NFL STRAIGHT PICK-EM WEEK 5

Our usual foursome of losses turned into five-some in week 4

LAST WEEK’S RECORD (11-5)

SEASON STATS

OVERALL RECORD (43-21)

THURSDAY NIGHT RECORD (4-0)

MONDAY NIGHT RECORD (2-2)

WE ARE GOING RIGHT UP THE MIDDLE WITH OUR WEEK FIVE PICKS

WEEK 5

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

LA RAMS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Seattle might be the worst team in the NFC West. The 12th man home-field advantage does not scare people off. Rams coming off their first loss of the year versus the Cardinals. I can’t see the Rams losing two key division games, two weeks in a row. Rams had the Seahawks’ number before Matthew Stafford came to town. Seattle’s defense can’t contain the Rams receiving core. Russell Wilson will keep it close.

OUR PICK: RAMS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

NEW YORK JETS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (IN LONDON)

NFL back in London for the first time since 2019 as two bottom feeders of the NFL square off. Rookie quarterback Zach Wilson led his Jets over the Titans last Sunday for his first victory in his career and the team’s first win in 2021. Falcons defense is horrible. You can say the Jets defense is a tad better. Falcons have played two good games in the last two weeks coming away with one win. I like the veteran leadership of Matt Ryan getting the job done on this field trip, scheduled early in the season for his team.

OUR PICK: FALCONS

BACK IN THE STATES SUNDAY SLATE

DETROIT LIONS AND MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Who needs this game more, the Lions or Vikings? Vikings do need to stay in the playoff picture and not bottom out after 5 weeks in the regular season. Lions, I thought should have beat the Bears last week. Lions have shown grit trying to come back in these games. It’s stupid mistakes they keep making, digging themselves a hole early in these games. Vikings have won 7 straight against the Lions. I like the Vikings offense to have a big day at home and keep Detroit in pursuit of the number one draft pick in 2022.

OUR PICK: VIKINGS

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM

Week 5 battle of the Even Stevens. Do the Saints need to take the leash off Jameis Winston?

Jameis Winston’s dog breath would smell like crab legs. Can Ron Rivera get that Washington defense back to its 2020 form? Both these teams have been hard to figure out each week. The Saints blew a second half lead giving the Giants their first victory of the year. I think Sean Payton will come up with a creative game plan that will get this offense a jolt of confidence and get his team back on track.

OUR PICK: THE SAINTS COME MARCHING IN

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT CAROLINA PANTHERS

, Eagles did their best to keep up with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense last Sunday. You need a perfect game which it was not for Philadelphia. The Panthers lost their first game of the year to the Cowboys as Sam Darnold’s Jet-itis came back as he threw two interceptions. Darnold should be able to do what he’s been doing all year long versus the Eagles defense. The Panthers defense will also rebound and make things tough for Jalen Hurts. Panthers will win a close one at home.

OUR PICK: PANTHERS

CLEVELAND BROWNS AT LA CHARGERS

All year long I have picked against the Chargers. All year long I’ve picked the Browns. Both teams are 3-1 and both teams are well-balanced on both sides of the ball.

This week I’m jumping on the Chargers bandwagon. Justin Herbert and the Charger offense have been dealing it and the defense has been strong. Both units right now for the Chargers are playing better than what Cleveland has on the field at this time.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

CHICAGO BEARS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

Both the Bears and Raiders are confusing. Bears won their second game of the year against the Lions. Justin Fields looked much better as the team designed a nice running game behind him. Did the Lions giftwrap that game for the Bears with all the mistakes they made on the field and coaching? Raiders meanwhile lost their first game of the year. Lets not forget Khalil Mack gets amped up playing his former team. Chucky, head coach Jon Gruden, has been in the news with one of his racist emails resurfacing.

Can’t we all just get along? The Bears will be without their starting running back, David Montgomery, which I think is big blow to Justin Fields and the Bears offense. Raiders will exploit a weekended Bears secondary to win a close one at home.

