NFL Picks Week 5: Updated Lines and Final-Score Predictions for All Games

Week 5 of the NFL season will bring viewers one step closer to identifying the league's pretenders from contenders. As hot starters put their legitimacy on the line, some struggling squads must bounce back against stiff competition.

Last Sunday was great since we got to watch football all day, but it just didn't feel the same without last year's Super Bowl participants and this season's lone undefeated squads. Now that they're back, the league's landscape is in for another remodeling.

The Arizona Cardinals can prove they're for real by upending the Denver Broncos, who will fight to avenge another loss to the Seattle Seahawks. In order to erase an embarrassing Monday night slaughtering, the New England Patriots must conquer the Red Rifle's red-hot Cincinnati Bengals.

And believe it or not, a Texas team is exiting the weekend at 4-1. No offense to Week 4, but this is more like it.

Away	Home	Line	Prediction
Minnesota	Green Bay	GB -10	34-13 GB
Chicago	Carolina	CAR -2.5	23-20 CHI
Cleveland	Tennessee	N/A	26-17 CLE
St. Louis	Philadelphia	PHI -7.5	31-23 PHI
Atlanta	NY Giants	NYG -4.5	28-20 ATL
Tampa Bay	New Orleans	NO -12	38-13 NO
Houston	Dallas	DAL -4	24-20 DAL
Buffalo	Detroit	DET -9	24-6 DET
Baltimore	Indianapolis	IND -3.5	30-27 BAL
Pittsburgh	Jacksonville	PIT -7	37-17 PIT
Arizona	Denver	DEN -8	23-17 DEN
Kansas City	San Francisco	SF -7	24-13 SF
NY Jets	San Diego	SD -7	27-17 SD
Cincinnati	New England	Even	28-16 CIN
Seattle	Washington	SEA -8.5	31-12 SEA

Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys

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Before the season started, this matchup only drew excitement from Texas natives interested in seeing the geographic foes clash. Now the game bears colossal implications for two 3-1 clubs looking to maintain a share of first place in their respective divisions.

Per the Houston Chronicle's John McClain, head coach Bill O'Brien stated the significance of this game.

Even though the Texans finished an NFL-worst 2-14, they're the least surprising of Texas' 3-1 squads. Defeating Washington, Oakland and Buffalo? How did they pull off that miracle?

Dallas fending off Tennessee and St. Louis isn't a stunner either. So really, when evaluating these teams, fans shouldn't express any astonishment beyond, "I'm surprised the Cowboys beat the Saints."

Dallas' defense has exceeded the microscopically low expectations, but it's still an exploitable unit. Luckily for the Cowboys, their No. 25 passing defense gets a break against Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has thrown five interceptions through his last two games. 

Last year, the Texans underperformed due to some misfortune. This year, karma has returned the favor and helped overcome their No. 22 pass defense and No. 23 rushing defense. Against a better Dallas offense, those wrinkles will materialize on the scoreboard.

Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos

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While the Broncos don't want to become another Super Bowl contender treading water, the Cardinals can harden their legitimacy as a division and conference threat by soaring to 4-0.

Dating back to last season, Arizona has now won 10 of its last 12 games. Would it be crazy if a defense allowing 15 points a game found a way to surprise Denver? To do so, Bruce Arians will need a big day from his quarterback, only he's not certain who that will be.

Carson Palmer was expected to return after Arizona's bye, but that's not a lock after the 34-year-old admitted to a rough recovery process, per AZCardinals.com's Kyle Odegard.

"I was hoping to be throwing more than I am,” Palmer said. “It’s slowly improving. Nothing ever improves as fast as you want it to. I’ll just continue to stay on what I have been doing and hopefully it continues to progress.”

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Drew Stanton held his own for two weeks, even against a ferocious San Francisco 49ers defense. Yet he can't expect the defense to limit Denver to 14 points, even though Peyton Manning and Co. have ducked well below last year's lofty standard with 25 points per game.

A huge day from Palmer gives the Cardinals a puncher's chance, but the Broncos are also well-rested with the home-field advantage on their side.

Cincinnati Bengals at New England Patriots

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The Patriots suffered a disheartening loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night, and the world quickly crumbled around them. Rather than pay attention to the irrational shouters out there, let's turn to ESPN Stats & Info's number-driven way of saying, "The Pats are in trouble."

Here's the reality getting swept under the rug: Tom Brady didn't instantly forget how to play football after an incredible 2013. He regressed last year, but everyone refused to accept the uncomfortable truth.

Category	2013	Career Average
YDs/GM	271.4	253.5
CMP %	60.5	63.4
YPA	6.92	7.43
TDs	25	29 (per 16 games)
INT/Fumbles	17	16 (per 16 games)
QB Rating	87.3	95.4

He's 37 years old with a depleted offensive line and no wide receiver to pose a major threat downfield. It's not all his fault, but his struggles are a gradual trend rather than a four-game blip. 

Meanwhile, the often-criticized Andy Dalton leads the league with 8.60 passing yards per attempt. His offensive line and A.J. Green help, but football is still a team sport, and the Bengals are the better all-around team.

When Brady faces a Bengals defense that made Matt Ryan look like Mark Sanchez in Week 2, there's no reason to expect a quick turnaround. Sporting the best point differential (plus-47) alongside that undefeated record, Cincinnati will shine on Sunday night's prime-time stage.