Week 5 NFL Picks: Packers head into Cincinnati as slight favorites over Bengals

A week after being favored by about a touchdown over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lambeau Field, the Green Bay Packers are still favored against another AFC North team. However, the point spread for Sunday’s game at Paul Brown Stadium against the Cincinnati Bengals is substantially shorter, around three points as of Thursday.

Home field advantage accounts for much of that difference, but so do the injuries that the Packers have been dealing with of late. With Jaire Alexander expected to miss the game (and at least a few after that), the Packers will be without their top cover man in addition to their best pass-rusher in Za’Darius Smith and their most dangerous deep-ball receiver, Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Still, the Packers enter week 5 at 3-1 and with an offense that has been one of the most effective in the NFL over the past three games. Cincinnati has played a particularly weak schedule so far, however, buoying them to their own 3-1 record. However, two of those wins were by just a field goal apiece, including last Thursday’s 24-21 victory over the dysfunctional mess called the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Will the Bengals be exposed as paper tigers this week when they actually face a good team? Or will the Packers’ injuries finally start catching up to them? APC’s picks for this week are below.

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A disclaimer: our picks are published for entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as betting advice. Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.