NFL Picks Week 5: Picking All 13 Week 5 Games

With Week 5 of the NFL season upon us, we have had some great games to go along with some surprise teams atop their divisions.

Probably the two biggest surprises thus far are the 3-1 Buffalo Bills and the 1-3 Philadelphia Eagles.

If you had asked me at the beginning of the season, I would have expected those records to be reversed heading into their Week 5 matchup in Buffalo. 

This will be a tough game to pick as Buffalo will try and keep pace with the New England Patriots with a win and the Eagles will try to right the ship before it is too late.

Here is what the experts are saying about this and the other 12 match ups in the NFL for Week 5. 

NFL game spreads were taken from BetOnline.com

Philadelphia Eagles (-3) at Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills vs. the Philadelphia Eagles could be the game of the week in the NFL on Sunday.

The Bills are coming off their first loss of the season to the Cincinnati Bengals and are looking to rebound. The Eagles will look to rebound, as well, after losing a heart breaker to the San Francisco 49ers.

Currently, the Eagles are 30th in the NFL at stopping the run, which could be trouble for them as Fred Jackson has been one of the top backs in the league so far this season. 

If the Eagles want to win this game both the offense and defense will have to step up and Michael Vick can not turn the ball over.

In the must-win game for the Eagles, look for them to be just a bit more motivated, a bit better on the field Sunday and narrowly escape with victory to save their season. 

The pick: Eagles -3 

Indianapolis Colts (-1.5) vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The Week 5 matchup of the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs could be the least intriguing matchup of the season, as they are two of the worst teams in the league .

Both teams showed signs of life last week as the Chiefs got their first win over the Minnesota Vikings and the Colts put up a fight in a 24-17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

They each have their fare share of injuries but the Colts have more weapons. With Curtis Painter getting more and more experience, he will only get better and the Colts should win some games in the coming weeks. 

Neither team does well on either side of the ball but with the more experienced quarterback, the Chiefs have the advantage despite Matt Cassel's sub-par play thus far.

Look for the Chiefs to use their speedy offensive weapons, Dexter McCluster, Dwayne Bowe and Steve Breaston, to their advantage and come out on top in Indy on Sunday.

The pick: Chiefs +1.5

Minnesota Vikings (-1.5) vs. Arizona Cardinals

The Week 5 matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings is another that is not very appealing between two of the lesser teams in the NFL.

The Vikings offense is in shambles as the trade for Donovan McNabb is looking worse and worse as the bad performances keep coming.

Kevin Kolb has not exactly been the solution at quarterback that the Cardinals had hoped he would be when they traded Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie for him in the offseason, either.

This game will come down to the running games and the defenses. With Adrian Peterson, the Vikings clearly have the edge in the running game. Defensively, they are only allowing 76.3 yards per game on the ground as well.

If the Cardinals want to win, they will need Kolb to show up and exploit the Vikings' 28th ranked passing offense but he has yet to show the ability to do that.

Look for this game to be won in the trenches with Adrian Peterson having a huge game to give the Vikings the victory.

The pick: Vikings -1.5

New York Giants (-10) vs. Seattle Seahawks

The Week 5 matchup between the New York Giants and the Seattle Seahawks should not even be close on Sunday at the New Meadowlands.

Offensively, the Seahawks have been abysmal with a 28th ranked passing game and 30th ranked rushing game. 

Eli Manning has shown signs of greatness this season and with his main target, Hakeem Nicks now healthy, he should have a good game against the Seahwaks defense. 

Look for this game to be a blowout with the Giants winning by at least two touchdowns and covering the spread.

The pick: Giants -10

Houston Texans (-6) vs. Oakland Raiders

It is easy to see why the Houston Texans are favored at home over the Oakland Raiders but this game will be closer than most people think. 

Despite a letdown game against the New England Patriots last week, this is still a very good Raiders team with the best running attack in the NFL. They have plenty of offensive weapons, headlines by Darren McFadden, and could very well win this game.

Luckily for the Texans it seems as though Arian Foster is healthy after his 30 carries for 155 yards and touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday.

The fact that the Texans are at home and Foster is healthy gives the Texans the slight edge but they will be without top receiver Andre Johnson.

With Johnson out, this game will be much closer than it otherwise would have been. Look for the Texans to still win this game but it will by less than six. 

The pick: Raiders +6

New Orleans Saints (-6.5) at Carolina Panthers

The spread of the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers Week 5 matchup is puzzling to me. The Saints are one of the best teams in the league and they aren't even favored by a touchdown?

I understand they are on the road and Cam Newton has played out his mind so far this season but he is still a rookie.

The Panthers have had virtually no running game, with Newton as their leading rusher at 133 yards one the ground through four games. The Saints also have very little running game thus far, with Mark Ingram leading the team with 184 yards, but Drew Brees is far superior to Newton.

Defensively, the Panthers have the sixth ranked passing defense but no one has been able to hold Brees in check thus far.

Look for the Saints to easily cover this spread and win by at least a touchdown in Carolina on Sunday.

The pick: Saints -6.5 

Jacksonville Jaguars (-1.5) vs. Cincinnati Bengals

The Jacksonville Jaguars square off against the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday in the battle of the rookie quarterbacks. 

Andy Dalton has seen some success this season with the Bengals, unlike Blaine Gabbert, who is 0-2 in his two starts for the Jaguars.

