After a successful first month of football, Week 5 showed us how COVID-19 is going to affect the National Football League going forward. With games postponed and bye weeks reshuffled, teams are going to have to be more agile than ever to succeed this season.
Here’s where all 32 NFL teams stand as we head into Week 6 of the 2020 NFL season:
1. Seattle Seahawks (5-0)
Super Bowl Odds: +800
Despite an uncharacteristically leaky defense, the Seahawks are 5-0 in 2020. As it stands, Seattle has already given up 2356 scrimmage yards through the first five weeks, the most in the league and the most by any team through five games since 1950. Although they’re conceding ground, Seattle’s defense has also forced 10 turnovers, the second most in the league. In terms of their offense, Russell Wilson validated his MVP favouritism, leading a game winning drive in the dying stages of their Week 5 victory over the Vikings.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (4-1)
Super Bowl Odds: +400
One bad loss cannot wipe away the fact that the Kansas City Chiefs are one of the best teams in football and still the favourite to win the Super Bowl. The strength of Patrick Mahomes’ offensive line is the only concern going forward.
3. Green Bay Packers (4-0)
Super Bowl Odds: +900
After an undefeated first month of football, the Packers will be coming off their Week 5 bye ready to stake their claim as genuine Super Bowl contenders in the remainder of the season. Having put up 30+ points in each of their first four games, the Packers offense led by MVP candidate Aaron Rodgers is one of the most potent in the league, despite their substantial injury list.
4. Baltimore Ravens (4-1)
Super Bowl Odds: +550
Baltimore do what all good teams in the NFL should do, they pummel bad teams. They defeat who they should defeat and they often do it in a resounding fashion. However, in three matchups between Lamar Jackson and ‘rival’ QB Patrick Mahomes, the Ravens are 0-3. Baltimore’s ability to win ‘big games’ has been on notice since their playoff exit in 2019 and the question remains following their 34-20 Week 3 loss to the Chiefs. Despite ranking 31st in passing amongst the league, averaging 178.8 yards per game, the Ravens, with the reigning MVP, are still a serious contender to come out of the AFC.
5. Buffalo Bills (4-1)
Super Bowl Odds: +1800
After having their Week 5 matchup postponed until Tuesday, the Bills were demolished 42-17 by the Titans. The defeat was Buffalo’s first loss of the season and given the scheduling changes that occurred it should not take anything away from the impressive first month that Josh Allen and the Bills put together. If their Week 6 matchup against the Chiefs goes ahead as planned, we will get a great look into how Buffalo’s young roster can respond from a big loss against Tennessee.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-0)
Super Bowl Odds: +1300
With their main man returning to the quarterback position, the Steelers have captured their first 4-0 start since 1979. In his first month back from a near career ending elbow injury, Roethlisberger has thrown 10 touchdowns, one interception at a 67% completion rate in a season that could see him named the AP Comeback Player of the Year. In Pittsburgh’s Week 5 victory over the Eagles, Chase Claypool (Pick 49 in the 2020 draft) put the league on notice, becoming the first Steelers rookie in franchise history to score four touchdowns in a game, and the first Steeler since 1968 to do so.
7. Tennessee Titans (4-0)
Super Bowl Odds: +2000
Despite COVID-19 doing everything that it can to derail the Titans season, they now sit undefeated after Week 5. Derrick Henry was back to his best, rushing for 57 yards and two touchdowns in Tennessee’s 42-17 victory over the Bills, while quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw for 195 yards and four total touchdowns. Despite facing a lot of scrutiny after having 24 players and team personnel members test positive for COVID-19 since Sep. 24, the Titans have moved to 4-0 for the second time in franchise history.
8. Los Angeles Rams (4-1)
Super Bowl Odds: +1800
Both offensively and defensively Sean McVay has the Rams rolling once again. In the Rams Week 5 victory against Washington, defensive tackle Aaron Donald had four sacks, three TFLs and a forced fumble as he continues to put together another Defensive Player of the Year calibre season. On the offensive end, their running game looks to be working, with timely passing plays from Jared Goff leading them to their 4-1 record.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)
Super Bowl Odds: +1800
Nick Foles claimed another victory over Tom Brady, as the Bears sunk the Bucs in Week 5. Tampa Bay are tied for a league-leading 42 offensive penalties through their first five games, conceding 410 penalty yards, the second most in the NFL. Despite the alleged mistaken fourth down count by Tom Brady on the final drive, the Bucs 11 penalties for 109 yards ultimately lost them the game against Chicago. Coming off a five touchdown performance in Week 4, there is no doubt Tom Brady can still sling it with the best of them, despite occasionally looking every bit of his 43 years old. A Week 6 matchup against the Packers, will be a better look into where Tampa Bay are at.
