Nothing fancy to write about today. I’m just hoping for a few prime-time games that aren’t total bloodbaths. Seahawks-Redskins gives me little hope on Monday — Richard Sherman pick-six alert — but the Bengals-Patriots is most interesting given the first four weeks of this season.
In any other year I would guaran-damn-tee a New England win. Forget that the Bengals are 3-0, playing very well and coming off a bye week. This is New England. This team doesn’t lose two in a row and they almost never lose at home.
However, is this still that New England? It really hasn’t looked that way so far. Every run eventually ends. If the Patriots lose in ugly fashion at home to the Bengals, we might be looking at the end of an era. Then again, the AFC East, which has mostly stockpiled wins over Oakland, is so dreadful the Patriots may still end up with a home playoff game out of this.
The NFL schedule makers probably never imagined Week 5 would feature the only undefeated teams, Arizona and Cincinnati, would be on the road to face Peyton and Brady. Given past history, you expect we won’t have a 4-0 team for only the second time since 1990 (last time: 2010).
I can trust Manning to have a strong game off the bye, and for Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware to give the mad-bombing Drew Stanton fits. I like Denver this week. I usually trust the New England winning machine, but what has this team shown this year to make us really think they should win this game? Sure, the Bengals usually disappoint in any big spot, but when one era ends, another usually begins.
The Bengals could use this win as much as the Patriots to change longstanding perception.
With each passing moment we drift further away
Closer to our chosen paths.
But I can’t help remembering what was…what might have been
— Hopesfall – The End of an Era
NFL Week 5 Predictions
I had the Packers winning big, so for once I would have made a good TNF bet against the spread.
Winners in bold:
- Steelers at Jaguars
- Buccaneers at Saints
- Falcons at Giants
- Bills at Lions
- Ravens at Colts
- Bears at Panthers
- Rams at Eagles
- Texans at Cowboys
- Browns at Titans
- Cardinals at Broncos
- Chiefs at 49ers
- Jets at Chargers
- Bengals at Patriots
- Seahawks at Redskins
Yes, I picked against the Patriots. My apologies, Cincinnati.
Season Results
- Week 1: 8-8
- Week 2: 9-7
- Week 3: 11-5
- Week 4: 8-5
- Total: 36-25
Captain Comeback: NFL Analysis by Scott Kacsmar 