NFL Season 100!! Week 5 Predictions: At Heinz Field, are the Steelers are on the rise while the Ravens are on the dive?

The intensity level continues to increase as we enter Week 5 of the season. Only three teams remain undefeated, while six teams still have a zero in the win column. At least one of those teams has to get their first win this week in the Cardinals vs Bengals game. As we get farther into the season games will only get tougher to predict, as upsets sure have been common already in the first four weeks. But thats why we have these predictions for you. Last week I went 10-5 and am 40-22-1 on the season. Looking further into Week 5, the big game will be the AFC North match between the Ravens and Steelers. Pittsburgh had a rough start, but just showed us Rudolph and Conner can put up some points. While the Ravens have slipped recently after their hot start. The game at Heinz Field will be a big factor later in the year, as both teams look to stay in the fight for the division with Cleveland currently sitting on top at 2-2 after their destruction of the Ravens in Week 4. So let's dive in, here are the Week 5 predictions, best of luck if you are making any wagers.

3-1 Los Angeles Rams (+1.5,+105) vs 3-1 Seattle Seahawks (-1.5,-125) THU, 8:20 PM ET

I know it sounds weird, but the Seahawks have not impressed me while playing at home this year. They barley overcame the winless Bengals 21-20 and fell to the Saints. Now both these NFC West teams are 3-1, so they are not going to make it easy on each other. The Rams are coming off a tough loss where turnovers sunk them quickly. I expect Goff and that Rams defense to regroup, look at footage and figure out a way to approach this game as Seattle's defense is no pushover. Wilson will need to get his offense flowing consistently, as though the Rams gave up 55 points they still scored 40 of their own. If you are looking to bet on this one, the underdog has come out on top in each Thursday Night Football game on the season. But I would still take that +1.5 incase Wilson puts together a late drive.
Prediction: Rams 28-27  

0-3-1 Arizona Cardinals (+3.5,+165) vs 0-4 Cincinnati Bengals (-3.5,-185) SUN, 1:00 PM ET

Oh boy! A match of two teams with 0 wins! Everyone will cancel plans to catch this one. Ok enough BS, but if you want to see an offensive battle this will be the one to watch with these two sad defenses. This one will all come down to who commits the least turnovers. Dalton and Murray both have four interceptions on the season. Dalton has averaged more pass yards by the game with Ross and his other targets, but the Cardinals are averaging more rush yards with speedy Murray and David Johnson. We will see who ends up wanting that first win more. If I was making a wager, I would take that +3.5 points with the Cardinals, as road teams just seem to be taking the game against the spread on the year.
Prediction: Bengals 33-31

3-1 Buffalo Bills (+3,+135) vs 2-2 Tennessee Titans (-3,-155) SUN, 1:00 PM ET

Here is a game where you want to be thinking about that under bet. You go two great defenses facing off ready to shut each other down. The big question in this one is the health of Josh Allen. He is currently in concussion protocol, but Barkley is ready if he has to miss this one. If he is out though, the Bills still have Gore ready to try to punch his way through to the goal line. The Bills are only allowing 84.3 rush yards on average. Henry is going to run into a wall. I mean the Bills only allowed 16 points to the Patriots last week, so what is Mariota going to be able to do. This game will be close, but make sure to take those +3 points with Buffalo if you feel like putting some money on this one. Those three wins are not a fluke for Buffalo, as I expect them to make a real push for the playoffs.
Prediction: Bills 13-10

3-1 Chicago Bears (-5,-235) vs 2-2 Oakland Raiders (+5,+195) SUN, 1:00 PM ET

The game off in London, just typical one of the teams farthest west in the US plays a home game over in Europe. You got one simple difference between these two teams that will decide the game, DEFENSE. The Bears average allowing 11.3 points a game, the Raiders 25.5. Mack is gonna have a blast against his old team, while Carr is going to end up on the ground a lot. Now the Bears look to be relying on their backup Daniels, but he looked good against Minnesota and should be putting up some good numbers against that Raiders secondary. If you need a fantasy QB this week due to Stafford's bye or something, he is the guy I would go get. I expect the Bears to cover, but to be safe you may want to bet that -235 money line if you want to put down a few bucks on this game.
Prediction: Bears 23-13

2-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3.5,+165) vs 3-1 New Orleans Saints (-3.5,-185) SUN, 1:00 PM ET

