Week 5 Review/Week 6 Preview:

For the Week/Season:
v. W/L: (6-8)/(38-38)
v. ATS: (6-8)/(33-41-2)
v. Aggregate:(6-8)/(41-35)

ATS v. The Loyal Opposition:

FOXSports Peter Schrager 41-35-0
Walter Football 40-34-2
ESPN Bill Simmons 40-33-3
CHFF: 39-33-0
CBS-Brinson 37-36-3
USA Pete O’Brien 36-36-4
CBS-Judge 36-37-3
CSNNE Rich Levine 35-38-2
CBS-Prisco 34-39-3
CBS-Richard 33-40-3
Postcards From Nowhere: 33-41-2
CBS-Katzowitz 32-41-3

Weekly v. W/L v. PFT, ESPN NFL Experts & USA Today Analysts:

PFT-Rosenthal 50-26
PFT-Florio 45-31
Mortensen (ESPN) 48-28
Schlereth (ESPN) 45-31
Pete O'Brien (USAT) 46-30
Nate Davis (USAT) 46-30
CHFF: 46-29
Gary Mihoces (USAT) 44-32
Sean Leahy (USAT) 44-32
Jim Corbett (USAT) 43-33
Jon Saraceno (USAT) 43-33
Schefter (ESPN) 42-34
Accuscore (ESPN) 43-33
Golic (ESPN) 42-34
Pick 'em (ESPN) 42-34
Hoge (ESPN) 40-36
Tom Pedulla (USAT) 39-37
Jarrett Bell (USAT) 39-37
Wickersham (ESPN) 38-38
Postcards From Nowhere: 38-38
Allen (ESPN) 36-40

Week 5 Notes:

Wow, it’s already week 6 and, while we still wore the dunce cap, it was definitely an improvement over last week’s outing. Monday night’s tilt proved to be a little closer than the Jets may’ve liked. After cruising through the first half, the Jets perhaps thought that the Vikes were going to mail it in. To his credit, the Ol’ Gunslinger really picked up his play and that first touchdown pass to Moss was remarkable. It was too bad that Favre reverted to his wild ways at the end of the game because they could’ve won with a field goal.

The ‘Niners are now 0-5 and it’s hard to see them pulling the sort of turnaround that the Titans made last year after losing six in a row to start the season. The offense finally got in gear, but not before Coach Singletary gave Alex Smith a very publicly humiliating tongue lashing. If the ‘Niners keep losing this way, Singletary may not last the season. We’ve been supportive of the Coach since his hiring two years ago in large part due to his motivational gifts, but he should realize that berating players in public has a tendency to lose them…It’s safe to state that the Saints are having a hangover year. Losing to a rebuilding Cardinals’ team is not going to cut it. Now they’re a game behind Atlanta as we move into the heart of the season. It’s time for Coach Payton to let his troops know where the b.s. and the buckwheat sits…Even though the Chiefs lost by 10, their defense had another really good day. Holding Peyton Manning under three touchdowns at home is a remarkable accomplishment. Coach Crennel has done marvelous work with his young defensive charges…Ha, San Diego lost again due to their atrocious special teams. How can AJ Smith keep allowing Rivers to put up astounding offensive numbers and not provide him with a complete team? Look above the caption entitled “Penny Wise & Pound Foolish” and there you’ll see Smith’s picture…

Let’s look into Week 6, ok?

San Diego -8 At St. Louis 45

Last week was another episode in which Philip Rivers put up a bazillion yards through the air and the Chargers found yet another unique way of losing. They’ve now signed their fifth long snapper already this season. Fifth? Even before Norv Turner took over, the Chargers usually stumbled out of the gate before getting their act in gear. The Chargers are also a bit thin at linebacker at the moment with injuries. Earlier in the week, the Chargers basically told Shawne Merriman to get lost. He had one great season but was repeatedly injured thereafter and was also ruined by living the SoCal lifestyle (too bad that Junior Seau couldn’t take this kid under his wing). He’ll get another chance in a 3-4 alignment elsewhere, but the clock is ticking on what could’ve been a great career.

This week, the schedule maker has delivered the Chargers a cookie to help with the turnaround. The Lambs were pasted 44-6 last week, giving the Lions their largest margin of victory since Barry Sanders was darting through defenses like a laser beam. We thought the Lions would win, though no one expected a veritable deluge of points. A defeat like that can overwhelm a young team for awhile thereafter and it’s hard to see them regaining a normal sense of confidence for a few weeks. Sam Bradford also lost his best receiver, Michael Clayton, for the season after already losing Donnie Avery during the preseason. Rather than going after a retread looking for a fresh start, Coach Spagnuolo elected to promote from the practice squad. Right now, the primary concern is keeping Bradford in one piece going forward.

