Here are my NFL Week 5 Picks
(7-6 last week, 35-26 for the season)
Bye teams: Mia, Oak
Min @ GB – This has been a challenging season for me so far, with a lot of historically good teams (NO, GB, NE, SF) losing games early in the season. Don’t look for a switch to certainty this week, but here’s one that should be predictable. Rodgers won’t lose at home to Ponder.
Chi @ Car – How’s this for a weird stat; the Bears are 0-2 at home and 2-0 on the road. That just proves what we’ve all known, that Cutler is a head case who gets nervous and throws INTs. He’s a talented head case though, and the Carolina D isn’t great. He should have a nice day.
Hou @ Dal – This is shaping up to be an excellent game, not something we would have predicted at the beginning of the season. Both teams are 3-1, the Boys are offensive, the Texans are defensive, home/road doesn’t mean much to them. So a slight edge goes to a superior QB.
Buf @ Det – The Bills are winning their division and just benched their starting QB. Umm, what? I’m not ready to jump off the bandwagon but I also don’t have much faith in Kyle “Neckbeard” Orton. The Lions are playing excellent defense, oddly enough, and should win here.
Bal @ Ind – Another strength vs strength, as the Colts are racking up points and the Ravens are playing solid defense. And again, neither team has a huge home/road advantage. So we’ll see if my greater quarterback theory holds up, if so Luck should beat Flacco despite last week’s stats.
Pit @ Jax – Until they show otherwise, we should just assume that the Jags will lose every game. They made the switch to Bortles and he played alright, but they still can’t score and can’t stop anyone. Now, the Stillers lost a stupid one last week vs TB, but I doubt they do that again so soon.
TB @ NO – Death, taxes, and Drew Brees winning at home; the certainties in life. It’s uncanny how Brees and even the Saints D play so much better in New Orleans. Too bad for the Bucs, who are coming off an improbable win but really don’t match up with NO talent for talent. Blow out?
Atl @ NYG – It must be a dome-team thing, or an NFC South problem, because the Falcons completely change when they go on the road too. They’re 0-2 on the season and just lost to the Vikings. The G-men are hot right now, Eli might be figuring things out, and NYG can win.
STL @ Phi – Last week the Eagles failed to score 30 points for the first time this season, and they lost. That says something about their defense, which allows a ton of points. Well, the Rams can’t score points, so Philly should be fine. And they’re undefeated at home. Sorry St. Louis.
Cle @ Ten – It’s hard to pick a winner when neither team is any good. The Browns haven’t been dreadful, are coming off a bye, and so have a little bit of an upper hand. Locker will play this week for the Titans, but we’re not sure that’s actually a good things. Go Brownies.
Ari @ Den – I know the Broncos lost last week to the Seahawks, and I know the Cardinals are undefeated, but I have a good feeling about Denver this Sunday. Their offense is great and hasn’t even really started clicking. The same can be said about their defense too actually.
NYJ @ SD – I wouldn’t wanna play the Chargers right now. They are red hot, Rivers is slinging it, and their defense is very strong. The Jets are just scraping along trying to survive, and Geno isn’t the answer to the mess that Rex has created. A win for NYJ would be a giant shocker.
KC @ SF – Here’s an evenly matched matchup. Both teams are 2-2, both are 1-1 at home & on the road, and of course there’s the Alex Smith connection. Despite their big win last week, I’m still not a believer in the Chiefs. The Niners have their own problems, but should win here.
Cin @ NE – This is just the type of game that the Bengals love to bungle. They’re undefeated, their defense is playing lights out, but would you want to face Brady at home a week after he got embarrassed? I wouldn’t, and I doubt Andy Dalton wants to duel with a future HOFer.
Sea @ Was – Numbers don’t lie; Kirk Cousins isn’t as good starting as he is off the bench. He showed that last week and now has to face the Seahawks, a team that just had the week off, just beat the Broncos, and should be playing all out. Seattle will travel & win & be just fine.