OUR PICK: RAIDERS

TENNESSEE TITANS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Do you think the Titans will lay another clunker on the field this week? Titans losing to the Jets. Could they follow that up and lose to the Jaguars this week?

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Head Coach of the Jaguars has been a very busy man since last Thursday’s loss to the Bengals. Has Urban Meyer lost his team after not flying home with them, staying in Ohio, getting drunk, and having a lap dance. How do these things happen with everyone having a cell phone in their pockets? Titans rebound.

OUR PICK: TITANS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT HOUSTON TEXANS

Whose rookie quarterback is better? The Empire has that covered with the play of Mac Jones. Davis Mills has had some moments, but most of the time he’s in over his head so Houston will have some problems. Bill Belichick’s defense should get some turnovers in this contest and rather win easily.

OUR PICK: PATRIOTS

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

The state of Florida and a home game for the Buccaneers are exactly what Tom Brady needs. Miami’s defense has struggled to stop other teams. Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett has not done enough to convince me that he can out duel the Man named Brady. That man, Brady now has his homecoming in Boston out of the way and escaped that media circus with a win. He can now just play football.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

GREEN BAY PACKERS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS

Both the Bengals and Packers are 3-1. Could the Bengals get the upset? Could Joe Burrows turn this game into a shoot out? Aaron Rodgers can out-duel many quarterbacks in a shootout. Both teams have solid running games as Bengals leans on Joe Mixon while the Packers use Aaron Jones. Who has the better defense? Bengals probably with the stout pass rush which gives their unit the edge. Aaron Rodgers will get the ball out quicker, prevail at the end, and continue his revenge tour in a close one.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

DENVER BRONCOS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Teddy Bridgewater’s injury will hurt the Broncos’ chance of stealing a road victory in Pittsburgh. Steelers defense will keep this game close. The pressure is on Big Ben Roethlisberger to produce or hand the keys over to the back-up quarterback. The clock is ticking for Big Ben. Steelers find a way to break their three game losing skid. Look for Najee Harris to have a big day on the ground for the Steelers to seal the deal in front of the home crowd.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

NEW YORK GIANTS AT DALLAS COWBOYS

‘The Cowboys by far are the best team in last years dreaded NFC East. Giants came from behind and beat the Saints last week to get their first victory. Cowboys offense has run like a well oiled machine as they have put points on the board. Cowboys defense which was liability especially last year has been able to stop teams and force the turnovers. I just can’t see Daniel Jones going toe-to-toe exchanging scores with Dak Prescott. Cowboys are even starting to get production out of Ezekiel Elliot.

Looks like Elliot has had some feeding frenzies just not with the football.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS

I’m excited to see Trey Lance make his first NFL start this week. Cardinals defense has been pretty good so far with the off-season additions the team has made. It’s the play of Kyler Murray that has the Cardinals undefeated and winning big in each game so far. That solid defense is contributing unlike last year. Trey Lance could become a thorn in the Cardinals’ sides for years to come.

However this Sunday, Trey Lance may look and play the parts of rookie quarterback.

OUR PICK: CARDINALS

BUFFALO BILLS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

This is the game I’ve been waiting for all year. The AFC Championship game from last season as the Chiefs prevailed.

The Bills will see Red and become the Punisher on the road on Sunday night and slay their dragon. I love what the Bills are doing on defense. I know the Bills can score points on the Kansas City Chief’s defense. Right now the Chiefs are not playing their best football. Bills are clicking on all cylinders since taking that opening day loss at home to a weak Steelers team. This is a perfect game to make a huge statement around the league on a prime-time game and Buffalo will come up big.

OUR PICK: BILLS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS

Colts finally prevailed last Sunday and won their first game of the year. Ravens are 3-1 and at home will be tough for the Colts to walk away with an upset. Last time Ravens and Colts played, Baltimore won 24-10. Plus, Ravens are just playing better football right now.

OUR PICK: RAVENS