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Well, we were back to the big upsets in Week 5 as the top 2 underdogs ended up winning outright. The Arizona Cardinals upset the San Francisco 49ers 24-23 and the New York Giants stunned the Seattle Seahawks 29-20. Both the Cardinals and Giants were 7-point road underdogs.
In the USA TODAY NFL Survivor Pool contest, just 69 of the 10,357 players remain alive. And, that’s just through 5 weeks! This season has been unreal in terms of just trying to pick teams straight up, let alone against the spread.
Unfortunately, our top survivor pick last week was the Seahawks, who were facing a Giants team that was missing super rookie WR Malik Nabers and starting RB Devin Singletary. The Seahawks were supposed cruise in this one, but Giants rookie RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (129 rushing yards) and WR Darius Slayton (122 receiving yards, 1 TD) had other ideas.
At least picking against the Cleveland Browns remain dependable as we tabbed the Washington Commanders as our 2nd option in Week 5 and the Commanders rolled to a 34-13 home rout of the Browns. Cleveland is playing the role of last season’s Carolina Panthers, who finished 2-15.
The Browns did bite us once earlier this season — in Week 3 — when we picked them against the Giants, who won that game 21-15 in Cleveland. The Browns offense is horrendous and changes need to be made. Until then, keep fading ’em.
We have 5 teams favored by 5 or more points heading into Week 6, despite the fact 4 teams are again on a bye. That means a lot of lopsided matchups, or so it seems. Lately, even the games the books expect to be blowouts just have not been so.
Follow the USA TODAY NFL Survivor Pool.
– Games Sunday and ET unless noted
The pick: Philadelphia Eagles
Who they play: Home vs. Cleveland Browns – 1 p.m. (FOX)
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NFL odds. Lines last updated Wednesday at 8:53 p.m. ET.
- Line: Eagles -9 / Moneyline (ML): Eagles -450 | Browns +350
The Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) will get their chance to beat the Browns (1-4) like the rest of the NFC East teams have done so far. With a season-opening loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the Browns are 0-3 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) in 3 games against the NFC East with this last one to go.
On the flip side, the Eagles are coming off a bye, so this will be the healthiest they’ve been since Week 1. WRs A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (concussion) were able to take part in a padded practice Wednesday, indicating that they’re both trending toward a return after the extra week off.
If Philadelphia’s offense is back at full strength, that’s bad news for a Cleveland team which is already reeling. The Browns offense hasn’t scored more than 18 points in a game this season, putting a ton of stress on the defense. Eventually, the defense is going to break.
Conclusion: PHILADELPHIA IS MY TOP SURVIVOR PLAY IN WEEK 6.
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No. 2 option: Atlanta Falcons
Who they play: At Carolina Panthers – 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
- Line: Falcons -6 / ML: Falcons -275 | Panthers +220
We’ll go back to our 2023 strategy and our early-season 2024 strategy in picking against the Panthers (1-4).
The Atlanta Falcons (3-2) aren’t coming off a bye, but they had a few extra days to heal and prepare since they hosted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Week 5 Thursday night game — Atlanta rallied for a 36-30 win in overtime.
Falcons QB Kirk Cousins erupted from his early season slumber, throwing for 509 yards (42 of 58) with 4 TDs and 1 INT against the Bucs.
With the Falcons offense rested and raring to go, facing a Panthers defense which has been horrific, this should be a good spot to pick Atlanta, even on the road.
2024 survivor game log
NO. 1 OPTION
Week 1: LOSS – Patriots 16, Bengals 10
Week 2: LOSS – Falcons 22, Eagles 21
Week 3: LOSS – Panthers 36, Raiders 22
Week 4: WIN – 49ers 30, Patriots 13
Week 5: LOSS – Giants 29, Seahawks 20
NO. 2 OPTION
Week 1: WIN – Saints 47, Panthers 10
Week 2: WIN – Chargers 26, Panthers 3
Week 3: LOSS – Giants 21, Browns 15
Week 4: WIN – Cowboys 20, Giants 15
Week 5: WIN – Commanders 34, Browns 13
FOOTBALL NEVER STOPS
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