NFL Week 5 Schedule: Power Ranking the 10 Most Important Games
The NFL season is one quarter over, and—not surprisingly—the divisional races are very tight.
The Jets, Ravens, and Packers are in great position and appear to be the class of their respective conferences. But a lot can change, even within one day.
Remember last Sunday when the Steelers and Bears were undefeated? Last Sunday's losses revealed some (if not many) major holes in those two teams.
Week Five will show us more flaws in other teams. But it will also show us that, this early in the season, records aren't all that important.
No. 10: St. Louis at Detroit
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Why It’s Important: The Rams are starting to become the darlings of the NFL. They start a rookie quarterback, they were the worst team in the league last year, and yet they are at .500 and in the divisional race. (Granted, it’s an atrocious division.)
Still, Sam Bradford can continue to wow the league if he takes the fairly talentless Rams to a 3-2 record. And a win over Detroit isn’t as meaningless as it was a year or two ago.
The Lions may be 0-4, but three of those losses are by a touchdown or less. Had they been able to finish drives inside Green Bay territory last week, they would have upset the Packers at Lambeau.
Key to the Game: The team that totals more yards on the ground will win this one. Both offenses have turned out some impressive performances through the air. Calvin Johnson is a tremendous weapon in the red zone. For the Rams, Mark Clayton has been a godsend.
Both teams are shallow on defense, especially in the secondary. Neither team can afford to play single coverage, so whoever takes advantage—Stephen Jackson or Jahvid Best—will keep their team’s drives alive in what figures to be a high-scoring game.
Prediction: The Rams mini-resurgence continues with another Dome win: St. Louis 34, Detroit 16.
No. 9: New Orleans at Arizona
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Why It’s Important: As bad as they have played this year, the Cardinals are still in the hunt for the NFC West title. They can write off the first month of the season and rally around Max Hall. Although that’s unlikely to happen, they still have the league’s best wide receiver in Larry Fitzgerald.
Since the season began, the Saints have not looked like a Super Bowl winner—at least, not for a full 60 minutes. Without a running game, the Saints are vulnerable these days. Drew Brees cannot throw 60 passes a game and expect to win each week.
Furthermore, the Saints are (technically) behind in the NFC South because of their loss to Atlanta. They need to keep pace because the Falcons face the Browns this week.
Key to the Game: This game will hinge on how the Saints defend the Arizona passing game. The debate for defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will be whether to pressure rookie Max Hall and try to force sacks and/or fumbles or to flood the passing lanes so that the inexperienced quarterback tosses interceptions.
Knowing Williams, he’ll mix it up pretty evenly. And knowing Ken Whisenhunt, he will do a great job tailoring a game plan to his rookie quarterback. (Remember, he mentored Ben Roethlisberger to a 13-0 record as a rookie).
Prediction: The Saints continue to struggle but get a critical road victory. New Orleans 24, Arizona 20.
No. 8: Chicago at Carolina
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Why It’s Important: The Panthers might be playing out the string at this point, as they know head coach John Fox’s job is in jeopardy. So this one is only important because of the Bears. They were horrific in Sunday night’s loss at the Giants.
Every team is entitled to a bad game, and since the Bears were 3-0 coming into Meadowlands, they remain in first place in the NFC North. How they bounce back will be critical.
Chicago can expect to contain the Panthers' toothless passing offense led by a rookie quarterback. How Julius Peppers (in his return to Charlotte) and the Bears defense will contain DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart is another story.
Key to the Game: The status of Jay Cutler is unknown at this point, but no matter what, the Bears will need to greatly improve on pass protection. Although Cutler deserves some of the blame for holding on to the ball too long, it seemed like four or five Giants were draped over him on each play. That is the offensive line's fault.
Cutler or no Cutler, the Bears have talented players on offense: Matt Forte and Greg Olsen to name two. They will need to make plays for whoever is under center.
Prediction: Panic in Chicago will increase fivefold this week when the Bears, once 3-0 and on top of the world, fall to a winless Carolina team and drop to 3-2. Carolina 17, Chicago 14.
