Here is the NFL wrap-up for week 5, with an eye toward the upcoming games in week 6...
* Chargers over Giants- How bad are the Giants? They go 0-5, losing at home to a previously winless lA Chargers team that was playing in the Eastern time zone. To top it off, New York lost wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. with a broken ankle ( probably for the season). They also lost 3 other wide-outs to injury, which left QB Eli Manning to say he thought he might have to play receiver in the end.The Chargers won on the road, but in the tough AFC West, it doesn't matter. The Chargers go to Oakland this week to take on the Raiders. With Oakland QB Derek Carr out, LA has a shot. The Giants have no shot in Denver vs the 4-1 Broncos. They didn't before the injuries, as Denver is coming off a bye. New York hasn't won in Denver since 1989. Plus the broncos have a great record at home against NFC East teams and against the betting line.
* Ravens over Raiders- Baltimore took out it's recent frustrations over a Raiders team with QB Carr. Oakland needs to stay above water in AFC West, as undefeated Kansas City threats to run away with the division and home field advantage in the conference. Baltimore comes home to play the Bears. the Ravens should roll, since they lost their last home game vs, Pittsburgh. The Raiders have the Chargers at home ( see above).
* Packers over Cowboys- Green bay has Dallas' number. Never count Aaron Rodgers out. Dallas loses two in a row at home. Now they sit stewing during their bye week, at a pretty mediocre 2-3. The Pack is 4-1 with a game at Minnesota this week. Will Sam Bradford play? Almost a must-win for the Vikes. Will the Pack keep rolling?
* Panthers over Lions- Carolina derailed Detroit at Ford Field last Sunday. The Lions are OK, but they blew a big chance to stay with Green Bay.Detroit goes to New Orleans this week, the Saints fresh off a bye week and riding a two-game winning streak. Not easy. Carolina hosts the Eagles Thursday night. Also not easy. Tough game for the Birds, coming off a short week and traveling. But with the way Philly is playing, I wouldn't be surprised if the Eagles upset them.
* Vikings over Bears- Again, it was a snooze-fest last night. Bradford re-injured himself. Will he face the Packers this Sunday in Minnesota, let alone will his knee bother him all season? The Bears, after upsetting the Steelers in Chicago recently,are back to being the Bears, and now they invade Baltimore for a really tough game against the hungry Ravens.
* Colts over 49'ers- San Francisco is 0-5 ( no surprise) and have remained fairly competitive, losing in overtime to the Colts. Indianapolis are a shell of themselves with QB Andrew Luck, who may return soon. The Niners suck in the Eastern time zone, where they play this weekend against the rested Redskins. Meanwhile, Indy plays on Monday night vs the Titans in Tennessee, which looks ominous for the Colts.
* Bengals over Bills- Cincinnati is all of a sudden alive in AFC Central, going into their bye 2-3, only a game behind Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Buffalo is a surprising 3-2 as well ( they have a bye this week too)The Bills lost a winnable game with the Bengals, as the Bills tread water with the Jets, with New England lurking.
* Jets over Browns- The Jets continue their roll of wins over equally bad teams. I'm still not convinced about the Jets. New York can really show me something this week when they host the Patriots. If the Jets are real, this is the week to beat a Patriots team that has been inconsistent all season. Cleveland, the trendy pick before the season to possibly win as many as six games, is struggling with a Brown-like 0-5 record. They travel to Houston to get beat. The Browns may get yet another No. 1 next spring in the draft, which they will screw-up again.
* Dolphins over Titans- Miami needed a win in the worst way, and they barely got it against Tennessee. Miami goes to Atlanta, which is coming off a bye and a home loss to Buffalo. The Titans have a home Monday night game against the Colts.
* Chiefs over Texans- Kansas City stayed unbeaten in a wild win over the Texans. KC goes home to Arrowhead to face the puzzling Steelers, who were embarrassed at home last week v\s the Jaguars. Houston feats on the Browns at Houston this Sunday.
* Jaguars over Steelers- So, what's up with he Steelers? Losing to the Bears and then to Jacksonville? After beating the Ravens in Baltimore, always a tough game- Pittsburgh comes up small at home vs an upstart Jags team. Pittsburgh goes to Kansas City, which looks bad, but this is just the kind of game the Steelers are famous for winning unexpectedly. KC is due to lsoe, so it wouldn't shock me to see Pittsburgh win. The Jags are at home with the surprising Rams. LA crosses the country to play in the east.Jacksonville is so hot-and-cold, destroying Baltimore in London, beating Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, and losing to the Jets at the Meadowlands. Go figure?
* Patriots over Buccaneers- New England didn't want to lose consecutive games, yet if it wasn't for a bad Tampa Bay kicker, they may have lost in Florida. New England stays on the road this week to play the Jets. The Bucs go west to face the Arizona Cardinals, who were dominated last Sunday in Philadelphia. The Cards have struggled, even in the desert this year. ve a shot, especially if they want to keep pace with the Panthers and Falcons.
* Seahawks over Rams- Seattle escaped at LA last week, as the Rams should've won the big NFC West contest at the end.The Seahawks have played uneven ball this season, yet find themselves tied for the lead in their division. They have a bye this week. The Rams travel to Florida to take on the Jaguars in a battle of inconsistent yet surprising teams.
* In my Last Fan Standing football pool, The Eagles won it for me, destroying Arizona. So I survived week 5. The contest started with over 21,000 players. Now it's down to a little over 3,000.Upsets have been the rule. This week seems more stable. I'll post my pick later in the week.
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