2017 Week 5 Predix

Written by Sam DeCoste

Week 5 is here! Thursday night, the Buccaneers kickstart the week of football when they host the Patriots, the Steelers host the Jaguars, the Lions host the Panthers, the Packers take on the Cowboys in a playoff rematch, and the Chiefs square off with the Texans in Houston. There are plenty of amazing matchups to get into this week. Now, last week, I did not predict the games all correctly. But, there's always the next week to get it all right! Let's predict.

If you're a Broncos, Falcons, Redskins, or Saints fan, sorry, your team isn't playing this week. They are all on bye.

My overall record last week: 10-6

Lock of the Week record: 4-0

My overall season record: 39-24

The Patriots have the worst defense in football. They can’t stop anybody. They are on pace to be known as the worst defense in NFL history in terms of yardage, beating out the 2012 Saints for that honor. They have the Bucs this week, who can score at will. With Mike Evans and Desean Jackson on the perimeters, as well as Doug Martin running from suspension, there is no reason to believe that the Bucs won’t take it to the Pats like the Panthers did. I think they’ll run up the scoreboard. But I think Tom Brady is capable of outscoring Jameis Winston more so than vice versa. If you have anybody in this game on your fantasy game, start them! Do it. The Patriots should win another shootout.

Prediction: NE 34, TB 33

They are who we thought they were! Of course I am referring to the Jaguars. In odd number weeks, they blew out their opposition. In even number weeks, they stumbled, and laid eggs in horrible, inconsistent performances. I’m not ready to buy into the Jaguars until they can at least win two in a row. They go to Pittsburgh, where the Steelers know how to turn it on when they want to. Le’Veon Bell has finally gotten back into his groove, and looks to feast on the Jacksonville front which leads the league in sacks at the quarter pole. I don’t like Ben Roethlisberger through the air against a stout Jaguars secondary, but I think they’ll be able to run the ball, based on what we saw last week against the Ravens. I like the Steelers this week. They are my Lock of the Week.

Prediction: JAX 14, PIT 29

Nobody’s talking about the Lions! Nobody! But I will. The Lions could easily be 4-0 right now, if a call went their way against Atlanta. But they’re 3-1, and they look the best they have since the Barry Sanders era. Yes, they really do. We already know that Stafford can sling it as good as anybody, but did we see the Lions being able to run the rock like they have? They’re finally finding opportunities to unlock the now healthy Ameer Abdullah, and use him to chew the clock, and ultimately close out games in the fourth quarter. Not to mention their defense is stout. Although the Panthers put up 33 in a shocking upset win at New England, I don’t think their offense will be able to move the ball against this Lions defense. I like the Lions to go 4-1.

Prediction: CAR 13, DET 23

The Titans are who we thought they were! They can beat the big boys, but they can also lay eggs when they are favorites against inferior opposition. Jay Cutler is also who we thought he was! Or maybe it’s just the entire Dolphins offense. They look terrible. They’ve only scored six points in two games, and the only touchdown they scored was the final play of the game in an already decided loss at the Jets. It has to be pretty horrible to be shut out by the Saints. Come on. But they have a good matchup this week against the Titans, who gave up fifty seven points to Houston last week. Also, Mariota’s status for this game is up in the air at the moment, and I’m not confident if he’ll be 100% even if he plays. But I have no faith in Matt Cassell, the 57 year old backup (not really), if he has to step in. The Dolphins have to win at some point, right? I think they win this week, in their home opener. I know it’s Week 5.

Prediction: TEN 10, MIA 16

Yes, it’s Week 5, but somehow, we have two winless teams going up against each other. Who would’ve guessed that either team would be in this position before the season? But I’ll tell you what, they both deserve their respective records. Until the Giants find a stable offensive line, and they can protect Eli for more than half a second, and they are able to have a running back who can rush for more than 30 yards, the Giants will not win a football game. I don’t like their chances against a fast, hungry Chargers defense, but I don’t like Philip Rivers against that Giants secondary either. I’ll take the Giants, in the most exciting boring game you’ll ever see. Also, a possible revenge at stake for Eli Manning and Philip Rivers, going back to the 2004 Draft? Possibly.

Prediction: LAC 24, NYG 26

I thought Arizona would be better than they are this season, but I was wrong. Bruce Arians may be done in the NFL after this season, given his age and health status, and seeing how the end is near for Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald. This week, they have to travel cross country to face the 3-1 Eagles. This is a must win game for Philadelphia-beat a worse team than you at home in the conference. And I think they will. The Cardinals offense looks pretty sluggish, they have struggled moving the ball and scoring. Against Jim Schwartz’s defense, I don’t like Arizona’s chances. Give me Philadelphia.

