The student voice of Washington State University since 1895
The student voice of Washington State University since 1895
Ibrahim and Keller make their choices for Week 5
[A large Cougar football helmet paraded around Pullman on a trailer to advertise the First Down Friday event.
A large Cougar football helmet paraded around Pullman on a trailer to advertise the First Down Friday event.](https://dailyevergreen.com/200106/sports/football/week-5-picks-bills-beat-rams-and-seahawks-roll-past-49ers/#photo)
(Keller)
Bucs vs Cowboys
Dallas delivered a special offensive performance against the Texans last Sunday. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb delivered one of the best quarterback-wide receiver duos ever. Prescott finished with 335 passing yards and a touchdown on 32 completions, 17 of which Lamb caught during his 189-yard, one-score day. Javonte Williams had an electric day on the ground, snagging three touchdowns. This was the third week in a row of the Cowboys scoring thirty-plus, and I don’t expect them to slow down on Thursday night.
It has been quite the opposite start to the season for the Buccaneers. Rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels was thrown into the starting lineup after Baker Mayfield went down with a hand injury in Week 3. The offense has since been limited even more, as it didn’t look much better with Mayfield in to start the season. Tampa Bay’s defense has looked strong this season and has consistently kept them in games. Yet going against a Dallas team that put up 30 on one of the league’s best, they certainly have a strong challenge ahead of them in Week 5.
The biggest matchup I am looking forward to in this game is Emeka Egbuka vs. Joey Porter Jr. Porter Jr. was just recently traded from Pittsburgh to the Cowboys, and has solidified himself as one of the best cornerbacks in football. Egbuka has struggled so far this season, and the team has missed the impact that the wide receiver brought in 2025. While I don’t see this affecting the outcome of the game, I think Egbuka needs to make an impact in this one if they want any chance of playing for the win.
Prediction: Cowboys 33-12
Eagles vs Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are red hot after a big win against the Bengals. Liam Coen has this offense rolling recently, putting up strong numbers against some strong defensive units. Trevor Lawrence has an 8-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and the pass game has been strong at every level. The defense has also been showing out through four weeks, allowing more than 20 points in only one game so far this season.
It has not been the same start for the Eagles. Injuries have killed their strong start to the season, as Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert have been ruled out with injury at some point within the last two weeks. Philly recently lost two of their starting linemen as well, trading Cam Jurgens to Baltimore and losing Lane Johnson to a shocking retirement.
The Eagles and Jags are in two different positions as franchises heading into their Week 5 matchup. A few weeks ago I most likely would have given Philly the nod, but it seems that the Jags may be the better team through five weeks.
Prediction: Jaguars 31-20
Giants vs Commanders
The Giants are 2-0 with Jameis Winston at quarterback yet I wouldn’t say it’s the offense winning them games. The last two wins for New York have ended in game-sealing interceptions from Jevon Holland and Deonte Banks. The G-Men have gotten the signature Winston experience, however, as the gun slinger had three touchdowns and two interceptions in Sunday’s win against the Cardinals.
Jayden Daniels is expected to return in this week’s five-game matchup. The offense looked great with Daniels in, narrowly losing to a healthy Philadelphia unit, and only losing by a touchdown at halftime in Week 2, before he went down with an injury. The rest of the offense has picked it up since Daniels was last playing as well, with a huge win over Seattle. If Daniels is back in this matchup, I see it being a good game.
The Commanders’ defense has been their biggest problem. The Commanders are ranked No. 25 in passing defense per Fox Sports. This unit is sure to have a problem going up against Winston, Malik Nabers, and the high-powered passing offense in New York. With Daniels’ return, I see this being a fun one, but the Commanders’ mismatch in the secondary is troublesome.
Prediction: Giants 28-25
Browns vs Jets
Cleveland is rolling into Week 5 on a two-game win streak, and has only looked better as time goes on. Deshaun Watson and the offense looked great in Todd Monken’s scheme, and the defense has continued to produce like the same old squad we remember. While the Jets offense is sure to give them some trouble this week, I can’t imagine Cleveland’s defense breaking as they did in Week 1.
After three weeks of amazing offense, the Jets were limited to only 32 offensive plays by the Bears in their Week 4 loss. While the Bears defense has exceeded expectations to start the season, limiting an offense to only 32 plays is pure dominance. With that being said, Geno Smith and this offense have gotten things rolling big time and have truly elevated the passing game. The run game is struggling without Breece Hall, but that isn’t truly the Jets’ bread and butter.
