In an attempt to halt their three-game losing streak, The Washington Football Team is banking on a quarterback switch from Dwayne Haskins to Kyle Allen when they face the Los Angeles Rams at home.
As part of NFL Week 5, the NFC teams will face off at FedExField in Landover, MD this Sunday, Oct. 11, with the game scheduled for 1 p.m. and broadcasted on FOX.
Since their Week 1 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington (1-3) has been unable to secure another win. On the other hand, the LA Rams (3-1) managed to bounce back after a close 35-32 defeat against the Buffalo Bills and emerged victorious in a challenging Week 4 match against the New York Giants.
Initially, the Rams were favored to win by 9 to 9.5 points according to the NFL wagering odds. However, even before the quarterback switch to Kyle Allen was made public, the margin was already decreasing. By Thursday morning, the line had dropped to 7 to 7.5 points, varying slightly depending on the sportsbook.
If you plan on visiting a legal NFL betting location this weekend, here’s what you should know about the Washington Football Team vs. Los Angeles Rams, even though Virginia sportsbooks won’t be open until January.
Shall we examine the Week 5 clash?
Washington vs. LA Rams odds with Kyle Allen at QB
Despite the Washington vs. LA line being active, there has been a lack of preference among bettors. The Rams have received the majority of total bets and total betting dollars.
Being a road favorite in the NFL is a rare occurrence, and being one by a full touchdown is even more uncommon. However, despite the Los Angeles team having to make a long journey to the East Coast for the third time in four weeks, bettors in the NFL are not showing much confidence in Washington.
Most sportsbooks offer Los Angeles at around -350 on the moneyline, while Washington has a comeback of +285.
If you were to place a $100 bet on the Rams at those odds, your winnings would amount to $28.57. On the other hand, if you were to bet $100 on Washington and win, you would receive $285 in winnings.
The game’s total score has fluctuated between 45 and 46. However, the weather forecast for Sunday indicates a chance of rain and wind, which might influence the over/under line as we approach kickoff. It is possible that the total score could drop to the low 40s.
What impact will a losing streak and a change in quarterback have on Washington? Are the LA team truly justified in being such strong favorites?
Shall we dive right into the matchup?
Washington vs. Los Angeles breakdown
It is undeniable that Washington has a highly favorable path to the NFL playoffs. The NFC East has proven to be a major disappointment in the 2020 season thus far. Collectively, Washington, Philadelphia, the NY Giants, and Dallas Cowboys have only managed to secure three wins in a total of 16 games.
Why not Washington as the division winner and moving into the postseason? This could be a potential explanation for Washington head coach Ron Rivera’s decision to make a quarterback change this week, even if it seems somewhat impulsive.
After his impressive performance of recording a season-high of 314 yards passing and a completion percentage of 71.1%, Dwayne Haskins, Washington’s top draft pick in 2019, has been demoted. Taking over as the quarterback this week will be Kyle Allen, who previously served as the starting QB for the Carolina Panthers in 2019, holding a record of 5-7.
This week, don’t be shocked to see Allen frequently targeting Washington’s rookie RB Antonio Gibson, who has been excelling in both rushing and receiving, finding his rhythm on the field.
Nevertheless, the focus of Sunday’s game might shift towards LA’s offense rather than Washington’s. In the 2020 season, the Washington defense has been conceding an average of 130 yards rushing per game, ranking them as the ninth-worst in the NFL. Conversely, the Rams have excelled in rushing, ranking seventh-best in the league with an average of 142.3 yards per game.
Expect LA’s Darrell Henderson (222 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry) and Malcolm Brown (183 yards, averaging 4.1 yards per carry) to once again bear the brunt of the rushing duties. While they didn’t make much noise in the nail-biting game against the Giants last week, anticipate them receiving a substantial number of carries against the Washington defense.
Furthermore, it should be anticipated that Cooper Kupp, with a total of 297 yards and an average of 12.9 yards per reception, as well as Robert Woods, who has accumulated 229 yards with an average of 12.1 yards per reception, will continue to be preferred targets of Los Angeles quarterback Jared Goff. Although the QB had a subpar performance in the previous game, recording only 200 yards passing and a QB rating of 57.6, it is worth noting that the Pro Bowler typically bounces back strongly after a disappointing week.
Thanks to a weak NFC East, Washington still has a chance to salvage their season. However, in order to do so, Allen and the rest of the WFT must secure a significant victory, and the favored LA Rams provide the perfect opportunity for this.
Other NFL Week 5 matchups of note to Virginia
Virginia football fans can look forward to an exciting lineup of games in NFL Week 5 featuring their beloved NFL teams.
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens (-12.5)
Rookie quarterback Joe Burrow will be the center of attention as the Cincinnati Bengals (1-2-1) face the Baltimore Ravens (3-1) in Sunday’s AFC North showdown (1 p.m., CBS). The Ravens, with their impressive record and home advantage, are favored by 12.5 points, particularly due to the Bengals’ difficulties in defending against the run. Consequently, it is highly likely that Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson will rely heavily on Gus Edwards and Mark Ingram for handoffs, in addition to his own running plays.
Nevertheless, the Baltimore defense needs to prepare themselves for the formidable presence of Burrow, who has impressively thrown for over 300 yards in his last three consecutive games. Moreover, Cincinnati’s running back Joe Mixon will aim to capitalize on his outstanding 151-yard display against Jacksonville in the previous week. Initially set at 52, the total for the game has now decreased to 51.
Carolina Panthers (+2) at Atlanta Falcons
The Panthers (2-2) are aiming for their third consecutive win as they travel to Georgia to face the winless Atlanta Falcons (0-4). This Sunday’s NFC South showdown (1 p.m., FOX) provides Carolina QB Teddy Bridgewater and running back Mike Davis with a prime chance to prolong their winning streak. Considering the Falcons’ struggles, allowing an average of 34.5 points per game this season, it seems their season is in disarray.
The head coach of Atlanta, Dan Quinn, may face significant pressure in this upcoming home game. The game’s projected total score has fluctuated between 54 and 54.5. With one of the highest totals for the week, anticipate a high-scoring game on Sunday.
Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans
This week in Nashville, the Tennessee Titans were supposed to face off against the Buffalo Bills. However, the biggest challenge for the Titans this season continues to be COVID-19. The team has already been affected by failed tests, causing disruptions to their 2020 season. As a result, it seems unlikely that the game against Buffalo will proceed as scheduled.
Make sure to stay updated with the latest NFL news for game updates. As of Thursday morning, sportsbooks were not accepting bets for the game.
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