Week 5 in the NFL

Ok, so my picks last week were absolutely horrendous. If I was smart enough to pick the home team underdogs, my predictions would have looked a lot better. But I didn't, so I just have to lick my wounds and move on to Week 5.

1PM Games

Atlanta Falcons (1-3; 0-2 on the road) at Tennessee Titans (2-1; 0-1 at home)
Last week: Atlanta beat Houston, 26-16. Tennessee had the bye week

The Titans were supposed to be dreadful last season. Vince Young came through, and Tennessee surprised a lot of people with an 8-8 record. People then expected the Titans to take their game to another level. The season-long suspension of Adam 'Pac Man' Jones, however, made people shy away. NOW, the Titans have the league's second best rushing attack, and they are looking like they could very much turn out to be one of the conference's wid care teams. Oh, and did I mention they have the 2nd best run defense in football? Meanwhile, Atlanta finally notched it's first win in the post-Michael Vick erea. I wouldn't expect #2 this week. Atlanta is ranked 23rd in run defense, and Joey Harrington is still their quarterback. I repeat: Joey Harrington is STILL their quarterback.

Who will win: Titans (8)

Miami Dolphins (0-4; 0-2 on the road) at Houston Texans (2-2; 1-1 at home)
Last Week: Miami lost to Oakland, 35-17. Houston lost to Atlant, 26-16

Miami is a team in shambles right now. They don't have anything going for them. Current University of Alabama coach Nick Saban left this sinking ship just in time. Miami lost to Oakland last week; Oakland was only riding a 12-game road losing streak, dating back to 2005. That's all. Houston has played well this season. Last week was a letdown, but it was the the first time the Texans have looked bad this season. Coach Gary Kubiak has helped QB Matt Schaub complete a staggering 74% of his passes.

Who will win: Houston (6)

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1; 2-0 on the road) at Kansas City Chiefs (2-2; 1-0 at home)
Last Week: Jacksonville had the bye week. Kansas City beat San Diego, 30-16

Jacksonville has not been consistent this season. One week they can get run over by an opposing team (vs Tennessee) at home, then they can dominate a supposably strong team at home (at Denver). This week, they play a Kansas City team that is showing signs of life. After dropping their first two contests, KC has rebounded with back-to-back wins. Arrowhead Stadium gives the Chiefs an atmosphere similar to the ones some Southeast Conference college teams enjoy. Oh, and don't look now: but the AFC West is right there for the taking. Both teams can get a leg-up in the wild card race with a win this week.

Who will win: Kansas City (3)

Arizona Cardinals (2-2; 0-2 on the road) at St Louis Rams (0-4; 0-2 at home)
Last Week: Arizona beat Pittsburgh, 21-14. St Louis lost to Dallas, 35-7.

Arizona is starting to show why people have been tabbing them as 'sleepers' the last few years. Last week's win against a strong Pittsburgh team opened people's eyes.St Louis is crashing and burning big time. In a season where some expected them to contend for the NFC West title, they have instead suffered through poor play and devastating injuries. First, Pro Bowl left tackle Orland Pace was lost for the season, and now QB Marc Bulger is out with two broken ribs. The fact he was playing through the injury is a testament to his toughness. Unfortunately, running back Steven Jackson won't be able to do everythign himself. Wait, he's out again this week? ....

Who will win: Arizona (5)

Cleveland Browns (2-2; 0-1 on the road) at New England Patriots (4-0; 2-0 at home)
Last Week: Cleveland beat Baltimore, 27-13. New England beat Cincinatti, 34-13.

The Browns seem to morph from week to week. One week they can look like a division champs. The next week they look like they putrid. Head coach Romeo Crennel deserves credit for squeezing out the most out of this roster. Speaking of 'RAC', he'll be returning to Foxboro for the first time since taking over as the Browns head coach in February 2005. He was the defensive coordinator for 3 Super Bowl wining teams in New England. Crennel and the Browns will get a great look at what they're trying to build on Sunday. They're a few years away from being great; the Patriots have been great for a few years.

Who will win: New England (14)

Carolina Panthers (2-2; 2-0 on the road) at New Orleans Saints (0-3; 0-1 at home)
Last Week: Carolina lost to Tampa Bay, 20-7. New Orleans had the bye week

The Panthers are another team that hasn't figured out who they are. That locker room is frustrated over the incosistent play. Last week against Tampa Bay, Carolina lost a golden opportunity to seize control of the NFC South. As far as New Orleans goes, they can only hope the bye week cured all that has been ailing them. There have been no big plays offensively, no consistent running game, and the defense looks as bad as last year, if not worse. Other than that? The Saints are clicking on all cylinders. With Deuce McCallister lost for the season, running back Reggie Bush will need to prove to his critics that he is capable of being a full-time back, something that wasn't even asked of him at the University of Southern California. You have to wonder if New Orleans just rode an emotional high all of last season. With no effective running game, opposing defenses have been able to sit back, taking away the big play potential. Losing wide receiver Joe Horn in the offseason may have hurt the team more than they thought, as he was a great locker room leader. Still, I can't see the Saints going 0-4, so ...

