NFL Picks. Week 5, 2015

Nailed it last week.
Absolutely nailed it.
The Steelers blew it, the Saints were... better, and the Rams pulled off an upset, but outside of that, I didn't miss a step!
I hope to continue my dominance this week.


And no, I'm not picking my Raiders.

While it's true that the Colts are far from the juggernauts we thought they would be... The Texans aren't even the wild card contenders we hoped they would be.
Their offense is absolute trash and not even the return of Arian Foster could save them from an ugly loss last week.
If Luck plays, it's not even close. If he doesn't...
Well... Captain Crossfit seems to be a serviceable sub.

This is where I worry about Rex Ryan teams.
On paper, the Bills are considerably better than the Titans.
But the Bills have had a rocky couple of weeks and looked just dreadful last weekend...
Do they come back focused? Can Rex get his players back on track and win games like these?

Man... I do not feel good about this pick at all.
The Ravens won a game last week...
Well. If we're being honest, the Steelers lost a game last week, and it was just ugly.
I'm taking the Browns because I just don't trust the Ravens on any phase of football.
They can't stop the pass, they can't rush the passer, they can't run the ball, and the only target that Flacco had is hurt...

Unless Justin Tucker is gonna line up out wide... I just have a feeling...

Unfortunately for Chicago, I don't think Martellus Bennett will be wide open on third down every series.
I also don't think Jamaal Charles is going to turn the ball over twice.
Yeah, I'm a little bitter.
And as bad as this KC secondary is, I think the offense is good enough to actually sustain drives and come out with a win.

This actually figures to be a really game. There's a lot to consider.
The game is in Ohio.
Marshawn Lynch is still hurt.
The Seahawks offense isn't on track yet... while the Bengals are really rolling.
I just don't know.
My head says pick the Seahawks... but I've got a feeling about the Bengals.
Let's hope that this feeling is just a reaction to the delicious apple cinnamon cheesecake the girlfriend made.

Good for the Rams.
Really, they deserved that win.
I'm glad someone finally shut up all the Arizona hype.

However, this week... they're in Green Bay.
And...
Yeah....

Honestly, I flipped a coin.

The Jags were competitive with the Colts last week... unfortunately, they were all out of Luck.

However... The Bucs are common trash.
Jaguars... win?

Both of these teams are struggling mightily...
But someone has to win, right?

I'm taking the Eagles because even though they lost last week, because I think they're really only a step or two away from figuring things out.

The Redskins pulled off the upset, like I predicted that they would.
However, the Falcons offense has been fllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyying high all year, and I don't see the Redskins being able to slow the offense down or keep up on defense.

The Cardinals got off on the wrong foot last week, and they never really recovered despite a furious comeback from Palmer and the Arizona offense.

This week, I think they play a more balanced, relaxed game and come away with the W...

I just can't buy the Lions. This team has talented, but they just aren't good.

In the pre-season, I said, "Hey, this game might be a tough one for New England. The Cowboys will bleed the clock out on the ground and exploit the secondary with Bryant"
However... No Romo. No Dez.

And the unstoppable Patriots have had two weeks to sit back and prepare.
Gotta go with the Patriots.

If the Raiders had pulled something off last week, in Chicago... maybe.
But they didn't. They absolutely blew it, and even at this point, Peyton will make the Raiders pay.
And that makes me sad, because I can see how the Raiders could pull it off.

They'd have to come out guns blazing, and play aggressive football...
Something they did during their two weeks this season.

The 49ers are a dumpster fire.
Seriously. They're out of control people.
They need to be stopped... or at least get going.
The Giants are underrated, I've been saying for weeks, and I think they'll finally break .500 here.

The Steelers have the worst coaching staff in the NFL.
Seriously.
I don't know if it's Haley or Tomlin...
But seriously...

4th and 1, and you know what? I get that you don't trust your kicker.
That's fine.
That makes sense.
You know what doesn't make sense?
When you have Le'Veon Freaking Bell in the backfield... and you throw a fade to Darrius Heyward-Bey with Michael Vick throwing across his body.
Stuuuuuupid.
You're an idiot.
You shouldn't be allowed to coach football anymore.
You shouldn't be allowed to watch football anymore.
Oh wait, I forgot, you don't. Obviously, or you would say, "Man, the Steelers really blew that call".

