Thursday
Game: Minnesota at Green Bay
Pick: Green Bay - It's just like Aaron Rodgers said, "R-E-L-A-X," and he was right, at least for one week. With this game being at home for the Packers and the Vikings quarterback situation being up in the air at the moment due to the injuries to Matt Cassell and Teddy Bridgewater, I like for Green Bay to improve to 3-2 with a 10-point win at Lambeau.
Result: Green Bay 42 Minnesota 10
Record: 1-0
Sunday
Game: Chicago at Carolina
Pick: Carolina - Last year, Chicago was known for their great passing offense and Carolina found success via their top 5 defense. That hasn't been the case to start this season, as Carolina has allowed 75 points in the past two weeks (both losses) and Chicago's pass offense has been anything but dominant to start the season. Due to that, this game is a toss-up in my mind, because like most people, I have no idea what to expect. I will give Carolina a slight edge due to playing at home, but if their defense doesn't play any better than they have these past two weeks, the Bears will come out on top. I'll still tentatively go with the Panthers by a field goal.
Result: Carolina 31 Chicago 24
Record: 2-0
Game: Cleveland at Tennessee
Pick: Cleveland - For how poorly Tennessee has played the past three weeks, I'm shocked they beat Kansas City by 16 points at Arrowhead to start the season. Cleveland has been playing better than most people expected to start their season, and coming off a bye week, I like the well-rested Browns to improve to 2-2 with a 4-point win on the road.
Result: Cleveland 29 Tennessee 28
Record: 3-0
Game: St. Louis at Philadelphia
Pick: Philadelphia - For as awful as the Eagles offense looked against the 49ers this past weekend, they still almost won the game, and should be able to bounce back against a beaten up St. Louis Rams team at home. I look for the Eagles to bounce back with a 10-point win at home to improve to 4-1 on the young season.
Result: Philadelphia 34 St. Louis 28
Record: 4-0
Game: Atlanta at NY Giants
Pick: NY Giants - To this point in the season, Atlanta appears to have two different teams when playing home and away games. The New York Giants, meanwhile, went from looking like a top 5 draft pick was coming their way after the first two weeks, to looking like a team that could contend for a playoff spot these past two weeks. Look for these two trends to continue, as the suddenly resurgent Giants win by 10 at home.
Result: NY Giants 30 Atlanta 20
Record: 5-0
Game: Tampa Bay at New Orleans
Pick: New Orleans - The New Orleans Saints appear to be bipolar. While they tend to be great at home, they've been anything but great on the road. Fortunately for them, this game is at home, so Drew Brees and the Saints should be able to improve to 2-3 with a two touchdown victory in this one.
Result: New Orleans 37 Tampa Bay 31 OT
Record: 6-0
Game: Houston at Dallas
Pick: Dallas - I get nervous picking the Dallas Cowboys, because while they've appeared to finally call a balanced attack on offense, in the past, they've had a tendency to resort to the pass-only offense and become a .500 team again as a result. So long as Dallas stays the course with their balanced offensive attack, I like for them to win this one at home by a touchdown.
Result: Dallas 20 Houston 17 OT
Record: 7-0
Game: Buffalo at Detroit
Pick: Detroit - With the game at home and Detroit's defense looking improved this season, I like for the Lions defense to make things difficult on second-year quarterback E.J. Manuel (make that Kyle Orton) and the Bills offense, and for Detroit to improve to 4-1 with a 7-point win at home against Buffalo.
Result: Buffalo 17 Detroit 14
Record: 7-1
Game: Baltimore at Indianapolis
Pick: Baltimore - This was my most difficult pick for the week. Both teams are playing well right now, but I give the Ravens a slight edge due to their superior defense and balanced attack on offense. Until Indy's defense and running game improves, I have a hard time seeing them as an elite caliber team. It should be a great game, though. I'll go with Baltimore by a field goal.
Result: Indianapolis 20 Baltimore 13
Record: 7-2
Game: Pittsburgh at Jacksonville
Pick: Pittsburgh - All I'll say is the Pittsburgh Steelers better win this game. At 2-2, if Pittsburgh loses this game, they will fall to 2-3, with their last two defeats coming at the hands of teams with a combined 0-7 record going into the games. From what I've seen, though, Jacksonville appears to be the worst team in football, so even if the Steelers lay an egg, they should be able to generate enough offense to beat the Jaguars. I'll go with Pittsburgh by a couple of scores.
