Sanders's Week 5 NFL Predictions

By Jacob Sanders

As always, these are non-professional opinions and you may share your opinion with me as well!          Twitter: @jcs436        Email: jcs436@nau.edu

As I mentioned earlier this week, I have not had much personal time so I won’t be doing a pre-write up here. Just getting to the picks and summarys will shorter than normal as well.

I apologize in advance for the lack of quality content this week but life is taking priority over my hobbies.

Sanders went 10-6 last week putting him to 34-29 on the season.

On to the picks!

Patriots VS Tampa

As I posted on my social media, I did not have time to write for this game but predicted a 28-24 win for the Pats.

Final score: Pats 19 – Bucs 14

Buffalo Bills VS Cincinnati Bengals

Think this win will be tougher for the Bills than people are gonna think. The Bengals gave the Packers all they could and the Packers had to win in overtime….AT LAMBEAU field. The Bengals then took when they learned about their new offense and absolutely destroyed Cleveland last weekend. Meanwhile, the Bills were out fighting tooth and nail to the tune of two wins against the Broncos and Falcons. That’s two of the best teams in the NFL currently. Not bad. While the game is in Cincinnati, I think the Bills come and show they are the real deal in the AFC and beat the Bengals on the road in a game that comes down to the wire.

Bills 21 Bengals 20

New York Jets VS Cleveland Browns

Wowza. What a game here. So….uhhh. Cleveland stays winless. Yeah, I thought I would be saying that about the Jets but turns out they have turned on the jets recently and been over-performing for a roster that was supposed to be bare. This isn’t a bad thing. The team is really young and winning experience it gets can be carried on into the future. I expect them to continue winning against a punch-less Browns team.

Jets 23 Browns 10

Carolina Panthers VS Detroit Lions

Well. A week ago I thought this would be an easy pick. Turns out the Panthers aren’t that bad. However, it was against a Patriots team that really hasn’t figured out its identity on defense other than to give up points. So, with that in mind, I see this as a prove it game for the Panthers. They win here? They’re the real deal. If they lose? Well, guess we’ll wait for another week. As for the Lions, they are my current pick to be hosting a playoff game. This team is so fun to watch and Stafford has continued his ways of controlling the offense unlike in the past. A win at home sounds great to tell the NFL “Hey, the Lions are here and they aren’t leaving anytime soon.”

Panthers 19 Lions 27

San Francisco 49ers VS Indianapolis Colts

Call it faith in Brissett’s showing of his capabilities. I’m picking a Colts win here. While the 49ers haven’t been flat in their last two games, they are still 0-4. Maybe I pick them here if they were playing in San Fran but they are in Colts’ territory. It’s also the weekend that Manning was given his statue. Think this team and crowd have something more to cheer and play for than just a win this week if you ask me…

49ers 21 Colts 26

Tennessee Titans VS Miami Dolphins

Well this one really depends on how well Matt Cassel plays in place for Mariota. I say just well enough. Why? Do you trust Cutler to win this game? I certainly don’t. Both teams got pummeled last week but at least the Titans have a consistent running game to rely on and help Cassel. Can’t say the same for Cutler.

Titans 16 Dolphins 7

Los Angeles Chargers VS New York Giants

Oh boy. Two winless teams. Yet both are pretty competitive. I thought the Giants could get their first win last week. Close but no cigar. They get it this week because they are playing the Bad Luck Chargers. And maybe the Giants will roll with the rookie RB instead who has played well enough to deserve more snaps.

Chargers 23 Giants 24

UPSET OF THE WEEK!!!!

Arizona Cardinals VS Philadelphia Eagles

Would love to pick the Cardinals here. In fact, I think I will! Upset! I strongly believe the Eagles are the better team here. And there isn’t a reason to believe that Palmer will have a swivel on his head all day. But with how well the veteran has been playing the last couple weeks, I think that is enough to slice up Philadelphia’s secondary to a win. Looking for a career game by J.J. Nelson as well who I think can step up here as the team focuses on Fitzgerald.

Cardinals 27 Eagles 20

Jacksonville Jaguars VS Pittsburgh Steelers

This just feels like another “Steelers play down to their opponents” game. Gross. But, they are in Heinz field where Roethlisberger always lights it up. Don’t it being any different here. The other thing going for Pittsburgh? Jacksonville is 2-2. So technically they aren’t bad and the curse shouldn’t apply, right?

Jaguars 17 Steelers 28

Seattle Seahawks VS Los Angeles Rams

So…not going with the Seahawks here. ‘Lotta Hawks fans probably believe their team should be given more of a chance after last Sunday night’s 48-16 routing. You know that’s cool and all. BUT IT WAS THE COLTS! Meanwhile, the Rams beat an NFC favorite in Dallas and Jared Goff had a “Sophomore growth” game. Plus the Rams are 3-1 in the last 4 of these matchups. You really think I’m picking Seattle here? Nope.

Seahawks 24 Rams 31

Baltimore Ravens VS Oakland Raiders

Many pundits are asking the wrong question. Can EJ Manuel win a game for the Raiders? Well. Maybe. But here is the real question. Can JOE FLACCO win a game for the Ravens? After 4 weeks, it doesn’t look like it at all. He has missed open receivers and been inaccurate downfield which is uncharacteristic of him. Think the back-issue is a bigger problem than the organization is letting on. Thus why I pick the Raiders here. Hard to pick a Ravens team that doesn’t seem to know what the word “offense” is. Someone get them a dictionary.

Ravens 10 Raiders 17

Green Bay Packers VS Dallas Cowboys

You know. I got a lot of butthurt comments by Cowboys fans when I picked them to win the Divisional game last year. I expect to get more butthurt comments again because I am going with Green Bay. I don’t think Dallas is a bad team but I don’t think they are all that good either. I initially thought going into this season that they would finish 9-7. They are looking the part so far. Same goes for the Packers who I thought would return to the NFC Championship. Starting 4-1 on the season would certainly make it look that way. They’ll only get more dangerous when they get healthier and players come back as the season continues. Shootout between Rodgers and Prescott sounds like fun.

Packers 38 Cowboys 34

Kansas City Chiefs VS Houston Texans

No upset here. The Chiefs have identified themselves as the best team in the league and Smith has made his case so far as to why Mahomes should be on the bench for more than just this year. On the other hand, Watson has turned out to be a great investment so far. Here is his time to shine on Sunday Night Football against the only undefeated team in the League. Here…We…GO!

Chiefs 31 Texans 20

Minnesota Vikings VS Chicago Bears

Trubisky is starting! And that’s about the only reason you should watch this game. I think, after Cook going down, I would pick against the Vikings with probably 25 of the 32 teams. Chicago is one of those 7, unfortunately. Not sure how well the Vikings offense is going to perform with both the starting QB and RB down. However, I do believe the Vikings will become Purple People eaters on Monday night and eat Trubisky, a QB who never started a full season of college games, alive. Good luck with that one Windy City fans.

Vikings 16 Bears 3