NFL Week 5

We had our first sub-.500 outing of the NFL season last week with a putrid 4-9 slate that leaves the 2008 record at 30-29-1. Let's see if we can rebound. Again we have a lot of mediocre matchups as we enter the first weekend of October. There are only three unbeaten teams remaining in the league now: The Super Bowl champion Giants, the Bills and Titans. You'd probably have made some good coin if you took a bet that Buffalo and Tennessee would be the only unblemished teams in the AFC by Week 4. No surprise the Giants are unbeaten since the schedule has been relatively soft and they already had their bye. Nice week they had. Getting some rest and seeing the Cowboys and Eagles fall.

SUNDAY
GIANTS -7 Seahawks: Two interesting stats: Giants are 4-15 post-bye while Seattle is 2-16 last 18 in the east. Throw out the former, since this is a completely different Giants team now playing with supreme confidence. They're legitimate and even without Plaxico Burress have an array of targets for Eli Manning, while Seattle is decimated at receiver, even with Deion Branch and Bobby Engram back. Giants 27-17

Colts -3 TEXANS: Houston finally gets a home game and will be playing desperate, but just can't fathom seeing Colts at 1-3. Colts 31-23

Titans -3 RAVENS: I like what I see from rookie Baltimore QB Joe Flacco, but facing this scary Titans defense is a whole new ballgame. This should be a nasty street brawl. Titans 20-16

DOLPHINS +6.5 Chargers: Chargers are another team that stinks playing the early east coast games and they have New England coming up next week. I doubt highly Miami can beat both the Patriots and Chargers in consecutive games though. Fish are playing with a little confidence now, but so is San Diego. Chargers 24-20

PANTHERS -9.5 Chiefs: Very quietly Carolina is emerging as an NFC threat with Jake Delhomme playing some of his best ball in years. Chiefs drubbed overrated Denver last week but it's back to reality here. And the reality is they suck. Panthers 34-14

Redskins +6 EAGLES: Philly is already at a crossroads at 2-2 and an iffy Brian Westbrook. While Washington is playing well, can't see them winning at Dallas and Philadelphia in consecutive weeks. Eagles throw the kitchen and bathroom sinks at Jason Campbell. Eagles 16-13

LIONS +3.5 Bears: Thinks Chicago sports fans are on edge what with the Cubs and White Sox swirling the drain? Wait until Da Bears lose to the Lions. Losing Matt Millen has a liberating effect on people. Lions 27-24

Falcons +7 PACKERS: Matt Ryan isn't that bad, Aaron Rodgers is already hurting and Atlanta can pound the ball. Falcons steadily learning to be competitive again. Packers 28-24

Buccaneers +3 BRONCOS: Let's put it this way. When you get blown out by one of the league's worst teams, you have problems. Denver's defense couldn't stop a pee-wee team at this point and the Bucs should control the ball. Don't forget Tampa was a playoff team last year. Buccaneers 20-17

Patriots -3 49ERS: Don't for a second think the Patriots haven't seethed for two weeks after that ugly beatdown at the hands of Miami. San Francisco still one of the weaker teams in the league and The Belichicks capitalize on that, especially with a date at the hated Chargers on the horizon next week. How much do you think the NFL is tweaking the Pats by sending them to the West Coast for two straight weeks? Patriots 31-13

Bills +1 CARDINALS: Buffalo has been playing with fire the last few games but has show resilience in the fourth quarter. Kurt Warner was a turnover machine last week and will be without Anquan Bolden. Bills can taste a 5-0 mark with a bye coming. This should be entertaining. Bills 34-31

Bengals +16 COWBOYS: One loss and everything is going to the dogs in Big D. T.O already his old charming self, Tony Romo making mistakes and floating balls, and oh, they have a coach who cannot win games. Perfect time for the Bengals to show up. If Cincy keeps this remotely close, the finger-pointing will escalate. As long as Carson Palmer stays upright, Bengals might be able to keep it close for awhile. Cowboys 38-28

SUNDAY NIGHT
JAGUARS -4 Steelers: Jags manhandled Steelers twice last year in Pittsburgh. No reason to think their defense won't take advantage of shaky Steelers offensive line. It's Sunday night, so, as always, The Olbermann Rule is in effect. Jaguars 29-17

MONDAY NIGHT
SAINTS -3 Vikings: Raise your hands all of you who had the Vikings as the sexy Super Bowl pick this year. You know who you are. Just one question. How's that Gus Frerotte thing working out? Saints 31-17