NFL picks, predictions towards unfold Week 5: Chiefs outgun Payments; Seahawks, Packers, Cowboys keep sizzling

Week 4 was extra like for our NFL picks and predictions towards the unfold. It nonetheless wasn’t smashing, however getting nicely above .500 is a win for any week.

There’s extra data and information factors accessible for all 32 groups as lots of them forge their true identities for the 2021 season. Some, nevertheless, nonetheless stay troublesome to learn due to accidents and different variables.

The one factor we are able to do is attempt to use every little thing extra to our benefit to make higher recreation decisions towards the quantity because the motion progresses. Here is hoping Week 5 will give us the specified outcomes once more from the method:

(Recreation odds courtesy of FanDuel)

NFL POWER RANKINGS:
Cardinals fly to high; Packers, Cowboys, Seahawks flex; Titans fall

NFL picks towards the unfold for Week 5

• Recreation of the Week: Payments at Chiefs (-3, 56.5 o/u)

Sunday 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

The Payments’ protection has regarded nice this season nevertheless it hasn’t confronted a quarterback of Patrick Mahomes’ caliber, residence or away. The Chiefs have discovered a balanced offense and the massive go performs are flowing once more to Tyreek Hill as groups proceed to choose their poison between him and Travis Kelce. Mahomes did not like being below .500 and does not wish to be there once more. The Payments’ offense additionally will trigger loads of issues for the Chiefs’ protection with Josh Allen enjoying nicely and spreading the ball round. Mahomes will not be having a second consecutive loss at residence whereas Buffalo is due for a little bit of a street cooldown in prime time.

Choose: Chiefs win 34-27 and canopy the unfold.

• Recreation of Midweek: Rams (-1.5, 54.5 o/u) at Seahawks

Thursday 8:20 p.m. ET, Fox and NFL Community

The Rams’ protection sprung some main leaks towards the flexibility and multiplicity of the Cardinals’ offense. They are going to get a lot of the identical round Russell Wilson with bonus insider information of the scheme from his offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, a Sean McVay protege. The Matthew Stafford hype prepare bought a bit of derailed final week whereas Wilson’s is at all times chugging like a locomotive. The Rams can include D.Okay. Metcalf with Jalen Ramsey however the Seahawks will get large performs elsewhere as in addition they run nicely. The Rams can exploit the Seahawks’ protection in lots of locations too. This seems to be like a last possession recreation within the fourth quarter, so facet with Wilson at residence to be the hero.

Choose: Seahawks win 31-27.

• Rivalry of the Week: Giants at Cowboys (-7.5, 50.5 o/u)

Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox

The Giants’ offense is determining extra issues with Daniel Jones, simply as former Cowboys coach Jason Garrett was getting on the new seat as offensive coordinator. Jones is doing his greatest to show he is a keeper by exhibiting he is a lot improved with higher talent assist. Dak Prescott, nevertheless, is within the complete zone and Ezeklel Elliott has gone again to being a dashing beast at residence. Jones will get extra assist from Saquon Barkley and his wideout so New York hangs round, however Dallas will preserve flexing because the clear NFC East favourite.

Choose: Cowboys win 31-24 however fail to cowl the unfold.

• Lock of the Week: Titans (-4.5, 48.5 o/u) at Jaguars

Sunday 1 p.m. ET,  CBS

The Titans didn’t play nicely towards the Jets with Derrick Henry being their solely supply of offense, which additional uncovered all their go protection points. After the massive street upset in New York, Tennessee will not let that occur once more in Jacksonville. Mike Vrabel will get his crew again on monitor whereas City Meyer, coping with some bother private developments, will battle to encourage his crew the identical method. Benefit from the low early quantity because the Titans are sure to rebound and the Jaguars might be nonetheless hungover from blowing a giant lead in Week 4.

Choose: Titans win 27-21 and canopy the unfold. 

• Upset of the Week: Eagles (+3.5, 45 o/u) over Panthers

Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox

The Eagles ought to be higher than 1-3. The Panthers are a bit inflated at 3-1. Jalen Hurts has been enjoying nicely in passing downfield and working for chunks when wanted, however he wants to chop down on errors and will use extra assist from the standard dashing assault, given Carolina’s protection is most weak there. The Cowboys’ tight ends brought about issues for the Panthers and the Eagles can do the identical with Dallas Goedert and Zach Ertz. It comes right down to which stout defensive entrance will management the motion vs. two weakened offensive traces. Though Sam Darnold has been a machine dashing for TDs, Hurts’ elusiveness offers Philadelphia the sting to flee with victory.

Choose: Eagles win 23-20.

• Jets at Falcons (-3.5, 43.5 o/u) in London

Sunday 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Community

Robert Saleh and Arthur Smith are each on the board with victories as promising rookie coaches. Saleh’s defensive affect is being felt on the Jets, whereas Smith is beginning to determine the right way to get the most effective out of Matt Ryan and the Falcons’ distinctive offensive weapons, together with Cordarrelle Patterson. Rookie Zach Wilson can keep sizzling in Tottenham towards one other weak go protection, however this is also an opportunity for Atlanta to do nicely with Smith’s most well-liked working throughout the pond.

Choose: Falcons win 27-20 and canopy the unfold.

• Dolphins at Buccaneers (-10.5, 47.5 o/u)

Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS

The Dolphins are exhibiting a distinct type of offense with Jacoby Brissett and the passing recreation has immediately been competent because the working recreation has pale. Nonetheless, their group of huge receivers and tight finish Mike Gesicki can do solely a lot on the opposite facet of Brady. Brian Flores can scheme his go protection nicely a la Invoice Belichick, however for a second straight week, the Bucs will lean nicely on Leonard Fournette, Ronald Jones and the working recreation with extra large sacks and takeaways from the protection.

