NFL week 5 predictions

We are going to put last week behind us and stop crying about the record. 9-5 was an anomaly, an abnormality, a blip in the face of football time...we hope. Without any further adieu, let's get to it.

(home teams are in bold)

IND vs TEN - the Colts are favored by 18.5
Colts are 4-0 | Titans are 0-4
18.5! That’s a big number, a really big number. It speaks to how helpless and hapless the football world sees the Tennessee Titans. I believe the only question in this game is not whether Indy will win it, but by how much. I have to believe that the 4-0 Titans have way too much pride going into this one not to put up a hell of a fight, I mean, they are still an NFL team…sort of. I am procrastinating on this one because it would be silly to pick the Colts with that big a spread, and it would be silly to think the Titans can amount to anything other than embarrassed in this one. OK, my mind is made up. I have zero face in the Indy defense to keep opponents off the board, even the Titans.
Prediction:
W/O Spread Indy
W/Spread Titans
Score: IND 34 – TEN 17

NYG vs WAS – Giants are favored by 3.5
Giants are 1-2 | WAS is 2-2
My opinion is that the Giants really are not a very good football team. They have heart, they can compete, but Shockey brings them down. A divided team is a vulnerable team and this team has had to polarize around the coach or around Shockey. Little things will be done and smaller things yet will not be done in this game. A missed block here, trying a little too hard there, and more than enough blame to go around. I say this game will serve as a wake up call for the Giants. It is the Redskins all the way in this one.
Prediction: WAS 20 – NYG 17

MIN vs DET – Vikings favored by 6
Minnesota is 2-2 | DET is 0-4
This may be a great opportunity for Detroit to break out of the ranks of the winless. I like this years Vikings, they keep surprising me with their play; except for last week, and the week before…who am I kidding, I can’t pick the Vikings! But they are at home, so maybe I should. Their defense has been pretty average, but average is a far cry better than Detroit’s sieve. Detroit has scored more points and did quite well against the Seahawks in week 1. There may be an upset but I have to lean towards the Vikes.
Prediction:
W/O Spread Minnesota
W/Spread Lions

NO vs TB – Saints are favored by 6
NO is 3-1 | TB is 0-3
If only the Bucs could score a point or two then maybe this would be interesting. Reggie Bush score his first two NFL touchdowns. New Orleans all the way!
Prediction: NO 37 – TB 13

STL vs GB – ST. Louis favored by 3
STL is 3-1 | GB is 1-3
The Packers are going nowhere fast this season but the Rams seem to stumble on the road. Favre and the Pack have too much pride not to feel the sting from Monday nights humiliation on national tv, so look for them to rebound at Lambeau. The upset is in the making.
Prediction: GB 23 – STL 20

NE vs MIA – NE favored by 9.5
Patriots are 3-1 | MIA 1-3
Miami is finished, the Patriots rejuvenated. Lookout for the rout!
score: NE 43 – MIA 23

CHI vs BUF – Bears favored by 11
Chicago is 4-0 | Buffalo 2-2
The Bears are good, really freaking good! But so are the Bills. I fully expect the Bears to win but the Bills will be a handful. They have a solid offence, and a solid enough defense to keep the Bears on their toes. The Bills will look to control possession of the ball with their running game; 11 points is way too much.
Prediction:
W/O Spread Chicago
W/Spread Buffalo
score: Chicago 17 – BUF 13

CAR vs CLE – Panthers favored by 8
Carolina is 2-2 | Cleveland is 1-3
This is a statement game for the Panthers. This game will be for them to state whether they are legitimate contenders or overblown pretenders. They should be able to handle anything the Browns throw at them and dish it back three times. This is the game where Carolina proclaims, “We are way above just average!” Carolina all the way.
score: CAR 30 – CLE 20

JCK vs NYJ – Jaguars favored by 7
Jacksonville is 2-2 | Jets are 2-2
Well! Somebody has got to stand up and be counted! This is the game of the weekend. These are two good teams. The Jets have scored more but allowed more scores than the JAGS. Should Jacksonville win this, it will be purely by defense. 7 points is too much.
Prediction:
W/O Spread Jags
W/Spread Jets
score: JCK 23 – JETS 17

KC vs ARZ – KC is favored by 2.5
Kansas City is 1-2 | Arizona is 1-3
This is a slap in the face of Chiefs who just showed the entire NFL last week that they are a force in this league. I say they prove it again by tromping all over a good Arizona defense in Arizona.
Prediction: KC 33 – ARZ 13

SF vs OAK – SF is favored by 3.5
San Francisco is 1-3 | OAK is 0-3
The only thing worse than the Raiders defense and the Raiders offence is the 49’ers defense. I am going to hold my nose and pick hapless over more hapless. I say the Niners, because they at least can put some points on the board.
Prediction: SF 31 – OAK 10

PHI vs DAL – Eagles favored by 2.5
PHI is 3-1 | DAL is 2-1
I take back my game of the weekend comment before, this is the GAME OF THE WEEKEND! I like the Eagles, but I love the Cowboys so I have to go with the Boys upsetting the birds in front of all those booing Philly fans. The Eagles can score, but the Dallas D can shut down just about anybody. Dallas all the way!
Prediction: DAL 26 – PHI 23

SD vs PIT – Chargers favored by 3.5
San Diego is 2-1 | PIT is 1-2
The defending champs have a lot to prove in this one; it’s the game that ultimately decides their fate this year. They won their first game with Batch and have ridden Big Ben since. The question is, has Roethlisberger finally recovered from his summer stupidity? I say yes, I say Big Ben gets it going in this game against a very good Chargers team. I say Pittsburgh puts the rest of the NFL on notice by winning this tough game on the road. They will want the other teams to know that to be the champ, you gotta beat the champ!
Prediction: PIT 23 – SD 20

DEN vs BAL – Denver favored by 4
Denver is 2-1 | BAL is 4-0
Denver is favored? That thin mountain air must have infected somebody’s thought patterns. OK, so Denver is at Mile High, so what…well not exactly so what, it’s a tough place to win. Baltimore is one of 4 teams that can walk into Denver and shut down that offence: the others are CHI, ATL, and SD. OK, so they are 1 of 2 teams (Chicago) that can do it; and do it they will.
Prediction: BAL 17 – DEN 14