Posted October 5, 2014 by DZ NFL news

NFL Week 5 Predictions

If you were lucky enough to have read last week’s predictions, you may have some doubts about trusting my picks this week. I went just 5-7 with my picks last week. Let’s hope I do a little better this week.

Chicago at Carolina – 1:00 PM ET

PICK: Carolina

Carolina is really struggling after a hot start, but I don’t see them dropping three in a row, especially to the Bears. The Bears are also coming off a tough loss to Green Bay, so neither of these squads will be hot today.

I say this will be a low scoring, boring game and Carolina comes out on top because they mess up fewer times than Chicago. Fozzy Whittaker and Chris Ogbonnaya, filling in for Carolina’s hobbled backfield, will amass over 40 yards each and put up a nice showing. Cam throws two picks, Cutler throws three.

Panthers: 17 Bears: 9

Cleveland at Tennessee – 1:00 PM ET

PICK: Cleveland

The return of Ben Tate gets Cleveland back to full strength, and there is no way Tennessee can stop the three pronged attack of Tate, West, and Crowell. Brian Hoyer will carve up the Titans secondary, and the Titans’ only bright spot of the game will be a big day for rookie Bishop Sankey. Jake Locker will have a hot start and toss a touchdown, but will crash and burn in the second half. Expect this one to be done by the end of the third quarter.

Browns: 28 Titans: 17

St. Louis at Philadelphia – 1:00 PM ET

PICK: Philadelphia

This one sounds like a bit of a snoozer, but don’t bet on it. The Rams are not a bad team despite playing without team leader Sam Bradford all season. Austin Davis has won the starting job and will look to put up a fight versus the heavy favorite Eagles. It won’t go as well as it did for the Bucs last week, but it could be as competitive as the Steelers vs. Bucs clash last week. Shady McCoy will struggle today, and Nick Foles will have to do it all.

Rams: 21 Eagles: 24

Atlanta at New York Giants – 1:00 PM ET

PICK: Atlanta

The Falcons are looking to get on top of the NFC South, and a win here is a must for that to happen. Julio Jones will continue his monstrous year with over 150 yards and a TD, Ryan will toss for over 300 yards, and Eli, being Eli, will toss three picks.

Falcons: 35 Giants: 17

Tampa Bay at New Orleans – 1:00 PM ET

PICK: New Orleans

Tampa’s miracle game last week vs. Pittsburgh won’t repeat itself, but it does show that the Bucs are not an awful team. This one will be one-sided, but it won’t be a slaughter. Doug Martin will finally go for over 100 yards, and Mike Glennon will continue to show he is a better fit than Josh McCown. The Saints will be unstoppable on offense, though, and they will relieve some pent up stress on this Bucs D.

Bucs: 21 Saints: 38

Houston at Dallas – 1:00 PM ET

PICK: Houston

Dallas is hot right now, but it won’t last – it never does. The Texans, on the other hand, are a legitimate contender. These two teams will absolutely hammer each other in what could be one of the most exciting games of the weekend, but Houston’s defense will stop Tony Romo and come out on top. DeMarco Murray will go for over 80 yards, but Arian Foster will go for over 100.

Texans: 28 Cowboys: 24

Buffalo at Detroit – 1:00 PM ET

PICK: Detroit

Buffalo and Detroit are two teams headed different directions this season. The Bills, after a great start, have dropped two in a row and shifted to Kyle Orton being the full time starter. Bad move.

The Lions, on the other hand, are headed for the title of elite, standing atop their division and showing they can hang with the best.

Both squads will play alright today, but the lack of playmaking ability from Kyle Orton will handicap the Bills.

Bills: 14 Lions: 31

Baltimore at Indianapolis – 1:00 PM ET

PICK: Baltimore

The Ravens dismantled the Panthers last week. The Colts dismantled the Titans last week. So, who dismantles who this week?

This is my sleeper pick. It is hard to say that the Colts, who have a worse record (2-2) than the Ravens( 3-1) are the favorites, but they are. Their offense has been unstoppable as of late, and it will take a great showing from Daryl Smith and company to slow them down.

Steve Smith probably can’t keep his amazing scoring rate up, but he will today at least. The Ravens will outshoot the Colts in an absolute freefire match. Flacco will toss four TDs, Luck will toss three. A Justin Tucker field goal will end up being the difference maker.

Ravens: 45 Colts: 42

Pittsburgh at Jacksonville – 1:00 PM ET

PICK: Pittsburgh

Jacksonville WILL win a game this year. It just won’t be this one. Big Ben will toss a few over top of the Jags D, and LeGarrette Blount and Le’Veon Bell will both get in the endzone.

Blake Bortles will score three times though, and the Jags will continue their “lots of offense, no defense” approach.

Steelers: 34 Jags: 24

Arizona at Denver – 4:05 PM ET

PICK: Denver

It is amazing how the undefeated Cardinals aren’t the favorite here, but that is just how it is.

Drew Stanton will look to continue his huge season of game saving performances and try to earn the starting job outright with a victory vs the Broncos.

This one will go down to the wire, with Peyton Manning stripping the Cardinals of their perfect record with under two minutes left in the game. Montee Ball will have a big game despite Arizona’s great defense, and the entire state of Arizona will sulk tonight as they watch the highlights of Manning’s late game drive.

Cardinals: 28 Broncos: 35

Kansas City at San Francisco – 4:25 PM ET

PICK: Kansas City

The Alex Smith versus Colin Kaepernick matchup that has everyone buzzing about the trade so long ago will show it’s true colors today. Jim Harbaugh will be under the microscope today, and chemistry issues in the San Fran locker room will only skyrocket if they don’t win today.

They won’t. The attack of Knile Davis, Jamaal Charles, and Alex Smith pose a lot of problems for the Niner defense, and the holes in the D will be exposed today.

This one will not be as exciting as everyone thinks.

Chiefs: 27 49ers: 14

New York Jets at San Diego – 4:25 PM ET

PICK: New York Jets

The Jets and Chargers will square off today in a great game. The Chargers have a lot of hype with them this season, and they will look to keep it going against the struggling Jets.

Well, they won’t. The Jets will have a everything-goes-right game against the Chargers, and get their second victory of this young season. Chris Ivory will replicate his week one success with over 100 yards and TWO touchdowns this week. Geno Smith will fix himself in what is likely his last shot at being the starter, and toss two TDs to Eric Decker.

Phillip Rivers will have a great game, but the Chargers D will not fare well against the Jets.

Jets: 38 Chargers: 28

Sunday Night Football: Cincinatti at New England – 8:30 PM ET

PICK: New England

The Pats have to get it right sometime, and why not against the undefeated Bengals?

The Bengals will roll into Gillette Stadium thinking that they are the heavy favorites, but a first half blowout will prove them wrong.

A second half comeback will put them back in the leading position, but Tom Brady will channel his inner Peyton Manning and lead an end of game winning drive.

Stats: Brady: 300 yards, 4 TDs, 1 Int | Dalton: 350 yards, 3 TDs, 2 Int

Bengals: 34 Patriots: 37

Monday Night Football: Seattle at Washington – 8:30 PM ET

PICK: Seattle

A bit of a drag for Monday Night Football, this one won’t be much of a game. The Super Bowl favorite Seahawks will crush the Redskin defense, scoring 5 touchdowns. The Redskin offense, though, will give the Seahawks a bit of a test, but nothing they can’t handle. Expect this one to be over by the third quarter.