Welcome to my NFL Week 5 Picks. Last week, I went 7-8, putting my overall record at 37-25-1 (37-26-1 with Week 5 TNF). This week, I cannot see many upsets happening. This will be a week where the elite teams in the league continue to prove themselves as they put up big games and win with ease. Which underdogs will put up the biggest fight, and what upsets will happen? Keep reading to find out what I think, and feel free to comment with your thoughts.
Lock of the Week
QB Chase Daniel did an even better job than QB Mitch Trubisky at leading this Bears offense. Expect it to really show this week. The Raiders snagged a victory in Indy against a weak Colts defense, but they’ll experience a rude awakening against Chicago in London as the Bears shut them out.
Upset of the Week
(TNF, posted to Twitter Thursday night, Actual Score: 30-29 Seahawks)
The Seahawks are only favored by a hair here, and I can’t see them succeeding against a strong Rams team. QB Jared Goff and his receivers will put up a clinic against the inexperienced Seattle secondary. QB Russell Wilson will put up a decent game, but the Rams defense will severely limit the Seahawks and come up clutch in preventing them from scoring multiple TDs.
The Other Games
| Sunday, 1:00 PM EST
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With TEs Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis hurt and concerns arising at QB, the Redskins offense won’t have much up their sleeve against an unstoppable Patriots defense. The Pats offense will look a little better in Washington, but they won’t need to score too much to win here. |
| Sunday, 1:00 PM EST
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The Jets are still without QB Sam Darnold, and they won’t be able to do much at all in Philly. QB Luke Falk will rely on slot WR Jamison Crowder as Darnold has, but it won’t be enough as QB Carson Wentz and the Eagles utilize WR DeSean Jackson in his return and rely on star TE Zach Ertz. |
| Sunday, 1:00 PM EST
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I don’t know why so many people are calling a Bills upset here. The Bills offense really struggled against New England last week, and the Tennessee defense is capable of shutting them down in a similar fashion. I also believe QB Marcus Mariota will step up against the Bills D. I feel that Mariota is a good QB when healthy, and this game will prove it. |
| Sunday, 1:00 PM EST
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Look for Pittsburgh to put up a fight on their own turf, but I can’t see QB Lamar Jackson falling in this one. He looked great in the first couple games of the season. He’s faced some tough opponents and been outmatched in the last couple games, but QB Mason Rudolph and the washed-up Pittsburgh offense is no longer good enough to outmatch Jackson in the same way. |
| Sunday, 1:00 PM EST
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Cincinnati started off the season 0-4, but their schedule only gets easier from here. Against Arizona, QB Andy Dalton will turn it around and prove himself capable as he utilizes WR Tyler Boyd. If he struggles against Arizona, they should consider Ryan Finley at QB. But I can’t see that happening, as QB Kyler Murray will struggle against the underrated Cincy defense. |
| Sunday, 1:00 PM EST
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The Texans were always a defense-first team in the past. Now, the defense has lost some key pieces, but QB Deshaun Watson has stepped up big time. It will show in this offensive shootout against Atlanta, one of the most offense-heavy teams in the league. QB Matt Ryan will throw several TDs like Watson, but Watson will out-match Ryan in a battle of two elite QBs. |
| Sunday, 1:00 PM EST
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QB Gardner Minshew and his receivers will have a decent game against a young Carolina secondary. But the Panthers secondary has gotten better this year, and they will step it up. Meanwhile, expect QB Kyle Allen to throw multiple TDs and lead Carolina to victory. |
| Sunday, 1:00 PM EST
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WR Stefon Diggs may want out, but he’s still here now, and he will be utilized as QB Kirk Cousins steps it up at MetLife. QB Daniel Jones is a great QB, but he’ll experience a rude awakening and make some rookie mistakes against an elite Vikes D. |
| Sunday, 1:00 PM EST
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This will be the biggest shootout of the week, as QB Teddy Bridgewater steps up to lead New Orleans’ offense, but fails to outscore QB Jameis Winston and his receivers in regulation. I see this game going to overtime, where Bridgewater will utilize his amazing surroundings to lead the Saints. |
| Sunday, 4:05 PM EST
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The Chargers are missing some key pieces on offense, but they still have enough in them to take down Denver in LA, especially with edge rusher Bradley Chubb out for the year. The Broncos are 0-4 so far, and their offense will continue to struggle as they face an elite defense on their home turf. |
| Sunday, 4:25 PM EST
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Look for Green Bay to struggle without WR Davante Adams. This will allow then Cowboys to rebound on their home turf as they face the weakened Packers squad. They will also benefit from the return of their WR2, Michael Gallup. |
| Sunday, 8:20 PM EST
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QB Patrick Mahomes will work his magic again as they host Indy. Against a weak but underrated Colts defense, Mahomes will lean on the young duo of WRs Demarcus Robinson and Mecole Hardman. TE Travis Kelce will put up an especially strong game as well. QB Jacoby Brissett and the Colts will make this the best Sunday Night game all year as they put up a fight in a strong offensive performance, but they’ll be outdone by Mahomes. |
| Monday, 8:15 PM EST
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This prime time match-up will be a close one too. But I think this will be a defense-heavy game. Both of these defenses improved significantly this off-season, and it will show here. But the Niners will edge out the victory as they ride their momemntum coming out of the bye, boosted by the return of RB Tevin Coleman. |
That’s all for this week’s games. Stay tuned for more NFL coverage soon.
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