When I saw Brees was going to miss some time, I was thinking the Saints are done. But they have done nothing but win since then. Bridgewater has found his groove, normally hitting his targets on quick buttonhooks or corners for gains of 10-15 yards. But it's been Kamara carrying the team down the field, breaking tackle after tackle to get another first down. That is how the Saints are going to win this one, control the clock with the run game and keep Winston and the Bucs off the field. Winston is one of the league leaders in pass yards now, but he won't be able to afford making turnovers in this one. The Saints defense will shutdown the Bucs run game and it will be all up to Winston to get them down the field. I am sure 55 points was fun, but the Saints won't be sloppy with the ball and give Tampa so many scoring opportunities. I am would be comfortable betting that -3.5 spread on this one.
Prediction: Saints 24-17

2-2 Minnesota Vikings (-5.5,-250) vs 2-2 New York Giants (+5.5,+210) SUN, 1:00 PM ET

This one is tough, as the Vikings are coming off a game that made them look sad on the offensive side and the Giants rookie Jones is unbeaten. The Vikings need to go back to their style from Week 1, when Cook handled the ball on nearly every play and Cousins only got to throw it a few times. If Cook can break through that Giants defense, the Vikings can control the flow of play and use their defense to pressure the young QB. If the Vikings can force a turnover or two, they will be able to stay in front even with Cousins passes going straight into the ground. It will be close, so take that +5.5 with the Giants if you want to bet that spread, but I think the Vikings will slip away with it due to their desperation to keep up in the division after losing to both those 3-1 Bears and Packers.
Prediction: Vikings 21-20

0-3 New York Jets (+13.5,+525) vs 2-2 Philadelphia Eagles (-13.5,-750) SUN, 1:00 PM ET

Things sure have not gone the Jets way to start the year. There is still no word on if Sam Darnold is over his sickness and ready to get back under the center, but I really don't think it will be a difference maker in this one. Wentz and that Eagles run game is going to bulldoze their way straight through the Jets defense. We saw Howard and Sanders blast their way past the Packers defense, who was not allowing that at all in the first three weeks, so though the Jets are coming off the bye the Eagles will be ready having not played since Thursday. That is a large spread and a -750 money line won't pay out much, so in reality I wouldn't bet this game at all, but the Eagles covering shouldn't be to much of a risk in this one.
Prediction: Eagles 28-13

2-2 Baltimore Ravens (-3.5,-180) vs 1-3 Pittsburgh Steelers (+3.5,+160) SUN, 1:00 PM ET

Back to this one, that Ravens defense just disappeared. They gave up 27 points in their first two games and now 73 over their last two. Chubb showed us that you can run against that team and I think Conner is going to have some fun. Lamar Jackson is going to need to find his guys for the deep passes again and get down the field for some points to keep his team in this game. I mean please hit Brown for some more TDs, my fantasy team is suffering here! Rudolph seems to be fitting in well for Big Ben, he has got his routine going hitting guys for 5-10 yard passes then let them take off with their speed to make it a bigger play. Baltimore will have to find a way to shut that down or this will be an upset. I would take that +3.5 spread with the Steelers, as they want to prove they are not out of it already.
Prediction: Steelers 27-24

4-0 New England Patriots (-15.5,-1000) vs 0-4 Washington Redskins (+15.5,+650) SUN, 1:00 PM ET

Ok this one is the joke of the week. I mean look at that spread! The Redskins have just been sad on the defensive side of the ball all year. Take a look at last week, a rookie QB without his star RB just beat them by three touchdowns.  We will see if Haskins gets another shot after his three picks last week, but it won't really matter who is taking the snaps. Brady may be a little frustrated after the low amount of offense last week, so he is ready to take it out on Washington's pathetic defense. This one will be over by halftime, Brady can probably take the second half off and still watch his team cover. This one is tough to make money on with those money lines, but I am confident the Patriots will win by plenty is you want to bet on that -15.5 spread.
Prediction: Patriots 34-10

2-2 Jacksonville Jaguars (+3.5,+160) vs 2-2 Carolina Panthers (-3.5,-180) SUN, 1:00 PM ET

This is going to be a fun one to watch. You have two young QBs that just seem to have brought a new level of life to their teams after rough starts. Minshew has been awesome, always finding a way to extend plays and find a target somewhere down the field. While Allen has filled in for Newton leading his team with clutch plays to keep drives alive. But in reality it won't be a battle between the two of them, it will be a fight between Fournette and McCaffrey. Which ever RB can help the team more is who will win this one. And though it is a tough call, I got to side with the Panthers. Fournette is a good RB, but he has had games where he is productive and others where he isn't. McCaffrey on the other hand is always there for Allen, whether it be the rush up the middle, pitch to the outside, or the short pass with the screen McCaffrey is always making a difference the Panthers need. The Panthers defense will be enough to limit Fournette, but it will still be a close one. So if betting I like that +3.5 for the Jags or the -180 if you favor Carolina.
Prediction: Panthers 23-21 

