Mayfield’s Bucs visit Cousins’ Falcons on Thursday to open NFL Week 5. Is upset brewing? Our pick
GREG COTE’S NFL WEEK 5 THURSDAY PICK
BUCCANEERS (3-1) at FALCONS (2-2)
Line: ATL by 1 1/2.
Cote’s pick: TB, 27-23.
TV: 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Prime Video.
Upset! (Well, technically.) Battle for first place in the NFC South should be a fun prime-time watch to uncork NFL Week 5 with Baker Mayfield and Kirk Cousins slingin’ it. Best bet might be the “over” on 43 1/2 total points. Both teams are coming off major wins — TB over Philly, and ATL with a division W over N’Awlins — although Bucs and Birds each have lost two straight on Thursday night stage. Tampa is 4-1 straight up in its past five trips to Atlanta and should keep that trend going, with Bucs the better squad and Falcons’ home field not enough edge to overcome that. Mayfield has been one of best QBs in the league thus far — yes, I actually wrote those words without ironic intent — and Atlanta’s tepid pass rush (league-low four sacks) won’t do enough to mess with Baker’s rhythm.
Betting line courtesy ESPNBet as of mid-afternoon Wednesday.
This story was originally published October 2, 2024 at 2:28 PM.
