Just when you think you have the answers, the NFL changes the questions. Every week in the league is an exercise in chaos -- chaos which wreaks havoc on fans, players and bettors alike. We're here to sift through the upcoming craziness and give you five BOLD predictions to hold onto during Week 5 -- ones you can take to the bank.
1. Eagles Will Hammer Saints By 20
This game is the perfect storm of a not-so-good team coming off a gut-check win (Saints) against a talented team who's been seething for a week after a brutal in-division loss (Eagles).
Both teams are 1-3, but this Eagles team is the only of the two who could still conceivably make a run at the playoffs -- especially in what has been a topsy-turvy NFC East. Philadelphia's running game is a mess, but the Saints are the right team to turn it around against -- especially if Chip Kelly goes nuts with creative edge plays. Brees' banged-up shoulder will be a problem, the Eagles will seize the moment, and this'll be a game you can turn off safely early in the 3rd quarter.
2. Blaine Gabbert Will Play The 2nd Half In Jersey
First-year 49ers HC Jim Tomsula has watched his job security go up in a plume of smoke during the team's three-game losing streak, especially with how putrid QB Colin Kaepernick has been and how badly the entire offense has regressed in the span of less than a month. Kaepernick won't fare much better on Sunday night under prime-time pressure (let's say two turnovers in the first 30 mins), which means we'll get a heavy dose of CRUNCH-TIME Blaine Gabbert in the 2nd half with the 49ers down three scores.
We're not saying he'll take over the job full time. We're just saying that Tomsula needs a bold, albeit temporary, move to shake Kaepernick out of his funk.
3. Raiders Will Upset The Broncos In Oakland
The Broncos offense is 25th in the NFL in passing yards (225.2) and 29th in rushing yards (78.8), and it's not built like the Wild West shootout-capable units Peyton has QB'd in the past. The defense has been elite, pushing this squad to 4-0 on sheer brutality alone, but even the best defenses crack in a couple road games per year.
This is that game. Oakland's got all the young horses on offense (Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, Latavius Murray) to trade scores with Denver, and we're banking on a lack of a Broncos running game to prove the difference during some late clutch short-yardage situations.
4. Redskins Take Down The Falcons In Atlanta
Sunday's NFL showdown pits the #2 rushing defense in the league (Redskins) against the #12 rushing offense (Eagles). Falcons sophomore RB Devonta Freeman has been transcendent his last two games with six overall touchdowns (three per game). However, the law of averages are going to catch up with him sooner or later, and we're betting sooner against one of the most underrated front sevens in the game.
The Redskins will go 3-2 and everyone will once again freak out about how CRAZY and UNPREDICTABLE the NFL season has been.
5. Andy Dalton Will Throw Three Picks (Or More)
Listen, we're all very happy for Andy Dalton. He's emerged as one of the three best quarterbacks in the NFL this year (behind Aaron Rodgers & Tom Brady) and he's one of the primary reasons why the Cincinnati Bengals are 4-0 at the quarter pole. But, this scenario just SCREAMS Dalton Swoon -- a winnable home game against a marquee squad when everyone is banking on the Bengals taking the next step with a victory.
The Legion of Boom will be the benefactors of the Dalton Yips, picking off at least three passes and keying another brutal-to-watch but still-as-critical Seahawks win.
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