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No. 7: Tennessee at Dallas
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Why It’s Important: The Cowboys should be buoyed by what they saw from the rest of NFC East during the bye week. The Giants won ugly, as did the Redskins, and the Eagles lost even uglier. At 1-2, the Cowboys can make a statement with a win over Tennessee and climb back into the discussion for the postseason.
Tennessee has been a really inconsistent group this year, so how they will perform this week is a real mystery. The Titans looked great at the Giants and put up good efforts against the Broncos and Steelers, but their defense continues to struggle on third down.
Against Dallas—who is loaded with pass catchers at receiver, tight end, and in the backfield—they might be in trouble.
Key to the Game: Vince Young must play well in a return to Texas. Apart from a horrible effort against the Steelers, Young has improved each week. Against Denver, he managed to be sharp and cool in the pocket despite a subpar day from Chris Johnson.
With DeMarcus Ware bearing down on him repeatedly this week, Young must avoid the urge to tuck and run and stay in the pocket to find a receiver downfield.
Prediction: The Titans will hang tough for a while but will have to abandon the running game in the second half. Dallas 30, Tennessee 17.
No. 6: Philadelphia at San Francisco
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Why It’s Important: Michael Vick is most likely out for this one, and the Kevin Kolb era will resume with a cross-country trip to San Francisco. At 2-2, the Eagles need a win to keep pace in the division. More importantly, they need to find some kind of offensive identity.
Yes, Michael Vick’s absence will change the game plan, but didn’t Andy Reid spend the entire summer getting Kolb and the offense ready?
At 0-4, San Francisco can still rebound to make some noise in the division. Of all their losses, only one came against a divisional opponent. So despite just two wins between these two teams, a lot is at stake in this one.
Key to the Game: Isn’t it obvious? For the foreseeable future, Kevin Kolb is the Eagles' quarterback. He will be playing with the same weapons—Jeremy Maclin, DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy—that made Michael Vick an early season MVP candidate. He doesn’t have to be nearly as elusive as Vick, but he needs to get the ball to his talented receivers.
There to stop that from happening will be a very good corps of San Francisco linebackers. Patrick Willis is an All-Pro and Parys Haralson turned in a great effort against Atlanta. San Francisco’s secondary is also very solid. If they force Kolb into a few bad throws, the Eagles will leave California with a sub-.500 record.
Prediction: This should be a great game that comes down to the wire. Kolb will make enough plays to keep bailing out the struggling Eagles defense. Philadelphia 27, San Francisco 24.
No. 5: Green Bay at Washington
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Why It’s Important: The Packers did not look very good in the second half against the Lions last Sunday. Surprisingly, it was not the vaunted Green Bay offense that saved the team from an embarrassing upset loss to the Lions at home.
Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson deserve game balls for their individual efforts, but don’t expect that to be a weekly event. So how the offense responds to a subpar performance will be very interesting to the rest of the NFC North.
The Redskins need this game even more. They cannot afford to lose an NFC game at home, considering how tough the rest of their schedule is. At 2-2, the Redskins are legitimately in the divisional race, and they match up well with the Packers.
Key to the Game: Green Bay has to do a better job staying on the field and maintaining drives. That’s going to be a tall order against this good Washington defense. Brandon Jackson has yet to fill the shoes of Ryan Grant, so Mike McCarthy will have to be a bit more creative. Maybe more draws will sneak through the line.
Prediction: Aaron Rodgers will make a case for MVP with an outstanding performance on the road against a quality opponent. Green Bay 34, Washington 24
No. 4: Kansas City at Indianapolis
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Why It’s Important: Most experts believe that Kansas City has definitely done some of this with smoke and mirrors. They defeated an average San Diego team in the opener then grabbed wins against subpar Cleveland and San Francisco. But with an extra week to prepare for Peyton Manning’s Colts, they have a chance to prove they belong.
The Colts are desperate for a win at this point. A 2-2 record isn’t horrible, but a team that is used to cruising through the division now finds itself essentially 1.5 games out of first place because of the loss to Houston. A loss here would really set the Colts back, especially since both Tennessee and Jacksonville have identical records.
