Week 5 Picks

Dat Dude has gotten deep into the plus side with his picks and the critics so vociferous in their hatred are now silent. Another solid week, though no one outside of the 619 and 858 area codes picked San Diego to beat New England and fewer still even in that area thought they would lay a woodshed like thrashing on the two-time defending Super Bowl Champs. Somewhere up in that really high up skybox Pete Rozelle is smiling. Like the wanna-be NFL type movie says On Any Given Sunday. There are four teams that remain unbeaten and I think one will fall off that list the '72 Dolphins will get to calling each other and popping the champagne round November when the Colts take their first loss. There remains two winless teams but the '76 Buccaneers won't get to send the Thunderbird as the Pack and Texans will get their first victories long before the receive any notoriety for their losing streak. Neither one of those streaks all wins or all losses will be challenged anytime soon. But anyhoo, lets get to the picks

NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 5
Sunday, October 9
Baltimore (1-2) @ Detroit (1-2)
Ford Field, Detroit-1:00 CBS
Favorite-Lions by 1.5
The Motor City Kitties have trouble scoring, so do the B'More gooney birds. This game should be shown at insomniac clinics, it'll help. I'm thinking that Jamal Lewis is waaaay overdue for a breakout game. Detroit's defense won't get overrun but they'll give more points up than Joey and his crew can generate further weakened by the loss of Charles Rogers
Pick-Baltimore

Chicago (1-2) @ Cleveland (1-2)
Browns Stadium, Cleveland-1:00 FOX
Favorite-Browns by 3
The Browns are a puzzling team, offensive juggernaut one week offensively clueless the next. A solid Bears team better than its record will make the latter observation too true. As long as Kyle Orton remembers who his team is, the Bears should be okay
Pick-Chicago

Miami (2-1) @ Buffalo (1-3)
Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, NY-1:00 CBS
Favorite-Biills by 2.5 10 years ago I went to this matchup and watched a thriller in 25 degree snowy weather. There will be none of those type thrills this time. The Bills have sent JP Losman to the pine in favor of Kelly Holcombe, but he's in no way the long term answer and the Dolphins defense will prove this quickly. Miami's offense has no flashy parts, but Gus Frerotte is a capable QB and can get the ball to speedy WR Chris Chambers and rookie RB Ronnie Brown can keep the hard-charging Buffalo defense honest Pick-Miami

New England (2-2) @ Atlanta (3-1)
Georgia Dome, Atlanta 1:00 CBS
Favorite-Patriots by 1
The Pats get no reprieve, after taking an unexpected beating at home they head to the dirty south and take on a roughneck defense in the Falcons. Corey Dillion will have his work cut out for him and Tom Brady while still the 21st Century of Joe Montana wishes Charlie Weis could take his bye week from Notre Dame and help him. Oh, best of luck to the Pats trying to box in some guy named Vick. The Pats haven't lost back to back games since 2002, but that will change.
Pick-Atlanta

New Orleans (2-2) @ Green Bay (0-4)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI-1:00 (12p CT) FOX
Favorite-Packers by 3
The Pack looked like a ragged team monday in Carolina but the gritty Favre wouldn't let go until the very end. The road warrior Saints looked refreshed after their "home" win against Buffalo. The Saints will put enough of a defensive front up to give the Packers problems. The Pack had better win this game, with a Minnesota team hungry for a win and a no-joke Bengals squad on the other side their bye next week an 0-7 start would be a colder than frozen tundra possibility. Pick-Green Bay

Seattle (2-2) @ St. Louis (2-2)
Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis-1:00 (12p CT) FOX
Favorite-Rams by 3
I despise the Rams even more. Mike Martz is the one coach who could take such a potentially breathtaking offense and turn it into the keystone cops. I loath picking them in any game now, but they should be able to handle a Seattle team that has had trouble containing the Rams or any coherent offense (They let Washington hang 20 on 'em) Shawn Alexander will get his, but the Rams should score enough to offset it. The Rams up and down pattern takes an upward tick Pick-St. Louis

Tampa Bay (4-0) @ NY Jets (1-3)
The Meadowlands, East Rutherford, NJ-1:00 FOX
Favorite-Bucs by 3.5
The Bucs are looking more and more like a force to be reckoned with, and the Jets are just the punching bag the Bucs need to pad their defensive prowess. If the Cadillac runs well the Bucs will have no problem. Ageless QB Vinny Testetaverde will keep things interesting, but until the Jets running game gets on track, they'll be looking high and low for their offense.
Pick-Tampa Bay

