In blowing a 21-point third-quarter lead in an eventual loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4, the Chicago Bears became the 54th team since 2005 to start 0-4.
How did the previous 52 teams — the 53rd is this year’s Carolina Panthers — fare in their next game?
In NFL moneyline betting, only 15 teams (.288) won their fifth game. Their ROI is approximately -29%, meaning if you bet $100 on each of those 52 teams, you’d be down nearly $1,500.
Of the six teams to start 0-4 in the previous three seasons (2020-22), only one has avoided an 0-5 start: the Houston Texans in 2020. The other four teams lost their fifth game by an average of 10 points.
Against the spread, the 0-4 teams also aren’t profitable but are much better: 25-27 (.481) with an ROI of -6.4%. Most recently, they split two games in 2021; the Detroit Lions covered in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings, while the Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t cover in a loss to the Tennessee Titans.
As of Tuesday’s NFL odds at BetMGM, the Washington Commanders are a 6.5-point favorite over the Bears for Thursday’s game.
This is the third time since 2005 the Commanders have faced an 0-4 team. They failed to cover in the previous two games, most recently as a 6-point road favorite in a 17-16 win over the Miami Dolphins in 2019.
Visit the sportsbook for updated Week 5 odds and more online sports betting opportunities.