Despite a fairytale start to his career, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy continues to have his doubters and critics.But according to 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, Purdy's skeptics shouldn't have much to say after the quarterback's four-touchdown performance during San Francisco's blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night."He's just so consistent and he just continues to go out there and prove people wrong," Juszczyk said, per ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "I'm happy that he's able to go out here and have a four-touchdown game on national television because, not that it matters what people on the outside are saying about him, but he deserves more respect than what he gets, I think. I hope he gets a little bit of that from this."The former Mr. Irrelevant has been close to perfect to start the campaign, completing 72.1% of his passes for 1,271 and nine touchdowns without an interception.Purdy also ranks first in passer rating (123.1), first in QBR (83.7), first in passing success rate (59%), and second in yards per attempt (9.3).The 23-year-old's performances are all the more impressive considering he underwent elbow surgery to repair the UCL in his throwing arm after suffering an injury in last season's NFC Championship Game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.San Francisco remains one of the NFL's two undefeated teams, along with the Eagles, following the statement win over the Cowboys. The NFC West club travels to face the Cleveland Browns in Week 6.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.49ers a cut above Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / GettyJerry Jones knew what Dallas was up against this week.The 49ers had been the NFL's most consistent powerhouse over an undefeated first month, leading the Cowboys owner to suggest that San Francisco was the team most likely to win this year's Super Bowl. Nobody will be arguing that point after the 49ers sent Dallas back home with a 42-10 beatdown.Here's where he went wrong:"I like our defense," Jones said. "I think we're playing better than we played, and we've been playing some pretty good defense last few years. ... And frankly, this is the best I've felt about our offense this year."Making sweeping conclusions based on a single game is a risky proposition, but what else are we supposed to do when the Cowboys get so thoroughly embarrassed in front of the entire country? These teams simply aren't all that close.The 49ers' offense is essentially the NFC equivalent of the Dolphins'. There's less speed, to be sure, but opponents just don't have the ability to match up with so many superstar playmakers in such a masterfully designed system. That's especially the case for the Cowboys' defense, which, as it turns out, had been wildly overrated after starting the year against four of the worst offenses in football.I've been reluctant to give Brock Purdy too much credit for the offense's production, instead pointing to the favorable environment that this team creates for its quarterbacks, but I have to admit that he's been balling. A seventh-round pick so quickly mastering Kyle Shanahan's offense, making aggressive, anticipatory throws while avoiding costly mistakes, is incredibly impressive.Purdy's four-score effort against the Cowboys gives him nine touchdowns against no interceptions for the season. While there may be quarterbacks who do more to elevate their offenses, there's no denying that this level of play, combined with continued team success, will put him in the MVP conversation.And we know the story on other side of the ball. The defense made one heck of a statement against America's Team on Sunday night, limiting Dak Prescott to 153 yards while getting to him for three sacks and three interceptions.The Cowboys, who were thoroughly outmatched in all phases, have a long way to go before they are in the 49ers' class. With all due respect to the Eagles and the Lions, that may be the case for the rest of the NFC, too.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said he was caught off guard by his team's performance in Sunday's 42-10 prime-time loss to the San Francisco 49ers."I didn't see it coming. ... This might be the most humbling game I've ever been a part of," Prescott said postgame, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic.The game was one of the most anticipated of the 2023 NFL season so far. However, the 49ers dominated from start to finish, outgaining the Cowboys in total yards (421-197) and first downs (25-8). The NFC West club also forced four turnovers, including three Prescott interceptions.Prescott finished the night with 14 completions on 24 pass attempts with 153 yards and one touchdown. Both teams pulled most of their starters for the majority of the fourth quarter.Cowboys head coach Mike Carthy also expected more from Dallas."It's a punch in the gut. It's a kick in the ass," McCarthy said. "I'm not a burn-the-tape guy. I think that's a crock of shit. ... I didn't see this coming."He added, "I didn't do a good job tonight. It clearly just shows where we are as a team. We're 3-2. ... We got a lot of work to do."Before allowing 42 points to the now 5-0 49ers, the Cowboys had given up only 41 points over their first four games combined this season. Dallas visits the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday's 31-21 victory over the Denver Broncos was extra special for the New York Jets, who made Nathaniel Hackett a winner in the offensive coordinator's revenge game against his former team."If someone talks shit about one of us or one of our coaches or anybody in the building, we want to have their back," Jets tight end C.J. Uzomah said postgame, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. "So this one was for Hack."Week 5 marked the first time Hackett - whom New York hired as OC this year - faced Sean Payton since the Broncos head coach's controversial offseason comments. Payton, who joined Denver this year to replace Hackett, said during training camp that the Hackett-coached Broncos in 2022 was "one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL." Denver fired Hackett before the end of that campaign with a 4-11 record."Even if he wasn't telling us, 'This is personal to me,' you could just look how he carried himself all week, you know what I mean?" Jets corner Sauce Gardner said Sunday. "He had that look on his face, like, man, he really wanted this game. So it meant a lot to get a win for him."Gardner also took a shot at the Broncos on social media after the contest.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp believes he has some things to clean up but was excited to get back on the field with his team again."I think there's some stuff ... just processing, seeing the field, seeing what defenses are doing, and then just being able to react to it," Kupp said on how he can get better after his first game, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN."There's a few things that I'm sure you're going to look at tomorrow and just feel like, 'Man, it's just going to happen a little bit faster.' But it did feel good to be out there playing football again."Kupp missed the first four games of the season after being placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury in early September.The 30-year-old made an impact right away, hauling in four catches for 48 yards on the Rams' opening drive. Later in the first half, Kupp expertly ran a route on Philadelphia's top cornerback Darius Slay, creating space for a 39-yard gain.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor believes his new contract exemplifies a shift in how teams view the running back position."I definitely think it is (a shift)," Taylor said after the Colts' Week 5 win over the Tennessee Titans, according to Stephen Holder of ESPN."Anytime a running back can go out there and perform but also have some security, it just shows that running backs are essential."Taylor signed a three-year, $42-million contract Saturday, ending a standoff between the team and player that had been ongoing since the summer.Running backs have encountered difficulties landing long-term deals, as Josh Jacobs and Saquon Barkley had to settle for the franchise tag.Taylor played his first game Sunday since Dec. 17 after being activated off the PUP list. The 24-year-old finished the contest with 34 yards on seven touches, as he was limited after participating in only two practices this week.Taylor acknowledged that being away from the game for so long has been challenging."It weighs (on you) a lot," Taylor said. "Especially when you're not healthy and you can't go out there and do what you love. It pushes you and it puts you in tough positions mentally and you've got to have a good support system."The Wisconsin product was permitted to seek a trade in August but believes everything that happened this summer was worth the end result."At the end of the day, it's always the organization's decision," Taylor said. "But being able to put yourself in the best position is always the No. 1 thing you can do. And for me, that was it."The Colts improved to 3-2 with their Week 5 win. They face the Jacksonville Jaguars next Sunday.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews expects more from his team.The Ravens made several mistakes all over the field during Sunday's 17-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. They finished the game with three turnovers, five dropped passes, and a blocked punt that resulted in a safety in the fourth quarter."It's almost like a sleeping giant, man," Andrews said postgame, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "We need to wake up."Rashod Bateman had perhaps Baltimore's biggest drop, as he was unable to hold on to the ball in the end zone on third down in the second quarter."That stuff can't be contagious," Andrews said of the Ravens' drop issues. "If one (drop) happens, whatever, (we have to) move on and get to the next play. We need to be better. Obviously, Lamar (Jackson) is putting the ball right where it needs to be, and we need to be there for him and make plays. We do that, we win this game."Jackson also tossed a costly interception in the end zone with Baltimore up 10-8 with 4:04 left in the contest. Pittsburgh scored a touchdown shortly after and was later able to force a Jackson fumble to take full control.Jackson - who completed 22 of 38 pass attempts for 236 yards with no touchdowns and one interception - believes the Ravens gave away the game unnecessarily to their division rivals Sunday."We didn't want to, but (we had) little mishaps," said Jackson, who also added 45 yards on the ground. "We're right there. We had (the Steelers) beat. (On) offense, we had to find our groove; we didn't find it. The defense played a great game. Kept stopping, kept giving us opportunities. We've just got to do what we do (and) finish drives."The Steelers weren't projected to win the Week 5 game until the final minutes.