Projected Final Score: San Diego 28, St. Louis 14

At Houston -4.5 Kansas City 45

We know two things about these teams: the Chiefs have a tough, young competitive defense and the Texans’ defense has been an abomination. The Chiefs’ passing game has been nothing to write home about, so if they’re going to make a game of it, Jamaal Charles and the special teams have to be sharp. With a veteran quarterback like Matt Schaub, the young Chiefs’ secondary can be exploited.

Projected Final Score: Houston 24, Kansas City 20

At New England -2.5 Ravens 44.5

The last time these teams met, the Ravens smacked the Patriots in the mouth and brought an abrupt end to New England’s playoff hopes. The Patriots were humiliated and out-played in every phase of the game. Unless Coach Harbaugh has drawn up a different plan, it’s hard to expect the same result this time. Since Belichick took over in 2000, no team has successfully executed a plan against the Patriots two consecutive times. The Ravens are a more talented team than the Patriots, but now that Deion Branch has been reunited with Tommy Boy, look for the Patriots to return to the ball-control offensive style that was successful in the Glory Days. The offensive needs to control the clock because the well-chronicled deficiencies of the Patriots’ D are not going to be rectified anytime soon. Ray Rice is looking forward to another big day stomping over the linebackers and secondary.

Projected Final Score: Ravens 23, New England 21

New Orleans -4 At Tampa Bay 43.5

This is the game that’ll determine whether the Saints are champs or chumps. The Bucs are coming off a bye and have played surprisingly well at 3-1, with two wins against AFC North teams and a drubbing of the lowly Panthers. While the Bucs have gotten the better of some teams, the Saints should come in sufficiently motivated to do well, though they’re still hurting without Bush and Thomas. Without a balanced attack, even a quarterback as talented as Brees is disadvantaged.

Projected Final Score: New Orleans 21, Tampa Bay 20

At Philadelphia -2.5 Atlanta 42.5

This is the biggest test of the year for a young and talented Falcons’ team looking to establish themselves as legitimate playoff hopefuls. Last Sunday night, the Eagles went out to the Coast and were a field goal better than the 49’ers, though the game wasn’t that close until late when Alex Smith was finally able to move the offense. Kevin Kolb will once again pilot the offense in Vick’s absence, but LeSean McCoy is banged up, OT Jason Peters is down after knee surgery and DT Brodrick Bunkley suffered an elbow injury and his status for this week is uncertain. Kolb does not possess the same degree of mobility as Vick, while the Falcons have very mobile and aggressive linebackers, led by Kroy Biermann and Sean Weatherspoon (questionable for Sunday).

Projected Final Score: Atlanta 23, Philadelphia 20

At NY Giants -10 Detroit 44.5

The Lions are in a really tough spot traveling to the Meadowlands after such an emphatic home win last week. The G-Men are coming off of two very good outings and are looking to erase the dreadful losses in Weeks 2 and 3. The Giants should welcome this game like manna from Heaven, as it enables them to continue their recent consistent roll. There is a thought that the Giants may play to the level of their competition, but it’s hard to see that anything less than a total team effort would be tolerated by Coach Coughlin.

Projected Final Score: NY Giants 28, Detroit 14

At Chicago -6.5 Seattle 37.5

Reports coming out of Chicago earlier in the week indicated that Jay Cutler will start against the Seahawks and that’s good for the Bears and bad for Seattle. The Bears dismantled the lowly Panthers last week but face a little bit tougher test this week with Pete’s crew, who are coming off a bye and should be well rested and prepared to face a very tough opponent. So far, the Seahawks have been terrible on the road, but in this crazy NFL season anything is possible.

