NFL Picks Week 5: Showdown Sunday

Here are Week Five's NFL Picks. Thanks to the teams on bye with a combined 2-14 record, there are a ton of good games this Sunday. No need to leave the couch except for beer and food.   

New Orleans (4-0) (-1) at Chicago (3-1) 12:00 pm FOX - One of the many great games this week leads us off in the NFL picks this week. New Orleans faces their first true test of the season heading to Chicago. The Bears defense is a problem this year, and I feel like Drew Brees and company can exploit them. There is no rain projected for Sunday, but they will have soft turf due to Saturday's predicted 80 percent chance of rain. Jay Cutler does struggle with turnovers and I could see how this Saints defense could create some havoc yet I want to see the Saints beat someone on the road before crowing them as one of the NFC best. CHI 27-23

New England (4-0) at Cincinnati  (2-2) (-1) 12:00 pm CBS -  New England is another team no one is really believing in right now. The Patriots will have to replace Vince Wilfork and that could mean a big day on the ground for Giovani Bernard along with the rest of Cincinnati's running attack. Aqib Talib is playing like the best corner in the game, and I tend to believe he will shut down A.J. Green leading to a disastrous day from Andy Dalton. The Patriots defense take care of business giving Tom Brady enough to win the game. NE 21-17

Detroit (3-1) at Green Bay (1-2) (-7) 12:00 pm FOX - Check the preview for the pick and listen to the Packers playlist to get you ready for the game.

Kansas City (4-0) (-3) at Tennessee (3-1) 12:00 pm CBS - Who would have expected these two teams would be a combined 7-1 going in Week 5. Ryan Fitzpatrick takes over the helm at quarterback for Tennessee after Jake Locker's injury and Kansas City is not the best team for Fitz to begin his Titan career. The biggest knock on Fitzpatrick has been his interceptions and I feel like he will not have a good day at the office. Kansas City's defense dominates this one and like he always does, Alex Smith manages the game very nicely in a surprising road blowout. KC 24-7

Seattle (4-0) (-3) at Indianapolis (3-1) 12:00 pm FOX - HMMMMM interesting game. Indianapolis already pulled off the upset of San Francisco and now they get Seattle at home. The Seahawks did not start off strong against Houston last week and everything went to hell for the Texans in the second half.  This is the second straight game for Seattle on the road in a different time zone, Indianapolis' defense is better than people are giving it credit for and Colts offense can score on the Hawks defense. I feel like the Seahawks are due for a WTF sort of game. Here it is. IND 28-17

Jacksonville (0-4) at St. Louis (1-3) (-11.5) 12:00 pm CBS - Restarting a thing I did for the NFL Picks last year... How much money would it take you to watch this game without any social media interaction, just sitting on your couch with a beer or two and watch this game with no rooting interest?  I would probably go with 100 dollars. I do not think the Rams will cover because here's a secret, they cannot stop the run. Even with Eugene Monroe now in Baltimore, Jacksonville's offensive line is not the same, but still will have some success. The Rams will not lose this game, but it is closer than expected. STL 20-14

Baltimore (2-2) at Miami (3-1) (-3) 12:00 pm CBS - Big game for Baltimore. They have Green Bay at home next week, the Browns already won this week and these two teams could be fighting for a Wild Card position in December.  Ryan Tannehill appeared to have some difficulties with an opportunistic defense. The Ravens tend to force turnovers more so than the average defense. Ravens win this game on another strong performance from their defense. BALT 23-13

Philadelphia (1-3) at New York Giants (0-4) (-3) 12:00 pm FOX - I have absolutely no idea who wins this game. Like none. I realize it is a rivalry game and things get weird in this rivalry. The Giants do not have an offensive line, but the Eagles really do not have a pass rush.  Philadelphia can score and New York's defense really isn't that good. I guess the old adage, take the home team and take the points. NYG 28-24

Carolina (1-2) (-2) at Arizona (2-2) 3:05 pm FOX  - This will be the 'Let's pay attention to this team next week' game because Carolina is going to come in like gangbusters and dominate the Cardinals in the desert. Is Carson Palmer staying upright against this mean Carolina front seven?  Not a chance. Cam Newton has a big day with his legs and the Panthers win in a road rout. CAR 35-14

Denver (4-0) (-9) at Dallas (2-2) 3:25 pm CBS - Let's get this out here now, I do not think Dallas will win this game, but I think it is going to be close. Denver cannot beat another high spread and I feel the Cowboys have some solid motivation. I know the whole Peyton Manning faced Monte Kiffin's defense throughout his Indianapolis Colts career every day in practice, but you have to think Kiffin might know some stuff about Manning that other defensive coordinators do not. This will be a high scoring, fun as all hell football game with the Broncos prevailing. DEN 31-30

Houston (2-2) at San Francisco (2-2) (-7) 7:30 pm NBC - Make sure you remember where you are watching this game so you can tell your kids about when Matt Schaub shit the bed for the fifth consecutive week, this time in primetime. I would put all my money on San Francisco covering this one in a major way. Houston is not a good team. SF 34-14

San Diego (2-2) (-5) at Oakland (1-3) 10:30 pm NFLN - I cannot believe my degenerate self will be watching NFL football until about 2 am on Monday morning.  I have no idea how the time change will affect the players. Terrelle Pryor is back in the saddle at quarterback, but it will probably not help this week as Philip Rivers Revival Tour will continue in the Bay Area Sunday night. SD 28-10

Monday
New York Jets (1-3) at Atlanta (1-3) (-10) 7:30 pm ESPN - Oh man, what a brutal Monday Night Football game. Thank goodness I have fantasy implications with both teams and two MLB playoff games will be going on.  Atlanta in a rout seems like the easy choice here, but I am still a little weary about this game. I am going to do it, but there is a good chance I am wrong. ATL 33-17

Bye Week: Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Washington

Record
Straight Up: 42-24
ATS: 26-35-1