1-3 Atlanta Falcons (+5,+200) vs 2-2 Houston Texans (-5,-240) SUN, 1:00 PM ET

The Falcons just don't play well on the road. It is as if without their fans, their confidence is just gone. The big difference in this game though will be Watson connecting with Hopkins easily, as Atlanta's secondary is depleted. The Falcons defensive front will need to put some good pressure on Watson to stay in the game, as Watt and that Texans defense will be building a wall to hold Freeman back and keep Ryan from getting to creative. Ryan has already thrown six picks, after just one or two of those the Texans should have what they need to lock this one up. Watson will be able to escape the pressure for a good run every now and then, while Ryan will normally just be throwing it away. That explains the 5 point spread, if betting feel confident about Houston but you may want to stick with the -240 money line.
Prediction: Texans 20-14

0-4 Denver Broncos (+6.5,+250) vs 2-2 Los Angeles Chargers (-6.5,-300) SUN, 4:05 PM ET

Wow talk about a couple heartbreakers the Broncos have had to endure this year. And I bet it continues this week. The Chargers are coming off an easy win over Miami, so they are going to come into this one and be a bit shocked by the challenge at first. Though the Broncos lost another defensive weapon for the year, they will keep it close and probably lead for a bit at some point. But Gordon is getting plugged back in this week, so there is no way Rivers lets them drop this game at home. It may not be another last second field goal difference maker, but the Chargers will have the late fourth quarter drive, or big pick 6 to wrap things up and make the Broncos hang their heads yet again. The -6.5 spread may be a bit big, so I would take the -300 when picking the Chargers this week. Maybe parlay that with something to get a bigger payout going.
Prediction: Chargers 27-21

3-1 Green Bay Packers (+3.5,+165) vs 3-1 Dallas Cowboys (-3.5,-185) SUN, 4:25 PM ET

Both these 3-1 teams are coming off disappointing loses that they want to rebound from. They came into Week 4 with defenses, the Cowboys kept the Saints out of the endzone on Sunday, while the Packers couldn't slow down the Eagles at all. I think Elliot will be the MVP of the game this time as he rushes through the Packers for big gains. The Packers defense needs to come back, or it will be a brutal loss in Dallas. They may be missing Adams on offense after his 180 yard game on Thursday. Once he was out, the Packers had their four plays from the 1 yard line and couldn't get in. There just doesn't seem to be another receiver reliable enough for Rodgers, as we saw Jimmy Graham drop a couple clutch ones there at the end. If I am betting, I would take that -185 money line with Dallas.
Predictions: Cowboys 30-27

2-2 Indianapolis Colts (+10.5,+450) vs 4-0 Kansas City Chiefs (-10.5,-625) SUN, 8:20 PM ET

Mahomes is going to do what he normally does, fall behind in the first quarter then have fun coming back and blowing out his opponent in the end. The Chiefs just have to many weapons for an unstoppable guy like him. The Colts have a good team, but they just don't have the consistency to keep up in this one. I expect a good game that looks close for the first three quarters, but then Mahomes and the Chiefs will runaway with it. Looking at that -10.5 spread, I may still want to take the Colts betting against the spread. Tough call, but as long as Brissett doesn't turn it over a lot the Colts should at least keep it close enough.
Prediction: Chiefs 33-23

2-2 Cleveland Browns (+3.5,+165) vs 3-0 San Francisco 49ers (-3.5,-190) MON, 8:15 PM ET

The undefeated 49ers are coming off the bye and get to take on Baker Mayfield and the Browns at home. This is a tough one, but I am calling an upset here. The Browns just embarrassed the Ravens and nothing against the 9ers but the three teams they have beaten are the Bucs, Bengals, and the Steelers who combine for a 3-9 record on the year. I am looking to Garrett and the Browns defense to put some good pressure on Jimmy G, as Chubb continues his big run game. Garoppolo will only have time to find Kittle, as the Browns defense will force him to make a mistake or two that will make the difference in the game. Betting on this one, I like that +165 money line with Cleveland. But there is nothing wrong with being safe and taking the +3.5 points either.
Prediction: Browns 31-27 

Bye teams: Lions & Dolphins

-Tommy Franich