Week 5 NFL Capsules - NFL News And Picks

Week 5 NFL Capsules
By Chris Cluff
Posted: 11:00 am PDT 2006-10-07

Browns (1-3) at Panthers (2-2), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Panthers -7.5 (37.5)Storyline: After an 0-2 start in which they played without star receiver Steve Smith, the Panthers have recovered with two straight wins. The offense has finally gotten going with Smith back. The Browns got their first win last week against Oakland, which appears to be the worst team in the league, but Cleveland had to rally from 18 points down to do it. The Browns could be without both starting cornerbacks in this one, which doesn't bode well with Smith and Keyshawn Johnson running routes for Carolina.
Best Bet: Cleveland has not won back-to-back games since October 2003 -- and won't this week. Carolina, 30-13.

Bills (2-2) at Bears (4-0), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Bears -10 (34.5)
Storyline: The Bears are coming off a blowout win over Seattle that established Chicago as one of the league's dominant teams in the first month. The Bears are off to their best start since 1991 and are looking to open 5-0 for the first time since 1986. Buffalo won in Minnesota last week, and Coach Dick Jauron returns to Chicago, where he coached the Bears from 1999 to 2003.
Best Bet: The Bears have won eight straight home games, allowing only two touchdowns. Chicago, 27-13.

Rams (3-1) at Packers (1-3), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Rams -2.5 (46.5)
Storyline: The Rams are coming off a rip-roarin'41-34 victory over Detroit, which put St. Louis in a tie with Seattle atop the NFC West. The Rams, under new coach Scott Linehan, have played things very close so far this season, with all four games decided by eight points or less. The Packers were blown out by Philadelphia last week. Quarterback Brett Favre suffered a concussion and pinched nerve in his neck in that game, but he expects to make his 246^th straight start this week.
Best Bet: The Rams'offense is starting to round into form, with Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce both coming off 100-yard games. St. Louis, 34-24.

Titans (0-4) at Colts (4-0), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Colts -18.5 (48)
Storyline: This a titanic mismatch, with the undefeated and experienced Colts hosting the winless and very youthful Titans. Peyton Manning and company are coming off a close win over the Jets and are due to break out, while the Titans were blown out by Dallas last Sunday as rookie quarterback Vince Young made his first start for Tennessee.
Best Bet: The Colts have won the past six, including a 35-3 whipping in December, and should easily cover the three-touchdown spread this time, too. Indianapolis, 38-17.

Lions (0-4) at Vikings (2-2), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Vikings -6.5 (40)Storyline: The Lions finally have gotten their offense moving, while the Vikings are still stuck in neutral. Detroit has scored 58 points in the past two games but has nothing to show for it -- 0-4 for the first time since 2001. The Vikings dropped a 17-12 decision to Buffalo last week as the Vikings'offense remained punchless -- it has just three offensive touchdowns under new coach Brad Childress.
Best Bet: Detroit's awful pass defense might be just what the Vikings'offense ordered -- at least enough to continue an eight-game winning streak over the Lions. Minnesota, 24-20.

Dolphins (1-3) at Patriots (3-1), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Patriots -10 (37)
Storyline: A week after losing in Denver, the Patriots blew out Cincinnati 38-13 and re-established themselves as the favorites in the AFC East. They look to improve to 3-0 in the division by beating the disappointing Dolphins, whose only win has been against winless Tennessee.
Best Bet: The Patriots are still the class of the division and have beaten Miami in five of the past seven. New England, 24-16.

Buccaneers (0-3) at Saints (3-1), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Saints -6.5 (35)Storyline: The Saints suffered their first loss of the season last week in Carolina, but they proved they will be very competitive in the NFC South. The Bucs, on the other hand, have proven to be huge underachievers after a playoff appearance last season. With QB Chris Simms (splenectomy) out indefinitely, rookie Bruce Gradkowski will take over as the starter this week as the Saints play their second game at the restored Superdome.
Best Bet: The Bucs have won four of the past five in the series, but the Saints are playing with renewed vigor and the Bucs are on a sinking ship. New Orleans, 27-13.

Redskins (2-2) at Giants (1-2), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Giants -4.5 (46)
Storyline: The Giants will try to get back on track after a week off. Slow starts have hurt them this season, and their only win came after they rallied from 17 points down against Philadelphia. The Giants'defense is giving up over 30 points per game, and it faces a Washington offense that suddenly has become very explosive. The Redskins have scored 67 points in the past two weeks and are coming off a 36-30 overtime win over Jacksonville.
Best Bet: This thing figures to be a barnburner, and Washington is burning more barns right now. Washington, 38-31.