10. New Orleans Saints (3-2)
Super Bowl Odds: +1200
The Saints were very fortunate to escape their MNF matchup against the Charger with a win. An impressive 17 point second half comeback to force the game to overtime proved to be enough to run over the young Chargers. However, the Saints defense in the first half was torn apart by fifth game QB Justin Herbert. Emmanuel Sanders led New Orleans in Week 5, with 12 catches for 122 yards, building a frightening prospect for defensive coordinators around the league with Alvin Kamara dominating both inside and outside and Michael Thomas expected to be back after their bye week.
11. Cleveland Browns (4-1)
Super Bowl Odds: +3500
Despite allowing the third most pass yards per game in the NFL (296.4), the Cleveland Browns are 4-1 after five games of the season. After losing running back Nick Chubb to an MCL injury, Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jnr. look to have finally established an on-field connection that can lead to Browns victories. Cleveland’s schedule only gets tougher from here and will be a great test to see where the Browns are truly at.
12. New England Patriots (2-2)
Super Bowl Odds: +2500
Along with the Titans, New England has been the team most affected by COVID-19 so far this season. The Pats were a successful Cam Newton goal line rush off a 3-0 start to the season, but now sit 2-2 with their new QB testing positive to the virus prior to their Week 4 matchup against Kansas City. Being forced into a Week 5 bye may not have been the worst result for New England, as they eagerly await negative test results from several of their starters.
13. Las Vegas Raiders (3-2)
Super Bowl Odds: +4000
An impressive underdog victory against the division leading Chiefs has moved the Raiders to above .500 and to within a game of the top spot in the AFC West. Despite allowing the reigning Super Bowl champs 32 points, Derek Carr outplayed Patrick Mahomes in a three touchdown, 347 yard performance to help secure the Raiders first win at Arrowhead since 2012.
14. Chicago Bears (4-1)
Super Bowl Odds: +4000
Somehow, the Bears are 4-1. Nick Foles once again bested Tom Brady to secure a nail-biting one point victory on Thursday Night Football. Although Foles has been serviceable since replacing Mitch Trubisky, the team relies heavily on their defense. Outside linebacker and 2016 Defensive Player of the Year, Khalil Mack was the key to Chicago’s victory over the Bucs, putting Tom Brady under immense pressure in his best game of the season.
15. Arizona Cardinals (3-2)
Super Bowl Odds: +4500
After starting the season 2-0 then slipping to 2-2, a Week 5 matchup against the Jets was exactly what the Cardinals were after. The Jets dismal defense allowed Kyler Murray to both throw and run the football as he pleased, giving the second year quarterback some necessary confidence as the Cardinals look to push for a wildcard playoff berth.
16. Indianapolis Colts (3-2)
Super Bowl Odds: +2800
The Phillip Rivers experiment looks to be hanging on by a thread, with the 38 year old having thrown five interceptions and only four touchdowns so far this season. Rivers threw two interceptions, including a pick-six, and took a safety in the Colts Week 5 loss to the Browns. Having been the seventh best rushing team in the league in 2019, Indianapolis have slipped to 19th in 2020. A trait they will have to rediscover if they want to stop Rivers turning the football over.
17. Dallas Cowboys (2-3)
Super Bowl Odds: +4000
Despite a horrific injury to Dak Prescott that will leave him out for the season, Andy Dalton proved that he can still lead Dallas’ talented offense, as the backup QB guided the Cowboys to a three-point victory over the Giants. Defensively however, Dallas has lots to fix. Cowboys opponents have had 60 drives in the first five games and have scored on 31 of them, with 19 touchdowns and 12 field goals. The Cowboys potent offense may be strong enough to win a shootout against the Giants and the Falcons, but conceding a league high 36 points per game will not cut it against the top tier teams.
18. Carolina Panthers (3-2)
Super Bowl Odds: +8000
After two weeks of the season Carolina had lost their first two games and their All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey. To their credit, the Panthers have bounced back winning three games in a row to sit above .500 after five weeks. Matt Rhule is putting together a great season as head coach, allowing former Bears running back Mike Brown to step up in McCaffrey’s place.
19. San Francisco 49’ers (2-3)
Super Bowl Odds: +4000
Injuries are torturing the 2019 NFC champs, who in all honesty are just trying to stay afloat in 2020. Having lost their best defender in Nick Bosa for the season with an ACL injury, as well as intermittently missing both Kittle and Garopolo, the 49’ers playoff hopes are all but gone with the Seahawks, Rams and Cardinals pulling ahead in the NFC West.
