NFL Week 5 Matchups

Buffalo (+3.5) at Cleveland - Thu, Oct 3, 8:25 PM ET

                Cleveland looks like a new team with former Brady disciple Brian Hoyer starting at quarterback, with good contributions from Jordan Cameron and recently reinstated Josh Gordon.  Buffalo continues to get better and will go as far as rookie QB E.J. Manuel will take them, and Buffalo continues to look better week to week, but they still barley beat the Ravens when Flacco tried to hand them the game on a silver platter with his five picks.  This game, as most games do, will come down to the decisions made by the quarterbacks.  Manuel is a touted rookie and first round pick, while Hoyer is a five year veteran who was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent.  Hoyer has come in and won two straight and he has been around the league long enough to know that this is his last shot and he has to make it work, even if he is playing for the Browns.  Look for Hoyer to continue to roll with big days from Cameron and Gordon.  Pick: Cleveland.

New Orleans (+0) at Bears - Sun, Oct 6, 1:00 PM ET

                The Bears are much improved from a year ago with a revamped passing attached under first year coach Mark Tressman, but in New Orleans it’s night and day from a year ago, and if the Lions were able to put up 40 on the Bears, the sky is the limit for the Saints.  Pick: New Orleans.

New England (+0) at Cincinnati - Sun, Oct 6, 1:00 PM ET

                The odds on this one surprised me a little bit, not sure anyone out there would say that the Bengals are a better team than the Falcons, and aside from a late slip up, the Patriots rolled to an easy victory against Atlanta on Sunday night.  The Patriots young wide outs get another valuable week to mesh with Brady and Belichick and cruise to a victory by at least a touchdown.  Pick: New England.

Detroit (+8) at Green Bay - Sun, Oct 6, 1:00 PM ET

                Pretty early in the season for a must win, but that’s what the Packers are facing at Lambeau against a division rival this Sunday.  Detroit’s offense finally started to click last week against the Bears and that’s bad news for the Packers, who do not have the defense to engage another team in a shootout.  Green Bay’s line has question marks, and they have yet to find the answer at running back to set up their trademark play action from Rodgers.  Pick: Detroit.

Kansas City (-2.5) at Tennessee - Sun, Oct 6, 1:00 PM ET

                Jake Locker had finally begun to live up to the promise of being drafted as the eighth overall pick two years ago, and luckily the injury does not appear to be serious enough to keep him out for more than a couple weeks.  The Titans have a capable backup in Ryan Fitzpatrick, but it will be his first start with the team against a Chiefs team firing on all cylinders looking to make a statement win here and continue their unbeaten streak under Reid.  Pick: Kansas City.

Seattle (-2.5) at Indianapolis - Sun, Oct 6, 1:00 PM ET

                Luck and Wilson match up as the two top QB’s from last year’s draft class go into battle for the first time.  Luck finally broke through last week and had a good game, but this Seattle team, especially their defense look poised for a Super Bowl run and will not fall to this highly rated but overall mediocre Colts team.  Pick: Seattle.

Jacksonville (+12.5) at St. Louis - Sun, Oct 6, 1:00 PM ET

                Not much to say about this one, except that I’m really glad I’m not going to be watching this game.  I’d like to say that St. Louis will just roll here, but they have been playing so terribly, that they might not even cover the spread.  This could be one of the best chances for the Jaguars to win a game, but I can’t pick them, even with this high of a spread.  Pick: St. Louis, and if you’re betting on this game without being a fan of either team, bad idea.  Terrible idea, just be the opposite of Nike on this one and don’t do it.  Pick: St. Louis.

Baltimore (+2.5) at Miami - Sun, Oct 6, 1:00 PM ET

                The Ravens looked terrible last week against the Bills, especially Flacco, but Miami looked even worse against the Saints.  The good news is the Saints are one of the best teams in the league, and the bad news is the Bills are mediocre.  I still give a slight edge to the Ravens here, who have the experience and a good if not great defense.  Tannehill needs to get it figured out, and in a hurry, this isn’t college anymore and he is a liability running the ball in the open field, as he learned this past Monday night.  Miami needs to go through some more growing pains before they have a legitimate chance to beat the defending champs.  Pick: Baltimore.

Philadelphia (+1) at NY Giants - Sun, Oct 6, 1:00 PM ET

                In the battle of the NFC East basement dwellers (along with the terrible Redskins who mercifully have a bye and to the relief of football fans everywhere will not be on TV this week), Philly should be able to roll all over the Giants.  Never count out the Giants, who are used to this kind of scrutiny year in and out, especially their head coach, but the Eagles have one key ingredient that cannot be taught, speed, and lots of it.  Pick: Philadelphia.

Carolina (-1.5) at Arizona - Sun, Oct 6, 4:05 PM ET

                The Panthers have had two weeks to prepare for the Cardinals after they trounced the Giants and had a bye week.  They should be prepared, but as usual, it all rests on Cam Newton’s shoulders for Carolina.  Even though their only victory of the year came against the helpless Giants, the Panthers should be able to carry that momentum through Arizona by riding their defense if all else fails.  Pick: Carolina.

Denver (-8.5) at Dallas - Sun, Oct 6, 4:25 PM ET

                Peyton Manning goes to Dallas to show Jerry Jones what a real quarterback looks like.  Man, I bet all the people from Texas just wish and pray that somehow Peyton Manning could have been born in their state.  It would be a non-stop brag fest even in a place that has groomed some of the best to ever play the game.  Let’s just make this simple; if Phillip Rivers can shred the Dallas defense, they have no chance against Peyton and his all-stars.  Look for Julius Thomas to light it up as a match up nightmare.  Pick: Denver.

Houston (+5.5) at San Francisco - Sun, Oct 6, 8:30 PM ET

                Houston is coming off a tough overtime loss to the Seahawks last week, and San Francisco has had some extra time to prepare for this game, coming off last Thursday’s victory against the Rams.  There is somewhat of a quarterback controversy in Texas, as Matt Schaub continues to struggle in the big game.  This one will be close, but I can’t bet against Jim Harbaugh with more than a full week to prepare, especially with their defense looking like it is rounding into form even without their Pro Bowler Alden Smith.  Pick: San Francisco.

San Diego (-4) at Oakland - Sun, Oct 6, 11:35 PM ET

                Pryor is coming back for the Raiders this week, but it’s not going to be enough against the Philip Rivers led passing attack that has been torching defenses this year.  Also, with McFadden projected to be out Sunday, Oakland will be lucky to keep this game within two touchdowns.  Pick: San Diego.

NY Jets (+10.5) at Atlanta - Mon, Oct 7, 8:30 PM ET

                If the Falcons lose this game, their season would be pretty much over at 1-4, not to mention the embarrassment of being taken down by a Rex Ryan led team.  I don’t see them losing back to back games as they roll over Geno Smith and the Jets.  Another week of recovery means Roddy White will be that much closer to 100 percent and that spells trouble for this Jet secondary that will already have trouble checking Jones and Gonzalez.  Pick: Atlanta.