Atlanta Falcons tight end Jonnu Smith praised quarterback Desmond Ridder's performance in the team's Week 5 victory over the Houston Texans."He was phenomenal," Smith said postgame, per team reporter Scott Bair. "I was impressed, but I wasn't shocked. The kid has got it, man. I know he takes a lot of heat, but he just wants to continue to improve and get better. He's got the right tools. He's got the right mindset."Ridder finished the game with 329 passing yards and two total touchdowns while completing 76% of his throws. This was the first game in Ridder's nine career starts that he eclipsed 250 passing yards.The 24-year-old stepped up on the team's final drive after the Texans took a one-point lead with under two minutes remaining. Ridder went 5-for-5 with 45 passing yards to help set up the game-winning field goal.The quarterback's performance comes after he received backlash during the week following a poor outing in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars."I just put my head down and went to work," Ridder said on how he handled the criticism.He added: "I really don't care what the outside world has to say. As long as myself and my teammates were on the same page, we're just going to keep getting better. Not only myself but the team as well, and just keep improving."The Falcons improved their record to 3-2 with the victory. Atlanta will take on the Washington Commanders in Week 5.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones says he feels fine but is in some pain after exiting the team's 31-16 loss to the Miami Dolphins with a neck injury, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan.Jones left the game after taking a big hit on a sack by Andrew Van Ginkel. He was briefly checked in the medical tent before leaving for the locker room.The signal-caller said the soreness feels "similar" to an injury he suffered in the 2021 campaign, according to New York Daily News' Pat Leonard. The 26-year-old missed the final six games of that season.Jones told head coach Brian Daboll "I'll be OK" after the contest, per Raanan.Jones had an X-ray on Sunday and will go for other scans Monday, per Leonard. The club's Week 6 game is against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night.The 6-foot-5, 221-pound passer completed 14 of 20 passes for 119 yards without any touchdowns or interceptions before he was ruled out of the game. He also had four carries for 24 yards.New York signed Jones to a four-year, $160-million contract extension this offseason.Veteran Tyrod Taylor replaced Jones. The 34-year-old backup completed nine of 12 passes for 86 yards in relief.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson suffered a right shoulder injury in Sunday's 23-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans.The initial diagnosis is an AC joint sprain, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The rookie's X-rays were negative, and he'll undergo an MRI to assess the injury further, Pelissero reports.Richardson carried the ball on an option play and stayed down after being tackled, pointing to his throwing shoulder. He went to the locker room after being examined in the medical tent.Gardner Minshew II replaced Richardson under center. He completed 11 of 14 pass attempts for 155 yards while leading Indianapolis to a home winRichardson passed for 98 yards and added two carries for five yards before leaving the game.The 21-year-old signal-caller missed the team's Week 3 contest against the Baltimore Ravens after suffering a concussion the week before.Indianapolis selected the Florida product with the No. 4 pick in April's draft.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots benched quarterback Mac Jones for the second straight game down 31-0 to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.Jones completed 12 of 22 passes for 150 yards and two interceptions. Despite the struggles, Patriots coach Bill Belichick doesn't expect a change at QB for New England."Yeah," Belichick said postgame when asked if Jones will remain the starter moving forward, according to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. "There are a lot of problems. Certainly wasn't all him."Belichick added that he removed Jones from the Saints game because of the score."Just not being ready to go, I guess," Jones said Sunday about his team's slow starts, according to Mike Kadlick of WEEI.Bailey Zappe took over for Jones versus New Orleans. Zappe had only nine attempts in Week 5, completing three passes for 22 yards.Jones was also removed in favor of Zappe during last week's 38-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. In that contest, Jones threw just 150 yards and gave up three turnovers (two interceptions and one fumble), two of which were returned for touchdowns.Belichick said Friday he believes Jones can bounce back."Anybody who plays or coaches in this league has not-so-good performances somewhere along the line," Belichick said, according to Conor Roche of Boston.com. "So, part of the job, part of the situation, every week's a new week. Mac's pretty mentally tough."A 2021 first-round pick, Jones produced a strong rookie campaign, completing 67.6% of his passes for 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns against 13 interceptions.But the 25-year-old regressed in Year 2, throwing for 2,997 yards and 14 scores against 11 picks. He missed time with an ankle injury and was briefly benched for Zappe during a Monday night matchup against the Chicago Bears.New England entered Week 5 with a 1-3 record and owned the third-worst offense in the NFL, averaging 13.8 points per game.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud set the record for the most passes without an interception to start an NFL career on Sunday with 177 attempts.

Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano suffered a fractured leg and is feared also to have a season-ending knee injury, sources told Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.The linebacker is reportedly having an MRI to assess his ACL. Milano was hurt during Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.Milano racked up 27 tackles, a forced fumble, two pass deflections, and a pair of interceptions in the team's first four games. He added three tackles before exiting Sunday's contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars.The 29-year-old earned a first-team All-Pro selection last year as the Bills' defensive leader.Terrel Bernard, rookie Dorian Williams, Tyler Matakevich, and Tyrel Dodson are the team's remaining off-ball linebackers.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley will sit out a third consecutive game Sunday against the Miami Dolphins due to a high ankle injury, the team announced.While the running back was initially expected to miss around three weeks, there was optimism he could return for Week 5 after practicing in a limited capacity throughout the week and receiving the questionable tag.The Giants face a tough task to keep up with the high-flying Dolphins without their top offensive weapon. Miami ranks first in points per game (37.5) and yards per game (511), while New York ranks last in the former category (11.5) and 31st in the latter (252).Barkley, who produced one of the best seasons of his career in 2022 with 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns, was injured against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2.He produced 155 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns over the first two games.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.Consult our Week 5 rankings for the rest of your lineup decisions. You can also listen to the Week 5 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.StartJordan Love, Packersat Raiders Patrick McDermott / Getty Images Sport / GettyLove had a strong opening month, turning in weekly fantasy finishes as the QB5, QB16, QB6, and QB14.Even in what appeared to be his worst outing of the season - the loss to the Lions - Love salvaged his stat line en route to his fourth straight multi-touchdown game.A lot of credit should go to Matt LaFleur's system and the young skill-position talent in Green Bay, but Love is holding up his end of the bargain.Next up is a Raiders defense that's allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, including a QB13 or better result in each outing.Boone's projection: 267 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 25 rushing yardsOther QBs to start

Buffalo Bills pass-rusher Von Miller made his season debut Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars after officially being listed as active for the Week 5 game.The Bills took the star pass-rusher off the physically unable to perform list Saturday ahead of the London matchup.Miller traveled with the team to London, opening the door for him to make his season debut.The 34-year-old missed the season's first four games while recovering from a torn ACL suffered in November 2022. He was placed on the PUP list in late August.Miller signed a six-year, $120-million deal with the Bills in 2022. He was off to a hot start in Buffalo before suffering the knee injury, racking up eight sacks and 10 tackles for a loss in 11 games last year.The Bills' defense has been ferocious this season, ranking tied for first in the league with 16 sacks, including 13 in their last two games.Buffalo placed cornerback Tre'Davious White - who's out for the season after tearing his Achilles last week - on injured reserve to make room on the roster for Miller.Miller, a three-time first-team All-Pro, has 123.5 sacks in 161 career games.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If the Denver Broncos' disappointing season continues Sunday against the New York Jets, a fire sale could be on the horizon.After trading linebacker Randy Gregory to the San Francisco 49ers on Friday, the Broncos could look to move fellow pass-rusher Frank Clark, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Clark is reportedly expected to garner increased interest if he plays in his likely return from a hip injury versus the Jets.Wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton are also expected to receive trade interest ahead of the Oct. 31 trade deadline, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.Both Jeudy and Sutton were trade candidates last year amid Denver's struggles in Russell Wilson's first season.The Broncos - who've started the season 1-3 - would reportedly be willing to listen to trade interest in almost any player on the defensive side.Clark joined Denver on a one-year, $5.45-million deal this past offseason. He's an attractive option as a team trading for him would only inherit what's left of a $1.21-million base salary after Denver paid $4.2 million as a signing bonus, adds Rapoport.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest. Follow the links below to see his rankings for Week 5.Half PPR

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest.In an effort to help you find trades that could improve your fantasy team, we present the Dynasty Trade Value Chart.You can use this chart to compare players and build realistic trade offers. Values are based on 12-team PPR leagues.Follow the links below to see the trade values for each position.Dynasty Rankings & Trade Values

The Indianapolis Colts and running back Jonathan Taylor agreed to a long-term extension to end their contract standoff, the team announced Saturday.Details of the deal weren't disclosed, but Taylor inked a three-year agreement worth $42 million, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Taylor, who requested a trade from the Colts in July after failing to get a new contract in the offseason, also gets $26.5 million guaranteed, adds Schefter.The 24-year-old is set to make his season debut Sunday against the Tennessee Titans after being activated from the physically unable to perform list. He was also removed from the team's injury report after being listed as questionable, further signaling that he'll suit up for the AFC South matchup.The running back becomes the third-highest-paid player at his position. He was in the final year of his rookie deal.

Free-agent quarterback Cam Newton has some demands for the New York Jets should the team inquire about his services.Newton laid out his requirements for potentially joining the Jets on Thursday's episode of the "RG3 and The Ones" podcast with Robert Griffin III, saying he'd want more than a $5.5-million contract."You not about to sit up there and penny pinch me, bro," Newton said. "I'm not about to sit up there and sign no $5.5-million deal, bro. Those days are over with. I'd be wasting my time."Because I'll tell you, if you don't think that I can be on a roster right now - I could, but it's bigger than that to me. Am I in shape right now? Hell yeah. In any situation, I'm going to sit up there and analyze it as much as possible. I don't want to walk into a dysfunctional situation. Have you guys made Zach Wilson aware? Also, Aaron Rodgers is trying to come back this year. Let's also talk about that. So, when he comes back, is it just going to be somethin' that you just say, aye, watch out?"The Jets have rolled with Wilson as their starting quarterback since losing Rodgers to a torn Achilles in the season opener. The team is 1-3 entering Sunday's matchup against the Denver Broncos.Newton last played in the NFL during the 2021 season with the Carolina Panthers, posting an 0-5 record in his five starts.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins will miss Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals due to a rib injury, a source told Dianna Rissini of The Athletic.Higgins was listed as questionable after being a limited participant in Friday's practice.The wideout's absence in the Week 5 matchup is a significant blow to a Bengals team that's trying to avoid a 1-4 start and get its groove back on offense.Higgins has had a slow start to the campaign, catching just 12 passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns. The 24-year-old is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.With Higgins sidelined, the Bengals will likely rely more heavily on its top remaining receivers, Ja'Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We're almost a quarter of the way into the season, and we should feel a lot better about what we know about the NFL's teams than the player prop results have warranted. It's time to get on a run.Kenny Pickett: Under 187.5 passing yardsHere's what's going against the Steelers' pass offense this week:

Four sublime quarterbacks - Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Brett Favre, and Peyton Manning - achieved something rare in the NFL. They beat all 32 teams at least once in the regular season or playoffs, including the franchises, like the Patriots for Brady or Packers for Favre, that benefited most from their greatness.Patrick Mahomes might never play against the Chiefs, but barring a surprise eventual move, he has one club left to conquer. Mahomes will become the 10th NFL passer to defeat a 31st team, tying the likes of Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson, if the Chiefs prevail Sunday in his first matchup with the Vikings.Mahomes has grander goals this season: He's aiming to lead the first repeat championship run since New England's Super Bowl triumphs of the early 2000s. So far, he's gotten plenty of help from his defense.Four 3-1 teams - the Bills, Chiefs, Dolphins, and Ravens - pace the AFC as Week 5 arrives. Optimally balanced, Baltimore, Buffalo, and Kansas City have great quarterbacks and also rank in the top five in points against and defensive expected points added per play, per Ben Baldwin's database. Miami scores at will but is vulnerable without the ball, as the Bills proved in last week's 48-20 beatdown.Throwing to Travis Kelce and various unheralded wideouts, Mahomes hasn't performed to his usual brilliant standard. His completion percentage (64.3%) and yards generated per game (251.5) fall well below his career averages.Two defensive standouts have picked up the slack. Star nose tackle Chris Jones has notched a sack per game since ending his holdout after the Chiefs lost the season opener. Trent McDuffie has dislodged two fumbles and ranks fourth among NFL cornerbacks with 10 stops, defined by PFF as a tackle that constitutes failure for the offense.The Chiefs' defensive forte is that they get off the field. They've forced five punts per game, the No. 3 mark in the league. According to Baldwin's data, they're third in defensive EPA/play on third- and fourth-down snaps, up from 23rd in those situations in 2022.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on Spotify, Apple, Google, and Stitcher.In this episode, Boone goes over the notable injury updates heading into Week 5.

