NFL Picks Week 5: Pittsburgh Steelers and 3 Teams That Will Get Back on Track

There are several NFL teams that will need to get back on track after Week 5 of the 2011 NFL season. Here are the Pittsburgh Steelers and three teams that will do just that.

New York Jets

New York goes up to New England to face the Patriots. Rex Ryan will put all his eggs in one basket for this rivalry game so expect the Jets to be ready to play.

If the rushing attack can’t get going, this game may get out of hand early. They have averaged 71 yards per game, 30^th in the NFL. Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson have combined for 216 yards in four games.

These two running backs need to get carries against the Patriots to keep Tom Brady off the field. We will see if the Jets are primed for another AFC Championship game run after their performance against the best team in the division.

Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia travels to Buffalo to play a Bills team coming off an upset loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. At 1-3, the Eagles can’t afford to go to 1-4 in the NFC East.

LeSean McCoy will bounce back after his 18-yard performance against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4. He faces a rush defense that is poor at best.

It won’t matter how great McCoy or even Michael Vick is if the defense doesn’t come to play. They will need to show up and play at a high level against Ryan Fitzpatrick, Fred Jackson and the rest of the offense.

This will be the defining game for the Eagles in 2011. Their backs are against the wall. It’s now or never. We will see what kind of fight they show up to the field with.

Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta won last week at the Seattle Seahawks but not in a convincing manner. They haven’t played like the same team that went 13-3 one year ago.

Green Bay destroyed them in the postseason last year, and they have had that on their minds ever since. How serious are the Falcons about being contenders in the NFC? If they are, this is a statement game, especially at home where they were beaten to a pulp last year.

We will see what kind of team shows up for this one.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Something isn’t right in Pittsburgh this season. The fight, the competitiveness isn’t there. They are 2-2 after coming off a lousy performance against the Houston Texans.

Everything is out of whack in the Steel City in 2011—the rush defense is poor and the pass defense leads the league.

The team is battered and bruised with injuries, especially on the offensive line. They hope to shore things up with the signing of Max Starks. He should be able to help Roethlisberger a little more than what he has received thus far.

Rashard Mendenhall is out, too. Isaac Redman will get the start. He will prove that he can be an every-down back in the NFL.