Boost the Bankroll: NFL Three-Team Teaser Play for Week 5 of 2024

Only two NFL unbeatens remain, the Chiefs and Vikings, and YouBet will boost the bankroll by previewing one of those teams in Week 5, recommending a three-team parlay (+581). All lines courtesy of BetMGM, times listed as Eastern.

$50 Parlay ($340 payout): Jets +2.5/Browns +3.5/Steelers -2.5

Jets vs. Vikings in London, England (9:30 a.m.): Jets +2.5

Minnesota got off to a terrific start, defeating a trio of serious playoff contenders (Green Bay, Houston, and San Francisco) in the first four games, and the Vikings jumped out to a double-digit lead before the conclusion of the third quarter in each, averaging 29 points per game (fourth-best in NFL). 

Everything appeared seamless, with the defense proving opportunistic (2.5 takeaways per game) behind a surging offense, but the Vikings finally displayed troubling tendencies in the second half last week.

After building a three-score advantage, Minnesota became sloppy, as Green Bay outscored the Vikes by a 22-3 margin in the fourth quarter. Things were no longer a given, as the Vikings escaped with a two-point win, and they appear ripe for a hangover against a Jets team with something to prove.

New York hoped to build upon a convincing win over New England in Week 3, but horrendous weather conditions and Denver’s stout defense wrecked the Jets' hopes in a 10-9 loss. Aaron Rodgers has a long history of performing his best after disappointing performances. And with New York and Davante Adams (who the Raiders are looking to deal) expressing mutual interest, the Jets will look to prove they belong in the Super Bowl discussion with the addition of Adams.

Browns at Commanders (1 p.m.): Browns +3.5 

Jayden Daniels appears to be a star-in-the-making, leading the league with an 82.1% completion percentage in his rookie season, and Washington looked like the team to beat in the NFC East last week, improving to 3-1 as the Commanders romped 42-14 as a 3.5-point underdog at Arizona. Cleveland turned in an opposite performance, struggling to generate offense while losing as a 2.5-point favorite at Las Vegas, and the Browns have underachieved, opening 1-3.

Things change from week to week in the NFL. Teams often are not as good or bad as they appear, and Washington has yet to battle complacency by taking things for granted. But the Commanders are now the hunted in the favorite’s role. And after recording a pair of dynamic offensive performances, scoring a combined 80 points the last two weeks, Washington faces a trap game before heading on the road against Baltimore.

Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has adapted his offense to match Daniels’ strengths as a passer and runner, but Cleveland now has tape on the new quarterback and will make defensive adjustments. The Browns remains a top-10 defensive unit, and their offense figures to receive a boost with Nick Chubb expected to be activated off the PUP list. Washington’s offensive fireworks have overshadowed its putrid defense, as the Commanders rank next-to-last in the league by allowing 6.2 yards per play, and Cleveland will get back on track to respectability with a good showing.

Cowboys at Steelers (8:20 p.m.): Steelers -2.5

Pittsburgh sustained its first loss in Week 4, but we came away more bullish after the setback. Outstanding defensive play carried the Steelers over the first three weeks, as their sluggish offense averaged only one touchdown game per game in low-scoring outputs. They finally looked viable offensively last week, as Justin Fields threw for 312 yards and the Steelers outgained Indianapolis by a 404-358 margin in total yards. Look for the offense to carry its momentum forward in a prime-time setting.

The defense did not show up last week, allowing the Colts to score 14 first-quarter points and failing to apply pressure to backup quarterback Joe Flacco, but that was an anomaly. The Steelers remain the top-ranked overall defense by PFF, they own arguably the league’s best pass rush, and they don’t allow yards after the catch. We can expect a rebound performance against Dallas.

The Cowboys will be without the heart of their defense, with Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence sidelined by injuries, and their offense is not operating efficiently. Dallas appears to be catching Pittsburgh at the wrong time, and the Steelers are poised to deliver a convincing win.