Week 5 Late Games

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Byes: Jacksonville, Kansas City, New Orleans, Seattle

Week 4 Results: Coin: 6-9; Rick: 9-6
Cumulative: Coin: 27-36; Rick: 35-28

Thursday, October 6

Arizona (-2 1/2, 42) at San Francisco, 8:25 (CBS-NFLN-Twitter) - Forecast by many to be one of the elite teams in the NFC, the Cardinals are suffering through a crisis period of the season, losing their second straight and third game overall, to the Rams, 17-13, on Sunday.

The good news is that the Cards get to play San Francisco, also a 1-3 team. Last season, the Cardinals topped the 49ers twice, 47-7, in Phoenix, and 19-13 on the road. They should rebound here, but it's far from a certainty, especially since QB Carson Palmer is doubtful to play for Arizona.

Coin Flip: San Francisco

Prediction: Cardinals 24 49ers 18

Sunday, October 9

Washington at Baltimore (-3 1/2, 46 1/2), 1:00 (FOX) - The Ravens lost their first game of the year, 28-27, at home to Oakland last week and are probably not overwhelmed by the fact that they are 3-1 and tied with the Steelers in the AFC North. Baltimore is a team that's supposed to be good, and by all indications, they've passed the first quarter of the season with flying colors.

By contrast, Washington's 2-2 mark includes a couple of fairly sloppy wins over the Giants and the Browns, though they have come in the past two weeks, so one could conclude that the Redskins are on something of a roll.

Well, put some butter on that roll, make toast it and put a crab cake on it and take the Ravens all day long in this potential blowout.

Coin Flip: Washington

Prediction: Ravens 34 Redskins 10

New England (-10 1/2, 46 1/2) at Cleveland, 1:00 (CBS) - Poor timing for the Browns who will have to face Tom Brady after serving his four week suspension and the rest of the Patriots, losers of their first game of the season, a 16-0 shutout at home, served up by AFC East rival, Buffalo.

The Browns may be on their way to an 0-16 season and there is nobody on the planet who believes they have a snowball's chance to win this game.

Coin Flip: Cleveland

Prediction: Patriots 38 Browns 13

Philadelphia (-2 1/2, 46) at Detroit, 1:00 (FOX) - Tough spot for the Lions, coming off a loss to the Bears and hosting one of the three unbeaten teams in the league (Minnesota, Denver), besides the Eagles having a week off prior to this.

Detroit has underperformed again this season, already at 1-3 with an uphill climb ahead. This would be a good place to start a winning streak, but it's difficult to see it happening.

Coin Flip: Philadelphia

Prediction: Eagles 30 Lions 20

Chicago at Indianapolis (-4 1/2, 47 1/2), 1:00 (FOX) - The perception here is that the Colts are actually a good football team, but the perception does not match reality. Indy missed the playoffs last year and they are now 1-3 after losing to Jacksonville in London last week.

Strange but true, the Bears are also 1-3, but they are perceived to be a bad team, despite earning their first win of the season on Sunday, topping the Lions, 17-14.

Check you bias at the door and take the Bears. Indianapolis has serious issues defensively.

Coin Flip: Bears

Prediction: Bears 27 Colts 23

Tennessee at Miami (-3 1/2, 43 1/2), 1:00 (CBS) - Mired in mediocrity after their 22-7 Thursday night loss at Cincinnati, the Dolphins continue to come up well short of winning against quality teams.

The Titans are a team one would consider Miami to be competitive against, especially since they are at home and Tennessee is coming off a 27-20 defeat to division rival Houston, and have their second straight road game, usually a fail point for developing teams. Since both teams are 1-3, the confidence level on this game is low, but the Dolphins appear ready for a victory.

Coin Flip: Tennessee

Prediction: Dolphins 21 Titans 14

Houston at Minnesota (-5 1/2, 43), 1:00 (CBS) - After a 27-0 loss at New England two back, getting back on track with a 27-20 win over the Titans, Houston finds itself on the road again, this week against one of the more dangerous squads in the league. The Vikings are undefeated, having topped the Giants 24-10 on Monday night for their fourth win without a loss.

The mark is pretty high here for the Vikings, sporting a 5 1/2-point favoritism, which seems a little much considering that the Texans have more than ample offensive firepower and defensive savvy to make this a close one.

Coin Flip: Houston

Prediction: Vikings 22 Texans 20

NY Jets at Pittsburgh (-7 1/2, 48 1/2), 1:00 (CBS) - After their awesome offensive display against the Chiefs Sunday night resulted in a 43-14 win for the men of the Steel City, there's no evidence to suggest that the Jets will be able to even hang close. After all, NY was belted good and hard by KC two weeks back and their 27-17 home loss to Seattle wasn't that much of a better effort.

Pittsburgh has possibly the best offenses in the league (27 ppg) and the defense is improving (20 ppg). This is another in a series of games this week that may not be very close.

Coin Flip: Pittsburgh

Prediction: Steelers 35 Jets 20