FIRST-HALF WOES FOR WASHINGTON

Postmedia betting columnist Don Brennan offers up his picks against the spread for Week 5 games on Sunday and Monday:

BEST BETS

Tennessee Titans (2-2) at Washington Commanders (1-3) Line: Tennessee -2.5

Chewable: Commanders have been outscored 58-7 in the first half. Titans and Derrick Henry seem to be finding their stride. Road team is 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings, while Tennessee is 5-0 ATS in its last five October games.

Taking: Tennessee -2.5

Score (O/U 42.5): Titans 23, Commanders 13

Houston Texans (0-3-1) at Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2) Line: Jacksonville -7

Chewable: Remember when these two teams were the sludge at the bottom of the league's overall standings? Texans are spinning their wheels while the Jags have made a quick turnaround. Jacksonville's front seven, led by Travon Walker, will be in Davis Mills's face all day, while the offence should roam at will against a weak defence.

Taking: Jacksonville -7

Score (O/U 44.5): Jaguars 33, Texans 14

Atlanta Falcons (2-2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-2) Line: Tampa -8.5

Chewable: Tom Brady has won all nine games he's played against the Falcons, and he's anxious to get back on track after losses to Packers and Chiefs. Bucs scored 28 points in the final three quarters last week against Kansas and now, while expecting to have back the Falcons all-time leading receiver in Julio Jones, they face a porous Atlanta defence.

Taking: Tampa Bay -8.5

Score (O/U 48): Buccaneers 37, Falcons 20

AND THE REST

New York Giants (3-1) at Green Bay Packers (3-1)

Line: Green Bay -8.5

Chewable: If Daniel Jones (ankle) is anywhere close to being as mobile as he was against the Bears last week the spread favouring a Packers team whose offence has been less than impressive is too large. If Jones is hobbled he could have a tough day behind an offensive line that blocks like a bedsheet on the clothes line.

Taking: New York +8.5

Score (O/U 41.5): Packers 21, Giants 17

Seattle Seahawks (2-2) at New Orleans Saints (1-3)

Line: New Orleans -5.5 Chewable: Saints almost beat Vikings in London without Jameis Winston, Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas. It looks like Kamara, at least, will return, and he could feast on a Seahawks defence that is riddled with holes (29th vs. run, 29th vs. pass). Despite that, and the fact the tough Saints defence can be imposing at home in the dome, I'm starting to believe that Geno Smith is a late bloomer.

Taking: Seattle +5.5

Score (O/U 45.5): Saints 27, Seahawks 24

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-3) at Buffalo Bills (3-1)

Line: Buffalo -14

Chewable: Biggest spread of the season looks like an easy pick, with Kenny Pickett making his first NFL start, on the road, against the NFL'S best defence (or 1B beside the Niners). Then there's the fact that minus

T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh will have trouble generating pressure on Josh Allen. Plus the Bills have just played back-to-back games decided by three points or less, and they're due for a blowout. So why the hesitation? Something to do with Mike Tomlin's 46-26 ATS record as an underdog.

Taking: Pittsburgh +14

Score (O/U 47): Bills 30,

Steelers 17

Chicago Bears (2-2) at Minnesota Vikings (3-1)

Line: Minnesota -7

Chewable: Bears have a chance, if the Vikings are suffering from a severe London hangover. Otherwise Chicago's overworked defence will have its hands full. The home team is 27-11 in the last 38 meetings, and Bears have allowed a league-high average of 183.3 rushing yards per game. Dalvin Cook is going to have a Fields day.

Taking: Minnesota -7

Score (O/U 44): Vikings 27,

Bears 17

Miami Dolphins (3-1) at New York Jets (2-2)

Line: Miami -3.5

Chewable: Teddy Bridgewater is every bit the quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is. Despite Jets big win with Zach Wilson at the controls in Pittsburgh, Dolphins have won eight of the last nine meetings and should make it 9-of-10.

Taking: Miami -3.5

Score (O/U 44): Dolphins 28,

Jets 24

Los Angeles Chargers (2-2) at Cleveland Browns (2-2)

Line: Los Angeles -3

Chewable: The Browns running game remains one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL, but in a Jacoby Brissett-justin Herbert matchup, you've got to like the visitors here. Khalil Mack has found his old form, with five sacks in. He should build on that total here.

Taking: Los Angeles -3

Score (O/U 47.5): Chargers 24, Browns 20

Detroit Lions (1-3) at New England Patriots (1-3) Line: New England -3

Chewable: Not sure how many of Lions injured players will return for this game, but if I'm a Patriots fan I'm not expecting a lot from Bailey Zappe in his first start. Lions won the last meeting but dropped the four before it. A victory would be their first in Foxborough since 1993, when they picked up the `W' in overtime.

Taking: Detroit +3

Score (O/U 45.5): Lions 19, Patriots 16 (OT).

San Francisco 49ers (2-2) at Carolina Panthers (1-3)

Line: San Francisco -6.5

Chewable: For a team that's struggling to get going offensively, San Francisco is not an ideal opponent. Carolina has won six of the last eight meetings, including three in a row, but that streak stops now.

Taking: San Francisco -6.5

Score (O/U 39.5): Niners 20, Panthers 12

Philadelphia Eagles (4-0) at Arizona Cardinals (2-2)

Line: Philadelphia -5

Chewable: Both quarterbacks could rush for 100 yards and two touchdowns. It's unlikely, but possible. Eagles haven't won under the Arizona sun in 21 years. Cardinals are too banged up to pull off the upset.

Taking: Philadelphia -5

Score (O/U 49): Eagles 25, Cardinals 18

Dallas Cowboys (3-1) at Los Angeles Rams (2-2)

Line: Los Angeles -4.5

Chewable: Why are the Rams favoured here? They've done nothing to deserve the respect. Cooper Rush, on the other hand, has proven to be worth the backing. It won't be easy against Aaron Donald, but Dallas will keep it close.

Taking: Dallas +4.5

Score (O/U 43): Rams 24, Cowboys 21

Cincinnati Bengals (2-2) at Baltimore Ravens (2-2)

Line: Baltimore -3

Chewable: In two games against the Ravens last year, Joe Burrow completed 60-of-84 passes for 941 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. You can look it up.

Taking: Cincinnati +3

Score (O/U 48.5): Bengals 30, Ravens 28

MONDAY

Las Vegas Raiders (1-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (3-1)

Line: Kansas City -7

Chewable: Chiefs have won 13 of the last 15 meetings but the Raiders have some confidence after finally getting their first win of the season. For the first time as a Raider, Davante Adams was kept out of the end zone last week. He'll find his way back in K.C., on prime time.

Taking: Las Vegas +7

Score (O/U 51): Chiefs 33, Raiders 27