NFL Picks Week 5: Which Teams Are Ready To Step Up?

When the season began, the San Francisco 49ers were the favorite to win the NFC West. The 49ers now sit at 0-4.

The Kansas City Chiefs were believed to be one of the worst teams in the league before the regular season started. Now, the Chiefs are the only remaining undefeated team in the NFL.

Thirteen teams are sitting on .500 records heading into week five. This means that no one has separated themselves from the rest of their division. Even the four 0-4 teams remaining have plenty of time to recover.

So, which teams are ready to separate themselves from the rest of the league in week five? Let's take a look the teams that are ready to step it up this week.

Indianapolis Colts (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)

Marc Serota/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 03: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts warms up prior to taking on the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on October 3, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars won 31-28. (Photo by Marc Serota/Gett

The Indianapolis Colts have been uncharacteristically inconsistent this season. Impressive wins against the New York Giants and Denver Broncos have been sandwiched in between two divisional losses to the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars.

As usual, the Colts offense has been solid under Peyton Manning, who has quietly set a pace for 44 touchdown passes. Allowing more than 30 points in both the team's losses, it has been the defense that has plagued the Colts. 

While a game against an undefeated Kansas City Chiefs team seems like the last thing the Colts need right now, Indianapolis can take solace in the fact that two of the Chiefs wins came against the Cleveland Browns and a sloppy San Francisco 49ers team.

Super Bowl losers often have trouble returning to that same level in their next season, but betting on a Colts team led by Peyton Manning to lose back-to-back games to the Jaguars and Chiefs just sounds crazy. 

Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 26: Terrell Owens #81 of the Cincinnati Bengals against the Carolina Panthers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 26, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

The addition of Terrell Owens brought a new level of excitement to the Cincinnati Bengals. With a divisional win over the Baltimore Ravens in week two, the Bengals appeared to be on their way to an equally exciting season.

Then came week four.

A loss to the Cleveland Browns served as a deflating reminder that this underachieving team has a long way to go before it can consider itself a serious playoff contender.

Owens has lived up to expectation though with 374 receiving yards and one touchdown so far this season. A game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are not as good as their record shows, should serve as a bounce-back win for these Bengals.

San Francisco 49ers (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Vernon Davis #85 of the San Francisco 49ers runs on to the field for their game against the New Orleans Saints at Candlestick Park on September 20, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The San Francisco 49ers have gotten off to an awful start to the season. Thankfully for them, they play in what is easily the worst division in the NFL.

At 0-4, the 49ers sit only two games back of first place in the NFC West. With the lack of talent in the teams ahead of them, it is not out of the realm of possibility that the 49ers could still prove the odds-makers right by fulfilling their potential as preseason favorites to win the division.

That being said, the 49ers need to get back on track very soon. With Michael Vick out of this week's game, the 49ers will need to exploit the inexperience of Kevin Kolb.

Judging on Kolb's performance in his time under center last week, the 49ers should not have a ton of trouble pulling off their first win of the season in week five.

San Diego Chargers (vs. Oakland Raiders)

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 03: Quarterback Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers calls signals against the Arizona Cardinals at Qualcomm Stadium on October 3, 2010 in San Diego, California. The Chargers won 41-10. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The San Diego Chargers are another team that has had a rough start to the regular season. Losses to the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs might have Chargers fans wishing they still had LaDainian Tomlinson.

Despite the slow start, which has become an annual tradition in San Diego, the Chargers are not far behind the division-leading Chiefs. A division game against the Oakland Raiders is up next for the Chargers, and it is a should-win game.

Surprisingly, if the Chargers can earn a win against the Raiders in week five, they will be in much better position to win the AFC West than they have been at this point in prior seasons.

The Rest

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 26: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings drops back to pass against the Detroit Lions during the second half at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on September 26, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the

Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Buffalo Bills)

Maurice Jones-Drew should have a field day against a horrible Bill run defense.

Atlanta Falcons (vs. Cleveland Browns)

The Browns won't win two in a row this season, especially against a team like the Falcons.

Detroit Lions (vs. St. Louis Rams)

The Lions have been competitive every week. They're due for a win.

Green Bay Packers (vs. Washington Redskins)

Packers are a much better team on both sides of the ball. The defense will tee-off on McNabb.

Chicago Bears (vs. Carolina Panthers)

If Cutler plays, this should be an easy bounce-back win for the Bears.

Baltimore Ravens (vs. Denver Broncos)

The Ravens defense could outscore the Broncos offense.

Houston Texans (vs. New York Giants)

This should be a high-scoring game. I'll give it to the team with the better offense.

New Orleans Saints (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

Arizona, Tampa Bay, and Cleveland are the next three games for the Saints. Can you say 6-1?

Dallas Cowboys (vs. Tennessee Titans)

With two weeks to prepare, the Cowboys are at home and they need this win more.

Minnesota Vikings (vs. New York Jets)

Who really cares who wins this game? I just want to see the Favre-Moss connection.