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson threw a backhanded compliment at Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers ahead of Sunday's matchup."He's very shifty, very, very fast. He can get behind the defense. He's kind of like the guy that can do it all for (them), run the screens, run the reverses, and still also run the big post as well," Peterson said of Flowers, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN."So it's going to be fun trying to keep our eye on that fast, little munchkin there."The Ravens selected the 5-foot-9, 182-pound wide receiver in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. His size has not been a problem in the NFL thus far, as he leads the team in targets (29), receptions (24), and receiving yards (244).Peterson, meanwhile, signed a two-year, $14-million contract with the Steelers this offseason. The 33-year-old has one interception and five passes defended in four games this year.Baltimore and Pittsburgh's rivalry is considered one of the biggest in the NFL. The Steelers have won five of the last six contests and are 33-25 in 58 all-time games against the Ravens.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos are trading pass-rusher Randy Gregory to the San Francisco 49ers, both clubs announced.Denver originally planned to release Gregory - who signed a five-year, $70-million deal with the team in the 2022 offseason - but was able to find a trade partner before formally cutting the 30-year-old.The Broncos will send Gregory and a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Niners for a 2024 sixth-round pick.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo cleared concussion protocol and will start Monday night against the Green Bay Packers, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The 31-year-old missed last week's game against the Los Angeles Chargers after suffering the injury in Week 3.Garoppolo said Friday that he doesn't know which hit caused the concussion in Week 3. Team doctors approached him after the game to evaluate him for the injury."It was a weird situation, but we got through it," he added.The Eastern Illinois product was a full participant in practice Friday after being limited Thursday. Garoppolo is 1-2 in three starts this season, throwing for 709 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions.Las Vegas signed the former 49ers signal-caller to a three-year, $72.75-million contract this offseason.Rookie quarterback Aidan O'Connell stepped in for the injured Garoppolo in Week 4. The fourth-rounder threw for 239 yards on 39 attempts."I thought Aidan handled himself well," Garoppolo said. "Tough circumstances ... it was tough out there, but for a rookie being his first start, I thought he handled it well."Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari will undergo another knee surgery, which will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the season, he told reporters, including Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.Bakhtiari, already on injured reserve due to the ailment, recently underwent his fourth surgery on his left knee in less than three years, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky.The left tackle said that doctors are confident it's a cartilage problem. Bakhtiari added that he's hopeful of being ready by next year's training camp.Knee troubles have limited the 32-year-old to just 13 games since 2021. Bakhtiari tore his ACL in December 2020 but didn't play again until Week 18 of the 2021 campaign. He also missed six games in 2022 and was only available for Week 1 this season.Head coach Matt LaFleur said earlier this week that he was "very concerned" by Bakhtiari's lingering knee issues, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.Bakhtiari is under contract through the 2024 season. He owns a cap hit of $40.6 million and is due a base salary of $20.2 million, per Over The Cap.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions will be shorthanded for their Week 5 battle against the Carolina Panthers.Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is doubtful with an abdomen injury and rookie safety Brian Branch is out due to an ankle ailment.

The Baltimore Ravens are expected to welcome back two top wide receivers for their Week 5 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.Odell Beckham Jr., who missed the last two contests, said Friday he'll be good to go Sunday."I expect to be out there (and) see what we have going on in the game plan," Beckham said, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley.He added: "I just feel good to be back out there, keep the energy high. It's tough when you work so hard, and little things happen."Baltimore listed Beckham as questionable on Friday's injury report. He was a limited participant at practice this week.Meanwhile, wideout Rashod Bateman is off the injury report after being a full participant over the last three days. A hamstring injury has kept Bateman - Baltimore's first-round pick in 2021 - sidelined since Week 3.First-round rookie Zay Flowers stepped up at wide receiver for Baltimore with Beckham and Bateman sidelined. Flowers leads the club with 24 receptions and 244 yards. Tight end Mark Andrews has caught a team-high three touchdowns.The long list of questionable Ravens players for the Steelers game also includes offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley and cornerback Marlon Humphrey, among others.

