Welcome back to the only NFL picks on Associated Content giving the Denver Broncos the credit they truly deserve! This is the week 5 edition of Zac’s Backs.
A ten-win performance in week 4 has me feeling pretty good. More importantly, I also went 3-0 against friend Jersey Dan. That will teach him to pick the Cleveland Browns. NFL fans around the country also learned about plantar fasciitis. How educational.
I’m done with my intro as I’ve got way too much to do today. Here are my picks for week 5 of the 2009 NFL regular season.
Cleveland at Buffalo
My father is convinced the Browns are going to win this game. I know better. Cleveland’s chance to win during the 2009 NFL regular season was last Sunday against the Bengals. Instead, they wasted great punt returns by Josh Cribbs and settled for field goals. I hate everything about this football team.
Winner: Buffalo
Pittsburgh at Detroit
This isn’t your normal 2-2 team vs. 1-3 squad contest. The Steelers are winning this game by two touchdowns. At least.
Winner: Pittsburgh
Dallas at Kansas City
Plenty of debate among NFL fans regarding Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys. Is Dallas really a .500 team? It doesn’t matter this week. The Chiefs are absolutely horrible.
Winner: Dallas
Minnesota at St. Louis
Wow. This is the easiest NFL picks article I’ve ever written. Is anybody going to pick the Rams? Seriously, if you are or if you know somebody picking the Rams, please leave a comment explaining why.
Winner: Minnesota
Tampa Bay at Philadelphia
Are you kidding here? The NFL schedule makers have a great sense of humor. Good thing Donovan McNabb is coming back for the Eagles this week. Personally, I’d sit him if I were Andy Reid. Doing these NFL picks, I’m realizing just how many awful football teams are in the NFL this season.
Winner: Philadelphia
Washington at Carolina
Please don’t stop reading. I promise there are some good NFL games in week 5. The Redskins barely escaped with a victory over a horrible Tampa Bay football team on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Panthers had a much needed bye week. That’s right, Carolina had an extra week to prepare for Washington. The Panthers are winning their first game of the season.
Winner: Carolina
Cincinnati at Baltimore
Now we’re talking! Two 3-1 football teams facing off for first place in a division. When you see this game on paper, you immediately want to pick Baltimore to win by double digits. Then you remember that the Bengals defeated the Steelers a couple of weeks ago. Yes, Cincinnati looked horrible against the Browns last Sunday. Don’t be fooled, though. This is going to be a good football game.
The Ravens were a few dropped passes away from defeating the Patriots in New England last Sunday. I think they’ll be able to close the Bengals out at home.
Winner: Baltimore
Atlanta at San Francisco
A great game that far too many people will miss because, well, it involves Atlanta and San Francisco and thus you probably won’t find it on TV outside of those two markets. Sure, the 49ers were only playing the Rams last week. A 35-0 victory is always at least slightly impressive, though. It also gives San Francisco huge momentum heading into this contest.
Atlanta had a week off to prepare for the 49ers and all common sense suggests that the Falcons should come out on top. For this reason, I’m going with what will be considered somewhat of an upset. I believe in you, Mike Singletary. Make me proud.
Winner: San Francisco
Jacksonville at Seattle
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck may be well enough to start for Seattle this coming Sunday. Truth be told, it really doesn’t matter all that much. The Seahawks are a mess, right now. So much for Seattle being the 2009 NFL sleeper team.
Winner: Jacksonville
Houston at Arizona
I normally see teams having an early bye week as being a bad thing for that particular football team. The Cardinals needed a break to save their season, though. I’ve refused to jump on the Houston bandwagon all season long. I’m not leaping on, now. Arizona gets back to .500 with a home at home.
Winner: Arizona
New England at Denver
Here we go. Lots of discussion about the Broncos when it comes to my NFL power rankings and NFL picks. I’ve been defending the Broncos all year as they are an undefeated NFL team. It doesn’t matter who Denver has played. Those wins all count the same and right now, this is a team on a four game winning streak.
Everybody I’ve talked to is thoroughly convinced the Patriots are a much better team and will win by two scores. For starters, that’s not happening. If New England wins this football game, it will be a 20-17-esque football game. Remember that this game is being played in Denver, in reality the biggest home field advantage in the NFL due to the altitude. Denver will also be reading about how poor of a 4-0 team they truly are all week long.
This is the quintessential “statement game” for the Denver Broncos. If I’m wrong, I’ll hear about it for weeks. The Denver Broncos are winning this football game. 24-20.
Winner: Denver
Indianapolis at Tennessee
Welcome to 0-5, Titans! Peyton Manning is so good, my man crush on him grows with every week. It’s so bad, in fact, that during Pre-Cana this past weekend, Emily wrote “your love for the Manning brothers” when answering the “What worries you about your future spouse” question. He makes my heart flutter.
Winner: Indianapolis
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins
As you can all imagine, West Side Eric was very, very upset with Mark Sanchez after the Jets were downed in New Orleans. After one poor performance by the rookie quarterback, our buddy West Side is once again proclaiming that he always wanted the Jets to acquire Percy (“inhale” sound here) Haaarrrrrvin instead of Sanchez. All will be well, young Eric, as your beloved Jets get a Miami team that blew out a crappy Bills team last week. The Jets defense may score more than the Miami offense. Just a thought.
Winner: New York Jets
As always, be sure to check back Friday for my New York Giants preview and prediction. The suspense is killing you, I’m sure.
Thanks for reading. You’ve been a great audience as you are every week. Enjoy my NFL power rankings.