Tennessee (1-3) @ Houston (0-3)
Reliant Stadium, Houston-1:00 CBS
Favorite-Texans by 3
The Titans and Texans are two of the bottom feeders in the AFC and qualify as the other snoozer game of the week. The Texans are an offensive mess and the Titans while a bit more competitive aren't world beaters. Dom Capers had better brush up his resume', the honeymoon is over in Houston and a beating by their hated former team won't help matters at all. but Capers' crew will come thru
Pick-Houston

Indianapolis (4-0) @ San Francisco (1-3)
Monster Park, San Francisco-4:05 CBS
Favorite-Colts by 13
You think Peyton Manning had this date circled in bright highlighter? Manning returns to the site of his first pro game in 1998. The Niners are now what the Colts were then, a struggling team with a #1pick QB. The results will be the same a blowout
Pick-Indy

Carolina (2-2) @ Arizona (1-3)
Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, AZ-4:15 FOX
Favorite-Carolina by 3
The Panthers didnt think that the schedule would be this easy, after a beatdown of the Packers, (comeback notwithstanding) the get a Cards team happy to get a win over a sad sack Niner team and they get the Lions after that then a bye. The Panthers are out to prove that they should be regarded as one of the NFC's elite and that makes the Cards in the crosshairs. This game could get ugly
Pick-Carolina

Philadelphia (3-1) @ Dallas (2-2)
Texas Stadium, Irving,TX-4:15 FOX
Favorite-Eagles by 3.5
On paper this game is a mismatch. The Pokes have offense trouble in spades and the Eagles defense have the answers for any possible trouble that they could cause. But this is a rivalry game and you throw the records out on any matchup in the deep NFC East. The Eagles should be able to capitalize on any Dallas miscues and exploit them to the fullest. Pick-Philly

Washington (3-0) @ Denver (3-1)
Invesco Field @Mile High, Denver-4:15 FOX
Favorite Broncos by 7
This game looks good from a standings point of view. Both teams have a multitude of questions, but the Broncos have fewer questions and if they can get to erosion-like slow Mark Brunell they will have a field day. The Skins have been living on borrowed time with their play and it will come back to bite them here.
Pick-Denver

Cincinnati (4-0) @ Jacksonville (2-2)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville8:30 ESPN
Favorite-Jaguars by 3
The Bengals lone regular season primetime appearance (they had 2 memorable home night games in '04) has them on the road. It would serve the Bengals well to continue to play up the "No respect factor" but that tag is fading fast. Carson Palmer and a beat up offensive line will face a true test with the Jags quick, hard hitting defense. The Jags have a fits and starts offense, but have quick strike capability with the ageless Jimmy Smith and the redoubtable Fred Taylor. If the Bengals can control the clock and the turnover battle they may steal the game and open more eyes nationally.
Pick-Bengals

Monday, October 10
Pittsburgh (2-1) @ San Diego (2-2)
Quallcomm Stadium, San Diego-9:00 ABC
Favorite-Chargers by 3
The weeks best game is on Monday night to the relief of ABC execs tired of one sided matchups. The Steelers are well rested after their bye and welcome the possible return of Jerome Bettis to complement their hot rookie Willie Parker. The Chargers are full of confidence having put up an average of 43 points in the past two games against the G-Men and P-Men respectively. This will be a slug it out game as Bill Cowher tries to best Marty Schottenheimer his former boss from their Cleveland days. Look for the Chargers to put heavy pressure on Ben Roethlisberger and us LaDainian Tomlinson to control the clock. You won't turn this one off in the 3rd quarter
Pick-San Diego

BYE WEEK: Kansas City (2-2) Minnesota (1-3) NY Giants (3-1) Oakland (1-3) Last week 8-6 Overall 35-25 Games you should Tivo, Tape, DVR or watch at your favorite watering hole

Oklahoma vs Texas at The Cotton Bowl 12:00p-ABC
The 2005 installment of the Red River Shootout sees Texas as heavy favorites, but Oklahoma having had won the last 5 in a row. This rivalry runs long and deep. It'll be interesting to see if Texas stay cool under the growing pressure of being the heir apparent and continue their march toward a January 4th national championship clash with USC.

Georgia at Tennessee-Neyalnd Stadium, Knoxville, TN 3:30p CBS Georgia is unbeaten but has a daunting task in going to Volunteer Nation and its 110,000 loud loyal supporters. If star QB DJ Shockley gets his groove on Tennessee could take its 2nd SEC loss and shut itself out of any hope of playing in the SEC Championship in December and the Sugar Bowl in January, both in Atlanta.