NFL Picks Week 5: San Diego Chargers and 2 Road Team Winners

The San Diego Chargers have shot out to a 3-1 record and gained control of the AFC West early this season.

This weekend, they will extend that lead and earn their first road win of the season. In addition to San Diego, two other teams are sure-fire to lock up road wins in Week 5.

The Chargers have been notoriously slow-starters under head coach Norv Turner, and this year has been no exception. The Bolts have secured three close victories over teams with a combined record of 1-11.

But this weekend in Denver, San Diego is poised for a breakout victory, and the Broncos have struggled to a 1-3 start.

San Diego boasts the NFL's seventh-best offense (415.8 yards per game) and will be facing Denver's 23rd-ranked defense (377.8 yards per game).

With running back Ryan Mathews emerging as another viable weapon for quarterback Philip Rivers, the Chargers should be able to dominate Denver's shaky defense.

On defense, San Diego is allowing just 297.8 yards per game (sixth in the league), and Denver is gaining just 310.8 yards per game on offense (24th in the league). With how shaky quarterback Kyle Orton was in the team's 49-23 loss to the Green Bay Packers, it's hard to see Denver putting things together and earning a win over the Chargers.

The New Orleans Saints have established themselves as one of the best teams in the NFL, and this weekend they travel to Carolina to take on a 1-3 Panthers squad.

The Saints are 3-1, with their only loss coming by way of a 42-34 heart-breaker against the Packers to open the season. Their offense has been spectacular, and there is just no way Carolina will be able to slow down their attack.

Quarterback Drew Brees sits at the helm of the NFL's second-best offense (454 yards per game) and doesn't look like he will be slowed anytime soon. The Panthers are allowing 25.5 points per game (25th in the league) and won't be able to slow down the Saints this weekend.

The Packers are 4-0 and will travel to the Georgia Dome Sunday night to take on the 2-2 Atlanta Falcons.

Green Bay hasn't looked like it can be stopped offensively this season, and that will continue Sunday night.

The Packers are firing on all cylinders, thanks to quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his NFL-best 124.6 quarterback rating. The 27-year-old signal-caller is my early pick for MVP, and his squad is averaging a league-high 37 points per game.

The Falcons have looked shaky all season and have allowed 26.3 points per game (27th in the NFL) so far. I just don't see them being able to stop Rodgers and Green Bay's offense, which means the Packers should improve to 5-0.