There's a chance the New York Giants have Saquon Barkley back on the field for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins.Barkley, who missed the last two games due to an ankle injury, is listed as questionable for the Week 5 matchup, the Giants announced Friday.The Giants' star running back was a limited participant in practice throughout the week. His designation is an improvement over last week, when he was deemed doubtful for the matchup against the Seattle Seahawks but did not dress.Barkley suffered the ankle injury late in the fourth quarter of the Week 2 triumph over the Arizona Cardinals.The 26-year-old tallied 155 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns over the first two games.The Giants will be missing many members of their offensive line Sunday with Andrew Thomas, John Michael Schmitz, and Shane Lemieux ruled out.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp will play Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, head coach Sean McVay announced Friday.Kupp began the season on injured reserve and missed Los Angeles' first four games due to a hamstring injury. He originally suffered the ailment in August and had a setback weeks later that kept him sidelined.The 2021 Offensive Player of the Year returned to the practice field this week and looks sharp, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. The Rams have reportedly been cautious with him.Kupp's return is a big boost to a Rams offense that's been led by fifth-round rookie Puka Nacua. The BYU product has racked up a league-high 39 catches for 501 yards and one touchdown. Los Angeles' wide receiver depth chart also features Tutu Atwell and Van Jefferson, among others.Kupp had one of the greatest seasons of all time for a wide receiver in 2021, leading the NFL in catches, receiving yards, and TD receptions while helping the Rams lift the Lombardi Trophy. The 30-year-old was named Super Bowl MVP that year.Injuries limited Kupp to only nine appearances in 2022.The 2-2 Rams rank 13th in total points this season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera is standing by his decision to bench rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes during Thursday night's game against the Chicago Bears."We have to continue to put the guys out there that we believe are gonna get it done the right away," Rivera said Friday.Forbes struggled through most of Thursday's contest before Rivera pulled the 2023 No. 16 pick in favor of Danny Johnson in the club's 40-20 loss.The result is Washington's third straight defeat after starting the season with back-to-back victories. Rivera added Friday that he won't continue to play younger players if they struggle and harm the team's chances of winning."I think doing what we did with Emmanuel was kind of the indicator that we can't go through this anymore," Rivera said. "Now it's time."Forbes has allowed 20 receptions on 27 targets for 401 yards and two touchdowns through five games. However, the 180-pound corner has broken up four passes and recorded an interception. Forbes has garnered a 37 overall grade and a 43.8 coverage grade, per PFF.Despite his warning to players, Rivera said he takes responsibility for the club's woes and emphasized that the team will grow as its younger members progress."We'll get those things corrected," said Rivera. "We're a young team. We have some young players that we're trying to develop and get them out there and doing the things we need them to do."The Commanders head to Atlanta to face the Falcons in Week 6.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quarterbacks are coming and going with various levels of injury severity, and that's hard to rely on. Seven of the 32 teams have already seen uncertainty about who's taking snaps. That doesn't even include Joe Burrow, who looks like a different quarterback than we remember. Hopefully, the signal-callers we think are playing will suit up, and we get what we expect from those who play.Best bets ATSWe've already discussed the five underdogs with a shot to win outright relative to their price, and as always, they're worth a look against the spread.TEAMSPREADJaguars+6Steelers+4Colts+2.5Rams+4.5Vikings+4However, there are more plays worth making this week.Moneyline parlay: Falcons / Dolphins (+105)We'll get creative in building a valuable bet. There's no such thing as a lock in the NFL, but if this bet loses, it won't be because of the Dolphins. We'll use their moneyline to get a plus-money price on the Falcons.Atlanta's last two games - at the Lions and against the Jaguars in London - have been tough setups for a one-dimensional offense. Back home, the Falcons can return to what they do best against the Texans - dominate the line of scrimmage. Houston's recent success has brought its rating up to the point where there's already some value on the Falcons under a field goal. But it would be nice to rule out a wonky late finish where Atlanta wins but doesn't cover while not having to pay the vig on this bet.Lions -9.5Even with veteran Andy Dalton behind center, the Panthers couldn't stop from repeatedly false starting in their last road game in hostile territory at Seattle. Now Bryce Young is back to operating an offense that managed just 232 total yards against the Vikings' defense at home last week. The Lions are rested from a mini-bye and should be ready to pound the Panthers in response to getting upset in Carolina last year - a loss that helped keep them out of the playoffs.Broncos -1.5This is less about being thrilled to back the almost 0-4 Broncos and their terrible defense and more about not buying into two semi-effective quarters from Zach Wilson. In the modern NFL, a good offense will beat a good defense more often than not. However, we're frequently shown examples of bad defenses that still aren't bad enough to turn the NFL's cadre of awful quarterbacks into road warriors. Wilson plays back to his median state, which is to say - not good.Bengals -3Imagine a universe where, on the first week of October, the market is clamoring to bet on the Cardinals at a short price over the Bengals, a Super Bowl contender. Burrow doesn't look good, but he claimed he's feeling better after last week's loss to the Titans. With this line bet down to a field goal, Cincinnati is being rated as a below-average team. Arizona has been better than thought, but it still has just one win and is being asked to beat a desperate Bengals squad or come close to it.49ers -3.5If you could sign up for an extended preseason, matchups with the Steelers' offense, the Rams' defense, and whatever the Giants and Cardinals are trying to do would be close to an ideal situation. The 49ers have handled those teams with relative ease, and even though this is a step up in weight class, there's also reason to believe that San Francisco hasn't touched the second chapter of Kyle Shanahan's playbook.The Cowboys are a team San Francisco is competing with for the NFC's top seed, so the Niners will unleash the good stuff to build a lead and put it on Dak Prescott to keep up. And that's when Nick Bosa and Co. will turn the Cowboys over and continue Dallas' red-zone efficiency struggles (30th in the NFL).Moneyline upset of the weekOur defined parameter for this section is underdogs paying at least +150.Jaguars (+210)We discussed the Jaguars' chances at length as part of the round-robin underdog moneyline parlay, and we don't need to rehash it here. However, if you don't think the travel advantage the Jags have matters, they certainly don't feel that way.Best 6-point teaser / Moneyline parlayColts +8.5 / Patriots +7 (-120)Bettors' interest in the Titans vacillates every week. This week, Tennessee has been bet up to -2.5, meaning the Colts can be teased up to +8.5 - the most valuable teaser leg.It's a similar story for the Patriots, as this line has flipped enough to get a full touchdown on a teaser. You can find Mac Jones in the bargain bin at your local thrift store. However, we'll back the Patriots to at least play a tight game against the Saints, who were sneaky stinky in getting dominated at home by the mediocre Buccaneers.At least the Pats' losses have come against the Cowboys, Eagles, and Dolphins. New England's defense is running so low on bodies that it brought back J.C. Jackson into the fold. This is the type of ugly game in which the Patriots come out on top thanks to special teams, defense, and one more big play on offense than they give up.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chase Claypool's brief stint with the Chicago Bears is over.Chicago traded the disgruntled wide receiver to the Miami Dolphins on Friday, the teams announced.The Bears will receive a sixth-round pick in 2025 in exchange for Claypool and a 2025 seventh-round selection. The deal is pending a physical.The trade marks the end of Claypool's disappointing tenure with the Bears. They acquired him from the Pittsburgh Steelers in November 2022 for a second-round selection that became a de facto first-rounder (32nd overall) after the Dolphins were stripped of their opening-round choice in 2023.Claypool caught 14 passes for 140 yards across seven appearances in his first year with Chicago. He was limited to only four receptions, 51 yards, and a touchdown in three games this season.The 25-year-old was a healthy scratch during the Bears' last two games after expressing frustration with his role in the offense. He appeared to take a shot at Chicago's coaching staff in late September by saying it hadn't put him in the best position to succeed."That's an exciting opportunity," Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said of the trade, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "For us, it felt like a situation where there might be a role to carve out for him. Then I think, for the player, you have a guy that wants to take things into his own hands and have an opportunity to be on a team.""I'm going to give you the opportunity to define who you are in the most honest, organic, real way possible and that's open mind, clean slate, and let's go," he added, per FinsXtra.Claypool now joins a Miami offense that's put on a show so far in 2023 while boasting one of the NFL's premier wideout duos in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. The 3-1 Dolphins lead the league in total points and yards. Their wide receiver depth chart also features Braxton Berrios, Cedrick Wilson, and Robbie Chosen.A second-round pick in 2020, Claypool set career highs as a rookie with 62 receptions for 873 yards and 11 scrimmage touchdowns as a member of the Steelers. However, the Notre Dame product hasn't been able to replicate that output, scoring just four touchdowns in 33 appearances since.Hill reacted to the trade on social media:

The Miami Dolphins are placing left tackle Terron Armstead on injured reserve due to a knee injury, head coach Mike McDaniel announced Friday, according to David Furones of the Sun Sentinel.McDaniel expects Armstead to return at some point this season, per ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques. His placement on IR will sideline him for at least four games.The 32-year-old suffered the knee injury in Miami's Week 4 defeat against the Buffalo Bills. Kendall Lamm filled in for Armstead during the contest and is expected to continue as his replacement.Armstead made his season debut in Week 3 after missing the first two games of the 2023 campaign with back, ankle, and knee injuries.The Dolphins signed Armstead to a five-year, $75-million contract during the 2022 offseason. He missed four games in his first year in Miami, but his play over 13 contests earned him a Pro Bowl invite.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We finally put together a 3-0 week that brought our season record to 7-5. Let's stay hot for Week 5 and keep finding winners.This week features a shootout between the last two NFC champions, a struggling team looking to break through, and fading a woeful team in Minnesota. Let's get into it.Eagles @ Rams over 50.5 pointsWhile much has been made externally about the Eagles' lackluster start to the season given their expectations and standards, Philadelphia is still 4-0 - one of two remaining unbeaten teams.The Eagles have the fifth-best scoring offense in the NFL. Jalen Hurts returned to MVP form last week in an overtime win against the Commanders, and the rushing attack led by D'Andre Swift running behind the best offensive line in football has made Philadelphia's offense elite so far. The team has the second-most rushing yards in the NFL.But the Eagles' defense has struggled, surrendering 22.5 points per game, including 31 last week. Philadelphia, known for its terrific pass rush, had a hard time putting pressure on Washington quarterback Sam Howell, and an already banged-up defense took another hit with defensive lineman Fletcher Cox expected to miss Sunday's game.The Rams' offense has looked surprisingly potent with Matthew Stafford seemingly healthy. Puka Nacua has emerged as a top receiving threat in the NFL and Cooper Kupp is expected to make his debut this weekend. Even with a suspect offensive line, Los Angeles shouldn't have an issue moving the ball down the field.Philadelphia is a four-point road favorite. Expect this to be a close, high-scoring affair.Jets team total over 20.5 pointsYou may want to close your eyes as you take this play because betting on the Jets' offense is a miserable experience. However, this is the spot to do it.After weeks of public - and reportedly private - scrutiny, Zach Wilson played perhaps the best game of his career last Sunday night in a three-point loss to the Chiefs.Analysts nationwide called for the Jets and Wilson to play loose, unafraid, and like he has nothing to lose, and he did just that with seemingly everyone in the football world against him.He had his season high in yards, completion percentage, and touchdowns. Jets fans will hope Wilson can build on that performance and confidence the rest of the way.But this play is more about the Broncos' defense than the Jets' offense. Denver is giving up 37.5 points per game. That number is inflated because of the 70 points Miami's prolific offense scored. However, the Broncos just gave up 28 points to the 1-4 Bears.Denver turned Justin Fields - who had looked abysmal prior to Sunday - into Aaron Rodgers. If he can tear apart the Broncos' defense, there's no question Wilson, Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, and the rest of New York's offense can do the same.Vikings team total under 24.5 pointsThe Vikings have scored more than 24 points just once this season. It's been a disastrous year after a playoff appearance last season. Minnesota's lone win came against the winless Panthers last week - and the team still failed to score 25 points. The offense has been stagnant. This week, the Vikings play the Chiefs at home.The Chiefs are coming off a poor performance in which they let the Jets climb back from a 17-point first-quarter deficit. The defense didn't look great down the stretch partly because Patrick Mahomes turned the ball over twice, putting the team in precarious situations.Kansas City's defense is still a top-five scoring defense in the league. I'm anticipating a bounce-back week from Mahomes and the Chiefs against a spiraling Minnesota group.Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @soshtry for more betting coverage.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is looking to get revenge when his club plays the San Francisco 49ers on the road this weekend.Prescott believes he needs to play better than he has in the team's back-to-back playoff losses to the 49ers to accomplish this."I wasn't my best in either of those games and wasn't close to it. ... We've got to go out there and execute the game plan that the coaches have for us - and they've got a great one," said Prescott, according to the Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins.Dallas fell 23-17 to the 49ers in the 2021 wild-card round and 19-12 in last year's divisional round. Prescott averaged 230 passing yards, one touchdown, and 1.5 interceptions over the two games.San Francisco enters the contest as one of the league's two remaining undefeated clubs.Prescott said the Cowboys are confident, talented, and have made the right adjustments."Yeah, losing to the same team twice in the playoffs is no good feeling. ... We're focusing on these guys, and they've got all of our attention, all of our respect," Prescott said. "But at the end of the day, we were confident as hell in who we are and what we've got and what we can bring to the table and where this team is and where this team has grown in the past couple of years. So excited as hell for the matchup."Dallas enters the weekend with the league's best scoring defense, allowing just 10.3 points per game. The team is also fourth in points per game, scoring 31 per contest.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Magic Johnson expressed his disappointment with the Washington Commanders' performance after their home loss to the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football.Johnson, part of the ownership group led by Josh Harris that recently acquired the Commanders, called out Washington players' toughness during the 40-20 loss, which marks the team's third straight defeat."Tonight, the Commanders played with no intensity or fire," Johnson tweeted. "We didn't compete in the first half and got down 27-3 heading into halftime. It was too big of a hole to climb out of, and that is why we ended up losing 40-20."

Justin Fields and D.J. Moore dedicated the Chicago Bears' first win of the season Thursday night to the late Dick Butkus - one of the greatest players in franchise history."Condolences to his family," Fields said after the 40-20 win over the Washington Commanders, according to Chris Bumbaca of USA Today. "It just means a lot, tonight, getting the win - first win in a long time. So, Bears legend, he'll never be forgotten. We played for him tonight. So, this one's for him tonight."Fields added that the Bears' players didn't know about Butkus' death until a moment of silence was held before kickoff. The legendary linebacker died in his sleep earlier Thursday. He was 80."We actually found out about it when we saw it on the screen," Fields said. "We were like, 'What?'"Moore, who had a career night with eight catches for 230 yards and three touchdowns, also showed love to Butkus after the game.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest. Follow the links below to see his rankings for Week 5.The final rankings will be released Sunday morning.Half PPR

New York Giants defensive coordinator Don Martindale hasn't been able to get much sleep thanks to an upcoming matchup against the Miami Dolphins' high-octane offense on Sunday."My wife called me last night before she went to bed. She said she was worried about me. She said, 'Are you getting any sleep?' I said, 'Yeah, I'm sleeping like a baby. Every two hours, I wake up and cry and go to the bathroom and try to go back and get some more sleep,'" Martindale said Thursday.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on Spotify, Apple, and Google.In this episode, Boone opens up the fantasy mailbag to answer your questions before Week 5.