Projected Final Score: Chicago 24, Seattle 14

At Green Bay -3 Miami 43.5

How many Packer players were hurt in last week’s loss to Washington? As of Tuesday, there was a laundry list of players, most notably Aaron Rodgers, who suffered a concussion. Jermichael Finley was carted off the field last week (will miss 8-10 weeks), as was his replacement Donald Lee. Starting strong safety Derrick Martin was placed on IR with a knee injury, so the Packers are hurting all over. Traveling to Lambeau Field is a daunting task most of the time, but the Dolphins are a team in serious need of a win following their Week 4 loss to the Jets. Since Rodgers’ status for Sunday is listed as “probable”, we’ll project two scenarios based on if he plays or not:

Projected Final Score: Green Bay 23, Miami 21 (If Rodgers Starts)

Projected Final Score: Miami 21, Green Bay 20 (If Rodgers Doesn’t Start)

Hate to be a weasel about it, but…

At Pittsburgh -13.5 Cleveland 37.5

Ben Rothliesberger returns to the Pittsburgh lineup after his well-deserved suspension and it looks like Colt McCoy will be making his NFL debut sooner than he (and the team) expected. The Steelers are coming off a bye after having lost their only game of the year to the Ravens, so they will be looking to stomp on the Browns, who lost last week to Atlanta at home. This has the potential to get ugly in a hurry as the very aggressive Steeler defense could make the rook long for those halcyon Saturdays in Austin.

Projected Final Score: Pittsburgh 28, Cleveland 13

NY Jets -3 At Denver 41.5

This has all the markings of a trap game for the Jets. They’re coming off a short week, have to travel to the thin air of the Rockies and may be sucking some serious wind in the fourth quarter. The Broncs took a fairly predictable ass whippin’ at M&T last week but usually use the home atmosphere to a decided advantage. On Monday night, the Jets’ D played a great first half before nearly letting a two-score lead slip away. The Vikings were in decent shape to win that game late before Ol’ Yeller threw another one of his crunch time interceptions. Denver’s defense is really beat up and the Jets have such a balanced offense that whatever homefield advantage they have is practically neutralized.

Projected Final Score: NY Jets 24, Denver 20

At San Francisco -6.5 Oakland 41.5

6 ½ ? Who spiked the Vegas Boys’ sodas? Are they insane? What 0-5 team in the NFL’s long and illustrious history was ever favored thusly? When the alleged “pundits” looked over these teams at the beginning of the year, ain’t a one of ‘em figured that the Raiders would’ve had a better record after five weeks. There’s a high likelihood that neither of these teams will make a lot of noise coming down the stretch but one thing is certain: The 0-5 49’ers had better win this game…or else. They have considerably more talent than Oakland and should use the offense’s fast & furious finish to jump start things this week. They will pound the rock all afternoon against the Raiders’ pathetic run defense with success. The issue is whether they’ll actually do something inside the red zone. The Raiders have been winning with smoke and mirrors so far. Campbell gets benched, Gradkowski gets hurt; the drama surrounding the Silver & Black never seems to get old. The only way the Raiders can move the ball will be through the air, as Ronnie Lott “won’t be walking through that door. sports fans.” The Niners’ secondary is fairly porous and Campbell could have success.

Projected Final Score: San Francisco 23, Oakland 20

At Minnesota -1.5 Dallas 44.5

When the schedule makers set this game out for a national audience, they guestimated that both of these teams were going to be contenders, slugging it out for early dominance of the NFC. Like a lot of folks (here included) they probably didn’t count on both teams sucking prodigiously at 1-3 in the early going. Instead of this game being a “Clash of the Titans”, it will be a matter of desperation. Minnesota lost starting corner Cedric Griffin when he blew the ACL in his “good” knee and he’s done for the season. The Vikings had a pretty good second half at the Meadowlands on Monday night, but Favre has a bad elbow and a bad ankle and there were times on Monday night where he looked like a dinosaur out there. There have been whispers that Tarvaris Jackson may get some snaps going forward, but the team placed all of their eggs in Favre’s basket. Coach “Chilly” doesn’t exactly inspire a world of confidence, either. Where’s Bud Grant when you need him? Whichever team loses will find themselves in an intractable hole, while the winner has a chance of salvaging their season going forward.

Projected Final Score: Dallas 24, Minnesota 23

Indianapolis -3 At Washington 44

Sunday Night brings an interesting matchup as 3-2 Indy travels to FedEx for a date with the wildly inconsistent Redskins, who also come in at 3-2. At home, they’ve played well. On the road, well, their play has left something to be desired. Last week, the Chiefs’ defense pretty much held Peyton Manning and Indy’s offense in check. The Redskins, on the other hand, knocked the living stuffin’s out of the Pack. The question is whether the Redskins can bring that degree of intensity two weeks in a row.

Projected Final Score: Indianapolis 27, Washington 21