Another week, another key Charger out for the year with a lower leg injury. Hey thanks a whole lot football, you've been great. Now go take a long walk off a short pier. This is weird. I feel like I've written those exact words before somewhere, but I just can't place it...
Let's get to the picks...!
Week 5 Picks
Arizona (-3.5) at San Francisco
It might just be time to start admitting that Arizona isn't quite who we thought they were. And now down Carson Palmer, I don't see how things suddenly get better. It's like expecting Rhea Perlman to suddenly get hot again. Sorry folks, show's over.
Pick: Niners
Indianapolis (-4.5) vs. Chicago
The Bears really needed a win last week, and they got one. The Colts really need a win this week, and they'll get one. They're also capable of hanging a boatload of points on the board in a hurry, at home, and I figure this is finally the week that Andrew Luck has one of "those" games.
Pick: Colts
Baltimore (-3.5) vs. Washington
God bless that hook. The Redskins are showing that they're better than I and a lot of others gave them credit for, whereas last week looks like it was the beginning of the end of the Ravens.
Pick: Redskins
New England (-10.5) at Cleveland
I know, we're supposed to look at this game and believe that Brady may be a bit rusty in his first game back. And they just got shut out last week. And the offense has looked out of sync. And the Browns actually have some weapons. Staaaahhhhhppp.
Pick: Patriots
Pittsburgh (-6.5) vs. New York Jets
Whoa, Steelers. Whoa. Where the heck did THAT come from? I feel like we were watching a pretty normal season, gonna have some wins and gonna have some losses. And then all of a sudden these last two weeks, a spaceship showed up over the motel and nobody knows what the heck is going on anymore.
Pick: Steelers
Philadelphia (-2.5) at Detroit
I get that Carson Wentz has played well. And the Eagles are playing much better than they have a right to. But are they "favored on the road" good already? Doubtful.
Pick: Lions
Minnesota (-5.5) vs. Houston
This Minnesota defense is no joke, and from top to bottom this is one of the league's most talented rosters. But this feels a tad high to me. These teams seem like virtual carbon copies of one another in a lot of ways, so I feel like a field goal decides it in either direction.
Pick: Texans
Miami (-3.5) vs. Tennessee
It's a show about nothing!
Pick: Titans
Denver (-6.5) vs. Atlanta
I know I probably said this a few times already, but this is the week the Falcons play a real defense. I'm not saying they aren't up to the challenge, but what they've done so far is completely ludicrous and against anyone kind of common sense or logic. Denver big.
Pick: Broncos
Los Angeles (-2.5) vs. Buffalo
What the Bills did last week wasn't a fluke; make sure you don't treat it as one.
Pick: Bills
Oakland (-3.5) vs. San Diego
Since they haven't disappointed me enough, somehow the Chargers are going to lose this game by 3.51 points.
Pick: Raiders
Cincinnati (-0.5) at Dallas
Dak has been a nice story and all, and it's rare for a playoff contender to be getting any kind of points at home this early in the season. But Cincinnati is better than they've been playing, and this Dallas team is ripe for a letdown any week now. The stars are aligning for this one.
Pick: Bengals
Green Bay (-6.5) vs. New York Giants
Packers coming off the bye week should be able to roll, while the Giants can't seem to get out of their own way. They're in real danger of going into a pretty bad tailspin due to the fact that their best player "isn't having fun anymore". His problems have a way of esalating into the team's problems, and this week will go a long way towards this team getting healthy mentally or going off the rails again.
Pick: Packers
Carolina (-5.5) vs. Tampa Bay
One more chance Panthers. You're getting one more chance to go out and smash an inferior team with a crummy defense. If you don't come through in primetime with significant advantages all over the field, we're through. THROUGH!
Pick: Panthers
BEST BETS: Colts, Patriots, Broncos, Bengals
LOCK: Cincinnati Bengals
LAST WEEK
Overall: 10-5
Best Bets: 2-2
Lock of the Week: 0-1
YEAR TO DATE
Overall: 39-24 (61%)
Best Bets: 8-8 (50%)
Lock of the Week: 2-2 (50%)
POWER RANKINGS
Team Name W/L (Prv)
1. Broncos 4-0 (2)
2. Vikings 4-0 (3)
3. Patriots 3-1 (1)
4. Packers 2-1 (4)
5. Steelers 3-1 (6)
6. Texans 3-1 (9)
7. Cowboys 3-1 (11)
8. Eagles 3-0 (12)
9. Chiefs 2-2 (5)
10. Bengals 2-2 (14)
11. Seahawks 3-1 (15)
12. Falcons 3-1 (16)
13. Raiders 3-1 (17)
14. Ravens 3-1 (13)
15. Rams 3-1 (18)
16. Panthers 1-3 (7)
17. Cardinals 1-3 (8)
18. Redskins 2-2 (19)
19. Bills 2-2 (23)
20. Giants 2-2 (10)
21. Jets 1-3 (20)
22. Colts 1-3 (21)
23. Saints 1-3 (29)
24. Chargers 1-3 (22)
25. Jaguars 1-3 (28)
26. Titans 1-3 (24)
27. Bucs 1-3 (25)
28. Bears 1-3 (31)
29. Lions 1-3 (26)
30. Dolphins 1-3 (27)
31. 49ers 1-3 (30)
32. Browns 0-4 (32)
