NFL Predictions Week 5: Oakland Raiders and 3 Dangerous Road Teams

Four weeks in and the Oakland Raiders are still not getting the respect they deserve. Right now they are favored to lose by six against the Houston Texans (spread courtesy of Covers.com).

The Raiders have the best running back combination in the league with Darren McFadden and Michael Bush. The duo has combined to give Oakland the No. 1 ranked unit in the league. Considering the Texans are 17th in the league, allowing over 108 yards a game, I expect the Raiders to run wild.

With QB Jason Campbell playing smart, turnover-free football for the most part, this is going to be one of the best games of the day.

Expect the Raiders to milk the clock with a fourth-quarter lead and keep the vaunted Texans offense off the field enough to steal a win.

Here are two other road teams to watch:

Cincinnati Bengals @ Jacksonville Jaguars

This just in…the Bengals have the No. 1 ranked defense in the league right now. The linebackers have great speed and the pass rush has been very consistent.

Expect the great start to continue against a rookie QB in Blaine Gabbert, who is making his second career start.

QB Andy Dalton has proved to be extremely poised and calm under pressure, and is gaining more and more confidence by the day.

Even if RB Cedric Benson is suspended, I expect backup Bernard Scott to slip right in and fill the void.

The Jags are a mess right now and the upstart Bengals are not the remedy.

Arizona Cardinals @ Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have the 31st-ranked passing game in the league because of QB Donovan McNabb’s inability to sustain drives. His third down conversation rate is horrible.

The Cardinals got screwed by a non-fumble call against the Giants and have lost their three games by a combined seven points.

QB Kevin Kolb is looking more comfortable in the pocket and is beginning to avoid throwing off his back foot.

I know this isn’t the boldest of predictions, but expect Arizona to earn the road win against the Vikings with their strong running game and steady QB.