Tuesday's Gone: Week 5 #NFL Game Reviews
Good luck at the window this season!
Los Angeles Rams 3-1 (-2.5) @ Seattle Seahawks 2-2 (54.5): Rams 30-23 Rams 26-17
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.
The biggest take away from this game was Russell Wilson's mangled finger and the Seahawks 2021 chances slipping away.
New York Jets 1-3 (+3) @ Atlanta Falcons 1-3 (46): Falcons 24-23 Falcons 27-20
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.
We keep sending London our worst games and we expect this thing to go worldwide. Not so fast as Lee Corso would say. The Jets put in a 4th quarter effort that made the game appear close, but it wasn't.
Green Bay Packers 3-1 (-3) v. Cincinnati Bengals 3-1 (50.5): Bengals 30-28 Packers 25-22 OT
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.
We witnessed the opposite of a kicking clinic Sunday between these two teams. Well, the entire NFL actually.
Detroit Lions 0-4 (+10) @ Minnesota Vikings 1-3 (49): Vikings 33-20 Vikings 19-17
Sunday, 1:00 PM, US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN (Weather: Indoors)
Keys: The Lions are absolutely awful.
The Lions broke a record Sunday, but not the good kind. They became the first team in NFL history to lose two games in a row on a last second FG that traveled over 50 yards. It was so bad their coach PC Principal (my buddy Pundit's quip) started crying after the game. It's been real, Dan Campbell.
Denver Broncos 3-1 (+1) @ Pittsburgh Steelers 1-3 (39.5): Steelers 23-20 Steelers 27-19
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.
The Broncos are coming down to Earth quickly as the score doesn't reflect the beat down the Steelers put on the Broncos Sunday, who were down 24-6 entering the 4th quarter.
Miami Dolphins 1-3 (+10) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-1 (48): Buccaneers 30-17 Buccaneers 45-17
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.
Tom Brady and the Buccaneers put on a clinic Sunday in the Florida Bowl, where the winner gets covid. Brady did something he's never done Sunday: Pass for over 400 yards while throwing five or more TDs. This dude will not die.
New Orleans Saints 2-2 (-2) @ Washington Football Team 2-2 (43.5): Saints 23-20 Saints 33-22
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.
Jameis Winston threw four TDs, some in the ugliest fashion known to man, as the Saints routed the Football Team. Remember when Washington was supposed to be good?
Philadelphia Eagles 1-3 (+3) @ Carolina Panthers 3-1 (45.5): Panthers 24-23 Eagles 21-18
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.
The NFL stands for Not For Long and the Panthers are finding that out. Once the darlings of the NFL just two weeks ago, Carolina has now lost two straight and Sam Darnold looks like, well, Sam Darnold again. Jalen Hurts (2 running TDs) did his best Randall Cunningham impression to keep the Eagles alive in the NFC East assuming the Cowboys inevitably implode.
Tennessee Titans 2-2 (-4.5) @ Jacksonville Jaguars 0-4 (48.5): Titans 27-20 Titans 37-19
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.
Derrick Henry rushed for 120 yards and 3 TDs while Jacksonville lost their 20th straight game. The thing that bothers Urban Meyer the most is that he hasn't been fired yet. Forcing Meyer to continue with Jacksonville is the best punishment he could get.
New England Patriots 1-3 (-9) @ Houston Texans 1-3 (39.5): Patriots 17-10 Patriots 25-22
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.
The Patriots pulled this win from their asses. Down 22-9 in the 3rd quarter, the defense clamped down and the offense crawled back to give Nick Folk yet another chance to win the game as time expired, but this time there was no driving rain to spoil the moment.
Chicago Bears 2-2 (+5.5) @ Las Vegas Raiders 3-1 (44.5): Raiders 27-20 Bears 20-9
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.
What did we expect after that bombshell email exposure making Chucky actually seem like Chucky where everyone is running as fast as they can away from him. I was hung over when I got the news and had already finished my preview. Suffice to say, I definitely should've revisited that one.
Cleveland Browns 3-1 (+2) @ Los Angeles Chargers 3-1 (47.5): Chargers 27-24 Chargers 47-42
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.
This turned into the barnburner most expected, despite these two defenses playing well most of the season. Well, at times. The two star QBs combined for over 700 passing yards and 6 TDs, although the bulk was Justin Herbert. Both QBs kept answering the bell, but ultimately Herbert won out, which is something we should probably get used to hearing and reading.
New York Giants 1-3 (+7) @ Dallas Cowboys 3-1 (52.5): Cowboys 27-17 Cowboys 44-20
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.
The Giants lost Saquon Barkely (again), Daniel Jones and yet another WR as the 2021 season has likely closed on the New York Giants. It might closing on the Dallas Cowboys soon, too, with 90,000 attending AT&T Stadium for the third week in a row. Talk about super spreader events in the state of denial, among many other horrors that state perpetuates.
San Francisco 49ers 2-2 (+5) @ Arizona Cardinals 4-0 (50): Cardinals 30-21 Cardinals 17-10
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.
The 49ers shut down the Arizona offense, but clearly it wasn't enough as their offense sputtered. While we're at it, Trey Lance doesn't look like enough, either.
Buffalo Bills 3-1 (+2.5) @ Kansas City Chiefs 2-2 (56.5): Bills 33-27 Bills 38-20
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.
I'm just going to leave it like this: I nailed this game.
Indianapolis Colts 1-3 (+7) @ Baltimore Ravens 3-1 (45.5): Ravens 28-20 Ravens 31-25 OT
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.
The Ravens put on a 4th quarter and OT clinic against the sliding Colts, potentially ending a promising season as quickly as it began. This game was so crazy there were multiple fantasy football players that were down more than 90 points and came back in a single MNF game. The funniest part is the Ravens didn't even break the record for consecutive 100-yard rushing games. Indianapolis was up 25-9 in the 4th quarter until the Ravens went on a 22-unanswered-point route to destroy what little hope the Colts had left.
Stay tuned for Week 6: #NFL Game Predictions (w/ spreads & analysis) TNF Edition coming Thursday!