Result: Pittsburgh 17 Jacksonville 9
Record: 8-2
Game: Arizona at Denver
Pick: Denver - Both teams are coming off a bye week, a week after Arizona defeated San Francisco to go to 3-0 (one of two unbeatens left) and Denver lost a heart-breaker to Seattle to fall to 2-1. With the defense greatly improved from last year and the game at home, I look for Peyton Manning and his Broncos to send the Cardinals back home with their first loss of the season. I'll take Denver by a touchdown.
Result: Denver 41 Arizona 20
Record: 9-2
Game: Kansas City at San Francisco
Pick: San Francisco - This was a tougher pick for me than it likely will be for most people. The thing is, San Francisco should probably be 4-0 as opposed to 2-2. They've basically handed away their two losses through turnovers and penalties, and almost found a way to do that this past weekend against Philadelphia, where the Eagles scored two touchdowns on special teams and one on defense, and came within one play of winning the game even though San Francisco dominated from start to finish. Even so, the 49ers did get the win, and playing at home, I look for them to build off that victory to improve to 3-2 with a 10-point win in this one.
Result: San Francisco 22 Kansas City 17
Record: 10-2
Game: NY Jets at San Diego
Pick: San Diego - It's a long flight from New York to San Diego and it will be an even longer one back home for the Jets after they lose this one. Geno Smith has struggled on the road, and one thing he can't do against the Chargers is turn the ball over, which he will likely do. I'll take the Chargers by 10 at home.
Result: San Diego 31 NY Jets 0
Record: 11-2
Game: Cincinnati at New England
Pick: Cincinnati - New England will be playing this one with one less day of rest (played on Monday night). Cincinnati, on the other hand, just had a bye week. Due to that and the fact the Patriots offense has been anything but spectacular and the Bengals defense is one of the very best in the league, I like Cincinnati to win this one by a touchdown.
Result: New England 43 Cincinnati 17
Record: 11-3
Monday
Game: Seattle at Washington
Pick: Seattle - Even though the Seattle Seahawks aren't nearly as great of a team on the road as they are at home, that shouldn't matter against Washington. Kirk Cousins turned the ball over five times in the team's Thursday night loss to the Giants, and Seattle's defense has to be licking their chops when watching video of that game. I'll take Seattle by a couple of scores.
Result: Seattle 27 Washington 17
Record: 12-3
Week 5 Record: 12-3 (.800)
Overall Record: 47-29 (.618)
Game: Minnesota at Green Bay
Pick: Green Bay - It's just like Aaron Rodgers said, "R-E-L-A-X," and he was right, at least for one week. With this game being at home for the Packers and the Vikings quarterback situation being up in the air at the moment due to the injuries to Matt Cassell and Teddy Bridgewater, I like for Green Bay to improve to 3-2 with a 10-point win at Lambeau.
Result: Green Bay 42 Minnesota 10
Record: 1-0
Sunday
Game: Chicago at Carolina
Pick: Carolina - Last year, Chicago was known for their great passing offense and Carolina found success via their top 5 defense. That hasn't been the case to start this season, as Carolina has allowed 75 points in the past two weeks (both losses) and Chicago's pass offense has been anything but dominant to start the season. Due to that, this game is a toss-up in my mind, because like most people, I have no idea what to expect. I will give Carolina a slight edge due to playing at home, but if their defense doesn't play any better than they have these past two weeks, the Bears will come out on top. I'll still tentatively go with the Panthers by a field goal.
Result: Carolina 31 Chicago 24
Record: 2-0
Game: Cleveland at Tennessee
Pick: Cleveland - For how poorly Tennessee has played the past three weeks, I'm shocked they beat Kansas City by 16 points at Arrowhead to start the season. Cleveland has been playing better than most people expected to start their season, and coming off a bye week, I like the well-rested Browns to improve to 2-2 with a 4-point win on the road.
Result: Cleveland 29 Tennessee 28
Record: 3-0
Game: St. Louis at Philadelphia
Pick: Philadelphia - For as awful as the Eagles offense looked against the 49ers this past weekend, they still almost won the game, and should be able to bounce back against a beaten up St. Louis Rams team at home. I look for the Eagles to bounce back with a 10-point win at home to improve to 4-1 on the young season.
Result: Philadelphia 34 St. Louis 28
Record: 4-0
Game: Atlanta at NY Giants
Pick: NY Giants - To this point in the season, Atlanta appears to have two different teams when playing home and away games. The New York Giants, meanwhile, went from looking like a top 5 draft pick was coming their way after the first two weeks, to looking like a team that could contend for a playoff spot these past two weeks. Look for these two trends to continue, as the suddenly resurgent Giants win by 10 at home.
