NFL Week 5 Predictions: Struggling Teams Who Will Break out on Sunday

Week 5 is an important week for NFL teams, as it's generally around the time when teams begin to establish themselves as contenders or pretenders.

Several teams have underperformed up to this point in the season. Teams sitting at 1-3 or 2-2 after four weeks must regroup and put their best products on the field in Week 5. Going to 1-4 would be catastrophic for their playoff hopes. Even 2-3 could prove detrimental for a few teams.

Luckily for a few of those teams, they are in good positions to succeed on Sunday.

Cleveland Browns

Don Wright/Associated Press

Ben Tate is expected to start on Sunday, meaning that the Cleveland Browns will add an extra weapon to the offense for their game against the Tennessee Titans. Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West ran well in Tate's stead, but there's a reason why Tate was the starter out of camp.

The Titans are a great opponent for the Browns to get rolling against. They are fifth-worst in the NFL in scoring defense, as they allow 27.5 points per contest. They aren't good keeping opponents off the board. That said, their three losses have come against strong offensive units in Dallas, Cincinnati and Indianapolis.

The Browns are far from an offensive juggernaut, but if there's any defense right now that can get them going, it's Tennessee's.

Brian Hoyer and the rest of the offense need to stick to pounding the ball on the ground with their trio of backs while also maintaining their focus on capitalizing on opportunities in the air. They can pick up a much-needed win if they do that.

ESPN's Paul Kuharsky noted that ESPN's Browns beat writer Pat McManamon picked Cleveland to win:

We'll see if that prediction comes true.

New Orleans Saints

Tim Sharp/Associated Press

The New Orleans Saints have simply looked bad this year.

At 1-3, not a lot has gone right. The Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys and Browns have given them losses, meaning that it's time for a win in Week 5 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Of course, the Saints will go the remainder of the season without newcomer Jairus Byrd, as he'll miss the rest of the year with a torn meniscus, reports ESPN's Mike Triplett. Signed to be a big-time contributor on defense, the safety's presence will be missed.

Drew Brees on the offense must make up for the loss of Byrd by putting points on the board. Luckily, the Buccaneers are terrible at limiting points. They come into the game at second-worst in the NFL with 29.8 points allowed per contest.

A big player to watch is Jimmy Graham. While Khiry Robinson, Pierre Thomas and Travaris Cadet will work to get yards on the ground and in the short passing game, Graham opens up the middle of the field with his pass-catching ability.

Graham is perhaps their best offensive weapon. Against a weak defense, he (and the Saints) will succeed.

New England Patriots

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are in bad shape. At 2-2, it's time to make something happen.

Brady has looked bad under center. Then again, it's not all his fault. The offensive line is putrid. The receiving corps is equally as bad. Brady can't do it all on his own, even if the organization still thinks he can.

The matchup is difficult this week. The Cincinnati Bengals are 3-0, and their defense is stifling. They're the best defense in the league in terms of points allowed, sitting pretty at 11 points per game.

That said, the Patriots are fighting to avoid uncharted territory—a losing record after Week 5. New England has always been a motivated team, and this would be the ultimate motivation for Bill Belichick and his players.

While a loss would be deflating, the Patriots can at least make productive strides during this game by becoming more fluid on offense. Look for the Patriots to at least look more like a solid football team after this week.

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @KennyDeJohn_BR