We are now reaching the quarter point of the 2023 NFL season, and it feels like every game is dripping with storylines as the NFL standings take a clearer shape. With the NFL spin dryer in full effect, how have CBS and FOX set up their Week 5 NFL coverage maps?
From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!
NFL Coverage Map for Week 5
The maps below are provided by the excellent team at 506 Sports. Their color-coded maps make it easy to see which games will be broadcast in your region this Sunday. Week 5 sees CBS with the doubleheader, meaning there will just be one FOX option for each region.
The maps below are correct as of Wednesday morning and could be subject to change.
CBS Early-Game NFL TV Coverage Map
Red: Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
Ian Eagle and Charles Davis
While a matchup between the Ravens and Steelers might not have the same buzz about it nationally as it did a few years back, this is still a huge game locally. Despite neither team appearing as naturally talented as they were a few years back, this game is for the lead in the AFC North entering Week 6.
With the Cincinnati Bengals struggling to start the season, the other three teams need to open up as much distance as they possibly can. The Steelers are 2-2 despite failing to really impress, but they have a chance to lay down a marker here.
Blue: New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots
Kevin Harlan and Trent Green
This is another game that a few years ago would have commanded either a national television slot or the vast majority of the late-game NFL coverage map. While these two teams are not of the same caliber as those Tom Brady and Drew Brees-led operations, this game is a huge statement opportunity for both squads.
MORE: Week 5 NFL Power Rankings
The Patriots keep telling us they are better than their record; now is the time to prove it. Meanwhile, the Saints’ offense has looked incredibly sluggish through four weeks and now faces a Patriots defense that prides itself on keeping opposing teams out of the end zone.
Yellow: Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts
Spero Dedes and Adam Archuleta
The AFC South is already turning into one of those divisions that is potentially going to have us gripped all year. With the Jaguars’ struggles out of the gate, both of these teams will be kicking themselves that they don’t have a better record. Yet, with Jacksonville facing a tough opponent this week, both of these sides will be desperate to open up a small gap.
CBS Late-Game NFL TV Coverage Map
Red: Kansas City Chiefs at Minnesota Vikings
Jim Nantz and Tony Romo
When you start the year 1-3 with what felt like a season-saving victory in Week 4, what is one of the last things you want to see on the schedule? Yeah, the Kansas City Chiefs would definitely be one of the answers. The Vikings cannot afford to drop to 1-4 and potentially three games behind the Detroit Lions.
As for the Chiefs, you know CBS and FOX will rarely pass up an opportunity to get them as their NFL coverage map-dominating game. The fact that we may also get a Taylor Swift sighting will only have further encouraged CBS to send this game to as many places as they possibly can.
Blue: New York Jets at Denver Broncos
Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber, and Matt Ryan
The Nathaniel Hackett Bowl is CBS’ side dish to their late afternoon coverage. It’s crazy to think that a game that could potentially have been a Russell Wilson vs. Aaron Rodgers showdown is now merely a side note to the day, but that is the case.
Both teams are 1-3 and fighting for their playoff lives, but don’t be surprised if we see as much coverage of the two sidelines as we do the actual game in this one.
FOX Single-Game NFL TV Coverage Map
Red: New York Giants at Miami Dolphins
Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma
Often, when FOX has the doubleheader, they would choose their lead early game to be the one they send Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen to. However, after watching three prime-time games involving the Giants, FOX has decided that maybe this game isn’t worth that attention.
MORE: Brian Daboll Reacts After Daniel Jones and Giants Fall to Seahawks
The only reason this game is commanding as much of FOX’s Week 5 NFL coverage map as it is is because the Dolphins’ offense offers mouth-watering potential every single week.
Green: Carolina Panthers at Detroit Lions
Chris Myers and Daryl Johnston
The Lions made a statement on Thursday Night Football in Week 4, and they have to back it up at home. The last time Detroit won on the road on a Thursday (Week 1), they dropped their next home game. That cannot happen here against the 0-4 Panthers if they want us to take them seriously on a national scale.
As for Carolina, well, don’t expect them to lose any fight. Thanks to trading up for QB Bryce Young in the 2023 NFL Draft, they don’t own their first-round pick in 2024. While we never like to believe a team really chooses to tank in the NFL, this Panthers team is going to scrap for every single win this year because there’s no benefit to the organization in tanking.
Yellow: Houston Texans at Atlanta Falcons
Brandon Gaudin and Mark Schlereth
This game between the Texans and Falcons might secretly be the game of the slate for FOX. Both teams are 2-2, and the Texans have looked a lot more frisky with C.J. Stroud under center than we may have expected. We may never have thought it would be the case, but this game could have a legitimate playoff impact on both teams come the end of the season.
Blue: Philadlephia Eagles at Los Angeles Rams (Late)
Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen
Two seasons ago, this would have garnered national attention, but we have no idea if the Rams are for real or not. At 2-2, they have dropped games they should have won, and last week had to go to overtime to win a game they controlled for the majority of the time. Oh, and Matthew Stafford was hurt last week, so that is something else to watch.
As for the Eagles, they loom as perhaps the most dangerous team in the NFL. Without ever really looking good, they are 4-0 and sitting as this potential monster. When you can win playing badly in September and early October, that is a fantastic sign for the rest of the season.
Brown: Cincinnati Bengals at Arizona Cardinals
Kevin Kugler and Mark Sanchez
The fact that this game isn’t considered an easy win for the Bengals shows just how much these two teams have performed differently from expectations in 2023. The Cardinals have fought hard for their 1-3 record and could easily be 2-2.
Meanwhile, the Bengals feel like they might be overvalued if you have watched their game. This is a frisky upset alert game to keep half an eye on.
NFL Week 1 National TV Broadcasts
Thursday Night
Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders (Amazon)
This game is loaded with storylines, even if the action on the field is not that enticing:
- Justin Fields is nearly always box office watching, whether it’s for the sublime or the ridiculous.
- Matt Eberflus’ chair is so hot right now that you could cook a meal on it.
- Ron Rivera is in danger of losing his “Riverboat” nickname.
- Sam Howell is showing us far more than we ever gave him credit for.
The football might not be mouth-watering, and the commentary is drawing criticism, but the potential fallout from this game makes it worth your time on Thursday night.
Sunday Morning
Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills (NFL Network)
The red-hot Buffalo Bills will hope that a long-distance flight to London does not cool off their high-flying offense. After putting the Dolphins back in their place, they look to keep rolling against another Florida team that is enjoying an extended workcation.
MORE: NFL Defense Rankings 2023
The Jaguars are making history as the first team to play back-to-back in London. Will the week acclimatizing make all the difference this week?
Sunday Night
Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers (NBC)
This game very much has the chance to be a game-of-the-year contender. The Cowboys head on the road to San Francisco looking to lay down a marker in the NFC and shut down an undefeated record. The outcome of this game could have huge NFC playoffs and home-field advantage implications. Quite simply, if you only watch one game this weekend, this should be it.
Monday Night
Green Bay Packers at Las Vegas Raiders (ESPN/ABC)
If it’s drama you want, then the Las Vegas Raiders are here to provide it. With a locker room seemingly in meltdown, can the Raiders put that to one side and take down a Packers team coming off a humiliating home loss in prime time?
Both teams desperately need this game for their playoff aspirations, but for the two head coaches, there is potentially even more at play than simply their 2023 record.
