NFL Picks Week 5: Home Teams on Upset Alert

Week 5 of the 2013 NFL regular season is approaching fast, and the focus has shifted to which home teams have been put on alert this week.

All of the following franchises will be defending their home field this week, but all will be handed a gut-wrenching defeat in front of the faithful fans.

All stats via NFL.com and ESPN.

Full Week 5 NFL Schedule and Predicted Winners

Date	Matchup	Predicted Winner	Time (ET)	Watch
Thursday, Oct. 3	Buffalo at Cleveland	Cleveland Browns	8:25 p.m.	NFL
Sunday, Oct. 6	New Orleans at Chicago	New Orleans Saints	1:00 p.m.	FOX
Sunday, Oct. 6	New England at Cincinnati	New England Patriots	1:00 p.m.	CBS
Sunday, Oct. 6	Detroit at Green Bay	Green Bay Packers	1:00 p.m.	FOX
Sunday, Oct. 6	Kansas City at Tennessee	Kansas City Chiefs	1:00 p.m.	CBS
Sunday, Oct. 6	Seattle at Indianapolis	Seattle Seahawks	1:00 p.m.	FOX
Sunday, Oct. 6	Jacksonville at St. Louis	St. Louis Rams	1:00 p.m.	CBS
Sunday, Oct. 6	Baltimore at Miami	Miami Dolphins	1:00 p.m.	CBS
Sunday, Oct. 6	Philadelphia at NY Giants	Philadelphia Eagles	1:00 p.m.	FOX
Sunday, Oct. 6	Carolina at Arizona	Arizona Cardinals	4:05 p.m.	FOX
Sunday, Oct. 6	Denver at Dallas	Denver Broncos	4:25 p.m.	CBS
Sunday, Oct. 6	Houston at San Francisco	San Francisco 49ers	8:30 p.m.	NBC
Sunday, Oct. 6	San Diego at Oakland	San Diego Chargers	11:35 p.m.	NFL
Monday, Oct. 7	NY Jets at Atlanta	Atlanta Falcons	8:30 p.m.	ESPN

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are coming off a tough loss to the San Diego Chargers and will look to their home stadium as solace. Unfortunately for the organization, the Denver Broncos are visiting in Week 5.

Denver comes into Sunday’s matchup with the No. 1 pass offense in the NFL (averaging 363.8 yards per game), and the team will square off with the Cowboys’ 27th-ranked pass defense (allowing 304.5 yards per game).

That disparity means serious trouble for Dallas.

With the Cowboys failing to produce any substantial offense of their own—21st in passing yards and 19th in rushing yards per game—the Broncos will have ample opportunities to put Dallas away.

Despite the Cowboys being at home, it will be quarterback Peyton Manning that shines the brightest.

Predicted Final Score: Denver 31, Dallas 24

Indianapolis Colts

While the beating of the Jacksonville Jaguars this week won’t raise any eyebrows, taking down the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3 was a huge coup for the Indianapolis Colts. While going back to Indy gives the team an advantage, the matchup against the Seattle Seahawks is a trap.

Seattle is undefeated this season and playing with unbridled confidence. The Seahawks have a win over the 49ers as well, and Week 4’s 23-20 win over the Houston Texans in overtime proved the team has the heart to win the tough games.

The Colts have the balanced offense led by quarterback Andrew Luck and running back Trent Richardson that can give Seattle trouble, but this will be the toughest test of the season in all three facets of the game for Indianapolis.

If the Seahawks play up to their ability Sunday, the Colts will be handed a tough loss at home.

Predicted Final Score: Seattle 27, Indianapolis 24

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears came into Week 4 undefeated, but after a tough loss to the division rival Detroit Lions and an even tougher matchup in Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints, the second-city’s favorite team is in serious trouble.

Chicago’s biggest problem is that the team has played average in almost every facet of the game. Instead of the passing game shining (19th) or the rushing attack rounding into shape (16th), the offense has remained flat in key moments and quarterback Jay Cutler continues to turn the ball over.

While the Saints would not have been able to capitalize on Cutler’s mistakes with their defense last season, coordinator Rob Ryan has New Orleans ranked fifth against the pass.

Add in Drew Brees slinging the ball against Chicago’s 23rd-ranked pass defense, and the faithful at Soldier Field Sunday will be sent home disappointed.

Predicted Final Score: New Orleans 34, Chicago 17

Follow @Donald_Wood