Week 4 was another successful week of football in which we witnessed great performances around the league. Every game that was played was a fun and close matchup for the most part. However, the fear of Covid-19 and the demise of the NFL season still looms large overhead. With more cases of Covid-19 within the Patriots and Titans organizations, the NFL has taken serious measures to ensure that they will be able to contain the outbreak in order to pursue the rest of the NFL season. Week 5 will include a series of games which will be labeled as “must watch games”. Personal favorites I’ll be looking forward to watching include the Philadelphia Eagles @ Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts @ Cleveland Browns and what I suspect will be the game of the week with the Minnesota Vikings taking on the Seattle Seahawks.
We kick off week 5 with a matchup the football nation knows all too well. Nick Foles will be taking on Tom Brady for the first time since his Super Bowl victory over the Patriots. However, this time they are both Quarterbacking different Franchises, seeking to get back to the promise land.
Thursday Night Football on FOX @ 8:20PM
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Chicago Bears(+5.5) Buccaneers 24, Bears 21
This is a matchup of two 3-1 teams and it will be a very good and close game from start to finish. Last week the Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary unit was exposed by Rookie QB Justin Herbert. I fully expect Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy and QB Nick Foles to take advantage of that. Tampa is currently dealing with major injuries to their receiving core. No Godwin, no Watson, no Howard, no McCoy and no Fournette. Brady will have his main boys in Mike Evans and Rob Gronkowski and that should be just enough to get them by this very strong Bears Defense. I don’t think the Bucc’s will light up the scoreboard, instead it will be a very close game. I’ll pick the Buccaneers to win, but the Bears will keep it close enough to win the spread bet.
Sunday Games @ 1 PM
Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons(-3.5) Falcons 23, Panthers 21
Although the Falcons are 0-4 this season, they are posting one of the highest numbers offensively in the league. Matt Ryan has played quite well with the pieces that are surrounding them. In all reality they should be at least 2-2, however due to bad situational coaching they have blown away any chances at success this season. The Panthers are a team that have the potential to keep up in this game. Bridgewater has been a steady option for the Panthers at QB, he has kept them in almost every game he has played in. The only problem with the Panthers is the inexperience and youth on the roster. For this matchup I’ll select the Falcons to win, but the Panthers will win the spread bet.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens(-13.5) Ravens 31, Bengals 24
Many experts believe this game will be a blow out from start to finish, however it is quite obvious to see that the Bengals are coming together and are a team that should be feared. Joe Mixon has quietly had a very productive year on the ground, (currently 6th in the NFL in rushing Yards) and this has been a huge help in opening up the passing game for Joe Burrow. The Bengals have shown that they are capable of putting up points on the board even against good defensive units. Lamar Jackson has been in top form this season, leading the ravens to a 3-1 record. The Ravens only loss this season has come to the Kansas City Chiefs, in what was a very tough matchup . Lamar has shown that he can carry this offense past other inferior teams in his division. Come Sunday I believe that Jackson will have one of his best games yet in his short career facing this run down defense of the Bengals. The Ravens will win, but I’ll take the Bengals to win the spread.
Las Vegas Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs(-12.5) Chiefs 34, Raiders 24
Patrick Mahomes has come out of the gates playing very well this season. He and his elite offensive units have scorched defenses around the league. I totally expect Mahomes to have a field day against this young and improving defense. The Chiefs defense has played a lot better than last season, and has become a unit that can fear opponents. The Raiders are a team that are trying to figure out their identity, whether they are going to be carried by the run or passing game. Carr is the best Game Manager in the NFL in my opinion, he is one of three QB’s who has not thrown any interceptions this season. If the Raiders can play keep away from Mahomes then they might have a shot to win a close game. However, I don't think they will be able to execute that game plan. The Chiefs will win the game, but the Raiders will win the spread bet.
Los Angeles Rams @ Washington(+8.5) Rams 27, Washington 17
Washington will be entering Week 5 with a new starting QB at the helm. Former Panthers QB Kyle Allen will be making the start, in for the benched Dwayne Haskins. Allen played well enough last season, winning a few games and he could be a nice bridge QB to pave the way for the return of Alex Smith. Although Washington has some nice pieces in Terry McLaurin and Antonio Gibson, they are no real match for the Rams. Jared Goff has been a middle of the pack QB this season. Goff has yet to find his stride this season and get into a real rhythm with his receivers. The Rams are a very good team and probably should be 4-0.Head Coach Sean McVay has done a great job coaching this team back to one of the best in the NFC. I'll take the Rams to win and cover the spread. This is Queen’s Sports Realms Lock of the Week!
Arizona Cardinals @ New York Jets(+6.5) Cardinals 31, Jets 17
Recently Cardinals QB Kyler Murray has shown some struggles in his previous two games. Murray has clearly been flustered in the pocket and has made some ill advised throws. Murray should have an easier time this week when facing the weak and struggling Jets defense. The connection between Hopkins and Murray is one NFL and its fans has been enamored with. Hopkins has been playing out of his mind this season thanks to the new offensive scheme of Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury. I expect a huge day from number ten this week. Sam Darnold will try his best to keep them in this game, however the Jets are just a mess and a half. I can promise you Adam Gase will be fired after this week. Cardinals win big and cover the spread too.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Pittsburgh Steelers(-6.5) Eagles 24, Steelers 23
The Eagles finally received their first win of the season over an injury plagued 49ers roster. Although it was ugly, it was a win and that's all that matters. Currently they sit atop of the NFC East, and hope to hold that spot after this week facing a tough Steeler team. I am not getting behind any of the hype that Carson Wentz is a bad QB and needs to be replaced. In my eyes he will be the QB of the team for the foreseeable future. I think Wentz silences his doubters this week and has his best game of the season yet. On the flip side, the Steelers are entering this matchup with a record of 3-0. With Big Ben back at QB the Steelers are playing significantly better all around. Big Ben has been able to utilize all of his receivers evenly, which was something they struggled to do last season. If the offense can stay dominant, they will be able to place themselves in a good position to win this game. This is the classic battle of Pennsylvania and it most definitely will be a very close game from start to finish. I'll take the Eagles to win this game while winning the spread bet too. This is Queen’s Sports Realms upset of the week!
