Week 5 Picks

A rather tumultous week it has been. The picks were rotten and it seemed like that all the reasons a pick would go wrong could go wrong. Oh well 8-6 is better than a losing week.

October 5

Bills (2-2) @ Bears (4-0)
Soldier Field, Chicago 1 (CBS)
Favorite-Chicago by 11 The Bears are looking more and more fearsome after their 37-6 destruction of Seattle last week. The Bills while coming along nicely face their first real road test since losing a tight one to the Pats in week 1. Da Bears are looking more and more monstrous with each passing week. Rex Grossman is finally earning his keep and the defense will do more than enough to keep JP Losman under duress
Pick-Chicago

Browns (1-3) @ Panthers (2-2)
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte 1 (CBS)
Favorite Carolina by 8.5
The Browns rallied to prevent an embarassing loss to the Raiders while the Panthers outslugged the Saints. The Panthers have more than enough to take down a Browns squad that has had to fly cross-country for a another tough roadie.
Pick-Carolina

Lions (0-4) @ Vikings (2-2)
HHH Metrodome, Minneapolis 1 (Fox) (note: this game could be moved to Monday night if the Twins-A's ALDS goes 5 games)
Favorite- Minnesota by 6
The Vikes anemic offense needs to see a porous defense like the Lions who have discovered that they can score. The Vikings defense has yet to give up more than 19 points in a game but have yet to score more than 19 themselves. But that should change this week, when in doubt bring the Lions out.
Pick-Minnesota

Dolphins (1-3) @ Patriots (3-1)
Gillette Stadium; Foxboro, MA 1 (CBS)
Favorite- New England by 9.5
The Dolphins were a lot of folks' chic pick for the playoffs and/or the Super Bowl. They can't get out of their own way now. This makes it a bad time to face a resurgent Pats squad on the road fresh off a waxing of the Bengals. Pep and Co. face a long afternoon
Pick-New England

Rams (3-1) @ Packers (1-3)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay 1 (Fox)
Favorite-St. Louis by 2
The Rams and Pack both got healthy against the Lions but the Rams offense is putting points on the board consistenly. The Pack's non-existant running game means they are in trouble if the Rams can get to Brett Favre. Marc Bulger should be drooling over the chance to pick on the Pack's weak secondary.
Pick- St. Louis

Bucs (0-3) @ Saints (3-1)
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans 1 (Fox)
Favorite- New Orleans by 6
The Saints despite their loss at Carolina have to be now taken seriously. They will try to make things difficult for rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski. If Cadillac Williams doesn't have a solid game, the Saints will tee off on the QB making his first start.
Pick-New Orleans

Titans (0-4) @ Colts (4-0)
RCA Dome, Indy 1 (CBS)
Favorite-Colts by 18.5
This is a game that small children and those with weak stomachs should not watch. Peyton Manning will pick on the Titans non-existant secondary all day. Vince Young's baptism will be a fiery one indeed.
Pick- Indy (Lock of The Week)

Redskins (2-2) @ Giants (1-2)
Giants Stadium; E. Rutherford, NJ 1 (Fox)
Favorite-Giants by 4
The Skins, left for dead after an 0-2 start are flying high after their thrilling OT win over the Jags last week. The G-Men have been licking their wounds after getting blasted at Seattle two weeks ago. This game has always been too close to call, but the G-Men play the Skins tough in Jersey.
Pick-New York Giants

Chiefs (1-2) @ Cardinals (1-3)
University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, AZ 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite-Chiefs by 3
The Chiefs blasted the Niners for their first win. They should find the sledding a little tougher against the Cards who are fighting for their lives after a listless loss at Atlanta. Matt Leinart should be able to move the ball well, but the Cards have to establish a running game to keep the pressure off the young QB. The Chiefs are not a strong road team and the Cards should hang on to win at their newly named home (Its pretty sad when a school has a stadium but no athletic team)
Pick-Arizona

Jets (2-2) @ Jaguars (2-2)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite- Jags by 7
Both teams are coming off last minute losses. But make no mistake the Jags are a lot more sound than an uneven Jets team is. One could surmise by looking at both teams early schedules that they are a play or two from both being 4-0. The Jets have played over their heads so far and the Jags are much better than their .500 record would show. It will be a tight game but the Jags will wear the Jets down.
Pick-Jacksonville

Raiders (0-4) @ 49ers (1-3)
Monster Park, San Francisco 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite Niners by 3.5
The Raiders cross the bay to play their area rival. The Raiders are a mess and given their brutal schedule may not have a real chance at a win till they play the Texans in December. The Niners while nowhere close to being a strong team have enough to keep the Raiders from thinking road upset. Alex Smith is coming along nicely that and their decent running game will be enough. Pick-San Francisco

Cowboys (2-1) @ Eagles (3-1)
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia 4:15 (Fox)
Favorite- Eagles by 2.5
The TO show rolls in to Philly for the long awaited return of the embattled receiver. I'm personally sick of hearing about it. The Eagles need to keep the Pokes strong running game in check, if Julius Jones and Marion Barber III get rolling, it could be trouble for Gang Green. Donovan McNabb will move the Philly offense at will if he is protected. I think the home crowd gives the Iggles a slight edge.
Pick-Philly

Steelers (1-2) @ Chargers (2-1)
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite- Chargers by 3.5
Damn, is it me or does that criminal element team from Pittsburgh play on national TV every week? Actually they have the first 4 games the Steelers have had have been nationally televised. They face another hostile crowd and another rock solid defense in San Diego. The media keeps saying the Steelers will be ok and that their defense will bail them out everytime. But Big Ben looks lost and the young and hungry Charger defense knocked him around last year, I can't see any reason why they won't do it again and with out Bettis to bail them out the results are different.
Pick-San Diego

Monday October 9
Ravens (4-0) @ Broncos (2-1)
Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite- Broncos by 4
This rather intrgiung matchup has the Ravens looking more like the team that romped and stomped to Super Bowl XXXV and the Broncos who are rested after an impressive handling of the Pats two Sundays ago. Whichever team can establish their running game is the team that takes it. The Broncs are always tough at night in the thin air, it will be just enough to hold off a fearsome team.
Pick-Denver

Last week 8-6
Overall 38-22