NFL Picks Week 5: Buffalo Bills and 3 Teams That Will Bounce Back from Losses

In the 16-game world of the NFL, even a short losing streak can scuttle a season. One of the keys to survival is recovering from a loss before it turns into a slide.

These three teams have a great shot to get back on the winning side after Week 4 defeats:

Buffalo Bills (vs. Philadelphia)

For a roster that’s fairly dripping with talent, the Eagles sure don’t look like a Super Bowl favorite. Their three-game losing skid has a good chance to grow as they head into this dangerous road game with Buffalo.

Even after being upset by the Bengals, Ryan Fitzpatrick’s Bills have played remarkably well. Star RB Fred Jackson and the fifth-ranked Buffalo ground game will have a field day against an Eagles’ D that’s been extraordinarily vulnerable against the run.

Denver Broncos (vs. San Diego)

Setting aside last week’s blowout loss in Green Bay, Denver has been surprisingly competitive this season, losing to Oakland and Tennessee by a field goal each. San Diego, too, has played some unexpectedly close games, in the sense that they let inferior foes like Kansas City and Minnesota hang around even at Qualcomm Stadium.

With this game being played in Denver, San Diego is ripe for an upset if they continue to struggle at putting teams away. Much-maligned Kyle Orton may even quiet a few of the Tim Tebow faithful if he leads a clutch drive or two in a win here.

Arizona Cardinals (at Minnesota)

Considering that it took some…confusing refereeing (to put it charitably) for the Cards to lose to the Giants last week, and that the team’s three losses have come by a total of eight points, Arizona is probably better than its 1-3 record. Minnesota, meanwhile, appears to be exactly as bad as its 0-4 mark, having thrown for barely over 150 yards a game.

The Cardinals’ run defense isn’t great, but it’s strong enough not to roll over and die even against Adrian Peterson. In what should be a close game, the big-play potential of Larry Fitzgerald against a weak pass defense gives Arizona the edge.