NFL Magic Eight Ball: Will Desperate 2-3 Teams Win in Week Five?

The Chargers, Saints, Eagles, Jaguars, and Packers all were picked by many to make it to the playoffs this season.  All three lost in Week Five and are sitting at 2-3.  They are behind teams such as the Falcons, Jets, and Cardinals.  The Saints and Eagles sit at the bottom of tough divisions.

Three of the five aforementioned 2-3 teams play on the road in Week Six, while Jacksonville may have the most difficult test at Denver.

Chicago (3-2) @ Atlanta (3-2)

Last week I had a hunch to go with the Falcons against the Packers (I regrettably went against it) because the Packers' run defense isn't good.  The bad news for Michael Turner and the Falcons is that the Bears are fourth in the league in stopping the run.

Bears, 23-9

Miami (2-2) @ Houston (0-4)

Sometimes the quarterback gets too much blame for a loss.  This was not the case last week.  Houston's loss against Indy is squarely on the shoulders of Sage Rosenfels.  While Matt Schaub should get the start, Houston has really sputtered this season. 

Dolphins, 24-17

Baltimore (2-2) @ Indianapolis (2-2)

The Ravens must be fuming over allowing the Titans to score the winning touchdown on a long fourth quarter drive.

The Colts offense ranks 20th in the league in scoring and can't run the ball.

Ravens, 14-10

Detroit (0-4) @ Minnesota (2-3)

The Vikings were very fortunate to win in New Orleans on Monday night.  They won't need luck to beat a team that has all sorts of problems on the road.  Lions starting quarterback Jon Kitna won't play. 

Vikings, 35-6

Oakland (1-3) @ New Orleans (2-3)

The Raiders are playing the first game since the firing of head coach Lane Kiffin. 

The Saints found another way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with their mistake-filled performance against the Vikings.

Saints, 28-21

Cincinnati (0-5) @ New York Jets (2-2)

The Bengals will play again without Carson Palmer. 

Brett Favre will likely have a good day against a Bengals' defense that will be on the field a lot, just not six touchdowns good.

Jets, 24-21

Carolina (4-1) @ Tampa Bay (3-2)

This NFC South game may be the hardest-hitting game of the week. 

Starter-turned-back-up-turned-starter-again Jeff Garcia gets the nod in place of the injured Brian Griese. 

The Panthers return this season showcasing a legitimate top-five defense.

Buccaneers, 16-13

St. Louis (0-4) @ Washington (4-1)

Jim Haslett takes over as interim head coach of the team that despised him while he was with the Saints.  His defense is at or near the bottom in many statistical categories and the offense is much of the same story.

Washington sits near the top of the league's toughest division and can run the ball on anybody.  Expect 25-30 carries for Clinton Portis.

Redskins, 28-10

Jacksonville (2-3) @ Denver (4-1)

Here's another one of our desperate teams.  The Jags will find their groove if they can get their running game going.  They are having an uncharacteristically hard time running the ball. 

Denver may be just the team against which the Jags can get their running game going.  Denver ranks near the bottom of the league in stopping the run and their one loss came courtesy of Larry Johnson's 198 yards.  Denver, though, can score on anyone.

Broncos, 27-20

Dallas (4-1) @ Arizona (3-2)

Expect a lot of points to be scored in this game as Dallas and Arizona both boast top-five offenses. 

Dallas' offense is more balanced than Arizona's, as they rank in the top ten in both rushing and passing yardage.

The Cardinals proved they can beat a top team in defeating Buffalo last week.

Cowboys, 41-38

Philadelphia (2-3) @ San Francisco (2-3)

Donovan McNabb expressed his discontent with himself and his team this week in his blog.  He's going to have to carry this team with Brian Westbrook out with a couple of broken ribs.

San Francisco was flying high with a 2-1 start but have now dropped two straight.  JT O'Sullivan holds the ball way too long in the pocket and has been sacked 20 times already. 

Expect Jim Johnson to call blitzes early and often.

Eagles, 24-13

Green Bay (2-3) @ Seattle (1-3)

Both of these teams are desperate for a win.  The Packers have dropped three straight after a 2-0 start, and the Seahawks sit near the bottom of a division they have ruled for five years.

Matt Hasselbeck likely won't play and that spells trouble for an offense that is having trouble moving the ball.

Packers, 17-6

New England (3-1) @ San Diego (2-3)

In a battle of last year's best AFC teams, neither team comes into this week looking all that impressive. 

New England has scored just as many points as it's given up.  Randy Moss was able to haul in a long touchdown pass last week, but then again, it was against the 49ers. 

Philip Rivers will have to carry this team offensively as the Patriots will look to contain LT.

Chargers, 20-17

New York Giants (4-0) @ Cleveland (1-3)

The last time the Giants played against a team from Ohio, the score was much closer than anticipated. 

There will be huge collisions when 264-pound Brandon Jacobs meets 350-pound Shaun Rogers at the line of scrimmage.

If Cleveland falls into a huge hole against New York, the fans will be calling for Brady Quinn.  I don't think Romeo Crennel will put him in on Monday Night Football against the defending champs.

Giants, 24-6