Kansas City Will Hold Off Jacksonville At Arrowhead
Week 4 Results: 10-5
Record This Season: 35-28
Coming into Week 5 I’ve asked myself this question, how can this week’s games top last week’s games?
It’s a tough task given what transpired in Week 4. In Week 4 we had three overtime games including a crazy 45-42 shootout between the Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns.
Nine games were decided by seven points or less. Did I mention the homage shown to Dragon Ball Z with a fusion touchdown celebration in Oakland? You can’t make this stuff up.
We’ll go out on a limb and say that Week 5 will be decent. The week will be headlined by the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars showdown at Arrowhead.
Let’s also not forget that a NFC Championship rematch in Philly between the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings is also on the menu for football fans.
Before then, we’ll take a look at each matchup and who I think will come out on top. Here are my predictions for Week 5 of the 2018 NFL regular season.
*Drum roll please*
Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots
Want to remember the last time the Indianapolis Colts have beaten the New England Patriots? November 15th, 2009.
The infamous “4th and 2” game where Bill Belichick finally came to grips that his defense was no longer dominant as was the case in the early 2000s.
Peyton Manning and the Colts turned a Bill Belichick gamble into a 35-34 come-from-behind win at Lucas Oil Stadium. Since then, the Colts have gone 0-7 vs New England with Andrew Luck losing five of those games. That continues on Thursday night vs a Patriots defense that turns it on suddenly when playing at home.
Prediction: New England Patriots 35 Indianapolis Colts 20
Tennessee Titans at Buffalo Bills
The Tennessee Titans aren’t a dominant team by any stretch, and that may cost them even on Sunday vs a Buffalo Bills team that has the second worst point differential in the NFL at -56.
Leaning on the Titans to win this one means leaning on a team that appears comfortable playing in close games.
While that’s a scary aspect going on the road, the Titans are playing with a self-belief and swagger about themselves that seems to be a direct result of first-year head coach Mike Vrabel.
Prediction: Tennessee Titans 20 Buffalo Bills 14
Miami Dolphins at Cincinnati Bengals
The Miami Dolphins still showed they have a ways to go before catching the New England Patriots in the AFC East this past Sunday. In front of them is a Cincinnati Bengals team that’s likely excited to be back home.
Defensively, the Bengals have slipped, but the Miami Dolphins aren’t an offensive powerhouse and their offense has to prove it can score on the road. Look for Geno Atkins and company to bounce back with a solid defensive showing vs Miami.
Prediction: Cincinnati Bengals 31 Miami Dolphins 17
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns
Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens look like a team on a mission in 2018. The Ravens have a +58 point differential, 2nd in the NFL. They’ll be facing a Cleveland Browns team, albeit much improved, that they’ve gone 17-2 against with Joe Flacco under center.
The Browns offensive line will have trouble protecting Baker Mayfield in what could be a miserable day for the rookie.
Prediction: Baltimore Ravens 27 Cleveland Browns 10
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
Despite posting 34 TDs to 6 INTs with a 109.4 Passer Rating in his career vs the Detroit Lions, six of Rodgers’ 13 career wins vs Detroit have been decided by seven points or less.
Rodgers is still hobbled and not looking like himself as he’s coming off statistically his most inefficient game of the season. The positive?
Detroit’s defense is susceptible to getting burned off play action. Committing extra resources as they failed to slow down Ezekiel Elliot last week, they allowed one of the worst ranked pass offenses to have success against them.
Prediction: Green Bay Packers 28 Detroit Lions 20
Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs offense has looked ordinary over the past six quarters, scoring a grand total of 30 points. Patrick Mahomes passed his first true test vs a Denver Broncos team that looked determined to end his record-setting run.
It’s a completely different test he’ll face vs a stingy Jacksonville Jaguars defense allowing only 14.0 PPG and 259.3 yards per game, both 1st in the NFL. While it would seem unlikely that Kansas City lights up the scoreboard on Jacksonville, let’s not forget what a creative mind like Kyle Shanahan cooked up vs this defense last season.
The 49ers scored 37 offensive points in a 44-33 win in Week 16 last year vs the Jaguars and we’ve even seen the team give up their share of big plays when they faced the Steelers in the AFC Divisional Round last season. Don’t think a mad genius like Andy Reid’s got a plan to exploit this team as well?
Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs 31 Jacksonville Jaguars 20
Denver Broncos at New York Jets
Since winning in Week 1 48-17 at Ford Field vs the Detroit Lions, Gang Green has scored a grand total of 39 points (13 PPG). Sam Darnold is the least of New York’s problem’s, but an offense devoid of a real playmaker to open the offense up (Where has Robby Anderson gone this season?) is leading to anemic results for Todd Bowles’ team.