Choose: Buccaneers win 30-13 and canopy the unfold.

• Saints (-1.5, 43.5 o/u) at Washington

Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Washington’s protection has been a serious disappointment all-around however will get a break right here towards a crew with a restricted and inconsistent offense round Alvin Kamara. New Orleans will proceed to toggle Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill at quarterback primarily based on state of affairs. The Saints’ protection will be exploited loads with Antonio Gibson and Terry McLaurin and a constructive recreation script is required to rev up a dormant WFT go rush. Taylor Heinicke turns in one other profitable efficiency at residence to push his crew above .500 whereas the Saints drop beneath that even mark.

Choose: Washington wins 23-20.

• Lions at Vikings (-7.5, 49.5 o/u) 

Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox

The Lions have been doing their greatest to play laborious and get a win however their protection retains going additional within the tank and now the accidents are beginning to pile up, too. The Vikings wish to assault unhealthy groups with Kirk Cousins and are due for one more domination with its protection enjoying extra the best way Mike Zimmer likes. Jared Goff is in for one more tough afternoon with restricted receivers vs. Cousins, who will get to do no matter he needs with Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen.

Choose: Vikings win 34-17 and canopy the unfold.

• Broncos at Steelers (-1.5, 40.5 o/u)

Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS

The Steelers desperately want a win at 1-3 and sadly it takes a crew with a worse QB state of affairs than theirs with Ben Roethlisberger. Enter the Broncos, who may want to start out Drew Lock over a concussed Teddy Bridgewater towards a difficult go protection in a possible one-dimensional assault. Pittsburgh has to win video games with D and grinding floor recreation with rookie Najee Harris and this battle of attrition is simply what it wants at residence.

Choose: Steelers win 17-14 and canopy the unfold.

• Packers (-3.5, 49.5 o/u) at Bengals

Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox

The Packers know they may have their palms full with one other 3-1 crew from the opposite North. Their go rush is perhaps down two Smiths and shutdown cornerback Jaire Alexander (shoulder) might be a giant absence towards Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd. They might want to win this with Aaron Rodgers outdueling Joe Burrow vs. the Bengals’ cornerbacks. Rodgers will get a bit of extra from his fellow Aaron (Jones) working than Burrow will get from his fellow Joe (Mixon) to win on the street.

Choose: Packers win 27-24 however fail to cowl the unfold.

• Patriots (-9.5, 39.5 o/u) at Texans

Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Following the revenge recreation towards Brady, Belichick will get to arrange his go protection for one more rookie quarterback, Davis Mills. After some pregame pleasantries along with his former personnel colleague Nick Caserio, the coach will make it tough on the struggling Mills whereas additionally containing his go-to man, former Patriots receiver Brandin Cooks. New England’s personal assured rookie QB, Mac Jones, turns in one other robust efficiency and this time is rewarded with a definitive victory.

Choose: Patriots win 24-7 and canopy the unfold.

• Bears at Raiders (-5.5, 45.5 o/u)

Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS

The Bears are an offensive work in progress and are enjoying video games with their beginning quarterback resolution. Their protection has been nice making performs at occasions and leaky at different occasions. Chicago has basic inconsistency at 2-2 however have a couple of talent gamers to trigger Las Vegas considerations, particularly if David Montgomery (knee) does not must miss time. The Raiders have performed nicely at residence with Derek Carr and will overachieve to the required stage on protection.

Choose: Raiders win 23-19 however fail to cowl the unfold.

• Browns (-1, 49.5 o/u) at Chargers

Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS

The Browns have one large benefit on this matchup: Their run blocking and their pair of particular backs, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. They’re constructed to assault the Chargers’ weaknesses nicely and might keep away from their strengths. The Dawg Pound additionally can have a superb touring crowd for backup. Justin Herbert will reply with some large performs along with his high wideouts, however Cleveland’s protection makes a key play to protect one other gritty victory late.

Choose: Browns win 24-22 and canopy the unfold.

• 49ers at Cardinals (-4.5, 52.5 o/u)

Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox

The 49ers might be rolling out Trey Lance full-time with Jimmy Garoppolo (calf) injured once more.The rookie first-rounder was a bit of shaky with prolonged time towards the Seahawks however ought to settle higher into his twin menace position for Kyle Shanahan’s offense. There’s nothing improper with a locked-in Kyler Murray in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. He is the MVP front-runner of a blooming powerhouse. The 49ers have sufficient defensive holes to suppose he’ll outlast some dazzle from Lance.

Choose: Cardinals win 31-27 however fail to cowl the unfold.

• Colts at Ravens (-7, 48 o/u)

Monday 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN

The Ravens are discovering their groove on offense as they’re changing into much less depending on the working recreation round Lamar Jackson and changing into extra aggressive in getting everybody concerned within the passing recreation. The Colts are going again to their run-heavy recreation plan that includes Jonathan Taylor with Carson Wentz making clutch throws. Baltimore’s total protection, execution and effectivity is healthier and there is at all times additional fan emotion in prime time when it performs the crew from Indy that used to name Appeal Metropolis residence.

Choose: Ravens win 30-20 and canopy the unfold.

Vinnie Iyer’s 2021 picks:

• Week 4 document towards the unfold: 10-5
• Week 4 document straight up: 12-3
• Season ATS: 31-32
• Season straight up: 41-22