NFL Predictions: A Look at Every NFL Game This Season
By Steven Kriz
Week Five
Thursday, Oct. 6th-
Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers:
The Cardinals, coming off their first loss come out like a team on a mission. They race out to a 17-0 first quarter lead, but Chip Kelly’s squad finds a way to make a game of it, tying the game at 17 by the end of the first half. The Niners actually take the lead on a 36 yard Colin Kaepernick scamper, but the Cardinals quickly erase the deficit, and Carson Palmer leads a late drive in the 4th quarter to seal the deal.
The Pick: Cardinals 27 49ers 24
Sunday, Oct. 9th-
New England Patriots at Cleveland Browns:
Well, Tom Brady is back, and that means he is about to begin his assault on the league right? Actually, wrong. Brady is off in this contest, throwing for 2 interceptions in the first quarter. It’s understandable, he’s coming off a four week absence, and getting back into the swing of things is a bit more difficult for a 39 year old quarterback. Despite his early struggles, he is able to lead a fourth quarter drive down the field to take the lead late and squeak out a win in his return, a win that was much needed for the Patriots.
The Pick: Patriots 20 Browns 17
Philadelphia Eagles at Detroit Lions:
This game feels like the Eagles never got off the plane. The Lions dominate this contest from start to finish, as Matthew Stafford throws for 397 yards and four TD’s.
The Pick: Lions 38 Eagles 10
Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts:
Andrew Luck is really starting to find his 2014 form again, as he completes his first 16 passes in this contest. The Bears have struggled all year to gain any traction on offense, as it seems that Adam Gase is sorely missed by quarterback Jay Cutler. The Colts put this one to bed for good late in the first quarter and Luck gets to take the fourth quarter off.
The Pick: Colts 30 Bears 7
Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins:
The Titans are still looking for their first win of 2016, and with the way the game begins, it doesn’t seem that is going to be the case. On the first play from scrimmage, Mariota is intercepted by Tony Lippett as Lippett gets tackled by Mariota on the one yard line. A play later, Arian Foster is in for a quick score. The rest of the game belongs to the Titans however, as Mariota finds rookie Tajae Sharpe for 2 scores in the game, and Mariota rushes for another TD himself.
The Pick: Titans 24 Dolphins 20
Washington Redskins at Baltimore Ravens:
This is a game in which the Ravens come in as 9.5 point favorites. Unfortunately for the Ravens, they must have forgot that Desean Jackson plays for the Skins, because they left him uncovered on the third play of the game, as Kirk Cousins finds him for an easy 68 yard score. This wasn’t the only time that Jackson got behind the Ravens defense on this day, as Cousins hits him again on the very next drive for a 43 yard score. At least this time there was a defender on him, but it didn’t really matter.
The Pick: Redskins 34 Ravens 20
Houston Texans at Minnesota Vikings
The Texans offense this year has really been a struggle to this point. This was not something that they anticipated when they dropped big offseason money on Brock Osweiler and Lamar Miller. A date with the Vikings does nothing to fix these issues, as Osweiler is sacked five times, and comes out of the game holding his left shoulder in the fourth quarter while being replaced by Savage. He notes in the postgame presser that if the game were close he would have remained in, and should be good to go next week, but Houston fans are starting to wonder if letting him sit a week may be the best thing to see what Tom Savage can do.
The Pick: Vikings 17 Texans 3
New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers:
The Jets are looking to rebound coming off their first loss, and the Steelers are trying to stay undefeated in a battle of two of the top teams in the AFC to date. The Jets defense holds up about as well as can be expected against this offensive juggernaut the Steelers have developed into, and Ryan Fitzpatrick is on his game on this day, hitting Brandon Marshall for two scores and Eric Decker for another. However, one last Steeler drive proves to be the tipping point, as Le’veon Bell breaks a 35 yard run and sets the Steelers up at the Jets 22 yard line. The Steelers are able to milk the clock, and drop a field goal in as time expires.
The Pick: Steelers 27 Jets 24
Atlanta Falcons at Denver Broncos:
Rookie Paxton Lynch is really starting to show why the John Elway was so eager to move up in the first round and draft him. On the Broncos first offensive possession Lynch bounces out of 2 sacks and takes off down the field for a 38 yard scramble. On the next play, he fires a deep pass to the corner of the end zone for a 32 yard TD to Cody Latimer. The Broncos defense has no problem keeping Devonta Freeman in check, even with Demarcus Ware being given the week off as a healthy scratch, and Shane Ray has a breakout day recording three sacks on Matt Ryan. The defending champions seem to really be getting it together on the offensive side of the ball, and the ballhawking, physical defense continues it’s two year run of domination.
The Pick: Broncos 27 Falcons 10
Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas Cowboys:
After a slow start, the Bengals have been on a roll the past few games, and come into Dallas looking to keep the hot streak alive. The Bengals hold the Dallas run game to 52 yards for the game, meaning Dak Prescott has sling the ball around more than the Cowboys would like. Prescott looks like a rookie in the fourth quarter, throwing two interceptions trying to cut away at a lead the Bengals built in the first half, and it leads to the Cowboys demise on this day.
The Pick: Bengals 27 Cowboys 17
Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams:
Both teams are coming off big wins, but this day belongs to Tyrod Taylor. Taylor is magnificent as he finishes the day with 315 yards passing and two touchdowns, to go with two more rushing touchdowns. The Rams simply can’t keep up and the Bills win their second in a row.
The Pick: Bills 31 Rams 20
San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders:
On paper, this game seems to be a mismatch, as the Chargers are 0-4, and while the Raiders haven’t been much better, on paper it shouldn’t really be close. On this day it would prove that sometimes being better on paper DOES translate to the field. The Raiders absolutely dominate the Chargers from start to finish.
The Pick: Raiders 45 Chargers 17
New York Giants at Green Bay Packers:
The Packers, coming off a bye week prove that they are going to be really tough to deal with in the NFC. The Lambeau advantage is back after a year off, and the Packers roll to an easy victory.
The Pick: Packers 35 Giants 20
Monday, Oct. 10th-
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers:
Like a week ago vs. the Broncos, the Buccaneers are unable to get much going offensively. After such a hot start for Jameis Winston, facing two of the top defenses certainly has brought him back down to Earth. It is a close game, as the Panthers have a bit of an off day on offense, but controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball proves to be the difference.
The Pick: Panthers 24 Buccaneers 20
Standings:
AFC East
New York Jets: 3-2
Miami Dolphins: 2-3
Buffalo Bills: 2-3
New England Patriots: 2-3
AFC North
Pittsburgh Steelers: 5-0
Baltimore Ravens: 3-2
Cincinnati Bengals: 3-2
Cleveland Browns: 1-4
AFC South
Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-1
Indianapolis Colts: 3-2
Houston Texans: 2-3
Tennessee Titans: 1-4
AFC West
Denver Broncos: 4-1
Kansas City Chiefs: 2-2
Oakland Raiders: 2-3
San Diego Chargers: 0-5
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NFC East
Dallas Cowboys: 2-3
New York Giants: 2-3
Washington Redskins: 2-3
Philadelphia Eagles: 1-3
NFC North
Green Bay Packers: 4-0
Minnesota Vikings: 3-2
Detroit Lions: 3-2
Chicago Bears: 1-4
NFC South
Carolina Panthers: 4-1
New Orleans Saints: 3-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2-3
Atlanta Falcons: 1-4
NFC West
Seattle Seahawks: 4-0
Arizona Cardinals: 4-1
Los Angeles Rams: 2-3
San Francisco 49ers: 1-4
Next: Week 6