Denver is coming off a short week but they’re a team playing with a lot of confidence and swagger. Case Keenum finally throws a touchdown pass again after not throwing one in each of the past three weeks.
Prediction: Denver Broncos 24 New York Jets 8
Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers
Despite being heavily inconsistent, Pittsburgh’s offense can still be considered high-powered. Atlanta’s offense since Week 2 has been just that, averaging 34.6 PPG. The problem? Their defense due to a various number of injuries have turned into one of the NFL’s worst units.
Pittsburgh’s porous defense has led to the Steelers abandoning the run in two games this season. Given how much help that defense needs, don’t be surprised if an early emphasis is on running the ball no matter what the score indicates.
Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers 42 Atlanta Falcons 38
New York Giants at Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have won their last seven home games at Bank of America Stadium. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner has not been shy about creating offensive gameplans designed to get running back Christian McCaffrey going.
In the Panthers three games this season McCaffrey has 68 total touches and just had a career-high 28 carries in a 31-21 Week 3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He’ll be licking his chops to face a Giants defense that was gashed by Alvin Kamara for 181 yards from scrimmage and 3 TDs in Week 4.
Prediction: Carolina Panthers 24 New York Giants 10
Oakland Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers haven’t been what we expected defensively but that’s not a surprise considering star defensive end Joey Bosa (foot) has not played yet to begin this season. The Chargers have the fourth fewest sacks in the NFL this season (8) a season after being tied for 5th in the NFL in sacks with 43.
The Oakland Raiders finally put together a fourth quarter not sullied by miscues and failures, but they still aren’t getting after the quarterback. The Raiders are tied for last in the NFL in sacks with 5, something that won’t get the job done vs a Chargers offense averaging 27.8 PPG.
Prediction: Los Angeles Chargers 34 Oakland Raiders 27
Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles
The Minnesota Vikings have far bigger issues to worry about then avenging a NFC Championship loss from last season vs the Philadelphia Eagles.
Minnesota has dropped two consecutive games that would’ve been three had linebacker Clay Matthews not been flagged for roughing the passer in a 29-29 tie back in Week 2 vs the Green Bay Packers.
Against Philly, the challenge is once again creating enough time for Kirk Cousins to deliver the ball with a clean pocket. That’s a challenge that doesn’t seem likely to be answered.
Prediction: Philadelphia Eagles 31. Minnesota Vikings 20
Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers
The David Johnson we’ve seen up until this point has been unrecognizable from what we saw in 2016. It’s hurting Arizona’s offense not having a reliant run game, particularly when you have a porous offensive line trying to protect a rookie quarterback.
Against San Francisco, it doesn’t matter who’s at quarterback, head coach Kyle Shanahan hits the right buttons. The 49ers came up short last week on the road but showed they’re a team that’s going to fight on even without starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo — who tore his ACL Week 3 — for the rest of the season.
Prediction: San Francisco 49ers 28 Arizona Cardinals 16
Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks defense exceeded expectations with a defense marking out as one of the best through the first month of the season. That defense is expected to take a hit with All-Pro safety Earl Thomas out for the rest of the season (leg).
It’s a rough spot for Wilson and the Seahawks having to return home to face arguably the best offense in the NFL in the Los Angeles Rams, who had 10 days prepare.
At the end of the day, Los Angeles has far too much firepower and ways to create points for Seattle to keep this close.
Prediction: Los Angeles Rams 37 Seattle Seahawks 24
Dallas Cowboys at Houston Texans
The Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans have truly moved in different directions at quarterback since the last time these two teams played.
Now at the helm are Dak Prescott and Deshaun Watson. Each with high hopes and big expectations. Watson seemingly has bigger ones these days considering who he’s throwing the ball to.
DeAndre Hopkins continues to be a model of consistency to begin 2018 as he has 30 receptions, 443 receiving yards and 2 TDs to begin the season. His excellent start continues vs a Cowboys defense that’s given up big plays over the past two weeks.
Prediction: Houston Texans 23 Dallas Cowboys 16
Washington Redskins at New Orleans Saints
If Washington’s defense wanted an opportunity to prove themselves as being elite, this is the type of game that serves as a barometer.
New Orleans scores and scores, especially at home. Drew Brees is 201 passing yards away from breaking Peyton Manning’s yardage mark and becoming the NFL’s all-time leading passer.
He’ll get that done vs a Redskins defense surrendering only 187.3 passing yards per game and give the Saints the win. Keep your eye on Michael Thomas’ matchup with Josh Norman in this one.
Prediction: New Orleans Saints 27 Washington Redskins 16
What are your thoughts on this week’s NFL Week 5 slate? Leave your comments below!