Week 5 NFL Predictions
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
The first quarter of the NFL season has already evaporated. It's crazy to think right? Tom Brady will return from his suspension this week. Injuries are starting to take a toll on several teams. The Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, and Denver Broncos are still undefeated. The Cleveland Browns remain win less.
I went 8 and 7 with my predictions last week. I am 37 and 26 on the year.
Arizona Cardinals 21 San Francisco 49ers 23: The Cardinals are struggling to win ball games right now, and it won't help the cause if Carson Palmer is sidelined. Arizona's defense might be on the field often, and Carlos Hyde will run it down their throats.
New England Patriots 31 Cleveland Browns 21: Everyone's eye is on the return of Tom Brady this week. If he plays well he will be praised. If he plays awful and they lose, their will be an uproar. He should be able to dominate play against a weak Browns team. Rob Gronkowski will get his feet wet once again.
Philadelphia Eagles 21 Detroit Lions 17: Carson Wentz will make Detroit's defense look silly. Philadelphia's defense will suffocate Matthew Stafford.
Chicago Bears 14 Indianapolis Colts 28: It's the battle of the horrendous squads. Chicago has key players injured, which you think should be a big day for the Colts defense right? Andrew Luck should be able to ball out against a poor man's bread Bears defense.
Tennessee Titans 21 Miami Dolphins 18: Both teams have shot themselves in the foot early in the season. The difference in the game will be Marcus Mariota out-dueling Ryan Tannehill.
Washington Redskins 31 Baltimore Ravens 34: It's the battle of the Beltway. The Redskins are on a 2-game winning streak, and the Ravens are coming off a surprising loss to the Oakland Raiders. Kirk Cousins and Joe Flacco will have a fun time throwing the deep ball on Sunday. At the end of the day, the Ravens rushing attack will out-duel the Redskins rushing attack.
Houston Texans 14 Minnesota Vikings 17: Brock Osweiler will be under duress by the Vikings defense. It is up to Lamar Miller to take some pressure off of him, but the Vikings will be daring Osweiler to throw it. Sam Bradford will have a friendly connection with Stefon Diggs and Kyle Rudolph in the passing game.
New York Jets 13 Pittsburgh Steelers 39: Ben Rothelisberger will have another golden opportunity to torch another weak secondary on Sunday. Le'Veon Bell's running game will open play action. Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton, and Sammie Coates will toy with the secondary.
Atlanta Falcons 20 Denver Broncos 23: Atlanta's offense will be brutally tested against the Broncos defense. Matt Ryan will be uncomfortable, but they will adjust. Denver will run the ball effectively with C.J. Anderson. Home field will be the advantage in this game.
Cincinnati Bengals 17 Dallas Cowboys 22: The Bengals two victories on the season came against awful teams, and they have struggled against good teams this season. Dallas will have success once again with Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott.
Buffalo Bills 3 Los Angeles Rams 6: Both teams have been very lucky to be on winning streaks. One of them will continue after Sunday. Will Rex Ryan pay off the officials to win again or will a lucky Rams defense and trash offense win once again.
San Diego Chargers 13 Oakland Raiders 34: Derek Carr will cannon the Chargers defense on Sunday. The Raiders defense is going to build confidence against an abysmal Chargers team.
New York Giants 14 Green Bay Packers 31: The Giants seem they are headed into a downward spiral, and the Packers are fresh off a bye. Aaron Rodgers will torch a depleted Giants Secondary. All the Packers have to do on defense is get a corner-back to trash talk Odell Beckham Jr., and it will rattle the Giants offense.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17 Carolina Panthers 14: Tampa Bay's offense has struggled this season, but it will gain confidence against a weaker Panthers defense. Cam Newton maybe sidelined for the Panthers and it won't be good news for them.
Byes: New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Enjoy Week 5 Everybody!