Both units have exceeded expectations to start the season. While the Jets offense has looked strong and the defense has been better than it was in previous seasons, Cleveland is on a hot streak. I do see that ending at some point, but I do not think the Jets will be the team to halt their momentum.
Prediction: Browns 24-17
Colts vs Steelers
The Colts have surged after starting 0-2, winning two straight and looking like the offense we once saw in 2025. Jonathan Taylor has been elite, rushing for two touchdowns in three of their four games this season. Daniel Jones and the pass game have looked strong as well, carving up an elite Houston secondary in Week 3.
Unfortunately for the Steelers, the Colts are a nightmare matchup for them. Losing Porter Jr. was a huge hit to the secondary that may have made it one of the worst in the league. While the front seven has balled out, the Colts’ pass game is strong enough to give the defense problems. I can see Aaron Rodgers balling out against Indy’s defense as he did against the Bengals in Week 3, but I’m going to take Indianapolis continuing their win streak in this one.
Prediction: Colts 20-17
Texans vs Titans
It’s a battle for the first win in the Texans vs. Titans matchup. Despite the record, Houston has looked strong to start the season. C.J. Stroud and company have lost by only one score in every game but one through four weeks, and the offense has looked elite, putting up 30 points in two of their four losses and only scoring single digits once. DeMeco Ryans’ defense has been surprisingly underwhelming after a strong 2025 season, but with him taking over defensive playcalling, they look like they may return to that elite form soon.
Tennessee has just looked bad. They have kept themselves close in their losses against the Eagles and Giants, but it has just been sloppy football from the 2026 Titans. Cam Ward and Carnell Tate have begun to connect as each week progresses, yet I can’t see a world where the Titans offense explodes against a strong defense in Houston.
Prediction: Texans 34-21
Lions vs Cardinals
The Cardinals had a rough outing against New York, in which they had no answer for the Giants on either side of the ball. I expect that to change in Week 5, as the Lions have been the worst defense in the league thus far. Trey McBride and Michael Wilson have looked elite even against bad defenses in recent weeks, and I expect them to both have explosive games against Detroit on Sunday.
For the Lions, it’s been a rough couple of weeks. They did pull away with a win in Week 3, but they’ve relied on their offense too much. Jahmyr Gibbs and the offense may be one of the best units in the league, putting up 26 points or more in every game this season. I see this game going the exact same way as both teams’ whole season has. Two elite offenses matching up against two abysmal defenses. Yet Arizona is 1-3 and looks a lot more energized as a team. I expect an offensive masterclass in this one, but I think Arizona’s losing streak ends in Week 5.
Prediction: Cardinals 44-38
Vikings vs Saints
Similar to Arizona, the Saints are coming off a few rough weeks heading into this matchup. While Tyler Shough and company look like a top five offense in the league, they haven’t been able to make it happen with a weak defense on the backend. This may be a rough matchup for the Saints as the Vikings defense looks lethal this week, and I see this being a big prove-it game for Shough and company.
Despite the Vikings’ 4-0 record, I struggle to see them as true contenders. Minnesota narrowly beat out the 0-4 Miami Dolphins 15-10 on Sunday, and it only came after a 13-reception, 119-yard career day from T.J. Hockenson. The offense looks uninspiring with Justin Jefferson out and Kyler Murray at the helm. Defensively, Brian Flores and company have been possibly the best unit in the league thus far, but I think the Saints will be the ones to give them a run for their money. One side of the football can’t win you football games forever, and the Vikings will feel their offense’s weakness in this one.
Prediction: Saints 24-15
(Ibrahim)
Raiders vs. Patriots
The Raiders are coming off a loss to the Chiefs, but they kept it close until the final minutes. Over the last few years, games between the two have not been close or competitive. Head coach Klint Kubiak and quarterback Kirk Cousins have blended well and have the Raiders’ offense firing on all cylinders.
However, the Patriots are coming off a win against the then-undefeated Bills. They also have a top-six defense in total yards, so the key to the game will be turnovers. Whichever team wins the turnover battle has a high chance of winning the game. With Drake Maye throwing the ball, the Raiders will have a plethora of opportunities.
