It was another crowded slate of games around the NFL in Week 4. It began with the Detroit Lions defeating the Green Bay Packers on the road on Thursday Night Football. On Sunday, we witnessed a handful of blowout losses around the league. Surprisingly, the Commanders vs. Eagles game and the Chiefs vs. Jets game proved to be two of the more entertaining contests of the week.
Now we're on to Week 5 in the NFL. This is the time when the league can decide to flex games into a primetime slot. It's also the time when teams start having their bye weeks.
For teams that are struggling, the bye couldn't come at a better time. These teams will hit the reset button and go back to the drawing board before a long break-less stretch of games to close out the 2023 season. Here are the NFL teams who have a bye in Week 5, according to ESPN.
NFL Week 5 byes:
- Cleveland Browns
- Los Angeles Rams
- Seattle Seahawks
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Cleveland Browns, much like the Pittsburgh Steelers, were humiliated in a blowout loss in Week 4. Both AFC North teams sit on a 2-2 record entering Week 5, but with the Steelers playing this Week against the Ravens (3-1), Mike Tomlin's team could once again take hold of first place in the AFC North. With a win, Pittsburgh would be a half-game better than Cleveland and they would hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Ravens.
In addition to the Browns, the Rams, Seahawks, and Buccaneers are each on a bye in Week 5. The Browns are the only AFC team off this week.
Week 5 in the NFL will begin with a potential barn-burner between the Bears and Commanders on Thursday Night Football. From there, we have an early 9:30 a.m. ET game in London between the Jaguars and the Bills.
There are a few games this week with a lot riding on them. The Steelers and Ravens will play seeding, as the winner takes control of first place in the AFC North. Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys are looking to avoid falling two games behind the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC playoff race.
The Chiefs will also have the chance to drive the final nail in the coffin for the Minnesota Vikings -- who could very well fall to 1-4 on the season after this week. The NFL concludes Week 5 with a Monday Night Football showdown between the Packers and Raiders.