I'm still taking Pittsburgh because they won't miss a billion field goals this week, they're too damn talented, and frankly, the Chargers just aren't good.

I've been thoroughly getting smacked around so far this year.I'm going to blame it on the fact I'm getting married this Saturday and that all my concentration has been there. That's a good excuse, right? After this weekend, I don't know what my excuse will be if I'm still doing horribly.....anyhow.....

Indianapolis @ Houston: This pick really does rely on if Andrew Luck plays or not for Indy. But that being said, is anything in Houston's offense right now that encouraging either? I like the Colts to win, regardless of whose under center.

Chicago @ Kansas City: Chicago smacked me in the face for picking against them last week by winning. Kansas City proved my pick right by losing to Cincy (although, it was a decent effort). This week, game in KC, give me the Chiefs in front of that Arrowhead crowd.

Seattle @ Cincinnati: This is a really tricky pick. If the game were in Seattle, I probably wouldn't think twice about it. But, the Seahawks just aren't the same team away from The 12th Man, and, the Bengals aren't undefeated because of playing bad football. Game in Ohio, I like the Bengals to get to 5-0.

Washington @ Atlanta: Washington isn't that good. They really aren't. Atlanta is an outstanding team and they're at home in the dome. Rolling on with the Falcons this week.

Jacksonville @ Tampa Bay: This game is SO BAD it's not even funny. Like, really bad. Like, Football Night In America should skip right over showing these highlights. But that being said I can never bring myself to pick the Jaguars so I won't this week. Jameis and Tampa rebound with a win.

New Orleans @ Philadelphia: The one week I DON'T pick the Saints, and they win. Chicago syndrome! Listen, the Eagles have to get it rolling at some point, right? And Drew Brees isn't 100%, so his short passing won't overly hurt the Eagles defense. I think Philly finds a way and wins this week.

Cleveland @ Baltimore: MY RAVENS FINALLY WON THIS WEEK. Sure, they needed a miracle and help from a backup quarterback and a now un-employed kicker to do it, but why let facts get in the way of a good story? And, Cleveland is a mess. Ravens win this week.

St. Louis @ Green Bay: The Packers are good. The Rams are streaky, but they went to Arizona and beat the Cardinals last week (who saw THAT coming? Put your hands down, you didn't see it). Lightning won't strike twice this week. Rodgers and company roll at home as Green Bay wins.

Buffalo @ Tennessee: Boy, nice job falling flat last week, Buffalo. Home game against the Giants and you put up THAT effort? But I still think they're the better team than Tennessee is, so I think the Bills go and get a good, hard fought road win this week.

Arizona @ Detroit: I was ready to make this pick a week ago and give it to the Cardinals hands down, but then they lost to the Rams last week and Detroit went to Seattle and damn near beat the Seahawks (hold onto the ball, Calvin!!!). But for this week, I think your going to see an angry Cardinals team take out their frustrations on a still winless Lions squad (who would have thought they would be 0-4?). Cardinals win, in a close game.

New England @ Dallas: Patriots, off a bye week, going to play against a Romo/Bryant/no running game less Cowboys team.....yikes. Brady's revenge tour continues with a thrashing of Dallas this week and the Patriots roll.

Denver @ Oakland: I was half tempted to pick the Raiders, then I remembered I've done it twice this year and they let me down both times (in games where Ryan didn't pick them, GO FIGURE). Peyton and the Broncos still haven't looked convincing to me, but I think they win this week.

San Francisco @ New York Giants: Really? Have the 49ers done anything recently to make you think they have a snowballs chance in hell in this game? Giants win, BIG.

Pittsburgh @ San Diego: If the Steelers had Big Ben, I would probably take them. But, they have Mike Vick, who was handcuffed by his own coaches last week tighter than he was when he was in jail (except on those two fourth and 1 plays, of course, WTF?). Chargers aren't playing great football, but it will be good enough to win this game.

I need a turnaround, and soon.....

First and foremost-
Congratulations dude!

His Ravens finally came through for him last week... and I guess... in a sense... my Raiders came through for me.
However, the large lead grows even larger, and Fleegle has to be hoping for a collapse on my end.

This week, we have a couple odd disagreements.
I picked Cleveland while he's rolling with his Ravens.
I picked Jacksonville while he picked Tampa Bay.
I picked Pittsburgh while he picked San Diego.

Three games! Enough to make things interesting.