Prediction: Raiders 24-20
Bengals vs. Dolphins
Star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is still in concussion protocol, and normally teams elect to rest a player against a team like the Dolphins. But the Bengals are not in a comfortable position to risk sitting Chase and having their offense lay a dud.
The Dolphins are 0-4 and do not have a lot of winnable games on their schedule. They are in the first year of their rebuild, so winning is not a big factor, but the way you lose matters. When the Detroit Lions were in their rebuilding era, they were competitive and made teams earn the wins.
Prediction: Bengals 24-13
Bears vs. Packers
Quarterback Caleb Williams is expected to miss Week 5. Williams has missed the last two games for the Bears, but they are 2-0 and rolling. Backup quarterbacks Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent have killed it. While there is no question the Bears are better with Williams playing, both Keenum and Bagent have stepped in, done their job, and not tried to cosplay as Superman and cost the Bears wins.
The Packers have issues everywhere: They cannot run the ball, cannot consistently stop the run and cannot defend the pass. On top of that, star rusher Micah Parsons is still not practicing. Parsons has not played at all this season, and the Packers desperately need help on the defensive line. With no real timeline for his return, things could get tricky for not just Parsons but the Packers, who are 2-2 and at the bottom of the NFC North.
Prediction: Bears 34-20
Broncos vs. Chargers
Quarterback Justin Herbert has underperformed heavily this season. All offseason, Chargers coaches mentioned how he was looking dynamic and in for an MVP-caliber season. It has been the opposite, but it is not all on Herbert. The Chargers run game is averaging 126 yards per game, which, for a team without a deadly passing attack, does not get it done. They will need to find it this weekend against a fiery Broncos defense coming off a loss.
The Broncos will win this game if they win the turnover battle. Herbert has thrown six interceptions this season. While the Broncos defense might be a little depleted, they still have all the necessary pieces to create turnovers and keep the Chargers offense lifeless.
Prediction: Broncos 17-6
49ers vs. Seahawks
The best rivalry in all of football: Blue vs. Red, Old vs. New, Elite vs. Overhyped. The last time the two played was in the divisional round of last year’s playoffs, when the Seahawks won 41-6. Before that, it was Week 18, when the Seahawks won 13-3. The only difference is they do not have their all-world running back Kenneth Walker, who killed the 49ers all of last season. They will be relying heavily on the arm of quarterback Sam Darnold, who is currently in a turnover streak, something that cannot continue if the Seahawks want to win.
For the 49ers, the blueprint is simple: attack Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe deep and in the short passing game. Keep the ball away from safety Nick Emmanwori and cornerback Devon Witherspoon. They will also need to dominate the outside zone run game. On the interior, there is no chance the 49ers can have success with Byron Murphy and Leonard Williams both playing at an All-Pro level.
Prediction: Seahawks 24-13
Ravens vs. Falcons
Injuries have taken over the Ravens this week, as quarterback Lamar Jackson, cornerback Marlon Humphrey and lineman Andrew Vorhees are all dealing with some sort of injury. Whether they will play is yet to be determined. But with a red-hot Falcons team, the Ravens cannot afford to go into this game shorthanded on the offensive side.
The Falcons look like a new team, in large part due to quarterback Michael Penix Jr. He has made their passing offense dangerous, which opens up the run game and when Bijan Robinson is your lead back, things get dangerous. In the last two weeks, Robinson totaled 339 rushing yards and four touchdowns. In the two games without Penix at quarterback, he had 155 rushing yards. They will need to continue their momentum offensively and limit turnovers to beat the Ravens.
Prediction: Falcons 34-20
Bills vs. Rams
If Seahawks vs. 49ers is not the game of the week, this will be. Two high-powered offenses have defenses that are not all that amazing but create timely turnovers and stops. Games where the passing offenses are elite normally end up being dominated by the run. The team that can run the ball at an effective rate will win. The edge goes to the Bills with James Cook, the defending rushing leader. While he has been off to a slow start, he is still capable of breaking any run for a touchdown.
The Rams need defending MVP Matthew Stafford to regain his 2025 self. Stafford has regressed and looked out of rhythm. What was supposed to be a layup of a season for the Rams has turned into a 2-2 start, with Stafford throwing only six touchdowns and six interceptions. The Rams need to keep Josh Allen and Cook on the sideline and find a way to get to Allen in the pocket.
Prediction: Bills 42-37
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