The Week 5 Picks

Match-up: Washington (+6.0) @ Philadelphia
Breakdown: Westbrook or not, the Eagles need to win this one. One can only hope the playcalling reflects that urgency.
Straight up: Philadelphia
Against the Spread: Philadelphia

Match-up: Kansas City (+9.5) @ Carolina
Breakdown: KC stunned Denver last week because the Broncos can't stop the run. No such problem for the Carolina Panthers.
Straight up: Carolina
Against the Spread: Carolina

Match-up: Tennessee (-3.0) @ Baltimore
Breakdown: The Ravens were a little unlucky in the Pittsburgh loss on Monday. Sometimes these things snowball.
Straight up: Tennessee
Against the Spread: Tennessee

Match-up: Chicago (-3.5) @ Detroit
Breakdown: The players, coaches, and especially fans should be happy now that Matt Millen is out of the office. Will that translate into better play. I think so.
Straight up: Chicago
Against the Spread: Detroit

Match-up: Indianapolis (-3.0) @ Houston
Breakdown: An emotional opening day in Houston, as the Texans have been displaced since Hurricane Ike tore a hole in the roof at REliant Stadium.
Straight up: Indianapolis
Against the Spread: Indianapolis

Match-up: Atlanta (Off) @ Green Bay
Breakdown: Even if Aaron Rodgers plays, I think Green Bay will try to run the ball a lot against the 24th ranked Falcons run defense.
Straight up: Green Bay
Against the Spread: Green Bay

Match-up: San Diego (-6.5) @ Miami
Breakdown: At 2-2, it appears as though the Chargers have righted the ship after their heartbreaking 0-2 start.
Straight up: San Diego
Against the Spread: San Diego

Match-up: Seattle (+7.0) @ New York Giants
Breakdown: Shame the Seahawks won't be able to take advantage of Plaxico Burress' one-game suspension.
Straight up: New York Giants
Against the Spread: New York Giants

Match-up: Tampa Bay (+3.0) @ Denver
Breakdown: I haven't been sold on this Broncos team all season. They've gotten lucky breaks and have had problems stopping the run. Earnest Graham and the Bucs can control the clock with the run game and keep the Broncos high-powered offense on the sideline.
Straight up: Tampa Bay
Against the Spread: Tampa Bay

Match-up: Buffalo (+1.0) @ Arizona
Breakdown: A few weeks ago, there was a spread that made no sense, yet I coulnd't pull the trigger and lost. So here's undefeated Buffalo, everybody's darling through the first month of the season, getting a point on the road in Arizona against a Cardinals team down one of its best players, WR Anquan Boldin. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice? I don't think so.
Straight up: Arizona
Against the Spread: Arizona

Match-up: New England (-3.0) @ San Francisco
Breakdown: Boy, have the Patriots fallen off the radar, or what? Last year they're all we heard about. This year, they're, dare I say, irrelevant?
Straight up: New England
Against the Spread: New England

Match-up: Cincinnati (+17.0) @ Dallas
Breakdown: Do you realize that Terrell Owens, Adam "Pac Man" Jones, Tank Johnson, Chris Henry, Cedric Benson, and Chad Ocho Cinco will all be in the stadium this week? With that many thugs on the same field, it's like a remake of "The Longest Yard." Or a Miami-Florida Stae game.
Straight up: Cincinnati
Against the Spread: Cincinnati

Match-up: Pittsburgh (+4.0) @ Jacksonville
Breakdown: The identity of the Jaguars a year ago was based on running the ball, playing good defense, and not forcing QB David Garrard to win games with his arm. That formula isn't working out well so far.
Straight up: Pittsburgh
Against the Spread: Pittsburgh

Match-up: Minnesota (+3.0) @ New Orleans
Breakdown: Move over, Scott Linehan and Lane Kiffin. Brad Childress could be joining you on the unemployment line very soon.
Straight up: New Orleans
Against the Spread: New Orleans

Bye: Cleveland; Oakland; New York Jets; St. Louis

Week 4: 9-4-0 (.692); 8-5-0 (.615)
2008-09 Season: 35-25-0 (.583); 30-29-1 (.508)
Lifetime: 1001-594-1 (.628); 792-773-31 (.506)