Week Five Picks: Coming Off Strong Week
A LOOK AROUND THE REST OF THE LEAGUE
By Joe Platania
OWINGS MILLS -- There is something to be said about the triumph of the uncluttered mind. With two fewer games to pick, we had our best week of the year in Week Four with 10 wins in 14 games. That gives us an overall record of 37-24 (.606).
The bye weeks continue as Miami, New England, Pittsburgh and Seattle take to the sidelines.
BALTIMORE 27, DENVER 13
JACKSONVILLE 26, BUFFALO 20: The Jaguars have shown they are capable of beating Indianapolis. The Bills have shown they are capable of beating absolutely no one. The Jaguars get a big win on the road.
CAROLINA 16, CHICAGO 10: It's time for the Panthers to get into the win column against a Bears team that, unlike what Dennis Green said a few years ago, isn't what we thought they were when they were unbeaten.
TAMPA BAY 24, CINCINNATI 20 : Definitely a hunch, considering the better team is the one playing at home. But the Bengals are at 2-2, one game behind the Ravens and Steelers, and seem ready to implode.
ATLANTA 23, CLEVELAND 16: There's no way the Browns win two straight at home, right? They certainly don't figure to beat a Falcons team with high expectations coming into the season.
ST. LOUIS 30, DETROIT 17: This is actually one of the better matchups of the week between two teams making some strides toward respectability. We'll take Sam Bradford over ex-Maryland quarterback Shaun Hill.
INDIANAPOLIS 27, KANSAS CITY 16: The Chiefs take their first loss at a stadium where practically no visiting teams win. The Colts need a bounce-back effort after a surprising road loss to Jacksonville.
HOUSTON 20, N.Y. GIANTS 17: The Giants easily exposed an overrated Chicago team last week, but they go on the road and step up in class here against the surprise leaders of the AFC South Division.
GREEN BAY 33, WASHINGTON 13: It's time for the annual Redskins fade, and it starts in front of their home fans against a Packers team that can definitely beat anybody but has to stop committing penalties.
NEW ORLEANS 20, ARIZONA 14: Last year, the Saints won with offense. This year, they have needed their defense to bail them out, and so far, it has done exactly that.
DALLAS 30, TENNESSEE 10: The Titans are one of the league's most physical teams, but they are also the most-penalized squad. That's a bad recipe against a talented bunch of Cowboys coming off a bye.
SAN DIEGO 27, OAKLAND 17: The Chargers continue to work through the inner turmoil marking their offseason. They should gain ground on the Chiefs and begin assuming control of the AFC West.
PHILADELPHIA 23, SAN FRANCISCO 10: Kevin Kolb has to mind the store until Michael Vick gets back, but this is a spot where he should have no problems. The 49ers look too wound up under Mike Singletary.
MINNESOTA 31, N.Y. JETS 27: If Randy Moss is happy and productive, plenty of points and yards follow. It will take him a while to be discontented, so a successful national-TV debut with his new/old team is in the cards.
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JOEY P'S TRIVIA TIME: In Denver's first appearance in Baltimore against the Ravens, the Chris McAlister 107-yard missed field goal return is the most-recalled play from the Ravens' 34-23 Monday night win in 2002.
But who was the Raven who ran back five kickoffs for a 28-yard average that night?
The answer can be found in this afternoon's post.
Posted Oct. 8, 2010