GAME OF THE WEEK - New York Giants (3-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (4-1), PHI by 2.5 – You can never say for sure what’s going to happen in these games. The Giants have had an impressive turnaround after an 0-2 start, but they’ve mostly been playing patsies. The Eagles have beaten better quality opponents, but have looked iffy in recent weeks. It’s really tough, and I could go either way here, but I’ll go with the home team. Eagles 24, Giants 20
THURSDAY NIGHT – Indianapolis Colts (3-2) at Houston Texans (3-2), IND by 2.5 – The first Thursday Night matchup we’ve had that looks like it could actually wind up being a competitive game. Houston is still playing some solid defense, but Andrew Luck and the Colts’ offense has been on fire for much of this season, so it’s very much strength vs. strength. The Texans have the home field advantage, but the Colts have a clear advantage at quarterback, and I think that’ll be enough to get them the win. Colts 27, Texans 20
Denver Broncos (3-1) at New York Jets (1-4), DEN by 8 – It’s not going to get any prettier for the Jets this week with Peyton and company coming to town. Broncos 41, Jets 10
Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) at Cleveland Browns (2-2), CLE by 2 – The Browns and Steelers went down to the final seconds in their first meeting in Pittsburgh. The Steelers haven’t exactly been playing impressive football so far this season, and with them playing in Cleveland this week, I’m willing to bet that the Browns will actually finish the job this time. Browns 20, Steelers 17
Jacksonville Jaguars (0-5) at Tennessee Titans (1-4), TEN by 6 – The Titans are bad, but they’re not Jaguars bad. At least, not yet. Titans 27, Jaguars 13
Chicago Bears (2-3) at Atlanta Falcons (2-3), ATL by 3 – Atlanta has played some bad football this year. But playing at home in the Georgia Dome in desperate need of a victory, they should be able to dispatch of an offensively potent yet turnover prone Bears squad. Falcons 31, Bears 27
Green Bay Packers (3-2) at Miami Dolphins (2-2), GB by 3.5 – The Dolphins will put up a fight as they always tend to do against the Packers, but this Packers team is firing on all cylinders on offense right now, and I don’t particularly envy any team that gets in their way when Aaron Rodgers is playing the way he is. Packers 33, Dolphins 17
Detroit Lions (3-2) at Minnesota Vikings (2-3), DET by 2 – You can never say for sure what’s going to happen when NFC North foes meet each other. Detroit is clearly the better team, but the Vikings have had a couple of surprisingly good performances. With Teddy Bridgewater playing, the Vikings are a clearly different team. But good enough to shut down Megatron and Matt Stafford? I dunno, I doubt it. Lions 30, Vikings 17
Carolina Panthers (3-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-1), CIN By 7 – After an embarrassing home loss, the Bengals get to play at home against an offensively deficient and defensively struggling Panthers team. That’s not to say you should sleep on Carolina—Cam Newton’s balling out and they had an impressive comeback against the Bears last week. But the Bengals have significantly more firepower AND homefield advantage. I don’t think they lose this. Also of note: first time 2011 class mates Andy Dalton and Cam Newton have faced off in the pros. Bengals 30, Panthers 20
New England Patriots (3-2) at Buffalo Bills (3-2), NE by 3 – If the Bills are going to seriously contend in the AFC East, they’re going to have to win this game. But I really don’t see that happening. The Patriots are still the Patriots, and the Bills are still the Bills. Patriots 35, Bills 13
Baltimore Ravens (3-2) at Tampa Bay Buccaners (1-4), BAL by 3 – The Bucs have had some fight in them since their thrashing on Thursday Night against the Falcons, but I just see them as being outmatched in this one. Ravens 24, Bucs 16
San Diego Chargers (4-1) at Oakland Raiders (0-4), SD by 7 – The Chargers are looking like they could be the best team in football right now. That a performance in demolishing the Jets. Now they get to tak the show on the road to Oakland. Chargers 37, Raiders 10
Dallas Cowboys (4-1) at Seattle Seahawks (3-1) , SEA by 8 – I’m not going to go so far as to suggest the Cowboys have no chance in this one, because they do if they can get DeMarco Murray going on the ground and control the time of possession. But with the Seahawks playing at home, I just don’t see them losing this one. Seahawks 23, Cowboys 20
Washington Redskins (1-4) at Arizona Cardinals (3-1), ARZ by 3.5 – The Cardinals have had a solid start to the season and deserve to be favored here, but something tells me the Redskins are going to walk in and surprise them. UPSET! – Redskins 27, Cardinals 17
San Francisco 49ers (3-2) at St. Louis Rams (1-4), SF by 3.5 – The Rams had a nice comeback attempt against the Eagles and have had the Niners’ number in recent years. But be that as it may, I don’t see them coming away with a win here. Niners 24, Rams 16
BYES: Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints
