Detroit Lions vs. Cincinnati Bengals betting line is nearly unprecedented
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Detroit Lions are 10.5-point favorites over the Cincinnati Bengals. It’s currently the biggest line of Week 5 in the NFL, but the historical perspective on that line is almost unbelievable.
Per Stathead, the Lions have not been favored by that much on the road since… 1973, when the 1-2-1 Lions were also 10.5-point favorites over the 1-3 New Orleans Saints. Not to worry anybody, but the Archie Manning-led Saints actually ended up defeating Greg Landry’s Lions 20-13 that game.
In total, the Lions have been favored by 10.5 points or more 12 times in franchise history. In those games, the Lions are 9-2-1, but they have only covered the spread in four of those games.
While a 10.5-point spread in a game between a 2-2 Bengals team and a 3-1 Lions team may seem unreasonable, Cincinnati has been blown out in the past two weeks with Jake Browning as their starter in place of injured Joe Burrow. The Minnesota Vikings beat the Bengals 48-10 in Week 3, and the Denver Broncos defeated them 28-3 last week.
Meanwhile, the Lions have steamrolled two of their last three opponents. In Week 2, they handed the Chicago Bears a 52-21 beatdown, and last week it was the Browns who were at the mercy of a Lions 34-10 blowout.
Superstitious people may not like hearing this, but this game certainly has the makings of another potential lopsided game. Perhaps the Bengals will come out with some extra pride in hoping they don’t suffer their third blowout in a row. But it will take a big turnaround against a team that does not typically fall victim to big upsets. As a touchdown-or-more favorite, the Lions are 8-2 in the Dan Campbell era and have covered in six of those wins.
Daniel Jones Breaks Top-10 Greatness with Colts
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones has had a great start to his first year in the Circle City. Despite falling in a dramatic tilt against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4, his four-game sample with Shane Steichen has been unlike anything anyone expected before the season started.
Jones now sets his eyes on a golden opportunity to help the Colts return to the win column against the Las Vegas Raiders, who rank 21st in the NFL in passing yards allowed with 913. Given how well Jones has played, this is a game where he can shine.
Pro Football Focus' Nick Akridge put together his QB ranking ahead of Week 5, showing immense respect to Jones by placing him eighth overall. Jones is among names like Justin Herbert (9) and Josh Allen (7).
Below are some prominent quarterback metrics from Jones, along with his rank in the NFL for each. These numbers display how effective the former sixth-overall pick has been through four games with the Colts.
-Passing Yards | 1,078 (3rd)
-Completion Percentage | 71.9 (4th)
-Completions | 87 (tied - 9th)
-QBR | 79.1 (1st)
-Passer Rating | 103.3 (8th)
After six seasons of consistently underwhelming performances with the New York Giants, Steichen has Jones playing better than he's ever shown in his veteran career under center.
Jones' career resurgence is reminiscent of what Sam Darnold (now with the Seattle Seahawks) accomplished last year with the Minnesota Vikings. Darnold's career was nothing short of a pure dumpster fire with the hapless New York Jets franchise.
However, once Darnold was under the tutelage of a true QB whisperer like Kevin O'Connell, he found incredible rhythm. Darnold finished 2024 with 35 touchdown passes, 4,319 passing yards, a 66.2 completion percentage, and a Pro Bowl nomination.
Now, Jones is doing the same with a QB-savvy coach like Steichen and Indianapolis.
For Jones to have gone from what he was perceived as in New York, to one of the NFL's most efficient quarterback is a testament to the talent he had the entire time, and Steichen's ability to mold those attributes into a great signal-caller.
If Jones can be as consistent as he's been through the young 2025 season for the rest of it, he'll conclude as a potential Comeback Player of the Year candidate. Jones has season totals of seven all-purpose scores (four passing, three rushing) and a great ability to spread the wealth in the offense.
Jones has become a great leader for Steichen's offense and has gelled with players like Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, and Tyler Warren. Along with an impressive offensive line, Jones is playing comfortably, confidently, and like a winner.
Anything can happen in the NFL week-to-week, but Jones has a great matchup on paper ahead against the struggling Raiders at home. If he can get a victory while playing turnover-free and clean football, he'll regain the momentum the team lost against the Rams.