Prediction: ARZ 17, PHI 28

One of the young season’s biggest surprises is the 3-1 start for the Buffalo Bills. After two straight upsets of Denver and Atlanta, the Bills have shown us that they certainly aren’t mailing it in this year. They want to win now. Will they win this week? I’m not sure. Previous Bills teams have lost this game, and I am not confident yet that Sean McDermott’s Bills are different from Rex Ryan’s Bills, or Doug Marrone’s Bills, or even Chan Gailley’s Bills. This is a game that a playoff team should win, and I do not feel confident picking the Bills this week, especially given that Jordan Matthews and Ramon Humber look like they will miss some time. Also, the Bengals offense looks resurgent and ready to go after scoring 55 points in their previous two games. I think he Bengals offense can do enough against the league’s best scoring defense. I’ll take the Bengals.

Prediction: BUF 14, CIN 24

I don’t care what you say, you can’t get me hyped for Brian Hoyer squaring it up with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback. But I like how Jacoby Brissett has filled in in relief of Scott Tolzien, and ultimately, Andrew Luck. They usually find themselves at 1-3 this time of year anyway, so their slow start shouldn’t be surprising. But the 49ers are still winless, and they don’t appear to be inching closer to their first win anytime soon. I don’t think they can do it this week. I like the Colts’ chances in this game. Although the 49ers defense has been pretty good so far this season, I like the Colts offensively.

Prediction: SF 16, IND 24

To make it short and sweet, the Browns are in a free fall, while the Jets are playing better than we thought they would. But the Jets haven’t won on the road yet, 0-2 on the road while 2-0 in East Rutherford. They should beat the winless Browns, whose defense is falling apart in a hurry. It’s bold to forecast the Jets with a winning record, at 3-2, going into Week 6, I know. But I don’t know if the Browns can win a game this year.

Prediction: NYJ 24, CLE 17

Derek Carr probably will not play this week. It’s a tough week for the Raiders to lose Carr, given the opponent. The Ravens defense is elite, despite struggling the past two weeks. I don’t feel good about EJ Manuel’s chances against the Ravens secondary, but I think the Raiders are more talented. They can still run the ball, and they will have to count on it happening against Baltimore, with Marshawn Lynch, and Jalen Richard. But on the opposite side, I don’t think Joe Flacco can make it count against the Raiders defense which has stiffened up lately. I think the Raiders will be okay this week. Now, against the Chargers, Chiefs, and Bills? I’m not so sure.

Prediction: BAL 17, OAK 20

The Rams are all alone in first place atop the NFC West at the quarter pole. And to be honest, I think they will stay there. The Rams are averaging 35 points per game, and they may have the best offense in the league. This is their stiffest test so far, against the Legion of Boom. But given how poor the Seahawks offense has been, I think the Rams will be able to take advantage. This applies to the Seahawks as much as the Giants: you can force punts and turnovers on defense as much as you want, but if you don’t have an offense which can take advantage, then the defense will inevitably give up plenty of yards and points. This was the exact scenario for the Seahawks in Nashville, and I think it will repeat itself this Sunday. The Rams will go to, yes, 4-1.

Prediction: SEA 20, LAR 28

Yes, America’s Game of the Week. A rematch of the best playoff game last season. And it looks like it can be another amazing contest this week as well. But for both teams, this has to be considered a must win. For the playoff picture, it is crucial to get a win against a possible high seed in the conference. In the playoffs, it could make the difference between a game being played in Jerry’s World in Dallas, or the frozen tundra of Green Bay. For Dallas to win, they have to return to their roots, and run the ball. They still have their amazing offensive line, and Ezekiel Elliott is still safe from suspension. They should be able to get it done, right? I’m not so sure. They couldn’t do it in four weeks, there’s no reason to believe they can do it against Green Bay. Besides, Aaron Rodgers is on a roll after picking apart the Bears, and his team has had since last Thursday to prepare for the Cowboys. I think Green Bay comes away with it.

Prediction: GB 37, DAL 24

This is a proper game for Sunday Night Football. Andy Reid’s Chiefs are the only remaining team in the league yet to lose, and they go up against Deshaun Watson and the Texans. It’s a great matchup, with Watson going against the stout Chiefs defense. Watson has led the Texans to scoring 90 points in two games! Astonishing. And they have a chance to expose a Chiefs defense which has already struggled against the likes of Carson Wentz and Kirk Cousins. But I believe in the Chiefs more than the Texans. This is a game that Andy Reid’s Chiefs win every regular season, on the road against a solid team in primetime. Although I love the matchup for Deshaun Watson, I like the Chiefs as a team more.

Prediction: KC 27, HOU 23

This is disgusting. Who wants to watch Vikings-Bears? Shut up, Bears fans. It is a travesty that this game will be played in front of a national audience. But the storyline to watch this Monday night is the NFL debut for the number two overall pick in last year’s draft, Mitchell Trubisky. Of all the teams to play in your debut, the Vikings are not the team. This is a horrible matchup for Trubisky, going up against a stout Vikings defense. The only way I see this going is a dominant Vikings victory, and the Bears scoring in garbage time.

Prediction: MIN 23, CHI 14

Picture credit: https://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/uploads/usat-images/2016/04/9812260-nfl-nfc-divisional-green-bay-packers-at-dallas-cowboys-850x560.jpeg