The approval process for Tom Brady's agreement to become a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders has stalled, a source told the Washington Post's Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala.The delay is at least partly due to concerns from the league's finance committee regarding the discounted price Brady received from owner Mark Davis. The deal is unlikely to be approved at the proposed price, according to Maske and Jhabvala.Brady reached a deal in May to become a minority owner. The agreement is expected to be voted on when team owners meet Oct. 17-18 in New York. Twenty-four out of 32 owners need to approve the deal.It's unclear if Davis and Brady will revise the agreement, which is also hung up over several other issues. Owners aren't expected to approve the deal barring a last-second change, Maske and Jhabvala report.However, members of the finance committee, as well as some league leaders, reportedly "want this deal to go through." There's apparently hope that a compromise can be reached over the price of the deal.It's believed Davis is selling between 5% and 10% of his stake in the Raiders. Minority shares of sporting franchises are usually sold at discounted prices, although Brady may be receiving a discount of up to 70%, per Maske and Jhabvala.The WNBA recently approved Brady's deal to acquire an ownership stake in the Las Vegas Aces, who are also owned by Davis.The NFL's career leader in passing yards and touchdowns has been exploring several business opportunities since he announced his retirement Feb. 1. He agreed to a 10-year, $375-million broadcasting contract with Fox that starts in 2024.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett says he isn't looking to be the center of attention in a matchup against his former team. But that isn't stopping his players from wanting to win one for him.Jets center Connor McGovern told ESPN's Rich Cimini that the team would love to get "payback" for Hackett against the Denver Broncos.The Week 5 matchup between the two clubs was circled by many this offseason after current Denver head coach Sean Payton said the 2022 Broncos - led by Hackett - "might have been one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL." Payton later called his comments a "mistake.""He's a phenomenal coach, crazy smart, and he makes meetings really fun and easy to learn. So, he's definitely a guy that you want to play hard for," McGovern said. "Then to go to a place that was dogging a guy that's so nice and so good at his job, and for him to get thrown under the bus and dragged through the mud, you definitely want to play that much harder."Hackett refused to delve into questions about Payton on Thursday, instead wanting to keep the discussion focused on the players."This game is about those guys out on that field," said the Jets offensive coordinator. "This game is not about me. It's about me helping them during the week. I just want the guys to go out there and play a great game."Hackett noted that Payton hasn't reached out to him since making those remarks in July, per SNY.The Broncos fired Hackett before the end of his first season following a 4-11 showing. They've started the 2023 campaign 1-3 with Payton in charge.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jonathan Taylor spoke to the media for the first time since June on Thursday, but the Indianapolis Colts running back declined to go into details about his standoff with the team, instead focusing on his health and potential return to action."I don't think it matters on if I'm saying I'm committed or not because I'm here. If somebody wasn't committed, they wouldn't be here," Taylor said, per Dominic Miranda of WTHR. "And right now, I'm here."The 24-year-old added that his main goal was to get healthy after requiring ankle surgery in January, according to George Bremner of The Herald Bulletin.Taylor requested a trade in July amid a deteriorating relationship with the franchise following the Colts' decision not to give him an extension this offseason.However, the AFC South club opted to keep the running back after failing to receive an offer that met its asking price."I'm not here to get into contract things," he said, according to James Boyd of The Athletic.The Miami Dolphins and the Green Bay Packers reportedly were the main suitors for Taylor.Taylor, who missed the first four games of the season while on the physically unable to perform list, returned to practice Thursday as a full participant. However, he said he's still unsure when he'll be ready to playThe 2021 NFL rushing champion is in the final year of his rookie contract. He is coming off a down season in which he appeared in just 11 games and finished with 861 yards and four touchdowns.Led by rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson and head coach Shane Steichen, the Colts have gone 2-2 during Taylor's absence. Richardson said Wednesday that he's "excited" to take the field with the former All-Pro running back.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Von Miller is traveling to London with the Buffalo Bills after participating in the team's first two practices ahead of Week 5, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, giving the pass-rusher a chance to make his season debut against the Jacksonvile Jaguars.Miller missed the first four games of the season while he remained on the physically unable to perform list due to an ACL injury suffered last season.The 34-year-old hadn't practiced for 10 months prior to Wednesday's session.Miller said after practice that he's comfortable with a cautious approach to his return."(It's) not a time to be (a) macho man right now," Miller said. "I just want to get back in the mix and get in the flow and get in a rhythm. If they feel like the time is now, then I'll do it. If they feel like they want to wait a week, wait two weeks, then I'll do that, too. I don't have no pride in this thing."Buffalo has a 21-day window to activate Miller or return him to the PUP list.Miller was Buffalo's prized free-agent addition ahead of the 2022 campaign and was viewed as the potential final piece to the club's championship puzzle.He signed a six-year, $120-million deal following 10 seasons with the Denver Broncos and a one-year stint with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021.But after a strong start to his Bills tenure in which he racked up eight sacks in 11 games, Miller suffered the second ACL injury of his career.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The biggest flaw in picking three-to-five upsets in the NFL each week comes during the occasional week when there just aren't any. A Buccaneers-Texans-Titans parlay would net just +120 on a five-team round-robin parlay. That's better than nothing, but the whole point of using just over a unit to score a big win is catching it on the right week when a fair amount of unforeseen wildness occurs. Week 4 wasn't that.How it worksWe parlay five underdogs together - which we also bet against the spread - in 10 different three-team parlays. Using every combination of a three-team parlay is called a round robin, so we'll use a total of 1.1 units to make 11 different bets: 10 three-team parlays and one five-team parlay, each for .1 units. You'll likely double your money if three teams pull off the upset. If four teams win, you're connecting on four separate parlays and will be very pleased with the return. If all five teams win, you'll be diving into a gold doubloon silo like a young Scrooge McDuck.Who to playJaguars (+210) over BillsSometimes, you just need to see one go in the basket. After back-to-back rough performances at home, the Jaguars took to their home-away-from-home for an easy win in London. For the first time, the Jags are staying overseas in back-to-back weeks, creating an advantage over their opponent crossing the Atlantic.This line has long been projected to be Bills -3.5, but it's up to -5.5 because of Buffalo's impressive win over the Dolphins. The Bills lost Tre'Davious White for the season and are still waiting on the return of Von Miller. Meanwhile, the Jaguars get their left tackle back. If Cam Robinson were returning from injury, we'd be dubious about his effect, but he's coming off a suspension, so