How does the FSN NFL rooting guide work?

FSN measures how each other game in the current week changes a team’s simulated playoff, division, No. 1 seed and Super Bowl outcomes, then ranks the results that help most.

Why is my team’s own game not included?

Winning your own game is already the most direct way to improve your position. The rooting guide focuses on the other games fans should care about.

Do NFL rooting interests change every week?

Yes. Rooting interests rebuild with the FSN season forecast as standings, tiebreak paths and game probabilities change. Weekly snapshots preserve the pre-week picture.

2026 NFL · WEEK 5 · FSN-ROOT-1.1

NFL Week 5 Rooting Guide: Who Should Every Team Root For?

Pick your team for Week 5. FSN ranks every other unplayed game by how much each result helps your playoff path—using the same 5,000 full-season simulations behind the Playoff Predictor.

Playoff Control Center →Playoff Predictor →Game Simulator →

PICK YOUR TEAM

Who should you root for in Week 5?

Team

WEEK 5 ROOTING INTERESTS

Cincinnati Bengals fans: here’s who to root for

Your own game is excluded. Winning that one is still the best possible rooting strategy.

Current playoff odds50.0%12 meaningful outside-game impacts

High impact Sun 1:00 PM ET

HOUHouston Texans @ TENTennessee Titans

ROOT FOR Tennessee Titans over Houston Texans

+4.2 pts Playoff odds for Cincinnati Bengals in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Tennessee Titans wins53.1%Playoff odds

If Houston Texans wins48.8%Playoff odds

Playoffs53.1%vs48.8%

Division20.2%vs20.0%

#1 seed0.9%vs1.0%

Reach SB2.1%vs1.5%

Win SB0.5%vs0.3%

High impact Sun 1:00 PM ET

CLECleveland Browns @ NYJNew York Jets

ROOT FOR New York Jets over Cleveland Browns

+2.9 pts Division odds for Cincinnati Bengals in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If New York Jets wins21.6%Division odds

If Cleveland Browns wins18.7%Division odds

Playoffs51.0%vs49.1%

Division21.6%vs18.7%

#1 seed0.9%vs1.0%

Reach SB1.6%vs1.7%

Win SB0.4%vs0.3%

High impact Sun 1:00 PM ET

INDIndianapolis Colts @ PITPittsburgh Steelers

ROOT FOR Indianapolis Colts over Pittsburgh Steelers

+2.7 pts Division odds for Cincinnati Bengals in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Indianapolis Colts wins21.5%Division odds

If Pittsburgh Steelers wins18.8%Division odds

Playoffs50.5%vs49.6%

Division21.5%vs18.8%

#1 seed1.1%vs0.8%

Reach SB1.7%vs1.6%

Win SB0.4%vs0.3%

High impact Sun 1:00 PM ET

NYGNew York Giants @ WASWashington Commanders

ROOT FOR New York Giants over Washington Commanders

+3.5 pts Division odds for Cincinnati Bengals in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If New York Giants wins21.9%Division odds

If Washington Commanders wins18.4%Division odds

Playoffs50.2%vs49.9%

Division21.9%vs18.4%

#1 seed1.0%vs0.9%

Reach SB1.8%vs1.5%

Win SB0.4%vs0.4%

High impact Sun 4:05 PM ET

DENDenver Broncos @ LACLos Angeles Chargers

ROOT FOR Los Angeles Chargers over Denver Broncos

+3.0 pts Playoff odds for Cincinnati Bengals in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Los Angeles Chargers wins51.9%Playoff odds

If Denver Broncos wins49.0%Playoff odds

Playoffs51.9%vs49.0%

Division20.0%vs20.1%

#1 seed1.0%vs0.9%

Reach SB1.3%vs1.9%

Win SB0.2%vs0.4%

High impact Sun 8:20 PM ET

BALBaltimore Ravens @ ATLAtlanta Falcons

ROOT FOR Atlanta Falcons over Baltimore Ravens

+3.3 pts Division odds for Cincinnati Bengals in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Atlanta Falcons wins21.9%Division odds

If Baltimore Ravens wins18.6%Division odds

Playoffs50.0%vs50.1%

Division21.9%vs18.6%

#1 seed0.9%vs0.9%

Reach SB1.4%vs1.8%

Win SB0.4%vs0.3%

Meaningful impact Sun 1:00 PM ET

CHIChicago Bears @ GBGreen Bay Packers

ROOT FOR Green Bay Packers over Chicago Bears

+2.2 pts Playoff odds for Cincinnati Bengals in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Green Bay Packers wins51.4%Playoff odds

