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Five weeks into the 2025 NFL season, and chaos runs rampant. What once looked like a league with a handful of heavyweights head and shoulders clear of the chasing pack has since been replaced with arguably the most wide-open Super Bowl race in years.
The Kansas City Chiefs have ruled over the game with an iron fist in recent years, reaching the last three Big Games and lifting the Lombardi in two of them, but have slipped to 2-3, the worst start to a season in the Patrick Mahomes era. In the AFC North, the division’s two major quarterbacks are on the shelf, with both Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow out of commission, leaving the Ravens and the Bengals shell-shocked and searching for answers. To add further turbulence, the Philadelphia Eagles have suffered back-to-back losses to the Broncos and the lowly Giants, slumping to 4-2 after an unbeaten start, and plunging their Lombardi Trophy defense into trouble.
With freak results dominating the league, punters are desperate for some kind of stability. We think these three teams are the best way to find it.
New England Patriots
The record-champion Patriots headed into the new season with quiet optimism, but their week five shocker against the Bills on the road at Highmark has sent expectations soaring. Buffalo was once considered the dominant force with online betting sites to win the AFC East, but the stunning upset has bookies recalibrating. One can bet on sports at Bovada, and the betting giant has slashed odds on the Pats winning the division down to +350.
Now, we’re not saying that the Foxborough outfit will end the Bills’ stranglehold out East, but they certainly have a favorable schedule in the coming weeks where those looking to bet on sports might be able to cash in. Sophomore quarterback Drake Maye has become the calm at the center of the storm: 1,200+ yards, seven touchdowns, and just two interceptions make his stat line one of the league’s most efficient among young QBs. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson has chipped in with two scores, capitalizing on weak fronts and punishing aggressive linebackers.
How did Maye get this off 😱
— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) October 6, 2025
Circle the upcoming tilt against the Titans (1-4). Tennessee fields a rookie QB in Cam Ward and sits at the bottom of the league in both scoring offense (12.5 PPG) and pass defense, allowing over 300 passing yards per contest. After that, friendly home stands await: the toothless Browns and the erratic Falcons visit Foxborough. Cleveland, battered and turning to Dillon Gabriel, is mired in a historic funk—ten straight games under 20 points. Atlanta is a turnstile of inconsistent play led by Michael Penix Jr.
The clash with an in-form Bucs side led by MVP candidate Baker Mayfield is certainly a tough test, but the NFC heavyweights could be vulnerable to a disciplined Patriots D. Then comes a Bengals squad free-falling without Joe Burrow, as well as divisional matchups against the winless Jets and injury-hampered Giants. All projections indicate a 5-2 run through the heart of fall.
Jacksonville Jaguars
If you’re searching for a model of controlled aggression and composure, look to Jacksonville. Their 31-28 victory over the Chiefs wasn’t just dramatic—it was a coming-out party. Trevor Lawrence has matured from tantalizing talent to tactical assassin, racking up over a thousand yards and six touchdowns. Travis Etienne Jr. perfectly complements him: 443 yards on 5.8 yards per carry and two touchdowns highlight his dynamic style.
The Jaguars thrive against defenses in distress. Next up are the Seahawks and Rams—both 3-2 but trending down. Seattle’s defense is a sieve, ranked dead last in missed tackles (18%) and decimated by injuries. The Rams, despite their offensive punch, surrender chunk plays that Lawrence and Etienne are built to exploit.
That stretch is tailor-made for piling up wins. Las Vegas (1-4) can’t block or keep pace; Houston (2-3) is leaking yardage through an injury-ravaged secondary and ranks low in rushing offense. The Chargers are reeling, the Cardinals are caught in a quarterback carousel, and the Titans plus Jets look more like speed bumps than roadblocks. At least five more victories are well within reach for the surging Jaguars.
Washington Commanders
In a year of razor-thin margins and broken scripts, the Commanders have quietly become one of betting’s safest ports. At 3-2, they leverage both home-field and divisional know-how. Jayden Daniels, bouncing back from injury, orchestrated a memorable road comeback against the Chargers and injected new purpose into the Washington offense. His dual-threat game—664 passing yards, four touchdowns, and 124 rushing yards in just three starts—delivers relentless unpredictability. Jacory Croskey-Merritt grounds the attack with 283 rushing yards at a mighty 6.6 per carry.
Monday Night brings the Bears—a franchise plagued by rookie mistakes, a battered offensive line, and a run D surrendering over six yards per carry. Road trips to the Cowboys (unpredictable but beatable) and the Chiefs (wounded) are tall asks, but Washington’s top-10 interception rate secondary is ready to capitalize.
Home games with the battered Seahawks and surging Lions require Daniels’ mobility, but a closing road fixture at Miami offers a golden chance: Tua Tagovailoa is struggling, and Tyreek Hill is out for the season following his gruesome knee injury. The pathway is clear—Washington is poised for a 4-2 or better run, and can turn underdog lines into outright wins.