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans(-6.5) Jaguars 24, Texans 21
Both of these teams have let me down big time this season. I had some big hopes that both of these teams would be far more competitive then what they have shown. The Texans have been so bad that they sacked former Head Coach Bill O’Brien. It probably was the best thing to do, he single handedly ran this franchise into the ground. QB Deshawn Watson has not been himself this season, and has struggled big time. With a new offensive scheme and mentality, maybe it's possible for him to turn his season around. The Jags are a team that are supposed to be bad, however I’m all for Gardner Minshew. He’s a baller and has shown it every week this season. If only he had more talent surrounding him, then this season might be a different tale. If Minshew wants to be the QB of the future he is going to have to ball out every game, and I suspect that he will this week. I like a Jags victory while covering the spread this week.
Sunday Games @ 4 PM
Miami Dolphins @ San Francisco 49ers(-8.5) 49ers 27, Dolphins 13
Jimmy Garoppolo is back this week! With him back in the line up, this team significantly improves its chances of victory this week over a weak Dolphins unit. The 49ers season might be salvaged if Garoppolo can find his stride and carry this team to weekly victories. The 49ers should still be regarded as one of the top teams in the NFC. The Dolphins should just tank every game this season to ensure that they can support their future QB Tua Tagovailoa. Talking about Tua... If Fitzpatrick keeps stinking it up every week, it wouldn't shock me to see him thrown in either this week or next. The 49ers win big this week, while also easily covering the spread.
Indianapolis Colts @ Cleveland Browns(+2.5) Colts 24, Browns 20
The league has not even begun to talk about how well and sound this Colts defense is. They are great on all three levels. They have been a huge reason as to why the Colts are standing with the record of 3-1. I think that the Colts defense will be the main reason why they will secure a victory this week. The Browns' strength this season has lied with the running game. This week Kareem Hunt will see the bulk of the carries with starter Nick Chubb out. If the ground game can continue to be strong, Baker can complement it nicely with some aerial attack. If Baker can play safe with the ball, the Browns will have a very good chance to win. This game will be a slugfest and very close at the end. I'll take the Colts to win, but not to cover the spread.
New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys(-9.5) Cowboys 40, Giants 24
Dallas has proven to be the most lethal passing attack in the NFL, however they have not been able to convert many wins. Star running back “Zeke” has not been seeing enough of the ball as he deserves. If they can go back and focus on the ground game, it will place them in far better positions to win games, rather than trying to play catchup in the 4th quarter. The Giants on the other hand have been abysmal and I don't see that changing at all this week. They have given no help to Daniel Jones, and it's obvious to see that the team has stopped trying and has lost a lot of faith. I can’t see the Giants being victorious in any games this season. Cowboys win bigtime and easily cover the spread.
Sunday Night Football, NBC @ 8:20 PM
Minnesota Viking @ Seattle Seahawks(-7.5) Seahawks 37, Vikings 35
This matchup might very well be the game of the year. Because of weak defensive units, both teams are heavily reliant on the passing game this season. Russell Wilson is still the heavy favorite for MVP this season, and Kirk Cousins is in the process of turning the ship around in Minnesota. I think we will see an epic gun slinging showdown this week. Wilson has developed a nice core with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett while the same can be said for Cousins with Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson. This will be the highest scoring game this week and I have no doubt about it. I’ll take Wilson and the Seahawks over the Vikings, but will not cover the spread.
Monday Night Football, ESPN @ 5 PM
Denver Broncos @ New England Patriots(-10.5) Patriots 24, Broncos 17
With no Cam Newton for the Patriots, it seems Jarrett Stidham will be making the start. Luckily for the Patriots, they are playing a team that are not playing all that well. The Patriots are the most well coached team in the NFL and I expect that alone will make them victors this week. The Broncos are gonna play as hard as they can, however their season is finished more or less. I'll take New England to win, but they too will not cover the spread.
Monday Night Football, ESPN @ 8:15 PM
Los Angeles Chargers @ New Orleans Saints(-7.5) Saints 31, Chargers 23
With a win here, the Saints could find themselves tied atop of the Division with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Drew Brees has been quite quiet from a statistical standpoint this season. I suspect this is because his favorite target in Michael Thomas has been sidelined for some time. Even with that major blow, the Saints have found a way to stay afloat and continue to win games and I believe that will not change against the chargers. Justin Herbert has played very well this season and I think he will have some success this week finding the endzone once or twice. In the end I think the Saints will win and cover the spread.
Tuesday Night Football, CBS @ 7 PM
Buffalo Bills @ Tennessee Titans(+1.5) Bills 31, Titans 23
The Titans franchise has been one of ridicule throughout the league with their handling of the coronavirus. The Titans have had a numerous number of people test positive over the past 2 weeks and the hope is that they can get their season back ASAP. With players missing and little prep time, I feel like this will not be a great outing for the Titans. Bills QB Josh Allen has looked like a star this season. He has led the Buffalo Bills to their astounding 4-0 record. I know Allen will keep up his MVP caliber play this week and will lead the Bills to victory over the sickly Titans.
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