NFL 2017 Week 5 picks

Thurs Oct 5
New England Patriots at Tampa Bay Bucs:  The Patriots defense is really struggling this season.  They aren't coordinated, and they have difficulty reading opposing offensive formations.  It may take some time to fix these problems, and in the meantime strong offenses will be able to score against the Pats.  Will the Bucs score enough to beat them?  I think so.  BUCS

Sunday early games
Arizona Cardinals at Philadelphia Eagles:  The Eagles offense is doing well this season.  They have the talent to do better, and I think we'll see that.  The Cards have talent, but they have not been utilizing it well enough.  If that continues, they won't win this game.  EAGLES

Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals:  The Bengals are a good team who cannot seem to get it together.  If and when they do, they will be tough.  Until then, opponents can pad their winning percentages.  Buffalo's quarterback Tyrod Taylor has been surprising me, playing above his typical performance.  His offense would give the Bengals problem even if they were playing well; as they are playing now, Buffalo should not have much difficulty.  BILLS

Carolina Panthers at Detroit Lions:  Both of these teams have strong offenses.  This game could light up the scoreboard.  The Lions have a slightly better defense, so I give the edge to them.  LIONS

Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers:  The Jags have been playing extremely well, but now they face a powerful opponent.  The Steelers have it all together this season, and they are competing with Kansas City as favorites to win the AFC.  STEELERS

Los Angeles Chargers at New York Giants:  One of these teams will achieve their first victory of the season.  Both teams are playing below themselves.  For the Chargers, their players are dropping balls and missing tackles.  For the Giants, they are committing too many penalties.  It seems to me that the Giants' problem will be easier to fix this week, so they could win.  GIANTS

New York Jets at Cleveland Browns:  The Browns are also winless.  While I picked the Jets to be the worst team in the AFC prior to the season, they are not struggling quite as badly as I thought.  Given the Browns' problems, the Jets should win this game.  JETS

San Francisco 49ers at Indianapolis Colts:  Another game featuring two struggling teams (how many people will actually be watching the early games, anyway?), the Colts seem completely listless without Andrew Luck.  They are hoping he'll be back next week, but it might be too late by then.  Brian Hoyer is not doing well, but he seems to be doing better than Jacoby Brissett, the Colts' relief QB.  49ERS

Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins:  The sunny confines of Miami seems to have improved Jay Cutler's numbers, but the Titans are playing exceptionally well.  The Dolphins might pull off an upset, but the Titans are consistently playing better.  TITANS

Sunday late games
Baltimore Ravens at Oakland Raiders:  Derek Carr's injury makes the Raiders suspect, but the Ravens offense is sputtering, too.  This will essentially become a defensive battle.  The Ravens have had the historically better defense, but the Raiders have shored up that squad nicely this season.  RAIDERS

Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys:  This one will likely become a real scrapper.  Whenever these two teams get together it comes a battle, and this time will be no exception.  Neither team is quite playing up to potential, but the Pack have really improved since their Week 1 loss.  PACKERS

Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams:  Despite a story in SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, where Rams fans are less than impressed by the Rams, their 3-1 record impresses me.  Jared Goff and company have the offense moving, and the defense remains as tough as it has been in recent years.  Seattle has not been impressive.  RAMS

Sunday night
Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans:  I don't think anyone would have thought that the Chiefs would be the final unbeaten team in the league.  That record should stand for at least another week.  The Texans don't quite have it together.  DeShaun Watson put on a show last week, but the Chiefs will now be expecting him.  The normally stiff Texans defense hasn't really shown up this season, so they won't be able to slow one of the most prolific offenses in the league.  CHIEFS

Monday Night Football
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears:  Mike Glennon has proven not to be much of an improvement over Jay Cutler.  There is talk that the Bears will bring in Mitch Trubisky.  I hope so, although it may not make a difference.  The Bears just don't seem to play well on Monday night, and I think that will continue this week.  VIKINGS