Fox's Week 5 Pick'ems

Week 4 is in the books my friends. We saw blowouts, shutouts, heartbreaks, and sad sacks all over the place. But more importantly, we got back the regular refs. Hooray. Now we can start all over and piss and moan about how many blown calls that made and then rant about how we can do a better job, even though we sucked down 5 beers before the 2:00 warning. 
Any who, bumped up my picks to a very impressive 10-5. Should have picked the Bears over the Cowboys, may Ditka forgive me. Now onto this week's pick'ems. Not that many good match ups to say the least. But thank the football Gods and Coach Ditka that we get to see an old rivalry renewed.


The Interesting Picks:
Thursday 8:20 p.m.
Arizona Cardinals @ St. Louis Rams
Interesting NFC West divisional game we got going on. A 4-0 Cardinals team going against a surprisingly decent 2-2 Rams team. However the Cardinals have won 11 of the last 12 match ups stemming back from 2006, including winning 6 at St. Louis. Kevin Kolb has stepped up his game, throwing for 67 of 107, 751 yards and 7TDs to 2INTs and is looking to and will hook up big time with Larry Fitzgerald in this one. And if that's not the case, expect the tenacious Cardinals D to peck away at the Rams offense.
Winner: Cardinals

Sunday 1:00 p.m.
Green Bay Packers @ Indianapolis Colts
Well shoot, looks like we got ourselves a 'shootout' between Luck and Rodgers. I'm just messing with y'all. It'll turn out that Green Bay will go up by 17 points midway through the second quarter and it'll force Andrew Luck to just keep throwing the ball. It'll be tough for him since Green Bay is currently 6th overall in pass defense and we all know how much OLB Clay Matthews loves to pass rush.
Winner: Packers

Cleveland Browns @ New York Giants
The bad news for the Giants is that WR Hakeem Nicks (foot) and SS Kenny Phillips (MCL sprain) will miss this game. The good news is that the still got decent guys who can step up and take over (WR Domenik Hixon and SSs Stevie Brown and Tyler Sash). Plus it doesn't hurt to go against a Browns team that's 24th overall in total offense and defense. Browns are scrappy but are no match for Big Blue.
Winner: Giants

Philadelphia Eagles @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Nothing like an in-state rivalry to help make this week interesting. The Steelers are coming off the bye week and are getting back RB Rashard Mendenhall back as well as SS Troy Polamalu and OLB James Harrison from injuries. On the opposite side, the Eagles have just recently signed Chris Collinsworth who admitted he came out of retirement to catch Michael Vick's balls. That won't save them from the Steelers, who boast an impressive 26-6 against the NFC since 2003, including winning 7 straight. 
Winner: Steelers
Bonus: Fuck you Chris Collinsworth

Atlanta Falcons @ Washington Redskins
My upset pick is right here. Falcons have a great passing offense in Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and Rodney White. Unfortunately on the defensive side of the ball they're ranked an abysmal 29th in rushing defense, allowing 146.3 yards per game. They'll be going against a Redskins team that is ranked 3rd overall in total offense (421.8 ypg) and 2nd overall in rushing offense (171.0 ypg). Even Stevie Wonder can easily see what Shannahan's game plan is going to be.
Winner: Redskins

Sunday 4:25 p.m.
Denver Broncos @ New England Patriots
It's another classic Brady-Manning passing duel. In these duels, Tom Brady is 8-4 against Peyton Manning, but Peyton has won 4 of the last 6 match ups. However in the early going of the season, the Patriots are a disappointing 24th defending the pass (281.5 ypg), going up against the likes of Jake Locker, Kevin Kolb, Joe Flacco, and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Peyton Manning, on the other hand, is currently 7th in passing yards (290.5 ypg) and is notorious for being able to read defenses and make audible. And don't expect the Patriots to be able to run the ball as successful against a Denver run defense that is 9th overall and has given up a mere 87.5 ypg, including 3.4 ypc. Patriots were riding high after their blow out win against Buffalo but expect them to be taken back down to earth in this one.
Winner: Broncos 

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Best of the Rest (HA!)

Sunday 1:00 p.m.
Cinncinati Bengals @ Miami Dolphins
It would have been more interesting if Chad Johnson was playing for the Dolphins. Makes you wonder who he's going to be rooting for.
Winners: Bengals

Baltimore Ravens @ Kansas City Chiefs
We saw Kansas City fall back to earth in a 37-20 loss at home to an adequate Chargers team last week that had no true running threat. Now they have to face Ray Rice and that prolific Ravens offense.  
Winners: Ravens

Sunday 4:05 & 4:25 p.m.
Chicago Bears @ Jacksonville Jaguars
No comment. 
Winners: Da Bears

Seattle Seahawks @ Carolina Panthers
Eh. At least rookie QB Russell Wilson is learning how to play better by taking lessons/advice from one Warren Moon. On the opposite side, QB Cam Newton is taking 'how to deal with an arrogant asshole' lessons from WR Steve Smith. Makes you wonder who is going to win this one....Not!
Winner: Seahawks


Tennessee Titans @ Minnesota Vikings
See Chris Johnson. See Chris Johnson run. Run Chris Johnson, run. Now....HOW'S ABOUT SCORING A DAMN TOUCHDOWN YOU OVERPAID AND OVERRATED DOUCHE! Seriously, 8 straight games without a rushing TD. Hey AP, show that boy how to run.
Winner: Vikings

Buffalo Bills @ San Francisco 49ers
A Bills team that got spanked by the Patriots last week going up against the toughest defense in the NFL that shut out the Jets last week. Bills are a step above the Jets in talent wise on offense....but not by that much.
Pick: 49ers

Sunday 8:20 p.m.
New Orleans Saints @ San Diego Chargers
It's the return of the 'Aints' in this one. They'll score a lot of points in this one, yet still find a way to shoot themselves in the foot somehow and lose. All the while, Chris Collinsworth will be slathering all over Drew Brees and such to the point where he has to leave for a few seconds. Won't he be disappointed by the end results.
Pick: Chargers
Bonus: Fuck you Chris Collinsworth x2!!


Monday 8:30 p.m.
Houston Texans @ New York Jets
Dude! You expect me to pick a team that has no offense, no defense, and has a team owner who apparently feels that he needs to voice his political opinions? Fucking rrre...ssseriously?! 
Pick: Texans
Bonus: What time is it? It's Teebus Time!


Teams on Bye: Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last Week's Record: 10-5
Season Record: 32-31


-Ryan L. Fox