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NFL Week 5 Underdog Report: Nabers will be missed, Herbert will be hit

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

NFL Week 5 Underdog Report: Malik Nabers will be missed, Justin Herbert will be hit

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated Sep 30, 2025 1:00 PM ET

The New York Giants upset the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4. The Washington Commanders hope to do the same in Week 5, while the underdog New Orleans Saints look for their first win. Let's look at Week 5's Underdog Report.

Washington Commanders at Los Angeles Chargers (-3)

L.A. impressed with three straight wins against AFC West rivals to start the year, but gave the Giants their first win with a 21-18 loss at MetLife Stadium in Week 4. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had his worst game of the young season, completing just 56.1 percent of his passes for 203 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, his most in a single game since last year’s playoffs when he threw four picks in a 32-12 loss to the Houston Texans.

Herbert had just three interceptions in the 2024 regular season and finished with a career-high 101.7 quarterback rating. This year, his rating is a career-low 92.2, thanks in part to the number of hits he’s been taking.

Herbert has been sacked 12 times in his first four games and has been pressured on 50 of 95 dropbacks, per analyst Nate Tice. He should face even more pressure after left tackle Joe Alt was carted off the field with a high-ankle sprain against the Giants.

Kayvon brings him down

: CBS pic.twitter.com/Xgzl5fKM9Z
— New York Giants (@Giants) September 28, 2025

Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has missed the last two games with a knee sprain, but is expected to be ready for the Chargers game, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Daniels went 1-1 against the Giants and Green Bay Packers to start the year, throwing for 433 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Wide receiver Terry McLaurin will likely miss his second straight game with a quadriceps injury, but isn’t expected to go on IR. New addition Deebo Samuel Sr. caught all six of his targets for 72 yards and a touchdown in his absence, but could need more against the Chargers’ fifth-ranked passing defense. Beating L.A. won’t be easy, but if the Commanders can pressure Herbert and get a big game from Daniels, they could enter Week 6 with a 3-2 record.

New York Giants at New Orleans Saints (+2.5)

Saints head coach Kellen Moore knows all about the NFC East, having spent five years as an assistant coach with the Dallas Cowboys and last season as the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.

He doesn’t have much to work with, but the Giants don’t have much firepower with wide receiver Malik Nabers lost for the season with an ACL tear. Rookie Cam Skattebo leads the team in rushing with 181 yards and two scores, but his bulldozer-like approach has earned him 3.8 yards per carry so far.

Jaxson Dart, the second of the Giants' two first-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft (LB Abdul Carter), looked good in his first NFL start. He threw for 111 yards and a touchdown with 54 yards and another score on the ground, but averaged just 5.6 yards per pass against the Chargers.

Defensively, New York has allowed the eighth-most passing yards and fourth-most rushing yards of any team. If the Saints can avoid the Giants' pass rush and get the ball into the hands of Alvin Kamara, the NFL’s 15th-leading rusher, they could score their first home win since Week 11 of the 2024 season.

Bruce Ewing

Bruce Ewing is 183 pounds of twisted steel and Happy Meals. His work has appeared on Yardbarker, 5th Down Fantasy, Inside the Iggles and MSN. Give a Philly fan a break and follow him on Twitter/X at @fantasybruce.

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