NFL Week 5 Picks: Early Predictions for Every Game

The Dallas Cowboys let it be known that they will be serious contenders in the NFC East with a convincing win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night.

Behind a nearly flawless performance from Tony Romo, the Cowboys trounced the Saints 38-17 to improve to 3-1. The win lands Dallas in a tie for first place with the Philadelphia Eagles, who lost their first game of the season Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

There are now just two undefeated teams remaining in the league.

If you asked most fans before the season started which two teams would be the last to take a loss, you might have heard the Denver Broncos, the Seattle Seahawks, the New England Patriots, the Eagles or the 49ers.

How many would have guessed the Cincinnati Bengals and the Arizona Cardinals would be the last of the unscathed?

That's the case as we head into Week 5 of the season.

Here's a look at the entire schedule with viewing information and predictions. 

Thursday, Oct. 2	Time (ET)	TV	Prediction
Minnesota at Green Bay	8:25 p.m.	CBS/NFL	Green Bay
Sunday, Oct. 5	Time (ET)	TV	Prediction
Chicago at Carolina	1 p.m.	Fox	Chicago
Cleveland at Tennessee	1 p.m.	CBS	Cleveland
St. Louis at Philadelphia	1 p.m.	Fox	Philadelphia
Atlanta at NY Giants	1 p.m.	Fox	New York Giants
Tampa Bay at New Orleans	1 p.m.	Fox	New Orleans Saints
Houston at Dallas	1 p.m.	CBS	Dallas
Buffalo at Detroit	1 p.m.	Fox	Detroit
Baltimore at Indianapolis	1 p.m.	CBS	Indianapolis
Pittsburgh at Jacksonville	1 p.m.	CBS	Pittsburgh
Arizona at Denver	4:05 p.m.	Fox	Denver
Kansas City at San Francisco	4:25 p.m.	CBS	San Francisco
NY Jets at San Diego	4:25 p.m.	CBS	San Diego
Cincinnati at New England	8:30 p.m.	NBC	Cincinnati
Monday, Oct. 6	Time (ET)	TV	Prediction
Seattle at Washington	8:30 p.m.	ESPN	Seattle

Marquee Matchups

Cincinnati Bengals at New England Patriots

Stephsan Savoia/Associated Press

The Bengals defense has been the best in the NFL. Coming off the bye week, players on both sides of the ball should be fresh. In Week 5, the defensive unit that has only allowed an average of 13 points per game will face one of the game's best quarterbacks in Tom Brady.

The key to victory for the Bengals will be whether they can get pressure on the quarterback without blitzing. So far this season, 4.5 of the team's seven sacks have come from defensive linemen.

If the Bengals have to blitz, Brady will likely have success with quick passes. Look for the Bengals nasty front seven to control the line of scrimmage and prove just how real they are.

Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos

Matt York/Associated Press

Both the Cardinals and the Bengals are on the proving ground in Week 5. The Cardinals have been without quarterback Carson Palmer since Week 1, but the bye week has done the veteran signal-caller some good.

He's on track to play against the Broncos.

Per Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official website, Palmer said, “If I can’t (play) Drew [Stanton] is more than ready, he’s proved that. But (Denver) is part of the timetable and I expect to get ready.”

Whether or not Palmer plays, the Cardinals simply won't be able to score enough points to keep pace with the Broncos. Denver hasn't scored fewer than 24 points at home during the Peyton Manning era.

It's hard to imagine the Cardinals managing more than three touchdowns. 

Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts

AJ Mast/Associated Press

The Colts looked like world-beaters against two of the league's worst after dropping two straight against two of the NFL's best.

Andrew Luck is averaging 3.25 touchdown passes per game this season, and he's thrown four in consecutive weeks. The biggest task the Colts will be faced with is slowing down Ravens receiver Steve Smith.

The veteran has been a spark plug for Baltimore's offense all season. Playing in Indy will make all the difference for the Colts. Indy has won seven of its last 10 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Charged by the home crowd and the arm of Luck, the Colts will win their third straight.

Stats per Pro-Football Reference.com.