health isn't an issue. The added protection for Trevor Lawrence should buy him time to take advantage of a thinning Bills secondary. If the line should be lower, the moneyline should be shorter, meaning there's value for a Jags upset.Steelers (+175) over RavensWe seldom lean on trends, but when we do, they should be pertinent to the situation and coaches involved. The underdog is 22-5-3 when John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin face each other in the regular season and 17-1-3 when the line is -3 or higher. In general, Tomlin is 17-5-3 as a home underdog. While the Steelers' rating has fluctuated wildly all season, I have this game lined closer to a pick'em, so we're getting a +175 price on something that should be shorter than +150.Colts (+110) over TitansA Wednesday injury report showing that some Colts missed practice sent Indy from a short favorite to a small 'dog. Perfect. Indianapolis just played an overtime game, so resting some veterans was probably always in the cards.The Titans have excelled at home against teams with obvious flaws - the Chargers' defense and Joe Burrow's calf. In their road games - at New Orleans and at Cleveland - the Titans' offense managed 4.8 and 2.1 yards per play, respectively.The Colts' took a while to get going after a "jump and hug" win at Baltimore, but it was impressive how they stayed the course to force overtime against the Rams. Shane Steichen's plan for Anthony Richardson resembles early-stage Jalen Hurts when the Eagles made the playoffs two years ago, with Steichen calling plays. He's made them efficient in high-leverage situations, something the Titans have struggled with.Rams (+180) over EaglesWith a full practice on Wednesday, it seems like Cooper Kupp is ready to return, which means the Rams' rating should probably go back to where it was last season before injuries struck him and Matthew Stafford (who also practiced in full). If they're back to being an above-average team, the line and moneyline odds are too short for a team that can take advantage of an Eagles secondary that's been shaky late in games against Sam Howell, Kirk Cousins, and Mac Jones.Vikings (+190) over ChiefsNobody likes the Vikings anymore, and it's hard to argue why you would - until you realize the unusual position they're in this week from a betting perspective. Minnesota hasn't been an underdog of over a field goal since its win in Buffalo in Week 10 last year, and it's never been a home 'dog of 3-plus since Cousins arrived. The Vikings are a frequent fade when laying points, but they have the offense to stay close with the Chiefs, who showed on Sunday night that they're just happy with securing the win late. If Kansas City lets the Vikings linger, they could make a play late for the upset.How the odds look this week:PARLAYODDS (Approx.)JAX+PIT+IND+1700JAX+PIT+LAR+2300JAX+PIT+MIN+2200JAX+IND+LAR+1750JAX+IND+MIN+1700JAX+LAR+MIN+2300PIT+IND+LAR+1500PIT+IND+MIN+1500PIT+LAR+MIN+2000IND+LAR+MIN+1500JAX+PIT+IND+LAR+MIN+13600Who are your five underdogs for a football betting lottery ticket?Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is a week-to-week league. One week, the Dolphins pour in 70 points and are considered the cream of the crop, and the next, they're struggling to compete with the Bills, their divisional foes.As the results and storylines change, the odds do too. The Dolphins were favored to win the AFC East before they played the Bills. Then it flipped, and the Bills are now the favorites.We break down the most pressing storylines and matchups in Week 5 that have potential ripple effects. Let's dive in.NFC contenders meet on Sunday Night FootballThe class of the NFC will battle it out Sunday night when the Cowboys visit the 49ers. San Francisco is a 4-point favorite. Other than the Eagles, the Cowboys and 49ers are considered two of the best teams in the conference and the league.The 49ers have the best odds to win the NFC at +200 and second-best odds to win the Super Bowl at +600 (bet $10 to win $60). The Cowboys have the third-best odds to win the NFC (+450) and fifth-best to win the Super Bowl (+1000). Those odds would shift in favor of the Cowboys with a Dallas win and likely remain the same if San Francisco wins.The 49ers have yet to lose, while the Cowboys' only loss to the putrid Cardinals was shocking. The Cowboys' average margin of victory in their three wins is 31.7, so excepting its one outlier loss, Dallas has dominated its opponents.The Cowboys and 49ers have explosive defenses headlined by dominant pass-rushers, which should create challenges for each quarterback. Both defenses rank in the top three in opponent points per game. They also each have a top-four scoring offense.The over/under currently stands at 44.5. San Francisco has yet to score fewer than 30 points in a game.This is a rematch of last year's divisional-round playoff game, where the 49ers narrowly edged the Cowboys 19-12. Defenses shined in San Francisco that January afternoon and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw two interceptions in the loss.Dallas may be looking for revenge, but the 49ers are the slightly better team and they're at home, which is why they're favored.Prescott's passing-yards total is lower than usual at 242.5, which makes sense given the tenacity of the Niners' defense. Brock Purdy's passing yards are set at 237.5. Prescott is -134 (57% implied probability) to throw an interception, while Purdy is +120 (45% implied probability).While the Cowboys and 49ers have to go through the reigning defending NFC champs en route to a potential Super Bowl - the Eagles play both teams in the coming weeks - this game can shift the balance of power in the NFC just a few weeks into the season.Intriguing AFC matchups on deckLet's start with a game that'll be played across the pond involving two AFC contenders. The Jaguars and Bills both lost in the divisional round of the playoffs last year to the Chiefs and Bengals, respectively.The two teams' timelines are not exactly parallel, but they each have Super Bowl aspirations nonetheless. The Jaguars were lucky to get that deep in the playoffs with a second-year quarterback.The Bills, however, fell short of expectations in the last few seasons. This year - with a competitive but wide-open AFC - could be the year they finally break through. After a disappointing opener, the Bills have won three straight, and Josh Allen has emerged as the MVP front-runner. Buffalo is tied for the third-best odds to win the Super Bowl.The Jaguars have had an inconsistent start to the season but seemed to find their offensive groove in a win against the Falcons last week. Jacksonville has the 11th-best odds to win the Super Bowl, tied for the fifth-best among AFC teams.The Bills are 5.5-point favorites for Sunday morning's London game with an over/under at 48.5. The Jaguars played in London last week as well, so they've been practicing in England all week.Allen and Trevor Lawrence are two of the premier quarterbacks in the NFL. Oddsmakers expect a better showing from Allen with a passing-yards line at 258.5. Lawrence's is at 247.5, and he has the ninth-best odds to win MVP at +2500.Another AFC showdown between the Ravens and Steelers will have consequences in the AFC North, and thus the entire conference.The Ravens are currently the favorites to win the division at -120, followed by the Browns (+300), Steelers (+550), and Bengals (+600). They're also flying slightly under the radar as contenders in the AFC with the fourth-best odds to win the conference (+750).The Ravens are 3-1, while the Steelers are 2-2, so a Steelers win would propel them to first place in the division, considering Pittsburgh already beat Cleveland.The Steelers are 4-point home underdogs. As Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin is 17-5-3 against the spread as a home underdog.Pittsburgh's quarterback situation for Sunday is uncertain after Kenny Pickett left last week's game with a bone bruise in his knee. It's not considered serious and he has not yet been ruled out for Week 5. If he can't play, Mitch Trubisky will be the starter.Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @soshtry for more betting coverage.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.