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NFL Week 5 Predicitions 2011-2012
A Look Back at Week 4
The playoff teams of last year continue to fall as the Eagles, Falcons, Steelers and Jets all took a collective step backwards in the standings. The Eagles, and Falcons are not looking good at 1-3 and 2-2 respectively. The Eagles are not being efficient on either side of the ball and playing zone coverage to much leaving wide receivers to much space late in games. While the Falcons are forcing plays to rookie phenom Julio Jones, when they already have star wide receiver Roddy White. The Falcons strength is clearly running the ball with Michael Turner as there chances of winning when he runs for over 100 yards increases substantially. The Steelers and Jets have similar issues as they both are having a difficult time keeping their quarterback upright and surprisingly are struggling on the defensive side of the ball. The Packers exposed the Steelers as the easiest way to defeat them is to spread them out due to their weaknesses in the secondary. While the Jets strengths have been running the ball and stopping the run, neither has been the case this season.
On to the new Power Rankings for the Week, followed by the Weekly Predictions.
Power Rankings (Week 5)
Rank
| Team
| Comments
|
|---|---|---|
1.
| Green Bay Packers (4-0)
| The Packers are sitting pretty as the are still the highest scoring team in the league. The secondary play could improve.
|
2.
| New Orleans Saints (3-1)
| The Saints are on par with the Packers in terms of offense, and that is reason enough to make them number two in the rankings
|
3.
| Houston Texans (3-1)
| Many assumed they would struggle in the absence of star RB Arian Foster, but Ben Tate did an admirable job. Foster is back and embarrassed the Steelers. Wade Phillips has managed to turn the Texans defense into a very good one
|
4.
| Baltimore Ravens (3-1)
| If the Ravens could be more consistent on the offensive side of the ball, then they would easily be the team to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
|
5.
| New England Patriots (3-1)
| Wes Welker is on a terrific start to the year, but the defense needs to improve and the loss of Jerod Mayo does not help.
|
6.
| Detroit Lions (4-0)
| The Lions are sitting pretty just like the Packers, but they can't keep coming back from these large deficits.
|
7.
| San Diego Chargers (3-1)
| They are benefited from an abnormally good start to the year, and are benefited from having the Chiefs and Broncos struggling.
|
8.
| Tennessee Titans (3-1)
| Matt Hasselbeck has been the story, but how long can he keep it up?
|
9.
| San Francisco 49ers (3-1)
| The defense has been strong, and the offense has been opportunistic.
|
10.
| Washington Redskins (3-1)
| The Redskins have an aggressive defense to go along with three talented running backs. The Skins have the team that can completely take an opposing team out of their gameplan.
|
11.
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)
| The Bucs are not by any means a flashy team, but they do play hard. In a couple of years this team will be downright scary.
|
12.
| Buffalo Bills (3-1)
| It is understandable that this team had a let down against the Bengals, but now they have a hungry Eagles team coming to town.
|
13.
| New York Giants (3-1)
| The Giants have a nice record, but it does not reflect their play
|
14.
| Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2)
| Ben Roethlisberger needs his offensive line to play better, otherwise he will not play the full 16 games.
|
15.
| Oakland Raiders (2-2)
| The Raiders will be able to beat a majority of the teams in the NFL, but they lack the ability to top the elite teams as we found out against the Patriots.
|
16.
| New York Jets (2-2)
| All the trash talk, all the bravado needs to take a back seat. Time to get back to fundamentals and focus on what you are good at.
|
17.
| Atlanta Falcons (2-2)
| The offensive coordinator needs to stop calling for plays to Julio Jones so much and focus on the more proven players on the offense. The offensive line play needs to improve.
|
18.
| Dallas Cowboys (2-2)
| Deion is right, Romo is a great statistical quarterback but he will never win the Cowboys a Super Bowl.
|
19.