If Chicago Bears wins49.2%Playoff odds

Playoffs51.4%vs49.2%

Division20.8%vs19.7%

#1 seed0.7%vs1.1%

Reach SB1.6%vs1.7%

Win SB0.2%vs0.4%

Meaningful impact small model edge Sun 9:30 AM ET

PHIPhiladelphia Eagles @ JAXJacksonville Jaguars

ROOT FOR Philadelphia Eagles over Jacksonville Jaguars

+1.6 pts Playoff odds for Cincinnati Bengals in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Philadelphia Eagles wins51.4%Playoff odds

If Jacksonville Jaguars wins49.7%Playoff odds

Playoffs51.4%vs49.7%

Division20.5%vs20.0%

#1 seed1.4%vs0.9%

Reach SB2.2%vs1.6%

Win SB0.6%vs0.3%

Meaningful impact small model edge Sun 4:25 PM ET

DETDetroit Lions @ ARIArizona Cardinals

ROOT FOR Detroit Lions over Arizona Cardinals

+1.3 pts Playoff odds for Cincinnati Bengals in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Detroit Lions wins50.4%Playoff odds

If Arizona Cardinals wins49.1%Playoff odds

Playoffs50.4%vs49.1%

Division20.5%vs19.1%

#1 seed1.0%vs0.8%

Reach SB1.5%vs2.1%

Win SB0.4%vs0.3%

Meaningful impact small model edge Sun 1:00 PM ET

MINMinnesota Vikings @ NONew Orleans Saints

ROOT FOR Minnesota Vikings over New Orleans Saints

+1.4 pts Division odds for Cincinnati Bengals in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Minnesota Vikings wins20.6%Division odds

If New Orleans Saints wins19.3%Division odds

Playoffs50.3%vs49.5%

Division20.6%vs19.3%

#1 seed1.0%vs0.9%

Reach SB1.8%vs1.5%

Win SB0.3%vs0.5%

Meaningful impact small model edge Thu 8:15 PM ET

TBTampa Bay Buccaneers @ DALDallas Cowboys

ROOT FOR Tampa Bay Buccaneers over Dallas Cowboys

+1.1 pts Playoff odds for Cincinnati Bengals in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Tampa Bay Buccaneers wins50.8%Playoff odds

If Dallas Cowboys wins49.7%Playoff odds

Playoffs50.8%vs49.7%

Division20.2%vs20.1%

#1 seed0.9%vs0.9%

Reach SB1.8%vs1.6%

Win SB0.5%vs0.3%

Meaningful impact small model edge Mon 8:15 PM ET

BUFBuffalo Bills @ LARLos Angeles Rams

ROOT FOR Los Angeles Rams over Buffalo Bills

+1.7 pts Playoff odds for Cincinnati Bengals in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Los Angeles Rams wins50.8%Playoff odds

If Buffalo Bills wins49.2%Playoff odds

Playoffs50.8%vs49.2%

Division19.8%vs20.4%

#1 seed0.9%vs1.0%

Reach SB1.4%vs1.9%

Win SB0.4%vs0.3%

Small edge small model edge Sun 1:00 PM ET

LVLas Vegas Raiders @ NENew England Patriots

ROOT FOR Las Vegas Raiders over New England Patriots

+0.7 pts Playoff odds for Cincinnati Bengals in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If Las Vegas Raiders wins50.5%Playoff odds

If New England Patriots wins49.7%Playoff odds

Playoffs50.5%vs49.7%

Division20.7%vs19.7%

#1 seed0.7%vs1.1%

Reach SB1.7%vs1.7%

Win SB0.3%vs0.4%

Small edge small model edge Sun 4:25 PM ET

SFSan Francisco 49ers @ SEASeattle Seahawks

ROOT FOR San Francisco 49ers over Seattle Seahawks

+0.5 pts Playoff odds for Cincinnati Bengals in the preferred-result branch

See the simulation impact

If San Francisco 49ers wins50.3%Playoff odds

If Seattle Seahawks wins49.8%Playoff odds

Playoffs50.3%vs49.8%

Division20.0%vs20.2%

#1 seed0.9%vs1.0%

Reach SB1.6%vs1.7%

Win SB0.3%vs0.4%

ALL 32 TEAMS

Top rooting interest at a glance

This server-rendered table gives every fan base’s strongest current outside-game rooting interest. Use the picker above for the full slate.

