As we hit Week 5, there are still three undefeated teams and only Cleveland is winless (apparently the Cavs' and Indians' success didn't carry over to the Browns). There are also a couple of division races where the first-place team has already created separation. I know it's early, but I think we're already starting to see a bunch of teams emerge as elite. With a whole bunch of others right smack in the middle.
Patriots (3-1) at Browns (0-4): New England-Did you know Tom Brady missed the first four games of the season? Yeah, I know. Nobody was talking about it. At all. Anyway, New England fans get their quarterback back and will need to find something new to whine about now. Roger Goodell has angered Tom Brady. You know what happens next. Even the Browns know the Patriots are going to win this game.
Eagles (3-0) at Lions (1-3): Philadelphia-Who would've thought when Philadelphia traded Sam Bradford to Minnesota a week before the season started that the Eagles and Vikings would be the last two undefeated teams in the NFC? I sure didn't. After an early bye, the Eagles head to Detroit looking to go 4-0. Which they need to do with Dallas bearing right on their tails.
Bears (1-3) at Colts (1-3): Indianapolis-Can someone explain to me why Indy isn't following a London game with a bye (like every team that's gone to London before them and each of the other five going this year, including the Jaguars, will)? Doesn't seem right to me. Things could be worse, though. At least they're playing the Bears at home. That should get the Colts to 2-3 after last week's surprising loss.
Titans (1-3) at Dolphins (1-3): Tennessee-With Hurricane Matthew approaching the Miami area, there was so much uncertainty about whether this game would be played as scheduled and where. But it's all systems go for the Titans and Dolphins. We'll see how much impact all of those questions had, but I think it's probably a little easier for the team that's traveling to minimize those distractions.
Texans (3-1) at Vikings (4-0): Minnesota-We've got a good one in Minnesota for the Vikings' first Sunday afternoon home game in the new stadium. Houston won its first game without J.J. Watt, but that was at home against Tennessee. A trip to Minnesota and a hot Vikings team is a completely different proposition.
Jets (1-3) at Steelers (3-1): Pittsburgh-This looked like a great early-season matchup when the schedule came out, but the Jets have labored to a 1-3 start. Kansas City is the common bond between these two teams. The Chiefs smacked the Jets around two weeks ago, only to get smacked around themselves by the Steelers last week. I'd say Pittsburgh rebounded nicely from that blowout loss in Philly. They'll get to 4-1 and stay atop the AFC North.
Redskins (2-2) at Ravens (3-1): Baltimore-It could've been interesting down by the Inner Harbor today if the Orioles had won the AL Wild Card Game. But there's no point rubbing salt in that wound. As it is, the Ravens are hosting the Battle of the Beltway, and both teams come in playing some good football. Baltimore suffered its first loss last week--by a point--while the Redskins have won two in a row. So who gets bragging rights in the State of Maryland? I've gotta go with the home team.
Falcons (3-1) at Broncos (4-0): Denver-A couple first-place teams square off in Denver. Who would've thought that the Broncos would be 4-0 and one of the last three remaining undefeated teams? Now they turn to Paxton Lynch, who makes his first NFL start against a Falcons team that has averaged 42.7 points per game in the last three weeks, all wins. None of those games were against the Broncos' defense, though.
Bengals (2-2) at Cowboys (3-1): Dallas-Cincinnati has had a brutal schedule to start the season (and things don't get much easier next week with the Patriots on deck). That's why getting that win last week was so important. Because a trip to Dallas isn't going to be easy. Not with the way Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott are playing.
Chargers (1-3) at Raiders (3-1): Oakland-I told you the Raiders were going to be good this year. They've gone east three times and came away with a win in each. Now they have the first of back-to-back division home games that will really give us an indication of where Oakland really stands. San Diego, meanwhile, badly needs a victory. The winner gets to join the Rams in LA! (Just kidding.)
Bills (2-2) at Rams (3-1): Buffalo-After starting 0-2, the Bills have won two straight--against Arizona and New England. Now they travel cross country to meet the first-place Rams (the only NFC West team playing on Sunday). Can they keep it going in the California sunshine? Even though the Rams are an obvious favorite in this game, I have a feeling Buffalo will.
Giants (2-2) at Packers (2-1): Green Bay-OK, what genius scheduled a presidential debate on a Sunday night? I'm sure plenty of people will watch Trump and Hillary, but they won't be watching it on NBC, which wisely picked a really good Sunday night matchup to go opposite the candidates. The Giants are coming off a short week and playing their second straight primetime road game. The Packers, meanwhile, are coming off their bye. The Giants have had lots of success at Lambeau in recent years, but they've got a lot stacked against them in this one.
Buccaneers (1-3) at Panthers (1-3): Tampa Bay-Carolina is 1-3 and doesn't have Cam Newton this week. Tampa Bay has to be looking at this one as a game they can get. And, I think, they won't have to endure a lighting delay in the second half this time. I've just got a feeling that the Bucs are gonna take this one.
This Week: 1-0
Last Week: 9-6
Season: 40-24
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