NFL Week 5: Experts Split on Bears-Packers, 49ers-Seahawks Showdowns

Key points

• The 49ers are 4-0 with QB Brock Purdy having not been sacked, while the Lions are 2-0 at home but 0-2 on the road.
• The Cowboys are favored to beat the 0-5 Buccaneers, with experts citing the Bucs' poor defense and rookie QB Jalon Daniels.
• The Bears are favored over the Packers, but some experts like Pete Prisco predict a Packers upset, citing the Bears' reliance on their running game.
• The 49ers are favored over the Seahawks, but experts are split, with some predicting a Seahawks win due to their defense and the 49ers' road struggles.
• The Rams are favored over the Bills in Monday Night Football, with experts expecting a high-scoring game due to the Bills' defensive injuries and the Rams' strong offense.

Background

The 2026 NFL season is in its fifth week, with a clear pecking order emerging. The 49ers and Lions are among the top teams, while the Buccaneers and Dolphins are struggling. The Week 5 schedule includes several key matchups that could impact division titles and playoff spots later in the season. Previous weeks have seen the Bills, Lions, and Chargers rally, while the Patriots and Cowboys have also shown strength.

How outlets are covering it

Experts are divided on several games. For the Bears-Packers game, CBS Sports' Pete Prisco predicts a Packers upset, while other experts like the Arizona Republic and Sports Illustrated favor the Bears. For the 49ers-Seahawks game, CBS Sports and Sporting News favor the 49ers, while The Detroit News and some other experts favor the Seahawks. For the Rams-Bills game, CBS Sports and Yahoo! Sports favor the Rams, while The Detroit News favors the Bills. The Detroit News also shows a split on the Lions-Cardinals game, with two experts favoring the Cardinals and two favoring the Lions. The ESPN source was a 403 error page and provided no information.

Why it matters

The results of Week 5 will provide more clarity on the pecking order in the NFL and could impact division titles and playoff spots later in the season. The 49ers and Lions are among the top teams, while the Buccaneers and Dolphins are struggling. The Week 5 schedule includes several key matchups that could impact the standings and the playoff picture.

What to watch

The NFL will continue with Week 6, with more key matchups and potential upsets. The 49ers and Lions will look to maintain their strong starts, while the Buccaneers and Dolphins will try to turn their seasons around. The Week 5 results will provide more clarity on the pecking order in the NFL and could impact division titles and playoff spots later in the season.