NFL Week 5 2009 Predictions

As is the case most weeks, there are some great match-ups this week and some that are hard to make predictions on.

But that’s what we’re here for! So here are our NFL picks for week 5:

Sunday 11th October

Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens
A – The Bengals are doing surprisingly well and have wins over ‘big’ AFC teams. The Ravens are also doing well, but it’s far less surprising. Last week’s loss against the Patriots was a very finely poised game of football and really could have gone either way. The final drive was great viewing, and Mark Clayton really should have made that catch.
Anyway… I’ve got to back the Ravens again here. The Bengals are no pushovers, but I think they’re going to get well beaten this week.

G -If the Bengals were at home then this would be a very close call.  I think the home advantage will swing it here for the Ravens.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Philadephia Eagles
A – The poor Bucs are still winless and after losing to the other three NFC East teams have the Eagles this week. Josh Johnson played well in his first start, and there was life in the team… though I will hesitantly admit that they were only playing the Redskins. After this week, the Bucs have the Panthers before we welcome them to Wembley. Like the previously visiting Dolphins, I think they’re going to be without a win when they arrive: I’ve got to fancy the Eagles here.

G -The odds makers have the Eagles so far ahead on this one, but I am not so convinced. Tanpa would have won last Sunday if only they could have kicked the ball straight.  It is the small errors like this that will lose them games.  As Andrew said Johnson brought the team alive, but there is still some way to go.  Eagles for me, but only just.

Oakland Raiders @ New York Giants
A – This is one of the easiest game of the week to call (which means we’ll probably all be surprised come Monday morning): The Giants… they just look too good right now.

G – After the Giants great form on the road I bet they wish they could stay out there!  Returning home to face Oakland must be kind of like a week off at he moment.  Oakland looked so full of promise at the start of the season, now they are just hoping that Tom Cable stays out of Jail long enough to make the game….

Dallas Cowboys @ Kansas City Chiefs
A – The Cowboys haven’t been good. I like this. The Chiefs haven’t been that good either, but do seem to be improving as the weeks go by. Unfortunately I’ve got to pick the Cowboys here.

G – I pick the Cowboys too.  I can see it being a messy game though.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Detriot Lions
A – After a rocky first few weeks, the Steelers took care of a dangerous San Diego side and will look to get their season back on track. The Lions are the Lions… we all know about them. I can see them going 4-12 this season, but this week is a loss.

G – I am going with the Steelers, but this might end up being a good game.  I hope so as it is great to see the Lions getting better and better.

Washington Redskins @ Carolina Panthers
A – The Panthers were an early pick of mine to do well this year, but so far it’s just not happened for them at all. Coming off their bye-week, they’ll be fresh and without a win so far they should be hungry too.
The Redskins definitely looked better in the second half against the Bucs, but weren’t convincing across the 60 minutes. I’m backing the ‘Skins to keep on improving.

G – I think Andrew has a bit of fan blindness there.  I’ll put the first round of Wembley drinks on the Panthers here.

Cleveland Browns @ Buffalo Bills
A – The Browns gave the Bengals a good game last week, and the Bills got humbled by the Dolphins in week 4 (and the Saints in week 3)… this is a tough game to call, but I think that the Bills should have enough here.

G – Home win here for the Bills.  A good match up though and could be an interesting game.

Minnesota Vikings @ St. Louis Rams
A – The Rams are on a 14 game losing streak, which could easily stretch out to 17 when they play the Lions in week 8. They’ve been shutout twice in four games and are really looking quite bad.
The Vikings are riding an increasing wave of confidence and are coming off a great win over the Packers in week 4. I really can’t look past them here.

G – This should be a walk in the park for the Vikings.

Atlanta Falcons @ San Francisco 49ers
A – The 49ers have made a believer of me, though I think the Seahawks will come on strong in the NFC West. The Falcons have looked good though, and I think this will be a great game. But I’m with Graham on this one.

G – I don’t think I have not picked the 49ers so far this season and this week is no different.  The Falcons will be a tough test, but no enough for the comeback kings of ’09.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Seattle Seahawks
A – The Jags keep surprising me; they’re one of ‘those’ teams that I have trouble predicting correctly. But at Qwest Field I fancy the Seahawks to edge this one.

G – On paper this should be a Seahawks win, but gut feel points me towards the Jaguars this time.  When are the Seahawks wearing their mad disco outfits again?

New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos
A – The Broncos continue to surprise, and go into this game unbeaten on the back of their win over the Cowboys in week 4. The Patriots edged a great game against the Ravens last week and are looking good as they always tend to. I think this’ll be a bit of a reality check for the Broncos here, and they’ll fall to 4-1.

G – I am still not convinced by either team, but they should make this  agame worth watching.  The Pats pulled off a good win for me last week and I have to support them here (as I won’t be at Wembley).

Houston Texans @ Arizona Cardinals
A – The Texans, the Texans… like with the Jaguars, a team that I’ve been having trouble with. However, with their offense against the Cardinals pass defence, I like this matchup in their favour. Texans win.

G – I am still upset with Houston.  I thought that they were going to do great things this season.  On current form I don’t think they have what it takes to beat the Cards at home.

Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans
A – Before the season started, this game looked like it would be a clash of the titans (no pun intended) in the AFC South. But with the Titans a very disappointing 0-4 and Peyton Manning having the best start to a season he’s had, and the Indy D having proved they can play no matter how long they’re on the field: this one is going to the Colts. Could easily be a close game though.

G – Colts for me too.  They are looking so so good at the moment.

Monday 12th October

New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins
A – This is another tasty AFC matchup! The Jets have 3 divisional matchups in the next 4 weeks (Dolphins twice, Bills once) a sequence that could make or break their season. The same for the Dolphins, who have 4 divisions games in their next 5. As things stand so far, the Jets have the advantage and new signing Braylon Edwards could open up their offense. The Dolphins dominated the Bills using their running game and the Jets are steady against the run, if not spectacular. However, the Jets can put up points which might leave the game in Henne’s hands.
So yeah, I’m picking the Jets here.

G – Andrew said that I would pick the Dolphins here and he is not wrong.  Henne looked good last week, and that should have given him the confidence he will need in this game.  We all know the Dolphins drill, but who does it better?  Home advantage will tip this one in my opinion.

Fixtures and Scores @ nfl.com: http://www.nfl.com/schedules?seasonType=REG#Week5
Fixtures and Scores @ Yahoo! Sports: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/scoreboard?w=5

	ANDREW	GRAHAM	GUEST	ACTUAL
Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens			—
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Philadephia Eagles			—
Oakland Raiders @ New York Giants			—
Dallas Cowboys @ Kansas City Chiefs			—
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Detriot Lions			—
Washington Redskins @ Carolina Panthers			—
Cleveland Browns @ Buffalo Bills			—
Minnesota Vikings @ St. Louis Rams			—
Atlanta Falcons @ San Francisco 49ers			—
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Seattle Seahawks			—
New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos			—
Houston Texans @ Arizona Cardinals			—
Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans			—
New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins			—