Published Oct 10, 1:25pm ET by
Paul Lebowitz - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Oct 10, 1:25pm ET
Grok AI
Updated Oct 10, 1:30pm ET
|
|
|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | -14 (-115) |
| Green Bay Packers | +14 (-105) |
Jake Browning played well in 2023 when Joe Burrow was injured. He had a 70.4 completion percentage, threw 12 TDs against 7 picks, leading them to a 4-3 record.
This year, with Burrow out until December at the earliest after suffering turf toe, Browning has completed 80 of 124 passes for 6 TDs and 8 picks. That comeback drive against the Jaguars obscured him throwing 3 picks in that game.
To try and salvage the season, the Bengals acquired Joe Flacco from the Browns, and he will start.
The 40-year-old has horrible overall numbers from his four starts for Cleveland. But to be fair, he had no weapons. He’s thrown 2 TD passes and 6 interceptions. He did not play particularly well in 2024 when the Colts inserted him to replace Anthony Richardson and was quickly benched.
The Bengals have a high-powered offense with Burrow. They do not with Browning. Could Flacco put up the points with Cincinnati? He’s immobile, but he was never particularly mobile. Presumably, he only has a rudimentary grasp of the offense after a few days, but the veteran can learn quickly.
Browning as the starter has negatively impacted the entire offense. Chase Brown is averaging 2.5 yards per carry. Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr chase are openly frustrated.
Then there are the picks.
Jake Browning INTS: 3
— Cooked Sports (@CookedSport) October 5, 2025
Ja'Marr Chase tackles: 3, all coming on Jake Browning interceptions 😳
(via @NFL )
pic.twitter.com/ti3tFIxXez
As bad as the Bengals are defensively, they’re hopeless if they can’t score. So why not try Flacco?
They’re third from the last in points allowed per game; last in rushing yards per game; 29th in defensive passing yards per game; and 24th in defensive rushing yards per game.
If they continue to stumble, expect half the league to be after Trey Hendrickson.
In the afterglow of trading for Micah Parsons, the Packers bandwagon was overflowing after two weeks and two wins against Lions and Commanders.
That was upended in Week 3 when they lost 13-10 to the Browns – and Flacco – and followed that up with a tie…a tie!!!...with the Cowboys. For a team that supposedly cemented its defense with Parsons to surrender 40 to Dallas, it begs questions as to how great that defense really is.
Parsons was inspired against his former team.
Unbelievable hustle by Micah Parsons to save a touchdown here in overtime 😤pic.twitter.com/WnsRw2H5FZ
— IKE Packers Podcast (@IKE_Packers) September 29, 2025
Green Bay needs to find its footing against the Bengals in Week 6 and the Cardinals in Week 7, especially with the Lions roaring at 4-1, the Vikings at 3-2, and the Bears looking reasonably decent at 2-2.
Green Bay is hovering around the top 10 in the league in just about every category. They are 2nd in the league in rushing yards against and 11th against the pass. That does not bode well for Cincinnati no matter who is at QB.
Jordan Love has a passer rating of 113.0. He has 8 TD passes and 1 pick. Josh Jacobs is only averaging 3.3 yards per carry, but he’s caught 10 passes for 119 yards. Expect a big game against the Bengals.
Head coach Matt LaFleur expressed concern over kicker Brandon McManus’ leg injury, but McManus insists he’ll be ok to kick.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur on why he called Brandon McManus’ injury a major concern yesterday before McManus insisted he would play Sunday:
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) October 10, 2025
“You’re a kicker and your leg is bothering you, that’s a problem.” pic.twitter.com/BXW9kxEzP2
| PLAYER | STATUS |
|---|---|
| Aaron Banks, GB | INJURED |
| Anthony Belton, GB | INJURED |
| Kingsley Enagbare, GB | INJURED |
| Brandon McManus, GB | INJURED |
| Christian Watson, GB | INJURED |
| Dylan Fairchild, CIN | INJURED |
| Drew Sample, CIN | INJURED |
| Shemar Stewart, CIN | INJURED |
| Lucas Patrick, CIN | INJURED |
| Charlie Jones, CIN | INJURED |
For Bengals-Packers Week 6, the question is if Cincinnati can stop Green Bay at all and if Browning can be competent against a defense that might be slightly overrated after getting Parsons’ star power.
The 14-point spread is tough to swallow. After only a few days in Cincinnati learning head coach Zac Taylor’s offense, how ready will Flacco be?
Given the Ravens’ awful start and that the Browns are also in the AFC North, the Bengals cannot dump the season even if they’re without Burrow. That explains the trade for Flacco and that they're starting him.
Green Bay will win, but it will be closer than 14 points.
|
Pick
Cincinnati Bengals +14
|
New Player Bonus
50% up to $1000
|