Chiefs (1-2) at Cardinals (1-3), 4:05 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Chiefs -3.5 (39)
Storyline: The two former Rams quarterbacks are out. Damon Huard has played well in the place of Trent Green (concussion) for the Chiefs, and the Cardinals hope rookie Matt Leinart can do better than Kurt Warner, who was benched after throwing five interceptions and losing three of his 10 fumbles this season.
Best Bet: The Chiefs shut out San Francisco 41-0 last week, and their third-ranked defense -- considerably improved under new coach Herman Edwards -- should be able to handle Leinart and the Cardinals'woeful running game. Kansas City, 23-13.

Jets (2-2) at Jaguars (2-2), 4:15 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Jaguars -6.5 (38)
Storyline: Chad Pennington brings the AFC's fourth-ranked passing attack into Jacksonville, where injuries on the defensive line have affected the Jags'otherwise stellar defense. The unit gave up 481 yards in an overtime loss to Washington last week, and DT Marcus Stroud (ankle) is doubtful for this game. The Jets lost a back-and-forth affair vs. the Colts last week, proving that they will be competitive under new coach Eric Mangini.
Best Bet: The Jags should be able to run on the Jets, who are giving up 140.5 rushing yards per game. Jacksonville, 27-16.

Raiders (0-3) at 49ers (1-3), 4:15 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: 49ers -3.5 (39)
Storyline: The Raiders are absolutely horrific, having lost nine straight games dating to last season. That includes a blown 21-3 lead against Cleveland last Sunday. Their offense -- now run by second-year QB Andrew Walter -- has generated just 27 points. If the Raiders ever had a chance to score more, it would be this week against a San Francisco defense that has allowed a league-high 126 points. The 49ers had played well on offense over the first three games, but they were shut out 41-0 by Kansas City last week.
Best Bet: The 49ers play tough at home and will want to rebound from the shutout. But it likely will be close; four of the past five meetings have been decided by less than a touchdown, and the past two have gone to overtime. San Francisco, 24-13.

Cowboys (2-1) at Eagles (3-1), 4:15 p.m. ET WagerWeb.com line: Eagles -1.5 (43.5)Storyline: The NFL's most dramatic matchup of the week features Terrell Owens'return to Philadelphia, where he turned the Eagles into a daily soap opera last season. Both NFC East teams are coming off blowout wins and angling to take control of the division. The game also features two of the league's best offenses, with the Cowboys first in scoring and the Eagles first in yards. But the Eagles might be without RB Brian Westbrook, who missed last week and is questionable with a nagging knee injury, and WR Donte'Stallworth, who has been bothered by a sore hamstring.
Best Bet: The Cowboys have the No. 2 defense in the NFC and all of their offensive weapons, which should be enough for Drew Bledsoe to outduel Donovan McNabb. Dallas, 27-24.

Steelers (1-2) at Chargers (2-1), 8:15 p.m. ET, NBC
WagerWeb.com line: Chargers -3 (37)
Storyline: The Steelers are coming off a bye that they hope helped fix their early problems on offense. Ben Roethlisberger needs to take that Terrible Towel out of his pants because he has been horrible, throwing five interceptions and no touchdown passes and compiling a league-worst 34.3 rating. The Chargers lost a heartbreaker to undefeated Baltimore last week and will be poised to avenge a 24-22 home loss to Pittsburgh last October.
Best Bet: The Chargers have the league's best defense and its best running back, and they have all the motive they need to win this one. San Diego, 23-13.

Ravens (4-0) at Broncos (2-1), 8:30 p.m. ET Monday, ESPN
WagerWeb.com line: Broncos -4 (33)
Storyline: Behind the veteran leadership of new QB Steve McNair and the league's stingiest run defense, the Ravens are 4-0 for the first time. They stole one from San Diego last week when McNair threw a touchdown pass to Todd Heap with 34 seconds left. The Broncos have had two weeks to prepare for this game following a win over New England in which the Denver defense's team-record run of 11 quarters without allowing a touchdown came to an end.
Best Bet: The Broncos have won 11 straight at home, including a 12-10 win over Baltimore in December. Denver, 16-10.

LAST WEEK: 10-4
SEASON: 41-19

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