2021 NFL SEASON
Week 5: #NFL Game Predictions (w/ spreads & analysis)
SUNDAY EDITION
Good luck at the window this season!
Los Angeles Rams 3-1 (-2.5) @ Seattle Seahawks 2-2 (54.5): Rams 30-23
Thursday, 8:20 PM, CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA (Weather: Mostly cloudy; mid-50s)
Keys: The Rams are overwhelming favorites if you shallow dive this spread because the Seahawks probably get upwards of 3-3.5 points just for being home with the 12th man. It stands to reason as the Rams just got throttled by the league’s best offense, the division rival Arizona Cardinals, while the Seahawks squeaked out a win against the San Francisco 49ers in which the only stand out player was 49ers WR Deebo Samuel. The Rams can’t afford to go 3-2 and be tied for 3rd place in a stacked NFC West and they’re the better team on both sides of the ball, hence that spread.
New York Jets 1-3 (+3) @ Atlanta Falcons 1-3 (46): Falcons 24-23
Sunday, 9:30 AM, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England (Weather: Indoors)
Keys: The Falcons are the slightly better team, but this game is in London, so no home field advantage applies, meaning the Falcons are legit 3-point favorites according to the public after being down from an opening line of four points. That’s likely because there’s no home advantage and if the Jets are known for anything yet it’s that rookie head coach Robert Saleh and is a defensive guy and the Falcons are without Calvin Ridley.
Green Bay Packers 3-1 (-3) v. Cincinnati Bengals 3-1 (50.5): Bengals 30-28
Sunday, 1:00 PM, Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH (Weather: Sunny; low 80s)
Keys: Future meet present. HoF-bound Aaron Rodgers faces top-pick and potential HoF’er Joe Burrow Sunday in the Bengals first true test of 2021. The Bengals are the better team statistically, but the Packers have the experience and the Bengals are banged up along some key spots. The Packers are, too, but this is where the experience and depth comes into play. Cincinnati’s defense will get tested Sunday, but if the Bengals want to make the leap there’s no better time than now.
Detroit Lions 0-4 (+10) @ Minnesota Vikings 1-3 (49): Vikings 33-20
Sunday, 1:00 PM, US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN (Weather: Indoors)
Keys: The Lions are absolutely awful.
Denver Broncos 3-1 (+1) @ Pittsburgh Steelers 1-3 (39.5): Steelers 23-20
Sunday, 1:00 PM, Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA (Weather: Partly sunny; low 80s)
Keys: The Broncos came crashing down to Earth last week and the Steelers can’t afford to lose another game or it’s lights out on 2021 five weeks into the season. Not only does that explain the spread, it explains the reality of the situation. Win or, well, stay home.
Miami Dolphins 1-3 (+10) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-1 (48): Buccaneers 30-17
Sunday, 1:00 PM, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL (Weather: 30% storms; low 80s)
Keys: I don’t think anyone gives the Dolphins much of a chance considering the Buccaneers were beat up and nervous and still went into New England and beat one of the best defenses in the league. The Dolphins aren't that, nor have they figured out anything since Tua Tagovailoa went to the IR.
New Orleans Saints 2-2 (-2) @ Washington Football Team 2-2 (43.5): Saints 23-20
Sunday, 1:00 PM, FedEx Field, Landover, MD (Weather: 50% rain; low 70s)
Keys: As long as Jameis Winston can stay out of the Saints way and avoid the rush the Saints should be able to take care of business unless the weather gets overwhelming for the dome team.
Philadelphia Eagles 1-3 (+3) @ Carolina Panthers 3-1 (45.5): Panthers 24-23
Sunday, 1:00 PM, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC (Weather: Sunny; high 70s)
Keys: With the pressure to go undefeated finally behind them the Panthers can concentrate on shutting down the run and focus on Jalen Hurts’ mistakes, which the Eagles front seven could be doing with Sam Darnold.
Tennessee Titans 2-2 (-4.5) @ Jacksonville Jaguars 0-4 (48.5): Titans 27-20
Sunday, 1:00 PM, TIAA Bank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL (Weather: 20% storms; low 80s)
Keys: What the hell is Urban Meyer doing? Probably exactly what we think he’s doing – driving around Yankee Stadium in a body suit dragging the World Series trophy behind his car in an attempt to get canned so USC can hire him.
New England Patriots 1-3 (-9) @ Houston Texans 1-3 (39.5): Patriots 17-10
Sunday, 1:00 PM, NRG Stadium, Houston, TX (Weather: Indoors)
Keys: In most situations this spread makes sense, but the Patriots offensive line is a mess, so not only is the under likely a lock, but New England might not even score nine points
Chicago Bears 2-2 (+5.5) @ Las Vegas Raiders 3-1 (44.5): Raiders 27-20
Sunday, 4:05PM, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV (Weather: Indoors)
Keys: If Kahlil Mack doesn’t go the Raiders could have a field day over the middle, but regardless, the Bears don’t score enough to keep up with a team like Las Vegas. The real test will be if the Raiders can see through the racist email bombshell hanging over Jon Gruden and the Las Vegas team.
Cleveland Browns 3-1 (+2) @ Los Angeles Chargers 3-1 (47.5): Chargers 27-24
Sunday, 4:05 PM, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA (Weather: Indoors)
Keys: Say what you want about the modern NFL, only four QBs in NFL history have thrown for more yards to start their careers than Baker Mayfield and Justin Herbert, but the O/U sends a clear message: This could be a defensive battle
New York Giants 1-3 (+7) @ Dallas Cowboys 3-1 (52.5): Cowboys 27-17
Sunday, 4:25 PM, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX (Weather: Indoors)
Keys: The Cowboys are rounding into shape while the Giants don’t seem to have a shape, or an identity, or half of their team. The Cowboys are banged up, too, but it shouldn’t matter for these terrible Giants.
San Francisco 49ers 2-2 (+5) @ Arizona Cardinals 4-0 (50): Cardinals 30-21
Sunday, 4:25 PM, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ (Weather: Indoors)
Keys: The Cardinals seem to be the team to beat after undressing the Los Angeles Rams while the 49ers are just trying to keep the train on the tracks. It’s Trey Lance time, but it’s been Kyler Murray time for a lot longer.
Buffalo Bills 3-1 (+2.5) @ Kansas City Chiefs 2-2 (56.5): Bills 33-27
Sunday, 8:20 PM, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO (Weather: 60% storms; high 60s)
Keys: The game of the week features two of the league’s best offenses, but the Chiefs are trending the opposite direction of the Bills, who are shutting teams out by 40-point margins in the pouring rain. At times it seems the tape is out on Patrick Mahomes, while the Bills seem to win all kinds of ways, including defensively. Look for the Bills to make the statement at Arrowhead Stadium in a rematch of the 2020 AFC Championship.
Indianapolis Colts 1-3 (+7) @ Baltimore Ravens 3-1 (45.5): Ravens 28-20
Monday, 8:15 PM, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD (Weather: Cloudy; low 60s)
Keys: It’s not looking good for the Colts, who seem to have adopted Philadelphia’s old problem of Carson Wentz. At least Wentz won his first game in the last eight tries spanning back to last season. This game is all about Lamar Jackson and the Ravens run game as they try to break the NFL record for consecutive 100-yard rushing games, a feat they narrowly kept alive in the pettiest of ways against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, tying them for the record at the time.
Stay tuned for Tuesday's Gone: Week 5 #NFL Game Reviews coming Wednesday!
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