Last week I went 9-5 with my picks. Through all four weeks combined, I am 37-23, for a winning percentage of approximately 62%. (Check out ESPN's NFL "experts" for a comparison.)
The following are my picks for the NFL's Week Five:
Sunday, Oct. 8
Buffalo 2-2 at Chicago 4-0 - 1:00 p.m.
Da Bears are the only remaining undefeated team in the NFC. They've only given up 29 points through four games, which is just over a touchdown per game. And they're playing at home against a mediocre Bills team.
CHICAGO BY 11
Cleveland 1-3 at Carolina 2-2 - 1:00 p.m.
Carolina has been looking better and better every week. Cleveland finally won a game last week, but only because they were playing against the hapless Raiders.
CAROLINA BY 6
Detroit 0-4 at Minnesota 2-2 - 1:00 p.m.
Detroit's offense has shown some spark the last couple of weeks. Too bad their defense is one of the worst in the league. Minnesota barely won their first two games, and have now lost two in a row.
DETROIT BY 1
Miami 1-3 at New England 3-1 - 1:00 p.m.
Miami is probably the most disappointing team in the NFL. I expect New England's defense to pressure Daunte Culpepper into making numerous mistakes in this one.
PATRIOTS BY 8
St. Louis 3-1 at Green Bay 1-3 - 1:00 p.m.
Lots of points should be put up on the scoreboard in this one.
RAMS BY 7
Tampa Bay 0-3 at New Orleans 3-1 - 1:00 p.m.
The Bucs will start rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski in place of the now-spleenless Chris Simms. And I believe he'll do quite well. I'm thinking upset here.
TAMPA BAY BY 3
Tennessee 0-4 at Indianapolis 4-0 - 1:00 p.m.
This is simply no contest.
COLTS BY 28
Washington 2-2 at N.Y. Giants 1-2 - 1:00 p.m.
The Redskins have won two in a row. But those games were against AFC teams, not a division rival. If the Giants can manage to show up for all four quarters in this one, they'll win.
GIANTS BY 4
Kansas City 1-2 at Arizona 1-3 - 4:05 p.m.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - RJ Elliott
Ya'll now have 60 hours to submit your own picks!
2 - The Theory
Buffalo 2-2 at Chicago 4-0... I just love watching Chicago play. If you had asked me at the beginning of the year if I thought they'd do well I think i would have said yes. Unfortunately, no one asked me so it's just my word five weeks in. Chicago.
Cleveland 1-3 at Carolina 2-2... Carolina.
Detroit 0-4 at Minnesota 2-2... Minnesota should NOT be 2-2 right now. Detroit should be 0-9 by now, regardless of how many "games" they've "played." Well. Minnesota will see themselves go over the .500 mark for the first (and last?) time this season.
Miami 1-3 at New England 3-1... I said it last year in some form or another that Culpepper is a trainwreck of a quarterback. I almost bought into the "miami will be good this year!" argument until I found out who was expected to lead them. Right. Well, NE will put another notch in the win column.
St. Louis 3-1 at Green Bay 1-3... St. Louis, although GB didn't look too shabby last week when I got a chance to watch them. So I wouldn't be too surprised to see GB pull out a victory. But overall I think St Louis has a greater shot here.
Tampa Bay 0-3 at New Orleans 3-1... I don't know if beating New Orleans is quite considered an upset yet. NO is playing above expectations. But as much as I have about zero expectations of seeing them in the playoffs, I do think they can take care of a winless Tampa Bay team.
Tennessee 0-4 at Indianapolis 4-0... Indy.
Washington 2-2 at N.Y. Giants 1-2... I really hope this game is not aired in my area because I have zero interest in watching it. I want both teams to lose, and since that generally doesn't happen in the NFL it'll just be torture to watch. But I suppose for the sake of making a pick I have to go with NYG.
Kansas City 1-2 at Arizona 1-3... Who cares? I mean, seriously. Unless you live in Arizona or KC there is no reason to pay attention to this game. KC I guess. But whatever.
N.Y. Jets 2-2 at Jacksonville 2-2... If Jacksonville can solve it's defensive woes, they have a fighting chance. As it is, NYJ will win this one.
Oakland 0-3 at San Francisco 1-3... San Francisco.
Dallas 2-1 at Philadelphia 3-1... Dallas only has three games under their belt at this point, so I'm still a bit hazy on how good they actually are. All I know is that McNabb and the Eagles have been able to put points on the board. While I hasitate to call any game this early in the season "must win", I think that the Eagles MUST pull out a victory AT HOME against Dallas to have a reasonable shot at the playoffs. Their second half schedule is brutal, and dropping too many games early in the season just won't cut it.
Pittsburgh 1-2 at San Diego 2-1... Until Pittsburgh proves themselves again, I'm going to have trouble picking them against decent teams. San Diego.
Baltimore 4-0 at Denver 2-1... I hate hate hate Baltimore. But personal feelings ought not screw with my picking. So baltimore. Geez.
3 - Donnie Marler
RJ, Stop thinking! The Rams will NOT lose to Green Bay, dude!
And if they do, kindly edit this post and reverse the teams.
4 - RJ Elliott
Dude, I picked the Rams to win...
5 - Donnie Marler
Dang, so you did!! Forgive me, I was thinking about what The Theory was saying about the game and had you, as the author of this fine piece, in mind. My mistake! Hey, you're better than most of the "experts!"
6 - The Theory
Which RJ is very good at consistantly reminding us.
(though he limits it to the ESPN "experts")
7 - Loris (Italy)
Bills will win by 7, them not more bad team how you describe.
Go Bills!!!
8 - Matthew T. Sussman
Smart call on the Bucs/Gradkowski there, RJ.
9 - RJ Elliott
Thanks, Suss.
So where are your picks? :-)
10 - Matthew T. Sussman
Workin' on 'em. I just got from the Tigers win.
11 - Matthew T. Sussman
*got back from
12 - RJ Elliott
Nice!
Verlander, Rogers, and Bonderman really made "Murderer's Row and Cano" look like buffoons these last three games...
13 - rj
30-minute warning! :-P
14 - Matthew T. Sussman
Yeah, I didn't make picks this week, but I am digging Bruce's fourth quarter comeback.
15 - rj
Final Score:
Bears 40, Bills 7 - RJ 1-0
16 - rj
Final Score:
Giants 19, Redskins 3 - RJ 2-0
17 - rj
Final Score:
Vikings 26, Lions 17 - RJ 2-1
Kitna commits four turnovers, and the Lions' D gives up 23 4th Quarter points in yet another crushing loss for winless Detroit...
18 - Matthew T. Sussman
Oof. Reggie Bush finally found the end zone.
19 - rj
Final Score:
Indy 14, TN 13 - RJ 3-1
20 - rj
Final Score:
NE 20, Miami 10 - RJ 4-1
21 - rj
Final Score:
Carolina 20, Cleveland 12 - RJ 5-1
22 - rj
Final Score:
NO 24, TB 21 - RJ 5-2
23 - rj
Final Score:
Rams 23, GB 20 - RJ 6-2
24 - Matthew T. Sussman
Vince almost beat the Colts, Gradkowski almost beat the Saints, Leinart is beating the Chiefs ... hey, not bad at all for the rooks.
25 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
SF 34, Oakland 20 - RJ 7-2