NFL Week 5 picks, Cardinals or Bengals – who loses first?

Bengals WR A.J. Green is on pace for his 4th consecutive Pro Bowl appearance.

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The Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals remain undefeated after one month of football – a feat neither the defensive juggernaut Seattle Seahawks or offensive juggernaut Denver Broncos can boast.  Ironically enough for the Cardinals, they get to put their undefeated record on the line against an angry, seething Broncos team that narrowly lost to the Seahawks and is coming off a bye – and they’re at home.  The Cardinals days undefeated may be numbered this week.

The Bengals have been one of the most dominant teams in football, coming off a bye week with the best point differential in football they head up to New England to face an arguably even angrier Patriots team that was embarrassed on Monday Night Football against the Chiefs.  Very seldom does Tom Brady lose at home – and in primetime no less – so even if the team is on the verge of falling off a cliff, the Bengals will still have their work cut out for them.

Of the two undefeated teams it seems most likely that the Bengals can survive the week with an unblemished record, but you never know – the 1972 Dolphins may be popping the cork on their champagne early this year.

Here are the picks for Week 5 of NFL action:

Chicago Bears over Carolina Panthers – The Panthers are reeling right now and missing RBs and DEs – so why are they favored to win? Not sure, but the Bears should have this one wrapped up.

Detroit Lions over Buffalo Bills – Orton? Manuel? Doesn’t make a difference – the Lions have a more complete defense.

Dallas Cowboys over Houston Texans – Everything the Texans have, the Cowboys have better – a better QB, better RB, better WR, and arguably a better defense.

New Orleans Saints over Tampa Bay Buccaneers – The Saints haven’t been the home-world-beaters of years past, but the Buccaneers have been terrible in domes this year

New York Giants over Atlanta Falcons – Hard to believe the Giants would look good after two weeks of looking like the 2008 Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts over Baltimore Ravens – This game should be close until the end, but the edge goes to the Colts playing at in front of a home crowd

Philadelphia Eagles over St. Louis Rams – After barely losing to San Francisco, the Eagles will make short work of the Rams

Pittsburgh Steelers over Jacksonville Jaguars – If there was a single game on the Jaguars schedule that they looked poised to win it would be this one – in other words, prepare for a letdown

Cleveland Browns over Tennessee Titans – The Browns are better than many think while the Titans are worse than many want to believe

Denver Broncos over Arizona Cardinals – When Peyton Manning has time to rest and recover, he is nearly unstoppable.

San Diego Chargers over New York Jets – This is the same spot where the Chargers beat the nearly unbeatable Seahawks – what chance to the sloppy Jets have?

San Francisco 49ers over Kansas City Chiefs – The Chiefs aren’t in Kansas City anymore, they’re heading into a hostile environment against a great defense, unlike the home game against the Patriots.

New England Patriots over Cincinnati Bengals – Until the Patriots get thrashed at home, the Patriots can’t be considered a cellar dweller.

Seattle Seahawks over Washington – Would’ve been a tough call if Kirk Cousins hadn’t shown his true colors against the Giants last week. Now it’s just another chance for the Legion of Boom to feed.