Key to the Game: Although the Colts are usually the ones who need to establish some semblance of a running game each week, it’s the Chiefs who need to do so this week.
Indianapolis ranks 29th in the league in run defense. Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones are a very good one-two punch. And because Matt Cassel is not one of the league’s better quarterbacks, they will take a lot of pressure of his shoulders if they can combine for 150 yards.
Prediction: The Chiefs' run as the league’s only undefeated team doesn’t last more than a week: Indianapolis 34, Kansas City 13.
No. 3: Denver at Baltimore
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Why It’s Important: The Ravens now have the inside track on the AFC North after winning in Pittsburgh. And with the passing game improving each week, Joe Flacco will have plenty of chances to pick apart the Denver defense. Ray Rice’s bum knee will also be something to keep an eye on this week.
Denver has quietly pieced together a very good season. Even their two-touchdown loss against Indianapolis was a lot closer than the final score indicated. And Kyle Orton has been fantastic in each of those four games. It will be interesting to see how he fares against a great defense like Baltimore.
Win or lose, another excellent outing from the Denver passing game will prove they can make a run at the AFC West title.
Key to the Game: Champ Bailey is one of the few corners in the NFL who can play man coverage for the majority of game. He will need to be the so-called “shutdown" corner this week against Baltimore.
Look for him to match up mostly with Anquan Boldin, leaving the rest of the secondary to contend with T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Derrick Mason, and Todd Heap. If Bailey can limit Boldin to a half-dozen catches, that might be enough to win the game.
Prediction: The Ravens are ready for a letdown following the nail-biting, emotional win at Pittsburgh. Denver 20, Baltimore 14.
No. 2: New York Giants at Houston
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Why It’s Important: The Giants seemingly got back on track with their win over Chicago last weekend. But the way they won, over a Bears team that mailed it in, isn’t enough to strike fear in the hearts of the rest of the NFC East.
Regardless of the records, Houston is a much more balanced team than Chicago, and the Giants will have to travel to Houston to get the win here. A win this week would prove they are back on track.
Houston hasn’t played particularly well against the NFC so far this year—in a fluke of scheduling, they play their third interconference game in four weeks—but at least they should be ready for the NFC East brand of football.
The Texans hold the upper hand in their division, but with Jacksonville, Indianapolis, and Tennessee trailing just a game behind them, a loss this week will set them back in their quest for the franchise’s first-ever division title.
Key to the Game: In order for Eli Manning to connect downfield with his corps of very talented wide receivers (Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith), the offensive line must give him great protection. That is a big question mark when they travel to Reliant Stadium.
Mario Williams, Antonio Smith, and, returning from suspension, Brian Cushing, will hound him all afternoon. Eli must stay upright and step up in the pocket for the Giants to come up with big plays.
Prediction: The Giants muddy both the NFC North and AFC South races with a convincing win in Houston, as Arian Foster is finally held in check. Giants 27, Texans 14.
No. 1: Minnesota at New York Jets
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Why It’s Important: Even though the Chiefs are undefeated and the Ravens just defeated Pittsburgh at Heinz Field, the Jets are playing the best football in the AFC right now. Still, the AFC East race is not over yet, and with New England and Miami nipping at their heels, they cannot endure a home loss this early in the season.
The Vikings certainly needed the bye week to heal up and work on the passing game. And for everything that has gone wrong in Minnesota this year, a win against the Jets would practically clear the slate. Chicago and Green Bay did not look good last week, and both will be put to the test this week.
Key to the Game: There are tons of story lines to this on,e but who are we kidding? Brett Favre is the key to this game. He returns to the Meadowlands for the first time since his one-year stint with Gang Green.
Although he won’t be as poorly received with this former team as he has been (and will be again) in Green Bay, all eyes will be on No. 4. And with good reason. With a banged-up Percy Harvin and without Sidney Rice, Favre will try to make plays on his own. Look for the Jets to capitalize if he doesn’t stay patient.
Prediction: Favre just cannot score enough points with one hand tied behind his back. Adrian Peterson finds a few holes to run, but not enough to limit what Favre has to do on third down. New York Jets 23, Minnesota 17.
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