TeamRoot forAgainstImpact

ARIArizona Cardinals New England PatriotsLas Vegas Raiders+0.5 ptsPlayoff odds ATLAtlanta Falcons New York GiantsWashington Commanders+2.6 ptsDivision odds BALBaltimore Ravens Washington CommandersNew York Giants+4.8 ptsDivision odds BUFBuffalo Bills Las Vegas RaidersNew England Patriots+10.4 ptsDivision odds CARCarolina Panthers Baltimore RavensAtlanta Falcons+7.3 ptsPlayoff odds CHIChicago Bears New Orleans SaintsMinnesota Vikings+7.8 ptsDivision odds CINCincinnati Bengals Tennessee TitansHouston Texans+4.2 ptsPlayoff odds CLECleveland Browns Tennessee TitansHouston Texans+6.2 ptsPlayoff odds DALDallas Cowboys Jacksonville JaguarsPhiladelphia Eagles+7.3 ptsPlayoff odds DENDenver Broncos Jacksonville JaguarsPhiladelphia Eagles+3.5 ptsPlayoff odds DETDetroit Lions New Orleans SaintsMinnesota Vikings+6.5 ptsDivision odds GBGreen Bay Packers Buffalo BillsLos Angeles Rams+2.6 ptsPlayoff odds HOUHouston Texans Las Vegas RaidersNew England Patriots+3.2 ptsPlayoff odds INDIndianapolis Colts Los Angeles ChargersDenver Broncos+5.2 ptsPlayoff odds JAXJacksonville Jaguars Pittsburgh SteelersIndianapolis Colts+5.0 ptsDivision odds KCKansas City Chiefs Philadelphia EaglesJacksonville Jaguars+7.9 ptsNo. 1 seed odds LVLas Vegas Raiders Los Angeles ChargersDenver Broncos+3.4 ptsPlayoff odds LACLos Angeles Chargers Jacksonville JaguarsPhiladelphia Eagles+0.4 ptsPlayoff odds LARLos Angeles Rams Arizona CardinalsDetroit Lions+6.0 ptsPlayoff odds MIAMiami Dolphins Philadelphia EaglesJacksonville Jaguars+0.2 ptsPlayoff odds MINMinnesota Vikings Green Bay PackersChicago Bears+11.3 ptsDivision odds NENew England Patriots Los Angeles RamsBuffalo Bills+10.6 ptsDivision odds NONew Orleans Saints Baltimore RavensAtlanta Falcons+2.1 ptsPlayoff odds NYGNew York Giants Tampa Bay BuccaneersDallas Cowboys+5.2 ptsPlayoff odds NYJNew York Jets Miami DolphinsCincinnati Bengals+1.3 ptsPlayoff odds PHIPhiladelphia Eagles Tampa Bay BuccaneersDallas Cowboys+4.6 ptsPlayoff odds PITPittsburgh Steelers Miami DolphinsCincinnati Bengals+3.6 ptsPlayoff odds SFSan Francisco 49ers Green Bay PackersChicago Bears+3.4 ptsNo. 1 seed odds SEASeattle Seahawks Buffalo BillsLos Angeles Rams+2.8 ptsPlayoff odds TBTampa Bay Buccaneers Philadelphia EaglesJacksonville Jaguars+0.9 ptsPlayoff odds TENTennessee Titans Miami DolphinsCincinnati Bengals+0.1 ptsPlayoff odds WASWashington Commanders Jacksonville JaguarsPhiladelphia Eagles+1.1 ptsPlayoff odds

WEEKLY ARCHIVE

Rooting guides change as the playoff picture changes

Saved weekly checkpoints let fans revisit what helped their team at that point in the season.

Week 1 →Week 2 →Week 3 →Week 4 →Week 5 →Week 6 →

WHY THIS IS DIFFERENT

It measures the impact instead of guessing at rooting interests

For each unplayed Week 5 game, FSN looks at the season simulations where the away team won and the simulations where the home team won. Then it compares what happened to every other team’s playoff path.

The ranking gives playoff qualification the most weight for bubble teams. For strong contenders, division and No. 1 seed leverage becomes more important. Super Bowl paths remain a smaller secondary signal so the guide does not tell a 5–8 team to root for an exotic championship path instead of the result that actually helps it reach January.

Because these are Monte Carlo estimates, very small differences can move from refresh to refresh. FSN explicitly labels those as small or minimal rather than pretending a tenth of a percentage point is destiny.

FAQ

NFL rooting interests, explained

Why isn’t my team’s own game listed?

Because winning your own game is already the strongest direct way to improve your position. This tool answers the harder question: what should you want to happen everywhere else?

Does “+4.7 points” mean the result guarantees my playoff odds rise by exactly 4.7 points?

No. It is the difference between two conditional Monte Carlo branches in the current forecast. It is a useful estimate of leverage, not a guaranteed future update.

Will the rooting guide update after games are played?

Yes. The live guide follows the current unplayed slate. Weekly archive pages preserve the checkpoint from that week so later results do not rewrite what fans were supposed to root for beforehand.