With a quarter of the season in the books, there are still several teams trying to earn their first win, like the hopeless Cleveland Browns and St. Louis Rams. On the opposite side we have teams like the Denver Broncos and New York Giants trying to remain unbeaten.
Fresh off a 12-2 week, here are the Predictions for the NFL’s Week 5, along with Five Must See games this weekend.
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
When the 2009 NFL season started, no one expected the division lead to be on the line during this week 5 game. Both teams are sitting at 3-1 and have the chance to take the reigns for the NFC North division when it is done.
The Cincinnati Bengals, who escaped Cleveland with a win, will need a better performance from their defense against the Ravens. The unit game up 395 yards to the inept Browns and made Derek Anderson look fantastic at the quarterback position. The Ravens potent offense led by Joe Flacco will tear them apart if the front seven do not stick to their lanes and apply pressure.
The Ravens defense will need to be on their toes this week when they face the Bengals offense. Though Cedric Benson only rushed for 74 yards against the Browns, he has 367 for the season. If they can continue their streak of 39 games without allowing a 100 yard rusher, their odds to win the game will be in their favor.
While the Bengals have turned around their bad luck from 2008, they will be going against a Ravens team hungry to redeem themselves after losing to the Patriots. The Bengals will keep the score within a touchdown but will not be able to come away with the win.
Prediction Baltimore 28 Cincinnati 21
New England Patriots at Denver Broncos
This AFC showdown will feature the undefeated Denver Broncos who will play host to the New England Patriots, who rebounded nicely against a solid Baltimore Ravens team.
The key for the Patriots success in this game will be the performance of their offense versus one of the top rated defenses in the NFL. Through the first four weeks, the Broncos haven given up only 6.5 points per game with 239.8 yards of total offense per game. This could prove to be troublesome against a middle of the road Patriots offense.
If the Broncos are going to remain undefeated, they will need to find a way to break through a resurgent Patriots defense. They will need their running game, led by Correll Buckhalter and Knowshown Moreno, to maintain a consistent 4.0 yards per carry to keep the Patriots on their heels.
This will be a good test for both teams and should be one of the more competitive games of the weekend. Though the Broncos are 2-0 at home, they will be on the wrong end of a game winning field goal.
Prediction – New England 24 Denver 21
Houston Texans at Arizona Cardinals
While it is early in the 2009 NFL season, both of these teams are looking for a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Arizona Cardinals are coming off a bye week while the Houston Texans are riding a solid win over the Raiders.
In order to avoid the Super Bowl hangover, the Cardinals are going to need to find a way to put up points on a Texans defense that allows 23 points per game. The Cardinals might be able to find a running game against a defense that has allowed opponents to average 165 yards a game in 2009.
The Texans offense has finally started to show signs of life, thanks Steve Slaton living up to his rookie campaign performance. Slaton will be tested against a Cardinals defense that has only given up 79.7 yards per game on the ground. Watch for the Texans to use their passing game to open the running lanes for Slaton.
This game should be a high scoring affair in the desert with the Cardinals coming out on top thanks to a Neil Rackers game winning field goal.
Prediction Arizona 31 Houston 28
Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers
Two of the top teams in the NFC will square off when the Atlanta Falcons, with a 2-1 record, take on the NFC West leading 3-1 San Francisco 49ers.
For the 49ers to come out on top, they will need to have an effective running game against a suspect Falcons defense that has allowed 136 yards per game. Rookie Glen Coffee did a nice job filling in for an injured Frank Gore, racking up 74 yards against the Rams.
The Falcons will find success against a stout 49ers defense if they are able to win the match-up of the Falcons offensive line against the front line of the 49ers. Through four games, the 49ers defense has tallied 11 sacks with 5 interceptions. The 49ers can come away with a win if they can force second year quarterback Matt Ryan into making a few mistakes.
While this game may not compare with some of the great games between the two clubs in the 1990’s, this should be an entertaining showdown. Look for the Falcons to come out on top as they try to keep pace with the Saints.
Prediction Atlanta 17 San Francisco 10
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins
The New York Jets were brought back down to earth last week by the Saints while the Miami Dolphins, their AFC East rival, was able to earn their first victory of 2009.
The Dolphins key to success resides in their running back tandem of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. The Fins lead the NFL with 183.5 yards per game and will be tested against a Jets unit that has only given up 100.3 yards per game.
The Saints’ defense saw something in Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez’s previous games and found a way to exploit it for the victory. The Dolphins unit, who has recorded 11 sacks this year, will try to pressure Sanchez into making similar mistakes. The Dolphins will need a big play from their young secondary if they are going to win the game.
Though Sanchez looked like a rookie last week, the Dolphins Chad Henne will look like one this week under the constant pressure of the Jets’ defense. The Jets defense will help their cause and score one defensive touchdown in the contest.
Prediction Jets 24 Dolphins 14
Rest of the NFL Games for Week 5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Philadelphia Eagles
The Bucs had a chance to win one against a below average Redskins team. With no offensive firepower, the Eagles defense is going to have a field day as they come away with a win.
Oakland Raiders at New York Giants
This is a trap game for the Giants who will be looking forward to the match up with the Saints. The Giants will win but it will be closer than it should be.
Dallas Cowboys at Kansas City Chiefs
The Cowboys need to win this one after the disappointing loss to the Broncos. Expect the Chiefs to put up a fight but end up with a loss by three points or less.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Detroit Lions
After watching the Chargers almost come back against the Steelers, expect them not to take the foot of the gas against the Lions porous defense.
Washington Redskins at Carolina Panthers
Look for the Panthers to earn their first win of the season against a Redskins team that had trouble with the Bucs inept offense.
Cleveland Browns at Buffalo Bills
The Bills inability to stop the running game of the Dolphins bodes well for the Browns James Harrison who had a solid outing last week. The Browns inability to have a consistent offense is going to be their downfall as they earn their fifth loss.
Minnesota Vikings at St. Louis Rams
What is lost in this lopsided game is it will feature two of the best running backs in the game, Adrian Peterson and Steven Jackson. In the end, Peterson and the Vikings will come away with another win.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks will bounce back this week against the Jaguars who will be affected by traveling to the West Coast and earn their second win of the year.
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans
The Titans have yet to win a game while the Colts have not slowed down without Tony Dungy on the sideline. Look for the Colts to win their fifth straight as they deliver the knockout blow to a division rival.
Year to Date 20 – 8
