Last week:
Me: 11-4 (33-27 overall)
Lattanzi: 13-3 (44-20 overall)
AK: 10-6 (35-12 overall)
JP: 9-7 in Week 4
This week will be the one and only one week where I will pick every game on the docket. Why is that? The Redskins have a bye. So while it is perfectly reasonable to assume that the football watching universe comes to a screeching halt whenever the Redskins are not playing, alas, the games do in fact go on (13 of them to be exact).
We'd like to add JP to the picks brigade. He emailed me his picks last week, so that record is legit.
YEEHAH! I finally finished with an over .500 record for the week. Unfortunately, Lattanzi was unconscious last week getting 13 right a week after AK got 14 right. Hey, NOBODY picked Cincinnati to upset Buffalo though, but who called that one...yup...this guy. So let's see if I can back up a stellar week 4 performance with some more prognostication prowess in week 5. No Redskins game means no losses, right? So let's get to my perfect 13-0 record for week 5. :-)
Philadelphia @ Buffalo-If the artists formerly known as the "Dream Team" have any hope of reigniting the dream that disappeared after 3 consecutive losses, they have to win this game. If they lose this one, they fall to 1-4 with a road trip in Washington in week 6 with the Skins coming off the bye. Excuse me, that would be a HOME game for the Eagles since FedEx Field is just Veterans Stadium/Lincoln Financial Field South. Buffalo needs this one too. If they lose this game, they will have lost to both Cincinnati and a struggling Eagles team in consecutive weeks, which will undo a lot of good will they earned with the big win over New England. Philadelphia right now is more desperate, so they take it. Philadelphia 31 Buffalo 27
Kansas City @ Indianapolis-The Curtis Painter show takes on still arguably the worst team in football, although Minnesota last week staked a huge claim in that department while taking a big lead in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. Indy has said that Peyton still could play in 2011, so if they really bomb out going forward, it will be very interesting to see what they do if they are in position to land the #1 pick (a very real possibility). As for this one, Kansas City wants to remember what it feels like to lose again, so Indy gets off the schneid in a snoozer. Indianpolis 14 Kansas City 6
Arizona @ Minnesota-The most prominent face on the sides of milk cartons in the Twin Cities is that of Adrian Peterson. For the last couple of weeks, the Vikings have opened up big leads only to Tony Romo them away. The biggest question in each of those losses was "where was Adrian Peterson?" AP himself has asked why he hasn't gotten the ball more in the second half. In my case, I picked Minnesota 4 times so far and they have lost each time. Arizona's not that good either, but against stinky competition they should win. Beanie Wells had a huge game last week and if it were not for a Victor Cruz fumble...what? He gave himself up? Yeah right...the Cards would be 2-2. Watch. Now that I've finally picked against the Vikings, watch them win. Arizona 28 Minnesota 21
Seattle @ New York Giants-The Giants are in the thick of an NFC East race that at the start of the season they really didn't expect to be in. After a crucial road win in Philly, the Giants are tied for the top spot at 3-1. The NFC West is atrociously bad, and Seattle is no exception. What? They WON that division last year? AND a playoff game? Don't expect that to happen again, but in the NFC West, I guess anything is possible. New York Giants 27 Seattle 10
Tennessee @ Pittsburgh-Just like when Pittsburgh was hopping mad after a road loss to Baltimore, expect them to be hopping mad against inferior competition. Expect a blowout just like last time, right? Not so fast, my friend! The difference this time is that Big Ben is bit gimpy after getting hit in the knee last week. He was in a walking boot after the game. He is expected to play, but as they say, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Let's not forget also that Tennessee beat Baltimore...and quite handily at that. Are the Steelers finished? Tennessee 27 Pittsburgh 24
New Orleans @ Carolina-New Orleans is going to win this one, but the Cam Newton express will probably go for another 400-something. The scoreboard is going to be on tilt for most of the afternoon as New Orleans will get ahead and the Panthers will frantically play catch up. Newton will make one rookie mistake too many and take the loss too hard on himself. New Orleans 41 Carolina 31
Cincinnati @ Jacksonville-Cinci looks like world beaters after knocking off the "mighty" Buffalo Bills. So they're feeling pretty good right. A road trip to a poor Jacksonville team should be a quick trip to 3-2 and above .500 for a team picked to finish near the bottom of the league. They are called the Bungles for a reason...D'OH! Jacksonville 19 Cincinnati 17
Oakland @ Houston-Oakland really had a chance to make a big name for themselves by beating New England. Unfortunately, Jason Campbell was reminded of what it was like in Washington. Houston plays much better defense than New England and Mario Williams will get up close and personal with Jason at least twice. Houston 28 Oakland 7
Tampa Bay @ San Francisco-The Bucs eeked one out on Monday night last week against a competitive Colts team with Peyton in the booth. The best quarterback for the 49ers will also be wearing a polo shirt instead of shoulder pads on Sunday...that would be Jim Harbaugh. It will be the Gore and LeGarrette Blount show. Close one...somewhat sloppy, but fairly entertaining. Tampa Bay 24 San Francisco 23
San Diego @ Denver-I am on record saying that it's hard to pick against Denver in the mile high air, then they proceed to lose to the Raiders. When I abandoned that bandwagon in Week 2, they beat the Bengals. I can't figure this team out. However, regardless of altitude, San Diego is the better team. They should win...handily. San Diego 35 Denver 17
New York Jets @ New England-It's always fun when these two get together. You got foul-mouthed Rex Ryan and demure "aw shucks let the videotape speak for itself" Bill Belichick. The Jets lost an offensively challenged game at Baltimore last week, but with the way the Pats defense is playing right now, they have a decent shot. The problem is that it looks like Brady remembered how not to lose games in the 2nd half again. Patriots get a lead and hold it. New England 38 New York Jets 27
Green Bay @ Atlanta-Another offensive slugfest on tap in this one. The Packers have the belt, and there's no way they lose it to an inconsistent team of dirty birds. The Falcs score some points playing on their turf, but Rodgers and the Green Machine just cannot be stopped right now. Green Bay 49 Atlanta 31
Chicago @ Detroit-Detroit is 4-0, but their one win in the division came against a challenged Minnesota team. Monday night (the LIONS are playing on Monday night???) will really be their first real test within the division. The Bears are hungry. They're not that good, but since they have both the Lions and the Packers ahead of them right now, they need this win a lot more than Detroit. The Lions have Megatron though, and we all know what he can do. I think Chicago will just bring the house on Stafford, forget trying to even triple cover Megatron...because we've all seen that even THAT doesn't work...they have to knock Stafford around. I think they will. Detroit won't come back from this one. I see a long field goal attempt being missed at the gun ending Detroit's run at history. Chicago 24 Detroit 21
That's a wrap on the picks for week 5. We'll hear from Lattanzi and AK shortly.
Before I wrap up this post though, a quick shout out of congratulations to JP and his lovely fianceé Abby who will be getting married tomorrow in Baltimore. Caputo's Corner will be on hand for all the action as Wedding Season 2011 comes to a close.
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