Week 5 Predictions

Philadelphia Eagles @ Buffalo Bills
Prediction: Eagles by 14
I am still not 100% sold on the Bills, but I do feel this game will be a great indicator of how good they are. The Eagles are a great team, but have not been playing to par. If the Eagles can put a big stamp on this Bills team, maybe they gain some momentum and start playing like they should be. If the Bills win, it's another big win that will have the experts scratching their heads once again.

New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers
Predictions: Panthers by 3
This seems like one of those games the Saints should win rather handily. However, I am predicting Cam Newton to have his biggest game yet and to help the Panthers defend their home turf. The Carolina defense will have to put some much needed pressure on Drew Brees to accomplish this however.

Oakland Raiders @ Houston Texans
Prediction: Texans by 10
After Al Davis's death today, I seriously thought about switching the winner to Oakland due to added avenge they might be looking towards. But the Texans defense is really good. And the Texans offense is really good. McFadden will probably not rush for over 100 yards this game and the Texans will grind this one out defensively.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Indianapolis Colts
Prediction: Chiefs by 3
Again, I predict another heartbreaking loss for the Colts under Curtis Painter. The Colts deserve to win, and it seems likely against a weak Chiefs team. But the Chiefs have looked pretty good these past two weeks and I don't think they will lose to the Colts. The secondary has a chance to improve against the Colts and I foresee a couple interceptions thrown by both sides.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Prediction: Bengals by 7
The Bengals have the top defense in the league right now and they are coming off of a momentum building win against the once-undefeated Buffalo Bills. Although Dalton still has so much to learn (and probably should not be starting) he has done an efficient job at running the offense and should beat the Jaguars pretty well. I like what Gabbert has shown so far in Jacksonville but going up against the number 1 defense in the league will be a challenge to tough for Blaine to conquer.

Arizona Cardinals @ Minnesota Vikings
Prediction: Vikings by 10
I actually have the Vikings as my eliminator challenge pick for the week. I feel like it has been way too long since the Vikings have won, especially with all these close losses they have had so far this season. Look for Peterson to go insane and run all over the Cardinals defense and the defense to force Kolb into some mistakes.

Seattle Seahawks @ New York Giants
Prediction: Seahawks by 3
I know this is biased, as all of my Seahawks picks are. It would be an injustice to pick against the Seahawks since they are my team and I go hard for them every Sunday. However, I do believe the Seahawks have a legitimate chance against the Giants even on the east coast. The Seahawks played very well against a very talented Atlanta Falcons team and almost came out with the victory. I believe if the running game gets going and Tarvaris Jackson continues to play virtually mistake-less football, the Seahawks can shock the league with a win against the surging Giants.

Tennessee Titans @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Prediction: Steelers by 4
I think the Steelers defense finally steps up and has a good game at home against a fairly good Titans offense led by surging Matt Hasselbeck. I do believe Chris Johnson finally rushes for over 100 yards in this game, but they will not be able to keep up with what should be a fairly good offensive showing by Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ San Francisco 49ers
Prediction: Buccaneers by 14
All teams play good every once in a while, and the 49ers have looked good all 4 weeks so far and have started 3-1 in 2011. They look good. However, they are playing a tough Buccaneers football team tomorrow and the Buccaneers are hungry. They almost lost to a bad Colts team, and they ultimately believed they should have started better than they have so far this season. Watch for Freeman to have a great game against the weak Niners secondary and the Buccaneers to win this big one on the road.

San Diego Chargers @ Denver Broncos
Prediction: Chargers by 10
I still believe the Chargers are likely the best team in the AFC, but they have started off slow as usual. They probably will not look too good in Denver and will have others still questioning their ability to go far into the season and playoffs, but they will get the job done. Rivers is quietly having a productive season, and when Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates are completely healthy, look for San Diego to explode.

New York Jets @ New England Patriots
Prediction: Patriots by 21
Yes, I predict this to be a blowout. The Patriots need to prove to everybody that they are a powerhouse, and convince everybody the Bills have no chance at the AFC East crown this year. The defense needs to shut down Sanchez and completely destroy this Jets team whose flaws were exposed by a good Ravens team last week.

Green Bay Packers @ Atlanta Falcons
Prediction: Packers by 10
Will they be stopped? I think the Falcons will come close, and play their best football all season against this Packers team. But the Packers are just too good. At this point in the season the Green Bay Packers look like easy Super Bowl champs. I am very excited for this matchup and will be interested to see how Matt Ryan does with all the pressure of not falling under .500 again.

Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions
Prediction: Lions by 17
Another great question is will the Lions be stopped? The Lions seem to be getting things done and have proven to be a second half team. However, I believe the Bears will come out on all cylinders and challenge the Lions to a great extent. I don't know if they Lions can pull another comeback out of their butts against this great Bears team, so look for Stafford and Best to get these guys rolling early and not have to worry about a comeback.