Who will win: New Orleans (4)

New York Jets (1-3; 0-2 on the road) at New York Giants (2-2; 1-1 at home)
Last Week: The Jets lost to Buffalo, 17-14, the Giants beat Phiadelphia, 16-3

Remember when Jets QB Chad Pennington had a strong arm? Oh, you don't? Me either; probably because he NEVER has. His two interceptions last Sunday illustrated that point. I'm reminded of what my high school football coach told our quarterback: "You throw the ball like it's a damn cynder block." While Giants signal-caller Eli Manning is not an elite QB just yet, his team should be able to generate enough points in this one.

Who will win: New York Giants (10)

Seattle Seahawks (3-1; 1-1 on the road) at Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1; 2-0 at home)
Last Week: Seattle beat San Francisco, 23-3; Pittsburgh lost to Arizona, 21-14

In a rematch of Super Bowl XL, the two teams once again look evenly matched. Either one of these teams could make it back to the title game this year. Then again, because one of the teams is in the AFC, and one is in the NFC, I'll take the Steelers. And no, I don't care that the Cardinals beat the Steelers last week. What do I think about the Cardinals? Well, "They were how I thought they were! You want to crown them, go ahead and crown their ass! The Steelers let 'em off the hook!"

Who will win: Pittsburgh (12)

Detroit Lions (3-1; 1-1 on the road) at Washington Redskins (2-1; 1-1 at home)
Last Week: Detroit beat Chicago, 37-27; Washington had the bye week

This much we know about Detroit: they are capable of putting up points in a hurry. They put up 34 points in the forth quarter, the most ever in that quarter in NFL history. Just so you know, the NFL's been around for 88 years or so. Washington will need to find ways to pressure QB John Kitna, who has been sacked 19 times in 4 games. The 'Skins may be without the services of speedy wideout Santana Moss, which is too bad, since the Lions pass defense is nothing to write home about.

Who will win: Washington (2)

4PM Games

Tampa Bay Buccanneers (3-1; 1-1 at home) at Indianapolis Colts (4-0; 2-0 at home)
Last Week: Tampa Bay beat Carolina, 20-7; Indianapolis beat Denver, 38-20

OK, I promised myself I'd pick Tampa Bay more often after they beat New Orleans. I said I'd pick them more often after they beat St Louis. I did again after they beat Carolina last Sunday. Unfortunately, they are playing the defending world champions on the road. The Colts have won 11 straight regular season home games. Oops.

Who will win: Indianapolis (11)

San Diego Chargers (1-3; 0-2 at home) at Denver Broncos (2-2; 1-1 at home)
Last Week: San Diego lost to Kansas City, 30-16; Denver lost to Indianapolis, 38-20

Just like I've been going against Tampa Bay all along, I've been waiting for the Chargers to stop looking like a shell of their former selves. Maybe it's the fact they have no weapons on offense outside of LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates. Maybe it's the fact they have Norv Turner (59-85 record as a head coach). Whatever it is, this Chargers season is going down the toilet faster than cottonelle. Still the AFC West is wide open, so the winner of this game will be right in the thick of things. Denver is at home. San Diego has looked putrid. I'll take Denver coach Mike Shanahan over Turner any day.

Who will win: Denver (9)

Baltimore Ravens (2-2; 0-2 on the road) at San Francisco 49ers (2-2; 1-1 at home)
Last Week: Baltimore lost to Cleveland, 27-13; San Francisco lost to Seattle, 23-3

Wait, the Ravens offense is struggling? Is that new this year?? Since Brian "God's gift to offensive football" Billick took over the Ravens in 1999, Baltimore's ranked in the top half of the league in points scored only 4 times. They've only broken the top 10 once in his 8 seasons at the helm. Don't give me that garbage about him 'reigning it in' and playing safe so his defense can win it for him. He's had years to find an adequate QB and some weapons at wide receiver, and has failed to do so. Oh, and now the Ravens defense isn't performing as well as in the past. Meanwhile, San Francisco stumbled badly the last two weeks. Starting QB Alex Smith is out for this week with a shoulder injury. Hyped tight end Vernon Davis is out, too. Running back Frank Gore doesn't look quite right, either. Other than that, the 49ers are on fire. AFC vs NFC. 'Nuff said.

Who will win: Batlimore (7)

Sunday Night Game

Chicago Bears (1-3; 0-2 on the road) at Green Bay Packers (4-0; 2-0 at home)
Last Week: Chicago lost to Detroit, 37-27; Green Bay beat Minnesota, 23-16

Nothing is going Chicago's way this season. Starting QB Rex Grossman has flamed out, running back Cedric Benson has not shown the capability to be the full-time back, and the defense has surrendered an average of 24 points per game, which is far too many for a team who lives and dies by their D. Things are going very well in Green Bay, but you can't tell me that you don't think Brett Favre will start tossing the ball wrecklessly if tempted. When these two teams meet up, you can throw the records away. I'd keep going, but the cliche' police are hauling me away ...

Who will win: Chicago (1)

*Sunday Night Game*

Dallas Cowboys (4-0; 2-0 at home) at Buffalo Bills (1-3; 1-1 at home)
Last Week: Dallas beat St Louis, 35-7; Buffalo beat New York Jets, 17-14

Buffalo finally won last week; don't expect the same this week. Dallas looks to be the class of the NFC. I know what I said about the whole 'AFC-NFC' team, but it won't matter. (Sorry, this is kind of weak analysis, I have a wedding to go to!)

Who will win: Dallas (13)