2015 NFL SEASON: WEEK 5

	Me	Monica	Eli
WEEK 4	10-5	10-5	8-7
TOTAL	43-20	40-23	38-25

MUST WATCH GAMES

Colts at Texans

The Houston sports scene is at a junction right now. Tonight the Astros are in Kansas City for the first of a best-of-5 game series against the Royals who claimed the American League’s best record. The Rockets start their regular season schedule in less than 3 weeks. The University of Houston Cougars football team is 4-0 and are preparing to take on SMU tonight. And Houston’s NHL franchise- oh wait…

The Texans are 1-3 and are on the verge of being relegated to ignore status in Houston. If the Astros (somehow) make a deep playoff run, the Texans will be an afterthought. Most of this is because the Texans haven’t justified any reason why should anyone follow them. Yes, the team was featured in HBO’s Hard Knocks but they have suffered key injuries such as running back Arian Foster and total ineptness at the quarterback position.

The Colts are no better and are leading a very weak AFC South. The Colts will be without quarterback Andrew Luck for a second consecutive game. Starting under center for the Colts is quarterback Matthew Hasselbeck who was effective in the Colts 16-13 overtime win over the Jaguars last Sunday.

Seahawks at Bengals

On Monday, the Seahawks benefited from a controversial call that helped them secure a 13-10 win over the visiting Lions. Now the Seahawks will be taking on another high profile wide receiver: AJ Green. Since the end of safety Cam Chancellor’s holdout, Seattle has won 2 consecutive games in a row while the Bengals are off to a 4-0 start.

Jaguars at Buccaneers/Bills at Titans

It is only five weeks into the season so the sample size for Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston and Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is relatively small. Mariota so far appears to have the better line throwing for 833 yards, 8 touchdowns vs. 2 interceptions, and completing 62.9% of his passes while Winston has more passing yards (965) but has completed 54.9% of his passes and has 6 touchdowns vs. 7 interceptions.

Patriots at Cowboys

If you live in Detroit, the San Francisco Bay Area, or Denver, you will not get this game due to the NFL’s television rules. Detroit is because the local team is playing at home. San Francisco Bay Area is also the same reason (the Raiders are at home) but also because the game is on CBS, the same network that is airing Patriots at Cowboys. Denver is because the Broncos and the same reason.

Over the last two games the Cowboys have held their own offensively due to the loss of Romo and Bryant, but the injuries are really taking their toll. Running back Lance Dunbar tore his knee and is lost for the season. The defense has been terrible the last two games having given up 22 points in the second half against Atlanta and looking confused on the touchdown pass from Drew Brees to CJ Spiller in overtime at New Orleans last Sunday. I don’t expect things to get better going up against the Patriots who have had time off to spy on scout the Cowboys.

Steelers at Chargers

Both teams are 2-2, but how they got there is entirely different. The Chargers won their game at home against the Browns because their kicker can make field goals. The Steelers dropped to 2-2 because their kicker couldn’t and now he is unemployed.

And now the picks.

Kickoff times are Mountain Time

Sunday afternoon games airing in Denver are noted by (DEN)

Picks are in BOLD

NFL Television Schedule Map

BYE WEEK

Dolphins, Jets, Panthers, Vikings

THURSDAY NIGHT, CBS/NFL 6PM

Texans at Colts

FOX 11AM

Seahawks at Bengals (DEN)

Washington at Falcons

Bears at Chiefs

Saints at Eagles

CBS 11AM

Rams at Packers (DEN)

Browns at Ravens

Bills at Titans

Jaguars at Buccaneers

CBS 2PM

Broncos at Raiders (DEN)

Patriots at Cowboys

FOX 2PM

Cardinals at Lions

SUNDAY NIGHT, NBC 6:30 PM

Giants at 49ers

MONDAY NIGHT, ESPN 6:30 PM

Steelers at Chargers