Result: NY Giants 30 Atlanta 20
Record: 5-0
Game: Tampa Bay at New Orleans
Pick: New Orleans - The New Orleans Saints appear to be bipolar. While they tend to be great at home, they've been anything but great on the road. Fortunately for them, this game is at home, so Drew Brees and the Saints should be able to improve to 2-3 with a two touchdown victory in this one.
Result: New Orleans 37 Tampa Bay 31 OT
Record: 6-0
Game: Houston at Dallas
Pick: Dallas - I get nervous picking the Dallas Cowboys, because while they've appeared to finally call a balanced attack on offense, in the past, they've had a tendency to resort to the pass-only offense and become a .500 team again as a result. So long as Dallas stays the course with their balanced offensive attack, I like for them to win this one at home by a touchdown.
Result: Dallas 20 Houston 17 OT
Record: 7-0
Game: Buffalo at Detroit
Pick: Detroit - With the game at home and Detroit's defense looking improved this season, I like for the Lions defense to make things difficult on second-year quarterback E.J. Manuel (make that Kyle Orton) and the Bills offense, and for Detroit to improve to 4-1 with a 7-point win at home against Buffalo.
Result: Buffalo 17 Detroit 14
Record: 7-1
Game: Baltimore at Indianapolis
Pick: Baltimore - This was my most difficult pick for the week. Both teams are playing well right now, but I give the Ravens a slight edge due to their superior defense and balanced attack on offense. Until Indy's defense and running game improves, I have a hard time seeing them as an elite caliber team. It should be a great game, though. I'll go with Baltimore by a field goal.
Result: Indianapolis 20 Baltimore 13
Record: 7-2
Game: Pittsburgh at Jacksonville
Pick: Pittsburgh - All I'll say is the Pittsburgh Steelers better win this game. At 2-2, if Pittsburgh loses this game, they will fall to 2-3, with their last two defeats coming at the hands of teams with a combined 0-7 record going into the games. From what I've seen, though, Jacksonville appears to be the worst team in football, so even if the Steelers lay an egg, they should be able to generate enough offense to beat the Jaguars. I'll go with Pittsburgh by a couple of scores.
Result: Pittsburgh 17 Jacksonville 9
Record: 8-2
Game: Arizona at Denver
Pick: Denver - Both teams are coming off a bye week, a week after Arizona defeated San Francisco to go to 3-0 (one of two unbeatens left) and Denver lost a heart-breaker to Seattle to fall to 2-1. With the defense greatly improved from last year and the game at home, I look for Peyton Manning and his Broncos to send the Cardinals back home with their first loss of the season. I'll take Denver by a touchdown.
Result: Denver 41 Arizona 20
Record: 9-2
Game: Kansas City at San Francisco
Pick: San Francisco - This was a tougher pick for me than it likely will be for most people. The thing is, San Francisco should probably be 4-0 as opposed to 2-2. They've basically handed away their two losses through turnovers and penalties, and almost found a way to do that this past weekend against Philadelphia, where the Eagles scored two touchdowns on special teams and one on defense, and came within one play of winning the game even though San Francisco dominated from start to finish. Even so, the 49ers did get the win, and playing at home, I look for them to build off that victory to improve to 3-2 with a 10-point win in this one.
Result: San Francisco 22 Kansas City 17
Record: 10-2
Game: NY Jets at San Diego
Pick: San Diego - It's a long flight from New York to San Diego and it will be an even longer one back home for the Jets after they lose this one. Geno Smith has struggled on the road, and one thing he can't do against the Chargers is turn the ball over, which he will likely do. I'll take the Chargers by 10 at home.
Result: San Diego 31 NY Jets 0
Record: 11-2
Game: Cincinnati at New England
Pick: Cincinnati - New England will be playing this one with one less day of rest (played on Monday night). Cincinnati, on the other hand, just had a bye week. Due to that and the fact the Patriots offense has been anything but spectacular and the Bengals defense is one of the very best in the league, I like Cincinnati to win this one by a touchdown.
Result: New England 43 Cincinnati 17
Record: 11-3
Monday
Game: Seattle at Washington
Pick: Seattle - Even though the Seattle Seahawks aren't nearly as great of a team on the road as they are at home, that shouldn't matter against Washington. Kirk Cousins turned the ball over five times in the team's Thursday night loss to the Giants, and Seattle's defense has to be licking their chops when watching video of that game. I'll take Seattle by a couple of scores.
Result: Seattle 27 Washington 17
Record: 12-3
Week 5 Record: 12-3 (.800)
Overall Record: 47-29 (.618)
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