimore Ravens (3-1) @ Atlanta Falcons (2-2) I Line: Falcons -3.5

On Sunday Night Football, we’ve got the Ravens, who will be without Lamar Jackson, going to Atlanta to take on the red-hot Falcons.

At the start of the week, I won’t lie, in my head I was still leaning Baltimore. I thought the overreaction to Atlanta might be a bit much, and people might be underselling how good this Ravens team is even without Lamar Jackson.

But the more I think about it, I honestly should be very much concerned about how bad the Ravens offense looked without Lamar in the second half last week against the Tennessee Titans.

The Falcons, meanwhile, are just playing great football right now. Bijan Robinson looks unstoppable, Michael Penix Jr. is getting the ball to his playmakers, and I think he’s going to continue to do that.

Kevin Stefanski is familiar with the Ravens, coming from the AFC North, where the Browns always play Baltimore tough. So I think he’s familiar with this team, familiar with matching up against them, and knows how to game-plan for them.

I think the Falcons somehow keep this momentum going and may beat the Ravens. Atlanta wins its third straight and gets right back into the thick of things in the NFC South.

Score Prediction: Falcons 27, Ravens 16

ATS Pick: Falcons -3.5

Monday Night Football: Buffalo Bills (3-1) @ Los Angeles Rams (2-2) I Line: Rams -3

On Monday Night Football, we have what could be a potential Super Bowl preview when the Buffalo Bills travel to L.A. to take on the Rams.

Whenever these teams play, Josh Allen always seems to have one of his better games of the season, and I expect him to do that once again. But last week was a bit of an eye-opener that he’s not always going to be that dominant quarterback, as he was terrible in that loss to the Patriots.

Meanwhile, Matthew Stafford himself looked terrible for the first few quarters against Philadelphia. But then in the fourth quarter, he and the Rams erased a 10-point deficit to beat the Eagles in a must-win spot for them to avoid going 1-3.

At the end of the day, I think both these offenses are a wash. It’s going to come down to which defense I trust more, and for me, that’s the Rams.

I think Aaron Donald will play in this game, and I think the Rams are just better coached with Sean McVay as opposed to Joe Brady. They also have more playmakers on that side of the ball. Greg Rousseau has obviously been great for the Bills this year, but the Bills’ corners are always a concern. And while the Rams’ corners haven’t been great to start this year, I don’t think Buffalo has the requisite receivers to actually burn them the way other teams can.

I think this is going to be a high-scoring game, and I expect Josh Allen and Matthew Stafford to both have their moments. But when it comes down to it, I trust the Rams’ defense more, I trust Sean McVay more, and I think playing at home gives them the final edge.

Give me the Rams to win a shootout at home, get back above .500, and hand the Bills their second straight loss.

Score Prediction: Rams 31, Bills 27

ATS Pick: Rams -3

Straight Up/Moneyline Picks:

• Cowboys

• Jaguars

• Packers

• Bengals

• Browns

• Texans

• Steelers

• Raiders

• Vikings

• Commanders

• Broncos

• Lions

• 49ers

• Falcons

• Rams

Picks ATS:

• Cowboys -8.5

• Jaguars -7.5

• Packers +2.5

• Bengals -6.5

• Browns +1.5

• Texans -7.5

• Steelers -2.5

• Raiders +3.5

• Saints +2.5

• Commanders -3.5

• Broncos -3.5

• Cardinals +5.5

• 49ers +3

• Falcons -3.5

• Rams -3