20. Los Angeles Chargers (1-4)
Super Bowl Odds: +10000
First year quarterback Justin Herbert let it rip in Week 5, throwing for 264 yards and four touchdowns in the Chargers overtime loss against the Saints. As bleak as a 1-4 record looks, it does not reflect how well the Chargers have been playing, with all four losses occurring by seven points or less. LA have allowed the fifth most passing yards through the first five weeks, and have only caused four opposition turnovers, something they will have to improve on if they are going to start banking some more wins.
21. Miami Dolphins (2-3)
Super Bowl Odds: +15000
While we eagerly await the NFL debut of Tua Tagovailoa, the Miami Dolphins are proving to be a tough team to beat in the midst of their rebuild. The 37-year-old veteran QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is showing that he can still throw the football, with two TD’s in Miami’s 43-17 Week 5 win over the 49’ers. Having got their passing game going, the Dolphins now need to improve their inconsistent rushing group that are averaging just 3.7 yards per carry, 30th in the NFL.
22. Philadelphia Eagles (1-3-1)
Super Bowl Odds: +5000
The only thing keeping the Eagles season afloat is the strength of their division. The Cowboys sit atop of the NFC East with a 2-3 record and with only one win, one tie and three losses, the Eagles sit in second. Both their quarterback and their offensive line are lacking consistency, resulting in the equal most turnovers (11) in the league so far.
23. Minnesota Vikings (1-4)
Super Bowl Odds: +10000
Now with two 1 point losses so far this season, the Vikings sit with a record of 1-4 which could very easily be 3-2. Minnesota has one of the best rushing games in the NFL with the third most rushing yards (803) and the equal second most rushing TD’s (8). However, their passing game is letting them down. Kirk Cousins has thrown the second most interceptions in the league, forcing their young defense into multiple possession with poor field position.
24. Houston Texans (1-4)
Super Bowl Odds: +12500
The first season without DeAndre Hopkins is proving to be a difficult one for Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans. After firing head coach and GM Bill O’Brien, 73 year old Romeo Crennel became the oldest head coach in football history and more importantly led the Texans to their first win of the season.
25. Detroit Lions (1-3)
Super Bowl Odds: +15000
As Lions come out of their Week 5 bye, Matt Patricia’s coaching career is still hanging by a thread. With games against the Jaguars and the Falcons in Week 6 and 7, this may be Patricia’s last fortnight to prove that he can help turn this franchise around.
26. Cincinnati Bengals (1-3-1)
Super Bowl Odds: +30000
The Bengals look to have found their quarterback, but they have to start protecting him. Joe Burrow was hit 14 times and sacked on seven occasions in Cincinnati’s 27-3 Week 5 loss to the Ravens. With few elite wide receivers and a relatively inexperienced play caller, a rookie quarterback needs better protection from his offensive line.
27. Washington Football Team (1-4)
Super Bowl Odds: +25000
In Week 5, Washington benched second year quarterback Dwayne Haskins, replacing him with Kyle Allen and Alex Smith. The replacement duo threw a combined 18/31 for 111 yards and no touchdowns in a loss to the Rams. The Rams defense admittedly was ferocious, but that is certainly a step backwards at the quarterback position.
28. Denver Broncos (1-3)
Super Bowl Odds: +20000
Denver had a COVID-19 affected bye in Week 5, postponing their match against the Patriots to Week 6. Injuries to quarterback Drew Lock and wide receiver Courtland Sutton have limited the Broncos offensive options in 2020.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4)
Super Bowl Odds: +25000
After a victory over the Colts in Week 1, it has been tough going for the Jags, losing their last four matchups. In each of their four losses, Jacksonville has given up 30+ points, a feat that they have only allowed twice before in franchise history. Injury is beginning to take its toll on Jacksonville’s defense, who are allowing the fourth most yards per game (416.8) across the league.
30. Atlanta Falcons (0-5)
Super Bowl Odds: +25000
The Falcons are currently in the middle of a perfect storm. Atlanta’s defense is giving up 32.5 points and 446 yards per game, while their franchise quarterback Matt Ryan hasn’t been able to throw a touchdown in the past two weeks. A new coach and new GM will be looking to salvage something out of this season in Atlanta.
31. New York Giants (0-5)
Super Bowl Odds: +50000
With Saquon Barkley and Sterling Sheppard on the sideline, the Giants offense lacks avenues to the end-zone. Having scored six touchdowns for the year, one of which was on defense, the Giants offense is averaging just one touchdown per game with their 4.66 yards per play ranking 29th in the league.
32. New York Jets (0-5)
Super Bowl Odds: +50000
The Jets have become just the fourth team in 30 years to lose their first five games by multiple scores, with all of their losses by a margin of nine points or more. Like the Giants, the Jets have only scored six touchdowns in 2020, while also allowing 27 points per game. It’s looking like Trevor Lawrence or bust for the Jets in 2020.
*Odds correct at time of publication.
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Image by: Larry Maurer