| Philadelphia Eagles (1-3)
| Juan Castillo the new defensive coordinator is in over his head. If it wasn't for defensive line coach Jim Washburn getting the most out of the defensive line, then the defense would look completely inept.
|
20.
| Chicago Bears (2-2)
| Surprising to see Mike Martz changing his style to a more run balanced attack. Too bad Cutler won't see all 16 games this season
|
21.
| Cincinnati Bengals (2-2)
| The Bengals young defense has been surprising
|
22.
| Cleveland Browns (2-2)
| Colt McCoy has done a good job managing games, but throwing the ball 61 times is not managing a game.
|
23.
| Carolina Panthers (1-3)
| Losing Jon Beason and Thomas Davis for the season possibly lost them out on a few wins this season. Atleast they have a franchise quarterback now on a more positive note.
|
24.
| Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3)
| Maurice Jones-Drew can only carry this teams offense so far. The defense continues to play well.
|
25.
| Arizona Cardinals (1-3)
| They continue to have heart-wrenching losses, and the one against the Giants will hurt for sometime.
|
26.
| Seattle Seahawks (1-3)
| Hey Pete Carroll, you still believe in Tavaris Jackson?
|
27.
| Denver Broncos (1-3)
| It's shame a team like the Broncos had to run into the buzz saw that is Green Bay.
|
28.
| Kansas City Chiefs (1-3)
| Matt Cassel fighting on the sidelines with coach Todd Haley on the sideline is a bit remincisent of he and Anquan Boldin fighting in Arizona. Funny because both of them aren't in Arizona anymore, and at this rate Cassel and Haley won't be in Kansas City much longer.
|
29.
| Minnesota Vikings (0-4)
| Blame will ultimately fall on McNabb, but the team in all reality isn't very good.
|
30.
| Indianapolis Colts (0-4)
| The defense is playing hard, and Painter did well in his first Monday Night Football game but this team lacks their leader.
|
31.
| St. Louis Rams (0-4)
| Bradford is in the midst of a sophomore slump and the offensive line isn't making things easier on him.
|
32.
| Miami Dolphins (0-4)
| Chad Henne is done for the year, but hey maybe a little bit of Luck?
|
Predictions
Green Bay Packers (4-0) at Atlanta Falcons (1-3)
My Pick: Packers
The Packers have been super efficient on offense, while the Falcons have stumbled due to offensive line issues and Julio Jones been forced the ball. That formula has led Julio Jones to lead the league in drops. That also beings said Jones is a tremendous deep threat especially against a team that can be had in the air now that Nick Collins is out for the season. The fact remains the same, the Packers have Aaron Rodgers who is playing fantastic and have more than enough to keep pressure on Matt Ryan.
Who Wins?
Philadelphia Eagles (1-3) at Buffalo Bills (3-1)
My Pick: Eagles (I'll get it right eventually)
The Eagles had the game in hand once again last week until the defense completely gave it up. A good portion of the blame should go to rookie defensive coordinator Juan Castillo for his abysmal play-calling but the offense needs to improve in the red zone, and I still have no idea what Ronnie Brown was thinking as he went down at the 1-yard line and threw the ball backwards. Even more depressing for Eagles fans, the Eagles spent money to improve their secondary. That same secondary that includes Nnamdi Asomugha, Asante Samuel and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has the same amount of interceptions as Vince Wilfork, for those that are keeping count, that number is only two interceptions. The Eagles need to rebound in this game as they have suffered their first 3 game losing streak in the Andy Reid era, and when you face the facts they are a better team then the Bills.
Who Wins?
New York Jets (2-2) at New England Patriots (3-1)
My Pick: Patriots
It's strange to see that the Jets have lost their identity and they will look to get it back in a divisional game against, the Patriots. It is not a good game to come into when you are struggling with your identity, especially since it is in Foxboro. Rex Ryan needs to stop talking trash, and start coaching up his players some more. The Jets could definitely benefit from the return of Nick Mangold to face off against Vince Wilfork.