To be honest, I am surprised that the Bengals aren't the favorites in this games, especially after just handing the Buffalo Bills their first loss of the season.

If the game were at Cincinnati, the Bengals would probably be favored by at least three points and if you are the betting type, you should take advantage of that.

Defensively, the Bengals are one of the best in the NFL with the third ranked passing defense and the seventh ranked rushing defense.

Don't expect Gabbert to do much through the air against the Bengals, so they will be able to stack the box to stop Maurice Jones-Drew.

The pick: Bengals +1.5

Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5) vs. Tennessee Titans

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been the Jekyll and Hyde of the NFL this season. One week they are getting blown out by the Ravens and the next they are shutting out Seattle. 

On Sunday, they welcome the surprising 3-1 Tennessee Titans to Heinz Field for a game in which they are not sure if Ben Roethlisberger will play.

The Titans have one of the best defenses in the NFL with the seventh ranked passing defense and the eighth ranked rushing defense, which does not bode well for the Steelers.

Luckily for the Steelers, they have home field advantage in this game. They have only lost oat home in just five games since 2009.

If Big Ben plays in this game, which it seems like he will, the Steelers have a chance. But the fact that their top linebacker, James Harrison is out, could give the Titans the upper hand. 

Look for this game to be decided by a field goal with either team potentially coming out on top.

The pick: Titans +3.5 

San Francisco 49ers (-2.5) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Fresh off a victory over the "dream team" Philadelphia Eagles, Jim Harbaugh and the San Francisco 49ers welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Candlestick Park.

Both teams sit at 3-1 and look to take a step further towards the playoffs with a victory on Sunday.

The Buccaneers have one of the best, up-and-coming, quarterbacks in Josh Freeman. He seems to have a knack for winning football games despite not putting up gaudy statistical numbers.

On the other side of the field sits Alex Smith, the former No. 1 overall pick, who is hanging on to his status as a starting NFL quarterback by a thread.

Facing the fourth ranked rush defense in the league, the Buccaneers may have to win this game through the air. Freeman proved he is capable of that on Monday night when he through the ball 39 times, completing 25 of them for 287 yards and a score.

Traveling across the country, Florida to California, usually doesn't bode well for the away team but the Buccaneers are simply just a better team.

Their defensive pressure will force Smith to make decisions  that he doesn't want to make and will result in turnovers.

The pick: Buccaneers +2.5

New England Patriots (-9) vs. New York Jets

The most anticipated matchup of the early NFL season comes this Sunday when the New York Jets travel to Foxboro to face off against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

In last season's playoffs, the Jets knocked the Patriots out in the divisional round and the Patriots will be looking for revenge on Sunday.

Tom Brady is playing as good as he ever has, but if the Patriots want to win they will need to use the same game plan they used against the Raiders, run the ball!

They discovered a new weapon last Sunday in Stevan Ridley who rushed for nearly 100 yards and a score. If offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien is smart, he will exploit the Jets, 27th ranked rush defense with Ridley and BenJarvis Green-Ellis.

If the Jets are going to win they will need Mark Sanchez to have his best game of the year and exploit the Patriots horrible pass defense. 

This game will be a battle and should be decided by a touchdown with the Patriots coming out on top.

The pick: Jets +9

San Diego Chargers (-4) at Denver Broncos

The AFC West matchup between the San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos is one of the easiest games to pick in Week 5.

The Broncos have been a mess in all facets of the game with the 24th ranked passing offense and 26th ranked rushing offense.

Usually, playing at Mile High is an advantage for the Broncos, but Phillip Rivers and the Chargers should have no issues.

The Chargers hold one of the best passing attacks in the game to go along with one of the best defenses and should shut down Kyle Orton and the Broncos lackadaisical offense. 

Look for this one to be a blowout with the Chargers winning by at least two scores.

The pick: Chargers -4

Green Bay Packers (-6) at Atlanta Falcons

The Green Bay Packers have been the best team in football early on in the 2011 season, but they will face a tough test when they head to the Georgia Dome on Sunday Night to take on Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons. 

With a record of 2-2, the Falcons have been somewhat of a disappointment thus far but a win against the Packers would do much to dispel that, though it won't come easy.

Aaron Rodgers is playing out of his mind right now with 12 touchdown passes and a 73.1-percent completion percentage.

If the Falcons want to win, they will need to do it through the air and exploit the Packers 31st ranked passing defense because they sit second in the NFL against the run.

Look for this game to be won by a touchdown in favor of the Packers.

The pick: Packers -6

Detroit Lions (-5.5) vs. Chicago Bears

The Detroit Lions have been the surprise team this season, sitting pretty with a record of 4-0. They will welcome the Chicago Bears to Ford Field on Monday Night Football. 

At home, the Lions are 1-0 this season, outscoring their opponent 48-3, but this game will be much closer. 

The Bears are a disappointing 2-2 after another rough start for quarterback Jay Cutler, who has thrown four interceptions to just five touchdowns. 

Defensively, they have disappointed as well with the 29th ranked passing defense and 23rd ranked rushing defense.

Matthew Stafford should be able to exploit that 29th ranked passing defense at home and cover the 5.5 point spread.

Don't expect the Lions to win in blowout fashion but they should win by a touchdown.

The pick: Lions -5.5